In a flash of blinding light, Kenji found himself somewhere new. When he blinked, the glare faded, and he was standing in a lush forest filled with cherry blossom trees, their petals drifting on a soft breeze. He looked around, disoriented, but something else caught his eye—a screen, hovering in the air before him, its edges glitching with symbols he couldn’t read.
The screen flickered, its text shifting, written in strange hieroglyphs that morphed and reformed until they finally coalesced into words he could understand:
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System Message
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Ding!
Welcome, Kenji Nakamura, to the Omnirealm Tutorial!
This tutorial is designed to help new arrivals understand and navigate the foundational aspects of the Omnirealm System. You will face trials that test your resolve, enhance your abilities, and prepare you for the challenges that lie ahead in this new reality.
Objective Added: Complete the Tutorial
•Learn the fundamentals of essence cultivation, combat, and survival.
•Unlock essential abilities and skills to prepare for integration into the Omnirealm.
Reward: Initial Essence Advancement, System Resources, Survival Kit
Ding!
New Quest Received: The Mystery of the Tutorial
Objective: Explore the Tutorial Grounds
•Your surroundings hold secrets and knowledge that will be crucial to your survival. Investigate the environment, encounter new allies and potential threats, and unravel the mystery of this strange place.
Current Goal:
•Find out what is happening in the tutorial and how to proceed to the next stage.
Reward: Essence Experience, Potential Ability Unlock
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Kenji sat on the soft earth beneath a cherry blossom tree, his eyes fixed on the strange system screens hovering before him, his mind reeling as he tried to make sense of the new abilities, the titles, the mission objectives. None of this felt real. Just moments ago, he had been back in the shrine, lost in prayer, and now he was…where? And with powers he didn’t understand, messages appearing in front of him like something out of a video game.
This can’t be happening, he thought, rubbing his temple as he tried to steady his breath.
Then, a scream pierced the air—a scream he recognized instantly.
His heart skipped a beat. His brother. Without hesitation, he shot to his feet and sprinted toward the sound, every instinct screaming at him to hurry. The trees blurred around him as he ran, his pulse pounding in his ears. He didn’t know what he was heading toward, didn’t care—his only thought was getting to his brother before it was too late.
He broke through the line of trees into a small clearing, and his stomach twisted at the sight before him. His younger brother was on the ground, clutching his arm, blood seeping through his fingers from a shallow but painful-looking wound. Surrounding him were five creatures, short and hunched, with mottled green skin, twisted features, and large, gleaming eyes. They looked like something out of a twisted fairy tale—goblins, his mind supplied, like something from an RPG.
The goblins clutched primitive weapons—sharp sticks, jagged stones tied to branches, crude daggers. They sneered and hissed at his brother, their teeth bared, inching closer with every second.
Kenji’s blood ran cold. “Get away from him!” he shouted, his voice raw with desperation.
The goblins froze for a moment, their beady eyes swiveling toward him, clearly startled. They exchanged glances, and a ripple of confusion passed through them, quickly replaced by anger. One of the goblins—a slightly larger one with a sharper stick—screamed in rage, its twisted face contorting, and pointed its weapon toward Kenji.
With a shrill cry, the goblins charged at him, their faces twisted in fury, primitive weapons raised. Kenji’s heart pounded, his body instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. He clutched the broken katana in his hand, its jagged edge gleaming faintly with a purple glow.
He didn’t know what he was doing—didn’t know if he even could fight—but he couldn’t let these creatures hurt his brother.
The goblins charged, snarling and shrieking, their twisted faces contorted in a rage that sent a chill through Kenji’s entire body. They were coming from all sides, their crude weapons raised—sharpened sticks, jagged rocks tied to branches, and rusted daggers glinting in the dim light. His heart pounded, wild with terror, as he gripped the broken katana, its jagged edge barely resembling a real blade. He wasn’t a fighter, and he didn’t know how to use a sword. All he knew was that his brother was behind him, bleeding, and he couldn’t let these creatures get any closer.
