As Ishida slowly opened his eyes, he found himself engulfed in complete darkness. It seemed like an unending void stretched out all around him, with not a single trace of light to be found anywhere.
"Where am I? Why am I still alive? What's going on?" Ishida shouted into the emptiness, but his voice echoed back with no answer.
In a flash, the memories of what had just happened flooded back to him—his mind replayed the recent events with his family. His face went as white as a sheet, and tears welled up as a rush of panic surged through him, leaving him utterly frozen in place.
"No..." he whispered, his voice breaking as he struggled to comprehend the reality before him. "Nooooooooo!" he cried out, a desperate howl echoing in the silence. The weight of his failure crashed down on him, and he questioned aloud, "Why am I here? Why am I still breathing when they aren't?" His voice trembled with anguish, filled with self-loathing. "I failed them... I couldn't protect my family," he lamented, feeling utterly defeated. Overwhelmed by grief and shame, he collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
[Ishida Hitotsuki, You have been Reawakened from your death]
Out of nowhere, a massive screen appeared before his eyes, interrupting his muddled thoughts as he tried to piece together the chaos surrounding him. What had just happened? Why was he here?
"Reawakened? What does that even mean? Why am I back?" he muttered in confusion, his voice tinged with despair. "I don't want this... I have no purpose left. I just want to be gone," he continued, a deep sorrow lingering in his words.
[But what about the demons who took your family from you!? Don't you crave revenge? Don't you want them to suffer the way you have? Or are you just going to let them walk free like a coward?]
Ishida's eyes darted around, trying to make sense of the situation. The words seemed to come from nowhere, yet they echoed loudly in his mind. Who was taunting him with these questions? Who was behind these mysterious messages? His thoughts were a jumbled mess, struggling to grasp the reality of the moment.
Suddenly, vivid images of the demons' faces flashed in his mind—the monsters who had ruthlessly torn his family from him. He recalled the horror of standing there, powerless, as the nightmare unfolded before his eyes.
A surge of anger coursed through him, initially directed at himself for his inability to act. But then, as the mysterious words echoed in his mind, a new understanding dawned upon him. The voice was right; how could he let those demons escape justice so easily after all they had done? His anger transformed swiftly into a burning hatred, fueling a resolve he hadn't felt before.
[Excellent. I can sense your anger and hatred rising within you. You're now prepared to return to the world and seek justice for your family's tragic loss]
"But... How can I possibly do that? I'm utterly powerless. I couldn't save them back then because I was too weak, and all I did was stand there, crying helplessly as I watched their..." Ishida's voice trailed off, overcome with emotion.
[You don't need to worry about power at the moment. Just tell me, do you wish to avenge your family? Are you ready to fight and defeat those demons to honor them? Do you want to become the 'Player,' Ishida?]
'Player'? What does that even mean? Does it mean gaining powers?" Ishida wondered to himself. But he quickly focused his thoughts and responded, "Yes, I want power. I want to avenge their deaths. I truly do!"
[Excellent. I didn't anticipate you'd accept my offer so quickly, but I'm genuinely impressed. Now that you've agreed, I'm obligated to fulfill my promise. However, I must warn you, it won't be easy. You'll need to work hard and dedicate yourself to the task]
"I'm ready. I want this. I'm determined to do whatever it takes," Ishida declared, his resolve solidified as he prepared to seek revenge against those demons, no matter the challenges ahead.
[Great! Soon, you'll be entering the real world. But don't worry—I'll be right by your side, helping you every step of the way. You'll need to put in a lot of effort to become stronger and prepare to seek justice for your family. Are you prepared to return to the world?]
"I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about or what sort of abilities you mean, but I accept. I'm ready!" Ishida declared. The moment he spoke, the shadowy surroundings began to flicker, and before he knew it, he fell into unconsciousness.