Kenji stumbled as the blinding white light faded, his vision adjusting to the familiar sight of the old Japanese village. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the ancient wooden buildings and cobblestone streets. For a moment, his heart raced, unsure of where he was—or even when he was. Then, as his surroundings came into focus, he realized he was back in the same village where it had all started.
Why had happened at the end there? Why had other Kenji been so adamant about not sharing the void? And what was causing the weird distortion as he was talking? It had felt like something tried to keep him from hearing and even kicked him out of the shrine.
Around him, more and more people appeared in flashes of light, their faces mirroring his confusion. The square filled with murmurs and exclamations as families reunited, friends embraced, and strangers sought answers.
His questions were swept away as one single thought came to mind. Ren, Ren could be out there somewhere. Kenji’s eyes scanned the growing crowd frantically. Ren has to be here. He has to be.
“Ren!” he called out, his voice hoarse and urgent as he weaved through the throng. His chest tightened with every passing second, his mind racing with worry. And then, through the sea of people, he spotted him.
Ren was standing with a group of kids around his age, laughing as he held a shimmering object in his hands. The kids gasped as Ren tossed the object into the air, and with a flash of energy, it transformed into a miniature wooden sculpture before landing neatly in his palm. Kenji’s heart swelled with relief and joy as he sprinted toward him.
“Ren!” he yelled, his voice cracking as he closed the distance.
Ren turned at the sound of his brother’s voice, his face lighting up with recognition. He barely had time to react before Kenji enveloped him in a tight hug, lifting him slightly off the ground.
“You’re okay,” Kenji said, his voice trembling. “You’re really okay.”
Ren laughed, a bit surprised but clearly happy to see his brother. “Of course I’m okay! But... are you okay? You’re squeezing me to death!”
Kenji released him, stepping back to look him over. Ren was unharmed, his face still full of the youthful enthusiasm Kenji had worried might have been stripped away by the trials. “I’m fine. Just... relieved.”
Ren grinned. “I missed you too, you know.” Then, his expression grew curious. “What happened to you? I’ve been here for hours now. What took you so long?”
Kenji hesitated, his mind flashing back to the horrors of his trials—the raiders, the village, the blood-soaked fields. He swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “It’s a long story,” he said, ruffling Ren’s hair. “I’ll tell you later.”
Ren’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. “Alright. But you’re definitely telling me later.”
Kenji chuckled, grateful to deflect the conversation. “What about you? What happened to you?”
Ren’s face lit up. “It was awesome! My trials weren’t scary like I thought they’d be. They were like puzzles—escape rooms and stuff. I had to figure out solutions to all these crazy situations. And guess what? I unlocked two essences!”
“Two?” Kenji asked, genuinely impressed by his brother's demeanor about it all. “What’d you get?”
“Creation and Life,” Ren said proudly. “And the other me in the essence chamber said I might unlock a third later. He wasn’t sure yet.”
Kenji nodded, his pride for his brother mixing with relief that Ren hadn’t faced the same brutality he had. “That’s incredible, Ren. I’m proud of you.”
Ren’s grin faltered slightly as he looked Kenji over. “What about you? What essences did you get?”
Kenji hesitated again, the weight of his connections pressing on him. “Uh... Shadow and Death,” he admitted, avoiding Ren’s gaze.
Ren blinked, his expression shifting to one of confusion. “Shadow and Death?” he echoed. “How does that even make sense? I mean, I thought that essences are supposed to fit your personality, but... you’re you. You’re the guy who helped the neighbors fix their fence and stayed up all night making sure I was okay when I had the flu. How do those fit?”
Kenji’s mouth opened, but no words came out. How could he explain it when he didn’t fully understand it himself? He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding Ren’s questioning stare. “It’s... complicated. I don’t know. Maybe it’s not as straightforward as we think.”
Ren’s brow furrowed. “But doesn’t that bother you? You’re nothing like what those essences represent.”
Kenji sighed. “I don’t know how to feel, but...the other me made some good points too. I guess there’s more to them than just the obvious stuff you’d think of. Other me said they’re about how we connect to those ideas, not just what we seem like on the surface.”
