The side room of the Adventurer's Guild was cloaked in a heavy silence, the Aetherial Gauge's faint glow casting long shadows across the dusty tomes and glowing crystals. The air buzzed with unspoken tension, the weight of the group's prodigious talents still reverberating from their divine energy measurements. Haruto stood at the room's center, his shoulders hunched, his usually unreadable expression fractured by confusion and disbelief. The revelation of his unprecedented abilities—Arcane core, multiple elemental affinities, Beast Summoner, and healing—had shaken the group to its core. But it was Tetsuya's words, hinting at a connection to the legendary hero Raikenji and a looming disaster, that had plunged them into a stunned silence.
Haruto's voice broke the quiet, trembling with uncertainty. "Tetsuya, I don't understand. You're saying this is… an entirely different matter?"
Tetsuya, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, met Haruto's gaze with a steady intensity. His voice was calm but carried a weight that commanded attention. "There are rare cases where people possess hidden powers, buried deep within. Over time, those powers awaken gradually. It's happening to you, Haruto. What we saw today—your abilities—it's not a fluke. It's an awakening."
Haruto's brow furrowed, his hands clenching at his sides. "But why now? What triggered it?"
Tetsuya's eyes narrowed, a flicker of something ancient passing through them. "Do you know of the Six Legendary Heroes? The ones who saved our world?"
Renjiro, standing at the room's edge with his silver-and-white hair catching the orb's dim light, stepped forward, his voice steady but laced with reverence. "Of course. Everyone knows them. The Six Heroes—one from each race—saved the world from demons and monsters centuries ago. The second strongest was Raikenji, a human, and the third most powerful figure in our world's history. He stood head and shoulders above the others, even among the heroes. They shared their powers with humanity to prevent another disaster, creating the swordsmen, mages, healers, and summoners we know today." He paused, his gaze flicking to Haruto. "But what does that have to do with him?"
Tetsuya's expression grew solemn, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Among the Six, Raikenji was unique. He was the only one who could wield all abilities—swordsman, mage, healer, summoner. No one else in history has come close." He fixed his gaze on Haruto. "Until now. You, Haruto, are the closest I've ever seen."
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Reina and Takeshi froze, their eyes wide with shock. Selena, Himari, and Yuki exchanged bewildered glances, their minds struggling to process the implications. Renjiro's calm facade wavered, his sharp eyes locked on Tetsuya as he processed the weight of the claim.
Haruto's voice trembled, a mix of disbelief and frustration. "All abilities? You're saying I can use mage, swordsman, healing, and summoning? That's… impossible."
Tetsuya nodded, unyielding. "It's not impossible. It's rare—unheard of, even. But the Aetherial Gauge doesn't lie. You're already showing signs of it."
Renjiro stepped closer, his tone cautious but probing. "Hold on. Haruto doesn't have mage abilities. At least, not yet. And… is he a reincarnation of Raikenji?"
Tetsuya's lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze distant. "Maybe he has mage potential that hasn't awakened. As for reincarnation… I don't know. It's possible, but it's just as likely he's something else entirely." He paused, his voice growing grave. "There's another possibility. Your powers awakening now, so suddenly, so powerfully… it could mean a great disaster is coming. Haruto, you might have been chosen to save this world."
The room seemed to contract, the air growing thick with dread. Reina's hands trembled, her usual bravado replaced by a quiet fear. Takeshi's grin faded, his broad frame tensing. Selena clutched her arms, her prodigious confidence shaken. Himari's calm demeanor cracked, her eyes darting to Haruto with concern. Yuki's gentle aura wavered, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her sheathed sword. Renjiro stood motionless, his mind racing, piecing together the implications.
Haruto laughed, a hollow, bitter sound that echoed in the silence. "Chosen? Me? Don't make me laugh. I've never fought in a war, never cleared a dungeon. I'm just a kid. How am I supposed to save the world?"
Tetsuya's gaze softened, but his voice remained firm. "I'm as confused as you are, Haruto. But think about it. Why do you have these abilities? Why now? It's not random."
Renjiro stepped forward, his hand resting gently on Haruto's shoulder. His voice was steady, infused with a quiet strength. "Haruto, I know this is overwhelming. But you need to face reality. You have every ability—swordsman, summoner, healer, maybe even mage. You have a chance to become the strongest who ever lived. We'll be with you, every step."
Haruto's eyes glistened, his voice breaking as he turned to Renjiro. "You know me better than anyone, Renjiro. I couldn't even save my sister. How am I supposed to save the world?" His face crumpled, raw grief and self-doubt spilling forth, a wound laid bare before the group.
Tetsuya's brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued. "Wait. You had a sister? She's… gone? How did she die?" His voice was gentle but probing, sensing the depth of Haruto's pain.
Renjiro's expression darkened, a flicker of protectiveness in his eyes. He stepped between Haruto and Tetsuya, his tone calm but firm. "Now's not the time, Tetsuya. Let it go."
Tetsuya studied Haruto's trembling form, then nodded, his voice softening. "I don't know what happened to your sister, Haruto, but if you want to protect your friends, your family—everyone you care about—you need to become stronger. What I said about a disaster… it's just a prophecy, passed down through history. It might not happen. But you need to be ready."
Haruto's shoulders shook, his voice barely above a whisper. "Give me… some time." Without another word, he turned and strode out of the room, the door creaking shut behind him.
Reina's eyes flashed with determination. She stepped forward, her voice resolute. "I'm going with Haruto. To the battlefield, to wherever this leads. You all come when you're ready—I'll look after him." She didn't wait for a response, her footsteps echoing as she followed Haruto.
Renjiro turned to the others, his tone steady but urgent. "Selena, Himari, Takeshi, Yuki—go with Reina. Keep her and Haruto safe. I'll catch up soon." The group nodded, their faces a mix of resolve and uncertainty, and filed out after Reina, leaving Renjiro alone with Tetsuya.
Tetsuya's gaze lingered on the door, his voice low. "Haruto seemed fine until he mentioned his sister. What happened to her? Why's it hitting him so hard?"
Renjiro's expression shifted, a rare seriousness settling over him. The playful glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, heavy sorrow. "Haruto loved his sister deeply. So did I. She was… kind, strong, the kind of person who made you want to be better. She inspired us to become swordsmen, to chase our dreams." His voice tightened, each word heavy with unspoken pain. "She was everything to him."
Tetsuya's eyes narrowed, sensing the shift in Renjiro's tone. "How did she die?" He leaned forward, his voice cautious but insistent.
Renjiro's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists. "I'm the reason she's dead." The words were a raw, jagged confession, laced with anger and guilt. His eyes burned with a fury directed inward, a wound that had never healed.
Tetsuya's breath caught, his usual composure faltering. "You're serious? You… caused her death?" He stepped closer, his voice sharp with disbelief. "Renjiro, that's not something you just say. Explain."
Renjiro turned, his face inches from Tetsuya's, his silver-and-white hair falling into his eyes. "Look at me," he said, his voice low and unyielding. "Do I look like I'm joking?" His gaze was a storm of guilt and resolve, daring Tetsuya to doubt him. The air between them crackled with unspoken truths, a chasm of pain neither could bridge in that moment.
Tetsuya held his gaze, searching for answers, but found only raw conviction. He stepped back, his voice softening. "I believe you. But… what happened?"