Chapter 20

The dark void around Raul suddenly vanished, swallowed by a blinding white light. He shielded his eyes, but the light felt overwhelming, as if it was piercing right through him.

Slowly, the brightness faded, revealing a familiar setting—his former boss’s sleek, tech-themed office from his old life.

The room was bathed in soft, bluish light from glowing LED strips lining the walls. The faint hum of electronics filled the air, and the polished black desk in the center seemed untouched, with its smooth surface reflecting the faint glow of a laptop screen.

Behind the desk, seated comfortably in a high-backed chair, was his former boss.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, just as Raul remembered. Her sharp features were framed by silky dark hair, and she wore her usual tailored blazer.

It reminded him of how he had always thought of asking her out but never really working up the courage to do so. Eventually , some bolder guy came calling and she was off the market faster than Raul could blink.

"You took your time," she said, her tone light.

Raul’s eyes widened in shock. "What... ?" he stammered.

The woman set her coffee cup down and leaned forward slightly, still smiling. "Relax, Raul," she said, her voice calm yet commanding. "I’m not really your boss. I’m simply using a form I knew you would instinctively respect and obey."

Raul’s breath caught as her words sank in. "Who—what are you?" he asked.

She leaned back again, her movements unhurried. "I am Catalea , a celestial being," she explained. "The one who brought you into the new world. The life you’re living now—everything—was because of me."

Raul took a pause. "A moment ago," he began, his voice uneven, "I was in a dark void... and there was a massive moon on the horizon. Now I’m here. Why does everything keep changing like this?"

The woman—no, the celestial being—smiled, an almost amused glint in her eyes. "You saw my domain as it truly is?" she asked, her tone shifting slightly. "That is... surprising. Most mortals only see what I want them to. The fact that you perceived it in its original form means you’re stronger."

Her gaze lingered on him, as if reevaluating him with newfound interest. "It seems I underestimated you, Raul."

"Stronger?" Raul repeated, not sure if that was a compliment or a warning.

His thoughts quickly shifted back to the situation at hand. "What do you want? And can you take me back?" His voice grew more urgent. "I need to go see someone."

Catalea’s expression softened, but only for a moment. Then her smile turned sharp, and her eyes gleamed as though she could see right through him. "Forget about Reshia," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

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Raul stiffened,"What? Why would I—?"

"I can read your thoughts as easily as you read your precious code," she said, waving a hand dismissively.

"But you need to understand something. Time moves very slowly here in my domain. It has been months in the natural world since you entered this space. Whatever you’re chasing... it’s gone."

Raul’s heart sank, a cold pit forming in his stomach. Months?

He looked up. "What do you want?"

Catalea’s smile returned.

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs ,"Listen closely, Raul," she began, "I am one of the celestial beings tasked with watching over the world you were reincarnated into. We guide it, protect it... but there are rules even we cannot break."

Raul furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of her words. "What does that have to do with me?"

She raised a hand, and an image appeared in the air—two glowing orbs, one vibrant and swirling with life, the other purple and ominous.

"When monsters are killed in your world, they don’t truly die. They’re transported into another dimension because they lack true souls. The barrier separating these two dimensions is what keeps your world safe. But it’s old, Raul. Faulty. Over time, it has begun to weaken, and now it’s on the verge of collapsing entirely."

Raul stared at the floating image, his chest tightening. "If it breaks?" he asked, though he had already thought of an answer.

Catalea’s gaze sharpened. "If it breaks, every monster trapped in that dimension will pour into your world, stronger and more vengeful than ever. It will be the apocalypse."

Raul swallowed hard, his mind racing. "Then why don’t you fix it? You’re a celestial being, aren’t you?"

Her lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. "Do you think I haven’t thought of that? There’s a treaty, Raul—an ancient pact between the celestials and the king of monsters, who is also a celestial being. This treaty bars us from directly interfering in mortal affairs. "

Catalea continued .

"I’m talking about a barrier spell so advanced, it’s like... like advanced astrophysics in your old world," she said, "Something only people who spend lifetimes studying could even begin to understand. This ancient spell has already been lost to modern mages."

Catalea’s expression softened ,"That’s why I reincarnated you, Raul. Your System—the console—is the only tool capable of deciphering, repairing, and possibly even replacing that barrier. It’s a responsibility that you were destined to shoulder."

Raul thought a little. "You’re saying I was brought back to life to save this world?”

Catalea’s eyes sparkled with a glint of amusement. "Correct you are," she replied smoothly, her voice carrying a faintly teasing tone.

Before Raul could respond, she straightened in her chair, her expression turning more businesslike. "That concludes your briefing. It’s time for you to return before too much time passes in your world. But be warned," she added, her tone dropping slightly, "when a lot of time goes by, things are not always as you left them. Prepare yourself mentally for that."

Raul’s stomach knotted, but he said nothing.

With a graceful motion, Catalea swiveled her laptop to face him. On the screen was a long, dense block of code—more intricate and advanced than anything Raul had ever seen. The sheer complexity of it made his head spin.

"This," she said, gesturing to the screen, "is the source code of the barrier spell. Consider it my way of leveling the playing field. The chances of meeting a mage who could teach you this are slim to none. Now, you have a starting point."

As she spoke, Raul’s Console buzzed faintly in his mind, and a notification blinked to life.

[

Spell Store

New Spell Added: Death Barrier.

]

But as Raul accessed it in the Spell Store, red warnings flashed across the interface. The spell was marked as "Incompatible," and a faint headache began to creep in just from trying to process its structure.

Catalea watched him with a knowing smile. "Don’t worry. That’s to be expected. "

Before Raul could ask another question, she raised her hand.

A dazzling light erupted from her palm, filling the room in an instant. The brilliant glow was almost blinding, forcing Raul to shut his eyes as he felt the sensation of weightlessness take hold.

"Good luck, Raul," Catalea’s voice echoed.