With a panicked yell, Kenji swung the broken katana in a wide arc, slashing at the air more than anything else. One goblin ducked under his swing, then jabbed forward with a sharpened stick. Kenji barely sidestepped it, but another goblin darted in from the side, its jagged dagger slicing across his arm. He felt the sharp sting, followed by a warm trickle of blood running down his skin.
The goblins shrieked with glee, and one lunged, aiming a rusted blade straight for his chest. Kenji swung wildly again, the jagged edge of the katana scraping across the goblin’s arm, leaving a shallow, messy cut. The creature snarled, its dark blood oozing from the wound as it stumbled back, but two more were already closing in, their eyes wide with the thrill of the kill.
Pain flared as another stick jabbed into his side, digging in just below his ribs. He gasped, stumbling back, his vision blurring as he tried to shake off the burning ache. His movements were frantic, desperate—he was flailing the broken katana around, trying to fend them off, but his strikes barely connected. One goblin ducked low and stabbed its sharp stick into his thigh, and he cried out, nearly collapsing as his leg throbbed with pain.
He couldn’t keep up—there were too many, and they were relentless. His own blood soaked into his clothes, sticky and hot, every wound sending a fresh wave of agony through him. The goblins were snarling, cackling, each new injury spurring them on, their crude weapons flashing as they attacked from every side.
He felt his back hit a tree, cornered with nowhere to run. He swung the katana like a dagger, stabbing and slashing in every direction, trying to keep them at bay. He landed a lucky hit, jabbing the blade into a goblin’s shoulder, and it screeched, staggering back. But even as he drove one away, another took its place, pressing in closer, its dagger raised to strike.
He was drowning in pain and fear, his vision swimming as blood dripped from his wounds. His mind was a storm of panic, each breath a desperate gasp as he fought just to stay standing. This can’t be happening, he thought, the horror of it all overwhelming him. He wasn’t ready for this—he didn’t know how to fight, didn’t know how to survive.
But then, in the chaos and terror, something stirred inside him, a deep, powerful force that pulsed in his hand. He could feel it welling up, dark and cold, like the void itself had opened within him. His mind flashed back to the strange message he’d seen—the words “Void Bolt” flashing in his memory.
Desperation sharpened his focus as he gripped the katana tighter, his free hand clenching as he willed that power to the surface. A message screen appeared before his eyes, almost lost in the haze of battle:
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Ability: Void Bolt
•Type: Offensive
•Description: A bolt of void energy that bypasses all defenses, dealing minimal but unyielding damage.
•Cooldown: 5 seconds
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He had no idea what he was doing, but there was no time to think. The goblins were closing in again, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. Gritting his teeth, Kenji raised his free hand, feeling that strange, dark energy build and coil within his palm, like something alive, waiting to be unleashed.
“Void Bolt,” he whispered, hoping—praying—it would work. He focused on the nearest goblin, his mind a frantic plea for survival, and let the power surge outward.
Kenji barely had a moment to register what he’d done before a crackling bolt of purple energy shot from his hand, hazy and dark, like a wisp torn from the very shadows themselves. It streaked through the air, hissing as it cut toward the closest goblin. A sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him, as if he’d just sprinted up a steep hill, his muscles aching from the effort. But he couldn’t look away—the bolt was aimed true at the goblin, and he watched as it sailed right into it.
The void bolt struck the goblin square in the shoulder, and in an instant, it erupted in a sickly purple glow. The flesh where the bolt had impacted vaporized in a brief, sizzling burst, leaving behind a jagged, smoking wound. The creature staggered back, its twisted face contorting in agony, and let out a sound that sent chills down Kenji’s spine—a screech like a wounded boar, guttural and wild.
