The morning sky above Tokyo did not wake with the sun. Instead, it shattered.
A massive, circular rift tore through the atmosphere, and from it descended a pillar of light so brilliant it defied nature. It shimmered in a violent spectrum of rainbow colors, piercing through the smog and clouds until it struck the heart of the city with the force of a silent explosion. The air around the beam trembled, warping under the pressure of a reality it wasn't meant to hold.
From the radiant core of the light, a figure stepped onto the cracked asphalt of a deserted intersection. Number 2 of the 4th Grade Soul Reapers stood tall, his three eyes blinking in the harsh light of Earth. The moment his feet touched the ground, the rainbow pillar vanished, leaving the city in a sudden, suffocating silence.
The Reaper scanned the horizon, his presence alone causing the surrounding air to ripple like heat haze. "So… I've finally arrived on Earth," he muttered, his voice a rasping chill.
He closed his eyes, extending his senses like invisible tendrils across the Japanese islands. A dangerous, jagged smile spread across his face. "Hmmm… I can feel an unusually high concentration of Phore in this country. Perhaps… Sung Ji-Won Naa is here."
He turned his gaze toward the distance, his hunting instinct already locked on a trail.
Deep beneath the surface, the atmosphere in the underground shelter was far more domestic, though no less tense. Sami trudged down the stairs, her hair a mess and her steps heavy.
"Ahh… I couldn't sleep properly again today," she grumbled, rubbing her half-closed eyes.
As she reached the living room, the sight before her acted like a bucket of cold water. Everyone was already assembled. Xiaolong was sipping coffee; Takashi stood like a statue by the window; Dr. Ishimiya and Nanami were hunched over a table of documents.
But it was the figure on the sofa that made Sami freeze mid-step.
"KENTO!!!" she shrieked, pointing a finger in pure disbelief.
Kento sat there, wide awake, arms crossed, looking entirely too alert for the break of dawn. "How did you wake up this early?!"
The room went silent for a beat. Kento slowly turned his head, his expression deadpan. "What's with that reaction? I woke up early today."
Takashi sighed, rubbing his forehead. "That's clearly a lie."
"He woke up because Nanami dragged him out of bed," Xiaolong chuckled, lifting his cup in a mock toast.
Sami's mouth fell open. "...Dragged?"
Nanami nodded calmly, his arms folded over his chest. "He refused to wake up. So I threatened to cancel breakfast."
"Tch. That was a low blow," Kento muttered, clicking his tongue in irritation.
"Motivation comes in many forms," Dr. Ishimiya added with a faint smile.
Sami let out a small, tired laugh. "Unbelievable. The world really is ending if Kento is awake before me."
Kento shot her an annoyed glare. "Say that again and I'll strike you with lightning before breakfast."
"Save your energy," Takashi interrupted, his voice cutting through the banter like a blade. "We'll need it today."
The air in the room shifted instantly. The casual humor evaporated, replaced by a heavy, metallic tension. This was no longer about breakfast or lack of sleep.
Nanami leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he commanded the center of the room. "Now that everyone's here," he said firmly, "let's talk about the mission."
The group straightened, their eyes locking onto the commander. Sami swallowed hard, her drowsiness replaced by a cold, sharp focus.
"We'll divide into three teams," Nanami began. "The first team will be Xiaolong and Dr. Ishimiya. Your only objective is to reach the Stone and gather as much information as possible. No distractions."
Dr. Ishimiya nodded, his face hardening with scientific resolve.
"The second team will be Takashi and Kento," Nanami continued. "You two will act as their shields. Stay close to them at all times. Any Soul Reaper that comes near—kill it. No exceptions."
Kento cracked his knuckles, a feral grin returning to his lips. "Sounds fun." Takashi merely narrowed his eyes, the silent acknowledgment of a warrior.
"And the final team," Nanami said, glancing at Sami, "will be me and Sami, along with my full military force. We'll stay outside the jungle and cover all external approaches."
Dr. Ishimiya stepped forward, unfolding a detailed tactical map of the jungle onto the table. "Take a look," he said, beckoning them closer.
"This is the layout," Ishimiya explained, his finger tracing the dense green canopy marked on the paper. "Nanami's forces will be divided into three parts."
He pointed to the upper entrance. "We'll enter from here. This route has the highest Soul Reaper activity, so Nanami and his Second Division will hold this position."
He moved his finger to the lower section. "Some Soul Reapers also attempt to flank from here. Nanami's First Division will guard this area."
Finally, he pointed to the left side. "This side has minimal activity. Nanami's Third and Fourth Divisions will be stationed here as a perimeter."
