In the golden days of the Sengoku Era, four "Pyramids" were a postulate built in four different directions, known as North, East, South, and West. The Pyramids are still a mystery to many, but to those who have acknowledged their 5 Year Journey - it's another dimension of understanding which explains the illogical and all that is unthinkable.
The four directions are all different levels of trials that require a year to complete each one...The reason why it has the name of the "5 Year Journey", is because each one of them requires a year to complete whilst spending 6 months going there, and another 6 months to return.
After traveling to multiple villages, mountains, bridges, and unusual landscapes; Cire has finally reached the Northern Gateway. The Northern Gateway is an icy, blue, large, and heavy gateway that's connected to what seems like a giant dome containing weird shapes and drawings around it. The gateway is stated to be around 20 feet long while the dome's denominator is 200 ft and its height is 150 ft high.
Cire: So this is it huh? I have gained multiple levels, resources, skills, and techniques from my 6-month journey to this trial. I can't turn back now. I have to continue walking down this path and go toward where it leads me! Never going astray.
He says as he continues walking towards the gateway. Cire noticed that the closer he got, the colder the temperature was getting, so he assumed that from its appearance and abnormal behavior and temperature, the test would be in a cold and icy landscape with little to no food.
*Creek*
*Swoosh*
Cire opens the gate and a sudden burst of air releases and exists the insides of the dome, leaving behind a cold and windy ground. Cire notices that the dome is even larger on the inside than the outside perspective. After a good 2,000-kilometer journey through the areas, Cire saw: Multiple icebergs, snowy grounds, split ice grounds, and snowy mountains. However, he has also realized that so far there are no signs of any life form or food supplies. Cire believes that the moment he opened the gate, he has been teleported to some sort of another infinitely-large dimension
Cire: If it is infinite in size, then how will I be able to reach my goal? In fact, what is my goal for this first trial? Is there perhaps a place I can find these answers in this icy, snowy, inhabitable environment?
Cire: Huh? I see something in the distance. It looks like some kind of C.O.P/F.O.B
The types of bases that were shown were commonly known as forward operating bases (FOBs) or combat outposts (COPs). These are small temporary installations established by military forces and can be used by other creators in remote or hostile areas to support operations. FOBs and COPs are typically characterized by their simple infrastructure, such as wooden fences, tents, or basic structures for shelter, and essential facilities such as a command center, living quarters, and sometimes a mess hall.
The purpose of these bases is to provide a presence in strategic locations, facilitate logistics, and serve as a staging area for troops engaged in combat operations. They often house a small number of personnel, including soldiers, support teams, and security forces. FOBs and COPs can be found in various military and enemy campaigns or operations, where they serve as a temporary hub for troops conducting patrols, reconnaissance, or counterinsurgency missions. These bases are designed to be agile and adaptable, allowing them to quickly establish and dismantle them as operational requirements evolve.
Cire: I must approach with caution…I'm pretty certain that monsters and enemies are around guarding the place from the inside and the outside.
Cire: After analyzing the place, I can definitely say that this is a taught-combat group, not a kinetic one.
In this world, there are multiple different categories of fighting, but the ones that are commonly known are Taught-Combat groups and Kinetic Groups. Taught-Combat groups are people who learn and are taught self-defense–Including offense—and general combat such as Martial Arts, Swordsmanship, Gunslingers, etc…Although they mostly use human and peak human capabilities and combat experiences–they're also able to use abilities and superpowers, just not kinetics. An example of creatures who fell under this category were the Goblins and the Goblin boss that Rick and Cire had faced previously.
A Kinetic group, however, is given and has mastered its kinetic abilities and is able to fight using that. Many people usually fit under this category compared to the people who fit in the Taught-Combat category. An example of creatures who fall under this category is Voron–one of the Demon Bosses that Rick and Cire had also faced previously–and the latest dungeon boss that Cire had faced with John and Rick. With all of this, both categories are still able to use things such as titles, achievements, obtainments, requirements, skills, abilities, awakenings, ultimate moves, cards, potions, and more.
