Riko's eyes snapped wide open, blazing with an otherworldly light.
"GRAAAAAAAAH!!"
His roar split the air. In the next instant, his aura erupted like a raging hurricane, bursting outward in a violent shockwave. The sheer force shattered the ground beneath his feet, spider-web cracks tearing through the earth.
The nearby ogres were hurled backward, their massive bodies flung like rag dolls. Even Hikari struggled to remain standing, her arms shielding her face from the turbulent winds.
"GAAAH!" she cried out, digging her heels into the soil as the gale whipped around her.
Riko's aura only grew fiercer. The swirling energy spiraled upward like a tornado, twisting the forest air into chaos. His scream echoed again, raw and powerful.
"GRAAAAH!!!"
Daigon stood firm, completely unaffected by the pressure. His usual carefree expression vanished, replaced by one of rare concern. His eyes narrowed as he observed the glowing blaze in Riko's left eye.
"…Could it be?!" he muttered under his breath.
Riko's entire body trembled. The light pouring from his eyes wasn't just power—it was agony.
His screams echoed through the forest.
This pain… this pain is unbearable! What did he do to my body?!
The air quaked under the storm of his aura. Hikari and the others landed roughly on their feet, struggling to stay upright.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING TO RIKO?!" Hikari shouted, both arms shielding her face against the roaring winds.
"I—I DON'T KNOW!!" Miraku yelled back, slamming her staff into the ground to keep from being blown away.
Takashi gritted his teeth, one hand clutching his stomach as he raised the other to brace against the violent surge.
"HIS MANA—IT'S RISING LIKE CRAZY!!" he roared over the howling energy.
Then—
Riko's scream began to quiet.
The raging storm of his aura gradually softened, like a dying tempest.
He inhaled deeply, silver light swirling gently around him as his hair flowed like liquid moonlight. Slowly, he opened his eyes—his left eye burned with a fiery silvery glow, sharp and serene.
I feel… calm. My body… it feels different.
The ogre snarled, narrowing its beady eyes. With a burst of speed, it lunged straight at Riko, blade raised high.
Clang!
Riko didn't move an inch. He caught the massive blade barehanded, the impact shaking the ground. His gaze turned slowly toward the creature, glowing eye piercing through the air. His expression was cold. Unshaken.
"Ashton… Girgorie…"
The words slipped from his lips like a calm echo—carrying weight, power, and something ancient.
Riko clenched his glowing fist. In the blink of an eye—
CRACK!
The ogre's massive blade shattered like fragile glass. Before the creature could even react, Riko's figure blurred.
BAM!
His fist drove clean through the ogre's abdomen.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, the ground splitting beneath their feet. The ogre's eyes bulged in disbelief, blood spurting from its mouth as its strength faltered.
Riko slowly withdrew his fist, silver light dripping like embers from his knuckles.
The ogre staggered, collapsing to its knees with a dull thud.
Riko stepped closer, tilting the creature's chin upward with a cold, unblinking stare. His glowing left eye reflected in the ogre's fading pupils.
"I pity you…" he whispered, voice low and chilling.
He raised his hand toward its face. A surge of mana gathered at his palm—then unleashed.
FWOOOM!
A beam of blinding energy erupted, swallowing the ogre's head and body whole. Within seconds, nothing remained but drifting ash, carried away by the wind.
Hikari, Takashi, and Miraku stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The boy before them, felt like someone entirely different.
"This… this can't be real," Hikari whispered.
Takashi clenched his fists, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. "Riko…?"
Even Daigon, usually smug and carefree, narrowed his eyes. His playful expression vanished.
"No way…" he muttered under his breath, a rare flicker of genuine shock crossing his face.
Suddenly, a roar split the air—
The second ogre, the one Riko had struck earlier, lunged forward in blind fury, its massive fist hurtling toward him.
BOOM!
The impact never came.
Riko didn't flinch. He raised two fingers and blocked the entire strike with effortless precision. Dust billowed from the shockwave, but Riko stood unmoved, his other hand tucked neatly behind his back.
His gaze remained lowered, as if the creature wasn't even worth looking at.
He let out a calm, almost bored sigh.
"…Is that all you've got?"
