The reality hit hard: Nobara was dead, stabbed from behind in a cruel, calculated strike.
The man responsible stood before us, a shadow of malice. His voice carried an ominous chill. "I changed my mind. Time is a luxury I no longer have. I'll kill every one of you until I sense 'Tàh.' The person who possesses it is the Ryuu. And if that means slaughtering you all, so be it."
His words burned in my ears as he turned his gaze to Sakura. "Now, it's your turn to die, little girl," he said with a sinister smirk.
Then—splash!
Gasoline drenched the man. My father stood behind him, his face grim with fear. Without hesitation, Sakura threw a lit lighter, igniting the man in a sudden blaze. Flames consumed him, and for a moment, hope flared alongside the fire.
Sakura swayed, coughing from the smoke. "I… I'm feeling dizzy," she murmured, her body giving way to exhaustion.
"Ria," Dad called, his voice thick with urgency. "Take Sakura and get out of here. I'll handle this." He said trying to be brave but I could see the fear in his eyes.
A man sneered, unfazed by the flames.
It was Red.
"Impressive. I didn't think a mere human could injure me. But you interfered, so you'll die first."
Through my tears, I screamed as my father fell to the Red's so called technique "Rubber Technique: Six Fangs!" his attack piercing six critical points in his body.
The room shook with the force of his strike, and my father crumbled, blood spilling from his wounds. "No! Dad, you can't die! You can't!" I wailed, dropping to his side.
He met my gaze, his breath shallow. "Ria, listen to me. You can't stay here. That man will kill you if you do."
"I'm not leaving you!" I cried, my voice cracking.
His bloodied hand reached for mine. "There's something you need to know. You… you're not my real child."
The words froze me. "What? Dad, what are you saying? That's not funny!"
His eyes softened, even as his life slipped away. "It's true. After my wife and child died, I lost all hope. But then I found you, alone in a cart by the river. You had her eyes… her hair. It felt like fate. From that moment, you became my reason to live."
"Why… why would you tell me this now?" I whispered through my tears.
"Because… I need you to survive. Even if we're not bound by blood, you're my daughter. Always," he said, his voice faltering.
"Dad… please, don't leave me," I sobbed, clutching him as his breathing slowed.
"Don't cry, Ria," he murmured, pointing weakly to my chest. "I'll always be with you... here."
And then… he was gone.
The man's mocking laughter broke the silence. "How tragic. You lost your friends, your father, and discovered you're not even his real daughter—all in one day. What a masterpiece of despair. And now, you're next."
Something inside me snapped. Fury was the only thing I could feel, drowning out my sorrow. Darkness enveloped me, a primal force unlike anything I'd ever felt. My nails grew into claws, my vision narrowed, and I moved with speed and strength I didn't know I possessed.
I pinned him to the ground, my fists raining down on his face with unrelenting fury. Blow after blow, I didn't stop until his head was an unrecognizable mess.
Exhausted but determined, I gathered my father and Sakura, carrying them out of the collapsing house. Tears blurred my vision as questions flooded my mind. What now? Where would I go?
Just as I thought it was over, his voice returned, chilling and unyielding. "You thought you'd won?" His body, partially healed, emerged from the flames, his disfigured form writhing like living slime.
"I see it now—you're the Ryuu. It's time to join your father." He said.
Before he could attack, a calm voice interrupted. "Water Technique: Temperate Waters."
A girl appeared beside me, her blue hair shimmering. The air grew heavy as her water barrier neutralized his attack. She faced him with unwavering resolve.
"Thalia Whitegrove," she introduced herself. "And I'm here to rescue you."
The man's form shifted uneasily, his slimy features glistening under the flickering light. He glared at the girl who had just intervened, his voice a venomous hiss. "The water faction… So, you've found her too."
Thalia stood firm, her gaze calm yet unyielding. "X, I suggest you retreat now. Soon the others will arrive. You wouldn't survive an entire faction."
He growled, his disfigured face twitching with frustration. "You're bluffing. An entire faction can't cross realms without disrupting the balance!"