Ren didn’t look entirely convinced, but he didn’t press further. “Alright, if you say so. But it’s still weird.”
Kenji forced a smile. “Yeah, it is. But I’ll figure it out.” He paused, then added, “Oh, and there’s something else. My first essence—the weird purple energy, that’s called the Void. I was warned very strongly to keep it a secret. Don’t mention it to anyone, okay?”
Ren’s concern deepened. “Why? Is it dangerous?”
Kenji shook his head, trying to sound reassuring. “Not dangerous. Just... misunderstood. Some people apparently react strongly to hearing about the Void. It’s just better this way I guess.”
Ren looked unconvinced but nodded. “Alright. If you say so.”
Before either could say more, a system notification appeared in their vision: “Report to the Guild Hall for assignments.”
Kenji and Ren exchanged a glance. “Looks like we’ve got our next step,” Kenji said taking a sigh, and then clapping Ren on the shoulder. “Let’s go see what this is about, the sooner we can get back to everyone the better.”
image [https://i.vgy.me/cxf4PG.png]
The siblings walked through the bustling village square, a place that had changed dramatically since their first visit. The addition of "magic," or whatever these powers could be called, had transformed it into something straight out of a storybook. People were experimenting with their newfound abilities all around them.
A man created shimmering gusts of wind to playfully scatter fallen leaves, while another formed glowing runes in the air, their intricate patterns glowing briefly before fading. Across the square, someone was trying to lift a small but dense stone with telekinetic energy, drawing gasps of admiration as he got it to float into the air. Everywhere, sparks of light, bursts of color, and faint trails of smoke marked the growing number of the new essence users.
“Wow,” Ren murmured, eyes wide as he watched someone summon a flock of fiery birds that dissipated into ash midair. “It’s like… I don’t know, a superhero movie or something.”
Kenji smirked faintly. “Yeah, except it’s real, and everyone’s winging it.”
As they continued walking, the village itself seemed to breathe with newfound life, even strange people and merchants who certainly had not been there before. Lanterns lit themselves as though imbued with a touch of fire essence, and a street vendor used what looked like a water ability to cool drinks for customers. The air buzzed with energy, but Kenji couldn’t shake the feeling of unease at how easily people seemed to embrace their powers. His mind lingered on what these abilities could also do in the wrong hands, especially his.
Finally, the Guild Hall came into view, and both brothers stopped to take it in. The structure was as familiar as it was different. It retained the feudal Japanese style of architecture from before, with sweeping tiled roofs and ornately carved beams, but now it radiated a sense of grandeur that hadn’t been there before. The intricately carved pillars were inscribed with what seemed to be glowing script, faintly shimmering in shades of gold and silver. Massive wooden doors stood at the entrance, and above them hung a sign written in swirling, golden text: Guild Hall.
“This place was already weird,” Ren muttered, “but now it’s, like… mystical.”
Kenji gave him a light shove. “C’mon, let’s figure out what this assignment thing is.”
Pushing the heavy doors open, they were met with the murmur of voices and the echo of footsteps. The interior of the Guild Hall was just as impressive. High ceilings vaulted above, their beams crisscrossed with gilded patterns. Torches along the walls flickered with flames of various colors—blue, green, and even a soft purple.
In the center of the room, a long line of people snaked toward a series of counters staffed by attendees in robes that shimmered with faintly metallic patterns. Above the counters, floating text displayed assignments being processed in real-time.
The two brothers joined the line, surrounded by others who looked just as curious or anxious. Some of the people in line chatted quietly, comparing abilities or sharing what they’d experienced so far. Others stood in silence, looking around as if still adjusting to this bizarre world. Kenji and Ren found themselves in both camps—awed and cautious.
As the line shuffled forward, they overheard snippets of conversation.
“You think we’ll get split up?” a tall man ahead of them asked his friend.
“No way,” the other replied confidently. “They wouldn’t do that. Would they?”
Ren glanced at Kenji nervously, but his older brother’s expression was steady. “They better not,” Kenji said quietly.