His voice echoed like a low rumble, laced with quiet authority.
Then—
SHING!
A brilliant light flashed as Riko reached into empty air. From the void, a massive blade materialized, its surface gleaming with a swirling silver aura. The weapon hummed with power, the ground beneath his feet fracturing under its mere presence.
Riko finally lifted his eyes, locking onto the ogre with a cold, predatory stare.
"I'll butcher you instead…" he said quietly, his voice sending a chill through everyone present.
In an instant, Riko swung his blade with blinding speed and crushing force.
"GRRRAAAAH!!" he roared, each strike echoing like thunder, each slash leaving trails of silver light through the night air.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
Blood splattered across his face, streaking his cheek as his expression hardened into something both fierce and divine.
He suddenly stopped mid-combo, closing his eyes. His left hand slid under his right arm, mana swirling violently around his palm.
His voice rang out, low and resonant—
"Ashton… Hashtenkai…"
FWOOM!!
A massive beam of concentrated energy erupted from his palm, enveloping the ogre completely.
The creature didn't even have time to scream.
Its body split into pieces, then vanished—disintegrated into pure nothingness.
The light faded, leaving behind only silence… as if the ogre had never existed in the first place.
Riko spun his blade effortlessly, the silver edge gleaming under the night sky as blood splattered onto the shattered ground.
His gaze shifted downward. The ogre's blade was still lodged in his chest.
Without a flinch, he gripped the hilt—
SHING!
—and pulled it out.
The gaping wound closed instantly, glowing faintly before vanishing completely.
Riko exhaled slowly, then turned toward Hikari and the others.
"The ogres have been killed," he said calmly, his voice echoing through the forest. "Shall we head back, Hikari…?"
Hikari and the others froze, cold sweat sliding down their cheeks.
"S-sure… we can do that," she gulped, her voice trembling.
Suddenly—
"GUH!" Riko gasped.
A wave of fatigue crashed over him like a tidal wave, his silvery aura fading rapidly. He stumbled, clutching his head as his breath grew shallow.
Dammit… I can't handle it right now… my body feels… so heavy.
His vision blurred, darkening at the edges.
"Riko?" Hikari's voice echoed faintly, growing distant.
He collapsed onto his back, the night sky spinning above him.
Ritumara… what did you do to my body…?
"RIKO!" Hikari screamed, dashing toward him as everything faded to black.
Pitch black.
A soft light flickered in the darkness.
A faint vision emerged—
A young boy with messy black hair, a wide grin plastered across his face, laughing joyfully.
"Mommy, Mommy! Look! I wrote you this letter!"
The little boy—Takahiro—held up a piece of paper proudly.
A woman with short black hair knelt down, taking the letter gently from his hands.
She smiled softly as she read aloud:
"I love you, Mommy. You're the best mommy in the world. I love your smile and hair. You're the strongest and funny mommy in the world!"
Her expression softened into pure warmth.
"Aw, thank you. I love you too, sweetheart. You're the sweetest and most handsome boy, Takahiro." She said, patting his head gently.
The boy giggled brightly, his joy contagious.
"Come on, let's eat," she said, picking him up lovingly. "I made your favorite food! Guess what it is!"
Takahiro's eyes lit up like stars.
"Tonkatsu!!" he shouted, raising his tiny hands in excitement.
The woman laughed warmly, holding him close as the scene glowed softly, like a cherished memory frozen in time.
"You're right! Now dig in — you need food to get energy, you know," she said, placing a warm plate of tonkatsu and rice in front of him.
Takahiro's eyes sparkled, drool forming at the corner of his mouth. He grabbed the chopsticks eagerly, ready to dive in—
"Ah, ah! Before you do that… what do we say?" his mom interrupted, narrowing her eyes playfully.
Takahiro straightened up and clapped his tiny hands together.
"Thanks for the food!" he chirped proudly.
She giggled and nodded, "Good. Now, you may dig in."
The room filled with the warm sounds of a happy child enjoying his favorite meal, the soft clatter of chopsticks, and the gentle hum of evening peace.
A few hours later…
"My leg!!" Takahiro cried out, sitting on the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks.
