Turning Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Pay attention, Yudrain Aile, you criminal."

A voice that sounded like it belonged to another realm resonated above him.

"You are a villain who abandoned your obligations and duties as the commander of the cavalry. You dared to plot treason under the ridiculous pretense of saving the world. You invaded the holy forbidden grounds in an attempt to pilfer the World Sphere. Do you confess to your role in the assassination of the Duke of Peletta nine years ago, the fall of the Pearl Tower seven years ago, the Red Field Rebellion five years ago, and the countless other crimes too numerous to list? Furthermore, when your treachery was exposed, you shamelessly tried to escape by conspiring with foreign nations."

A bitter smirk touched Yuder’s lips. The sequence of accusations made him sound like one of history's most notorious villains.

Was there even a single person in this crowd who cared for the truth, or were they all just here to recite a scripted conclusion?

The reality they preferred to ignore was that the world stood on the edge of total ruin. Instead, they wanted to believe that everything would be fixed by executing a lowly commoner, a half-baked Omega who had the audacity to plot against his betters.

For years, Yuder had traveled across the lands, searching for anyone who would listen or believe his warnings. The signs indicating an approaching catastrophe were everywhere.

Even Yuder couldn't fully comprehend the scale of the disaster that was creeping toward them, yet his words fell on deaf ears.

Known for his abrasive and strange temperament, Yuder had no family or allies to support him. He was a drifter, eventually branded as a madman and cast into total isolation.

Even at the very end, he remained alone.

He wondered if things would have been different had he accepted the invitation of the neighboring empire. Looking toward the distant imperial throne with his one remaining eye, Yuder’s vision blurred.

The seat of the Emperor was vacant. The ruler who once whispered that Yuder was his only trusted confidant—the one who assigned him all the dirty work that couldn't be done in the light—had abandoned him the moment he was shackled.

Instead of the Emperor, a man stood beside the throne, clutching a staff made of black thorn-wood and encrusted with crimson magic stones.

That very staff had belonged to Yuder just a short time ago. The cavalry commander’s uniform the man wore, and even the privilege of standing next to the throne, had all been Yuder’s once.

The man had formerly been Yuder’s subordinate. Someone who used to be too afraid to even meet Yuder's gaze had now stolen his rank. He held the staff with an insufferable air of arrogance.

But who was there left to blame?

Looking back, he had sacrificed far too much in the name of the greater good. He had convinced himself he would die without regrets, but as the moment arrived, he felt otherwise. A chaotic whirlpool of thoughts spun through his mind.

The pride and stubbornness that had been his only support.

The mountain of unfinished business.

The mysteries that remained unsolved.

The comrades who had already passed away.

The state of the world after his death.

And… the face of a person he had spent a lifetime trying to forget.

"..."

“No criminal in history has ever reached such levels of depravity. Despite the heinous act of exploiting the Emperor’s trust and the empire’s resources for his own gain, this man shows no remorse. Our Emperor has fallen ill from the shock of granting such power to a man who lacks both honor and responsibility. Therefore, death is the only punishment fitting for his crimes. Today, he shall be executed by beheading. Long live the Emperor and his eternal grace! That is all!”

The air filled with cheers and falling flower petals. Soldiers grabbed Yuder and hauled him toward the high platform.

The altar had been built specifically for this execution, featuring a massive guillotine with a shimmering blue blade, positioned so every spectator could see the head fall.

Broken by relentless torture, Yuder’s body collapsed limply under the heavy blade. Before his mana hole was destroyed, he was always surrounded by obedient energy and rarely felt pain; now, the unfamiliar agony made every breath a struggle. Yuder wheezed for air as his sight began to fail.

Usually, a condemned man is allowed a final statement, but Yuder was denied even that. He looked up at the sky, which was a shade of blue so vibrant it actually hurt to look at.

It was a strange feeling. He expected to feel enough resentment to weep blood, but he didn't feel that terrible. In fact, the idea of being freed from these exhausting burdens felt almost refreshing.

After all, what was the point of worrying about the future when he was about to cease existing?

It was they who had ignored the warnings written in blood, not him.

Ah, that was it. He had simply been tired this entire time...

As that realization took hold, the blade dropped from above.

Death felt neither sweet nor painful.

------

Yuder’s life began in a tiny village in a remote corner of the Orr Empire.

He was raised by his great-grandfather after his parents died, but he was left completely alone at thirteen when his guardian also passed away. To survive, he spent his days gathering wood and herbs to sell.

His life changed forever at eighteen, following the descent of a massive Red Stone from the heavens—an event that shocked the entire world.

By a stroke of luck, the stone landed in an uninhabited mountain range in the heart of the Orr Empire. In a flash, the world was transformed and saturated with a mysterious energy.

From that moment on, ordinary people began to manifest strange abilities. A child who had never touched a weapon could split boulders with a twig, and a simple village girl could wipe out a pack of monsters with a mere gesture.

The source of these miracles was the strange energy that had flooded the world upon the Red Stone’s arrival.

Confused by the phenomenon, people began to refer to this energy as a form of mana.

While mana had always existed, it was previously only accessible to a handful of geniuses who spent decades in rigorous training. The difference now was that this mana was available to the masses.

Historically, only mages who studied for years in towers or knights who mastered sword Qi through brutal discipline belonged to that elite minority.

In contrast, those who newly awakened their power did not need to practice. Their abilities were as natural to them as using their own limbs, regardless of their age or gender.

The fact that people could wield such immense power immediately upon awakening sent shockwaves through society.

Consequently, the social hierarchy that had stood for a millennium began to crack. Tension rose between the traditional holders of authority and the newly empowered "Awakeners."

As it became clear that these individuals could grow even stronger if certain conditions were met, the friction only intensified.

The rulers of various nations struggled with how to manage these powerful new citizens.

The Orr Empire, Yuder’s homeland, decided to form a new organization by recruiting these individuals through a national decree.

[All those who possess power, gather at the capital's Imperial Palace. If you can prove your abilities and swear your loyalty to the Emperor and the Empire, you shall be granted entry into the Cavalry!]

The announcement spread like a forest fire, eventually reaching the isolated mountain village where Yuder lived.

Yuder was one of those who had gained strange abilities after the Red Stone fell.

Suddenly, he could fell trees without using an axe. He could cross rivers while staying perfectly dry. He could ignite his stove without any kindling and kill predators by flicking pebbles with his fingers.

Still, he had no desire to show off. He assumed he would spend the rest of his days in the small cabin where he had lived with his grandfather.

However, hearing the news while selling wood at the market stirred something in him. The Imperial Palace was recruiting people like him—an opportunity a commoner would never normally have.

His grandfather’s final wish was for him not to be greedy, but Yuder was still young. To a boy his age, the decree promised a life of glory and adventure.

He was unaware then that every choice has a price, or that he was ill-suited for the path he was choosing.

Yuder packed his bags and departed. He told himself that if he failed to join the Cavalry, he would simply return home.

Upon arriving in the capital for the first time, he settled into the cheapest, most run-down inn he could find. In that dilapidated lodging, ironically named "Giant's Sleep," the man who should have been executed by the guillotine opened his eyes once more.

"...What is happening?"

No matter how long he stared into the grime-covered mirror, the image remained the same. Yuder looked at his reflection with total bewilderment.

It was a face that still looked youthful. Dark hair hung over his forehead. His neck, which should have been sliced through, was perfectly intact without even a mark.

The rough, poorly made clothes and the bulky shoes that made walking a chore felt entirely real. No matter where he looked, he saw the version of himself from eleven years ago—the day he first arrived in the capital.