《Reikon: When the End Begins》 Part 1 "The increasing cases of Reikon kept rising like a spike. However, the officials still haven''t said a word this past month. As bodies piled up-" The old TV spouted some news that Japan started to get bored by. "I''m so late!" Ryoka complained. It seemed like he had to start the day with a fuss. Ryoka Sato is an exemplary student at Kujira High School and is considered one of the brightest in the school''s history. He is recognized by influential figures from various sectors, including government and business. His communication skills often leave his opponents speechless in debate battles. However, today¡ªwell, actually yesterday, he made the mistake of staying up late reading manga. As a result, he had to sprint to school with only twenty minutes left before the gate closed. Thankfully, he''s blessed with quick feet; he arrived at school with only 2 minutes to spare. Class after class passed like wind, and the bell rang to send off the students. He walked home slowly to enjoy the view. It is indeed the metropolitan scene, though never had he complained. He''s been thankful for having a peaceful life. He''d take a de-route to his house every day. He''d go to his grandpa''s. There, he''d practiced kendo for 2 hours and finally went back home to study. If not, he''d choose the library three blocks away from his. Days of nothing special pass quickly. On the 3rd of May, the streak of nothing special was cut short. The incident took place in Aoyama, Tokyo. As stated in multiple news, in unison they said; the worst incident regarding Reikon in Ward 7. 8.33 am, a fifteen-story building plummeted into the ground, fogging a one-sixth of Ward 7. Death count, 323. 8.35 am, identified as Reikon case. Sending Responder to the scene. 8.36 am, Reikon made a move to a certain cafe. "Reikon!" A woman outside screeched after seeing what just unfolded. Everyone in the cafe stopped their activities and took a look outside. The woman turned away. The trees beside the road started to sway intensely, closing in on the cafe. The wind stilled around the woman. At that moment, there was a sound like pulp. Also at that moment, the window was washed with a red substance, blocking what was outside.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Ryoka was in there. With his grandpa, they were playing cards before things started to catch up. Neither he nor anyone else in the cafe could move. They knew a Reikon was still there. And they also knew, it was at least a semi-catastrophe level. After a long silence, Ryoka attempted to move his finger, but suddenly the door exploded into pieces. He felt scared, as did everyone else. Some of them were shaking, some were squirming, and most were crying. Ryoka almost screamed upon seeing the creature. It was enormous, about the size of six humans. However, that wasn''t the reason he screamed; it was because he had spotted a Reikon. A brief overview: In Japanese folklore, Reikon is a mythological creature that represents both ghosts and spirits. In 2012, unknown creatures began to appear throughout Japan. Around a hundred Reikons were slaughtered by an individual claimed to be the Reikon Reaper. The death toll reached nearly the total of both atomic bombings during World War 2 combined. Since then, Reikon has become viewed as an enemy of Japan. However, they are relatively easy to deal with¡ªif only everyone could see them. He can see them! Ryoka tried to whisper to his grandpa, but it was interrupted. The Reikon was dark blue. Its body details were as if an exceeded buffed human. Ryoka saw it opening his hand widely so he responded panickily by blocking his hand. The card on the table- The Reikon clapped. THUMP! Ryoka heard that but it was muffled. He opened his eyes back again and looked to the left, everyone was gone. He turned to the back- The brown wall was now just flowing blood and hairs occasionally. It clicked to him, his grandpa was also one of them, dead. He tried to look at the Reikon with a fierce eye but was blocked by; Cards. It saved him. The cards began to open up, encircling Ryoka and revealing the Reikon who had killed his late grandfather. He clenched his fist, and the cards started to form a sphere. He pointed his fist, along with the floating cards, toward the Reikon and opened his palm. It was as if a gunshot. It flew to the Reikon and took a direct hit to the torso. It blew and made a perfect circle in it. The Reikon screeched and tried to clap again. Ryoka pointed out a finger and waved it. A card flew by and cut one of the Reikon''s hands. The Reikon screamed and it broke every single glass in the vicinity. It ran outside but Ryoka never intended to let it go. He chased out took one of the flying cards to his hand and flipped it. He threw the card towards the Reikon and it flew until it contacted the Reikon''s neck. It was split clean. Purplish blood sprayed out from its body and fell to the ground. Never moving again. Most cannot see the Reikon itself but they could see it''s blood. Some were screaming after getting washed with purple blood. The pedestrian who was fleeing from the plummeted building stopped. They mumbled, "Is that a Reikon Responder? Part 2 Reikons come in various sizes, ranging from half the height of a human to the size of a metropolitan building. Their details, such as colors and shapes, may vary. However, the strength of each Reikon only differs to a measurable extent. From below, Level 1 to 5. Their damage is only able to destroy cars. Then, we have a Fatal, Semi-catastrophic, Catastrophic, and lastly, Stampede. Stampede-level Reikon only appeared once in late 2015, in Japan. The incident was called the First Outbreak. Ever since Reikon emerged, humans also had a remarkable change to some which were called awakeners. However, the total count of awakeners is close to none. Each country only had the average 12 and some don''t even have one. Japan had the highest number of awakeners, initially totaling 23, but this number was reduced to 9 during an outbreak in late 2015. Thanks to the efforts of the awakeners, the casualties were limited to just 136, despite the involvement of a Stampede-level Reikon. Japan''s government had founded an agency manned by awakeners. The members are called Reikon Responders. They were the ones who would step up to defend and slaughter the Reikon. However, this agency only came to light after a case was posted. This was due to ordinary humans not being able to see Reikon, making it much harder. Today, Japan has seen one of the most eventful Reikon incidents in Ward 7. By the time a Responder came, the Reikon had already been slaughtered. He identified the man responsible for it and his name- "Ryoka, am I right?" The responder asked him to double-check as he was writing down his name. "That''s right," he paused. "Are you guys going to scout me on the spot?" asked Ryoka. "That''s no job for me, but a friend of mine will check you," he replied. Ryoka smiled, "Before that, can I go inside the cafe for a moment?"If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The responder gave a nod, "Sure, you earned it." Ryoka walked away and entered the cafe. He went to the back where it was just a pool of blood from earlier. He crouched to touch the blood. "Grandpa-" Tears started to flow. "I''m very sorry- I had the power to protect but- I don''t," he confessed. He sobbed, "Don''t worry; I''ll find redemption in no time." He paused to glance outside. "I''ll save 100 times more people than I fail to," he promised. He then stood up and walked outside once more. Before leaving the door frame, he turned back to offer a bow¡ªa gesture of respect and gratitude from the depths of his heart. He walked back to the Responder, "What''s your name sir?" "No sir, please. Just call me Minamoto or Mito," he smiled and offered a handshake. Ryoka accepted the shake. "Oh, can you wait here? My friend gave me a call earlier and he''s eager to meet ya." Ryoka streched his body, "Sure." It''s not like I have anyone or anything to help or meddle with anymore. And of course, redemption to Grandpa too. Ryoka was picked up and taken to the agency''s office. Well, it''s more like a bunker. This was due to an enormous training space. The office itself was small compared to the total building size. In the office, he met another four Responders. They stared at him as if were judging. Well, I got to show my best now. He advised himself. "Ryoka, welcome to our training ground. The size was the same as a football field. We''ll evaluate you here. Please stay while I''m going to say hi to a friend," said Mito and he left right after. The training ground is empty which puzzled Ryoka the most. Am I just going to be evaluated by combat? The speakers hummed a voice, "Well- well, new awakener? First, I was informed my friend Miyamoto just dragged you here. I''m very sorry, we should''ve earlier- Are you interested in becoming a Responder?" Ryoka gave a simple reply with a nod. The speaker yet again hummed, "Great! Welcome to Reikon Responder Agency of Japan, Ryoka." "Wait, what?" Ryoka scratched his head since he''s expecting a trial or some sort. "You just defeated a semi-catastrophic level Reikon singlehandedly boy," he heard a voice right after the door opened. He turned to the voice, it''s a girl. The girl