Soul's day felt like a blur. The weight of his strange dreams, his encounter with Mei, and the lingering feeling of a shadowy power inside him made it hard to focus. Even Kouzou's jokes and Akame's gentle encouragement couldn't shake him from the feeling that he was on the edge of something monumental.
As he walked home alone that evening, his thoughts kept circling back to one question: Who am I, really?
Just as the sun was dipping below the horizon, Soul felt an unusual chill in the air. He slowed, his gaze shifting to an alleyway nearby, where shadows twisted unnaturally. It was as if something dark and hostile was lurking there, waiting.
Suddenly, a monstrous shape emerged from the shadows—a writhing, black mass with faint glowing eyes. Soul felt a strange pull toward it, an almost magnetic force.
A voice echoed in his mind, low and familiar: "They are drawn to you because of your karmic imbalance. You cannot hide from what you are."
He froze, his heart racing. Karmic imbalance? He didn't even know what that meant, but his instincts screamed at him to run. Before he could move, though, a figure stepped into the alley from the opposite end—a man dressed in white robes, with a symbol glowing faintly on his chest.
"The Karmic Priests…" Soul whispered, recognizing the emblem from stories he had heard.
The man raised his hand, releasing a wave of golden light that struck the creature, dissolving it in an instant. He turned to Soul, his eyes narrowing as if he knew exactly who he was.
"You're… Shoji's reincarnation, aren't you?" the priest said, his voice laced with both awe and caution.
Soul blinked, stunned. Shoji? The name felt strangely familiar, resonating deep within him, like a distant memory just out of reach.
"I… don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, taking a step back.
The priest's gaze softened slightly. "Shoji was… a powerful figure in the realm of Karmic Power. He wielded both positive and negative forces—something no one else could do. It made him incredibly strong, but also incredibly dangerous."
Soul's heart pounded as the priest's words stirred something inside him, a flicker of recognition he couldn't explain.
"Your power," the priest continued, his tone wary, "is unlike anything we've seen since Shoji. It's both a blessing and a curse. If you don't learn to control it, you could bring great harm… or great healing."
Soul swallowed, feeling the weight of this revelation settling on him. "But… I don't even know how to use this power. I didn't even know I had it."
The priest looked at him with a mix of pity and respect. "Then I suggest you learn quickly. Karmic entities are drawn to those with both sides of the power. They seek balance through destruction. If you don't master your abilities, they'll consume you."
Without another word, the priest turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Soul alone, the warning echoing in his mind.
Later That Night
As Soul lay in bed, the priest's words haunted him. Shoji, a past life… positive and negative Karmic Power. It felt impossible to believe, but something about it all felt strangely right. Like he had been waiting for this truth all along.
In his dreams, he found himself standing in a vast, dark space once more. This time, though, he wasn't alone. A figure stood beside him—a man with piercing eyes and a calm, commanding presence.
"Soul," the figure spoke, his voice deep and familiar. "You've found me at last."
Soul's heart pounded as he realized who he was looking at. "Shoji…?"
Shoji nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Yes. I am you, and you are me. I am the force that lies dormant within you, waiting to awaken. Our power is unique—a balance of creation and destruction, a gift that most cannot understand."
"But… why me?" Soul asked, feeling both awe and fear in Shoji's presence.
Shoji's gaze softened. "Because you have the strength to bear this burden. But be warned—our power will draw enemies, and friends, in equal measure. It will test you, push you to your limits. Only by understanding both the light and darkness within can you truly wield it."
As Shoji's words sank in, Soul felt an overwhelming surge of energy flowing through him. The dream world began to dissolve, and he woke up, breathless, a strange warmth lingering in his chest.
He knew now that his life had changed forever. The past and the present were no longer separate, and he would have to face the legacy of Shoji if he hoped to survive.
The Next Morning
Soul walked to school feeling the weight of his newfound knowledge. The world felt different, as if he were seeing it through new eyes. He could sense the energies around him—the positive and negative Karmic Powers that flowed through everything.
When he arrived at school, he found Kouzou and Akame waiting for him at the gate. They greeted him with their usual smiles, but something in Soul's expression made them pause.
"You look… different," Akame said softly, her eyes searching his.
Soul managed a small smile. "I guess I just… learned something important."
Kouzou clapped him on the back, grinning. "Well, whatever it is, don't forget you've got us, alright?"
Soul nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for his friends. They didn't know the truth yet, but he felt reassured knowing he had them by his side.
As they walked down the hall, he caught a glimpse of Mei watching him from afar, her gaze intense and filled with a strange, almost possessive longing. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized that his journey had only just begun—and that he wasn't the only one who knew the power of Karmic forces.