Morning came.
The alarm screamed.
Ahrie groaned, smacking it off with the side of his hand.
"I'm awake, damn it…"
He sat up, rubbing his eyes—then froze.
The puppy was curled against him, his annoyed scowl melted into a smile.
Then it hit him.
"... Today's the day."
He jumped out of bed, rushing around the room like a tornado. Shirt half on, toast in his mouth, bag barely zipped.
Behind him, the pup woke up, blinking sleepily.
Ahrie stopped mid-motion, crouched down, gave it a quick head rub.
"Sorry, little bud… I gotta go."
He was halfway out the door when he froze.
"...Crap. I'm gonna be gone for months."
He looked back.
The pup wagged its tail.
—
Next door.
Ahrie banged the neighbor's door, pup tucked under his arm.
"GRAAAAMP!"
The door creaked open. An old man peeked out, holding a cane in his hand.
WHACK.
The old man smacked Ahrie on the head with his cane.
"It's too damn early! What the hell do you want?!"
Ahrie winced. "Ow—relax, old man!"
They glared at each other down like two gangsters in a standoff.
Gramps squinted. "Tch. Get inside."
Ahrie stepped in, holding the puppy out.
"Can you take care of this little guy? Just for a month or two."
The old man glanced at the pup, then back at Ahrie.
His eyes softened.
"...So it's your turn, huh."
His voice was soft and gentle.
He turned his back. "Go. You'll be late."
"But the pup—" Ahrie said
"Leave the dog. Get out!" gramps shouted.
Ahrie grinned, grabbed the old man's hands, shook them like a lunatic.
"You soft old bastard. I knew you had a heart."
Gramps smacked his hands away and whacked him on the head again.
Ahrie ducked and dashed to the door. He looked back one last time.
"I'll be back. Wait for me, okay?"
The pup gave a little bark.
Gramps watched the door close.
After a few seconds, he shuffled over to the shelf, picked up a photo frame.
It showed a younger version of himself, standing next to a kid.
Same wild eyes. Same dumb grin.
He stared at it for a moment, then smirked.
"That kid's grown fast… just like you."
He paused.
Then his face twisted.
"...That idiot didn't name the dog."
Train ride.
Ahrie sat by the window, staring at the scenery flying past.
"AHHHH—I forgot to name the pup!"
Gym facility.
Ahrie entered the facility, dropped his bag, and took a seat still sulking about the dog.
His eyes scanned the room—left to right—trying to settle the nerves buzzing in his chest.
He spotted Naoya right next to him, mouth full of goddamn food. Again.
"Geez, Naoya… every time." Ahrie muttered.
Naoya glanced up mid-chew, gave a lazy salute. "Yo."
Ahrie shook his head.
A few moments later, Daiki walked in, looking like he hadn't slept.
Naoya snuck behind him and gave his neck a quick chop. "Yo," he said again, straight faced.
Ahrie raised a brow. "Why so gloomy this early, Daiki?"
Daiki sighed. "My parents… didn't approve of me going inside the World Tree."
Ahrie blinked. "Then… how the hell are you here?"
Daiki stretched with a smug grin. "I escaped." he posed like a menace trying to tell others how proud he is.
Naoya silently gave him a thumbs-up with the same blank face. "Yup, you're fucked."
Ahrie burst out laughing. "Pff. You're cooked!"
Professor Kaien walked into the room.
His boots made a dull thud against the floor as he came to a stop near the front. His eyes swept across the room— counting heads. Making sure they were all there.
Everyone quieted down.
He let out a long, low breath.
"Alright," he said, "Congratulations. You passed."
Some of them straightened in pride. Others just stayed still, the weight of what was coming starting to hit.
Prof. Kaien paused, his eyes filled with sadness as he looked at them. "I'm proud of you all," he continued. "But if I had it my way… none of you would ever set foot in that hellhole."
Silence.
He cleared his throat.
"But it's not my choice. So—grab your gear. Plane's waiting."
The chairs scraped back. Bags slung over shoulders.
They moved out.
On the plane.
The hum of the engines filled the cabin. No one really spoke. Just the occasional rustle of someone adjusting their seat or checking their bags.
Daiki leaned forward. "Prof. Kaien, why aren't we teleporting, like how we did during the assessment?"
Prof. Kaien looked at him.
Then started walking slowly toward him.
He raised his right hand and curled his fingers into a loose "C."
[Memory Static]
"I'll show you," he said.
Daiki's face dropped.
"Wa-wait—! Prof… just kidding, I'm not curious… hehe." Daiki replied as he tried to evade the hand.
Ahrie choked down a laugh.
Prof. Kaien touched Daiki's shoulder.
Zzap!
"AAHHH—!" Daiki jolted in his seat like he'd been tased.
Prof. Kaien's hand twitched… he tried to subdue the pain as he explained, "Every skill has a side effect," he said through gritted teeth.
He shook it off and went on. "So if…" He paused and looked at them with sadness in his face.
"If… Your skills won't keep you alive to survive out there… go back!"
With a quiet sigh, he turns around and walks back to where his seat is.
Naoya poked Daiki with his pointed finger.
"You good?" he asked.
Ahrie said "soo… what is it this time?"
Daiki let out a slow breath and answered "Manual… breathing…" while carefully reminding himself to breathe.
Naoya squinted his eyes... "what a bummer…"
The Firewall.
The squad slung their bags and marched in silence, following Professor Kaien through the final checkpoint.
No one spoke.
They were too busy staring.
The base was massive.
At the center of the Firewall stood the entrance.
Twisting roots of the World Tree had coiled around—ancient looking.
Soldiers patrolled non-stop. Their guns are loaded.
Everyone was on edge—ready for an invasion that could come at any moment.
Professor Kaien stopped near a row of lockers. "We're here. Line up. Pick light armor that is suited for your size."
The students shuffled into place, strapping on basic gear—light chest-plates, gloves, sidearms. Nothing heavy. They'd need to move fast once inside.
Beyond them, dozens of other teams waited in parallel lines, each heading toward their own entry point.
An assistant approached. "Are they all here?"
Prof. Kaien gave a single nod.
Then he turned back to his students.
He stood tall. Shoulders squared. But his eyes… showed something else.
"If you're in danger—Escape," he said, voice firm.
The squad straightened.
"Yes, sir."
He stepped back, arms crossed, watching them one by one.
Just beside the entrance stood a long steel table, packed edge to edge with gear—blades, firearms, grenades, bandages, flashlights, and tools for whatever nightmare waited beyond the gate.
Naoya grabbed two daggers, a sword and a few bandages.
He glanced at Daiki and Ahrie.
Two fingers to his temple.
"See ya," he said, stone-faced.
Daiki and Ahrie flipped him off in unison.
Classic.
Daiki grabbed a sword, bumped his fist against Ahrie's shoulder.
"Later, bud."
"WHOOOOP! WHOOOOP!"
He jumped through the gateway and vanished.
Ahrie stood alone now.
He grabbed a pistol, three grenades, and a sleek rapier.
He tightened the strap on his chest-plate and stepped toward the entrance.
The world grew darker with each step.
Before crossing, Ahrie turned back.
Professor Kaien stood at a distance.
Ahrie raised his fist high.
Prof. Kaien watched him.
He smiled.
For a moment—he saw the boy he once was. The day he walked into the World Tree for the first time.
But a memory suddenly rushed into his mind.
A flash of teeth. Screams. Blood.
That thing… that monster. The one that tore through his Link like paper.
His smile vanished.
Prof. Kaien's breath hitched.
His hand clenched tight.
He blinked—and Ahrie was already gone.
Swallowed by the dark.