His mother hurried toward him, concern flashing across her face—yet her expression softened the moment she knelt beside him.
"Takahiro, watch your step, okay? Running recklessly can get you hurt," she said gently, pulling a bandage from her purse.
Takahiro whimpered, his voice small and shaky. "S-sorry, Mommy…"
She smiled softly, brushing his messy hair aside.
"It's not your fault. You just have to be more careful, okay?" she whispered, leaning forward to kiss his forehead.
The pain slowly faded, replaced by the comforting warmth of his mother's love.
Later that night…
Takahiro sat on the cold floor of the hallway, clutching his knees. His tiny body trembled as he stared at the wall — where the shadows of his mother and a man loomed.
"I told you to stop drinking!" His mother's voice cracked, trembling between anger and sorrow. "You're always coming home late. Takahiro and I… we waited and waited, and yet here you are again!"
"SHUT UP!" the man roared back. His shadow moved aggressively, his arm flailing. "You piss me off. And that boy—" his hand jabbed toward Takahiro's silhouette "—he isn't even my child!"
His mother's shadow reeled back, but her voice didn't waver. "So what if he isn't your child?! Can't you at least show him some love?!"
SMACK!
The sound echoed like thunder. Her shadow crumpled to the floor.
"Shut up! I'm done with this! Don't call me anymore. I've had enough of you… and your stupid kid!"
Heavy footsteps pounded away, fading into silence.
Takahiro froze, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. Tears blurred his vision as he crawled toward his mother's fallen figure.
"Mommy… are you okay?" he whispered, his voice shaking.
His mother slowly lifted her head. Her face was streaked with tears, but she forced a smile for him—fragile, trembling.
"Yes, sweetheart… Mommy's okay," she whimpered, reaching a shaky hand to pull him into her arms.
The next day…
A gentle breeze swept through the schoolyard, carrying the faint scent of spring. The sun shone warmly over the red-brick buildings, and laughter echoed across the playground as children ran to their parents' waiting arms.
Takahiro stood among them, his face glowing with a cheerful grin.
"Yeah! And my mom is super strong!" he boasted proudly to the girl beside him, puffing out his chest. "She's like the strongest mommy ever!"
The boy giggled, "Oh, I wish I had that kind of mommy. But mine's perfect the way she is!" he said, smiling brightly.
His eyes lit up as he spotted a woman waving at the gate. "Oh, there's my mom! Bye, Takahiro-kun!" she shouted, sprinting toward her.
Takahiro waved back enthusiastically. "Bye, Kaito-kun!" he shouted, his grin wide and pure.
Takahiro's cheerful grin slowly faded as one by one, the other children ran off with their parents.
The sky had begun to turn a softer orange, and the once-lively schoolyard grew quieter.
He stood near the gate, clutching the straps of his tiny backpack, watching as the last of his classmates disappeared down the street hand-in-hand with their mothers and fathers.
From a distance, two teachers stood by the entrance, whispering to each other. One of them suddenly covered her mouth in shock, her eyes widening.
"Yamamoto-kun…" the woman murmured before walking toward him with a forced smile.
She crouched slightly to meet his eyes. "Yamamoto-kun, we have to take you inside the building for now, okay?" she said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Takahiro tilted his head, confused. "Huh? What for? Where's my mommy?" he asked, his voice small but full of worry.
For a brief moment, guilt flickered across the woman's face. But she quickly forced it away, waving her hand casually. "Oh, it's nothing. Your mommy's just… late, that's all," she said, smiling weakly.
Takahiro nodded slowly, though his little chest felt tight. He followed her back inside, glancing over his shoulder one last time at the empty gate.
Takahiro clutched the teacher's hand tightly, his small head turning repeatedly toward the schoolyard gate. But there was nothing—no sign of his mother.
Minutes passed. The boy now sat on a wooden chair in an office where the teachers were slowly packing their things, their whispers barely quiet.
"Did you hear about it?" one teacher murmured.
