"Well then, I'll take care of this tomorrow. I don't want any of you interfering in this matter," Raizel said.
"What are you guys even planning to do? I don't understand," Marco asked, sounding a bit desperate.
"Don't think about that right now. We have another task to do tomorrow. After Raizel finishes what he needs to do, I'll explain," Aizis replied.
"Fine, you're not going to tell us anything anyway. Asking again is pointless," Maria said with a long breath.
"Think whatever you want," Aizis replied.
They parted ways, each heading toward their own destiny.
After finishing his usual routine, Raizel went to bed as it was almost midnight. He lay there, thinking about how he would deal with all the rulers at once.
Souls of the rulers are the fundamental roots of the bubble worlds. Each ruler existed as the foundation of a bubble within the secretive worlds. They resided above the bubble worlds in a realm known as the Reformed World. As long as the rulers lived, the bubble worlds remained intact. The fate, laws, concepts, nature and infinite future of every single being in the bubble worlds depend on the rulers. The rulers are the ultimate essence of these worlds, making the existence of the bubble worlds entirely dependent on them. However, the rulers are capable of transfering their authority to someone else. Their life is endless; no diseases, aging, or any kind of wound can kill them until someone removes the soul itself from them. When a ruler want to finish their own life, they simply choose a vessel and transfer their authority and soul to that person. This ensured the bubble worlds remained intact instead of being destroyed. Baron and Rafael were prime examples of such vessels.
The next morning, unlike other days, Raizel woke up before sunrise.
The cold winter air created a calm and refreshing atmosphere across the world. It was a time when most people would still be asleep.
Raizel teleported away from his home earlier than usual. After some time, he returned.
Later that morning, Aizis, Marco, and Maria arrived at his home. Together, they prepared to visit the Reformed World.
"So, that's what you want. I don't know what you're planning, but I trust you," Aizis said with a long breath.
"I believe I can do it, so I will. Nothing can stop me," Raizel replied, confident as always.
"Confident as always—no, it's his desperation. Desperation to do whatever he's been ordered to do," Aizis thought to himself.
"Let's go then. We shouldn't be late," Maria said, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Yeah, let's go."
Raizel drew a magic circle around them, and they vanished from the street, reappearing in a massive city within the Reformed World.
The city was bustling with countless inhabitants—none other than the rulers, the ultimate beings of the bubble worlds. Despite their elevated status in the lower worlds, here they seemed like mere mortals.
Using stealth magic to hide their presence and suppress their mana, Raizel and the others moved undetected. They walked through the city for a while, observing the rulers' casual, everyday lives.
Marco and Maria were surprised by the rulers' mundane lifestyle, but Aizis and Raizel remained unfazed, as if they were accustomed to such scenes.
"Wow, I didn't expect such an environment in a higher world like this. When you think about it, the rulers are just ordinary inhabitants here. What makes them so significant to the lower world is their existence in this higher realm," Maria said, her eyes wide with surprise.
Aizis smiled slightly. "From below, you are the greatest; from above, you are the worst. That's exactly the case here. However, there are exceptions, like the one we witnessed yesterday," Aizis said, casual.
"Yeah, the guardian of the Secretive World. I remember his terrifying magic power," Marco said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I didn't expect someone to be powerful enough to catch my attention like that," he added.
"He's just a mere guardian of a secretive world. Even though all the soldiers of the supreme realm are as strong as him, the supreme ruler himself is on a completely different level. Even the current supreme ruler's fame and power surpass any other being in the lower worlds, secretive worlds, or any other realm within the supreme realm. He is undoubtedly the strongest being in existence," Aizis explained.
"However, we might see something different soon enough," Aizis added with a smirk, a mysterious and fearsome smile.
"Well then, it's time to do what we came here for," Raizel said suddenly.
"Yeah, let's go," Aizis replied.
Raizel drew a magic circle around them, and they were lifted into the sky by four different telekinetic forces. In an instant, they reached the highest point, where the world below looked like a massive ball.
Raizel drew a colossal magic circle that enveloped the world and cast a spell, creating barely visible chains that sealed the entire realm. The inhabitants of the Reformed World were trapped, their paths of escape completely blocked.