Cire: !...Interesting, It seems that there are snow giants and polar bears guarding the area
Cire: Well, I guess I have to be the one who attacks first other then getting spotted
*Roar!*
Cire: What?! Have they already spotted me?
Commander: Enemy spotted! I need 5 soldiers to go and attack while the rest can stay as defense.
All: Roger!
Cire: Oh shoot!
5 Giant snow soldiers send in their Giant polar bears while they watch from 20 feet apart. Cire engages in battle with the polar bears
The polar bears continue to slam the ground with their palms–after they have missed Cire–causing massive destructive damage in which it levels a 2 foot wide hole on the ground
Cire: Dang! You guys hit hard don't you? Well, now it's my turn!
Cire dodges all their attacks using his newly learned skill called, Rijiku. Cire then jumps up as he wraps his middle finger behind his index finger and releasing precisely condensed, 2 inch wide, gravitational shockwave that caused the polar bears to be pulled into each other whilst they were charging in for another attack, thus attacking and killing each other in the process
Cire: Five pets down, five owners to go. *With an optimist tone and expression*
Soldier: Not bad human, let's see if you can handle the 5 of us
Cire: Pretty sure I can.
*Voom*
Two of the five soldiers charge in from the front both on the right and left side, whilst the other two attack using long-ranged magic spells and air pressure shockwaves. The two close-ranged soldiers were both blocked by Cire's hand. However, Cire was immediately attacked by the air pressure shock waves generated from the other two. Cire flinged the two soldiers and dashed towards the long-ranged attackers–while dodging using his Rijiku.
Cire: You're too slow…
*Pow*
Cire punches their abdominals, flinging both of them forward in the process. The other remaining two attacked using a hypnosis spell. Cire fell into their trap and was caught by the remaining three snow troops that attacked him. Cire was brought into their underground prison where he was interrogated by their Troop Commander
Commander: Who sent you here? Who are you? What's your goal? What are you planning to do here?
Commander: You have one minute to choose wisely of your next words, and I would like to hear an answer after I finish waiting.
The commander was taller than the rest of them, he looked similar to them except the fact that he has battle scars, especially in his face with his closed left eye that seemed to be injured–useless. The minute was finally up and the commander went back to Cire, expecting an answer.
Cire: My name is Cire, I have been sent here to beat this so called impossible 5-Year Journey, and I'm only planning to get revenge.
Commander: Ho Ho…! Is that so? What a mysterious and funny guy you are, but I'm not here to play games or make jokes, answer my questions.
Cire: I have! What are you talking about?
Commander: First of all Mr. Spy, there is no such thing as a 5-Year Journey, and second of all I have never heard of someone named Cire in this area, that name is otherworldly. What are you? A spy with an otherworldly name, or a Spirit-Mirage?
Trooper: What! But sir, that shouldn't be possible!
Cire: What? What the hell is a Spirit-Mirage!? Some kind of bed-time scary story? Pfft, please, just unchain me already. I have somewhere to be!
Commander: Oh really? Where's that? You´re hiding a spy base?
Cire: For the first and last time, I Cire, am not a spy! Secondly, what the hell is a Spirit-Mirage? You guys are confusing me!
Commander: Oh, whatś this? You don´t know the legends of the Spirit-Mirage? Well get yourself ready because I´m going to tell you the whole story Mr. Spy.
Cire: Not…A spy!
Commander: Long ago, approximately a millennium ago, there was a peaceful world that was advanced in technology and seemed to have a perfect and sustainable utopia in which the only thing was seen was technology. Few years passed and rumors of strange spirits roaming the towns and possessing people became infamous. The leaders and minorities were dragged down into this information and started doing classified research due to the report of one of the lab researchers saying that he saw one. The public became aware of the measurements that the leaders and minorities were taking and thought that the story was real, which led to chaos and fear raining down everyone's hearts at sudden times. This occurrence was not known to be a disease or virus, and neither was it discovered and studied for many centuries. However, one day, a fragile boy was born with a light glowing scar on his chest. The parents and the doctor were both shocked and the doctor believed that his poor condition and unstable health will get him killed sooner or later and he was surprised that he made it out alive.
