Kai sat down and crossed his legs. His hands trembled as he lit a candle in the quiet monastery, then used the light to read his favourite passage from the frayed tome.

‘Legends never die, they are written down in eternity. But you will never see the price it costs. Scars collected like stars all their lives.’

Kai reverently ran his coarse fingertips over the bronze filigree of a river winding around an open palm, then with a sigh he turned the page. The shine in his eye dulled as he read the final vow he was supposed to learn.

‘As rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, do not burden your heart with judgment. Instead, rain your kindness equally on all.’

That was it. That was all he needed to accept. Ugh. He thumped the book shut and narrowed his eyes at the wooden beads around his wrist. If he could accept that vow, then he’d earn his ninth bead and the final technique. But after what had happened, acceptance was an ongoing struggle.

His mind was a ship adrift in a storm of emotions as he lit a second candle and thought of his parents. The flame flickered, its light swallowed by deep ocean-coloured eyes. It was not fair, and there had been no justice, he thought.

Kai clenched his fists, scrunching his sweatpants as he trembled with sparks of unfathomable rage. After some time, he collected himself, breathing in and out slowly to calm his heart.

He stepped out of his tiny room into the predawn light. Leaving the monastery, Kai paused to appreciate the morning sun rising behind his brothers of the flowing hand.

Alone, but not lonely, he thought.

He watched the other men rotate through various forms on the grass of the glistening riverbank. Most greeted him as a friend with a nod as he walked by. He disregarded the ones who murmured conspiratorially.

A stout monk wearing shabby robes lumbered forward, placing several barrels full of water down. Kai stifled a chuckle as he watched the frustrated faces of the students.

“Slap the surface of the water with all your strength!” instructed the portly master. Water splashed in all directions. Strike after strike, the students repeated the same movement.

Kai recalled slapping water in the barrel daily for almost a year, before he had slammed his palm into the barrel, shattering it from the technique of his blow.

The longer Kai stood and watched them train, the more his muscles twitched with longing to join. He resisted and turned his back to the sound of frustrated grunts as he strode down the stone steps. He wanted to get to the market while it was early and quiet. I hope she’s there.

His bare feet splashed through the lush riverbank grass as he dashed into town. Once there, he took a shortcut through his old college campus to avoid the crowded streets full of traffic. When he arrived at the market, he shuffled his way towards his favourite noodle stand, where he took a seat at one of four wooden bar stools at the counter.

“One f-fried chicken noodle stir-fry pl-please!” Kai said with an enthusiastic smile, inwardly cursing his stutter. He did not get out much and had been looking forward to this meal for weeks. He had stormed out on his dead end job and moved into his quaint room at the monastery shortly after his parents had been murdered.

“Coming right up, sunshine,” said Kura. Her charming smile cooled his simmering rage like ice in hot tea.

Kai fiddled with his phone, stealing glances at her while she cooked behind her giant wok. A few minutes later, she placed a steaming bowl before him. He slurped up the noodles with gusto, taking bites of crunchy chicken in between. His eyes rolled back into his head.

“Mpfff, s-sho good!” Kai said between mouthfuls.

Kura’s eyes sparkled. “I’m glad you enjoy it,” she said, as she wiped her hands on her delightful pink strawberry apron.

“You’re one of the few people who still order it, and I haven’t seen you in a while. You okay?” she said, chopping mushrooms. He paused, returning his fork full of noodles to the bowl. Should I tell her?

“Sorry, it’s been bu-busy, you know?” Instead of an explanation, he offered her what he sincerely hoped was a charming smile as he absently rubbed the back of his neck. She continued with her cooking and they chatted as he leisurely ate.

Kai was halfway done with his meal when someone jabbed him in the back, making him wince. He turned around to see four college jocks, by the looks of their jackets.

“These are our seats,” the tallest one said, his face deadpan, almost bored. Kai raised an eyebrow. He saw the beginning of trouble clear on the man’s face. He’d always hated bullies and this jock had the letters spelt in bold on his forehead. Maybe the man just wanted to hit on Kura, and Kai was in the way.

Before his parents had died, he’d have simply walked away, avoiding conflict, but he had every right to sit here.

Kai returned to his food. Part of him hoped they’d leave, but another part of him–a part that was in pain–wanted a fight and he waved his hand in a dismissive shooing motion. His heart pounded.

“I’m al-almost done,” Kai muttered.

In a flash, the tall man unceremoniously dumped Kai’s bowl on his head. Kai had not shaved his head recently, so the noodles stuck in his hair. Delicious broth trickled down his face and soaked his sweatpants. Chicken splattered on the market floor.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I guess you are done now!” the tall guy said with a mocking grin.

Go eat pubic hair with salt dip, Kai thought, trying to soothe the surge bubbling up his chest, quickening his breathing.

The man’s friends shifted uncomfortably, except for a short blonde at the back who roared with laughter.

Kai gently returned the bowl on his head to the counter as his pulse rose in intensity. “That was a w-waste of good food. One more please,” Kai said, raising a single finger.

Kura looked tense, her gaze sweeping from Kai to the four men behind him, then she nodded slowly. A moment later he saw her lilac eyes bloom open in surprise.

