After Julius defeated his copy and roamed through the ever-shifting islands of the chaotic world, he stumbled upon the immense black and white castle. His raw power enabled him to shatter the massive entrance, granting him access to a realm filled with neglect and disarray. "Woah, this place hasn't seen a broom in ages," Julius remarked to himself as he surveyed the neglected grandeur of the castle. "Considering its size, it's no wonder it's in such a mess." As he delved deeper into the vast structure, his footsteps echoed through the desolate hallways, and his sense of curiosity grew with each passing moment. Julius had no idea of the revelations that lay ahead. Turning a corner, he encountered a striking figure. In the dimly lit hallway, a woman of captivating allure stood before him. Her eyes were unlike any he had ever seen, with black sclera and dark green pupils. She donned a dark green dress, a white shirt, and a dark green summer hat that shaded part of her face. Her lustrous black hair flowed gracefully down her back. Drawn to her presence, Julius approached cautiously, his senses on high alert. The woman's focus appeared to be on an ancient painting, portraying a long-forgotten king, as if she were entranced by its history. "Who are you?" Julius eventually inquired, the resonance of his voice echoing in the hallway. The woman turned her gaze towards him, and her enigmatic smile deepened. "I am the Keeper of this Castle," she replied, her voice as melodious as a forgotten song. "I've waited for a visitor for many centuries, and you are the first to grace this realm in eons." Julius couldn't contain his astonishment. "Centuries? What is this place? And why is it in such disarray?" The Keeper's smile grew warmer. "This world is a reflection of chaos, a place where the forgotten and discarded converge. As for the state of the castle, it mirrors the tumult of the world it inhabits. But perhaps, you can change that." Julius felt a surge of purpose rise within him. "Change it? How?" The Keeper extended her hand towards him, a gesture filled with grace and significance. "You possess a unique power, one that can bring order to this chaos. You have the potential to restore balance to this realm and uncover its hidden secrets." Julius accepted her hand, and as their palms met, he felt a powerful connection to this world he had scarcely comprehended. Guided by the Keeper, Julius embarked on a journey to unlock the enigmas of the black and white castle and bring harmony to the chaotic realm. Little did he know that this encounter would forever alter the course of his destiny. Then, the Keeper's questions took Julius by surprise. "If I'm not mistaken, when you entered this world, did you feel as if you unlocked something?" Julius thought for a moment before responding, "Yeah, I did. I started to meditate, and I got to a point where I saw myself, and I had to fight my copy. He used the same moves as me, but he didn't employ my brain and strategies, so it was easy to defeat him." The girl nodded in understanding. "That's great. It means you unlocked your Zone. Do you remember if he said any name?" Julius recalled the encounter with his inner self and replied, "Yes, he said something like 'Open' and then mentioned 'Kuroshin Sekai.' After that, we both got trapped in a black sphere." The Keeper smiled knowingly. "That is excellent news. I will make sure you understand how to use it."
Julius was still perplexed. "Use it?"
The girl explained, "Yes, after you defeat your inner self, you unlock the ability to invoke your Zone. Each Zone is unique, with its own appearance, powers, purposes, and boosts. Some people can't cast their Zone at will and can only do so in life-threatening situations. However, there are exceptions - individuals who can harness their Zone and summon it freely. I will teach you how to do just that so you can reshape this chaotic world, Ace Kurotsuchi." Julius asked, "How do you know my real name?" The Keeper smiled warmly, revealing her knowledge. "It's simple, really. I am the real Ruta, Queen of Chaos. The Ruta you fought previously was a flawed copy of me, created by Malachar's failed attempts to recreate me. I could see through her because he used a sample of my blood. I know of your true identity because your aura is unique. I can sense it, even if you try to hide it." Julius was astounded. "That's amazing, congratulations. But getting back to the subject, what exactly is a Zone?" Ruta, the Queen of Chaos, began to explain in detail, "A Zone is an extension of yourself that grants you superiority over anyone trapped inside. To cast your Zone, you simply say, 'Open, Zone, [Name],' creating a sphere that entraps both you and others. While inside, you gain a 1.5x boost to all your stats. Anyone else trapped in the Zone, however, has their stats reduced by 1.5x. The only way to counter a Zone is to cast your own, and if it's stronger, it will overpower the other. Missing a Zone cast can leave you breathless, without stamina, and with blurry vision. Landing a Zone cast instantly regenerates all your wounds and ailments, and you can cast your Zone multiple times."
