Fujimaru Ritsuka flopped back on the minimalist bed, gazing around yet another sterile white room that now comprised his world.
"So to recap my situation - I got hoodwinked thousands of miles from home to be imprisoned in this 'Chaldea' base in the middle of an icy wasteland?"
"Correct," the eccentric orange-haired man who had introduced himself as Doctor Romani Archaman, smiled sheepishly over a platter of cookies. "We may be rather remote in the Arctic tundra..."
Fujimaru closed his eyes, the stray thought crossing his mind on whether the other dazed recruits being wheeled around were fellow kidnapping victims like himself. Surely he had seen another lost youth about his age sedated nearby...
He sighed, sitting up to half-heartedly nibble at the offered snack even as questions and frustration roiled inside at having his future hijacked by forces beyond comprehension.
Fujimaru had only wanted to take charge of life on his terms after highschool ended. But now here he remained - confined in a complex with an inscrutable purpose, at the mercy of strange caretakers.
Fujimaru stirred another sugar into his cooling tea, thoughts drifting back to the strange meeting he'd been ejected from earlier. One minute that director woman was introducing herself, the next he was jerked awake to her heels click-clacking away as he got exiled here.
"So, uh, you're basically just a run-of-the-mill doctor then?"
Romani chuckled.
"More or less! I patch up the staff that end up damaged."
"Huh..." Fujimaru leaned back, brows knitted. "But you still haven't explained what we were specifically brought here f-"
His words were cut off by the doors hissing open.
THUD.
A young man about Fujimaru's age unceremoniously faceplanted inside. Romani dashed over tutting as Fujimaru craned his neck for a better look.
Their guest recovered quickly, waving off help with a sharp gesture. Fujimaru noted his utterly average features outside gray eyes somehow sharp with irritation. Unlike the other Chaldea masters that Fujimaru had seen, this man was wearing a strange shirt with a large collar and black sleeves.
He still had the strange diamond formation insignia on his neck, however.
"...Guh...What the hell did you freaks drug me with...?" he grumbled, wobbling slightly.
"...I feel like I got hit by a train and a truck simultaneously."
Romani blanched.
"Oh dear, we weren't expecting you until much later! How did you even get here? This sector is restricted-"
The man rubbed his temples, irritation mounting. "Going to actually explain why you kidnapped and sedated me against my will?"
"Ah, sincere apologies!" Romani exclaimed, waving his hands. "I'm just the medical officer here..."
The boy's eyebrow twitched but he held back a biting response.
In the corner, Fujimaru raised a tentative hand. "Um, they got me the same way if it's any consolation. Something about needing us for this 'Rayshift' process that's apparently really taxing without drugs..."
"Rayshift?"
The man parrotted in confusion.
Fujimaru could practically envision the loading circle spinning behind the other boy's eyes. Clearly, he had been briefed even less on Chaldea's purpose.
Trying to change the conversation, Romani cleared his throat nervously. "Let's start over on proper introductions, shall we? I'm Doctor Roman Archaman."
"Juro Takahashi," the disgruntled youth replied automatically, straightening slightly. Fujimaru cataloged his entirely unremarkable features outside a peculiar gleam of intelligence within otherwise tired eyes.
Before Juro could extend his hand, a sudden, light presence landed atop his head.
"Fou!" exclaimed the small, white creature as it bounced off his head with agility.
Startled, Juro instinctively reached up to his head, feeling the spot where the creature had landed. His eyes widened in surprise as he pointed at the unexpected visitor.
"The hell is that?!"
The creature, with its furry appearance that was a curious blend of squirrel and cat-like features, seemed to take offense at Juro's reaction. It had large, expressive ears and a coat of fur that held an enchanting array of colors.
Romani and Fujimaru, however, appeared quite accustomed to its presence. Romani bent down, extending his hand to gently pat the creature's head.
"This charming little fellow is Fou," Romani introduced with a smile.
"Fou!" the creature responded enthusiastically as if confirming its own name.
"..."
"What a creative name.."
"So doc, mind explaining to me what the hell is going on?"
Romani sighed.
"Alright, let's start with the basics of Chaldea," Romani began, absentmindedly grabbing a donut from a nearby box. "Our primary mission here is the preservation of humanity's future. This facility is a unique blend of mages and non-mage scientists, all working together. Our task? To rectify the instability in humanity's past."
"Instability in our past?" Juro echoed, his brow furrowing.
"Exactly," Romani nodded. "Human history is riddled with uncertainties and threats. But here at Chaldea, we work to eliminate those threats, ensuring a secure future for mankind. Our goal is to establish a 'Human Order,' a timeline where humanity doesn't face extinction."
"And how do we accomplish that?" Fujimaru interjected.
"Through a blend of advanced technology and magecraft, we can observe the future—up to a century ahead. It's not about predictions; it's direct observation, akin to looking at the stars. This helps us safeguard humanity for the next hundred years."
