Kento's heart thundered as he raced through the academy hospital's corridors. When he arrived at the entrance, a small group of students stood in a quiet huddle. Without hesitation, he demanded, "Where is my son?"
A trembling voice answered, "Sir, he's on the upper floor."
Kento's eyes softened as he looked at the earnest faces of the young ones. "You are his first true friends," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Please, do not leave him now—he has been alone for far too long."
Sora, stepping forward, declared, "Sir, we will never abandon him!"
With hope and worry entwined in his chest, Kento climbed the stairs. Reaching the door of an upper-floor room, he paused as muffled voices drifted out. He pushed the door open to find a group of teachers gathered around his unconscious son, Yuki. Master Jin, a seasoned instructor with worry etched into every line of his face, was examining an ancient magic gauge attached to Yuki's small hand.
"Sir," Master Jin began apologetically, "we were just checking to see if your son's powers have reawakened."
Another teacher, Professor Ren, added quietly, "It still reads Level 1, sir. We had hoped for a change, but it seems he remains at that level."
Kento's eyes filled with unshed tears as he stepped closer. "My son… Where are you?" he murmured, reaching out to gently touch Yuki's hand. "I'm so sorry you've had to suffer this alone."
A grave-faced doctor entered the room. "Sir, we're not sure what curse or magic is affecting him. All we can do is wait and see if he awakens," he explained. Kento listened silently, his thoughts turning to how his wife, Aiko, would react when she learned the news.
After the doctor left, Kento knelt by Yuki's side and whispered with trembling determination, "Son, you have to wake up. I know you can do it. I know you can overcome any challenge with your strength and hard work. Please, my child… wake up."
A magic nurse approached gently. "Sir, you must leave now," she urged softly. With one last lingering look at his still form, Kento reluctantly stepped out of the room.
---
In the depths of Yuki's unconscious mind, a strange vision began to unfurl. He found himself in a dark, silent space, where a solitary, shadowy figure loomed. This figure—the Death Devil—exuded a mysterious and sorrowful aura. Slowly, memories from a painful past drifted into focus: visions of cruelty, of isolation, and of suffering inflicted by those he once trusted.
Then, the shadow moved closer, its deep, resonant voice breaking the silence, "Do you want to change this world?"
Startled, Yuki managed a weak, "Who... who are you?"
The figure's voice softened, heavy with ancient grief. "I know the depths of your pain, the loneliness that has followed you all your life. I will show you my story—who I once was, and what I have become."
Suddenly, Yuki was transported into a memory. He saw himself in an ancient, torch-lit cave, where a legendary warrior wielded power that defied imagination. This man—known as the Death Devil—had cleared dungeons with a mere flick of his finger. His comrades, fierce fighters named Ragnar and Thane, fought by his side as he unleashed devastation upon his foes.
After a brutal battle against a god-level beast—slain in one swift, merciless slash—the Death Devil's closest friend said, "You've done so much today. Now rest; I'll collect the gold for you." With a tired smile, the warrior reclined upon a rock that, in time, would give rise to an army of tiny, enchanted soldiers.
But in a cruel twist, his best friend, tears mingling with regret, produced a knife imbued with black magic. "We were ordered by the nobles," the friend choked out. "They paid us to kill the first magic user."
In one devastating moment, the blade found its mark. The Death Devil cried out, "Why? Why did you do this?" His anguished voice echoed through the cavern as his friend wept in remorse, and the memory began to fade into darkness.
Returning to the shadowed space, the Death Devil fixed his gaze upon Yuki and asked, "So, what do you say? Do you want to change this world with me?"
A determined smile slowly blossomed on Yuki's face as he replied, "Yes… we will."
---
Back in the real world, a sudden commotion shattered the tense quiet of the infirmary. A nurse burst into the room, shouting, "Doctor! Yuki has woken up!"
At that moment, Yuki's eyelids fluttered open. His eyes, shining with a mix of shock and newfound determination, met the gazes of the startled doctors and nurses. Hope had returned, and with it, the promise of a journey that would reshape everything.
Kento, waiting outside, felt his heart surge with relief as he heard the news. Though the future remained uncertain, he now knew that his son, against all odds, had begun to awaken to a power that could change the world.