176 years ago , a world between living and afterlife only have less than 100 of souls who fight to live for their next life. At the rooftop of the Sanctuary , two men are sitting while looking at the tower that reached above the clouds toward the sky.
Seo: "hundreds of years of studying to know how this world work and now , we already know everything we need."
Kyousuke: "It's all thanks to Fudo-san , Tozen-san and you. So , thank you for the hardwork."
Seo: "If it wasn't for your leadership , none of us will know anything. All that left , is to explore that tower and hope that we could find a way to get out of this place. "
Kyousuke: "I hope so."
It goes silent for a moment so Kyousuke change the subject.
Kyousuke: "I didn't realize that you're already good at speaking Japanese."
Seo: "Yeah well , I've been learning it for a decade since I was appeared here for the first time."
Kyousuke: "Maybe you will have a japanese name given to you someday."
Seo: "Japanese name huh..."
Kyousuke: "Leonard-san ?"
Seo: "Kyousuke..."
Kyousuke: "Yes ?"
Seo: "If I have a japanese name , what would that be ?"
Kyousuke: "Japanese name for Seo , hmm...."
He keep thinking for a brief moment.
Kyousuke: "Then , how about 'Ootori' ?"
Seo: " 'Ootori' ?"
Kyousuke: "Yeah , it's like a king of bird. No , it's more like king of gate. It reminds me of seeing you standing at the South East terminal were you look out on people who goes back and forth. That's what I think.
Seo: "I see , it would be 'Seo Ootori' huh..."
Kyousuke: "Um , no. It should be your family's name first then along with your first name."
Seo: "Ootori Seo ?"
Kyousuke: "Yeah , that's right."
Seo: "I see , I really like that name."
Kyousuke: "I'm glad you like it."
Thus , they continue their conversation throughout the night.
On the next day at the hall , Seo and Kyousuke are meeting up with two of their teammates.
Fudo: "Leonard-kun and Norimiya-kun , both of you just arrive on time. We're just heard a rumour from the crowd that there's a monster recently appeared from the East building."
Tozen: "It would be best if we investigate the area and end this rumor once and for all."
Seo: "Well , there's no one to relied on since we are the only exploration team."
He then look at Kyousuke;
Seo: "So , what do you say ? , leader."
Kyousuke think for few seconds.
Kyousuke: "We're still have time before starting our exploration at the tower. Sure , let's do it."
As the discussion ended, they proceed to go to the East building and investigate the rumored monster immediately.
When they arrive at the area where the rumored monster last spotted , they decided to look around the area separately. Once they gather at the meeting point;
Fudo: "Hmm , we didn't find anything odds. Could it be these rumor is a hoax afterall ?"
Tozen: "I'm not so sure. There must be something that could proof wether or not these rumor is true."
Seo look at their surrounding one more time and ask;
Seo: "Hey everyone....am I hallucinating or this place is just quiet all of a sudden."
They begin to hear on their own perspective then they also realize that they didn't heard any sounds of creatures they usually hear.
Kyousuke: "You're right , we need to be cautious from now on because something...."
Seo: "Norimiya , what's wrong ?"
Kyousuke: "I...I don't know...I have a feeling something's comi-"
A big hideous creature suddenly leap out from the bushes near Kyousuke and tackle him down as it land on him. He proceed to protect himself with his assault rifle as it try to maul him with its sharp teeths.
Seo: "Norimiya!!!"
Seo immediately help him to break free from the monster but it start to swing its claws toward Seo as he get closer to him. As it focus on Seo while pinning Kyousuke down , the monster wasn't aware of Fudo who sneak behind it then smash its head with a stone nearby making Kyousuke able to free himself from it. The monster change its target to Fudo then immediately charge toward him. As it get near him , the monster hit to the side by the incoming shotgun bullets used by Tozen. Soon after , they check up on that monster and it already died on the spot. They gather around its body and examine it.
Tozen: "So , this is the rumored monster they were mentioning about."
Seo: "It doesn't have a skin at all , just expose flesh and skull."
Fudo: "Do you think this creature is the effect of that tower ?"
Seo: "What do you mean ?"
Fudo: "Ever since the tower begin to ascended , strange things happened and this creature maybe could be one of those signs."