Commander: As time flew by and his parents were getting ready to embrace the death of their only child, a sudden mysterious person that was covered in light suddenly appeared floating from the sky speaking in an unknown language they did not know and took the baby and disappeared. The parents thought that this miracle was the work of an Angel, or perhaps—God. 20 years have passed and the parents grew old and were shocked and astonished when they heard the doors knocking for the first time in years. They approached the door and their eyes were immediately widened second by second as they continued looking at the individual in front of their eyes. It was a phenomenon that has never been heard of; It was like a fantasy when they recognized that the person in front of them was their lost and beloved child that was taken by a mysterious light 20 years ago…
Commander: Spirit Mirages are apparently a species or unknown and mysterious entities, concepts, abstract beings, and platonics that embodies one´s true soul. They´re like Gods to the souls of beings like us. In this story´s case the boy was still dead physically. However, his soul manifested out of his body and was taken by the Gods, aka the Spirit Mirage and basically duplicated him, and now he lived as a mirage of his past spirit and the rest of history was unknown…
Cire: Interesting…However, that still does not prove your assumptions of me being a Spirit-Mirage, it's totally not related to me nor does it have anything to do with me. Your wasting my time and you–
Commander: Think again…Hmp, you really believe that? What if I told you that Snow Troops and creatures that roam this island are all able to visually see Spirit Mirage´s true form instead of their physical copies of their previous victim. Do you know what we are seeing right now as we speak? A soul without a physical body, and you're the only one in the room!
Cire: Huh! You must be lying! I can feel it myself…I can feel my physical body. I can touch things, remember when I used my abilities to beat your troops? Come on, you're lying, that's not possible!
Commander: The funny thing is that it's possible for a Spirit Mirage that does not know itself, to be able to "feel" that they've a true physical body. In ancient mythology, typically around the northern greek regions, a man came down into a poor, desperate, mediocre village which had the highest percentage of people who hold an old or undiscovered disease, so the village was always known and kept a secret from society and the rulers of the time tried hiding it because they were scared of a plague occurring. The many villagers of that town saw the man as a glowing light bulb with a translucent like body who healed everybody by spreading his hand out and whispering a statement or poem. They couldn't believe nor comprehend what they were seeing, and so scientists and biologists of the time tried experimenting on the healed villagers and they ran experiments and horrible trials to see if they could replicate or understand what happened during that time. Thousands of years later and they have yet to find a simple clue, until a man was born few millennial later in an advanced era of civilization where he had a theory that the entities' spirit and essence did not exist at that moment but had a somewhat of a fake or non true physical body, this is called Asomaton which is inspired by the greek translations and traditions. Afterwards, this had led to many more theories becoming available, which led ultimate civilization to put Incorporeal/Asomaton, and other theories together to create the famous Spirit Mirage study
Cire: What is this? A history lesson? Can I just get out already? I am sick and tired of hearing you talk about these ancient things that are delusional and non-existent realities. What if I am a Spirit Mirage? It's not like you can understand my situation and how I got here!
Commander: Don't worry, I won't be lecturing you any further. However, I do believe that you have come from another place that's not around here, I will give you one chance to prove yourself…
Cire: Well what is it?
Commander: I assume that you're looking to escape this hellish nightmare. Me and my soldiers also have a goal in mind, we are planning to restore this place to its originality and tradition by releasing the ice caps and absurd amounts of increased energy flowing from the factory that the invaders have brought to us. I will send you through a portal to a factory in which you will see the invaders, I want you to defeat them and steal the prismatic artifact that would lead to the destruction of there energy sources and you will be transported back to where you came from with more understanding…
Cire: I guess that's a fairly reasonable price to pay. Well fine then, now send me there!
Commander: Good look rookie!