As he watched, a faint purple glow began to creep from the edges of the wound, spreading like dark, pulsing veins along the goblin’s skin. But the corruption moved slowly, inching outward with an ominous patience, like something darkly sentient, savoring the flesh it consumed. The goblin clawed at its own shoulder, its eyes wide with terror, but no matter how it scratched or howled, the glowing tendrils of void energy continued their steady crawl, devouring it from the inside out.
Ding!
A new message flickered before Kenji’s eyes, briefly pulling his gaze from the goblin’s thrashing:
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Infliction: Void Corruption
•Effect: Target’s flesh and soul are tainted by the void, causing progressive decay and dissolution. This corruption spreads outward slowly from the initial point of contact, seeking to annihilate the target into nothingness.
•Status: Active on Target (Goblin)
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Kenji’s breath came in short gasps, his mind reeling as he processed what he’d done. The bolt had done more than just harm the goblin—it was like a slow poison, a dark curse that burrowed through flesh and spirit alike, relentless and inescapable. The goblin staggered, the corruption creeping down its arm, the edges of the wound blackening and blistering as it spread. Its cries grew weaker, a strangled gurgle, as the void’s touch seeped deeper, inch by agonizing inch.
The other goblins stood frozen, their rage shifting to confusion and horror as they watched their comrade suffer. They took an uncertain step back, fear replacing fury as they stared at Kenji and the deadly power he had somehow unleashed.
But Kenji barely noticed them. His gaze remained fixed on the suffering goblin, his heart pounding as he watched the void’s corruption claim it, slowly but surely.
Kenji’s stomach churned, his mind reeling as he watched the goblin stagger, the slow, creeping corruption gnawing away at it. It writhed and screeched, its cries weak but filled with agony, and he felt a wave of nausea rise within him. He had never harmed anything like this before—not a creature with intent, not something that fought back, not something that suffered.
But then he caught sight of his younger brother lying on the ground, clutching his bleeding arm, his face pale and afraid. The goblins had attacked his brother, and they wouldn’t have stopped until he was dead. They would have left him lying here, helpless. His horror twisted into something colder, fiercer—a cold, focused rage that burned away his hesitation.
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Gritting his teeth, Kenji turned to the remaining goblins, who were now looking at him with wide, fearful eyes. He didn’t wait for them to make the next move. Swinging the broken katana, he threw himself at the nearest goblin, the jagged blade cutting through the air and connecting with a sickening slice. The blade tore deep into the goblin’s stomach, and it let out a choked scream as its guts spilled from the gaping wound, falling in a wet heap as it crumpled to the ground, convulsing in agony.
Kenji barely registered the blood splattering across his face, the sticky warmth coating his hands. He swung again, his vision a haze of anger and survival instincts, cutting down another goblin that tried to lunge at him with a crude spear. The broken katana tore through its chest, a spray of dark blood splattering his shirt as he pushed forward, his body moving almost of its own accord. His heart thundered, his breaths coming fast and shallow as he advanced, his voice raw with anger.
The remaining goblins, their snarls now replaced with fearful shrieks, hesitated for a split second before they turned and ran, stumbling over each other in their desperation to escape. Kenji barely noticed the look of terror in their eyes as they fled; he was in the heat of it now, a haze of blood and fury clouding his senses. All he knew was that they’d tried to kill his brother, and he couldn’t let them get away with it.
He took a step to follow, his body tensed and ready to chase them down, to finish what he’d started. But then something broke through the red fog clouding his mind—a thought, a memory that cut through the haze.
My brother.
He stopped, his heart still racing, and whipped around. His gaze fell on his brother, who was staring at him with wide eyes, his face a mixture of fear and horror. His brother’s gaze wasn’t on the fleeing goblins—it was fixed on Kenji himself, taking in the blood splattered across his face and arms, the streaks of goblin guts clinging to his clothes, the shattered katana gripped tightly in his hand.
Kenji’s breath caught, the fight leaving his body all at once. He looked down at himself, at the blood and viscera coating his skin, at the broken katana still dripping with dark goblin blood. The cold rage that had pushed him forward drained away, leaving only a hollow feeling in its place as he realized the monster he must look like to his own brother.
