Vol 6. Chapter 168: Forever Etched in Memory

Rosvisser returned to the Time Palace and gave a quick update on the battle outside. After hearing it, Odin froze briefly. A flicker of hope passed through his ancient dragon eyes.

"To think the prince can already wield divine power... But judging from the battle’s intensity, Leon probably won’t be able to maintain that state for long."

Rosvisser quickly spoke up, "We need to hurry and help Safina complete the replication of the Mirror Abyss Eye."

"Understood."

The Dragon Kings turned to Safina. She steadied herself and nodded. "I'm ready."

With that, she turned to look at Aurora. Atos had nearly hurt her when he broke in earlier—Safina was still somewhat shaken.

But Aurora forced herself to stabilize, and spoke firmly.

"I'm ready too, Teacher Safina."

"Good."

With everyone prepared, the Dragon Kings slowly channeled their magic into Safina. Safina also activated the Mirror Abyss Eye and began replicating Aurora’s divine state.

But the process turned out to be far more difficult than Safina had anticipated.

She had just attempted to copy the Time God’s form in the True Apocalypse Realm using only her own power—and less than a second into it, her eyes felt as though they were burning alive.

She had hoped that with the Dragon Kings’ support, the side effects would be gentler—

but the burning pain never faded.

Safina clenched her teeth, enduring the agony. While replicating the Time God’s essence, she simultaneously converted the Dragon Kings’ magic into the Void energy needed to fuel the Mirror Abyss Eye.

But barely ten seconds in, her strength gave out, and she collapsed to one knee. She gripped her leg, gasping for breath. Her eyes remained tightly shut—she could hardly see anything anymore.

"Teacher Safina! Are you alright?"

Aurora rushed to her side in a panic. Safina shook her head weakly.

"I’m fine... Let’s keep going, Aurora."

She forced herself to her feet, though her body wavered. The moment she stood, the blood drained from her brain—everything spun—and she nearly collapsed backward.

Fortunately, Rosvisser caught her just in time.

"Are you really okay, Safina? Maybe we should find more helpers to provide magic support," Rosvisser suggested.

"...There’s no time."

Safina adjusted herself slightly, her tone faint and strained.

As they spoke, the entire palace trembled twice—no doubt the result of Leon and Atos’s battle outside. Danger was at their doorstep. As Safina said—there was no time to seek other reinforcements.

"I... I’m fine. Let’s continue."

Her face was deathly pale, her eyes bloodshot. Everyone present could see—Safina’s body was never meant to endure the Time God’s form. No one could predict what would happen if she kept going.

But there was no turning back. All they could do now... was commit fully to Safina’s plan.

The magic transfer resumed. Several strands of star-like magical threads shimmered around Safina. She activated the Mirror Abyss Eye once more. This time, she had fully prepared herself mentally.

The burning pain returned instantly—flaring from her optic nerves, spreading to her brain, as if her whole skull were being charred to cinders.

Her body trembled slightly; even standing upright was a struggle. One arm hung limp at her side. Her chest and back heaved violently.

Seeing this, even Odin and the others who’d once distrusted her couldn’t help but murmur in awe.

"To think that the one fighting tooth and nail to save the prince’s family... and Samael itself... is truly a warrior from the Void."

The Tower Master also sighed, "To sacrifice one’s own life and gamble on the future of another world through sheer will... If it were me, I doubt I’d have the resolve."

"To earn Sir Leon’s absolute trust... both she and that Void warrior, Kaiser, must be people of extraordinary fate," said Mevis softly.

Isha channeled her magic while quietly watching Safina’s trembling, slender back. After a moment, she asked softly,

"What exactly did she and Kaiser go through? What changed in their hearts... What did my brother-in-law do that made them willing to give up everything for us?"

Rosvisser’s silver eyes wavered slightly. After a long silence, she pursed her lips and said, "Leon gave them a chance to crawl out of the abyss. And in turn, they’re using that chance to redeem themselves for everything they once did."

"Sis... she didn’t give up everything. She let it go."

To “give up” meant to abandon, to surrender, to be powerless. But to “let go”... was the awakening and transcendence of the soul.

A peaceful life and a carefree future had once been well within the Safina siblings’ grasp, but they chose to let it go, to face this uncertain fate instead.

Leon, through his actions and words, had changed Safina and Kaiser... He helped them rediscover a reason to live.

And that reason... was this moment, this determination, this redemption.

Thump!

Safina dropped to her knees. She clutched her left eye. Blood leaked between her fingers, dripping onto the hourglass beneath her feet.

One of her eyes could no longer hold on—its surface cracked open. Agonizing pain screamed through her nerves.