The other covered her mouth, her eyes full of guilt. "Yeah… I heard…"
Takahiro swung his legs back and forth, his small fists clenching. When will Mommy come? She's never been late… I hope she's okay…
Suddenly, one of the teachers whispered a little too loudly, oblivious to the boy's ears. "Yeah… her mother… she was stabbed… by a drunk man…"
Takahiro froze, his eyes widening. He looked up, confused, searching the adults' faces. "Mommy… got what…?" he asked, his voice trembling.
The teachers noticed immediately and stammered. "Oh! Uh… nothing! Just… she's not feeling well—"
But before she could finish, Takahiro's first tears slid down his cheeks. His small voice quivered as he whispered again, barely audible:
"Mommy… got killed…?"
The teacher immediately panicked. "No, no! Don't cry, Takahiro. It's just that your mom isn't feeling well, that's all," she said, placing a shaky hand on his shoulder.
Takahiro's tears welled up even more, blurring his vision. "No… no… Mommy's strong! She can't get killed… YOU LIAR! SHE ISN'T GONE!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.
The teacher stumbled back, hands covering her mouth. "Yamamoto-kun—"
Before she could finish, two police officers entered the room, accompanied by a man in a sharp business suit. His eyes were serious, yet uneasy.
"Is this Sato-san's son? Takahiro Yamamoto?" the man asked, flipping through a stack of documents.
"Ah, uh… yes, he is," the teacher replied nervously.
The man straightened his bow tie and exhaled. A bead of sweat slid down his cheek. "Alright… how do I say this…" He cleared his throat. "About his mother… The hospital pronounced her dead thirty minutes ago. We found the weapon involved in the stabbing. The fingerprints on the knife…" he paused, lowering his gaze, "…they matched her own."
The teacher's eyes widened. "She… ended herself?!" she whispered in disbelief.
The man sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, yes. We don't know why, but it may have been related to issues with the husband."
Takahiro froze. His wide, trembling eyes stared into the void.
Mommy's… dead…?
His lips quivered. "I-Is Mommy… really dead…?" he asked, tears streaming down his cheeks as he rubbed his eyes over and over, trying to wake up from what felt like a nightmare.
But then—
The world around him began to twist. The teachers, the man, the officers—everything was swallowed by a suffocating darkness.
The teacher's face was blank now, drained of all warmth. Her voice echoed coldly through the pitch-black void.
"Yes. And it was your fault, Takahiro. You were the cause of her death."
Takahiro stumbled back, shaking his head violently. "No… no, it can't be…!"
"She never wanted you," the teacher's voice rang out again, emotionless and cruel. "You were always a burden to her from the very beginning."
Takahiro collapsed to his knees, screaming through his tears as the darkness closed in.
"She never loved you," the suited man said. "And never did, not at all."
Takahiro's chest shook as he buried his head, tears streaming freely. Their voices reverberated in his mind, growing louder, pressing down on him, driving him to the edge of sanity.
"Stop… please… STOP!" he screamed, clutching his head.
Suddenly, Riko snapped back to reality. He bolted upright from the bed, gasping for air, sweat soaking his hair.
"GUH!"
Daigon, who had been sitting nearby, yelped in surprise and tumbled backward. "EEK!"
With a thud, he scrambled back onto his feet, glaring furiously. "Don't scare me like that!" he shouted, raising his tiny fist in mock fury.
Riko's hands shook as he tried to calm himself, his breathing heavy. The remnants of the vision still clung to him, haunting his eyes.
Riko scanned the room, blinking in confusion. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Daigon, already back on his chair, shrugged casually. "We're back at the guild. They provide free hospitality for thirty days," he replied, matter-of-factly.
Riko's eyes darted to his chest. It was fully healed. "Wait… weren't I just stabbed by a gigantic blade?!" he exclaimed, disbelief lacing his voice.
Daigon let out a sigh, crossing his tiny arms. "Riko, you healed yourself," he said simply.
"How… how? And when?" Riko pressed, still bewildered.
Daigon handed him a mirror. "Take a look at your face," he said.
Riko took it, examining his reflection. His eyes widened. His left pupil had completely changed shape—it shimmered like a radiant star.
"What the hell is that?" he asked, turning to Daigon, eyes wide with confusion.
"That, Riko," Daigon said, his tone suddenly serious, "is the Eye of Ashton."
The Eye of Ashton? Like the magic's name? Riko thought, his mind racing.
