infinity transmigrate

The first time Kael saw the man, the man was already smiling at him.

Not a "hello" smile.

Not even a "you're screwed" smile.

No!

This smile said:

  I've known you longer than you've known yourself.

Which is never a great way to meet someone.

_____________________________________________________________________________

They were scouting a collapsed metro station beneath Sector 10. Rusted beams jutted from the tunnel's collapse like the ribs of a dead god.

Water dripped from high above, echoing into the station's depths. Silas had just said, "It's too quiet." Everyone knew this phrase brought disasters.

They moved deeper into the old corridors. Their flashlights swept over moldy tiles and half-flooded tracks. They'd searched for hours, but the station yielded nothing useful.

"This sucks," Finn muttered, kicking an empty can that disappeared into the shadows.

"I didn't expect a golden stash," Riven said, her eyes darting between shadows for hidden threats. 

"But even rats leave behind scraps."

"Mm-hm," Silas grunted in agreement.

Kael adjusted the sword on his back. He'd made a temporary scabbard from a sweater he borrowed from Silas. Still, the blade hit his shoulder with each step, which was really annoying. 

'I need a scabbard that fits this thing,' he thought. His gaze drifted to the others behind him, moving cautiously in formation.

"This whole thing feels pointless," he muttered.

Riven didn't even glance back.

"We're already here. We look. That's how this works."

As they walked, they saw the tunnel divide into five sections ahead, each shrouded in darkness.

"Maybe we'll find supplies," Riven said, glancing at the tunnels to sound convincing.

"Or maybe not," Finn mumbled, staring at the darkness like it might stare back.

"Relax," Kael said. "It's not like some guy's going to suddenly pop up—"

"DING-DING! WRONG ANSWER!"

They froze in sudden surprise. A human voice was the last thing they expected, especially in this desolation.

A playful and cruel voice rang, echoing through the whole station. He emerged from the tunnel, stepping out of the shadows to show his full figure.

Clap! Clap!

"After a long time, I met my friend. What a joyous reunion!"

The man walked toward them, clapping as if their stunned silence was part of a bad play.

He wore a white suit, white gloves. His pale silver hair was tied back with a ribbon. But most noticeable were his handsome face and cruel eyes, which seemed to glow like a snake's.

 The only thing missing was a banner screaming: 

 HELLO, I AM THE VILLAIN.

But his smile, directed solely at Kael, was like that of a well-known neighbor. It said everything.

Kael stopped walking. The others did too.

Riven raised her blade. Silas's grip tightened on his rebar.

Finn whispered, "Why's he dressed like that?"

Kael didn't answer. He couldn't. He'd forgotten how to breathe.

"Kael," the man said warmly, making him shudder. His voice was silk dipped in venom.

"You haven't changed at all."

Kael's hand drifted to the hilt of the sword on his back. "Do I know you?" he asked carefully.

"Oh no!" the man chuckled, "not yet."

He walked forward slowly, as if he owned the tunnel and the others were mere background noise. His eyes never left Kael.

"Back off," Riven snapped.

The man stopped and tilted his head, amused. "And you are?"

"The one who kills creepy guys like you."

He grinned. "Delightful. I see you're still collecting strays, Kael. Still pretending to care about others?"

Kael flinched. The word—pretending—hit him deeper than it should've, making him feel guilty, as if he'd done something wrong.

"If you take another step—" Riven barked, pointing her hunting knife "—I'll chop your handsome head off, so don't move."

Erevas didn't say anything, only grinned at her as if thoroughly enjoying the exchange. He took one step forward.

Kael, meanwhile, reached for the hilt of the sword still on his back.

"Who are you?"

The man raised both hands. "Oh, right. My apologies. How rude of me." 

He bowed. Deep and formal. Like a noble in a play, Kael couldn't remember. 

"I'm Erevas. You killed me once. Or tried to. Honestly, it's hard to keep track of you these days."

This time, there were no system pings, nor was there even a "Villain Identified" banner. But every time he saw Erevas's face, a chill bled into Kael's spine.

"YOU—YOU are—" He stepped back, eyes wide with shock. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, a feeling he'd long forgotten.

"Hey, Kael," Riven grabbed his arm before he could fall to the ground.

"Are you okay?"

"Hey, you freak, what did you do to that kid?" Silas aimed his rebar at Erevas and stepped forward.