Romani gestured vaguely in the direction of the control room. "At the heart of our operation is the Chaldeas, a creation of the Animusphere family. It's a model of the world, representing the Earth's soul."
"That big globe-like structure?" Juro asked.
"Correct. There's also 'Sheba,' the near-future observation lens, developed by Lev Lainur. Think of Chaldeas as a mirror of Earth's soul. By monitoring it, we keep track of humanity's survival."
As Romani's expression turned grave, Juro sensed the weight of his next words.
"However, a little over a year ago, Chaldeas's color ominously shifted to red. The light of civilization dimmed, clouding our vision of the future."
A bead of sweat trailed down Juro's cheek. "So, that means..."
"Yes," Romani confirmed solemnly. "We detected, no, confirmed, a catastrophic event."
"By the year 2016, humanity would face extinction."
The two men's faces drained of color as they processed the gravity of the situation.
"The anomaly was that humanity was wiped out in a single day. This defies all logic. We've spent over a year unraveling this 'vanished future,' to no avail. If the answer isn't in the present, it must lie in the past," Romani continued.
"Employing the cyber-daemon Laplace for phenomenon recording and the spiritiron calculation engine Trismegistus, we combed through two millennia of data."
"What emerged was an anomaly - a spatial singularity. Labeled Singularity F, it manifested in 2004 AD, in a Japanese city. This abnormality, undetected in our current timeline of 2015, represented an unobservable point in history. Concluding that this was the key to the human extinction event, Chaldea proposed the Rayshift experiment to the United Nations, which they sanctioned. Rayshifting is essentially converting a person into spiritrons, projecting them into the past to intervene. In simpler terms, it's akin to time travel."
As Romani paused, he noticed the bewildered expressions on the men's faces.
"Exactly," he affirmed. "Your mission is to travel back 12 years to Japan, to delve into Singularity F. Your objective: unearth the root of humanity's obliteration in the future..."
"And destroy it."
"Or something like that," Romani casually remarked, his tone shifting back to its usual, laid-back air.
Just then, a series of beeps from Romani's watch cut through the air, interrupting the moment.
Juro's eyes fixed on the wall, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Was this a Military operation? 'Eliminate'? He had thought this was just some private security gig, not a role in a massive organization tasked with protecting all of humanity. The idea of going back to a normal life now seemed like a distant dream. It was too much, too fast, like being asked to swallow a whole feast in one gulp.
A single drop of sweat slid down Juro's hand.
Others might have joined this venture with eyes wide open, but not Juro. This was all far more monumental than he had anticipated.
His gaze returned to Romani, who was now focused on a voice emanating from his watch.
"Romani, the rayshift process is commencing. We need you in the control room immediately for safety checks," the voice commanded with urgency.
"I'm on my way," Romani replied quickly.
"You've got two minutes, Romani. Hurry," the voice added, tension evident in its tone.
When the call concluded, Romani's usual relaxed expression was replaced by a visible concern.
"Two minutes haha... and it's a five-minute walk from here," he murmured, half to himself.
Juro's mind, still struggling to catch up with the rapid turn of events, registered Romani's haste. "Should've been less chatty, huh?" he thought, a bit bemused by the doctor's predicament.
At that moment, the facility began flashing a bright red as an alarm sounded.
Quickly turning to a nearby terminal, Romani commanded, "Computer, what's the situation in the control room?"
The computer's voice, emotionless yet alarming, responded, "EMERGENCY! Fire outbreak in the Central Control and Data Room. Evacuate immediately via Gate 2."
Romani wasted no time and dashed out, his lab coat fluttering behind him.
"The barriers will begin to close soon, get out while you still can!" He shouted behind him.
Juro, momentarily frozen by the door, snapped out of his daze. "We've got to get out of here, now!"
Fujimaru, however, planted his feet firmly, his face etched with determination.
"....I can't just leave knowing others are in danger."
"What?!"
Fujimaru clenched his fist.
"I said I can't just sit by and do nothing!"
"I may be an ordinary person, but I'd rather not sit here!"
Juro was left shocked as Fujimaru ran past him.
"The doors are still closing, you can leave if you try! It was nice meeting you!"
Juro's gaze followed Fujimaru and Fou as they hurried after Romani. His eyes fixed on the slowly closing doors, a silent countdown urging him to make a choice.
He couldn't just walk away.
He had taken this job, unaware of its true gravity. This wasn't a replaceable clerk or janitor position; this was about protecting humanity.
Chaldea needed him, even if he was just one individual.
Juro dashed down the hallway. He slid under the closing door, using his hands to propel himself forward and continue his sprint.
Upon entering the control room, Juro was met with a scene of chaos. Flames engulfed the area, casting a fierce orange glow. Amidst the smoke and rubble, he searched desperately for survivors.