After what felt like forever, they reached the front of the line. An attendee, an older man with sharp eyes and an aura of calm authority, gestured for them to step forward.
“Names?” he asked, pulling a glowing scroll out of thin air.
“Kenji and Ren Nakamura,” Kenji said.
The man’s eyes flicked over the scroll as glowing text appeared on it. “Ah, the Nakamura brothers. Welcome. You’ll be assigned to a team shortly.” He reached into the air and pulled out what looked like a folded parchment, handing it to Kenji.
“What’s this all about?” Kenji asked, eyeing the paper suspiciously.
The attendee smiled faintly. “Teams are the lifeblood of the adventurer system in the Omniverse. No one survives alone, not for long. Teams are formed to balance strengths, cover weaknesses, and handle contracts of varying difficulty. In the tutorial, teams are assigned based on your trial results and abilities to ensure balance. Think of it as a way to prepare you for life beyond this zone.”
Ren frowned. “Wait—are we staying together or will I be taken from my brother again?”
The attendee nodded. “You will be staying together. The system prioritizes family and pre-existing bonds unless there’s a compelling reason otherwise. You’ll both be on the same team.”
Ren let out a sigh of relief. Kenji, still cautious, asked, “What about roles? What are we supposed to do?”
The attendee’s expression grew more serious. “Teams typically consist of three archetypes: Strikers, Defenders, and Support. No team is the same as another. For example there are healers who fall under the Support type and as the name implies support with healing abilities. Strikers are a type of damage dealer who can vastly differ based on skill sets and tactics. Defenders are those who focus on the defense of the team and are usually soaking up any intended damage to the other members. Based on your abilities, the system has determined your roles within the team. You’ll find that outlined in the parchment. If you feel the need to switch roles or reassess, you can request a reassignment later.”
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Kenji opened the parchment, scanning the contents. Their names were listed alongside three others: Kael, Riona, and Tessa. Beside each name was a designation—Kenji as a Striker and Ren as a Support with a focus on utility.
“This is weird,” Ren whispered.
The attendee continued, “You’ll meet your team at the assigned location. An attendee will handle the rest once you get here, and please feel free to come back to ask any questions . Training and assignments will begin soon.”
As they turned to leave, the attendee added, “Remember, this is only the beginning. What you learn here will set the foundation for everything to come.”
The brothers nodded and walked out, the weight of what they’d learned settling on their shoulders.
“Guess we’ve got a team now,” Ren said, trying to sound upbeat.
“Yeah,” Kenji muttered, folding the parchment. “Let’s hope we’re ready for it.”
They made their way back toward the village, the golden light of the Guild Hall fading behind them.
image [https://i.vgy.me/cxf4PG.png]
Kenji and Ren followed the directions from the map glowing faintly in the corner of their vision. It led them through winding streets and narrow alleys, past villagers still experimenting with their newfound abilities. Some conjured small flames in their palms, others summoned gusts of wind to playfully scatter leaves. A group of children stood awestruck as an older man caused a nearby tree to bloom with flowers in mere seconds.
Ren’s curiosity was palpable as he nudged Kenji. “Think they’ve all unlocked their essences already?”
Kenji shrugged. “Looks like it. Everyone seems… comfortable.” He kept his voice steady, but there was a twinge of sadness he couldn’t quite suppress. Had these others endured what he had. They didn’t seem to carry the weight of death and blood, and for sure they didn’t carry the dangerous secret of void.
The path eventually led them to a modest house at the edge of the village. It was larger than most, clearly meant to accommodate a group. The number “4” was etched into a wooden plaque above the door, and the faint hum of voices came from inside.
“Guess this is it,” Kenji said, taking a deep breath. Ren gave him a small nod, and together they stepped inside.
The first thing Kenji noticed was the tension in the air. Three people stood in the main room, each sizing up the others. A tall, muscular man with short blonde hair leaned casually against a wall, arms crossed, exuding confidence. A petite girl with glasses sat at the edge of a couch, fiddling nervously with her hands. The last was a strikingly poised woman, her chestnut hair catching the light as she stood with her arms folded, looking every bit the leader of the room.
