Sebastian sat silently, staring at the warm tea in front of him. He could see his distorted reflection in the liquid, so warped that he no longer recognized himself. His heart felt hollow. He couldn’t think of a reason why he should be brought back to life or why he even wanted to live again. Everything was gone. There was nothing left in his life. His mother and mentor were dead, his village was destroyed, and his father—he couldn’t even think of his father without feeling a surge of anger.

  “I don’t know why, but I want to live,” Sebastian said.

  “You have no one left in that world. Why do you keep fighting to live? What makes you want to keep moving forward in a world that’s now empty?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t have an answer.”

  The angel of death clapped his hands, and suddenly Sebastian found himself in his old home. The angel gestured for him to stand and look out the window. There, Sebastian saw his younger self training with his father. Both of them were smiling, and Apollonia came out with snacks for them. They hugged, with young Sebastian in the middle. Sebastian wondered where those days had gone. Back then, everything felt so simple and easy. There were no days when monsters attacked or nights when his mother cried alone in her room after his father left for duty.

  “It was beautiful,” Sebastian said softly.

  “But sadly, everything has changed.”

  The angel of death clapped again, and now Sebastian was in his home as it began to crumble. Outside the window, he saw himself training under Father Daniel’s supervision. His face looked harder and sharper, aged prematurely by the years of Stampedes. Apollonia brought him food, but Sebastian couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten her snacks. Her face was smiling, but Sebastian knew she was just putting on a brave face for him.

  “Where did that lively child go? Maybe he’ll return in the future.”

  The angel of death clapped once more, and they were now in the backyard of the church. Sebastian saw himself digging countless graves, his face expressionless, like a living corpse rather than a human being.

  “Everything is gone. You have nothing left in that world. Your mother has gone to meet God, along with your mentor. The home you loved since childhood has become a source of trauma you don’t want to remember. And your father? You’ve pushed him far from your heart. Tell me, Sebastian, why do you, who have nothing left, want to return to life? No one is waiting for you there, and there’s nothing left for you to do.”

  “I... I must...”

  “Is your soul so bound to the world that you force yourself to live? Tell me, Sebastian, what is your purpose for living now?”

  Sebastian fell silent, trying to find an answer to the question and asking himself why he had done everything he had done. He searched his memories but found no reason for his existence. Why had he trained in martial arts all this time? Was it to please his father, whom he now hated so deeply? To protect his mother, who had already left him? To hope that Father Daniel would acknowledge his abilities, even though he was now gone? All those reasons had shattered like glass.

  Sebastian then asked himself if he now only wanted to live for revenge. If Cain, Valentinus, Aspasia, and everyone in the church were dead, what would he do next? Sebastian couldn’t answer his own question. Everything now felt absurd and meaningless. His life had no purpose, and the desire for revenge that echoed in his mind now felt foolish and irrational. Sebastian realized he didn’t have the strength to carry out his mission of revenge. He couldn’t even get past a few soldiers, and he had nearly died fighting Aspasia, one of Cain’s subordinates. His mind now felt clear, free from the chaos and noise that had plagued him before. He could see all his mistakes clearly, hitting him like a hammer to the head.

  “I’ve been foolish, and now I realize it. My desire for revenge blinded my eyes and heart, making me think I could do everything alone and overestimating my insignificant abilities. I now understand how small I am in this world, and I realize I have nothing. Everything comes and goes. The people I held dearly will die, and the things I own can vanish in a single night. In this moment, I’ve realized something—the strength I have, the opportunities that come to me, and the reason I’m here now are all because God has always been with me. But in every part of my life, I’ve forgotten Him, ignored Him, and sometimes even hated Him in my heart, questioning why He treated me so cruelly, even though His blessings are countless. I am His most unworthy servant, and now I beg for His forgiveness.”

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  Sebastian wiped away the tears streaming down his face. He realized how foolish he had been. He looked the angel of death in the eye and said, “I still have a vow to fulfill, and now I will not betray Him again. My life belongs to my God, and I owe Him everything!”