has a silky yellow hair, Ryoka seemed amazed by it. The girl in the suit took his hand and said, "Save the questions for later," she dragged him out of the training room. As she dragged Ryoka around the facility, he was stunned by the wafts of pleasant smell from the woman. Ryoka was conscious of how small and soft her hand was. He loved this feeling since he''d longed for it. However, he never put his guard down. Because he knew- She''s emitting an immense aura. Part 3 "You let the Reikon kill me," a voice whispered to Ryoka. Ryoka turned back, "What?" What stood behind him was his grandpa, who was wearing the kendo armor they used for training. His grandpa reached out a hand to offer him another piece of armor. Ryoka thought it was so fuzzy, as if something significant had happened. He took the armor and put it on. He walked to a corner to pick up a bokuto (wooden katana). Then, walked back to the middle and held a stance. The bokuto was turned towards himself on the side while the handle was pointing at his grandpa. He also holds a stance. His grandpa smiled, "Don''t hold back, Ryo. I''ll also do my best," he gripped the bokuto harder. Ryoka nodded and cracked his neck to prepare. He''d waited for this day to come where they''d be fighting with their best might without holding a punch. His grandpa seemed to bow as he took a stance, preparing to dash forward. The old man charged at Ryoka, but Ryoka stood his ground. "Heh, I''ve already figured out your counter, old man," he said. Just as Grandpa''s bokuto was about to hit him, Ryoka stretched out his arm and clashed their bokuto together. His grandpa''s bokuto was indeed almost thrown but he gripped it and crouched and tried to slash again. This time, it''ll surely hit. But it didn''t. Ryoka felt the touch but it was too gentle. It was as if, the- the sword''s tip was in pieces. He turned to his grandpa and he looked genuinely scared. His grandpa took a step back. Ryoka felt he needed to take action so his grandpa wouldn''t feel intimidated. He stretched out his hand to grip him and bring him closer. Suddenly, cards began to fly from behind Ryoka toward his grandpa. One by one, the cards pierced through his body¡ªone hit, then two hits, and before long, there were too many hits to count. Ryoka screamed in desperation and tried again to hold his grandpa, but another card passed right by him.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. It split his grandpa''s head and body. Ryoka lost his strength to stand up and he fell to the ground. He closed his eyes while tears started to leak. When he opened his eyes, it was dark. Now that he remembered, this was his new room in the Reikon Responder Agency facility. "Oh, I''m crying?" said him as he wiped his watery eyes. But no wipe could stop a tear, it would only dry it for a moment. Before long, he can''t stop crying. More and more tears are wetting the blanket. "Sorry Grandpa, I took your death so lightly." "Not that I know how to respond. Mum and Dad''s death were too sudden and still today I- I can''t process it. Your''s too- I- " ==================================================== "Did you show his room?" a man asked. "Y- Yes, of course," a female voice said in a tremble. "Did I see this wrong, are you shaking?" the man approached the girl. "No, you didn''t. Ju- Just what did you bring into our facility here?" "A devil? No, he''ll be my successor. Maybe- No, he will surpass me. He''ll surpass The Reikon''s Terror," the man announced. "I saw his mana, I flowed like a never-ending breached dam. It''s so dense and intimidating that I- I had to open up my gate," the girl confessed. "I see, he''s starting to reach my expectations. That''s great news!" the man coated himself. He twisted the knob, "For the starter, let him join your squad," he exited the door frame and gently shut the door. The girl left behind with a puzzled and frustrated look, "Great, he''s joining the 3rd Squad. Did he say ''for the starter''?" ===================================================== "Knock, knock, sleepyhead," a girl''s voice said as knocking the door twice. She almost jumped when almost immediately, the knob was twisted and the door waved open. Ryoka seemed different from what he was yesterday. He seemed gloomy. The girl observed Ryoka''s face and a memory passed through her head, "By the way, that kid just lost his grandpa on that incident. His last relative was now no more," the voice belonged to Miyamoto. She chose to take the happy route by trying to lighten up his mood by saying with a playful voice, "Hey Ryoka! Guess what, you''re joining my squad, the 3rd Reikon Responder Squad." Ryoka mustered a smile and replied, "Then I''ll be in your care from now on." Something clicked in the girl''s mind, "Oh, I haven''t introduced myself to any extent right? The name''s Aiko. I''m looking forward to working with you," he offered a handshake. Of course, Ryoka accepted it. With that, he''s part of the Reikon Responder. Above all, he''s joining the strongest squad, the 3rd Squad. Part 4 "Do you want media attention, Ryoka?" asks Miyamoto as they walk to the Food Hall. "No, spare me from them, please," Ryoka replied. Miyamoto smiled and said, "I figured as much. We''ll fill in for you. Anyway, go meet Aiko after you finish eating. I heard she''s giving you a day off." They parted ways, as Miyamoto was headed to the Field. The Field was the name given to the training ground. It might not have been the best name, considering everything there seemed very high-tech. Ryoka was eager for a day off since there was someone he wanted to meet. Someone precious to him. So, he ate his meal in a storm out of eagerness. Aiko''s office was just a minute''s walk from the food hall, but it took him three minutes since he got lost halfway. Once he was finally standing by the door, he gave a few gentle knocks. "Come in," he heard a muffled voice from inside. He opened the door and stood in front of her table. "You got permission to have a day off today," she said without looking at him. She''s busy doing some paperwork. Ryoka gave a slight bow of appreciation and took his leave. Just right before he left the room, "Ryoka, enjoy it. You never know if this could be your last. Have a nice day with whoever you treasure. At least they won''t regret a thing if... Just use the day to the fullest," Aiko said. She looked at Ryoka with a tight face. Then, she continued her chores. ================================================= Why did she say that? She just gave a turbulence in my mood. She got no tact at all, he thought to himself and let out a sigh. He was standing in front of a door house. He grabbed the knob, twisted it, and waved open the door. He softly called, "Fumi-chan, I''m home!" A high yet cute voice replies to the call, "Huh, you''re back? No, please go out. You''re going to make our house swarmed with cameras," she appears from her room. Ryoka turned his eyebrows, "Wait, you know?" Fumiko is a 15-year-old girl who has lived with her older brother, Ryoka, since she was five. Over the years, Ryoka has developed a deep affection for her and has become protective of his little sister, taking care of her as their only support. With no one else to turn to, they leaned on each other and also sought help from their grandpa. Above all, Fumiko is now Ryoka''s only remaining relative.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Fumiko sighed, "The whole of Japan knew by now. You''re now a special individual for this country whether you like it or not," she walked to the kitchen to prepare Ryoka a drink and some light snacks. Ryoka took off his shoes and noticed a pair of girls'' shoes nearby. "Did your friend come over, Fumi?" Fumiko nodded as she brought out a jug of orange juice. Ryoka was pretty sure it was a girl, but he felt the need to ask, "Is it a¡ª" "Yes, it''s a girl, you sister-complex," she sighed, then sat down on one of the chairs surrounding the dinner table. "It''s my job to care about you since grandpa''s now-" he accidentally slipped his tongue. Fumiko who was just now smiling turned upside down. He glares at his brother, "You don''t need to repeat that. I know. I''ve had enough in my dreams about him," tears start to leak out. Ryoka seemed speechless by his own mistake. So, he kept quiet and listened to his sister''s meddle. "I- I don''t get to say goodbye. I wanted to say a lot of things but-" she sobbed. She couldn''t hold back tears anymore. So, she cried. Ryoka''s heart ached for a moment, she always hated to see his sister cry. When Fumiko was a child, she once fell and cried. Back then, he had no strength or will to help her, so he stood next to her and cried with her. Each time she cried, Ryoka always wanted to join her cries. She hated it that it made him to cry. Even at that moment, he almost let out a tear. He had to stop her from crying. He got close to her and hugged her gently. Ryoka patted her silky hair subtly. He could feel her heart racing, and she was trembling with sobs. He knew he was doing a great job of soothing her, but for some reason, things didn''t change. She continued to cry loudly, seeking her friend in the other room to take a peek. Fumiko yelled out of spite yet a clue of worries, "You''re going to leave me too! If you die- I- I''ll be all alone," she kept crying. Her