Before time began, there was only the Void—an endless abyss where neither space nor time held form. Yet within this emptiness, there existed a presence—the Heavenly Dao, the eternal force of balance and creation. It did not speak, nor did it possess form, yet from its will, the first great change occurred.

The Heavenly Dao willed the first motion, and from the Void, a Primordial Sundering took place. Chaos and Order clashed in a cataclysmic upheaval, birthing the first flames of existence. These flames surged outward, expanding into the endless Cosmic Sea. In their wake, the stars ignited, galaxies swirled into being, and time began its inexorable march.

Yet even as the universe took shape, it remained incomplete. Seeking harmony, the Heavenly Dao gathered the raw energies of creation and sculpted a singular world, dividing it into three realms, each reflecting a different aspect of the eternal cycle:

The Heavenly Realm—The highest domain, where light and purity resided. Home to celestial forces, it was untouched by the passage of time. A realm of endless radiance, where the Dao's presence was strongest, overseeing the balance of all things.

The Mortal Realm—A land of imperfection and endless transformation. Here, the Dao allowed free will to flourish. Rivers carved their way through mountains, winds danced across vast plains, and the sky stretched infinitely above. It was a realm of beauty and fragility, where destiny was written yet not absolute.

The Earthly Realm—The lowest plane, where the weight of existence settled. Not a place of punishment, but of consequence—a domain where the spirits of the departed lingered, where echoes of past ages wove the fates of those yet to come. Here, the Dao's balance was neither benevolent nor cruel, only just.

Though separate, these realms were bound together, like threads woven into a single grand tapestry, each influencing the other in unseen ways.

Yet the Mortal Realm remained lifeless, an empty stage awaiting its actors. The Dao stirred the elements, and from the land, trees and flowers bloomed, their roots embracing the soil. From the waters, creatures of all forms took shape, filling the seas with movement. And from the skies, winged beings soared, marking the endless cycles of time.

On the final day, the Dao gathered the purest essences of all three realms—earth, fire, wind, and water—and shaped the first of those who would walk the path of destiny. From the Heavenly Realm, they were granted wisdom; from the Mortal Realm, free will; and from the Earthly Realm, the knowledge of consequence. Thus, the first sentient beings were born—bound by fate, yet free to carve their own paths.

With the universe set into motion, the Heavenly Dao did not rule, nor did it command. Instead, it withdrew from direct creation, allowing the Three Realms to follow their own cycles.

Yet rather than fading into the endless Cosmic Sea, the Dao sought a place of stillness—a world where it could rest.

Amidst the vastness of existence, it returned to the one place where its journey began: Earth, a planet ruled by God.

But this was no mere act of retreat. It was a return to something deeply personal, for before he was the Heavenly Dao, he had once been mortal.

Long before he shaped a universe, before he held the power of balance, he had lived as an ordinary human. Born on Earth, he had walked among men, unaware of the greater path that awaited him. His life had been like any other—filled with fleeting joys, quiet struggles, and dreams that reached beyond the sky.

But fate was never meant to let him remain.

One day, a tragic accident claimed his life, severing him from the world of the living. Yet, instead of vanishing into the unknown, his soul ascended beyond mortality. There, beyond the reach of the world he had known, God awaited him.

Seeing something extraordinary within him, God did not send him to the afterlife. Instead, he was given a choice: to fade into eternity or to wield the power of creation. He chose the latter. In that moment, he transcended, no longer bound by mortality—he became the Heavenly Dao, the force that would shape balance across the cosmos.

Yet, despite the vast universe now under his watch, a part of him remained tethered to his past.

Though he had long since become a being of divine existence, the Heavenly Dao still longed for the place where he had once belonged. And so, he chose to descend once more—not as a ruler or a god, but as the man he once was.

In his return, he took the form of a young man named Kaito Ishida, a name tied to the world he had once known. With the appearance of an ordinary mortal, he now lived among humankind again. He attended classes, walked the streets of the city, and observed as people made choices that shaped their own fates.

Yet even in his quiet existence, he was never truly ordinary. The balance of all things still rested within him, and though he no longer directly ruled, he continued to observe, guide, and ensure that the world moved as it should.

Thus, the Heavenly Dao rested—not in slumber, but in silent vigilance.

Part 02

The summer vacation had come to an end, and the students of Seiryu High School returned for the start of the second semester. The early morning sun pierced through scattered clouds, casting golden hues over the streets as students made their way back to school after weeks of rest.

Among them was Kaito Ishida, his uniform neatly pressed, his steps measured. His return to school marked more than just the beginning of a new semester—it was the quiet continuation of a life he had once left behind.

As he passed through the school gates, the familiar bustle of students surrounded him—laughter, hurried footsteps, the distant ringing of a bicycle bell. Yet to Kaito, it all felt strangely distant, as though he were a spectator rather than a participant. He observed his classmates exchanging excited greetings, their world filled with trivial joys and fleeting concerns. He answered nods and casual remarks with polite acknowledgment, yet within him, there was stillness.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the first period. Kaito walked into his classroom, slipping into his seat as the teacher began the lecture. The rhythm of normalcy continued, and he let himself fall into it—until a voice echoed beside him.

"Master, an unknown phenomenon has occurred in Amphoreus. Unstable rifts are appearing across the continents of your planet." A floating orb materialized beside him, its presence unnoticed by his human peers. Its glow pulsed softly, awaiting his response.

Amphoreus—the Vessel of Balance. A world shaped by his hand, the heart of equilibrium across the cosmos. And now, something threatened it.

Kaito remained silent, his gaze fixed on the teacher at the front of the class. The orb, knowing its master well, did not press further. It understood that, no matter how much he lingered in this human world, he would inevitably return.