A flashback of Ritumara—the figure claiming to be the Being Above All—filled his mind. He turned to Daigon, urgency in his voice.
"Hey… Daigon, one more question," he said, his tone steady but intense. "Have you ever heard the name… Ritumara?"
Daigon's eyes snapped open, his casual demeanor gone. "Riko… where did you hear that name?" he asked, sharp and serious.
Riko's face showed confusion. "Oh, uh… since the fight with the ogre. And the part where I got stabbed from behind… A figure with long white hair, gold-and-white armor, and a glowing golden halo. That's exactly what you described as The Being Above All," he explained.
Daigon then shook his head violently. "WHAAAA!!! HE SHOWED HIMSELF TO A MERE MORTAL?!" he shouted, both hands clutching his head as if his eyes might pop out.
Riko, startled by the sudden outburst, stumbled back a little. "EEK!" he squeaked.
Leaning forward, Daigon whispered urgently, sweat sliding down his face, "Riko… with the very soul and heart of yours, DO NOT MENTION HIS NAME TO ANY OTHER MORTALS HERE!"
"OKAY OKAY! I won't. Besides, no one would believe me. They'd probably think I'm blaspheming," Riko replied, shrugging, arms lazily behind his head.
Daigon exhaled in relief, leaning back. "Yeah… you do got a point," he muttered.
Riko hesitated, curiosity bubbling. Wait… I have to ask… what exactly is he to you?
"Hey, Daigon. When I said the name Ritumara, why did you panic?" he asked.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Daigon said, leaning forward again, tone serious yet casual. "The Being Above All… Ritumara… he's my father."
"Father?!" Riko shouted, eyes wide.
Daigon panicked instantly, covering Riko's mouth. "SHUT UP! You don't want the others to hear this!"
After letting go, Daigon leaned back, pulling out a sandwich from out of nowhere and taking a bite. Where the hell did he pull that from, his ass or what?!
"My father is what you'd call a God above gods," Daigon explained, chewing. "That's why he's called The Being Above All. His power… has no limits. His knowledge… has no exact limits either. He is a truly omnipotent being."
"Omnipotent, huh… so no one—neither mortals nor gods—can surpass him?" Riko asked.
Daigon nodded. "Exactly. He exists above this mortal world, above reality itself. And he didn't just create me… but four of us."
Riko furrowed his brow. "Four of you? What do you mean?"
Daigon continued munching, "Brothers. We're ranked from weakest to strongest. The weakest is Zaigon. The third strongest… that's me. The second strongest is—"
Before he could finish, a voice interrupted behind them.
"Taishinkan! Which is me, by the way."
A man with black hair, a compressed shirt, and harem pants appeared casually.
Daigon and Riko stumbled back in unison. "GAH!"
Enraged, Daigon threw his sandwich at him. "HEY! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! Dammit, of all people, you had to show up?!"
Taishinkan mocked him, grinning. "Woah woah… is this how brothers greet each other? Aw, little monkey's angry… oh boohoo—"
Daigon slapped him mid-sentence. Taishinkan dramatically flopped to the floor, one hand on his forehead, teary-eyed. "Auh…"
"HEY! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?! I CAME HERE TO VISIT, NOT FOR A FIGHT, YOU STUPID ANCIENT-ASS MONKEY!" Taishinkan shouted, clutching his face.
Daigon's grin widened. "Pft, you call that the second strongest? Maybe I should have a word with Father about how a mere little slap hurt you! AND PLUS AREN'T YOU ANCIET TOO?!" he mocked.
Taishinkan quickly composed himself, smirking. "Yeah, no. You wish," he said, his expression instantly switching.
That switch up is insane! Riko thought, sweat forming on his forehead in disbelief.
Daigon huffed, annoyed. "Uhuh, sure. By the way… why are you here of all places?" he asked.
Riko just stared, thoroughly entertained. Yep… maybe I'll just keep watching these two argue. It's hilarious.
Taishinkan grinned mischievously. "What? Can't I visit my brother in the mortal realm? That's not very loving, is it?" He chuckled as he lunged forward, hugging Daigon tightly—so tightly that Daigon's head seemed to expand like a balloon under the embrace.
