1 Miracle Snow

In a snowy plane, a man stood bare against the night. Aurora was dancing in the sky but no stars were present. His hands had the color of blue hue while the condition of his feet was unseen as they were buried under the snow. His torso was painted with blood that was not his and his eyes were closed as if he let nature embraced his figure.

The chilling wind passed by but the sound of other living beings was naught. No plants, not a bird in sight, and the only huge mountain in the vicinity was half-destroyed.

In this silent night, a clapping was heard coming from behind the man. He still kept his eyes closed as if he didn't hear it even though it was getting closer and closer, and closer.

"I cannot believe it, you did the impossible! A godly feat! Ashamed, nobody was there to witness it but me."

The man slowly opened his eyes to saw a figuratively healthy old man. His white beard was as long as his legs and his white hair was tied to a bun. He wore simple clothing with fabrics made from fine silk. Despite the weary eyes and the skin that had bested the test of time, the chilling cold did not affect him at all.

"I.. Don't care old man."

The old man looked at his eyes who was half-opened. No joy was present behind those precious jewels but instead, a longing and relief. He could see that the body was tired, but those firm muscles seemed to be made of Damascus steel as it stood tall against the chilling wind, unfazed.

The old man furrowed his eyebrows before he took a deep sigh.

"You are truly unfortunate, an unfortunate child you are. They called you a monster, but they do not know why you turned one."

"One more useless word coming out of your mouth and your heart will stop beating the next second."

Though they were only half-opened, the sharp eyes that were visible stared deep into the old man's soul. However, instead of getting angry, the old man smiled and apologize.

"You're right, there is no need to recall the past. What's important now, is our promise. However, let me remind you, do you still want to do this? You might forget me you know."

"Do I look like I'm going to back down now? After everything that I've done?"

The old man sighed before saying, "That was a foolish question, I apologize."

"Just hurry up old man, I can feel my life fleeting away."

The old man put his hands together before slowly separating them apart. A golden scroll was gradually revealed to the man's gaze. The item was tied with a red string to a knot and the glistening glow of the scales it was made was ever mesmerizing.

"Reverse Scale Scroll, the only thing that could reverse time and also send a soul back in time. Many deities tried to activate it but failed miserably because of the pain they felt when the extraction began."

The old man furrowed his eyebrows before he continued, "Once it began, I cannot even fathom the pain you will feel."

"I don't care... It is my only hope after all..."

The old man smiled before he threw the scroll at him, "Pull the string and persevere."

"Heh," the man smirked before he vigorously pulled the red string. The scroll immediately opened and floated right in front of him before his bare figure glowed with golden light. His fairly long black hair fluttered before he gritted his teeth in the enormous feeling he was having.

His body was rejecting the soul being extracted just as the soul rejected to leave the host. It was the natural defense mechanism and to fight it would mean to activate every single pain receptor he had, as a warning that he was 'dying'.

"ARGHHHHH! HUARGHHH!!"

The man finally screamed but he couldn't even roll over in the cold snow. His veins started to pop out as all of his muscles contracted.

"Now is the battle of will! How much do you want to go back?!" shouted the old man.

The man glared at him but with the pain he felt, he couldn't utter a single word.

"Hey... Don't be sad..."

A very familiar voice rang inside his head. It was a gentle voice that calmed his heart. A voice that he was longing for. A voice that he couldn't hear anymore.

"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

The heavens finally heard his cry as shimmering light rain down upon his figure. He no longer felt the cold of his surrounding as his body floated.

"Is this miracle?" muttered the old man, "Hmm?!"

He turned back to see a middle-aged man was running toward the two of them with blades in each side of his hands.

The sound of a clashed blade immediately reverberated around the plane. One sword against two, both of them looked at each other before the attacker shouted, "Chronos you mad!"

The old man smiled before he placed his left hand on his face, removing a thin layer of a mask from it. "I know you would see through my disguise, my friend."

The old man's face turned younger almost the same age as the attacker and his body was also reformed as well as his skin was rejuvenated.

Both of them stared at each other with only their swords having a standoff in between, struggling to push one another.

"You! What are you doing?! He killed all the humans alive! Even most of the lower deities are dead under his hands! We must stop him before he wiped us all out!"

"No, he won't, his journey in this time is over."

The attacker raised his eyebrows before he realized what he meant, "Reverse Scale Scroll?! Did you give him that scroll?! Weren't you going to use that to...!!"

"Exactly! I ordered him to kill all those humans, demonic beasts, plotted war after war, all to strengthen his soul, for this moment! And I will not let you interfere with this!"

"But what will you gain?! If he was going to be the one that goes back in time then how are you gonna save your wife?!"

The now middle-aged man smiled, "A son will always save his mother."

The attacker opened his eyes wide as he heard his revelation. Every 'whys' in his head suddenly had an answer on its own with that one single sentence.

"You hear that kid? If you can hear your old man, please use the name that we always wanted to give you.

"Lyounus Laventain, I love you, my son."

The light emitted from the golden scroll turned brighter and brighter until it enveloped the vast world.