Temple of the Demon Lord of Wishes

In a small, run-down house on the outskirts of a rural town, a heated argument between a couple.

The walls, worn and cracked with age, as the harsh words between a man and his wife continued.

The evening sun filtered dimly through the dusty windows, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch with the tension in the room.

"You never listen to me!"

The woman's voice was strained, her fists clenched in frustration.

"Every time I try to talk, it's like you don't care at all!"

The man stood across from her, his face twisted in anger.

His jaw tightened, and his fists shook as he tried to control his rising temper.

His eyes, cold and hard, locked onto her with a chilling glare.

He took a step toward her, a deep breath rattling in his chest as though the weight of his fury was about to spill over.

He raised his hand, preparing to hit her!

"You think I don't care?"

He spat.

"You think I'm just some fool you can push around?"

The woman's eyes widened in fear as the man raised his hand.

For a moment, it seemed like time stood still...

His hand frozen in mid-air, the cruel intent clear in his expression.

But then, something changed.

The harshness in his eyes faded, replaced by something softer.

His breath caught, and his shoulders sagged as if the weight of his anger had suddenly been lifted.

Without warning, he dropped his hand.

The anger drained from his face, leaving only exhaustion behind.

Slowly, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"I'm sorry..."

He whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I... I don't know what came over me. I don't want to hurt you."

His grip tightened, and he closed his eyes, as though he needed the moment to ground himself.

The woman, still trembling from the tension, hesitated for only a second before she relaxed into his embrace.

Her tears, which had been building, started to fall, but this time, they were tears of relief.

She buried her face against his chest, her heart still racing, but now, with the warmth of his unexpected kindness, it was easier to breathe.

...

Elsewhere, in a narrow alleyway behind the town's main street, a young boy stood over a small, scrappy dog.

The dog had bitten him when he had tried to chase it off, its tiny teeth sinking into his ankle.

His face was twisted in rage, and his hand raised a large stick above his head, ready to bring it down on the defenseless creature.

"Stupid dog! You want to bite me? I'll show you what happens when you mess with me!"

The boy snarled, his voice full of anger and malice.

But just as he was about to strike, something shifted in him.

His heart skipped a beat, and his grip on the stick loosened.

The cruel thoughts he'd been harboring evaporated like mist in the sun.

He looked at the dog, its wide eyes filled with fear and pain, and for the first time, he felt a flicker of sympathy.

Without thinking, he lowered the stick.

The anger that had consumed him moments before melted into pity.

He crouched down and carefully reached out to the dog, his fingers trembling as he gently stroked its fur.

"You didn't mean it, did you?"

He murmured, his voice softer now.

"I'm sorry... you just scared me."

The dog whimpered, its tail wagging weakly, and the boy couldn't help but smile as he gently scooped it up into his arms.

He had never thought he'd care for an animal, but in that moment, he realized something had changed within him.

Maybe it was the dog's vulnerability, or maybe it was something deeper inside him finally breaking free.

Either way, he felt a warmth in his chest as he held the small creature, the anger long gone.

...

Farther down the road, inside the local tavern, a group of men was gathered around a table, laughing loudly and slapping each other's backs.

The atmosphere was thick with smoke and the smell of spilled ale, and the noise was overwhelming.

At the far end of the table, a burly man leaned in close to another, his voice low and menacing.

"You're telling me that you can't pay me back? After all the trouble you've caused me?"

The man's tone was rough, and his fists clenched on the table.

His knuckles were white with the pressure, and his eyes glinted with a dangerous light.

He was ready to make the other man regret crossing him.

The man on the receiving end looked pale, his hands shaking as he tried to come up with a way to diffuse the situation.

He could already feel the tension building in the air, and it seemed like a fight was inevitable.

But just as the burly man was about to grab him by the collar, something caught his eye.

A small child, no more than six or seven, walked past the tavern window, holding a bouquet of wildflowers.

Her bright eyes were wide with innocence, and her simple joy at the world around her was palpable.

The burly man's heart skipped a beat.

For a moment, the anger that had been coursing through his veins faltered, replaced by something softer.

His grip on the man's collar loosened, and he stood still, staring out the window.

Without realizing it, the tight lines of his face softened.

He took a deep breath, then turned back to the frightened man.

"Get out of here,"

He muttered, his voice now calm and almost apologetic.

"Go before I change my mind!"

The other man blinked in confusion but didn't argue.

He nodded quickly, stumbling away from the table, still unsure of what had just happened.

The burly man sat back down, his face thoughtful as he tried to process the unexpected shift in his emotions.

...

In these moments, the people of the town had all experienced something they didn't expect. Just when they were about to be cruel, something changed inside them.

A small flicker of kindness, of sympathy, replaced their anger.

It didn't last long, but for a brief moment, they chose to be better.

...

[Due to the involvement of two Reality Master participants, rewards have been adjusted based on individual contribution and storyline impact.]

[A new entity has entered your Fractured Reality.]

[Rewards have been allocated!]

[Rank has been increased.]

[Memory (Middle Tier) → Fragment (Middle Tier)]

[Would you like to view your updated profile?]

Ivaim quickly shut off the notification, barely taking a second to process it.

He had to get out of here quickly...

Reves lay unconscious on the ground, his body still from the shock from the previous event.

Ivaim grabbed him without hesitation, lifting the boy into his arms and sprinting toward the alleyways.

His mind was focused.

He activated [Coin of Fortune] as he dashed through the streets.

Most of the buildings around him were sealed off, and the damage from the Master of Cruelty had been mostly repaired.

But Ivaim knew it wasn't safe.

'There's most like scouts form the Orthodox Temples that have been waiting for someone to come out of the Fractured Reality...'

'Also I'm sure that they have a way of finding out that the Master of Cruelty has died...'

His eyes scanned the surroundings, narrowing in on an old gambling den tucked into a side street.

It was a dark and quiet place.

It seemed good enough to hide in momentarily.

Ivaim slipped inside, making sure to leave no obvious trace of his presence.

He didn't waste time.

Dropping Reves carefully onto one of the nearby tables, Ivaim pressed his back against the wall, trying to slow his breathing.

He needed a plan to get out of this area...

A moment later, he heard footsteps outside.

He didn't panic.

The sound was faint, but he could tell someone was looking for him.

He needed to move quickly, and he couldn't afford to leave any sign that he'd been here.

Without thinking twice, he used [Lucky Leap] to move silently, almost like a shadow.

His footfalls were muffled as he slipped through the back exit, disappearing into another alley.

A figure appeared around the corner, just in time to catch a glimpse of him.

The scout from the orthodox temple's eyes widened as he saw Ivaim's figure darting into the shadows.

He quickly pulled out a communication device, his voice shaky.

"I saw him... He's moving fast. I can't keep up."

Ivaim heard the faint crackle of the report, but he didn't slow down.

Just as he rounded a corner, something clicked in his mind.

'Wait, I'm a reality master...'

The realization hit him.

If it weren't for Reves being unconscious in his arms, he might've smacked his forehead in frustration.

Without wasting another second, he shifted his focus.

Ivaim immediately stepped into his fractured reality, the world around him warping and bending as he entered a space all his own.

[You have entered a Fractured Reality]

[Welcome back to the Temple with Good Luck]

(Prologue of : Volume 2 : The Temptation)