*Voom*
Cire: Whoa, what's this? This spiraling is going to make me traumatized and ultimately lead to me puking, help! *Says in a disgusted tone*
*Voom*
*Soop*
Cire: *Grunts*, that was a fast, yet horrible ride. It's time to get to business
*Boom*
*Sirens*
Cire: Oops, I think blowing up there left wing like that wasn't a very smart choice. Now they will surely hunt me down!
Troops: There he is, get him!
*Pew, Pew, Pew..*
Cire: Whoa, calm down, what type of guns are those? Very destructive, you got to be careful with them guys
Cire: Hop, *Boing*
Cire jumps to avoid the dangerous blasts of the weapons and speeds up to the enemy. He rotates constantly as he taps and touches each enemy that's surrounding him. Afterwards, he jumps further away from them and weavers down his hand to pull them to the ground using gravity.
Cire: Cadere! *Crunch*, there we go, now that you're all stuck to the ground, I can move on with my mission
Cire: *Swish.* I almost forgot that I learned how to levitate during my training sessions…Lowering and controlling my gravitational force can easily make me levitate. Now it's much easier going to the core of there base
*Sirens*
Cire: Oh jeez, it's much louder inside the base than outside.
Troops: There he is! Get him! Gah!!
*Crunch, Boom*
*Crackling*
Cire: The fires are spreading rapidly like an inferno, and the place is crumbling because of the explosion from the left wing, they probably had some types of explosives that caused greater damage. I must hurry and get what I need!
???: I assume you're the one behind this? I am the current leader sent by my higher ups to unite this place with the Spirits, but I assume you don't know a thing about that Spirit Mirage! I am also capable of seeing Spirit Mirages, my name is Veron!
Cire: I feel like I have heard that name before…! Well, anyhow, I will have to defeat you then. Flashstep!
*Dash*
Veron: I see, so you are capable of using Kaihi, your speed is not half bad then!
*Dash, Bam, Dash, Kerchow!*
Veron: *Grunts*, You aren't bad I suppose. However, I am still waiting for you to use "that"!
Cire: "That"!? What are you talking about? This place is honestly confusing me. I do not know what any of you are talking about!
Veron: Seriously..?! You don't have an Oculus? I thought you were a Spirit Mirage!
Cire: No I don't! And I'm not a Spirit Mirage, so stop calling me that, okay?!
Veron: Strange!
*Lup Dup!*
Veron: *Grunts, Spits*, What is all of this blood coming from all of a sudden!? Is this your doing!
Cire: No it isn't! Strange. I attacked your base in order to retrieve a Prismatic Artifact to destroy your negative energy source and open my way home. However, I come in here and the left wing explodes and I start to fight you and your troops all of a sudden until your heart started to beat unusually, which caused you to bleed and eventually spit out blood. Something's off…Could there be a possibility of a third party?
*Doom!*
Cire: Hmp! What is this disturbing aura I am feeling!
O'Glous: It seems you have noticed my presence, well anyhow, let me introduce myself to you gentlemens. My name is Oculus O'Glous, The Overseer of Night! I am sent here on behalf of my Master, to retrieve the Prismatic Artifact. However, it seems there have been an uncalculated movement in our plan to do so due to your interference Cire!
Cire: Huh?!
Veron: Cire! This is no time to be joking, nor is it time to think about me as a friend or enemy! I need you to do something for me! *Cough*
Cire: Another person ordering me?! Hmp, fine! What is it!
Veron: *Cough*, I need you to go and destroy the Prismatic Artifact while I hold O'Glous back! *Cough*
Cire: What? But wouldn't that result in your destruction as well?
Veron: It doesn't matter! Just go…! *Cough* I know that you're not of this world, so you wouldn't be able to comprehend the things that would happen if this guy got a hold of the Artifact! *Grunts* Now go!
Cire: Fine!
*Swish, Dash*
*Voom*
O'Glous: Oh! What is this? You're actually protecting an outsider!? What an unbelievable sight that I am witnessing from an Oculus…! *Smirk* That's right! You thought I wouldn't notice your disguise Oculus Zoltar, Gate Guardian of Spirits!
Veron: Focus on the fight infront of you instead of prattling!
*Dash, Voom*
*Clash!*