The older Arjun stood beneath the red sky of the Original Universe.He looked exactly like Arjun.And yet, somehow, he felt completely different.His face carried the same eyes, the same jaw, the same scar near his eyebrow—but there was no uncertainty in him.No hesitation.No fear.Only the exhaustion of someone who had lived too long with the same answer.“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said again.Arjun stared at him.“The first me.”The older version smiled faintly.“That is what they call me.”Behind Arjun, the younger version remained silent.The boy who had once appeared as another possibility.The version of Arjun that had been rejected.The one who had eventually chosen Arjun.“You said choosing love over the universe was the mistake,” Arjun said.The older Arjun raised the First Key.“I didn't say it.”His eyes shifted toward the boy.“He did.”The younger Arjun's expression hardened.“I never said that.”“You didn't need to.”The First Arjun stepped forward.“The universe a

The Archive shattered.But nothing fell.The fragments remained suspended in the darkness, millions of pieces of broken memory surrounding Arjun like glass.At the center of them stood a woman.She was neither young nor old.Her face changed every few seconds.Sometimes she looked like a stranger.Sometimes she looked like Arjun's mother.Sometimes she looked like the woman from his forgotten memories.And sometimes—She looked exactly like Arjun.The First Arjun stepped backward.“No.”The woman turned toward him.“You remember me.”His expression tightened.“I was ordered not to.”“That was never the same as forgetting.”The First Key lying on the ground began glowing.Arjun stared at the woman.“Who are you?”She looked at him.Then smiled sadly.“I am the memory your mother could not carry.”Arjun's breathing stopped.The younger version moved closer.“I told you.”The First Arjun immediately turned toward him.“You were never supposed to remember.”The boy's expression hardened.

The two universes stood facing each other.Neither attacked.Neither retreated.Between them stood Arjun.The First Key rested in his hand, but it no longer felt like a weapon.It felt like a question.The Custodians remained motionless in the sky.Their black masks reflected nothing.One of them stepped forward.“Observer.”Arjun looked up.“You keep calling me that.”“You were created to observe.”“And if I refuse?”“Observation is not optional.”Arjun smiled bitterly.“That's exactly what people say when they want control.”The Custodian raised one hand.Immediately, the First Key began pulling toward it.Arjun tightened his grip.The Key burned.He almost dropped it.The younger Arjun grabbed his shoulder.“Don't let go.”“I know.”“No.”The boy shook his head.“You don't understand.”Arjun looked at him.“If you release it, they don't just take the Key.”“What do they take?”“You.”The words were barely spoken before the First Arjun moved.He appeared between Arjun and the Custod

The darkness above them opened wider.Something enormous descended through the crack.Arjun couldn't see its entire form.There was no body.No face.Only countless layers of reality folding over one another, as if the Original Universe itself had taken shape and decided to look down upon them.The Custodians immediately fell to their knees.Even the First Arjun lowered his head.Only Arjun, his mother, and Nox remained standing.“What is that?” Arjun asked.His mother didn't look away.“The Original Will.”“The universe itself?”“Not exactly.”She paused.“It is what the universe became after it decided it no longer needed a creator.”The enormous presence spoke.Its voice wasn't loud.It didn't need to be.Every molecule in the Original Universe heard it.“CREATOR.”Arjun's mother stepped forward.“I am no longer your creator.”“FALSE.”The ground cracked beneath them.“YOU CREATED US.”“And you surpassed me.”“FALSE.”The First Arjun suddenly raised his head.“It never accepted tha

Arjun stood completely still.The Choice Key was glowing in his hand.Across from him, the First Creator no longer looked amused.For the first time, there was uncertainty in his eyes.“You chose both,” he said.Arjun nodded.“Yes.”“That wasn't an option.”“It is now.”The First Creator stared at him.“You don't understand what you have done.”Arjun glanced at Nox.“I understand enough.”Nox looked at him, confused.“Dad…”Arjun smiled.“Stay behind me.”Nox shook his head.“No.”Arjun raised an eyebrow.Nox stepped forward.“You always tell me to stay behind you.”He looked at the First Creator.“But I'm not a child anymore.”The words surprised Arjun.The boy who had once been nothing more than a forgotten possibility now stood beside him by choice.The First Creator watched them.“Interesting.”The First Arjun moved closer.“You're afraid.”The First Creator looked at him.“I don't fear anything.”“You do.”The First Arjun pointed toward Arjun.“You fear that he has discovered som