Kyousuke: "Let's leave it at that for now. We're going back to the Sanctuary and prepare our things for our exploration tommorow."
On the next day , Seo and the others are at the first end of the bridge as they look up to the top of the tower but it were covered by clouds so they couldn't figure out how tall that tower would be. Soon after , they start to cross the bridge and arrive at the entrace of the tower. Once they goes inside , there's no sign of traps or living being who try to stop them from moving further so they begin to climb up the stairs until they reach to the upper level where they found an elevator. They look at each other of what to do with it so Kyousuke begin to push the button and the elevator's door begin to open. They soon goes inside and it automatically close its door then proceed to ascend to the top of the tower. As they're about to reach to the top , they were blinded by ray of light and soon after , the light began to faded as they begin to see that they are standing on a vast platform ground with a sun floating in the sky above them. They are amaze with the view but soon after , Seo see a kid like skeletal being sitting in fetus position not far from his right side then he call out the rest and they begin to walk closer toward it for closer look.
As they get near to it , the skeletal being awake from its sleep then emits some dark magic to cover most of its body as it look like a grim reaper himself.
Young Death: "Greetings wandered souls , you have finally reach at the top of the tower which you only have one final task to do."
Fudo: "Final task ? , what would that be ?"
Young Death: "Well , all you have to do is to end my life."
Tozen: "Why ?"
Young Death: "If my life is end , a path is shown and it will guide you back to your own world."
Seo: Our....own world. That's mean we going back home."
Young Death: "I didn't expect that all of you would come here sooner than I thought so I didn't have much energy left within me. Which mean , this is your best chance to defeat me."
Fudo: "What about the people that were left behind back at the Sanctuary ?. If we defeat you , would they also brought back to their own world too ?"
Young Death: "Indeed."
Everyone look at each other for a moment. Then , Seo goes near the young Death as he unsheath his sword and lift it up above him.
Seo: "Very well , I will finish your request immediately to end you. I hope there is no resentment coming from you."
As Seo is about to swing his sword downward , his sword suddenly fly away from his grip as it was shot by Kyousuke who point his assault rifle at Seo to prevent him from cutting down the young Death. Both Fudo and Tozen are surprise by Kyousuke's action.
Kyousuke: "move..."
Seo: "Norimiya..."
Kyousuke: "I SAID MOVE AWAY !!!"
Seo begin to slowly move away from young Death and stand near Fudo and Tozen.
Seo: "What are you doing ?"
Kyousuke: "I cannot let you kill it."
Tozen: "Don't be foolish , Kyousuke. This is our only chance. Why are you doing this ?"
Kyousuke: "Killing it would be a waste. I want its power. Once I absorb it , then it's more than a welcome to end its life."
Kyousuke begin to put his hand on young Death's shoulder and soon after , the dark magic start to absorb its way through his left arm. As he keep on absorbing its power , his left arm suddenly melt and expose his flesh. Kyousuke terrified by what he is witnessing.
Kyousuke: "aaa....aaah....AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Seo , Fudo and Tozen immediately run for his aid but they were blown away by the dark magic emitted from Kyousuke's left arm. After that , everything went dark. Soon after , Seo open eyes to see that he was unconscious for quite a while then he look around to see Fudo and Tozen already awake as they just standing there. He get up and try to look at the direction they were looking. As soon as he look on what's in front of him , he is now understand that he and the rest of them are already back at the Sanctuary. What he saw when he try to look at the direction they were looking , the tower is now already gone.
Few days later , Fudo and Tozen walk among the crowd looking for Seo but they soon find him standing and looking at the view where it used to be a tower that is now no longer there.
Tozen: "Seo-san..."
Seo look behind to see them then soon walk opposite direction from them.
Fudo: "Leona-"
Seo: "It's pointless now. Don't you get it , the tower is already gone. There's no way we're going to find it for us to go back to our world."
He begin to take a few steps away from them. Then he turn around and look at them with anger.
Seo: "Seo Leonard that you once knew is already dead."
Fudo: "Then...what should we call you from now on ?"
Seo: "Ootori...it's Ootori Seo."
(End of Episode 1: The Beginning)