Chapter 12: The Gate of Mystery
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Scene 1: Ryoma Awakens on the Beach and Faces the Ashin
Ryoma awoke to the sound of waves crashing onto the beach, the cold wind biting at his face with an unfamiliar chill. He was lying on the sand, his vision blurry as he gazed at the overcast sky, his body aching with pain. A strange weight pressed against his chest, and his mind replayed the recent events. How did I end up here? he wondered, trying to recall the moment when he fell into darkness.
He tried to rise, but the pain surged through his body with every movement. Taking a deep breath, his body felt heavy from the aftermath of the previous battle. As he lifted his head, he noticed something unusual in the air—a strange beam of light, a dark power, while the winds gently pushed the waves toward the shore.
And then, before him, appeared strange creatures. They were Ashin, but what he saw was unlike anything familiar. "Ashin in broad daylight? In this form? Even Ashin of the third rank doesn't appear like this…" Ryoma whispered as he stared at the creature moving toward him at an alarming speed. It was a third-ranked Ashin, cloaked in a faint aura of shadows, but in the daytime? This made no sense.
Ryoma smiled as he looked at the sun, and a halo began to form around him. "This is the first time I fight with my own power." He then channeled Raikono's energy into his hands, filling them with strength. His glowing energy radiated in a bright blue, like sunlight.
The Ashin attacked suddenly, surpassing all limits in its speed. Ryoma tried to evade the attacks, but he was struck hard in the mouth, causing him to spit blood. At that very moment, he gathered his energy in his leg and kicked the Ashin with great force, sending it flying away. Ryoma became excited by this newfound power, for it was the first time he had fought with it.
In the end, after a fierce battle, Ryoma gathered all his energy and delivered a devastating blow, sending it through the Ashin, who collapsed instantly. This attack left Ryoma in a state of near-collapse, panting from an extraordinary exhaustion.
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Scene 2: The Mysterious Man and the Elder
After the battle, Ryoma stood on the beach, feeling a deep fatigue. His body refused to move, while cold drops of sweat fell from his brow. What's happening to me? he muttered, trying to catch his breath.
Then, he saw something strange in the distance. A figure was approaching the shore, slowly, with a calm movement. It was an elderly man, pale beyond belief, his face covered in deep wrinkles, his eyes unnaturally bright, as if he could see more than others could. Ryoma felt a strange sensation wash over him when he saw him, but he couldn't quite place the reason.
In a weak voice, Ryoma asked, "Were you involved in the battle?"
The elder looked at him with mysterious eyes before replying in a calm voice, filled with challenge, "You carry great power, but you are not ready. The world does not recognize everyone." The elder's words were heavy, as though every word carried a prophecy.
Before Ryoma could respond, the elder moved with astonishing speed, faster than anyone he had ever seen. Ryoma tried to avoid the strike aimed at him, but pain overwhelmed him suddenly. The elder's blows were devastating, and despite Ryoma's attempts to counter, he fell to the ground, utterly drained.
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Scene 3: Akari and Her Shock
Elsewhere, Akari was fiercely battling Ashin who had attacked her. Her eyes were filled with tears, despite her outward strength. Another brutal battle, but this one was even fiercer. At that moment, when the Ashin leader attacked her with all his might, she suddenly felt an internal collapse, as if the world had stopped. She thought of Ryoma, wondering if he was okay, if he was truly gone.
While in a state of shock, the Ashin leader attacked her. She tried to dodge his strikes, but she was lost. Then, suddenly, something changed. Her energy gathered, and she felt that she could finally control it. In an unexpected moment, she landed a fatal blow, causing the leader's body to explode into pieces in an instant.
"Damn," she whispered to herself, breathing heavily. "But… where is Ryoma?"
She approached Saito, her voice low with sadness, "Ryoma… I lost him, Saito. He fell into a gate I didn't understand."
Saito's eyes widened. "A gate?!"
Saito tried to calm her, but deep inside, he had other thoughts. "Don't carry this burden alone, Akari. We'll take care of it ourselves. But don't tell anyone Ryoma was taken; say that he's dead…" he said calmly, though those words concealed something far bigger.
Days later, Akari communicated with the academy, but she didn't share any details of the incident. She simply stated that Ryoma was dead. Everyone believed that Ryoma had died now. After the decision was made, rumors spread throughout the academy. Akari listened in silence, knowing very well that Ryoma was not dead.
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Scene 4: Inside the Castle – Meeting Aizen
Inside a massive, dark castle, its towers were towering and its walls reflected shadows. The castle seemed like it belonged to an ancient world, one where there was no place for mercy.
Aizen walked confidently through the hallways, the only light streaming through the high windows, casting a dark scene. In a grand hall, the speaking Ashin sat in an ornate chair, his face covered with a terrifying mask, giving off an aura of mystery.
As Aizen approached, he suddenly stopped, his voice calm but carrying deep implications: "Father, were you waiting for me?"
The words echoed through the dark hall, as if the
meeting had been destined from long ago.
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End of Chapter