The blonde man was the first to notice them. “Hey, look who finally showed up!” he said with a cocky grin. “Let me guess, you’re the missing teammates?”
Ren nodded eagerly, but Kenji narrowed his eyes. “And you are?”
“Kael,” the man said, pushing off the wall and extending a hand. “The guy who’s going to keep your sorry asses alive.” He laughed, clearly amused by his own joke. Kenji hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand.
The girl on the couch stood up hesitantly, adjusting her glasses. “I’m Tessa,” she said, her voice soft but friendly. “It’s nice to meet you both.” She offered a small, shy smile, and Kenji immediately felt at ease with her.
“And I’m Riona,” the last woman said, her tone confident. “Looks like we’re the dream team.” She glanced at Kael and smirked. “Though we’ll see if everyone can keep up.”
Kenji raised an eyebrow at the remark but chose to stay quiet. Ren, however, stepped forward eagerly. “I’m Ren, and this is my brother, Kenji. We’ve been through… a lot already. It’s nice to finally meet the rest of the team.”
Kael clapped his hands together. “Well, now that we’re all here, let’s see what this is about.”
As if on cue, a door at the far end of the room opened, and a man in simple but well-fitted clothing stepped through. His demeanor was calm but commanding, the kind of presence that drew attention without needing to ask for it. His dark eyes swept over them, assessing each member with an intensity that made even Kael stop smirking.
“Good, you’re all here,” he said, glancing around the group. “I’m Jorik, your assigned trainer. My job is to get you functioning as a team before you go out into the real world. Let’s get one thing straight. None of you are going to be good at this to start. That’s not your fault—you’ve just been thrown into this.”
His eyes softened somewhat as he took them in. “The lucky thing is the system made your assignments for you. Normally, in the Omniverse, teams are formed voluntarily. People decide who they like enough to adventure with, and then they figure out their roles and tactics as they go. This means you have the advantage of not having to find a team, that being said you lost out on the pre-team building that comes with that and you will need to adapt to each other on the go.”
Kael straightened up, clearly intrigued. Riona tilted her head, studying Jorik with interest, while Tessa adjusted her glasses nervously. Ren gave Kenji a questioning glance, but Kenji stayed focused on the man in front of them.
Jorik continued, “The tutorial is about more than just survival. It’s about building the foundation for the kind of life you’ll have out there in the Omniverse”
He looked each of them in the eye as he spoke, his gaze lingering on Kenji for a fraction longer. “I’ll be training you personally over the next two months. You’ll learn how to use your abilities effectively, how to cover for each other’s weaknesses, and how to survive as a unit.”
Jorik motioned for them to sit down. “Now, let’s talk about what kind of team you’ll be. I’ve already reviewed your essences and unlocked abilities, but I need to hear from you directly. Let’s start with you,” he said, pointing at Kael.
Kael, ever confident, stepped forward. “I’ll go first,” he said, standing tall. “I’ve got Stone essence. I can harden my body and create rock-like shields for protection. My abilities are defensive, and I’ve got the muscle to back them up.”
Kael, seemingly super confident, stepped forward. “I’ll go first,” he said, standing tall. “I’ve got Stone essence. I can harden my body and create rock-like shields for protection. My abilities are defensive, and I’ve got the muscle to back them up.”
Jorik nodded. “The system assigned you as a Defender, Kael. You’re the one who’s going to take the hits and protect the others when things go sideways. Makes sense, doesn’t it?”
Kael grinned and flexed slightly. “Yeah, I figured as much.”
Next was Riona. She straightened her posture, her tone steady but confident. “I have the Light essence. My abilities focus on support. I can shield with Radiant Light and blind enemies with Blinding Light.”
Jorik inclined his head. “Support, just as the system decided. You’re versatile, able to provide defense for your team while creating opportunities to go on the offensive.”
Tessa adjusted her glasses nervously before speaking. “I… um, I have Fire essence. My abilities are damage-focused. I can generate fireballs and manipulate the flames to some degree. But I need protection. I’m not exactly, uh, sturdy.”
