Chapter 2
The sound of a knock echoed through the Kurosawa household, jolting Haruto awake. He rushed to the living room, only to find his parents already there, concern etched on their faces.
Mrs. Kurosawa: "Who could it be at this hour? Especially after Haruto had such a night at the police station. I have a bad feeling about this."
Mr. Kurosawa: "Let me handle it."
He moved to the door, shouting, "Who's there?" Haruto instinctively made his way to the kitchen. But before Mr. Kurosawa could touch the door, it creaked open, revealing complete darkness. It was as if the corridor beyond had been erased. From the void emerged two figures, their faces obscured, each holding a metal rod.
The strangers demanded the family follow them. Mr. Kurosawa refused. Haruto, without hesitation, flung two knives from the kitchen, aiming for their legs. The blades struck true, piercing their joints and forcing them to their knees.
Haruto: "I don't know who you are, but you can't just enter my house and bark orders. Try anything else, and I'll kill you."
Mrs. Kurosawa: "Haruto! Put down the knife. Violence is not an option!"
Suddenly, another figure emerged from the darkness. This man exuded an air of authority, his calm demeanor chilling.
Suspicious Man: "Your resolve is strong, boy. It seems the old woman's report was correct, though she died in the process. What a shame."
Haruto: "You were at the fortune-telling shop... and the police station. What do you want?"
Haruto hurled another knife, but it stopped mid-air, hovering as if held by an unseen force. The man smirked, reversing the blade's direction, and Haruto realized he was outmatched.
Haruto: "It seems I have no choice. I'll go with you."
Suspicious Man: "Smart decision. Follow me."
The Kurosawas, confused and terrified, had no choice but to comply.
Meanwhile, at Saki Nakagawa's home, her parents had brought her back from the ordeal. She remained silent, her mother's attempts at comfort falling on deaf ears. They decided to wait until morning to address her trauma.
Saki sat alone in her room, her thoughts racing. She couldn't shake the image of Haruto's face during the old woman's death. For a fleeting moment, his eyes had transformed into something otherworldly, terrifying.
Saki: *"I've never seen such eyes. They weren't human. Thinking about them still sends chills down my spine."*
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She rushed to the living room, where her parents stood, alarmed. The door opened, revealing the same suspicious man. He issued his command, displaying his psychic abilities to subdue any resistance.
Mr. Nakagawa: "Who are you?"
Suspicious Man: "No one will attack me? Hmm, that boy was different. Follow me, or die."
Faced with his overwhelming power, Mr. Nakagawa reluctantly agreed.
The families were herded into a dark, cavernous space. They were tied to chairs, their vision restored only to reveal a ritual site. Candles flickered dimly, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. A man stood at the center, preparing for some arcane ritual. The Kurosawas, Nakagawas, and other members of their group, along with their families who were in this town , were all present.
Ritual Guy: "Is everyone ready?"
Suspicious Man: "Almost. We're missing one—Ryohei Kurosawa. We couldn't locate him."
Ritual Guy: "Forget it. Let's start."
A barrier encased the captives, silencing their protests. Panic spread as they realized they were intended as sacrifices.
Masaru Haruki: "Please, spare my daughter! Take me instead. I beg you!"
Ritual Guy: "Ah, a loving father. How touching."
Their pleas fell on deaf ears. Suddenly, a scream pierced the silence from above. The suspicious man had gone on patrol but was now howling in agony.
Outside the underground site, the suspicious man patrolled the misty forest. The trees stood like sentinels, their sharp leaves glinting in the moonlight. The mist was so dense that finding the site seemed impossible for anyone unaided.
A figure approached through the haze.
Guards: "Someone's coming!"
Suspicious Man: "Impossible. No one could survive the mist."
The figure stepped into the light—it was Ryohei Kurosawa.
Ryohei Kurosawa: "I'm part of the group you've captured. May I join you?"
Guards: "Who do you think you are?"
The suspicious man intervened.
Suspicious Man: "You don't seem human. This is a Source Sacrifice site, a place of great importance."
The trees around them trembled as the suspicious man demonstrated his power, breaking them into sharp shards that floated mid-air, aimed at Ryohei. But Ryohei pointed a single finger at the man. Flames engulfed the suspicious man, who screamed in agony.
Suspicious Man: "It burns! Someone, help!"
The guards, frozen in fear, were swiftly decapitated by an unseen force.
Below ground, the ritual proceedings were interrupted by the suspicious man's screams. The ritual leader, shaken, tried to reassure the others.
Guard: "Intruder! He's killed our men!"
Ryohei Kurosawa descended the stairs, his presence commanding silence. The captives stared, hope flickering in their eyes.
The basement was filled with confusion and fear as Ryohei Kurosawa stood amidst the group and their families. For some, like the Nakagawa and Kurosawa families, his presence sparked a faint hope, while others, like the Haruki and Akira families, remained cautious, their unease growing with every passing moment.
Without hesitation, Ryohei raised his hand and pointed a single finger toward the ritual leader. In an instant, the man's body ignited in flames, his screams echoing throughout the dark chamber. The otherworldly entity, towering and intimidating, stepped forward. Its glowing, golden-black eyes narrowed as it sized up Ryohei.