words startled Ryoka. He struggled to find a resolution for a moment. He smiled through his tears as she gently patted her sister''s hair once more. "I won''t die, I promise you that. You''ll be my number one reason to keep going. And I don''t plan on dying like a hero anyway. For my cute little Fumi, I''ll do anything, even if I need to break the boundaries. I promise." Fumiko smiled as she heard those reassuring words, and her tears gradually subsided. He asked for reassurance once more, "You promise?" Ryoka scoffed and replied, "Yes, my dear sister. Pinky promise. My, my... Look at my Fumi-chan, crying all over," He locked their pinkies together, and they both smiled. Suddenly, the sun shone down, enveloping them in a soothing, warm light. At the end of the day, he accomplished a worthy day off. He will treasure this day and any other day when he''ll get the chance to meet her sister. That''s Ryoka, a new Reikon Responder of Japan who will one day put his life on the line for others. But, what''s different from any other hero; he''ll use anything to keep him alive. Even- Part 5 On May 6, at 9:46 PM, a family was found dead, with the cause of death determined to be blood loss from a cut to the neck. 9:57 PM, investigators on the scene reported that the father had killed the family with a knife before taking his own life. 10:24 PM, the Special Crime Unit arrived and reached a new conclusion, categorizing the incident as a Reikon-class case. 10:56 PM, both investigative teams decided to close off the case, as they had reached a dead end. Note: The Special Crime Unit raised the alarm about a potential catastrophic-level Reikon, prompting the Reikon Responder to send an agency member to the scene. ============================================== Ryoka''s monologue: Today, Aiko told me to lock myself in the agency''s library and thoroughly learn everything I need to know before starting work. I have to say, it''s a lot of reading to digest each piece of information I received. I begin by learning about our people. Awakeners are a unique group of individuals with special skills that vary from person to person. However, they share certain similarities, such as the ability to see Reikon and possess superhuman strength. Approximately 250 individuals with these abilities have been identified globally. Their powers stem from an energy source known as mana. Mana is a form of energy that has limits and is managed by each individual. Whenever abilities are used, mana is replenished. The stronger the ability, the more mana it consumes. If a person''s mana runs out, they may faint or fall asleep, a condition referred to as Mana Fatigue. Fortunately, their mana will gradually replenish to its original levels over time.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. In Japan, the Reikon Responder Unit often utilizes enhanced items to assist them in combat. These items are crafted from specific materials and are coated with mana. Enhanced items come in various sizes and shapes and serve as mediums for advanced abilities. Each awakener has a unique ability. Additionally, abilities tend to have a more significant effect when the awakener vocalizes the skill name, helping them focus on a specific skill and gain better control over it. Reikon often causes trouble to human society by killing and destroying our buildings. The modern world agrees that Reikon is a vicious creature that kills for fun. Some groups do not eat humans, and some are neutral. They were also uncooperative due to a lack of understanding in communication. =============================================== As Ryoka was reading, Miyamoto gently waved the door open and called after him, "Ryoka, pack up your stuff and follow me to the equipment room," he leaned at the door. Ryoka quickly gave a gesture to wait for him so he could pack his items and tidy up the books he took. He followed Miyamoto in the hallway until they reached the equipment room. Well, Ryoka thought to himself that this room actually should be called ''Item Enhancer Vault'' since it looked like one. The name equipment room seemed too plain and dull. "Help yourself, choose anything that you desire," Miyamoto invited him in. The room was a wonderland of weapons and items that might help you in battle. From guns to knives, from armor to shoes. It''s a wide selection of enhancer items. Many people often take hours to choose the best item for their needs. However, Ryoka didn''t hesitate when he spotted a sword. He selected one that was the same length as a bokuto (kendo wooden sword). It''s a dark blue-bladed katana with a hint of black at the tip. The cover (or Saya) he chose was simple, black from top to bottom. Miyamoto scuffed, "I knew you would choose a sword right after I learned you took Kendo." Ryoka gripped the covered katana and smiled, "Yeah, I guess that''s an obvious choice by me. So, why did the agency hand me a weapon now, of all time?" Miyamoto smirked, "Well, tomorrow you''re meeting a Reikon if you''re lucky." Part 6 "Seems like only level 4 Reikon. However, we''re called to brush it off because there are 2 of them. Seems like a pain," Miyamoto said while reading what was written on his phone. "Ward 19, right?" Aiko double-checked about the location since she was approaching the exit. "Hm," Miyamoto answered. He''s still focused on his phone for extra information given by the agency. Ryoka kept quiet the whole way until Aiko pulled the break and reached the destination. It was eerily silent. Not a soul is here besides Squad 3. There is a protocol regarding what to do when a Reikon goes rogue that has been established recently. Everyone in the vicinity must evacuate and leave the scene immediately. This is crucial as no one can predict when a Reikon might attack civilians again. This explains why the scene was eerily quiet. But then, a sound of roars snapped the eeriness. Ryoka''s reaction was to grip his katana tied to his wrist. "That''s our call," Aiko announced and started running towards the fierce sound. Both Miyamoto and Ryoka followed her. When they were running, they saw the road was full of holes, not the kind caused by rapid use by heavy transports. They passed 2 blocks and took a turn to the left. Then they saw it. A Reikon with the size of half a car. Its appearance was much different than what Ryoka fought the other day. This Reikon didn''t look like a human at all. It looked like an enlarged version of- "Ew, Tardigrades," Ryoka said after closing in on the creature. "What? Oh yeah, just realized that," Miyamoto laughed. "I don''t know what that is. And I don''t plan to know either," Aiko stopped running. They spaced themself about 4 meters from the Reikon. The Reikon heard them and turned its body. Ryoka tried to find its eyes but gave it up immediately when the Reikon bawled. The three of them saw something colored purple spewed out, so they leaped out of the way. It melted the road. "Acid? Now that''s just basic," laughed Miyamoto after landing. "Now Ryoka. Be our vanguard, can you?" Aiko turned to Ryoka.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "What? Are you sure?" Ryoka puzzled. He sheath his katana out from the cover. He gripped comfily the dark-blue-bladed katana. Aiko smiled, "Just you see why I''m so sure," she took a few steps forward and tied her long hair to the back. She swung her arm to stretch, "Come on, Miyamoto. Let''s show off a bit to our junior here. Do our combo," she stretched out her arm and then opened her palm wide. Miyamoto chuckled, "Oh, I agree," he spread both of his arms wide open. Ryoka frowned out of confusion. He thought, won''t they go in front and- "Gravity authority," chanted Aiko. She turned her palm to the Reikon waiting to attack and closed it shut. "Earth authority," Miyamoto chanted his own ability. Ryoka was speechless after seeing what happened next. It was as if a scene that only he could see in a manga. Aiko moved her fist up. The Reikon followed it and flew up. For a few seconds, the Reikon flew up with immense speed. At once, Aiko dead-drop the Reikon back to earth. It dashed down. Seconds before it touched the broken road, Miyamoto gestured with a straight arm, to go up. The road went up and up. Parts of the ground mixed up with the road to hit the Reikon''s face. The power of gravity and kinetic energy crushed the Reikon but that wasn''t enough. So both of them repeat the process by going left and right, up and down. Before long, the buildings and road were sprayed with purple blood. Ryoka even sat down on the road to watch as the spinning Reikon was crushed by the force of gravity and the killer momentum. Once they were finished, they immediately set out to search for the last Reikon. The final Reikon was just a block away from them. This time, it resembled the kind he had seen back at the caf¨¦. It stretched out its hand, and something emerged from it. A fist-sized thorn shot past them. Before they could react, hundreds of thorns were hurtling toward them. Aiko smirked and used her Gravity Authority to redirect the wave to the left. While that, Miyamoto rose a thick wall made of ground on the left. This was to minimize damage to builds. None of the thorns pierced through the thick wall but it was astonishing enough that the Reikon pierced it halfway. The Reikon then paused its attack