  The angel of death smiled, then placed his hand on Sebastian’s forehead and said, “Now you finally look like a Saint.”

  A bright light swallowed the darkness around Sebastian, lifting him high toward the surface of the water he had left far behind. He could see the angel of death smiling below, waving his hand and uttering words Sebastian would never forget.

  “We’ll meet again later. Goodbye.”

  Sebastian opened his eyes. He could see the moon shining in the sky and realized his head was sticking out of the church roof. He felt his strength returning, and a powerful energy flowed through his body. With his newfound strength, Sebastian shattered the church roof and fell to the floor. Dust and smoke obscured his vision, but he noticed the stigmata on his hand glowing with a beautiful golden light.

  Sebastian took a fighting stance, unsure when or where Aspasia would attack. He searched through the debris for his hammer and shield, eventually finding them. Everything felt eerily quiet despite the chaos he had caused. Slowly, Sebastian walked through the dust, and soon he saw what had happened.

  Dozens of soldiers’ bodies lay scattered around, their deaths indicating they had been fleeing something. Sebastian followed the trail of death and destruction until he reached the source of the chaos. There, he saw Aspasia crushing the head of a screaming soldier, his cries piercing the air. The soldier’s brains splattered onto Aspasia’s face, and she turned to look at Sebastian, her expression filled with horror and disgust.

  “You’re alive! You’re still alive!”

  Sebastian gripped his hammer and shield tightly, unable to believe what Aspasia had done. Everything around him felt absurd and confusing. Why had Aspasia killed these church soldiers? What had they done wrong? But Sebastian knew those questions wouldn’t be answered. The most important thing now was to defeat Aspasia and end this madness.

  “Aspasia, God’s judgment will come for you.”

  Sebastian charged forward with his newfound strength. Aspasia was shocked by his speed, as she had been certain he was on the brink of death. But now, he seemed fully healed and brimming with energy, stronger than ever before.

  “God’s judgment? I’m being judged by God?!”

  Aspasia and Sebastian clashed in a fierce battle, their weapons colliding with terrifying speed and force. Sebastian’s attacks were precise and accurate, but Aspasia managed to block each one.

  “You have sullied the church and Gods name by these abhorrent action! You shall pay dearly for these blasphemy!”

  “Blasphemy?! Who’re you to judge me?! This is all for the good of the church! God wills it!”

  Sebastian and Aspasia weapons clashed and now they’re seeing face to face, Sebastian could see Aspasia face are brimming with rage and contempt, his word burns inside Aspasia heart like a boiling water.

  “You disgust me! Everything you say is just an excuse to hide your wretched behavior! You’re an affront to the church and God!”

  Sebastian words finally broke the camel back, Aspasia grew even more angry and her attack becomes even more vicious than before. Now even Aspasia eyes looks bloodshot red with anger, she grit her teeth so hard cracks could be seen forming on the teeth. Aspasia pummels Sebastian will all she got, each strike feels like a tons of boulder striking Sebastian relentlessly. However, Sebastian could block those attack with such precision and power, he’s far stronger than before and far more calculative in his approach,

  “DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I’VE SACRIFICED FOR THE CHURCH AND GOD?! I GAVE UP EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING!”

  Aspasia’s red aura grew denser, and her movements became even more agile and powerful. But now, Sebastian could match her. The ground shook with every clash of their weapons, and sparks flew like fireflies in the night. In the middle of this Carnage; Sebastian found a small opening on Aspasia attack and finally he struck Aspasia’s neck with his shield, then delivered a precise blow to her head with his hammer.

  “DIVINE HAMMER!”

  Blood gushed from Aspasia’s nose as her head was crushed into the rubble. Sebastian then kicked her stomach, sending her flying into a wall. Aspasia lay unconscious, blood flowing from her mouth, nose, and eyes. Sebastian had finally won the battle, though he knew there were still other Inquisitors waiting for him.