Rounding a corner, Juro's attention was drawn to a hand protruding from the debris.
"Hey! Hey!" he called out, rushing over. He began to clear the rubble, his heart pounding with urgency.
As he removed a large piece of debris, a cloud of smoke hit him, revealing the person beneath.
Takahashi Juro had seen his first dead body.
It was a horrific sight.
The victim's face was unrecognizable, marred beyond identification. The corpse's face was in shape similar to a red flower, with the insides spilled all over the debris.
The shock of the gruesome scene overwhelmed Juro. He staggered back, feeling his stomach churn.
Juro collapsed to his knees, his body convulsing as he retched. The reality of what lay before him—a real, once-living person reduced to lifeless matter—struck him with a visceral force. Unlike the movies, where heroes nonchalantly stride past casualties, this stark reality was overwhelming.
As he wiped his mouth, the emotionless voice of the facility's automated system echoed through the room, its words cutting through the chaos.
"Central Bulkheads closed. Purification of the area will begin in 180 seconds."
A sinking realization hit Juro. There was no escape. Trapped, he faced his mortality head-on. In his heart, a mix of resignation and acceptance surfaced. If he hadn't chosen this path, he might be heading back to a mundane life. But he was here for a reason, a duty that transcended his personal desires.
The system's voice interrupted his thoughts again.
"The Rayshift master quota has not been reached. Searching for qualified masters... 2 Masters detected. Reestablishing candidates Fujimaru Ritsuka and Takahashi Juro as Masters."
Juro felt an inexplicable lightness envelop him. Was this the end? The machine's voice grew distant.
"Initiating unsummon program."
In these fleeting moments, Juro pondered his fate. Maybe it was FATE that led him here, tying him to this moment, this place. Had FATE been the unseen force drifting him away from his friends, his old life?
But one truth resonated within him: it was FATE that now BOUND him to his new path.
"All procedures completed. Completing substantiation of the First Order."
The world went dark.
______________________________________
The sound of crackling fire jolted Juro awake. His head throbbed as he surveyed his surroundings, finding himself in a desolate office building. He stumbled to a window, only to be greeted by a vast inferno engulfing the city.
"2004, Japan," he muttered to himself, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Huh, always wanted to go to Japan."
He glanced at the fire enveloping the city.
"Didn't know it could get this hot. Shoulda brought sunscreen." He chuckled at his own joke.
"Alright.. so, How do I get out of this mess?" he pondered aloud, his hand striking his palm in determination.
Before he could plan further, the office door burst open.
In its frame stood a figure.
Juro turned to the doorway, only for his jaw to drop.
It was a skeleton.
As in a human skeleton.
Bone and all.
Not only that, it was a skeleton wielding a sword.
Astonished by this absurd sight, Juro watched it approach, its bones clinking with each step.
With no muscle to drive its movement, the sight was surreal. Could he even fight such a thing?
Scanning the room for a weapon, his eyes settled on an office chair. As he reached for it, the skeleton swung its sword in a wide arc.
Juro dove aside, narrowly escaping the blade. He hurled a laptop at the skeleton, but it only slowed it momentarily.
His real target was the chair's metal support bar. Using his ability to understand and manipulate structure, he could dismantle the chair and only use the metal bar.
The process for dismantling was simple.
Identify the entropy of the object, look for any connections, push down against them, and dismantle. It was like building Legos, then telling certain pieces, "Hey don't stick together anymore."
Juro managed to get the metal bar and charged at the skeleton.
His initial strike against the skeleton's jaw proved futile. It was pure bone, unaffected by his attack. The skeleton responded with a vicious slash, cutting Juro's stomach. He felt the pain, but his clothes remained intact.
Recovering from the blow, he steadied himself against a desk. He needed a new strategy. His magic? No, that wouldn't work here. Then, an idea struck him. Channeling a small burst of energy into his fists might allow him to dismantle the skeleton piece by piece upon impact.
He slowly clenched his fists as he placed them in front of his face.
He would need to shoot a burst of energy the moment his fist made contact with the skeleton. It would still hurt, but it was the only way to win.
In that moment, another skeleton walked into the room.
Juro's past experiences in street fights had taught him to rely on basic punches, but this situation demanded more. The skeletons, their movements more erratic than a clumsy toddler, were unlike any human opponent. Devoid of fear or pain, their relentless assault was unnerving.
As the first skeleton lunged with its sword, Juro's instincts kicked in. He ducked swiftly, narrowly avoiding the blade, and retaliated with a powerful punch to its jaw.
The moment his fist connected with the brittle bone, he unleashed a concentrated burst of energy. The skull shattered, sending fragments flying as the skeleton's body crumbled into a heap of disconnected bones.
But the exertion took its toll.
