Kaizen felt the weight of the old man's words settle on his shoulders like an anchor dragging him into the depths of uncertainty. The ruins surrounding them seemed to whisper in response, their ancient stones bearing witness to secrets lost to time. He tightened his grip on his sword, not out of hostility, but as an unconscious response to the sheer gravity of the situation.
"What do you mean, my story began long before I was aware of it?" Kaizen's voice was steady, but there was a sharp edge to his tone.
The old man took another step forward, his eyes glimmering with something between sorrow and anticipation. "The blood that runs through your veins carries more than just life, boy. It carries history. It carries fate. You were not meant to simply exist—you were meant to awaken."
Rei, standing beside Kaizen, frowned. "Awaken? That's an awfully vague way of explaining things. If you know something, now's the time to be straightforward."
The old man let out a slow exhale, as if the burden of his knowledge was a heavy thing to bear. "This island, these ruins... they are what remains of a civilization that was erased from history. A kingdom that stood against the world's greatest force and paid the ultimate price."
Kaizen felt his heartbeat quicken. The pieces of information he had gathered so far—the erased century, the World Government's fear of the past, the existence of poneglyphs—all pointed to something much larger than he had ever anticipated.
"The Ancient Kingdom..." Kaizen murmured.
The old man nodded. "A name forbidden to be spoken, and a history buried beneath layers of lies. You, Kaizen, are tied to that history in ways you cannot yet comprehend. Your existence itself is a contradiction—one that should not be, yet here you are."
A gust of wind swept through the ruins, sending a shiver down Kaizen's spine. Rei crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Alright, let's say Kaizen really is connected to this so-called lost history. What does that mean for him now?"
The old man regarded them carefully before speaking. "It means that there are forces out there that will stop at nothing to either control him... or erase him."
A tense silence settled between them.
Kaizen clenched his fists. "Then tell me—who am I really? What makes me different?"
The old man's gaze softened. "You were never meant to be here, Kaizen. And yet, here you stand. Your presence disrupts the balance of the world, and that is why those who watch from the shadows are beginning to take notice. The ones who erased history… will not allow you to uncover the truth."
Kaizen took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Then I'll make them notice me even more."
Rei smirked. "That's the Kaizen I know."
The old man chuckled dryly. "Bravery without knowledge is recklessness. But you will learn soon enough. For now, take this."
He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, weathered scroll. Kaizen hesitated before accepting it, his fingers brushing against the brittle parchment. "What is this?"
"A fragment of what was lost. It may not give you all the answers, but it will guide you toward them. You must seek the truth yourself, Kaizen. And when the time comes, you must decide—will you be a mere observer of history, or will you carve your own legend into it?"
Kaizen looked down at the scroll, then back at the old man. His resolve burned brighter than ever. "I guess I'll just have to see for myself."
The ruins remained silent, but Kaizen could feel the weight of destiny pressing down on him. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it head-on.
For the first time, he was no longer just surviving.
He was beginning to live his purpose.