Kai pivoted and brushed the fist that was screaming towards his face aside, deflecting the momentum. He slid off the stool and spun into First form; Water Slap. His open palm struck the man’s chest and his ribcage cracked and splintered like a barrel. The man stumbled backwards and gasped for air.

“That was a wa-warning. I’m just enjoying my meal,” Kai said.

The blonde sniggered. “You gonna let him kick your ass like that, James?”

Kai’s adrenaline surged; this was getting out of hand. He tried to look intimidating in order to end the fight, but he had no reputation nor was he large or scary-looking. He was no longer the scrawny twig of his youth, training had seen to that. His lean body was now something he could rely on, unlike his tongue which let him down frequently.

People seemed to think monks always wore robes and didn’t have normal lives, but they did, he did—or he used to. Today he wore an Owlbear shirt and sweatpants, which did the opposite of make him look intimidating.

“Shut your face, Larry!” James spat, wincing as he rubbed his chest. He must have been in a great deal of pain, but couldn’t show it and lose face in front of his buddies. “Let’s teach this stuttering fool a lesson.”

Kai was nervous, but he stood his ground. They sneered as they surrounded him, preparing to pummel and kick him into the ground. He strained to keep his face calm, like an untroubled pond, but under the surface his heart raged like a storm.

James lunged for him and Kai ducked, then uppercut with his palm, drawing blood and knocking teeth loose as James’s head snapped back. Kai side-stepped a clumsy fist from James’ screaming friend and his elbow crunched into the blonde’s nose, causing the man to stumble back in pain. He held his nose to stem the flow of blood streaming through his fingers, his eyes wide from shock.

Kai took a threatening step forward and the blonde man back-stepped and fled, James and the others following hotly behind. Relief flooded Kai, his body shaking as the tension rushed out of him. He’d been scared—of what he would have done if they continued.

Kai heaved in gasps of air, his muscles straining for oxygen as he watched them scurry away. Turning, he saw Kura’s hands cupped over her mouth. She took a few steps back. His ears burned red and he shifted his gaze to the bloody market floor.

He noticed all the blood on his hands. ‘…do not burden my heart with judgment. Instead rain kindness equally on all.’ Instead, he’d grievously injured people over a seat. Sure, they were assholes, but perhaps what he’d done was worse and devoid of justice and mercy. What should I have done? Let them walk over me like some kind of mat, how is that justice?

He couldn’t bring himself to look at Kura. He fumbled for money and placed enough cash on the counter to cover the cost of five meals, making him officially broke. Then he bolted from the market, heading home to the only people who would welcome him.

Kai fidgeted with the wooden beads on his bracelet in frustration. Each was a gift, a burden, or a lesson learned. I should have adhered to the vow of mercy. Who am I to question them? He ground his teeth in frustration; all he really wanted in his sorry-ass life was a single thing worth fighting for.

Kai felt like he was at rock bottom. He couldn’t possibly go lower. The jarring sound of celebratory trumpets shattered his ruminations as dark rain poured down. Most days he liked storms; they reminded him that even the sky screamed sometimes. But today was different.

Congratulations and welcome to the universe, inhabitants of Earth!

Now he was seeing floating text in his vision.

“What the...?”

Maybe I’m going insane? At this point, he didn’t care. He just wanted today to be over. His bare feet splashed through puddles on the sidewalk as he scurried through the rain.

He waved his hand in front of his face as another message popped up. It wasn’t very intrusive, but he couldn’t get rid of it.

Mode one: Assimilate

Stage 1: Cure disabilities - disabled.

Stage 2: Tutorial - disabled.

Stage 3: Awaken Soul - disabled.

Stage 4: Elect Sovereign - disabled.

Stage 5: Select world upgrade - disabled.

Stage 6: 10-year peace - disabled.

Unable to load…

Kai freaked out as he read the notifications, his gut twisted into knots of confusion. He slowed his sprint, looking around and noticing people swiping the air in front of them. Why would anyone care about Earth anyway? Kai furrowed his eyebrows. What the hell is going on? Hearing his Final Fantasy notification chime, he reached for his phone, hoping for some news coverage.

Mode two: Dominion

Stage 1: Challengers from integrated worlds - enabled.

Stage 2: Fusions - enabled.

Stage 3: Primals - enabled.

Stage 4: Discoveries - enabled.

Stage 5: Starting bonus - enabled.

Stage 6: The seven trials - enabled.

Loading…

System integration starting.

Struggle for supremacy!

Kai’s jaw fell as he watched the heavens tear open. Rivers of azure and gold mist poured down from the sky. Like giant snakes, they constricted buildings, cars — everything. Bursts of white light peppered his vision as thousands of years of human progress disintegrated.

“W-what the hel—”

Kai could see the monastery up ahead now, but was overcome with nausea and dizziness. He broke into a cold sweat, an immense pressure on his mind. His phone clattered to the ground as he clutched his head and fell to his knees. His bloodshot eyes darted toward the thundering sound of stone crunching bone as the temple—his home—collapsed before him. Screams, blood and smoke stained the air, causing him to cough uncontrollably as he looked on in horror, powerless to stop his second family crumbling to dust before him.

No no no!

All of Kai’s strength and energy bled out of him and only a bleak sense of despair remained as the dizzying pressure on his mind overwhelmed him and he blacked out.