Chapter 1: The Mistake of Heaven
Kaizen Hikaru walked through the crowded streets of the city, his hood pulled low over his face. People brushed past him without a second glance, busy with their own lives. To anyone looking at him, he seemed fragile, almost weak—someone who might get trampled if he wasn't careful. But that was exactly the image he wanted people to see.
In reality, Kaizen was far from weak. Born as a mistake of Heaven itself, he had been branded as the archenemy of the gods before he even took his first breath. His power was immense, the kind that could crush armies, tear cities apart, or even bend reality to his will. And yet, he walked quietly among mortals, keeping that power hidden.
He had learned long ago that showing strength brought attention. People feared what they did not understand, and Heaven—he knew—hated him for simply existing. So Kaizen pretended to be ordinary. Pretended to be weak. Pretended to need help. And while he did, he saved countless lives without anyone ever noticing.
For example, just a few days ago, he had been walking past a collapsing building. A group of workers had been trapped under falling beams, and the structure was about to give way completely. To any passerby, Kaizen would have been too small, too weak to help. But with a thought, he shifted reality around him. The beams crumbled harmlessly, landing neatly on the ground. No one was hurt. No one knew who had saved them. Kaizen had smiled quietly and walked away, leaving behind only the rumor of "a miracle" that no one could explain.
Moments like that were common for him. Every day, he saw danger, and every day he chose to intervene—silently, invisibly. That was the life of Kaizen Hikaru, the "weak" boy who was actually one of the most powerful beings in existence.
That calm routine, however, would soon be shattered.
The sky suddenly split open, a deep crack tearing through the clouds. Lightning lanced down, striking the ground near the center of the city. People screamed, scattering in panic. Kaizen paused and looked up. He had expected this. Not now, not yet—but eventually, Heaven would send someone. And it had.
Descending from the sky was a figure wrapped in blinding light. Armor glinted with divine energy, wings spread wide behind him, and every step he took seemed to shake the earth. A heavenly messenger. Not a normal angel, not a soldier—someone far above that, meant to test and punish.
"Kaizen Hikaru!" the messenger's voice boomed, carrying over the city like thunder. "The Heavens have judged you! You are to submit to their will! Resist, and you will be erased from existence!"
Kaizen tilted his head, feigning mild curiosity. "Really? Is that a threat? Or a warning?" His voice was calm, almost bored, like he was being interrupted during a leisurely stroll.
The messenger ignored him and raised a spear glowing with light that seemed to contain the power of the sun itself. Kaizen noticed the energy rippling through the air. It was a divine attack, the kind that could annihilate a city block in a single strike.
People screamed and ran. Cars overturned. Buildings shook. Chaos erupted around him, but Kaizen walked forward slowly, unafraid.
"Are you going to attack?" he asked softly. His eyes glinted faintly beneath the hood.
The messenger's wings flared, and he lunged, spear aimed straight at Kaizen. The impact alone could have flattened mountains, yet Kaizen didn't flinch. He simply raised one hand.
And then… it happened.
The divine energy around the messenger shattered instantly. The light burst like glass under a hammer. The spear dissolved in midair. The messenger's wings burned, and before he could even register what was happening, his body exploded into light. A hole remained in the air where he had been, the ground smoking beneath the spot he had fallen.
Kaizen exhaled, adjusting his hood. "Outversal level? …They need to put stronger foes."
The city had gone silent. The wind carried away the smoke and debris, but no one had noticed the messenger—or the boy who had just erased him. Kaizen began walking again, hands in his pockets, casual as ever.
As he walked, Kaizen couldn't help but think. Heaven really didn't understand him. They treated him like a threat, like an enemy that needed to be destroyed. Yet all he had ever done was save people. His life had always been about protecting others, even when he was misunderstood, even when the gods themselves despised him.
And yet, despite all that, he had never fought back… until now.
This messenger was just a scout. Someone testing him, seeing if he was dangerous. He had dispatched the messenger easily, and it had been almost boring. Kaizen knew that Heaven would continue sending stronger enemies, more powerful ones, but he didn't worry. He wasn't going to hide forever. If they wanted a fight, he would give them one.
But first… there were people to save.
As he continued through the streets, Kaizen noticed a group of children playing near a construction site. The cranes were swaying dangerously in the wind, loosened by the shockwave from the messenger's descent. If he didn't act, the kids could have been crushed.
A small smile appeared on Kaizen's face. He raised his hand, and the crane stopped midair, frozen as if time itself had paused. He moved the massive machine out of the way with a flick of his fingers and lowered it gently to the ground. The children didn't even notice him—they thought the crane had simply stopped on its own.
Kaizen watched them for a moment before continuing on his way. Saving people like this was part of him. It didn't matter that no one knew his name, or that Heaven despised him. He would protect humanity anyway.
Night fell, and the city lights came on. Kaizen finally stopped on a rooftop, looking out over the streets below. He could see the signs of the messenger's attack, the small fires, the overturned cars, the panicked citizens—but he also saw life continuing. People were resilient. People survived. And he would make sure they kept surviving.
For now, the game with Heaven had begun. He had erased one of their champions effortlessly, but he knew more would come. Outversal-level? That was weak. They would send stronger, more cunning foes next time. And Kaizen would be ready.
Because he wasn't weak.
He never had been.
He was the mistake of Heaven, the archenemy they feared. He was Kaizen Hikaru—and the world he protected would never truly know his name.
And that was exactly how he wanted it.