and stared at the three humans challenging him. Aiko gave a gentle push at the back after seeing the Reikon, "Let''s practice our combo I told you back at the agency," he stood next to Ryoka. Ryoka grinned, "I was waiting in that line, let''s do this," he gripped the katana''s handle. Aiko once again used her ability to control the Reikon and dragged it to them. The Reikon didn''t need to get close to them for him to slash him. He could perform an air slash, a special ability executed with an enhanced item. As he slashed the air with his waved katana, a light blue line formed and flew toward the Reikon. At that moment, Ryoka felt a surge of determination, realizing he was about to take down a Reikon for the first time. Time seemed to slow down as the air slash approached, just a hair''s breadth away from piercing the Reikon, when he suddenly heard something. It was rather unclear. It was a bit fuzzy too. He heard a voice whispering, "Thank you," Miyamoto shouted a cheerful "hooray" to Ryoka for successfully defeating a Reikon, praising the power of his slash. Aiko also inquired how Ryoka managed to perform that technique on his first attempt. However, Ryoka was preoccupied with a much larger question; Did the whisper come from the Reikon? Part 7 On the tenth of May, a new incident will commence that will shock millions. The incident of Sacrificial Catastrophe will occur right in the heart of Japan, Kyoto. It concluded with the highest death toll after the first time Reikon appeared. Japan sent five Reikon Responders to neutralize the Stampede-level Reikon. However, they failed. With no casualty on their side, 2 of them quit. Japan later announced they were entering a state of martial order. Humanity got reality-checked by the Reikon; they are ruling. ============================================= 9th of May, a day before the incident of Sacrificial Catastrophe begins... Squad 3 members had grouped themself in the Field to train themselves. Miyamoto sat at the side since this training was dedicated to Ryoka and Aiko. "Gravity authority," Aiko said and got a hold of Ryoka from afar. Ryoka, who had been standing comfortably on the floor, suddenly felt immense pressure. The gravity seemed to shift, making him feel as if he were being pushed upward, defying logic. Fortunately, the Field ceiling was constructed quite high, giving him enough time to perform an air roll and land on his feet. He''d kept a deck of cards in his blazer''s pocket for times like this. He used his authority, of which he didn''t have a clue about; to fly it out and made him a platform. But then, once again- the gravity shifts. This time it''s going left. "Come on Ryoka, try to get a hit on me and the training will be over," challenges Aiko. "And it''ll be over before you know it!" exclaimed Ryoka as he dashed toward the wall to get closer to Aiko. Miyamoto smirked, "Oh, and you''ll take back what you just said, bud!"This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ryoka looked puzzled. "Huh¡ª" Suddenly, gravity shifted again and again. It pushed him up, then to the right, down, up, left, and so on. Pressure continued to bear down on him, sending him spinning through the air. "Please stop!" shouted Ryoka weakly. Aiko finally stopped the gravity shifts, and Ryoka fell hard to the ground. He slowly stood back on his feet and ran to a corner close to him. He puked at the corner for a minute. He sat on the floor and tried to grasp some breath that almost became so thin that he couldn''t breathe. Before long, he rose and walked back to the middle. "I want a rematch, let''s do this again," he proposed the challenge this time. Aiko stretched his hand, "Sure, give it your all. I won''t hold back anymore," she grinned. "Gravity authority," she starts controlling Ryoka. As before, she executed her best trick by making him spin across the vast expanse of the field. Ryoka had retracted his cards back into his pocket and gripped the katana at his hip. While spinning like an orb, he unsheathed his katana and tried to gain momentum. Once everything aligned, he unleashed his air-slash ability. A light blue crescent formed and traveled through the air directly toward Aiko. The moment Aiko saw the attack, she played another trump card. She reversed the gravity along the path of the slash, causing it to break apart. However, at the same time, this change in gravity created a momentary distortion. Aiko collapsed and her nose started to bleed. It was as if she were shaken by her wavering gravity. Miyamoto ran to seek medical treatment for her and shouted, "You''ve won. Dismissed!" Ryoka landed safely, using his authority with cards. Wait, is it? He wondered. =================================================== May 10th, 9:43 AM; last moments before the incident started... "Yesterday''s training is one of a hell. I''ll never ask her to train me again," lamented Ryoka. He was taking a short stroll around Kyoto City when he began to notice the curious glances of passersby. Whispers filled the air: "Is that the new Reikon Responder?" For a moment, he felt special, but that feeling quickly turned into discomfort. He turned away, trying to blend in as a normal civilian instead of part of Japan''s elite. However, luck and fate don''t always favor us; sometimes, they take a turn to spice up someone else''s day. "Now, now. Is this the man who is our biggest threat? Unworthy," a voice screeched in his ears. He turned to face the source of the voice and saw a crimson-colored Reikon. They were the same size, but nothing about him looked remotely human. "Ryoka, be prepared to face a hellish dream," it shouted. It happened so fast, that his left foot was blown by an invisible bullet the size of a small cannonball. Then, he fainted. That marks the curtain to unfold a tragedy. The incident of Sacrificial Catastrophe shall begin now... Part 8 Sacrificial Catastrophe Incident. May 10, 8.26 am; Four Reikon Responders were dispatched to the scene. When they arrived, the road was flooded with blood. They also found- "Ryoka!" He heard someone call him. It sounded muffled. "Ryoka!" The call sounded clearer. "Ryoka!" This time, he''s conscious once again. Miyamoto was waking him up. He shook Ryoka''s body to ensure he regained full consciousness. "What happened?" Ryoka said weakly as he tried to get up. Miyamoto helped him to rise. "A Reikon attack, you must''ve met it," he said, looking around to find the Reikon. "Have people-" He turned around. All the civilians were dead, killed, and wounds thrust in different places. Blood slowly connected so a sea of blood formed. "I- I- I''m sorry, I couldn''t protect any of them," he cried. Miyamoto patted behind him, "Hey, this isn''t the time to somber. Get up and avenge these civilians, Ryoka," he smiled. ========================================== 8.32 am, all five Reikon Responders on the scene went to search for the Reikon; "Aiko, I''m sorry for what I did yesterday," Ryoka said as they wandered around the city searching for something. "Don''t sweat it. Let''s just say it''s part of your training, and you did a good job with it," reassured her. The city wasn''t as silent as before. Occasionally, they''d catch a scream, and they would seek it. When they came, there would always be a body lying or someone grasping for their soul. They had no choice but to leave them be and kept trailing. ===============================================The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. 8.52 am, Reikon Responder found the Reikon. They approached the Reikon right after... They had found the crimson-red Reikon at a cross-intersection. It was as if a miniature with cars lined up in frozen. However, the passengers and drivers were nowhere to be found. They were all outside laying on the ground making the road dark-red. The Reikon stared at the team of humans who supposedly came here to neutralize it. It had a similar size and some synonyms with human details. It had a pair of hands and legs. Though, it was as if thorny and hard skin. "Finally, you''re here. Now let''s see if you''re a toy that suffice for my satisfaction. Will you, human?" It screeched an awful howl. "Split up, it''s attacking!" Warned Ryoka as he leaped for space. "Oh nah, you think I''m letting you go?" It pointed to Ryoka, and he was thrown to a building next to him. It smiled and started attacking the other Responders. Aiko attempted to use her gravity authority but had no success; the Reikon remained immovable. Miyamoto also employed his authority, trying to slam the Reikon down. As expected, the Reikon simply placed his palm on the ground, shattering their efforts. It then dashed towards both of them and sent them flying off the road¡ªmore like it teleported from a human perspective. As Ryoka opened his eyes and processed what had just happened, he noticed two other Responders he had never met before. One of them wore a grey robe over a white suit; he learned that his name was Hoka. In Japan, an individual''s potential and abilities were always publicized. Hoka was known as a Shadow Cloak, owing to his authority over shadows. Rumors suggested he could travel between shadows and conceal himself within them. The other individual was named Hinata, renowned for his strength authority, which allowed him to lift three heavy lorries with ease. Hinata