Within the Trial Scenario...

Lucien Zevalis subtly opens his eyes and finds himself in a small village.

No, by the standards of the Randalorion Kingdom, this could be considered a town or even a city. However, as someone who has traveled to many places and seen a great deal of the world, the man doesn’t consider this area to be all that impressive.

The streets aren’t properly paved, and the drainage system is faulty.

Horse-drawn carriages trot along the busy streets, and all manner of people walk around, going about their business. Based on their dressing and the level of development he witnesses, this scene clearly belongs to the recent past; however, one cannot be too sure.

It is very possible that some small kingdoms could actually still be behind the times, thus scenes like this sometimes play out in the present day.

As someone who has seen quite a bit of the Continent, Lucien thinks about all of this.

He sighs deeply and looks around.

The somewhat primitive-looking houses in the area are built in the Nowe’arn fashion. The residents also seem to be Nowe’arn, with practically no influence from the other races. If one looks into the distance, they can see the Manor of the Lord uphill, its magnificent figure towering above all the residents of this territory.

Walking around the area, there are market stalls, commercial areas, residential districts, and many more establishments—all the things you would find in a standard town.

There doesn’t seem to be any tension in the air.

No signs of war or disease.

Certainly, some people are languishing in poverty, as one can easily observe beggars by the roadside or little rascals running around trying to steal pocket change. There are even some dangerous-looking fellows with deadly gleams in their eyes hanging around the dark alleys.

But all of this should be expected from a town of this size.

Not all are fortunate.

Regardless, this appears to be a rather normal town—an odd thing for a Trial Scenario.

However, this doesn’t make Lucien relax in the slightest.

Instead, he allows his wandering eyes to sharpen while thoughts swirl in his mind.

’What should I do first?’

The most urgent thing one must do upon entering a Trial Scenario is to fully assess their environment and make a rapid decision.

Actions taken within the first few moments could be the difference between life and death.

As a seasoned Leviathan, Lucien is not oblivious to this fact.

However, when he casts his gaze around to make yet another observation, he finds himself paralyzed by what he experiences. This sight makes him, someone who has been a Leviathan for more than forty years, pause in his steps.

What exactly does he see?

What could make someone like this stand still?

"Mum, mum... Look at what I made!" A young boy, barely ten years old, runs to his mother with a mechanical construct.

He is wearing a somewhat decent white shirt, with navy blue shorts and slightly polished black sandals. His hands are covered in black oil and what resembles soot, some of the icky darkness even staining his white shirt.

Yet the mother of the boy, who is standing outside a house by the roadside, doesn’t complain.

She notices the stain and simply makes a pained smile.

Then, looking at the construct, she smiles heartily and compliments the boy.

She even rubs his head lovingly.

"It looks great!"

"Look at what it can do!" The boy kneels to drop his creation on the slightly muddy ground and pulls a string from behind the tiny mechanical doll.

Almost immediately, it whirs to life, causing the woman—his mother—to gasp in surprise.

Then, the doll begins to take a few steps forward.

After a brief period, it finally stops, and he picks it back up with satisfaction.

"See? It’s pretty cool, right? The old man said if I keep practicing, I can make even more cool stuff like this in the future! I’m going to be a great engineer!"

"So you want to be an engineer?" the mother asks her son, drawing him nearer despite the roughened state he is in. Compared to him, she looks far more presentable and posh.

Her ’clean’ appearance appears too artificial.

Almost like she is a social climber at best or even a high-end prostitute.

Perhaps both.

After all, why would such a pleasantly dressed woman be in the muddy streets catering for a young boy who calls her ’mother’?

"Nah! Engineering is only my stepping stone! I want to be a toymaker! I’ll make all kinds of toys for all the children of the world! I’ll make them happy with my creations!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes!" The young boy nods passionately. "And one day, I’ll earn enough money so you can retire and you won’t have to work anymore."

"Haha... But your mother is not complaining, you know?"

"Still..." He looks even more determined. "We will spend all our lives on vacation! I want us to enjoy this world and all it has to offer us. There’s definitely so much more for us to see, right?"

"You’re right, my son..." In a quick attempt to change the topic, the mother stares at her son’s creation and points at it while smiling warmly:

"The turtle really looks nice..."

"Mom..." For a second, the boy looks dumbfounded while staring at his mother. "...It’s a child."

"O-oohh...."

"...."

Silence envelops the two of them, somewhat in an awkward fashion.

Then, they burst out laughing.

The laughter is strange... It’s too passionate and loud.

Almost concerning, actually.

As Lucien watches this scene, he can’t help but shudder at the uncanny nature of the situation. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

What about this seemingly ordinary scene pulls him in?