Julius absorbed this knowledge but was puzzled. "What do you mean by 'unique'?" Ruta continued to educate him. "Each Zone has its own distinctive appearance, powers, purpose, and boosts. Some people can only cast their Zone in life-or-death situations, but with training, they can learn to summon it freely. To truly make your Zone your own, you must overcome your inner self, becoming stronger than your current self. This is the first step to mastering your Zone." Julius was filled with curiosity. "This is incredible, but how do I make my Zone stronger?" Ruta smiled and concluded, "Training, practice, and understanding your inner self will make your Zone stronger. I will teach you how to harness your unique Zone and wield it at your discretion. Together, we will restore balance to this world, Ace Kurotsuchi." After the revelation of the unique Zones and Ace's budding mastery, we shift to Azuma's perspective, who happened to find himself in the same castle as Ace and Ruta but on a different floor. As he wandered the dimly lit corridors, a sense of danger began to gnaw at him, a feeling he had grown accustomed to. It was an instinct that had kept him alive in this chaotic world. Azuma tightened his grip on his sword as he approached a looming figure, an ominous presence that exuded power. Without hesitation, he closed the gap between them and swiftly cut through the figure, cleaving it in two. "Well, that was easy. I thought it was going to be harder," Azuma remarked with a cocky grin, his confidence seemingly unshaken. To his shock, the figure promptly regenerated, standing before him unharmed. It was a male with fiery orange hair, orange eyes, and a bare chest, dressed in black pants. The stranger taunted Azuma, goading him to try again. Azuma's eyes blazed with determination as he readied himself. "I will, and this time, you won't survive." With a burst of speed, Azuma launched himself at the mysterious figure, his sword striking with tremendous force, generating shockwaves and scattering debris upon impact. However, when the dust cleared, Azuma's face paled as he saw the man blocking his slash with his own arm, completely unharmed. The stranger continued to taunt Azuma. "Did I survive or not? Haha!" the stranger goaded, reveling in his unharmed state. In response to the taunting, the stranger struck Azuma in the face, sending him hurtling through the castle's structures. He crashed into walls and floors, his body a testament to the powerful blow he had endured. Back in Ace and Ruta's perspective, the two were engrossed in conversation. "Are you hearing something, Ruta?" Ace inquired, sensing something amiss. Before Ruta could respond, the roof above them abruptly shattered, and Azuma descended from above, his body battered and bruised. "Look at you, Azuma. You're all beaten up!" Ace said, unable to resist a taunt.
Azuma struggled to his feet, his voice laced with irritation. "Shut up, Julius." Ace corrected him, a hint of solemnity in his voice, "Also, you can stop calling me Julius. Call me by my real name, Ace. I found what I wanted, so I don't need to help Akira anymore." Azuma, slowly regenerating from the relentless attack, felt the need to warn Ace about their adversary's incredible power. He struggled to his feet and said, "He can adapt to the damage he receives. Be careful, Ace. Don't underestimate him." Before Ace could respond, the menacing figure descended from above, aiming to crush Azuma with a brutal force. Ace's quick reflexes came into play as he pulled Azuma out of harm's way, narrowly escaping the impending impact. The mysterious figure landed, but before he could react, Ace's fist collided with his head, causing a violent explosion that obliterated the upper half of the figure's body. With a cocky grin, Ace quipped, "It wasn't that hard, was it?" However, the battle was far from over. The figure's lower half continued to move, its mangled form reforming. It grabbed Ace's arm and taunted him, "Right?!" Ace wasted no time. He charged up a Meigetsu Tensho, an attack of immense power. The resulting explosion was so massive that it obliterated a quarter of the castle. Amidst the debris and smoke, Ace located Azuma and Ruta, quickly swooping them up and soaring high into the sky. Using his Seirei no Rikai, Ace honed in on the figure's presence and identified him as AR004, an opponent with the power of adaptation, capable of regenerating and adapting to any damage received instantly. AR004 taunted from below, "Nice explosion and showcase of power. Wanna try again?!" In an instant, the figure teleported right in front of the trio and chanted, "Open, Zone. Sakasu Genso."