Juro felt an overwhelming fatigue wash over him, his body strained not just from the physical effort but also from tapping into his magical reserves. Oddly, his clothing seemed to amplify his magic, a curious yet unexplored phenomenon.
His breaths came in heavy, ragged gasps, leaving him vulnerable. He barely registered the second skeleton's approach until the sharp pain of its blade sliced into his back.
"Gh!"
Stumbling forward, Juro reached for his wound, his face contorted in pain. The skeleton, surprisingly agile, lunged again, driving its blade deep into his waist.
"SHLK!"
Staring into the hollow sockets of the skeleton, Juro felt a surge of desperation. He grasped the sword, his hands bleeding from the sharp edges, but he didn't care. He was locked in a deadly tug-of-war with the skeleton, each trying to overpower the other.
"BASTARD!!"
Juro's guttural yell echoed through the room as he headbutted the skeleton with every ounce of his fading strength. The blow, fueled by desperation, did little against the unfeeling construct. Blood trickled from his forehead, mingling with the crimson flow from his waist wound.
His mind chanted a mantra of survival. He was not going to die here. He refused.
As the skeleton applied more pressure to the sword, Juro could almost picture a mocking grin on its skull. It seemed to revel in his struggle, in the futility of a human against an undead entity.
Ignoring the pain and his own body's protests, Juro channeled his magic into his hands, a risky move that left him vulnerable. He felt for the junction where blade met handle and focused his energy.
Dismantle.
The sword's handle snapped off, leaving the skeleton momentarily stunned. Seizing this brief opportunity, Juro grabbed the creature's skull and poured the last of his magical reserves into his assault. The skeleton's head didn't just crumble; it exploded, sending fragments scattering.
Exhausted, Juro collapsed to the floor, his breaths ragged and labored. He had defeated two autonomous skeletons, a feat that now seemed surreal. Glancing at his waist, he noted the absence of the sword blade, only a gaping wound remained.
Staggering to his feet, he made his way to a nearby medkit station. As he wrapped a bandage around his waist, a chilling, ominous presence enveloped the room.
His body begged him not to move.
The raw power in that room shook Juro.
"..."
"...So you won't turn around and face me? ...How rude," came a voice, scratchy and unsettling.
Against his better judgment, Juro turned, his eyes widening in sheer terror. The figure looming over him was a silhouette of darkness, its uneven form accentuated by a grotesquely large arm and a menacing skull mask.
Fear like he had never known seized Juro Takahashi's heart.
Before he could even muster a response, the masked figure brutally slammed him to the ground, then kicked him with terrifying force through a nearby window.
Plummeting down the side of the towering building, Juro's mind raced to find a solution. He aimed for a body of water, knowing the grim alternative of a hard landing.
But before he could reach safety, a sharp pain erupted in his stomach. The masked figure, descending with impossible speed, had caught up to him mid-air, delivering a devastating punch to his solar plexus. Juro's descent turned into a painful tumble onto the pavement below.
The figure, silent and ominous, approached him. Juro struggled to rise, each attempt weaker than the last.
Abruptly, the figure seized Juro's face, prying his mouth open and positioning a large dagger precariously with a single finger above it.
"With the slightest breath, this blade will fall into your mouth, killing you instantly," the figure threatened in a hoarse whisper.
Disoriented and overwhelmed, Juro found himself unable to speak, his mind flooded with fear and questions he couldn't voice.
The figure spoke again, its voice tinged with a bizarre gaiety.
"You may be wondering why I am doing this heinous act... the truth is..."
"I was so bored! No humans around, only those strong servants. They're no fun to toy with, not like the weak ones. And lo and behold, a human stumbles into my path!"
Juro's mind reeled. Servant? What did this entity mean by 'servant'? The situation was spiraling beyond his understanding, every moment bringing him closer to a grim fate.
Gasping for breath, Juro's world began to blur at the edges, his head spinning from the lack of oxygen. The entity's grip was unyielding, his nostrils pinched shut.
Desperation clawed at him. He needed to breathe. He needed to survive.
Death seemed imminent, a choice between asphyxiation or the merciless blade.
But as darkness encroached upon his vision, and he felt his heart stutter in terror, a sliver of air miraculously escaped his lips.
"You're dead!" the entity declared triumphantly.
Juro braced for the end, his eyes shut tight.
"CLANG!"
Silence.
Confused, Juro dared to open his eyes.
The menacing figure was now flung several meters back. In its place stood a new, even more daunting presence. Towering and imposing, it exuded an aura so oppressive it made Juro's stomach churn. The other entity was frightening, but this new figure was on another level entirely.
Clad in a cloak that seemed to ripple with shadows, the newcomer bore imposing armor plates, the details obscured yet unmistakably formidable. Its face remained hidden, but a glimpse of a massive, dark arm adorned with a shoulder plate was visible.
The figure advanced towards the entity, each step resonating with an almost tangible force.