shouted to the Reikon, "You think you''ll get away with messing with us? You got yourself a death wish, animal," he dashed towards the Reikon and prepared to swing his fist. "Shadow," whispered Hoka. He transfigured himself in the shadows and jumped into one another to get close to the Reikon. With each jump, the damage dealt on the next few attacks will dramatically increase. He made himself momentum and tried to get a united hit with Hinata. But just a flick away from being hit, the Reikon gave a malice smile. "Now, your turn''s over. Now, this time I''ll take the move," the Reikon snaps its finger. All five of them were back where they were before they started taking a move to the Reikon. Then, the Reikon started giggling eerily. Their bodies started to alter into an unsightly form. From the toe, it was crushed and minced from the inside. They screamed in agony as the pain rose to other body parts. No matter how much they shriek, the pain inflicted never goes away. They writhed themselves while flopping like fishes grasping for air. The more they suffer, the louder the Reikon laughed. At some point, one idea emerged from the dark, ''Can you kill us already? Why won''t we die yet?'' Something is blocking them between the alive and the dead. An authority holds someone''s soul hostage. "Kill me. Please," begged Hinata as tears flowed. Part 9 "Isn''t it wonderful?" The Reikon said. "What''s wonderful?" Asked Ryoka. He was taken into a white void and was met with the Reikon. The Reikon grinned and then walked away. The void slowly shattered, and he was taken back to where he had been tortured multiple times. ===================================================== Reikon Responder Agency Office; "They''re engaging one of the strongest Reikon Japan has ever seen. Its ability wasn''t strong in any way. Though it sure is a hassle to take care of," said Asahi. "How is an ability that isn''t strong but troubling?" Asked Hanae "Manipulation. It could breach the realm in our minds. Then, it uses what''s in it as if it were variables. It would use it to create a torturing realm. You would experience hundreds of tortures. From physical to mental," Asahi closed his eyes as if he were in pain. Hanae gasped, "Then, can you even beat it? Any attacks would probably be just in our mind while the Reikon could just be running around," she asked in curiosity. He smirked, "It''s possible. Just not for all..." ===================================================== "Ryoka, be prepared to face a hellish dream..." The Reikon''s whispers echoed in his head. It happened so fast, that his left foot was blown by an invisible bullet the size of a small cannonball. Then- ==================================================== Sounds of howling came from every direction. The air was filled with sirens, crying, and screaming. The road was forming and taking shape like rivers of blood. Soon, it would group into a pond. A tragedy unfolded in an instant as a family of three fled from an invisible monster that stirred terror. This day was meant to be like any other weekend; they planned to go out together, spend time shopping, and stroll the streets as a picture-perfect family. However, today was not like any other weekend. When they realized they had entered what seemed to be the domain of destruction, they tried to escape it. They heard a soft growl from behind them but they chose to keep their head straight. Come on, just a few more steps and we''ll be- The child''s parents collapsed as they were screeching in pain. They gripped their chest hard as if something was disturbing; or stirring from inside. The child screamed and went to hug his dear parent in the hope of soothing the pain. An unexplainably horrific pain. At some point, they stopped screaming. Then, they resumed while it got louder than ever. This loop goes on and on. They were longing for the ending. To the point, they would rather conclude it themself...Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. They scraped the road and dragged themself to a ruin of destruction. The child insistently followed his parents as crying, begging for help. Each of his dear parents picked up a shattered glass. They hold it against their neck. Their hands shivered as tears exited their eyes. They closed in the distance between the glass and the neck slowly. It contacts the neck and blood rushes out and flows by the glasses and their hand. One would suppose that they would cry. But, knock yourself to reality; they smiled and giggled as they knew the soul and body would part, concluding the non-stop misery. Then, they went to silence, cold, and motionless. The child saw it all. From the point they picked up and... "You see Ryoka, if only you were powerful enough," said the Reikon as they watched the tragedy unfold. Ryoka stood in silence as tears flowed down. "You see, I am not strong in any way. I just happen to know how to create a realm within a human''s mind. Usually, that realm is where you would imagine and think. But, I swapped it and made the imaginary, the primary," said the Reikon in a bright tone. Ryoka clenched his fist as he knew that he was powerless since he was in a realm himself. "What you saw just now is no fictional. It''s part of my memory to be shared. I''ll hear your warm thanks later," it giggled. "Every single person you failed to protect ends up dying like this. I got to their soft spot and I tore it. At some point, they felt tired and..." The child stopped crying and picked up a piece of glass. Like his parent did, he held it against his thin neck. It contacted and- "... They suicided in misery," said the Reikon. Ryoka turned away, avoiding his gaze to see the rest of it. "Once again, if only you were more powerful. You might be able to lessen or even avoid catastrophe," the Reikon joked, laughing heartily. Finally, Ryoka responded, fueled by spite, "Well, thanks for the motivation. Surprisingly, you''re right¡ªI should be stronger. Then I can live up to your expectations. How does that sound?" The Reikon scuffed, "As if you could," he mowed down attacks at Ryoka''s torso with rods that were used to support pillars. Ryoka coughed out blood as each of them pierced his body. ==================================================== Asahi told Hanae with a soft voice, "... Someone powerful enough could do it. How? Simple, all you need to have to reach this requirement is..." ==================================================== "The realm seemed vast. I bet it could cover one-third of Kyoto. Amazing," praised Ryoka as he looked around. Never-ending flowing blood flushed out as more torture reached him. Ryoka smirked, "Those books do come in handy, eh? Good think I spent a whole day locking myself in that dusty library," he paused. "I can see that you''re trying to confine my mana here?" The Reikon budged and paused its attacks. "That''s a yes, thanks. So, mana is equivalent to air in a bottle? Well, I just had to..." ===================================================== Asahi continued, "Someone with immense mana shall release its gate to shatter..." ===================================================== Ryoka stood in silence and shut his eyes. He snapped his finger and vines of mana gushed out from his shadows. It covered the sky and... ===================================================== "PWAAFF!! It''ll shatter! The realm shall be no more!" Asahi yelled as he felt a waft of mana pass by. ===================================================== The sky shattered and the ground fades into black. The Reikon stood in gasped as he saw the impossible unfold. The dark void changed its tone slowly to brighten. Then, welcome to the real world. Ryoka closed in the Reikon who was still frozen speechless, "Shall we play once again? This time, it''ll be fair and square," he smirked. ====================================================== Asahi calmed down, "Japan just saw the strongest Reikon yet there is. Now, we''ll also see the strongest awakener in history, shall we?" Part 10 Asahi calmed down, "Japan just saw the strongest Reikon yet there is. Now, we''ll also see the strongest awakener in history, shall we?" ===================================================== Aiko gasped for breath as more and more of her bones snapped one after another. She hated that it could reset everything on a whim. It''s too tiring, just- The sky shattered then the ground formed a void. Then, it brightened and shaped our real world. She stood up after she had lay down for a few hours. She took a moment to fixate her eyes back into reality. Then she saw Ryoka standing in front of the Reikon that had terrorised hundreds. Ryoka closed in the Reikon who was still frozen speechless, "Shall we play once again? This time, it''ll be fair and square," he smirked. He leapt back. Now that the table has turned, humanity will take a step closer to peace. We''ll use every card we have, even the wildest there is. We''ll break the boundary to stay alive, that''s what makes us humans. "Try to open up your realm, bud," joked Ryoka. The Reikon clicked its tongue, he was being challenged. A vast shadow expanded where the Reikon stood. Before it reached any of the Responder, it stopped. "Why did it stop? Come on, don''t hold back for us. Though, you''re doing us some favour," laughed Ryoka. He grinned and gave