He stumbled, dropping the broken katana, and staggered back a step, his mind reeling as he tried to shake off the horror of what he’d just done. The battlefield lay in front of him—two goblins dead, their bodies twisted and broken, blood pooling on the ground—and the only sound was the ragged breathing of him and his brother, who still lay there, staring.
“I… I had to…,” Kenji stammered, his voice barely a whisper, but he didn’t know if he was trying to convince his brother or himself. The reality of what he’d done sank in, as heavy as the blood on his hands.
Kenji’s stomach twisted as he took in the scene before him—the torn bodies of the goblins, the blood splattered across his hands, his brother’s wide, horrified eyes. The adrenaline that had fueled him drained, leaving only a sick, hollow feeling. Before he knew it, his knees buckled, and he stumbled back, barely making it a step before he doubled over and vomited onto the ground, his entire body trembling with shock and exhaustion.
“Kenji!” His brother, Ren, snapped out of his own fear as he watched his older brother crumple. Shaking off the numbness that had held him, Ren scrambled forward, putting a steadying hand on Kenji’s shoulder.
Kenji wiped his mouth, his face pale, and looked up at his brother through dazed eyes. “Are… are you okay?” he asked, his voice rough, his gaze flicking to the bloodstained gash on Ren’s arm and the bruise forming on his cheek. Despite his own wounds, the only thought in his mind was making sure Ren hadn’t been hurt worse.
Ren looked at him, a faint smile breaking through his own exhaustion as he took in the cuts and bruises all over Kenji, the torn shirt, the blood that wasn’t just goblin but his own. “Are you serious? You’re the one who just… just did all that,” Ren said, gesturing vaguely to the bodies lying nearby. “And you’re asking me if I’m okay? You’re stupid, you know that?”
Kenji let out a weak laugh, feeling a strange warmth at his brother’s words, even as his head spun. Ren was right, he was covered in cuts and bruises, his muscles aching with each breath, but somehow that didn’t matter right now. Ren was okay—scared, hurt, but okay. And that, somehow, made the horror of the last few minutes feel just a little bit less overwhelming.
“Yeah… probably,” Kenji mumbled, leaning back against a tree, the rough bark scraping against his torn shirt, grounding him as he tried to steady his breath.
Ren glanced at him, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. “What… what was that?” he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. “That thing you shot from your hand… that purple bolt.”
Kenji hesitated, staring down at his hands as if they belonged to someone else. “I… I don’t really know,” he admitted, his voice shaky. “But there was this screen—some kind of message that called it ‘Void Bolt.’” He rubbed his temple, still trying to process what had happened. “It… it started when I was back at Makoto’s shrine. I was praying, asking for guidance… and then, out of nowhere, this mist showed up, purple, surrounding me. Next thing I know, I’m in this place, somewhere between here and… nothingness, I guess. There was a sword—a whole katana, glowing with this dark energy.”
“A sword?” Ren repeated, his brow furrowing.
“Yeah,” Kenji nodded. “I reached out to it, and it tried to… I don’t know, push power into me, but my body couldn’t take it. It shattered, broke down to just this hilt.” He held up the broken katana, the jagged edge still stained with goblin blood. “Then, as soon as I grabbed it, I got pulled back here, and these screens kept popping up, calling me the ‘Void Walker’ or something like that.”
Ren listened, his expression a mixture of awe and disbelief. “While you were… wherever you were, we all saw something too. There was this guy—called himself the Speaker. He just… appeared in the sky, like some kind of god or something. Said that Earth—and a bunch of other places too—were going to ‘unlock their powers and essences.’ He explained we’d have to go through some kind of tutorial, like we’re in a game.” Ren shook his head, still in shock from the memory. “Maybe that Void Bolt of yours is what he was talking about?”
