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"In the end, I was nothing but a whisper. A name soon to be forgotten…"
– Izayami Tsukihiro
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The rain wouldn't stop. It poured like the heavens themselves mourned with me.
I stood still in the middle of the ruined street filled with monsters, my eyes blank, arms trembling. Blood — her blood — stained my hands, dark and warm.
Around me, what was once a peaceful world had fallen into chaos. Broken by distant sirens, screaming, and the crackle of fire. My home, my family, my friends, even the smile of the girl who once made me laugh…
All gone.
No one came.
No one ever came.
The sky above was cracked with dimensional rifts. Monsters and demonic beings were forced to come out.
Without warning, they went on a rampage.
But why?
For what purpose?
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Moments before…
If you might have been wondering, my name is Izayami Tsukihiro. I'm an average guy living in Osaka, Japan. And today, I am going out with a friend. Most likely a date, I think.
"Oi, Yami! Wait up!" a girl's voice rang out.
I turned. It was Liya, in her favorite pink dress, sprinting toward me, silver hair flickering in the wind, hands full of soda cans. Her innocent blue eyes were sharp, alive, certain that tomorrow would be kind.
I gave a genuine smile. "You're late! We were supposed to meet up at six," I said playfully, poking her cheek. "I thought you already changed your mind."
Liya slapped my hand away. "Cut it out." Her face turned red. Adorable. "I'm not changing my mind," she said, shoving a soda can at me. "Besides, you still owe me that horror novel."
Her eyes narrowed just enough to tell me she'd hunt me down if I ever tried to lie.
I flashed a smile as I took the can she'd shoved at me. "Okay, okay… let's go. I'm already tired of standing here." I stepped forward, taking the lead.
Liya rolled her eyes with a hint of a smile before following.
As the darkness fell over the sky, we reached the bookstore, and I pulled the door open. "After you," I said.
She curtsied slightly, lifting her dress like a princess as she stepped inside. "My pleasure," she said. I couldn't help but smile at her playful gesture.
For minutes, we searched shelves by shelves. Until… "Ahah! I found it!" she called for me while trying to reach it on the top shelf.
Seeing her struggling with her short height, I couldn't help but smile. I reached up and grabbed the book for her.
"So this is the novel that you're dying for?" I teasingly asked, judging the book's weird front cover.
Her eyes lit up. "Yes!" Without warning, she snatched the book with a quick swipe. "So… are you actually buying it?" She lifted her arms, her fists curled like small cat paws. "Nyaa~?"
Seeing her so desperately trying to win my heart almost sent butterflies flying in my stomach, so I turned my gaze away. "Fine… yes. Besides," I muttered, trying to act calm. "Tomorrow's our graduation day. I'll buy it as a gift."
Her smile deepened. "Yeay! And I also have a surprise waiting for you."
I leaned in a little too quickly. Surprise?"What is it" My eyes were already searching her expression, thinking what it might actually be.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she playfully walked to the counter. "Just wait until tomorrow, nyaa~" she teased.
I masked the irritation with a sigh and handed over the money, barely looking at the book.
She took the money without hesitation and paid for the book.
"So, where are we going now?" I asked, not knowing where to go since it was already night, judging from the city lights outside the window.
She hummed, thinking of something. As we walked out of the store, an idea popped in her mind. "I think I know," she muttered.
———
Time passed by, "We're here," she happily said.
I was awed the moment I laid eyes on the view. "Is this really the Yodo River?" I asked.
Stars glittered across the night sky, the city lights glowing softly behind us, and the calm water reflected it all like a mirror.
I saw it for the first time, it was a very breathtaking scenery.
"Yes. My family used to bring me camping here back when we were kids," she said as she lowered herself onto the soft grass and settled down, gazing up at the sky.
I soon followed her move. "It's a beautiful place," I said, my eyes drifted across the night sky.
The river flowed calmly, carrying everything with it. Fireflies were dancing along the riverbank, giving off a fantasy vibe from the old days.
I could tell it was a perfect place for a date. Wait… This is a date!
For a moment, silence took over. As I was about to speak, she asked, "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" I stared at her eyes as the stars lit up her face.
A gentle smile was then carved on my face. "Yes," I turned my gaze forward, facing the moon. "It is beautiful." I let out a soft sigh.
Just then, she leaned onto my shoulder, making me startled. "Did I catch you off guard?" she teased.
I don't know what she was going through her mind, but isn't it obvious?! I almost got a heart attack. I swear I am gonna get her back one way or another.
I glanced at her, calming myself. "Oh please… I know this would happen," I said with pompous confidence.
She chuckled. "Good. Let's stay like this for a while."
Not gonna lie, I actually like this.
She noticed my reaction and gave a teasing smile. Then she moved closer, seeking comfort from me, pressing her head on my shoulder.
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The Collapse
Minutes later, she dozed off. I found it cute.
From the night sky, I saw it.
A rupture in space, a crack in reality appeared above the city — no one could explain it. A dragon flew out from the crack, spitting fire upon the earth.
Was this supposed to be a dream?
I gave her shoulder a quick tap, trying to wake her up. "Liya, wake up. We gotta go. Now." My voice panicked.
BOOOMMMM
A sudden explosion erupted in the city, and columns of smoke rose into the sky. Liya jolted awake in shock.
I pulled her up. "We need to go!"
We rushed through the city. "What's going on?" Her voice still sleepy.
"I don't know, but… I hope everything's fine," I replied.
As we reached the city, sirens were all over the place and the streets were in ruins.
Our eyes widened. "W–what happened here?" Her question remained unanswered.
Shit… Did that dragon do all of this? "We should go." I said, looking for a safe direction.
