The void stretched endlessly in all directions, its oppressive silence broken only by the streaking figure of Iku. Moving with incredible speed, he tore through the darkness, his green aura a beacon of light against the abyss. The tattered edges of his robes flared behind him like banners, whispering faintly against the stillness. His piercing green eyes, sharp and steady, scanned ahead, unyielding in their purpose.
As he flew, Iku extended a hand. With a simple gesture, the void cracked open like fragile glass, revealing a vibrant, blue-green sphere hanging in the void—a planet teeming with life. Earth. He hovered momentarily, his gaze softening ever so slightly.
"This is it," he murmured, his voice calm yet resolute. "This is where it is. Where the one I let go resides."
Without hesitation, he surged forward, breaking through the threshold of the void and descending toward the planet. He sliced through the exosphere, the thermosphere, and the stratosphere in a matter of seconds, the green aura surrounding him burning brighter as he approached his destination. Below him stretched a sprawling city, its skyscrapers gleaming under the sun, its streets alive with the ceaseless hum of human activity.
Hovering high above the bustling metropolis, Iku closed his eyes. The faint energy he sought pulsed faintly, calling to him like a distant whisper. He opened his eyes, narrowing them.
"It's nearby," he said to himself, his deep voice cutting through the rushing wind. "I can feel it."
But suddenly, his expression shifted. His eyes widened in shock, a rare display of emotion flashing across his stoic face. The energy he had tracked for so long—it was fading. Rapidly.
"No," he breathed, his voice low but heavy with urgency. "It's fading. Too fast."
In an instant, he shot downward, following the dwindling trace of energy as it wove through the city streets. The green aura around him dimmed slightly as he landed, his descent was graceful despite the speed at which he traveled. His bare feet touched the ground in the middle of a busy road, his sharp gaze darted in every direction.
The energy was gone.
Iku frowned, his expression tightening in frustration. "Disappeared," he muttered, standing still as cars honked and swerved to avoid him. "What now?"
The world around him came into sharper focus. People were staring, their conversations punctuated by confused murmurs and stolen glances. Some froze mid-step, others pointed discreetly. Iku tilted his head, his brows furrowing slightly.
'Why are they staring?' he wondered. Then, understanding dawned on him.
Of course. An eight-foot-tall figure clad in tattered robes, standing immobile in the middle of a road in broad daylight—it was a sight that nobody could ignore.
He raised a hand and waved it once in a casual motion. Instantly, his appearance shifted. His tall frame remained, though slightly less imposing, and his robes transformed into elegant, flowing attire. Long black hair streaked with green cascaded down his back to his waist, hiding his face in thick strands. His sharp, glowing green eyes dimmed to an earthy shade, half-hidden beneath the curtain of his hair.
As the spell settled, the people's gazes quickly lost interest. They dismissed him as some kind of street performer, an eccentric actor. A few even dropped spare change at his feet before resuming their day.
Iku glanced down at the coins, then up at the sky. He sighed. "Damn." His voice carried no anger, only a faint exasperation. As he spoke, the strands of hair fell away from his face, revealing stunningly sharp features. His green eyes glimmered faintly in the daylight, their intensity diminished but still striking.
"A year," he muttered. "A year is far too short to find it. How? How could the energy suddenly vanish?"
For now, he resolved to stay. 'This is where the trace was strongest,' he reasoned. 'If it reappears, it will be here.'
Ahead, a small diner caught his attention. The sign above its door read *Closed*. The trace had ended near this place—too close to dismiss. Without hesitation, he approached it.
Sitting on the curb beside the diner was an elderly beggar, his clothes worn and his eyes weary. The man glanced up as Iku approached. "It's been closed for a week now," the beggar said, his voice scratchy but kind. "Hope they don't shut down for good. They make great scrambled eggs."
Iku's piercing gaze fixed on the man. "I do not care for their food," he said bluntly. "I am searching for something far more important."
The beggar shrugged. "Important or not, an empty belly's no good for thinking straight." He gestured vaguely toward the diner. "So, what are you looking for? Someone? Something? You don't look like you're from around here."
Iku ignored the question, his focus drifted back to the fading energy. But the beggar persisted, smiling faintly. "What's your name? Some magician or something? That show of yours earlier was impressive."
Iku looked at the man, tilting his head slightly. The question hung in the air for a moment before he finally replied, his voice cold and deliberate. "I am the Fourth Seal," he said, his tone unyielding. "The end of the end. I am the one to whom everything and everyone returns."
He leaned forward slightly, his emerald eyes boring into the beggar's as he delivered the final words.
"I am Death."
The beggar blinked, his smile faltering for the first time. His fingers trembled faintly as he clutched his cup, unsure if the stranger before him was jesting or deadly serious. But before he could respond, Iku straightened, his attention already elsewhere.