“Striker,” Jorik said. “You’re the team’s heavy hitter, but your teammates will need to keep you safe. That’s going to take coordination. You’ll have to work together to make the most of your abilities.”
Ren stepped forward eagerly. “I have Creation and Life essences. I can create objects like traps or tools, and I have a healing ability. It’s not super strong yet, but it works.”
Jorik nodded approvingly. “Support, with a focus on utility. Your creation abilities make you versatile, and your healing ability is invaluable in any team. Lean into that—it’ll save lives.”
Finally, all eyes turned to Kenji. He hesitated, glancing at Jorik, who raised an eyebrow. “Your turn, kid.”
“I have Shadow and Death essences,” Kenji said, keeping his voice steady. He deliberately left out the Void essence, avoiding Jorik’s gaze. “I’ve unlocked Shadow Step, Umbral Cloak, and Necrotic Touch. My abilities are focused on stealth and doing damage over time.”
Jorik stared at him for a moment longer than the others. “Shadow and Death, huh? Interesting to see those essences in someone from Earth—especially a farm boy. Not exactly what I’d expect from your background.”
Kenji felt his stomach twist but kept his face neutral. Jorik didn’t press further, moving on smoothly. “The system assigned you as a Striker. Your abilities make you the team’s scout and ambusher, someone who can deliver damage while staying out of reach. You’ll need to be quick and precise.”
With the introductions complete, Jorik stepped back, his expression serious. “Alright. Now that you know your roles. The rest of this is up to me—to train you, get you ready to survive out there, and help you understand what it means to be a team. This isn’t just about strength; it’s about synergy. Learn to trust each other and play to your strengths, or you won’t last long.”
His gaze swept over the group once more, lingering on Kenji again. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll get to work. This house will be your teams for now. Until then, rest up. You’ll need it.”
As he left out the door, Kenji couldn’t shake the feeling that Jorik knew more than he was letting on. Still, he pushed the thought aside. For now, all he could do was focus on the task ahead.
The room was quiet save for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth, casting long shadows on the unfamiliar faces gathered there. The house felt impossibly large, every corner humming with a strange energy, yet the group seemed small and isolated within it. No one spoke at first, each one caught up in their own unease. For Kenji, the silence was a welcome shield against the questions he wasn’t ready to answer.
Kael, moving to stand near the wall with his arms crossed, was the first to break it. “Well,” he said, his voice as loud and self-assured as the grin on his face, “I guess we’re all stuck here together. Might as well figure out who’s gonna be pulling their weight.” His piercing blue eyes scanned the room before landing on Ren. “Kid, you gonna do anything useful? Or are you just here for the ride?”
Ren blinked, taken aback. “I—uh—well, I can heal, and I’m pretty good at making things. Creation and Life Essences like I said.” He gave a nervous laugh. “I mean… it’s not like I’ve ever had to fight….”
“Figures,” Kael said with a shrug, his grin widening. “Guess that healing is something. I’ve got Stone Essence like I said too. You know, I’ll be tanking hits, smashing enemies—basic hero stuff it sounds like. I’ll keep you squishy types alive.”
Kenji tensed, his jaw tightening at Kael’s dismissive tone. He stepped forward, his posture calm but his eyes sharp. “This isn’t a game,” he said evenly. “We could actually die, and it will be dangerous.”
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Relax, man. Just trying to lighten the mood. What’s your deal, anyway?”
Before Kenji could respond, Riona stepped forward, her movements graceful and deliberate. “Maybe we could skip the posturing and try to work together,” she said, her Italian accent giving her words an air of authority. “I’m Riona, and I think it might be nice to break the ice a little to help us get comfortable with each other since it sounds like we’ll be working together for a bit, what do you guys think?”
“Yeah why not.” Kael shrugged like he couldn’t care less.
“Okay! Great, well we should all share where we are from and and what happened when the system came.” Riona chirped in her strange cheery tone.
Her hazel eyes flicked toward Kael, her smile poised but sharp. “It will definitely help if we do this since it’ll help us as a team, after all we’ll need everyone to pull their weight, won’t we?”