"Teacher!!"

"Safina! Sis! Odin-senpai, we have to stop!"

"No! Don’t stop! We can’t! We must not stop!"

Safina turned back, staring at the Dragon Kings with her one remaining eye.

"Even if it costs me my life—I won’t stop! I won’t let all my effort be wasted! I won’t let Atos’s schemes succeed... Please."

Isha clenched her fists. "But you’ve already lost one eye..."

"I still have the other one!"

Safina gritted her teeth, trembling from the pain as she forced herself upright again.

"Come on. Let’s continue!"

Her lone Mirror Abyss Eye shimmered with a solitary light. The once brilliant and intricate patterns had now been stained dark red with blood.

Luckily... she could still feel it. The Time God’s power was slowly beginning to manifest within her.

She dragged her heavy body forward, stepping atop the hourglass beneath her feet, moving slowly toward the Time Throne.

Aurora and the Dragon Kings watched her back, breath held, not making a sound.

And yet... Safina could still faintly hear the trembling in that child’s breath.

She stopped in the center of the hourglass and, with her back to Aurora, spoke slowly.

"Listen, Aurora. I want you to remember this—never forget what happened today. You made your choice. You were brave. You did right by Leon, by the Silver Dragon King, by Noa and your sisters, and by Chronos’s expectations. But I want to see a better you. Do you understand? You have a future far more brilliant than mine... Aurora."

Tears spilled from Aurora’s pink eyes.

"Teacher Safina..."

"Don’t cry, little one... I...."

Her voice grew faint.

"...I can’t stand seeing kids cry."

She kept walking.

But her body had been pushed far past its limit. And with the Time God’s form nearly manifest, she didn’t know if she’d make it to the throne before her body and spirit gave out.

If she did—great. If not... then it had all been for nothing.

Her vision dimmed. The world around her turned black. She could hear her own heartbeat racing faster and faster.

She bit her lip hard.

"Is this... the end...?"

A mortal body... could not bear the weight of a god.

Safina collapsed again, arms limp at her sides. Her sealed left eye continued to bleed.

Through the haze, she heard Aurora, Rosvisser, and Isha calling her name. But she no longer had the strength to respond.

Maybe... this really was the end.

"Na... are you okay?"

Just before losing consciousness completely—Safina thought she heard a familiar voice.

She desperately raised her head, searching for the source.

"Look at you, Na... What a mess you’ve made of yourself. You even ruined your eye."

Whether it was an illusion or a final hallucination... Standing before her was...

"Anita... Is that you? Anita!"

"It’s me, Na. Long time no see."

The girl in the white dress stood quietly before the throne, smiling down at her. That smile... as warm as sunlight.

Ever since hearing of Anita’s death, Safina had seen that smile countless times in her dreams. But when she woke, there was always only darkness.

"Anita... You’re alive! You’re alive!"

"No, Na. I’ve already left. I’m far, far away now."

"But... but you’re standing right in front of me... aren’t you?"

"I’m not really here, Na. I’m in your memory."

Anita’s voice was soft and gentle.

"The day our memories begin to fade... the day I disappear from your heart, that’s the day you’ll forget my face, my voice, and everything we shared. And you’ll never see me again."

"I don’t want that."

Safina’s remaining eye blinked rapidly, tears welling. She cried out desperately,

"Then tell me what to do... What do I have to do to keep you in my memory forever... Tell me, Anita!"

Anita slowly stepped aside, revealing the Time Throne behind her.

"Become the God of Time. Freeze everything in this moment."

Safina’s breathing quickened. She stared at the empty throne and whispered, "I can’t... Anita... I’m dying..."

"You can."

That beautiful apparition walked forward, bent down, and held Safina in a gentle embrace.

Though barely alive, she could still feel... warmth.

Anita rested her forehead against Safina’s, wiping the blood from her cheeks.

"I believe in you. Because... you’re Safina. You’re my best friend."

The warmth vanished.

Safina jolted like she’d awakened from a nightmare. As the voices of the others called to her, she stood again.

The Mirror Abyss Eye in her right eye burst into brilliant, unmatched light. And within the bronze mirror... the figure of her long-lost friend seemed to shimmer.

"I won’t forget you, Anita."

Safina took a step forward.

Her body was already broken from the pain, but she... would not give up now.

Step by step, she moved toward the throne.

At last, Safina stood before the seat of "Time."

She looked down upon the throne. Countless threads of the Time Net spun around her.

In that moment, her friend’s figure was carved forever into her memory.

She smiled, turned... and slowly sat down.

Thus, the continent of Samael welcomed its second God of Time—Safina.