Apophis looked like a sandstorm raging through darkness, and at the same time like a surging mass of black mist.

  From afar it seemed slow, but that was an illusion.

  In an instant, the entire area was dyed in darkness, and the light of the sun vanished.

  By the time one realized the sheer scale of what was approaching, it was already impossible to flee or hide.

  The five siblings standing at the village entrance were swept up by it before they could even react.

  The entire village was instantly trapped inside the pitch-black body of Apophis.

  People struggled within the darkness, then fell one by one like scattered straw.

  Their eyes rolled white as they collapsed, unable to move.

  Some ran into their houses, others fled in the opposite direction—but escape meant nothing.

  Soon, everyone in the village lay on the ground, as if asleep, never waking.

  Amid that cauldron of chaos, the five siblings and Wadji were miraculously unharmed.

  Apophis surged around them like a living wave, enclosing them.

  Snapping back to their senses, the siblings released their power all at once.

  Elaton’s golden sword began to shine, Eshiel formed an explosive arrow, and Tamar’s massive vines burst up from the earth.

  At the very moment of collision—

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  A sun of white daylight suddenly poured down.

  The darkness vanished.

  Blinded, the group raised their arms to shield their faces.

  When they looked around again, the black chaos was gone as if it had never existed.

  “A dream? Did we just dream all that?”

  As if to deny those words, the village ground was littered with collapsed bodies.

  The people who had lain unconscious with rolled-back eyes gradually began to recover.

  One by one, they rose to their feet, looking around in confusion.

  “What… what was that?”

  An absurd situation, like a dream in broad daylight.

  Azael slowly walked over to Wadji.

  He studied Wadji’s eyes for a moment, then looked down at the ground beneath his feet.

  There, etched into the earth, was the trace of a massive, rotating vortex.

  “Wadji…”

  Wadji’s eyes widened, his face pale with fear.

  “Who… who are you?”

  ***

  “I didn’t lie. I really don’t remember anything from before.”

  While the siblings pressed Wadji with questions, Azael crouched down and examined the vortex marks, running his fingers over the ground.

  “A trace of divinity… and an overwhelming one at that…”

  He stood up and brushed the dust from his hands.

  Wadji covered his face and began to cry.

  “I really don’t know! I didn’t do anything! I don’t know!”

  Eshiel stepped closer and gently patted Wadji’s shoulder.

  Azael spoke in a calm, reassuring voice.

  “Wadji. I believe you. But… I think you’re the one we’ve been looking for.”

  Then he took hold of Wadji’s arm.

  “I’ll help you recover your memories. Nothing’s changed. Until then, you can stay with us.”

  *Patreon is now open. You can enjoy the next episode and illustrations there.

  *For managing the series, I will upload twice every three days.