a clap. The shadow from nowhere slowly absorbed back into where it started. "YOU MONSTER!" The Reikon yelled in spite. "Oof... That''s my line," Ryoka scoffed. The other Responders just watch while standing frozen and speechless. This ain''t our match; even from the start. "Guys, don''t just stand there. You''re a Responder, the saviour of Japan. Prove it to this foul Reikon," provoked Ryoka. A cold breeze swept through every Responder who heard the call. They gathered their confidence and took a step forward. Then, the harmonious choir echoed; the sound of awakeners united, chanting at the top of their abilities. "Gravity authority," "Earth authority,"Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "Shadow authority," "Strength authority," "Well god knows what authority," chanted Ryoka. For once, Kyoto became a full-fledged battlefield; where both were playing. The Reikon screeched in disgust. It dashed to give a mighty punch to Ryoka. Instead of budging away, Ryoka stood and laughed. Hinata appeared out of nowhere and served another a direct punch on each other''s fists. A soundwave of the boom is produced from the impact. He smiled and gave the Reikon a deserved punch to the torso and it was thrown back into a ruin of building. It was a bit dark. The shadow called upon the one with authority, Hota. Hundreds of punches landed on the Reikon for each moment it stayed under the authority of shadows. Again, it was thrown out and got back to its feet on the open road. Like all the humans felt back then; he''s powerless against the force, not the match one sane would be looking for. I''m being played like a dummy. The ground shook and rose to a new height. The Reikon looked around for- A massive piece of ground flew towards the Reikon and smashed it; flying the Reikon to the opposite. "I guess it''s my turn," whispered Aiko with a straight face. This is my debut as a Responder. Once again, she chanted; "Gravity authority-" The flying Reikon managed to take a glimpse of her who was taking control of gravity. It saw that she gushed out a plentiful of mana; which intimidated it. The gravity shifted back to where the ground punched it away. Instead of just smashing it to the ground, it shattered. Dusting the rotated ground away; that''s just how powerful it is. The Reikon spitted out blood after the damage; which was just a handful compared to what was coming- The Reikon remained airborne for a few seconds after the ground disintegrated upon impact. Then, Aiko played her wild card: Quantum gravity disruption. The air produced a hissing sound, followed by a piercing yet gentle blast. Lastly, an awful scream and howl emanated from the Reikon. They looked up to witness an ethereal yet horrific sight. The air appeared disturbed inexplicably. Gravity seemed to be battling between two opposing forces: one pulling downwards and the other upwards. It defied all logic of the universe; it was a phenomenon akin to what one might observe near a black hole. Just imagine, that someone is trapped between these two fighting forces. It will shatter even the last of their bones. To the point, they might disintegrate to oblivion. For a few minutes, the Reikon just floated in the air and crippled. The Reikon never stopped howling while it was happening. The Responders who were observing the object of calamity; they could hear loud snaps occasionally. At some point, Aiko released both gravities back to their state since she almost collapsed due to the lack of mana. Ryoka who had leaned on a ruined building finally stood straight and stepped closer to the Reikon who was falling. Right after the Reikon reached Earth, it gave the most awful and disgusting holler. It stood up uncompleted and announced, "HUMAN! THIS ISN''T THE END! I''LL BE BACK-" "You thought we were letting you go? Just kidding, it''s just something personal," interrupted Ryoka. The light snapped for a second; His dark-blue katana was finally taken out and it gave a bright blue light illuminate from it. He scoffed. The ground shook again; but this time, it was on a different scale. It also gave out a loud thump. Then, the sky flashed into darkness for a second. From up top, news helicopters got to capture a bright blue light formed in a straight line. Then, it was silence... Part 11 His dark-blue katana was finally taken out and it gave a bright blue light illuminate from it. He scoffed. The ground shook again; but this time, it was on a different scale. It also gave out a loud thump. Then, the sky flashed into darkness for a second. From up top, news helicopters got to capture a bright blue light formed in a straight line. Then, it was silence... Before Ryoka fell into darkness, he heard a soft whisper, "The moon¡ª it will mark the nick of time for the amassed calamity." He then drifted into a deep slumber. ===================================================== The subtle voices awoke him. He couldn''t make it out of what they were talking about, but he knew it was not a particularly pleasant topic at all. His vision has been dark for a long time. It was too long for him. Is this how they felt when they died? No, it can''t be. After all, it was the subtle voices that awoke me. I couldn''t make it out of what they were talking about, but it sounded like it wasn''t a pleasant topic. So I am alive. I guess it wasn''t my time yet, thankfully. His vision slowly started to reform and lights began to sparkle back. Those bright lights started to be more colourful stars. Once the process concluded, he tried to open the lid. He groaned out of fatigue, which startled Miyamoto. He was sitting next to him and was scrolling through his phone. "Ryoka!" He called. Ryoka heard it subtly. "Ry-" Ryoka opened his eyes and groaned at the lights, "Don''t yell Mito. Please, you''ll disturb the others," he said in a weak voice. He realized his mistake, "Oh right, sorry," he retracted his voice by a bit. "Where am I?" Ryoka asked as scruffed his hair. "A hospital near the agency," replied Minamoto. Ryoka smiled, "I see.," "Do you feel numb anywhere? Asahi told me you won''t be able to move freely for a few days." Ryoka tried to move his body, "Yup, no good."This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Minamoto scoffed, "Thank god you have something humanly inside you," "Is my pain something to be relieved?" "Yes- and no." "Beats me," Ryoka shut his eyes. He heard the door was slid open, "Ryoka? You awake finally. Didn''t I tell you to give me a call, Minamoto?" He gave a sorry chuckle, "Sorry, I forgot." Ryoka rose and sat on the bed while leaning on the wall, "Sorry to worry all of you. I was-" "You''re so cool when you fought that guy, man!" Praised Minamoto. "I''ve never seen that level of attack, let alone mana. You have the potential to be- something!" Told Aiko. Ryoka chuckled, surprised by their reaction, "It''s mostly thanks to the Responders on the field, really." Minamoto gave a pat on his back, "Don''t play as the humbled guy, Ryoka. You deserved the praise," they laughed. They talked quite a bit about the fight, how they pulled it off neatly and how they united as one to defeat the calamity''s tool. At the same time, they were also praising each other''s back into making it a stable conversation. "So, what did the public say?" Ryoka asked out of the blue. "Well, Asahi vaguely shooed them away for now. They will make a comeback certainly," explained Minamoto. "But for now, there won''t be any problems with them," added Aiko. "I see," responded Ryoka. As the conversation resumed, he got quieter and less motivated after each topic. Aiko and Minamoto also realized it as they got mouthfuls for quite some time. They had thought that he might be tired, so they tried to wrap it up quickly. Though, it was Ryoka who kept the conversation longer; "Pardon me for ruining the mood, can I ask a serious question?" Ryoka slipped through to dense talks. Both of them nodded, giving him the way to spill the bean. "The count--" he looked down, "Death count- aftermath," he choked the question. They startled, as they were caught off guard by the sudden hard throw. Aiko took the courage, "Around 4000," she looked away, unable to see Ryoka''s face. "Quarter of Kyoto had fallen," Minamoto sighed. "Ah, I see," responded Ryoka in tremble. Ryoka turned away so they couldn''t see his face, "May I ask for your leave for now? I need some time to be alone, sorry," Minamoto smiled, and patted his shoulder softly, "No need to be sorry," he walked out of the room quietly. "We''ll be there if you need us, just call us," Aiko left the room and slid the door politely. Huh, so much dust entered my eyes suddenly that tears started to slide down. He started to sob quietly. "They pretty much called me a hero, but I haven''t saved anyone or anything," cried Ryoka. "Thousands of them-" "Adding to it, they didn''t have a quick death. It was to the point death..." "...Is a better choice." "They had to steel themselves to take the solution." "I''m sorry." "I''m truly sorry." "I am not a hero." "I''m weak. "I''m a coward." "I''m stupid." "While the others are cheering for me, the ones who suffered never recovered. Because they lost something irreplaceable." "They died..." "...because of me." ===================================================== After a long self-reflecting monologue, he fell back to slumber. Even in there, it wasn''t any better than what he was reflecting. He may not seem like it, despite his emotionless actions; he''s hurting more than anyone thought. After some time, he woke up and picked up the presence of a new visitor, "Fumi-chan," he called right after regaining consciousness. "Good thing you kept the promise," she replied to the call. She gave a wide smile that brightened his heart for a moment. Also at that moment, he could muster a smile for an extra second. I am not ruining her smile, so I can smile more. Oh, I''m so selfish right now... Part 12 "Oi, where are we going?" urged Ryoka since he was dragged into a car and was going to an unknown location "Just wait and see," sighed Asahi. On May 14, an emergency session was convened in the National Diet Building, where most government meetings occur. Government officials and awakeners were summoned to participate in the meeting Due to certain circumstances, the meeting was held in secrecy and not disclosed to the public. A limited number of members from the House of Chancellors were called to attend. The short notice for the meeting was due to an event that unfolded a few days before. The word ''event'' might not even fit; it is a tragedy. But before that, let''s turn back the time by a bit... