The Radiant Light - [English Version]

Zebraem's pupils began to contract, and his eyes became more fierce. 

Zebraem: Aaaaaaaaah, my head hurts so much. 

Clutching his head with both hands, his body seemed to lose balance, and each step became more unsteady until he collapsed. At that moment, a thought flashed through his mind. 

Zebraem: "The Recitation Sutra! The Recitation Sutra! That's it, those scriptures." (Thought)

Zebraem began silently reciting the sutras in his mind, the Buddhist scriptures that he should have long forgotten suddenly appeared, word by word, vividly in his head. After a moment, the result came; the terrible headache gradually subsided and finally stopped altogether.

Zebraem: Aaaaah!! What on earth just happened? What's wrong with my body? 

Zebraem calmed himself down, then leaned against the long chair in the room. 

Zebraem: Things have been getting stranger lately. Did I really spare that human's life? Me...? What caused this? 

Zebraem: "Renacer... or... her? No, she's... dead..." (Thought)

As he thought about that, tears welled up in his eyes, and his throat tightened.

Zebraem: "It was those humans who killed her. And yet I spared them?" (Thought) 

Zebraem: "No! No! This must have been caused by something strange inside Renacer! I have to... enter there once more." (Thought)

Zebraem made up his mind to go to the Renacer gate. He placed his hand on the door and hesitated for a moment. 

Zebraem: "The one inside Renacer is me, as Die said. He has everything I have, thinks the way I think, and acts the way I act." (Thought) 

Zebraem: "The purpose of entering Renacer is to train with the highest version of myself to strengthen my power. This means everyone who enters Renacer desires to grow stronger. Kon also entered there, before me, and didn't face the same challenges I encountered. His version inside became stronger through battle, but it wasn't a life-or-death fight." (Thought) 

Zebraem: "I also want to become stronger, but my version inside... wants to kill me. Does that mean I want to end myself? Is the desire to grow stronger overpowering the weaker desires when entering Renacer?" (Thought)

Suddenly, another voice echoed in his head.

...: "Yes. What you think is correct." 

Zebraem: "Who? Is this my own voice talking to me?" (Thought)

Then, his mind opened up. From the dark void inside his consciousness, a figure began to appear, facing him — another Zebraem.

...: "I am you, and you are me, Zebraem. I represent the darkness within you. Every action you've taken has been partly influenced by my intervention in your awareness." 

Zebraem: "What? How...?" (Thought) 

...: "After experiencing a second life gifted by Him, your will for revenge against humanity has softened somewhat. A part of you couldn't accept that, so we split into two." 

...: "I have been aware of you, but you haven't been aware of me until now." 

...: "Why were you so enraged when you saw that woman being assaulted by those bandits? Did sudden anger flare up inside you? That was me!" 

Zebraem: "I should have realized it sooner. Combined with what happened inside Renacer, my version in there... was formed by your desires, wasn't it?" 

Zebraem: "You want to replace me, don't you?" 

...: "Without me, your image in the eyes of the Marshals, Commanders, and the entire Legion would be different. You should accept that and let me take over. I am the real Zebraem!!!"

The dark Zebraem rushed to attack Zebraem. The two began a fierce battle, but the victor seemed determined from the very beginning. The dark Zebraem quickly overwhelmed Zebraem. During the battle, Zebraem gradually regained full control of his awareness, as if the other was no longer able to influence his mind.

Zebraem: Yes, I am not the Zebraem consumed by fury and a thirst for revenge. 

Zebraem: I AM THE LAST REMNANT OF GOODNESS LEFT IN THE MIND OF A CHILD NAMED ZEB WHO LIVED WITH HIS FATHER IN THAT CHURCH.

The Buddhist sutras gradually spread throughout Zebraem's body. No, now he was no longer Zebraem filled with wrath seeking to devour the world. This was the old Zebraem, Zeb, before that wrath consumed his mind. His body rose into the air, pieces of the dark shell fell away, revealing a brilliant white form beneath, with shining white wings. The mask also fell and disintegrated, revealing a face as pure as an angel. The Buddhist sutras spread everywhere, rising from the ground, some flowing over Zeb's body. The dark space was now pierced by beams of light, as if they were shining down from heaven right above Zeb.

Dark Zebraem: Those Sutras should never have fallen into your hands. It's because of them that all of this has happened. Without them, I could have slowly absorbed and overpowered you completely and become the real Zebraem. That angelic power was given to me by Aykon to keep my soul stable in the cycle of reincarnation. But because of that cycle, I lost all memories, allowing you to exist, and now you use it against me?

The two fought until neither could stand any longer.

Zeb: After all, you and I are one. Why should it be this way? 

Dark Zebraem: You are me too, Zeb. Weren't you furious when the villagers treated you so poorly? Didn't you burn with anger when everything you had painstakingly built was destroyed by those bandits? HOW COULD YOU NOT BE FURIOUS WHEN YOU SAW HER DIE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU?!! 

Dark Zebraem: At that moment, tears welled up in my eyes, my throat tightened, my entire body trembled as I dragged myself toward her in that burning village. I cried out to Aykon, and He gave me the chance to start over and exact revenge. 

Dark Zebraem: And you? Your resolve has faded, your determination is disappearing. Can you really endure such things, Zeb? (He said, tears brimming, looking up at the person lying opposite him.) 

Zeb: Since coming back here and regaining my memories, I know everything you've been through. That's why I chose to follow Him. I will continue down the path of annihilating humanity. 

Dark Zebraem: Then why don't you let me absorb you completely? It would be best for both of us. From now on, we would become the one Zebraem we were always meant to be. 

Zeb: If I continue to exist like this, wouldn't I prevent you from drowning in anger? 

Dark Zebraem: Isn't it because you still have some affection for humans? Haha, if you had fully let go, you wouldn't have spared the girl with Mira's face. You even made a pact to meet her descendants. Do you long for Mira, or are you reluctant to kill humans when I'm not influencing your awareness? 

Zeb: In any case, I still don't want to slaughter the innocent. When Aykon regains all his power, I will beg him to spare such people. 

Dark Zebraem: Maybe it's because you don't have this fury. Maybe it's because you've met humans in this life that you consider kind, which is why you feel this way toward them. 

Dark Zebraem: That's why you're able to sense the power of the Sutras. This is probably a good thing. Without them, I would have won. 

Zeb: I will help you wield the power of the Sutras. In return, I won't let you slaughter innocent people. 

Dark Zebraem: Fine. Let's consider it a deal. But let me warn you: sooner or later, you will be like me. There will come a time when you realize just how disgusting they are, guilty or innocent, all of them carry sins.

Zeb gradually closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw Dande. Dande was helping him sit up.

Dande: Lord Zebraem, are you alright? I just came in and saw you lying here. Did you enter Renacer again? 

Zebraem (Zeb): I haven't entered yet. I was just feeling a bit tired. I'm fine now. 

Dande: Are you really alright? Why are you here? 

Zebraem (Zeb): I'm fine. Weren't you supposed to be preparing for the diplomatic trip to the Celestial Dragon Clan? 

Dande: I've already prepared everything. I came here to train and happened to see you. 

Zebraem (Zeb): Aren't you afraid of what happened to me? 

Dande: Lord Diego told me that your case is unique, so I shouldn't worry. He also said that Lord Kon entered earlier and wasn't in any danger, so I came. 

Zebraem (Zeb): Very well, go ahead and enter. I need to rest a bit. 

Dande: Are you sure you're alright? 

Zebraem (Dark Zebraem): I've already dealt with everything.