It could be that the boy bears quite a bit of resemblance to him. The dark hair, purple eyes, tall gait, and slim build are almost exact copies of Lucien... but younger.

And the woman...

Her hair is chestnut in color, wavy and short, while her outfit—though elegant by the standards of her environment—is actually nothing too special.

Yet something about her ruby-like eyes strikes him as very fascinating.

’I recognize her!’

Lucien searches his brain for any sign of recollection, but he can only sense a vague remembrance of the woman in front of him.

How is this possible?!

If you discount his loss of memories, Lucien has always had excellent cognitive skills, and he hardly forgets anything. If he recognizes this woman, then surely he should be able to piece together where he met her.

As a Leviathan especially, his mind shouldn’t fail him at this point.

Unless—

’I knew her before I lost those memories. I see now...’ Lucien stares at this scene, and at the world around him, quickly arriving at the most logical yet unexpected conclusion.

’This is my past.’

The young boy is actually young Lucien, while the woman next to him is his mother.

This is the town he grew up in.

The echoes of what used to be a place in the current ruins of the Fertigores Kingdom.

’To think I would actually encounter my past memories as a Trial Scenario...’ Lucien smiles warmly while looking at the scene. ’Is this a sign?’

Although he wants to stop, his eyes remain glued to the two people in front of him.

He can’t look away.

No... He doesn’t want to look away.

Warm, fuzzy feelings which he had long forgotten begin to appear in his heart.

Lucien clutches his chest and hears his own heartbeat.

It is loud... and fast!

Without realizing it, a streak of tears falls down his face while he smiles.

"Mum... mum... Who is that weird man? Why is he looking at us like that?" Young Lucien points at the Leviathan with hints of suspicion and wariness.

The mother, who had been so engrossed with her son, looks at the man.

For a split second, Lucien wants to flee.

With his Conception, he could easily vanish from that position without any of them ever realizing it. However, he doesn’t even bother.

Instead, he lets them notice him.

The moment she sees him, her eyes immediately widen and she stares at him with deep wonder.

"Y-you are..." She is nearly speechless.

"Mum... mum... Why does that man look like me?" the boy points again at Lucien in curiosity, his purple eyes showing great interest.

’It’s because I am you.’

Lucien chuckles to himself before realizing that he is in a Trial Scenario.

Chances are that he has taken on a different appearance.

’Could it be that I am in the body of my father?’ He stares at his hands, then glances at a puddle across from him. ’I am certainly not in my own body, but the resemblance is uncanny.’

Indeed... This is most likely the case.

He is in the body of his father in this Trial Scenario.

Which means that, strangely enough, his entire family is present at this moment.

’What a fateful encounter!’

Trial Scenarios are meant to be pictures of madness.

A sketch of different scenes and periods of history, involving all kinds of inconsistencies that would drive the world into imbalance. It is the role of the Leviathan to identify the issues and resolve them while setting up a perfect conclusion.

The events are also rather random.

But—

’I’ve encountered no inconsistency so far. The chances of getting a Trial Scenario of my own past are almost zero. All of this is simply too coincidental. And yet...’ Lucien takes a step forward, toward his mother.

—His family.

’...I don’t want to go.’

"What do you want, Heathcliff? You ran out on our lives so long ago. Why are you back now?"

The woman stares at him apprehensively.

Her anger is evident, yet there is a softness in her eyes... a somewhat indescribable emotion on her visage that makes Lucien certain that she does not want him to leave either.

’Heathcliff? Is that my father’s name?’ he wonders as he takes a step closer.

"I’m sorry..." he whispers. "I’ve been... away for so long. I didn’t... I should have... I just... But I’m back now... and we could be together again."

More tears fall from his eyes.

His body trembles as his vision turns blurry.

’I... can reunite with my family here. There’s nothing waiting for me beyond this place.’

"Y-you... You mean that?" Tears begin to form in the eyes of the woman.

"Yes... Hilda!"

He jumps toward her in a passionate embrace.

She hugs him back.

The young Lucien looks at the two with confused but curious eyes.

He is still too young, not capable of fully comprehending the complexities of human emotions and the depths of romance.

All he can see is that his mother is crying, so he slightly frowns at the man.

’Stay away from my mother!’ he wants to shout, but he also sees that his mum is smiling.

So which is it?

Even for a smart boy like this, the answer evades him.

As for Lucien Zevalis, he has never felt such comfort in the embrace of a woman before.

Throughout his life, he has taken on all kinds of identities and has been with all manner of people. Leila Krawford was one of such women.