Otherworldly Entity: "Who are you? What do you want? You're no mere human."
Ryohei met its gaze calmly, his voice unwavering.
Ryohei Kurosawa: "Just trying to save some acquaintances. You're the ones who kidnapped them, aren't you?"
The entity smirked, its grotesque features twisting.
Otherworldly Entity: "Killing a few lowly humans has made you arrogant. Do you really think you stand a chance against me?"
Ryohei's expression didn't waver.
Ryohei Kurosawa: "Judging by your form, you've been cast out of the Absolute Realm. Exiled to this temporary realm for your misdeeds, you thought it an easy place to conduct your rituals without interference."
The entity growled, its posture shifting as if preparing to strike.
Otherworldly Entity: "You know much, human. But it matters not. You'll make an excellent sacrifice yourself."
The words barely left its mouth before it let out a bloodcurdling scream. Its body began to rupture and burn violently, its form collapsing as Ryohei merely stared at it.
Otherworldly Entity: "What... what have you done? Who are you?"
A faint smirk crossed Ryohei's face as he revealed the truth.
Ryohei Kurosawa: "Before reincarnating as a human, I was known in the Absolute Realm as Exagora, a former supreme being of Order."
The entity froze in disbelief, its voice trembling.
Otherworldly Entity: "A supreme being... from Order? What madness is this? Curse you!"
Before it could finish its sentence, its body exploded, showering the room in ethereal light and leaving behind a silence so deep it was suffocating. The group, terrified and overwhelmed, stared at Ryohei, unable to process what had just happened.
With a wave of his hand, Ryohei shattered the barrier that had been containing them. The invisible shackles fell away, and the group could finally move freely. But before they could bombard him with questions, Ryohei spawned a chair from thin air and gestured for everyone to sit.
Ryohei/Exagora: "Please, calm yourselves and take a seat. I know you're confused and scared, but allow me to explain the basics of this world. Afterward, I'll answer your questions."
The group hesitantly obeyed, their fear momentarily overshadowed by curiosity.
The Explanation
Ryohei began to speak, his tone steady and deliberate, as if he were teaching a lecture.
Ryohei/Exagora: "Imagine the raw form of energy—the very essence that holds existence together. You humans have observed energy in various forms—heat, light, mechanical—but what I'm referring to is something far greater. This raw energy is the foundation of existence, the force that maintains balance across realms.
"Your science claims that energy cannot be created or destroyed. While this is nearly true for humans, it is not the complete truth. Through a unique entity within you—your Source—you can generate, manipulate, and even destroy energy."
The group exchanged uncertain glances, trying to process his words.
Ryohei/Exagora: "Your Source exists within your chest, near your heart. It is a cube-like structure, invisible to the naked eye. This Source contains your true consciousness, memories, and potential. The brain only acts as a copy, a secondary system.
"If you learn to connect your imagination with your Source, you can unlock abilities that seem supernatural—much like what you witnessed today. However, the power of your Source depends on its energy levels. And there are only two ways to increase them:
1. Pushing Beyond Limits: Like muscles, your Source grows stronger through use and strain, but overexertion can damage it.
2. Survival Instinct: When placed in an environment with higher-energy beings, your Source will evolve naturally to ensure your survival."
He paused, letting the information sink in, before continuing.
Ryohei/Exagora: "Now, let me explain the larger picture—the nature of existence itself.
"Beyond this temporary realm lies the Absolute Realm, an expanse over 3,500 billion light-years in size. It is ruled by seven powerful organizations, each with its own culture, traditions, and laws of space and time.
"Two pseudo-realms—Heaven and Hell—exist beyond the Absolute Realm. Heaven, ruled by the Creator, and Hell, ruled by the Devil, rarely interfere with the Absolute Realm's matters. However, both realms work together to expand existence through the creation of temporary realms like this one.
"This human realm is a temporary realm, currently 50 billion light-years in size, with a planned expansion to 150 billion light-years. Temporary realms are governed by physical laws—what you know as physics and chemistry—to nurture life until it can understand the concept of Source and raw energy. Once a temporary realm fully expands, it is absorbed into the Absolute Realm."
The Revelation
The group sat in stunned silence, their understanding of reality shattered. Before anyone could ask a question, Ryohei turned to Haruto, his sharp gaze meeting the young man's.
Ryohei/Exagora: "Haruto, you've likely already realized something."
Haruto's eyes narrowed as he pieced the information together.
Haruto Kurosawa: "The fact that you're explaining all this means... we're connected to something far greater than we ever imagined."
Ryohei nodded.
Ryohei/Exagora: "Exactly. Your proximity to me, a former supreme being, has already awakened your Sources to some degree. That's why you were targeted for this ritual. The old woman saw through your Sources and marked you as scapegoats. Now, you must decide how to use this knowledge."
The room fell silent as the weight of Ryohei's words sank in. Their lives, once mundane, had become part of a cosmic struggle far beyond their comprehension.