The world seemed to freeze.
Kai fell to his knees, staring at the smoldering remains of his only companion. The scent of burning fur filled the air, choking him.
"You monster," he whispered, his voice breaking. "She was all I had."
Ren leaned on his lance, unfazed. "Then maybe you should've fought harder. But don't despair, little brother. There's still hope."
Kai looked up, his gray eyes burning with tears and fury.
"The God's Tear," Ren continued, his tone almost playful. "A legendary artifact said to grant life to the dead. If you want her back, you'll have to fight for it. Though I doubt you'll survive."
Before Kai could respond, Ren signaled to his men. They mounted their horses and rode off, leaving the village in ruins.
---
Kai knelt beside Mochi's bell, the metal still warm to the touch. He picked it up, clutching it tightly as tears streamed down his face.
The villagers began to emerge from hiding, their eyes filled with fear and anger.
"This is your fault," one man spat. "He came here because of you!"
Kai didn't argue. He didn't even look up. The weight of their accusations pressed down on him, but it was nothing compared to the guilt already consuming him.
---
That night, Kai buried Mochi beneath the cherry blossom tree, the same spot where they had shared their last peaceful moment. The petals fell like tears, covering the small mound of earth.
He placed her bell on the grave, his hands trembling. "I'm so sorry, Mochi. I should've protected you. I'll make this right. I swear."
As he sat there in silence, a voice echoed in his mind—soft, yet commanding.
"You seek power, don't you?"
Kai stiffened, looking around, but there was no one there.
"You have been chosen, Kai Ryujin. Will you rise, or will you fall?"
The voice faded, leaving him with more questions than answers. But one thing was certain: he couldn't stay in Zephyra. Not anymore.
With one last glance at Mochi's grave, Kai rose to his feet, the bell clutched in his hand. His journey had begun.
---
---
The night air was heavy with silence, the village of Zephyra nothing more than a husk of what it had been mere hours ago. The cherry blossom tree swayed gently in the breeze, its petals falling like snow over the fresh mound of earth beneath it. Kai sat there, his knees drawn to his chest, clutching Mochi's bell so tightly that the metal bit into his palm.
"You were all I had," he whispered hoarsely, his voice breaking. "And I let you down."
The world felt empty.
Until it didn't.
---
The voice returned, softer this time but unmistakably present.
"Pain sharpens the soul, Kai Ryujin. Will you wield it, or let it consume you?"
Kai shot to his feet, spinning around. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
No answer came, only a strange hum that seemed to resonate inside his head.
"I'm losing it," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"You are not," the voice replied, calm and steady. "You have been chosen."
"Chosen?" Kai barked, his grief boiling into anger. "Chosen for what? To lose everything? To watch my best friend die?"
"To reclaim what has been stolen," the voice said. "And to protect what remains."
Kai clenched his fists. "Who are you?"
"I am the System," it answered simply. "Your guide. Your ally. And perhaps, your greatest burden."
---
Kai's head spun. He stumbled back, leaning against the cherry blossom tree for support. "This… this is insane. What do you want from me?"
"The same thing you desire," the System replied. "To bring her back."
The words hit like a punch to the gut. "You… You can do that?"
"No," it said bluntly, and Kai felt his hope crumble. "But the God's Tear can. It lies in the Eternal Realm, sealed behind seven gates. Seven keys will unlock its power. Your path begins now."
Kai let out a bitter laugh. "And why would I trust some disembodied voice in my head?"
"You have no choice," the System said, its tone unyielding. "Ren will not stop until he bends this world to his will. You must rise, or all will fall."
The mention of Ren sent a surge of anger through Kai. He looked down at Mochi's bell in his hand, the weight of it grounding him. "If I do this… it's not for you. It's for her."
"Then accept your birthright," the System intoned.
---
Before Kai could respond, the air around him shimmered. A faint glow enveloped his hands, the bell in his grip dissolving into a trail of light. It spiraled upward, forming into a shape—a blade, sleek and deadly.
The katana floated before him, its black and silver blade etched with swirling runes that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat. Its hilt was wrapped in dark leather, and as Kai reached out to touch it, a surge of energy shot through him, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"This is Yamigami," the System explained. "A blade forged from the Champion's will. It is yours to wield… if you can bear its cost."
Kai's hand trembled as he gripped the hilt. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, a wave of power flooded his body. It was intoxicating—raw, unyielding—but beneath it, there was something darker. Something hungry.
"What… what is this?" he gasped, his knees buckling.
"Yamigami feeds on your vitality," the System said. "Every swing demands a piece of you. It is both your weapon and your test."
Kai staggered upright, glaring at the blade. "A test? For what?"
"For strength," the System replied. "For resolve. For the truth that lies within you."
---
The truth of the blade was immediately apparent as Kai swung it experimentally. The katana moved like an extension of his arm, its edge cutting through the air with an eerie hum. But each movement left him breathless, his limbs heavy.
"You're telling me I have to fight with this thing?" he asked, panting.
"Yes," the System said. "And you will need to master it if you hope to survive. The Guardians will not show mercy."
"Guardians?" Kai repeated, his brow furrowing.
"Each key is protected by a Guardian," the System explained. "Beings of immense power, created to ensure that only the worthy may claim the God's Tear."
Kai's grip tightened on Yamigami. "And Ren? Where does he fit into this?"
The System hesitated, its voice taking on a more somber tone. "Ren has allied himself with forces beyond this world. Demonic entities that thrive on chaos. His ambition will lead him to the God's Tear as well… but for far darker purposes."
Kai swallowed hard, the weight of the journey ahead settling on his shoulders. "And you think I can stop him?"
"You must," the System said simply.