She followed me without asking much, her hands shaking. We go deeper into the city, trying to get home.
We stumbled upon crowds of people, being chased by groups of orcs and other monsters. The military were dispatched defending the citizens as they evacuated. One of the orc ate a child right in front of us, making her flinch.
A Type-10 Tank, Hitomaru ready in its position, fired at a 20-foot dragon.
People ran for their lives. Sounds of a baby crying echoed through our ears. Buildings turned into ruins. Everything was in chaos.
"Shit… was this even real?" I whispered, my eyes wide in disbelief.
Everything was too sudden. It was a massacre.
Liya grabbed my hand. I saw her shaking out of fear. I told her to stay behind me in case something happened.
"Yami…" Her eyes welled up. "I… I want to go home."
That's it. I couldn't stand it. Not like this. Not when she was about to cry.
I grabbed her hand and dragged her toward an empty corner, far from the chaos, far from the monsters.
She sank against the wall, trembling. I crouched beside her, trying to keep my own fear in check. "It's okay… we'll figure this out," I whispered, though my voice barely convinced even me.
"I promise I'm going to take you home."
She shook her head. "I don't want this to end so soon," She said, sobbing.
I caressed her cheek. "Hey… don't be like that." I stared at her watery eyes. "I'll always be ther–"
She cut me off. "Behind you!" she pointed her finger out. My gaze followed.
A short green goblin, tried to sneak up on us. He hold a dagger that was dripping blood.
I quickly got to my feet, planting my stance, ready for the worst to happen. This creature, I will protect her no matter what.
He shrieked before striking me in. Luckily, I managed to dodged it and instinctively kicked him to a pile of trash.
Without wasting any time I grabbed the dagger and stabbed it in his heart. The goblin whimpered before dying.
Liya looked at me terrified. "Y–you killed him." Her voice cracked.
I stood silent, my hands were shaking. I just killed something.
The night sky thundered, signalling it was about to rain. Just before, It was night and now it is already morning.
I reached for her. "Let's just go." She grabbed my hands hesitantly.
———
We ran, avoiding the crowds and unwanted attention.
It was a nightmare, we heard people screamed for help. I held her hand tighter.
Rain.
The roads had been evacuated, making it easy for us to run.
We turned left at the junction and saw people were being chased by a god-like creature hovered in the sky with six pairs of vast wings spreading out behind him – shooting beams of fire to the ground, taking innocent lives effortlessly.
His glances locked towards us.
The feeling of unease washed over my face. "Shit…" I muttered before pulling her away. "RUN, LIYA!" I screamed.
Adrenaline rushed through our bloodstream.
Liya bumped an old woman down. "Just keep running!" I already run past them.
I thought she followed me, but it turned out to be my biggest mistake. She turned back, trying to help the grandma up back on her knees.
But it was too late the creature raised his hand, followed with a flash of divine fire.
My eyes bulged. "LIYAA!!" I sprinted towards her. I tried to protect her. I really did. But what can I do? How could I be so hopeless?
Liya wrapped her hands on the grandma. "I love you…" She muttered before giving me a warm smile for the last time.
FWAOOOOSH
Her blood splattered across the streets.
"NOOOOOO!"
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I survived.
I didn't want to.
I begged to die.
I fell to my knees, wiping my eyes blank, my arms trembling. My purpose, gone.
"You freaking devil." Words slipped under my breath without realising. "I WILL KILL YOU!" Out of rage I threw a pebble at the creature.
It doesn't budged. In fact, it looked at me with disgust.
With a flick of his finger, beams of light struck through me.
"Is this the end? Did i.. actually died?"
But fate, or something crueler, had other plans.
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In the Void
As I opened my eyes, darkness swarmed over me.
A place of nothingness.
I floated, broken and hollow. My memories tore at me like claws. Screams, fire, blood — over and over again.
"Why…?" My voice was a whisper, swallowed instantly by the endless darkness.
Then it answered — a sound without shape, yet more present than the void itself. It didn't speak. It imposed. A thought that wrapped around my skull:
"Do you wish to die?"
My body trembled. "…No."
A cold pulse pressed through me, like the void itself testing my grip of my existence. "I saw everything… I saw your very last moments."
"Who are you?" I asked in confusion.
"Well, in your world, you humans called us gods, but I am far more."
"God? Then, why didn't you help me?" I started to lose my sanity, talking to the void. "I didn't do anything wrong to deserve this, especially her."My voice cracked.
The voice silenced for a while, giving me time to process. "I apologise. I can't interfere with the world directly, but I can grant you another life. A life where you have the ability to shape your world." the voice said, each syllable stabbing into my thoughts.
"Fine, but I want to be the strongest. I want to protect the one I loved." I clenched my fist.
"You will have it… but not without cost. You will bear my power. You will be my vassal for me to descend."
"I don't care. As long as you kept your words."
The voice laughed. "You're an interesting one."
Then… silence.
I heard a snap. My body glows with radiant light. I noticed parts of my body began to cracked like a shell.
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When my eyes opened again, I was no longer human… or so I thought.
My body shimmered with molecular light. I could feel my soul surged with powers.
I stood naked in a skyless realm, only to be wrapped in old, torn clothes, surrounded by floating ruins and broken laws of physics. Above me, a system interface formed:
[Welcome, Izayami Tsukihiro.]
[New Title Acquired: Little Chaos]
[You have inherited the Authority of Chaos - sealed ( need a specific condition to unlock) ]
[Initializing World Transfer: Eternavexus.]
I looked at my hands — now glowing with spirals of purple swirls. I don't know what it all meant but something had changed.
I whispered, "…Liya,I swear I will kept on living for the both of us."
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📄 End of Chapter 1
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