"We'll go after I finish my first day back," Kaito muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.

"Understood." The orb vanished.

Kaito exhaled softly and turned his attention back to the lesson. For now, he would remain here, if only for a little while longer.

Lunch Break

The cafeteria hummed with idle chatter and the clinking of trays. Kaito sat by the window, quietly eating as Ayaka Hoshino, a girl from his class, approached. She had a cheerful yet composed demeanor, her dark brown hair tied in a loose ponytail, and her bright amber eyes held an easy warmth. "Mind if I sit here?" she asked, setting down her tray before he could answer.

Kaito gave a small nod. "Go ahead." She smiled and took a seat, stirring her drink absentmindedly. "So, how was your summer? You kind of disappeared after exams."

He considered his answer for a moment before replying, "Uneventful." Ayaka chuckled. "That makes two of us. I spent most of it helping out at my family's café. Not exactly thrilling, but at least I got free desserts." For the first time that day, Kaito allowed himself to relax, to let the moment wash over him like an ordinary student.

Then, as she laughed at a passing joke, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

"Master, are you ready to depart?" The floating orb materialized beside him, unseen by Ayaka. It hovered with an expectant air. Kaito took a slow sip of his drink before muttering under his breath, "Later. After school ends."

The orb hesitated, then vanished. Ayaka tilted her head. "Did you say something?" Kaito shook his head with a faint smile. "Nothing. Just thinking." The conversation resumed, and for now, he remained where he was—just another student enjoying lunch. After lunch break, everyone headed back to their classroom. Kaito and Ayaka were walking together, but Kaito took an excuse to head to the men's restroom, and Ayaka headed back to the classroom.

"Aetheris, give me the details of what is happening in Amphoreus," Kaito asked, his voice steady as he washed his hands. His expression was serious but calm.

"The mortals of the west have discovered a way to summon extraterrestrial entities from another world, and as a result, Earth has become affected by their power. This has caused unstable rifts to appear on both the western and eastern sides of Amphoreus. If this continues, Earth could also become entangled in the matter."

Kaito paused, his mind processing the orb's words. His expression remained composed, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Summoning beings from another world... and now Earth is involved?" Kaito repeated quietly, turning off the faucet and drying his hands. "The rifts—are they a cause or a consequence of these entities' arrival?"

The orb hummed with a soft energy as Aetheris responded, "The rifts are a direct result of the summoning. If left unchecked, they may grow, linking our worlds in ways we cannot yet fully predict." Kaito's gaze hardened as he stared out the window, deep in thought. "Then it's only a matter of time before we have to act. The balance of both worlds is at risk." Kaito crossed his arms, his gaze never wavering from the distant horizon. "If these rifts keep expanding, we might not have much time before things spiral out of control." His voice was calm, but a sense of urgency hung in the air.

"Indeed, Master. The interference from the summoned entities is destabilizing not just Amphoreus, but the fabric of reality itself. The rifts are beginning to blur the boundaries between worlds. If this continues, we may not be able to separate them once they've merged."

Kaito's mind raced, a plan beginning to form. "How are the gods and immortals of Amphoreus reacting to this? Are they aware of the rifts?"

"The gods of the western are aware; but the eastern don't, they are simply aware of the rifts. The rifts threaten the very foundations of their domains. The gods are divided in their responses, some focused on preserving their own power, while others seek to close the rifts. However, none have yet succeeded in halting their expansion."

A frown tugged at Kaito's lips. "Typical. Too busy with their own struggles to see the bigger picture." He turned back to the orb, determination settling in his features. "I'll need to gather information from both sides—west and east. If the gods can't solve this, I will."

"It will be dangerous, Master. The entities being summoned may not be passive. They could have their own agenda. Proceed with caution."

Kaito nodded, a glint of resolve in his eyes. "I know the risks. But Earth can't afford to wait any longer. I'll stop this before it's too late." With that, he turned and walked toward the door, his mind already set on the path ahead. He knew this wouldn't be easy, but he was ready for the challenge

Kaito's footsteps echoed through the empty hallway as he made his way back to his classroom. The quiet was unsettling, too still for a school that should be bustling with students. As he turned the corner, something unusual caught his eye.

In the middle of the hallway, a ritual circle had appeared on the floor. Its markings were glowing faintly, pulsating with an eerie, otherworldly energy. Kaito froze, his senses sharpening. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what this meant—his classmates had vanished. There was no sign of them, only the unsettling remnants of the ritual that had brought them elsewhere.

His mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. The summoning. The rifts. Could this be connected?

The air around the circle felt heavy, thick with magic. Kaito crouched down, inspecting the symbols etched into the floor. He recognized some of them—an ancient form of summoning magic used to pull beings or even people from one place to another. It was too specific to be a coincidence.

"Aetheris," he muttered under his breath, "did you detect anything?"

"Yes, Master. There is an energy spike directly connected to this ritual circle. Your classmates... they have been transported, likely to Amphoreus." Kaito stood, his expression grim. His instincts were already telling him this was no ordinary school event—it was something far more dangerous, and likely tied to the destabilizing forces at play in Amphoreus.

Without wasting another moment, Kaito moved closer to the ritual circle, kneeling beside it and touching the floor with the tips of his fingers. A faint pulse of magic surged beneath his touch, almost as if the circle was alive, reacting to his presence. "Where did they go?" he whispered to himself, his thoughts drifting to his classmates.

Aetheris responded with urgency, "The energy signature is faint, but it seems they were teleported to a place connected to the rifts. If you wish to follow them, you must act quickly before the connection weakens." Kaito's determination solidified. He wasn't going to let this anomaly go unchecked—his friends were depending on him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay beyond the circle.

Without hesitation, Kaito stepped into the ritual circle, preparing himself for the unknown.