"I can already feel it. It's here."

"Mizik!" A familiar voice shouted from behind.

I turned to see one of my comrades. One of the protectors of this world that I've come to know as home.

"What is it, Carlos? Can you feel its presence?" I asked.

He nodded with a grim expression.

"Tell me, Mizik. Can we win this battle?" Carlos asked.

I gave him a weak smile.

"Leiso, Michael, and Dante are all dead. That just leaves me, you, and-"

"Can you kill the one controlling it? That's what I want to know," Carlos said.

"What do you think? That plague destroyed my home. It killed my fiance, my family, and all my friends. It devoured everyone I knew. I was powerless to stop it. I might be stronger now, but look at what he did to our world. We've lost, Carlos. Torantis is the last stronghold we have."

"At least promise that you'll give it everything you have. For her..." Carlos said.

"Which one? My dead fiance or Leiso? You know I loved them both."

"It doesn't matter, does it? Whatever motivates you. If you can't find a reason to fight..."

"I have plenty of reasons, Carlos. I just don't have the desire... I lost everything in the past and now I've lost everything again. I'll fight as hard as I can, but I might be looking forward to my own demise," I said.

"If only Leiso hadn't tried to protect Iris, maybe you wouldn't be so bitter and hateful. I'll take your word for it, Mizik. Let's get to the front lines. The end awaits."

* * *

I fought as hard as I could against that plague, but we were overwhelmed. In the end, I had to fight the Source all by myself.

I wasn't upset about this. No one would see me give up and simply stop fighting once I had the chance to see his true power.

It was truly bottomless. I never stood a chance.

And as I fell to the ground, amidst the ruined cityscape, I couldn't help but feel intense pain and regret at my life so far...

I fought as hard as I could.

But my strength wasn't enough to overcome such a strong enemy.

"Just like that, Mizik. Once again, you die here without accomplishing anything. You are truly pathetic. I wonder how things will be next time? But then again, you've yet to make a single scratch on me in any of your lives," he said.

{PlEaSe...No MoRe...}

A strange message flashed before my eyes.

Just shut up... Let me die in peace. My life is finally over. I hope I can see my loved ones again...

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

My vision went dark as I felt my life force fading...

"Ugh...here we go again. Well, let's see if I can change something... Where did I put that list...?" The man said.

{I dOn'T wAnT tO DiE aGaIn...}

Another message...in the darkness...

I wonder...I hope I get to see them both. I don't even care if they're angry. Or if they fight over me... Yes...I welcome the release from my hellish life.

I felt a falling sensation and heard a voice.

{MAKE IT STOP!!!!}

I heard myself scream...

* * *

I suddenly found myself standing in a strange place...

It was a white temple with pillars surrounding everything in an open circular room.

I saw a single throne sitting near the back and on it, sat a famliar old woman.

"Another failure...how unfortunate. Even after all of the help I gave you. This is what you get for refusing to let go of your fallen loved ones," she said.

Suddenly, I felt a rising anger in my chest.

"What...!? What the hell is that supposed to mean!?" I said.

"I have worked so hard to ensure their deaths to make you a perfect weapon. Why do you refuse to follow orders? Why can you not just be compliant?"

I gritted my teeth as I glared at her.

"You... IT WAS YOU!!! YOU PUT ME THROUGH THAT HELL!!!! DAMN YOU, YOU OLD BITCH!!!"

"SILENCE! I WILL HEAR NONE OF THIS! YOU ARE A FAILURE AND BECAUSE OF YOUR ERRORS, WE HAVE TO START OVER!"

"GO TO HELL!!! I'M ALREADY DEAD! I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ANYMORE!" I yelled.

She smiled.

"It is no matter. I decided to speak to you this time because I was curious...but it appears that there is nothing for me to learn. Begone with you."

Before I could protest, everything went dark.

And I heard her voice.

[Since you have failed, you will go back to the place where it begins. You will forget what you have seen and what you have heard. Be like new...awaken, Mizik Iratus.] She said.

As I felt myself truly fading, I smiled.

I'll kill you all. I'll burn everything to the ground. I'LL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!!!! I'LL DESTROY EVERYTHING!!! I'LL BURN EVERYTHING TO THE GROUND!!!!