"Hell welcomes losers."
A voice echoed through the void.
"Since you're here… are you one?"
Jayden's eyes snapped open.
Darkness.
Endless.
The room stretched beyond sight — a vast, suffocating space lit only by rows of flickering candles pinned to distant walls. Their flames danced weakly, barely pushing back the shadows.
The air…
It smelled like ash.
Burnt. Heavy. Ancient.
It crawled into his lungs with every breath.
At first, it choked him.
Then… he adapted.
Step…
Step…
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Measured.
Coming closer.
Jayden frowned, still lying on a cold surface.
A bed.
"…What happened…?" he muttered. "Where am I…?"
He pushed the covers off and tried to sit up.
His body responded.
But his vision—
"What…?"
Blurry.
Distorted.
He rubbed his eyes.
Nothing changed.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]: Visual sight has been blurred due to an unknown external force.
Recommendation: Vacate the area immediately.
"I can't see… what is this…?"
His breathing sharpened.
"What does this world want from me…? What did I do…?"
The footsteps stopped.
Right in front of him.
Jayden slowly lifted his head.
Through the blur…
He saw color.
Red.
Black.
Swirling.
Like two flames fused into one… sitting where eyes should be.
Watching him.
"Ah… yeah, that's my bad."
A calm voice.
Casual.
Almost amused.
"You're seeing like that because of me."
A pause.
Cloth shifted.
"Give me a second."
Darkness snapped into clarity.
Jayden's vision returned instantly.
Standing before him…
A man.
Blindfolded.
Yet somehow—
He felt like he was being seen through.
"Wait… who are y—" Jayden stopped himself. "No… where am I?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
Then—
He laughed.
"You really don't remember?"
He stepped closer.
"You got your ass killed by a girl."
Silence.
Jayden froze.
"…What?"
His mind scrambled.
Fragments.
A battlefield.
A smile.
Warmth.
Trust.
"No… that's not…"
"Yeah," the man cut in. "She killed you."
Another step closer.
"And now?"
A smirk formed beneath the blindfold.
"Welcome to hell."
Jayden grabbed his head.
Pressure.
Pain.
Something was breaking inside him.
"That's impossible… Iris wouldn't—"
"Wouldn't?"
The man's voice dropped.
Sharp.
Cold.
"Then explain this."
He leaned in.
"Why are you in her domain?"
Jayden's breath caught.
"You think this is friendship?"
A pause.
Then—
"Or a trap?"
"No…" Jayden whispered.
"WAKE UP."
The man grabbed his collar and yanked him forward.
"THIS IS HELL."
The room trembled.
"Nothing lives here."
"Nothing escapes."
"And NOTHING gets here by accident."
Jayden's eyes shook.
"I… don't understand…"
"Of course you don't," the man said.
Then—
His tone changed.
Lower.
More personal.
"That's why I gave you that power in the first place."
Jayden froze.
"…What?"
"I wanted you to see the truth for yourself."
A small laugh.
Bitter.
"Because words alone wouldn't work on someone like you."
"Iris betrayed me."
The words dropped like a blade.
"More times than this world has ever rotated."
Something snapped.
[SYSTEM ERROR]: Heartbeat irregular.
ERROR… ERROR… ERROR…
Fragments of memory shattered.
A smiling Iris.
Gone.
Replaced.
Twisted.
A grin.
Cold.
Standing over his body.
"…What…?"
Jayden's voice cracked.
His hands trembled uncontrollably.
Fear.
Rage.
Confusion.
All colliding at once.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]: Current Level — 12
Flame Aspect — Fully Measured
Unlockable Skills Available
"…She betrayed me…?"
Jayden whispered.
"Yes," the man said softly.
Too softly.
"And we're going to make her pay for it."
He stepped back.
Composed now.
Controlled.
"Crying won't get you anywhere."
"Sitting here won't change your future."
"And hesitating?"
A small smirk.
"That'll just get you killed again."
He extended his hand.
"Name's Fade."
A pause.
"Nice to meet you… again, Jayden."
Jayden stared at the hand.
His mind was still breaking.
But something deeper…
Darker…
Was starting to respond.
END OF CHAPTER 19