Kenji nodded slowly, piecing it together. “That would make sense, I guess. The Void Essence, Void Bolt… it’s like a part of me now. Something I can use.”
Ren gave a low whistle, looking at him with a new respect, even a hint of caution. “So… you’re saying you have powers now. Real powers.” He glanced back at the dead goblins, at the faint purple glow still lingering around the wound of the one Kenji had struck with Void Bolt.
Kenji followed his gaze, his mind racing. “Yeah. I don’t know why it chose me to try and give power to or what it really means, but… yeah.” He gave a hysterical laugh of disbelief, glancing down at the blood and dirt coating his hands. “I just… what is this? What’s even happening. It’s like a nightmare mixed with a fantasy dream.”
Ren exhaled slowly, absorbing everything his brother had said. “I don’t know Kenny. I just know what the speaker guy told us…..maybe that means you’re supposed to use this power, you know? If what the Speaker said was right, then maybe that Void Bolt is just the beginning.”
Kenji hesitantly nodded, though a part of him couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that clung to his new abilities. He had just killed two living beings. They weren’t human, yet they weren’t just simple animals being used to put meat in the table like he had done in Kentucky. This was a true act of killing for the sole purpose of snuffing out a life. But for now, with his brother safe and the danger behind them, he pushed the fear down, letting himself breathe.
Kenji let out a long, weary sigh, the weight of everything that had happened settling on him like a heavy stone. “Alright,” he said finally, rubbing his forehead. “We need to figure out what we’re supposed to do next. First, we should try to find the rest of the family. I mean… at least, I hope they’re here, in this… tutorial place, or whatever it is.”
Ren’s face brightened a little, and he nodded. “Yeah, I hope so too. We can’t be the only ones here.” Then he paused, a look of realization crossing his face. “By the way… I got a quest, too. It was just after the Speaker showed up and started talking. It popped up in front of me, saying we’re supposed to explore and figure out what’s happening. Did you get that one?”
Kenji gave a nod, glancing at the strange forest around them. “Yeah. Same here.” He turned in a slow circle, taking in the cherry blossoms lining the area, the branches heavy with pale pink petals that seemed to glow softly in the strange light. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say we’re still in Japan. Looks like some place you’d find in the mountains, far away from the city.”
Ren looked around, frowning. “Could be, but who knows? Nothing about this feels exactly… real. It’s like we’re somewhere that’s pretending to be Japan.”
Kenji shrugged, feeling just as confused as his brother. “I guess it doesn’t really matter where we are exactly. But we need to start looking for clues, or anything that might explain what the hell’s going on.” He scanned the surroundings, and his eyes landed on a faint dirt path winding off through the trees. “Let’s try following that road. Might lead us somewhere with answers. Or people. Or… something.”
With a shared glance, the two brothers set off down the road, their footsteps crunching on the gravel as they moved in silence for a few minutes. The cherry blossoms drifted down around them, occasionally catching in their hair or brushing their shoulders. The peaceful scene felt surreal, an odd contrast to the memory of blood and fear still fresh in Kenji’s mind and drying on his person.
As they walked, Ren finally broke the silence. “So… the Speaker,” he began, glancing sideways at Kenji. “You think he’s could really be, like… some kind of god?”
Kenji shrugged, his eyes still on the path ahead. “I don’t know. He sound like any kind of god I’ve heard about, not that its saying much, but he has to have had some kind of… power, I guess. Enough to make everyone listen and hear him from the sky, at least.”
Ren frowned, recalling the Speaker’s words. “He said Earth is being ‘integrated’ into something called the Omnirealm, didn’t he? And that we’re supposed to have ‘powers and essences’ now. Sounds like we’re part of some… universe-wide country or something.”
Kenji let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, because that’s not weird or anything.” He shook his head, struggling to wrap his mind around it. “Essences, powers, a whole galactic empire. I don’t even know what half of that means. And now I’m apparently a… Void Walker?”