However, he never felt anything for any of them.

Those people were merely accessories to make his mask more believable.

But this... this is different!

’Mom... It’s really you!’ Lucien’s tears flow freely. ’I remember now! I remember your name! I’m remembering everything!’

The world around him seems to vanish as he takes in the emotions and memories that are rushing into his mind like rivers of flowing water.

However, right at that moment, he pauses.

Because...

...He suddenly remembers...

...Something...

...Else!

’NO!’ he screams in his mind. ’NO! NO, THAT CAN’T HAPPEN!’

His body shudders uncontrollably.

’I WON’T LET IT HAPPEN THIS TIME! I WILL PROTECT YOU! ALL OF YOU!’

His heart continues to race.

’I am a Leviathan now! I can do it! I can protect this world... I can protect my family... I will make sure that this Kingdom doesn’t get destroyed. Then we will all live together and enjoy our company. Now that I’m all grown up, Mum doesn’t have to work anymore. We will take as many vacations as we can. I can let little Lucien—ah, no, Dan—pursue his dream and become a toymaker. None of us have to struggle anymore! We’ll leave this small town and go to a bigger place... a better town! No, we’ll leave this Kingdom altogether! We won’t have to worry about anything for the rest of our lives!’

Lucien continues to fantasize about everything, planning his whole life in this false world.

He doesn’t consider it fake at all.

All of this is real!

To him... this is all that matters.

All that will ever matter!

That’s when it happens... The HORROR that he has long dreaded.

RUMBLE!

The sky rapidly turns purple, while the clouds overhead grow dark.

Cracks quickly begin to form, growing like spiderwebs and extending beyond the far reaches of the city. They spread throughout the Kingdom, causing everything around to be filled with an oppressive pressure.

"H-Heathcliff, what’s that? What is happening?!" Hilda shouts in terror as she looks high above, into the chaotic landscape that fills her line of sight.

Lucien can’t help but shudder.

’I thought... I thought I had more time!’ He bites his lip while staring at his mother.

"I’ll handle it, don’t worry! Go inside the house with Dan... Hurry!"

"A-are you sure?" she stutters.

"Yes! I’m the only one that can handle it! Just get to safety!" he shouts, quickly turning to face the only thing standing between him and the life he desires.

"O-okay... B-but..."

For a moment, there is silence.

Then, she hugs him from behind... her gentle body pressing against his hardened back.

"...You’ll be back, right?"

"...."

For a moment, there is only silence in the air.

Then, Lucien smiles.

He holds her hands gently as he turns toward her, staring with all sincerity. "Yes... I will be back."

They stare at each other for what seems like a long time, but only a second passes.

The two smile at each other, and the woman nods.

"Okay..."

She holds the hand of her son and quickly drags him indoors.

Due to the hurried nature of things, his toy accidentally falls to the ground, landing in the mud.

Lucien notices his pained expression as he reaches out for the mechanical construct, but his mother doesn’t show the same patience and consideration as before.

She drags him into the house and locks the door.

"Heh..." Lucien chuckles silently and reaches for the turtle-looking human toy.

He lifts the small object and stares at it keenly.

’So I wanted to be a toymaker...’

He tugs at the strings of the object and places it on the ground yet again.

The object starts to move.

It crawls forward with all its energy, showing no hesitation at all.

Somehow, Lucien finds this satisfying to see.

Satisfying... but also sad.

Then—

CRACK!!!

Reality suddenly shatters, and something emerges from the darkened sky above.

It is neither a man nor a beast.

Not a Magivore either.

By all definitions, one could call this existence a monster.

But... it is more than that!

With one gaping eye, stretched to its limits, it watches the world it descends into.

Several tentacle-like appendages make up its grotesque, purplish-gray body. Several mouths appear all over the tentacles and lower torso of the beast, and a much larger maw droops at its jaw area, revealing greenish-black liquid.

As the acrid-looking saliva drips from all of its open mouths, purple tongues lash out.

All of this while the tentacles squirm and dance with madness.

Glitches of all kinds appear all over its body, as though it is phasing in and out of existence.

Like it is alive but also dead.

Present and absent.

All of these culminate in the descending creature whose mass morphs and shifts according to its whims. It is no smaller than three thousand meters, however, and its body causes everything around it to rise and fall.

Thunder crackles in the sky while black lightning streaks in the air.

All of them welcome its descent.

This creature is a personification of insanity.

It is an abomination.

A fracture in the domain of logic.

A pitiful existence that cannot be called an existence.

A being of pure malice and chaos!

A Temporal Beast that descends through the Breach and consumes all that exists.

—A DEMIURGE!