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 hours before the summon; "Pardon for the intrusion," a middle-aged man entered Ryoka''s ward. He was a man full of muscles. Adding to the spice, he could sense that this man had a handful of mana stored in. The man gave a warm smile, "Hello, Ryoka. I''m Asahi, Responder''s Director General." Ryoka budged himself for a second. Why is this figure here? Asahi laughed, "Loose yourself, young man. I''m not here to give you a mouthful. Just checking on my fellow members," he smiled and stretched out his hand to shake Ryoka''s. Ryoka sat and formed a handshake with Japan''s awakened figure, "I''m very grateful that you chose to visit me, really," he chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, it''s nothing special. I had always done this all the time. After all, our agency wasn''t that big," he scoffed. He took a seat next to Ryoka''s bed. "So, what brings?" he straightforwardly asked. Asahi sighed heartily, "Oh nothing, I just came to check on you and perhaps hear your side of the story." Ryoka nodded, "I see. Well, I''m doing fairly well. If that''s what you want, sure," he closed his eyes to remember the sequences. Before long, both of them diverse themself in the memoir of Sacrificial Catastrophe Incident. Ryoka tried not to miss a part until... "...the Reikon told-" Ryoka paused, he just slipped his tongue. He realized he almost let out a crucial giveaway; You can''t communicate with Reikons. Yet, I can. And I almost gave that info away... Ryoka tried not to let his guard down and planned his words carefully without hinting about his ability. Despite the censorship, he managed to tell Asahi about the sequences. Asahi shut his eyes for a few minutes. He stood up, "Can you walk now?" Ryoka puzzled, "Yeah, I can pretty much run now-" Asahi dragged him out of the bed and took him outside the hospital. Then, shoved Ryoka to his car and drove him away from the hospital to a certain location. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- That brings us back to where they were, in a car driven with such speed by Asahi, going to the National Diet Building.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Ryoka glared at Asahi, "Director, why did you drag me here?" Asahi laughed it off, "Don''t call me Director, Asahi''s fine. Anyway, you had contributed almost entirely to neutralizing the Reikon. Let yourself earn some credits." Ryoka sighed, "I don''t need any. I dislike it anyway, it''ll hold me off," he stretched his body since he''d been glued to bed almost for a day. Asahi pat his back, "Come on, the meeting''s going to start soon." Wait, a meeting? Well, you should''ve informed me first. They went to the grand building of Japan which symbolized both power and authority. This is where the bottom of Japan''s rule and power took shape into what it is now. They were presented with a staircase coated with a red carpet that had expanded through. They went up and they saw many rooms decorated with ethereal architecture. Asahi smirked at Ryoka, "This is the third time I''ve been here, yet I still ought to stop getting awed by what''s in here." Ryoka laughed, "Yes, it would take many visits to finally adapt. Anyway, where are we going?" "Committee Room Number 43," he gave a short reply. Then, he stopped walking, "Sorry." "What is it?" "This is the wrong building." ===================================================== Asahi knocked before entering the room. The door slowly swung open, as if inviting them both inside. The meeting room was quite spacious, featuring an oval-shaped table with a hollow area in the centre. Surrounding the table were neatly arranged chairs, each equipped with a microphone. It resembled the setting often seen on TV during important meetings with influential people. Ryoka recognized the figures who had already arrived ahead of them. Members of the ministry and influential military officials were seated, and engaged in small group conversations. Initially, they bowed to Asahi and quickly averted their gazes from Ryoka, treating him as if he were an outsider. Well, they aren''t wrong. "Sit next to me, it''s usually empty," Asahi said as he took his place at the table. Ryoka took his seat quietly but that wouldn''t him slip either way; the participants were glaring at him. He felt a cold breeze pass by. One of them spoke out loud, "Asahi, who''s this boy you brought? You can''t just drag an outsider into a meeting like this." Asahi smiled and gave a hearty reply, "You know who am I, right?" The man clicked his tongue, "Yeah, yeah. Just don''t let this brat be the rat." Asahi smirked, "It rhymes! Yes, I won''t let him be a rat." As they were having small conversations, the door once again swung open. This time, a man equipped with two bodyguards in front and behind entered the building without a word. In unison, everyone stood up and gave a bow to the man. Oh right, he''s the prime minister. The prime minister gestured for them to sit down. "Now, shall we start?" "Yeah," said some of them. A man stood up he later learned that he was the minister of defence, "If you allow me, I will start the meeting. As all of us know, Japan just got hit with a heavy calamity a few days ago and thousands of our beloved people died in tragedy. As expected, it was caused by the Reikons. In the end, 3968 civilians died on the scene." He sat down politely and then gestured to Asahi to tap him in, he smiled and stood up, "Four Responders were patched in to neutralize the Reikon. Before that, they picked up this child to make a team of five." Wait a minute, did he just call me a child? "By the time they engaged the Reikon, the damages were uncalled for. The battle lasted for 4 hours but they managed to take the Reikon out. However, that battle might as well just be a battle between the Reikon and Ryoka," he gestured to him. He stood up and gave a bow, then sat again to give way to Asahi. BAM! A man slammed the table with his fist, "Why the hell did you not join the battle? You could''ve lessen the damage," the man yelled. "Why, you asked? I have a simple answer to this question; I can''t." "Huh?" The room''s atmosphere started to tense up. Some of the participants started to mumble to each other. "I am confident I can''t defeat it." "Wha-" "Sorry, let me piece back my words; in Japan, it''s only Ryoka who could beat that awful thing." "But, you''re the strongest-" "Wrong, I am only the Director of Reikon Responder. That doesn''t imply anything about me being the strongest." "That''s a ruse in your division," he laughed. Ryoka just looked down since he just become the subject of an argument in the national meeting room. "Laugh all you want, you will stop when he was renowned as an elite awakener." ===================================================== "That was some hell of a meeting," sighed Ryoka as he threw himself to the bed. After the argument died out, they had a few more small discussions and the meeting ended. Between the times, Ryoka can''t help but just avert his gaze from the figures participating. Before leaving, Asahi told him that he earned himself a day off. It startled Ryoka since he had no idea what to do. It''s too sudden to be announced. Since a few days ago, a thought had lingered in his mind. He switched on his phone and opened the weather app. His eyes were fixated on a report, "Full moon in 2 days." At the same time, a voice from the memory passes by, "The moon¡ª it will mark the nick of time for the amassed calamity." "Hmm- Two more days..." he whispered to himself before heading to slumber¡­ Part 13 [FIRST ARC FINALE] Fumiko sat at the table, enjoying a bowl of cereal. The spoon occasionally clinked against the glass bowl, producing a satisfying sound. After finishing her cereal, she searched for the TV remote. Once she found it, she turned on the TV, and the first channel that appeared was the news. "The increasing cases of Reikon continue to rise, along with the death toll. Once again, the officials have yet to make a