(Keep in mind, they all speak in Japanese)
Prologue: The Endless Clash
The world around them was dying. The ground cracked and split apart, glowing fissures bleeding light as the very fabric of reality began to collapse. Vast voids consumed what was once sky, leaving behind nothing but fragments of a universe on the brink of total annihilation. There was no wind, no sound, only the sensation of the end drawing near.
A young boy stood amidst the destruction, his breathing heavy but his stance unwavering. His eyes, bore into the figure standing opposite him. A young man, shrouded in the chaotic aura that had devoured everything else, gazed back calmly, his presence a dark stain on the already fractured world.
"Was there no other way?" The boys voice was thick with exhaustion, but there was a quiet resolve beneath it. "Is this really all it ever comes to? No matter how many times, no matter the world… it always ends like this?"
The young man's expression remained cold, unreadable. He let the question hang in the air for a moment, before a thin smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yes. This is the only possible outcome. It always has been, and it always will be."
He stepped forward, the ground crumbling beneath his feet, dissolving into the void. "Every time, we come to this moment. You and I… destined to fight, destined to fall. Over and over again, no matter how many worlds we destroy in the process."
The boys fists clenched, the energy around him crackling with frustration. "But why? Why does it have to end like this, every time?"
The young man's eyes narrowed, his smile fading into something darker, more sinister. "Because that is our fate. This cycle of life and death, of destruction and rebirth—it binds us both. But unlike before, Taiyou, this time will be different." His voice lowered, becoming almost a whisper, as if speaking directly into the boys soul. "This time, I'll do to you what I did to every living thing, you won't be able to come back."
The words hung heavy between them, and Taiyou felt the weight of countless battles, of endless lives lived and lost, bearing down on him. But something stirred within him—something different. He could feel the echoes of his past selves, the fragments of his previous lives surging through him. Every fight they had fought, every bond they had shared, every death they had suffered.
The boy straightened, his eyes flashing with newfound resolve as his body began to radiate power and aura. "You always underestimate me. We might be trapped in this cycle, but I've learned from every fight. Every chance. And this time, Kazuke…" His voice hardened, as the power swirled around him, lifting the fractured remnants of the world around them. "Let's end this once and for all. Here and now."
The young man's expression shifted, a flicker of recognition in his eyes before the chaos around him darkened, the air thick with tension. "Come at me Taiyou, I'll end this in an instant."
As the last remnants of the world fell away into the void, The two figures charged at each other, their clash sending shockwaves through the crumbling reality. The final battle had begun—one that had been written across time itself, but perhaps, this time, the outcome would be different.
PRESENT DAY
Setting: Modern-Day Tokyo, Japan
The sun hung high in the azure sky, casting warm rays over Tokyo as the city pulsed with life. The streets buzzed with the chatter of students, the distant wail of sirens, and the rhythmic thumping of construction work blending into a symphony of urban sounds. Towering skyscrapers, adorned with neon advertisements and sprawling glass facades, stood like sentinels watching over the thrumming heart of the metropolis. Amidst this vibrant chaos lay a sprawling university campus, where young minds gathered to chase knowledge and dreams.
In a modest lecture hall on the university's fourth floor, 17-year-old Taiyou sat slouched in his chair, the epitome of youthful indifference. His tousled black hair fell haphazardly over his forehead, framing a face that was boyish and carefree, with bright brown eyes sparkling with mischief. Dressed in a simple graphic tee emblazoned with a whimsical design, paired with well-worn baggy sweatpants and sneakers, he exuded an effortless charm that drew people to him, even if he wasn't paying them any mind.
Taiyou stared out the window, his thoughts drifting far from the lecture on advanced mathematics being delivered by Professor Tanaka, an aging man with thinning hair and a penchant for chalk dust. Outside, cherry blossom trees swayed gently in the breeze, their petals fluttering down like soft pink snow. The sight of them stirred a sense of longing within him, reminding him of the carefree days of childhood spent chasing his friends under the blooming branches.
In Class
The lecture droned on, but Taiyou's mind was elsewhere. He doodled aimlessly in the margins of his notebook, sketching fantastical creatures and whimsical landscapes. The sound of chalk scraping against the board faded into white noise as he lost himself in a daydream, imagining grand adventures in far-off lands.
"Taiyou!" Professor Tanaka's voice cut through his reverie like a bolt of lightning. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward him. Taiyou blinked, suddenly aware of the gaze of his classmates boring into him.
"Can you explain the concept of integrals?" Tanaka asked, his brow furrowing in irritation. Taiyou's heart raced. He felt the heat of embarrassment rising to his cheeks as he struggled to form a coherent thought.
"Uh… well, uh…" he stammered, feeling the pressure of expectation mount. The professor's disappointment was palpable, and Taiyou shrugged helplessly. "I… I guess I forgot."
A ripple of laughter echoed through the lecture hall, but Taiyou simply grinned, unfazed by the moment of embarrassment. He was used to this—his carefree attitude often clashed with the seriousness of academia. To him, the world was an adventure waiting to unfold, not a collection of equations and theories.
The professor sighed, shaking his head. "Pay attention, Taiyou. You won't survive the semester if you don't."
It was now lunch time. Taiyou strode into the bustling cafeteria, a warm wave of chatter and laughter greeting him. The aroma of fried rice and savory noodles wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of fresh fruit. He spotted his friends at their usual table, a long wooden one near the window that overlooked the courtyard.
"Hey! Over here!" Kenji, a tall, athletic boy with an infectious grin, waved him over. Taiyou's heart lifted at the sight of his friends—Kenji, the jokester; Hiroko, the quiet but witty girl; and Aiko, the class artist who always had a sketchbook tucked under her arm.