Sami frowned, calculating the logistics. "Then… where will I be?"
Nanami looked her straight in the eye. "You'll stay airborne," he said firmly. "Circle the battlefield and monitor all sides. Your Telekinesis gives you the best vantage point. Wherever the Soul Reapers attack in large numbers, you'll move in immediately as heavy backup."
Sami took a deep breath, her hands clenching into fists. She looked at the map, then at her friends. The days of training in the cavern were over. The simulated battles were finished.
"Yeah," she whispered, her voice hardening with resolve. "That's a solid plan."
This wasn't a drill. This was the first move in a war to reclaim the Earth.
In the silent, mirror-like expanse of the void, the shallow water rippled. Nitsuki lay still, the silver moonlight bathing his face in a ghostly glow. His fingers twitched against the cool surface, then his head turned slowly.
"...Ahh..."
He groaned, his palms pressing against his skull as he forced himself into a sitting position. His memories were a blur of violent motion—the descending cosmic sphere, the metallic roar, and the crushing weight of a star falling toward him.
"What was that...?" he muttered, his breath hitching. "That thing—it didn't crush me. It merged into me."
He stood up, his legs swaying like a newborn's before he finally found his balance. He didn't feel broken; he felt full. There was a strange, rhythmic pulse beneath his skin, as if a second heart was beating in sync with the universe.
"...I don't know why," he whispered, "but it feels like something incredibly unique has entered me."
At that moment, the air fractured. A transparent, iridescent system card materialized in front of him, floating in the dark air.
[System Notification]
Congratulations!
You have achieved a Unique Phore — Time Manipulation.
Nitsuki stared at the text, his heart hammering against his ribs. "...Time Manipulation? What does that even mean? Is that even possible?"
Before he could reach out to touch it, the card shimmered and dissolved into light.
"Huh? It disappeared already?" He frowned, his mind racing through the fragments of the Soul Apocalypse book he had read. "The system has a Phore hierarchy... so this must be one of them. Controlling time... but how?"
The instant the question crossed his mind, a heavy, metallic weight filled his right hand.
FWOOOSH.
A sword appeared. Nitsuki's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Whoa—what the—?!"
The blade was a masterpiece of cosmic horror and beauty. It didn't look like it had been forged in a fire; it looked as if a shard of the night sky had been sharpened into a razor. Its edge shimmered with a cold, ethereal energy, and within the dark metal of the blade, faint galaxies swirled and pulsed. It was a weapon made of space itself.
"...This is insane," he whispered, the blade feeling surprisingly light in his grip. "It looks completely cosmic."
Another system card flickered into existence.
[System Notification]
Congratulations!
You have acquired the Verse Slayer Sword.
The card vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "...Verse Slayer?" Nitsuki repeated, the name tasting like copper in his mouth. "What kind of name is that supposed to be? Slayer of what?"
The mystery deepened as a pure white door, standing independently of any wall, manifested in the center of the void. Nitsuki froze, his hand tightening around the hilt of the Verse Slayer.
"...A door?"
He took a cautious step forward, the water splashing softly against his ankles. "What kind of door is this...?"
A desperate hope flared in his chest. Is this it? Is this the way home? He looked back at the endless, empty horizon of the void. There was nothing left for him here. No answers, only silence.
"...Tch. Why am I even overthinking this?" He reached for the handle, his resolve hardening. "Let's go."
Nitsuki pulled the door open. A blinding, absolute white light burst forth, swallowing the void, the water, and Nitsuki himself. Without hesitation, he stepped through the threshold.
The light faded, replaced by the warmth of a sun that shouldn't be there. Nitsuki blinked, his vision clearing.
"...Huh?"
He was standing on the concrete rooftop of his high school. The sky was a perfect, azure blue. The surrounding city buildings were intact, their glass windows reflecting the afternoon light. Below, he could hear the distant, muffled sounds of traffic and life.
"...Whoa," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Did everything go back to normal? Was it all a nightmare?"
He walked to the edge of the roof, his heart pounding. The world looked peaceful. Too peaceful. The Soul Apocalypse, the stones, the Reapers—it all felt like a distant fever dream.
"...Or did everything change?" he whispered under his breath. "...Or am I just dreaming?"
A gentle wind brushed past him, carrying the scent of summer. But as Nitsuki looked down at his right hand, the Verse Slayer Sword was still there, its cosmic edge shimmering in the daylight. He wasn't the same boy who had collapsed in the jungle. He was something new. Something the world wasn't ready for.