statement. However, today¡ª" "I''m so late!" Ryota complained. He''s everywhere to find his items. Fumiko just decided to observe her brother go into chaos since he was late. Her class started late today, so she could take her sweet time to prepare. Ryoka waved to her sister before leaving the house. Fumiko replied with a smile as he shut the door. "Heh, deja vu." Ryoka ran his way to school the whole way. Thankfully, he reached the fate with 3 minutes left before the bell. He stopped right after going in and decided to take a breather. He crouched to grasp his breath yet again. To his surprise, when he lifted his head; everyone stopped walking and stared at him. He could hear soft mumbles and whispers coming from each direction. Oh, wait... WHY AM I AT SCHOOL?! He straightened himself and went straight to class. Everyone looked at him as if he weren''t supposed to be there. "That''s him, right?" "The youngest awakener..." "He''s the newest member of Reikon Responder..." "I thought he wasn''t-" Yes, I just realized that too. I am a Responder, so I wasn''t supposed to be here. I already have a vast future ahead of me. Damn, I hate unconscious action. He managed to reach class despite having multiple mobs of humans blocking the way. He took a deep breath and slid open the door. At first, the class was loud as usual. Then, it was silent. As expected, everyone was staring at him. "Ryoka!" a boy called him. "Hi," he waved awkwardly. The boy walked to him and pinched himself. He ouched and sighed, "Why are you here?" "Um, I got a day off today. For some reason, my body moved itself to school. I had no plans today," he laughed awkwardly. The boy laughed, "Well, welcome back, Mr. Special," he gestured to Ryoka to his seat. Finally, Ryoka felt comfortable once again, "Thanks, Haru." A class passed without the teacher realizing his presence, but that was the opposite for the other students. The class was unusually quiet and some of them kept looking at Ryoka. The next class was also very ''not-usual'' since the teacher almost squeaked after seeing Ryoka. It was to the point that the teacher got a bit stiff while teaching by his presence. The bell rang for the recess for a few seconds. Haru went to Ryoka''s table to invite him to eat together. "Sure," he stood and followed Haru. Even in the halls, everyone kept whispering and staring at him. "You sure are famous nowadays," Haru slipped some words. Ryoka couldn''t help but laugh awkwardly and follow him to the cafeteria. Later, they concluded that they should eat in class after buying their lunch. "So how is it going for you?" Haru asked after he sat on a bench to enjoy a peaceful lunch break. "I don''t know the answer to that, but I''m sure I don''t hate it," Ryoka responded. "I see. I''m happy for y-" "Hey, Ryoka! So the rumors are true. Do you want to join us for a round in Kyoto?" a boy approached them. "Uhh- Sure?" Ryoka accepted the invitation. Hmm, an outing? Sounds great!Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "Now, that you''ve finished what you''re going to say, please take your leave," shooed Haru. "Man, you''re no fun. By the way, you''re invited too! Bye," the boy ran away to regroup with his gang. "Nagi is everybody''s friend, eh?" Ryoka took the opportunity to talk since he had longed to start a conversation himself. "Yeah, a guy who kept butting in everywhere," grunted Haru. Great, that''s the end of it. Now I got to find another one. They finished their lunch without words. Just before Ryoka stood to get back to class, Haru spoke a bit and it made him sit again. "You''re lucky y''know? Amazing as hell," said Haru. He was looking at the tree that started to fall with dead leaves. He was grasping for the feeling of breezes surrounding him. "You''re a smart guy and good-looking too. You''ve got reputations and now- You''re an awakener," Haru continued. Surprisingly, Ryoka couldn''t sense a single feeling of envy. Haru took the words from his heart. "You still kept the streak of debuts after debuts." Ryoka couldn''t help but sit again. He felt that he was needed to content Haru''s mind. "You''re going to be an amazing person. And the path for it was carved nicely." Ryoka tried to say something in response but he swallowed back his words. "I was waiting for when envy would develop towards you." "But, it never happened." "And you know? Today I learned something precious." "I''m content to be a part of the memories of an amazing person." ===================================================== "Hey, you came!" waved Nagi. "Hi," replied Ryoka as he walked up to the group of students. There was about a group of 5 including him. "Yo, I never thought that you''d come. You know, because you''re awakened," told Haru as they walked to the station. They got on a train from Aoyama to Shibuya. It''s only 20 minutes ride and the whole way, Nagi was trying to squeeze out some words from Ryoka but only a few came out. He gave out after reaching the station. "Shibuya!" Nagi exited and ran around. "This is the second time I''ve been here," told one of the boys that Ryoka didn''t know. "I''m a first-timer," said the other one. "Also a first-timer," Haru echoed. "Been here a few times," told Ryoka. The train behind them shut the door and started speeding to another station. Nagi called the group to follow him as he roamed around Shibuya. As they walked around the city, a sense of being forced into them was felt; this city was very different from the other one. It was active almost all the time with pedestrians and cars moving around. "We got a special guest today, as we know," said Nagi as he dipped his lip into an ice cream. They just took a break next to an ice cream stand in a park they just ''discovered.'' Ryoka sighed, "Hello, Ryoka''s the name. I think that''s more than enough introduction?" "Yup," Haru replied. "So, how is it being a Responder? Must be fun, right?" asked one of them whom he didn''t know. "It was, at first. But-" Fleetingly memories pass by. Sacrificial- "Hey, don''t force it!" Haru shakes Ryoka. After Ryoka returned to reality, he found himself shaking and sweating. Since that moment, they never mentioned the topic again. However, this did not stop them from doing everything they could to give Ryoka the best outing ever. They jumped from place to place and street to street, having fun and always smiling with excitement and joy. They also sampled many desserts and sweets that are quite popular in the area. It was quite late already, so Haru tried to wrap it out, "I think this is a great outing, though I think it''s time to go home," said him awkwardly. Nagi looked at the watch on his wrist, "You''re right, it''s quite late already. I guess this is the wrapper?" "Yup." "Agree." "Sure," Ryoka replied. Two boys that Nagi had invited left early since they had their own stuff to do. Nagi and Haru stayed behind just for a few more moments to say farewell to Ryoka. Nagi gave a gentle sigh, "I guess we won''t be seeing you again for now?" he patted Ryoka on the back. Haru also gave a sigh, "This is farewell?" Ryoka tried to muster a smile. "Don''t worry; before you know it, I''ll be going out with you guys again. I will find the time. After all..." I will miss the time when I could smile. Nagi smiled, "That''s good to hear. Bye. Wait no- See you again!" he waved as he walked away with a wide smile. Haru shook Ryoka''s hand, "See you again, Ryoka. I hope everything will go in your favour." Yeah, I wished that too. Sorry, I don''t have the right to say ''see you again.'' So: "Goodbye," he waved and walked away. ===================================================== Before heading back home, he decided to visit a park he had frequented countless times with his family. He sat on one of the empty benches, which reflected the warm yellow light of the setting sun. He sat in the empty park, remembering scenes that he had seen there. I have played in this park before. That slide¡ªI''ve lost count of how many times I''ve gone down it. Fumiko really loves the swing. She often asks me to push her. And that bench is where Mom and Dad sat to observe their little children. We would laugh, smile, and sometimes cry over the silliest things. I would even fight with her over who got to hold Mom''s hand. Those were some good memories, and I treasure them so much. Today, I went out with some friends. Honestly, I was just happy to see them smile about literally everything. I think I smiled quite a bit too¡ªonly they know, I guess. Well, it was a good attempt to escape reality, but unfortunately, it has come to an end. One more day, I will face hell once again. I''m not sure how bad it will be or if I''m ready for it. I will hear screams again and witness cries. A smile? In hell, everyone will be clinging to life. However, only those who fight for it might find reasons to smile at each small victory. Those who support one another will share smiles, too. Ryoka, you aren''t alone. You have people who are willing to smile at you and help or support you, even if it may seem like they''re holding you back. The important thing is that you can always find a smile, even in the darkest moments. I just learned; you always need someone to be there with you. He dug through his pocket to grab his phone. [To Director Asahi] A minute later... [Asahi just read] [Asahi is typing...]