“Right, that too,” Ren said, eyeing him curiously. “Whatever it is, it sounds like there’s a reason you got picked for it. And maybe there’s a reason we’re supposed to be here, in this ‘tutorial.’ I mean… I don’t know, like the speaker said maybe we’re really supposed to learn to use these powers.” Ren rambled in a unsure tone.
“I mean imagine if what he said is true and everyone else in the galaxy has powers just like that void bolt. What if there’s all sorts of creatures and dangers out there we need them to help protect against?” Fear creeping into his voice as he imagined the scene again of Kenji killing the goblins.
“Maybe,” Kenji agreed. He felt a flicker of that power still burning deep inside him, like an ember waiting to ignite again. It was unsettling, that dark, creeping energy, but it was also the reason he’d been able to protect Ren. For now, he’d take what he could get. “Whatever it is, we’ll have to figure it out as we go. If this really is like a tutorial we should find a guide or more quests to help us figure this out.”
They fell silent again as they continued down the path, the cherry blossoms giving way to trees that grew thicker and taller, casting long shadows over the road. The air grew cooler, carrying the faint scent of moss and earth. Kenji kept his eyes peeled, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger or anyone else who might be in this strange place.
Finally, Ren broke the silence again. “You really think this is going to be like a game?”
Kenji glanced at him. “A game?”
“Yeah, like an RPG or something,” Ren said, a hint of excitement flickering in his eyes despite everything. “The quests, the powers, the whole ‘tutorial’ thing. Maybe this is how it works out there, in… whatever the Speaker called it. The Omnirealm. It’s like living in one of those video game worlds.”
Kenji considered that, feeling a strange mix of dread and curiosity. “Could be. But if it is… it’s a game with real stakes. I don’t think anyone’s coming to help if we mess up. And dying still means dying. At least I don’t want to try and figure out if there’s respawns. It hurt like hell getting stabbed and cut.”
Ren nodded, his expression growing serious. “Yeah… you’re right.” He looked down the road, his face set in determination. “But we’ll figure it out. And if we’re really supposed to have powers, then maybe we can make them work for us. Protect the family. And…” He hesitated, glancing at Kenji, “…and keep each other safe.”
Kenji nodded, his own resolve hardening. Whatever this place was, whatever strange powers or dangers lay ahead, they would face it together. And he would do whatever it took to keep his brother safe.
With that, they continued down the path, each step carrying them deeper into the unknown, the cherry blossoms thinning as the shadows of the forest closed in around them.
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As Kenji and Ren rounded the last bend of the dirt path, the trees opened up to reveal a sprawling village that looked as though it had been lifted straight from the pages of an Edo-period painting. Wooden structures with sweeping tiled roofs lined the narrow streets, their paper lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. Sliding doors sat slightly ajar, the interiors dimly lit, casting a warm, nostalgic glow over the scene.
But the people filling the streets were anything but serene. Men, women, and children dressed in modern clothing wandered around, many with expressions of pure confusion or terror. Some were pacing, their phones clutched uselessly in their hands, while others huddled in small groups, speaking in hushed, frantic tones. Kenji caught snippets of words as he and Ren moved through the crowd—questions, demands, panicked voices asking what was happening and where they were.
“Is this… real?” Ren murmured, his eyes wide as he took in the sight. “It’s like stepping back in time.”
Kenji nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over the strange scene. The village itself looked as though it hadn’t been touched by time, yet the clash between the old-world setting and the modern clothing and behaviors of the people created an unsettling contrast. It was like some twisted reenactment where everyone had been thrown in without a script.
As Kenji and Ren pushed through the crowded street, Kenji noticed the stares starting to turn toward him. People’s eyes widened as they took in his blood-covered clothes, his arms streaked with dried goblin blood, and the jagged, broken blade tucked awkwardly into his belt. Whispers rose around them, people leaning toward each other, murmuring as their gazes lingered. Some parents pulled their children back, and a few people looked at him with outright fear. Kenji swallowed hard, realizing that, to them, he probably looked like a terrifying sight—someone who’d just walked out of a battle they couldn’t even begin to understand.