"Hope you brought your appetite!" Kenji teased, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Because I saved you a special treat!"
"Oh? What did you get me?" Taiyou asked, feigning intrigue as he slid into the seat next to Hiroko. She offered him a shy smile, pushing a tray of colorful sushi rolls toward him.
"Kenji thinks he's a chef now," Hiroko said with a laugh. "He spent half the morning trying to impress Aiko by making those."
"Yeah, yeah, don't ruin my reputation!" Kenji exclaimed, puffing out his chest dramatically. "I'm an artist in the kitchen, and my masterpieces deserve appreciation!"
Aiko rolled her eyes playfully but smiled. "More like a disaster waiting to happen," she quipped. "But at least they look decent this time."
Taiyou picked up a piece of sushi and inspected it with exaggerated seriousness. "Hmm, presentation is good," he declared, popping it into his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully, then grinned. "Not bad, Kenji! You might actually be onto something here."
"See? I told you!" Kenji beamed, basking in the praise. "I knew I could win you over with my culinary skills."
"Just don't quit your day job," Hiroko teased, elbowing him lightly. "We still need you to be the class clown."
They laughed together, the sound creating a warm bubble of camaraderie around their table. As they shared stories and jokes, Taiyou felt the weight of the morning's tension slip away, replaced by the familiar comfort of friendship.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of class, Taiyou felt a surge of relief. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and stepped into the bustling campus corridor, filled with students eagerly chatting and exchanging plans for the weekend. Laughter floated through the air, and he couldn't help but smile at the camaraderie surrounding him. He loved this place—the energy, the diversity, the promise of new experiences.
He headed toward the campus café, craving a refreshing drink after the suffocating lecture. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the tantalizing aroma of baked goods. He envisioned sinking into a cozy corner with a cup of matcha latte and his sketchbook, letting his imagination run wild.
But as he turned the corner, a sudden rumble beneath his feet caught him off guard. At first, he thought it was just a truck passing by, but the ground shook violently, sending him stumbling.
The tremor intensified, and Taiyou barely had time to react before an ear-splitting explosion shattered the peaceful afternoon. The force knocked him off his feet, and he hit the ground hard, the world spinning around him. Dust and debris filled the air, swirling like a storm as chaos erupted. Cries of panic rang out, mingling with the cacophony of shattering glass and crumbling concrete.
"Taiyou!" he heard someone scream, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he struggled to regain his footing.
The lecture hall collapsed, sending a cascade of rubble raining down. Taiyou instinctively shielded his head with his arms, feeling the world close in around him. He was trapped under a heavy slab of concrete, the weight pinning him to the ground. Pain shot through his body, but he fought against the darkness threatening to consume him.
As the chaos began to settle, Taiyou blinked against the dust, trying to make sense of his surroundings. With a Herculean effort, he pushed against the debris, struggling to free himself. He glanced around, his eyes widening at the sight that met him. All around him lay the dead bodies of his class mates whom he just had lectures with this morning, he glanced at a girl nearby and saw her stomach had been pierced by an iron rod, her intestines and organs were spilled out all around her, Taiyou fell on his knees and began to vomit, unable to control himself at the sight of such gruesome carnage.
After vomiting for a while he got up and realized he had sustained some injuries as well, his left arm was most likely broken from using it to protect the falling debris earlier and he had deep cuts all over his body. He proceeded to wipe his mouth using his elbow. He wanted to panic and run he was worried what if hiroko, kenji and aiko had also died in this earthquake, was he the only survivor? A torrent of questions flooded his mind, though he was worried he knew he couldn't be in the school building any longer, it would only be a matter of time before the building collapsed. So he made his way out and bolted for the door leading outside the building, but what he saw once he stepped outside made him wish he had just remained in the building and died. The sky was no longer a serene blue but a swirling canvas of dark clouds and flickering light. It looked as if the very fabric of reality was tearing apart. Tears in the sky glowed ominously, revealing glimpses of otherworldly landscapes beyond, where strange shapes and shadows writhed in the ethereal light.
"What… what the hell is happening?" Taiyou muttered, confusion flooding his mind. Panic surged as he realized the magnitude of what had just occurred. Students were probably trapped, and some were lifeless beneath the wreckage, a haunting silence enveloping the scene, broken only by distant sirens and cries for help.
Taiyou's heart sank as the implications of the explosion sank in. This was no ordinary earthquake; something far more sinister was at play.
Taiyou kept on moving, he forced himself to keep moving, barely able to walk due to his broken arm and a fractured rib. Pain radiated through his body with every step, and he continued to encounter body after body amidst the ruins. It wasn't an ordinary earthquake it seemed like chaos itself had been unleashed and what was that explosion before the earthquake happened? As he walked, Taiyou looked up and noticed that the rifts in the sky had vanished. Relieved he thought he thought perhaps had merely imagined them due to his panic.
Eventually he heard the distant wail of ambulance sirens and shouted to make his voice heard. The sirens drew closer and he felt relief as they found him and began to administer treatment. They ask some questions but they don't press him as they can see he is traumatized and in a lot of pain.
After receiving first aid, Taiyou closed his eyes hoping this was all just one terrible dream and he would awaken in the comfort of his bed once he opened his eyes. When he finally opened his eyes but it wasn't a dream but a harsh reality. He scanned the surroundings once more, hoping he had been hallucinating the tears in the sky. But amid the destruction , a flicker of something unnatural caught his eye.The sky began to tear like paper, as if someone were cutting through it with scissors. Dark tendrils slithered from the tears in the sky, coiling and writhing like serpents unleashed upon the earth. Taiyou's eyes widened in terror as he yelled "What the fu-"