"We're done here. Let's go back," Raizel said.
"Aren't you going to kill them? Why just seal them?" Marco asked curiously.
"We're not here to kill them. There's no reason for that," Aizis replied.
"Then why are we here? Just to seal down them?" Maria asked.
"Let that remain a question for now. I'll answer it later," Aizis said with a smile.
Maria let out a frustrated scream, her face red with anger. "Why do you always leave me hanging like this?" she shouted.
Aizis laughed sarcastically.
"Stop laughing, you weird creature!" Maria shouted again.
"It's time," Raizel said.
He drew another magic circle, and they teleported away before Maria could finish her sentence.
They reappeared in front of the academy gates. The academy was closed, but the surrounding area was lively and loud.
"At least let me finish my words! Why are you so unpredictable?" Maria asked Raizel, her face still flushed with anger.
"Did you have something to say?" Raizel asked.
"I don't feel like telling you anymore. Just shut up."
"Fine, I will."
Marco looked away, clearly annoyed with both Aizis and Raizel.
"Why are you two so weird and unpredictable? Are you hiding something from me and Maria?" Marco asked.
"The time for answers is near. Wait a little longer, and you'll get them soon enough," Aizis replied.
"Just know that we've been waiting for answers for a while. Don't forget that."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm well aware. I never forget a promise I've made," Aizis said.
"Except for that one promise, the one I made long ago," Aizis thought to himself, his face shadowed by sadness and fear.
He remembered something—something from long ago, something he had failed to protect.
In his memory, someone with a figure identical to Aizis was about to kill another person with a purple sword. It was Aizis himself, though his face was unclear. Without hesitation, he stabbed the person—a girl with dark hair. Her face was also obscured, but she seemed to be smiling faintly.
Tears streamed down Aizis's face as he cried while stabbing her. His tears fell to the ground, but he couldn't bear to remember more. He didn't want to remember. He hated to remember.
"Aizis? Are you okay?" Maria's voice brought him back to consciousness.
"Yes? I'm fine," Aizis replied, slightly startled.
A storm of fear and sadness swept across his face, clouding his eyes. He was drenched in sweat, and his eyes glowed with an intense, rapid flicker. He was afraid—something was haunting him, though he couldn't tell what it was.
"So then, we're going to the supreme realm tonight. Since we're done here, it's time to pay the supreme realm a visit," Raizel said.
"Are you sure? Tonight, already?" Maria asked, narrowing her eyes with suspicion.
"Yeah, I'm sure. We can't waste any more time. We're going tonight."
"Since it's your decision, we'll definitely follow you."
Raizel didn't respond—his face was blank, and he wasn't even trying to listen. His attention was fixed on something else entirely.
"We're leaving then. Meet you guys tonight," Maria said, waving her hand. She teleported away in a flash. Following her, Marco also vanished in a burst of purple lightning.
"I'm pretty sure about this. I'm confident he won't betray you. He's not the kind of person who would betray," Aizis said, smiling a gentle smile.
"But if he does, it's going to be trouble for me. That's why I did this. If he doesn't betray me, I'll simply remove the sealing magic. It's the obvious thing to do," Raizel replied, narrowing his eyes.
"Do whatever you want. It's not like I can stop you anyway," Aizis said with a long breath.
Raizel drew a red magic circle and vanished, teleporting away.
Aizis smiled slightly. He furrowed his eyebrows repeatedly, revealing a lonely, fearful expression.
"No matter what, it's impossible for me to forget my past. But somehow, I feel like I can change the past with the present. That's why I'm still running, still holding onto hope, still walking this path," Aizis said, smiling a lone smile filled with countless pieces of sadness and fear.
With that, he too vanished, leaving a flash of light.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully for them. There was no need for extra preparations to visit the supreme realm.
Night fell. The sun disappeared, and the moon rose, casting its light over the realm. Silence enveloped every corner.
Inside a massive castle, crafted entirely from diamond, countless rooms lay empty and silent. No presence could be felt within its walls.
In the largest room—the throne room—a figure sat on the throne. Tall and clad in a long coat, his appearance was shrouded in mystery. Countless red bubbles floated around the room and throughout the realm.