Her expression didn't falter. "Do you really want to test that theory?"
He hesitated, his anger bubbling over into a chilling laugh. "Fine. You win this time, Thalia. But I'll be back for the Ryuu." His gaze turned to me, his voice dripping with menace. "Don't get too comfortable, little girl. This is far from over."
And just like that, his body dissolved into liquid, vanishing before our eyes.
A heavy silence fell over us as Thalia let out a soft sigh of relief. "He's gone… for now."
I turned to her, my fists clenched. "Who are you? And why did you help me?"
She glanced at me, her eyes filled with a strange mixture of pity and determination. "Is it so strange to help someone in need?"
I stepped forward, my voice sharp. "I'm not asking for riddles. I want answers. Who are you, really?"
Her expression softened. "Fine. My name is Thalia Whitegrove. And I'm here to rescue you."
Her words stirred something in me—a mix of confusion and anger. "Rescue me? From what? You're not with the police, and you're not human. What are you?"
Thalia sighed, as though anticipating my reaction. "You wouldn't understand right now, but I'll explain everything. For now, you need to come with me. It's not safe here."
I narrowed my eyes. "And where exactly are we going?"
"Away from here," she said firmly. "We don't want him to return, do we?"
Her calmness only irritated me more. "You said others would come. Where are they?"
A faint smile tugged at her lips. "That was a bluff. No faction can send an army into another realm without destroying the balance. He'll realize that soon enough, but by then, we'll be long gone."
"The balance? What does that even mean?"
She gestured to a nearby puddle left by the fire hoses, crouching to pick up a small pebble. "Let me explain. Imagine this puddle is a realm. If I drop this pebble in…" She dropped the pebble, creating ripples. "It disturbs the water, but the change is minimal. However…"
She picked up a larger rock and dropped it into the puddle. Water splashed everywhere, spilling onto the scorched ground. "If the disturbance is too great, it disrupts the entire system. That's the balance. Each realm can only handle so much change before everything collapses."
I stared at the puddle, her words sinking in. "And what does that have to do with me?"
"Everything," she said, her tone grave. "You're the Ryuu. And whether you like it or not, your existence changes the balance. That's why he was after you."
My chest tightened. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't want any of it!"
Thalia's gaze softened. "I know. But you don't have a choice. None of us do."
Tears threatened to spill again as I thought of my dad and Nobara. "I can't just leave. My dad… my friends… they're gone. I can't abandon them like this."
Thalia nodded, her voice gentle. "I understand. Let's give them a proper farewell."
¶
We found an empty yard not far from the remains of my house. The fire trucks had arrived by then, forcing us to move quickly. Together, we buried my father and Nobara, marking the graves with simple stones.
I knelt before my dad's grave, tears streaming down my face. "I'll make this right, Dad," I whispered. "I'll find out what all of this means. I'll survive… for you."
Thalia placed a hand on my shoulder. "We should go. It's not safe to stay here."
Reluctantly, I stood. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on me as I followed her into the shadows.
¶
We took shelter beneath a bridge, hidden by one of Thalia's water techniques. The soft glow of her barrier illuminated the space, casting shimmering patterns on the walls.
"You need to rest," she said, leaning against the stone arch.
"I don't want rest. I want answers," I replied, my voice firm. "Who was that man? What is 'Tàh'? And what does it mean to be the Ryuu?"
She sighed, her gaze turning skyward. "Alright. If you're determined, I'll explain."
She began, her voice steady but laden with weight. "I come from the realm of the Kaizu. Like yours, it's a world of life and death, but… different."
"Kaizu?" I repeated, the word foreign on my tongue.
"Yes. The Kaizu are stronger and faster than humans, though we look the same. Your strength… your aura… they mark you as one of us. And the fact that you survived until now is no accident."
I hesitated. "My dad said he found me near a river…"
Thalia nodded. "That fits. If your mother married a human, it would explain how you ended up here."
"How many realms are there?" I asked.
Her expression turned serious. "We don't know for sure. We've only confirmed three: your realm, the realm of the Kaizu, and the realm of the Kaiju."