"Don't—" Kael choked out, trying to stop Silas from lunging at Erevas.

Kael stood up, but he still hadn't recovered from his previous shock.

"Why?" Silas stopped, turning to Kael. "I can kill that freak, then we can—"

"YOU CAN'T!" Kael interrupted, yelling. Silas and his friends shuddered at Kael's outburst.

The moment he heard Erevas's name, the fog cleared from his memories.

What he recalled was more horrifying than anything he had ever remembered. And behind that fog, all he heard was screaming. 

Screaming of his endless agony.

_______________________________________________________________________________

"You… were part of the Fracture Wars," Kael said, his voice trembling as he faced Erevas, supported by his friends.

"Ding ding ding," Erevas said cheerfully. "Ah, so your memories are finally waking up."

"I killed you. In Veyra."

"Oh, you think you did."

Kael's pulse thundered in his ears. "I remember. You were—"

"Ah-ah," Erevas interrupted, wagging a finger. "This is the part where you get angry. Usually something like, 'You monster!' Then I launch into my villain monologue. Do you want to skip it? I have a headache."

Finn leaned toward Silas. "Are they… rivals?"

Silas blinked. "That would explain so much."

"Yeah," Finn whispered, "like a backstabbing best friend."

"Shut up," Kael muttered. He pointed his sword at Erevas. "What do you want?"

Erevas sighed. "Still so tense. Relax, Kael. I didn't come to fight."

"That's what people say before they fight."

"Fair," Erevas nodded. "But truly—I came to warn you."

Riven narrowed her eyes. "About what?"

"The Gate," Erevas said. "The real one. The one buried under this rotting world."

Kael froze. "You know about the core Gate?"

"I helped build it."

The silence that followed wasn't empty. It was crushing.

Kael's voice dropped. "That Gate destroyed six sectors."

"Yes, it's very tragic. And at the same time, incredible."

Riven took a step forward, blade raised. Erevas didn't blink.

"Touch me," he said calmly, "and your little friend"—he nodded at Finn—"will know what it feels like to lose a heart from within."

Finn let out a small, terrified squeak.

Silas raised his weapon. "Try it."

Erevas smiled. "Ah. The loyal dog."

"Better a dog than… whatever you are."

Kael stepped between them. "Enough."

Erevas clapped once. "There he is. That righteous spark. Still pretending you're better than me."

"I am."

Erevas's smile wavered. "That's what you said before you buried your sword in my chest."

Kael's hand brushed the hilt of his blade. Erevas tilted his head. "Go ahead. Try again."

But Kael didn't draw. Because the memories were still coming.

_______________________________________________________________________________

He saw black towers burning under red skies. Erevas had stood beside him once. Fighting beside him. They had saved worlds together.

Before Erevas changed.

Before Kael made the mistake.

Before everything fell apart.

_______________________________________________________________________________

"I'll see you soon, Kael," Erevas said, turning away. "When the next Gate opens." He paused. Just once. 

"Oh," he added, not looking back, "pick a side this time. Last time you tried to save everyone... and lost everything at the end."

_______________________________________________________________________________

Then, like mist caught in the wind, he dissolved into shadows and vanished.

No one spoke for a long time after Erevas left. Then Finn finally broke the silence.

"So... you're his evil twin?"

Kael sat down heavily on a cracked bench. "I don't know who he is anymore."

"Was he always like that?" Riven asked.

"No. He used to be... better. Smarter. Braver. I followed him once."

"Sounds familiar," she muttered.

Silas crossed his arms. "You trust him?"

Kael shook his head. "I remember him. That's the worst."

_______________________________________________________________________________

They made camp early that day. They didn't mention Erevas to Kael, nor did he bring him up.

He sat alone, the sword beside him. He watched the shadows move, as if they'd learned a new trick.

Riven sat next to him without a question.

"You okay?"

"No."

She nodded. "You will be."

They sat in silence for a while. Then—

"Did we really look like rivals?" Kael muttered.

Riven blinked. Then snorted. "Honestly? Yeah. Disaster couple vibes."

Kael groaned. "I hate this timeline."

"Get in line."

Kael didn't sleep.

But he had no choice 

Because Erevas had smiled too early. Like he already knew the ending. And that scared Kael more than anything.