He lowered his gaze, trying to avoid the wide-eyed stares, feeling a strange discomfort gnaw at him. Here he was, standing among people who had no idea what they were in for, people just as confused and scared as he was. But unlike them, he was covered in blood and carrying a weapon, no matter how broken it was. He suddenly felt exposed, vulnerable in a way that had nothing to do with the fight he’d just been in.
Ren nudged him, drawing his attention back to the crowd gathering in the plaza. They finally managed to make it to a spot where they could see clearly, and Kenji’s eyes fell on the man speaking at the front. Dressed in flowing robes that looked centuries out of place, the man held a wooden staff topped with a glowing amber orb, casting a warm light across the open square.
“I said calm yourselves!” the man’s voice rang out, steady and soothing, somehow cutting through the anxious murmur of the crowd. “I know you are confused, but panic will help no one. This place has been created as a starting ground, a place for you to learn and understand what lies ahead.”
This village,” the man said, turning back to the crowd, “is one of many created to house those newly integrated into the Omnirealm. You are in what we call the Tutorial Grounds—a space designed to prepare you, to teach you how to survive and adapt to the new powers and abilities that are now going to be made available for you to wield.”
The crowd stirred, confusion and disbelief rippling through them. Kenji caught a woman nearby muttering in shock, “This can’t be real. I was just in Tokyo…”
The man raised his staff, the amber glow intensifying, casting a soft light over the gathering. “I understand this is a shock to many of you,” he said gently. “But I assure you, what you are experiencing is real. The System has chosen this world, and all of you, to undergo integration. In time, each of you will unlock abilities—essences that reflect your deepest strengths and challenges. These powers will help you face the dangers that exist beyond your world.”
The crowd fell silent, an unspoken heaviness settling over them as the reality of his words sank in.
Ren leaned in close, his voice a low murmur. “So… this is what the Speaker meant. A tutorial, just like he said.”
Kenji gave a slight nod, his thoughts whirling as he glanced around the village, taking in the Edo-style buildings, the terrified people, and the amber-lit figure at the front of the crowd. Everything about this was real, terrifyingly so. Whatever he had gone through with the sword, whatever strange power he had unlocked, it wasn’t just happening to him. The whole world was changing.
The robed man continued, “In the coming days, you will be given quests—tasks designed to familiarize you with the System, your abilities, and your new purpose in this wider cosmos. Some of these quests will be simple. Others…”
Kenji felt a chill run through him as the man’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on him. The robed figure’s eyes lingered on him, unflinching despite the blood and the weapon at Kenji’s side.
For a brief moment, it seemed like he was addressing Kenji directly as he said, “…may test your courage and your resolve.” The man’s expression was unreadable, but he gave Kenji a slight nod, a subtle acknowledgment that sent a shiver down Kenji’s spine.
The memory of the goblin fight, the sickening feeling of the blade cutting through flesh, the void bolt searing into a living being—it all flooded back, and he felt his hands tremble.
With a final, somber look over the crowd, the man lowered his staff, and the amber light dimmed. “For now, I ask only this: prepare yourselves. Seek out allies, strengthen your resolve, and trust in the essences that you will come to obtain. In the Omnirealm, you will need to rely on both yourselves and each other. Welcome… to the beginning.”
The crowd stood in stunned silence, absorbing the enormity of what he’d said. Kenji exchanged a glance with Ren, both of them searching each other’s eyes for answers, reassurance, anything to anchor them to the familiar. But all they found was the same unspoken question hanging between them: What do we do now?
Kenji clenched his fist, the feel of the jagged hilt against his side a strange comfort as he steeled himself. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing for certain: there was no turning back. And if he was going to survive this, he’d have to face whatever the System threw at him with every ounce of courage he could muster.