"The Kaiju…" I muttered, recalling their monstrous forms.
"They come in many shapes and sizes," she continued. "The one you saw was weak. Stronger ones would destroy the balance, just like humans wielding excessive power."
She paused, then added, "That's why I was sent. To find you before it's too late."
Thalia's gaze shifted back to me, her voice soft. "Long ago, a prophecy was written in the realm of the Kaizu. It foretold the rise of a being known as the Ryuu, someone destined to end the war that has plagued our world for centuries. The Ryuu would possess unparalleled strength and the ability to wield Tàh—the life force that binds our realms together."
Her words echoed in my mind. "You're saying I'm this… Ryuu?"
Thalia nodded. "The moment I found you, I knew. My mission was to locate the Ryuu, and you've proven yourself in ways no one else could."
"But why now? Why didn't anyone come for me sooner?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"It wasn't for lack of trying," she admitted. "The barrier between realms isn't easy to cross. We've been searching for years, but the connection between you and Tàh only recently became strong enough for us to locate you. Something must have awakened it… perhaps the dreams you've been having?"
Her words sent a shiver down my spine. "How did you know about my dreams?"
"Your connection to Tàh likely triggered them. Dreams are often the first sign of awakening for someone with such power," she explained, her tone calm yet firm. "It's no coincidence. You've been chosen, Ria."
I clenched my fists, overwhelmed by the weight of her revelations. "I didn't choose this! I just wanted to live a normal life with my dad and my friends. Why does it have to be me?"
Thalia placed a reassuring hand on my arm, her voice gentle. "I know it feels unfair, but destiny rarely asks for permission. All I can promise is that I'll help you through this. You're not alone anymore."
Her words brought a strange comfort, though my heart still ached with loss. "What about Tàh? You mentioned it earlier. What is it, exactly?"
"Tàh is the essence of life itself," Thalia explained, gesturing to the shimmering barrier she had created. "It's what gives us strength and connects the realms. In your case, it's also the source of your power as the Ryuu. You'll learn to control it, but it won't be easy."
I stared at the glowing barrier, mesmerized. "And the man who attacked us… what did he mean by saying he'd kill us to find the Ryuu?"
She frowned, her expression darkening. "He belongs to a rogue faction within the Kaizu. They believe the Ryuu's power should be harnessed for conquest rather than peace. To them, you're a tool—a means to an end. That's why they'll stop at nothing to capture or kill you."
A chill ran down my spine. "So, this isn't over?"
Thalia shook her head. "Not by a long shot. But for now, we're safe. Get some rest, Ria. You'll need your strength for what lies ahead."
The next morning, I awoke to find Thalia already alert, her form shimmering slightly as though made of water. I reached out hesitantly, only for her to dissolve on my feet.
Panic surged through me until her voice called out from behind. "Relax, that was just a water double. I never sleep without leaving one behind to keep watch."
I turned to see her leaning against the bridge's wall, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to move. The longer we stay here, the greater the risk of being found."
"Where are we going?" I asked, still shaken.
"Kyoto," she replied, her tone brisk. "There's something there that can help us."
"What?"
"A tree. But first, we need to check on Sakura."
We stopped by the hospital where Sakura had been taken, only to find that she was still unconscious. The sight of her lying so still filled me with guilt and sorrow.
Thalia placed a hand on my shoulder. "She's alive. That's what matters. We can't stay here, Ria. If they find us, we'll put her in even more danger."
Reluctantly, I nodded, following Thalia out of the building and into the bustling streets.
As we traveled, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that clung to me like a shadow. "Thalia," I began hesitantly, "what happens if I fail? What happens to the realms?"
She paused, her gaze serious. "If you fail, the war in my realm will spill over into yours. The balance will be shattered, and both worlds will face destruction. That's why we can't afford to lose you."
Her words weighed heavily on me, but they also ignited a spark of determination. "Then I won't fail," I said firmly. "Not if it means protecting everyone I care about."
Thalia smiled faintly, with approval. "Good. That's the spirit of a Ryuu."
I smiled faintly as I waved goodbye to Tokyo forever.