"You're the cutest monkey! So fluffy and cute—"
Before he could continue, Daigon sharply elbowed Taishinkan in the abdomen.
"Stop touching me!" Daigon shouted, flustered and annoyed.
"GUAHA! Hehe… watch out with this one, he bites," Taishinkan laughed, clutching his stomach.
Riko began to get bored, his patience also began to lower.
Ok, now I'm just getting bored. Can they hurry the hell up already?
Riko, annoyed and impatient, shouted, "CAN YOU HURRY AND STOP ARGUING?!"
"EEK!" Both Daigon and Taishinkan squeaked, hugging each.
"So, are you?" Riko asked.
Both Daigon and Taishinkan exchanged a glance, clearing their throats.
"Fine… if you're in such a hurry, here we go," Taishinkan said, crossing his arms.
Daigon's face turned serious, a bead of sweat sliding down his cheek. "The strongest among all of us... his name is Taisken."
"Taisken…?" Riko asked, puzzled by their sudden tension. "Why do you guys look so serious all of a sudden?"
Taishinkan's gaze hardened. "Taisken isn't an ordinary god. What we call him… is Judgment itself."
"By Judgment, we mean this," Daigon added. "Anyone who breaks the Divine Laws set by our father, Ritumara or perhaps The Being Above All…"
"He serves what he calls Divine Justice," Taishinkan continued, voice tense. "He believes mortals are… nothing but filth. His hatred for them is absolute."
"No mortal, no one—no matter how powerful, clever, or illogical their power may be—it can never escape his wrath," both Daigon and Taishinkan said in unison.
Riko's mind raced, disbelief and unease flooding him. Just how powerful is this guy…? he thought, realizing why Daigon and Taishinkan were so terrified.
"By Divine Law… what do you mean? What kind of laws did Ritumara make?" Riko asked, curious.
Daigon let out a long sigh. "First… Thou shall not manipulate reality, nor rewrite it in any manner," he said, crossing his little arms behind his back.
"Second… Thou shall not manipulate the flow of space and time," Taishinkan added, his gaze serious.
"Third… Thou shall not resurrect nor reincarnate others," Daigon continued, his voice calm but firm.
"And the last one…" Taishinkan said, pausing to let the weight of his words sink in. "…Whosoever breaks these laws shall be condemned to death, ensuring the righteous execution of the offender. This applies not only to mortals but to us as well."
Riko's eyes widened. So even gods are bound by these laws… and Taisken especially enforces them without mercy. Damn... if any break these laws Ritumara made, their death or existence is inevitably sealed.
Riko then realized he could ask them about his reincarnation.
"May I ask… who reincarnated me?" Riko demanded, his voice sharp.
Daigon and Taishinkan exchanged glances. "We… don't know," they said in unison, shrugging.
The hell you mean you don't know?! Aren't you guys gods or something?! Riko thought, fuming.
"Look, you might be wondering why we don't know," Taishinkan said, patting Riko gently on the shoulder. "It's because even we can't read Father's mind. Only Taisken and Father know why—or who—reincarnated you."
Riko's jaw tightened. So neither of them has a clue…
"But eventually, you might find out. Sooner or later," Taishinkan added with a grin. "Oh, look at the time! I have to go! Bye!" He waved theatrically and vanished into thin air.
Clocks don't exist on this world! He thought, not buying his excuse to leave.
Daigon yawned exaggeratedly. "I'm hungry. Let's grab something to eat," he said, hopping off the chair and waddling on his little feet.
Riko stood frozen, overthinking. Neither of them has any idea who reincarnated me… Dammit. I have a long way to go to find the answer.
"Riko?" Daigon whispered, concern lacing his tone.
How the hell am I supposed to find out? Riko thought, pacing mentally. Then, an idea struck him like lightning. Yes! All I have to do is ask Ritumara… He'll tell me the truth about my reincarnation—
Before he could finish his thought, Riko turned as the door creaked open. A man with a stubble beard stepped inside.
"Hello, sorry to interrupt. Riko, is it? My name is Kimura Thornveil, the head of the Adventurers' Guild. It's a pleasure to meet you."