Hakihito: "Humans really are strange creatures."
Hakihito: "Everyone in this world lives their life seeking only proof of their own existence, trying to find some purpose in their life, to give meaning to their being."
Hakihito: "The desire to transmit their idea is a kind of signal ingrained in all people — to do something that will be remembered for centuries and centuries, to be remembered after they're gone."
Hakihito: "Planning something, having children, wanting to become someone — these are necessary acts according to humans, to leave proof of their existence and show they did something that will change the world in the future."
Hakihito: "But for me... all of this... is just a huge load of bullshit..."
Hakihito: "Why should I put effort into something that will most likely be forgotten very soon?"
Hakihito: "Why should I leave proof of my existence in this world if that proof will inevitably be erased soon after, making room for another progress that will also be forgotten?"
Hakihito: "In the end, it's just an endless cycle of evolution. We all want to prove to the world that we exist, but when you realize that dream is basically unattainable, you end up trapped in a never-ending nightmare. The deepest void, where you realize there's no escape.
A thick darkness that swallows every thought and, above all... every hope of a human being."
---
A dark and stormy sky, a figure is falling into the void towards a city as dark as the sky, almost unlit.
Hakihito opens his eyes — he is falling toward the city.
No ground.
No sky.
Only... falling. Eternal falling.
The wind scratched his face like shards of glass, his skin stretched tight by the gusts dragging him down, into a fall that seemed endless. His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness: below him, a vast and unfamiliar city spread out like a field of flickering lights. A storm covered it, lightning tearing through the sky, illuminating towering buildings, empty streets, and moving shadows.
Hakihito: "What... what the hell is happening?!"
Gravity pulled him downward, but instinct took over. He stretched out his arms and closed his eyes. Controlled... focused...
And suddenly, he stopped.
Suspended mid-air.
Hakihito: "I'm... I'm slowing down... I-I've... I've slowed down?"
Hakihito: "Where the hell am I, and more importantly, why was I falling into the void?"
Mysterious figure: "I'VE GOT YOU IN MY GRIP!"
Hakihito: "What the fuck?"
At that moment, a mysterious figure lunged at him, hitting him with unheard-of force.
BOOM
Hakihito was struck hard but managed to block at the last second.
Hakihito (thought): "I didn't even sense his presence."
Hakihito: "And who the hell are you? Why the hell are you attacking me? And more importantly, where am I, and why am I here?"
Mysterious figure: "Shut your mouth, inferior being. You have no right to ask questions of a superior being like me."
Hakihito (thought): "What the hell is this guy babbling about? I don't understand a thing."
Hakihito: "Listen, friend, I don't know who you are, nor why I'm here, but I haven't done anything to you, so better leave now if you don't want things to get ugly."
Mysterious figure: "HAHAHAHAHA, good joke. Who do you think you are, huh?"
Mysterious figure: "You think you can intimidate me like that? You're definitely out of your mind. Know this — you're not even 1% of my worth."
Hakihito: "And who are you, exactly?"
Mysterious figure: "Stop mocking me. I've never tolerated people like you, but now I'll make you pay."
Hakihito (thought): "I don't know what's happening, but his power is growing insanely."
The mysterious figure attacked Hakihito with a flash of light, which Hakihito dodged, only to be hit a moment later by a punch that sent him flying meters away.
Mysterious figure: "So, now you're not acting cocky anymore, huh?"
Hakihito (thought): "Fuck... who is this guy? How can he be so strong? But more importantly, why are we fighting and what am I even doing here?"
Hakihito: "Listen, friend, I don't know why you're mad at me, but whatever I did, I'm sorry."
Mysterious figure: "Shut up! Nobody tells me what to do, clear? Now get ready to die, inferior being."
Hakihito: "This is getting bad."
A roar tore the sky apart. A lightning bolt struck meters from them.
Time seemed to freeze for a second.
Then the figure moved forward. Fast as lightning.
Hakihito: "He's insanely fast."
BOOM!
Hakihito was hit full in the chest again, thrown backward with superhuman strength. His body spun, wind cutting off his breath.
Hakihito: "Tsk." He spat blood.
Hakihito: "What the hell...?!"
Mysterious figure: "I expected much more from you. Instead, you're a total disappointment. What a pity... I hoped I'd have some fun before finishing you off, but oh well... I'll make do."
The figure lunged again, and Hakihito blocked another strike with his forearm. The impact made the air tremble. A shockwave spread in all directions.
Hakihito: "He's fast... too fast. If I keep just blocking, I won't get anywhere."
With incredible effort, Hakihito grabbed the mysterious figure's arm and struck back with all his might, pushing the opponent back for a moment.
Mysterious figure: "Interesting. Finally, some thrill. HAHAHAHA."
Mysterious figure: "I didn't know your version had already developed such strength."
Hakihito (thought): "What the hell are you talking about? What versions?"
Mysterious figure: "How can you not know about the Nexus... Why did someone like you have to survive?"
Hakihito: "I'm really tired of you, friend. Tell me who you are and what you want from me — now."
Mysterious figure: "You're the one who should answer my questions, not the other way around. Don't ever talk to me like that again. Remember, I'm the superior being here."
Mysterious figure: "Now I'm the one tired of you. Prepare, because your end is near."
There was no time for Hakihito to react. The figure lunged again — this time much more violent and aggressive.
The mysterious figure hit Hakihito with a punch of light, then followed with an endless barrage of kicks and punches. Hakihito tried to defend, but his opponent was on a different level.
Meanwhile, the rain poured violently, as if wanting to hide the truth of that duel.
Hakihito managed to block a punch and tried to counterattack but was immediately stopped by a powerful kick that threw him off balance.
Mysterious figure: "I must say, you're defending yourself well. I'll give you credit for that. But know that it will take more than a few punches to defeat me."
Hakihito (panting, bleeding): "I still don't understand why the hell you're attacking me. I don't even know why we're fighting!"
Mysterious figure: "I already told you, I'm the one asking the questions here. I don't owe you any explanations. But since soon I will end your existence forever, I can only say that your very existence threatens the balance of the entire universe and beyond. As long as you live, everything that was and will be will continue to writhe and fall into ruin. So it's better to eliminate the problem at the root."
Hakihito: "I didn't understand a word you said, and to be honest, I don't care. I don't even know what I'm doing here. But one thing I do understand — dying isn't an option for me right now. So know this: I won't let you win that easily, friend."
Mysterious figure: "I knew talking to you was useless. Talking to someone like you is like talking to a wall. But like I said, I don't care. The only thing that interests me now is ending your existence forever."
Hakihito charged at the mysterious figure, trying several times to hit him with all his strength.
Hakihito: "You don't scare me! Asshole."
But the figure just dodged everything effortlessly.
Mysterious figure: "Truly pathetic."
With a single finger, the figure struck and pierced him, opening a huge hole in his stomach, blood gushing out endlessly.
Hakihito: "That hurts... damn it."
Mysterious figure: "I told you, your fate was already written. Now your time has come."
The figure grabbed Hakihito by the neck, then punched him violently in the heart, followed by a powerful kick.
Mysterious figure: "Sure, victory tastes really good."
Hakihito: "Haha... who would have thought I'd lose to this bastard..."
Hakihito lost consciousness, badly wounded and practically at death's door, beginning to fall rapidly toward the city.
The lights grew bigger and the sounds more real. The air burned, the rain slapped him hard.
Hakihito: "I knew it... life... is full of surprises."
Then he crashed into the city, completely defeated and practically near death.
Mysterious figure: "Know this — I won't spare you even after you die. I'll use your ruined corpse as a warning to all the fools who dare challenge me. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"