Kael rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Teamwork and all that.”
Kenji hesitated, his mind unsure what to answer. “I’m from Kentucky,” he said finally, keeping his voice level despite his irritation. “I grew up in Kentucky, on a farm my grandparents left us. We moved to Japan later, back to my dad’s family. I was visiting our ancestral shrine when the system came.” He stopped there, avoiding any mention of the strange place, the katana, or the Void. The weight of the shattered katana by his side suddenly felt heavier.
“Japan, huh?” Kael leaned back, clearly unimpressed. “What about your essence? How the heck you get essences like that? The other me in the shrine said your personality and who you are determine what essences you get.”
“I don’t know, I had the same questions too…” Kenji said shortly, leaving it at that. He glanced away, hoping Kael would let it drop.
Kael snorted. “Sounds like you’re real cheery.”
Riona turned to Kenji, her expression softening slightly. “Anything else we should know?”
Kenji hesitated again, the words catching in his throat. He didn’t trust these people—not yet. He was a little concerned too, unsure if they would find out about the void essence from being on a team together. The Void Walker wasn’t something he could explain, not without raising questions he didn’t want to answer nor could answer. “No,” he said finally. “Nothing else.”
Riona’s smile didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—curiosity, maybe, or doubt. She didn’t press him, though, and Kenji was grateful for it.
Tessa, standing off to the side, shifted awkwardly under the weight of the group’s attention. “I’m Tessa,” she said softly, barely loud enough to be heard. “From Sweden. Fire Essence. I… I’m still figuring it out. I was playing games in my room when the system came…”
Kael’s grin returned. “Fire, huh? Bet you’ve got some kick to you.”
Tessa didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the floor. Kenji felt a pang of sympathy. He wanted to say something, to make her feel less out of place, but the words didn’t come.
Ren, ever the optimist, stepped in to fill the gap. “Hey, Tessa,” he said, his tone friendly. “Fire’s awesome. Bet you’ll be great.”
Tessa glanced up at him, offering a small, hesitant smile. “Thanks,” she murmured.
“Well,” Riona said, clasping her hands together, “now that we’ve all introduced ourselves, maybe we should take a look around. This house… it’s not exactly normal, is it?”
Kenji nodded, grateful for the change in focus. “It definitely looks bigger inside than it looks outside,” he said. “Feels like something the system put together.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” Kael said. “Guess we should figure out what’s here.”
They split up to explore, each one venturing into a different part of the house. Ren wandered into the kitchen, his eyes lighting up at the fully stocked cupboards. “This is… weird,” he said to himself, already imagining the things he could build with the supplies.
Tessa found a small study filled with books, her green eyes scanning the titles until one caught her attention: Essence Synergy and Origins: Theories and Practices. She pulled it down, her curiosity momentarily overpowering her shyness.
Riona lingered in what looked like an old classroom, running her fingers along the dusty desks. “Feels… nostalgic,” she said to herself, her voice tinged with an emotion she didn’t care to name.
Kael, naturally, gravitated toward the training room. He grabbed a practice hammer and swung it with a grin, the sound echoing through the space. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”
Kenji wandered alone, the silence pressing in on him. He found himself in a dimly lit corner of the house, where the shadows seemed to move unnaturally. For a moment, he felt the Void flicker within him, and his hand instinctively brushed the hilt of the shattered katana at his side. He closed his eyes, willing the sensation to pass hoping it meant nothing.
When they regrouped in the common room, the mood was slightly lighter. They compared notes, deciding the house must be some kind of system construct, its impossible size and functionality a product of the strange rules that now governed their lives.
“Well,” Riona said, crossing her arms, “at least we’ve got a place to call home. For now.The inns were great but we have no clue how long we could be in this place.”
Kael leaned against the wall, his grin back in place. “Could be worse for sure.”
Kenji didn’t say anything, his mind still on the shadows and the Void. He glanced at Ren, who gave him a small, reassuring smile. It helped, but only a little.
“Let’s focus on surviving,” Kenji said finally, his tone steady but tired. “Let’s work together and get back to Earth.”