That day, thousands of cavalry thundered across the land.
The clanging of steel rang in our ears, shaking the mountains.
The ground trembled with every step of the horses, the swords of the frontline soldiers… everything was like a symphony of chaos.
We were at the vanguard of the army marching to conquer Japan. Our swords gleamed with the promise of victory; pride and fear battled in our hearts with every step.
But… victory never came.
As we entered the city, we were met with a sight that shattered the soul.
Innocent people lay lifeless on the ground, their vacant eyes staring into nothingness… all was plunged into silence.
And then, a sound tore through the sky. When we reached its source, Emperor Masaki stood before us, darkness burning in his eyes—quite the opposite of his name.
Emperor: "You vile barbarians will NEVER TAKE THIS PLACE!"
Before he finished speaking, the sky darkened. Behind him appeared a being both radiant and terrifyingly dark. With a single strike, half our army was annihilated.
The screams of horses, the clash of steel, the cries of men… everything vanished into silence.
We fought with all our strength, until our last drop of blood… But why was everyone dead?
"Why me? Why ME ? WHY ME! "
When those dark eyes turned to me, I thought my body would be torn apart. Yet I couldn't stop. The lives of my brothers could not have been wasted.
So I pressed on. I pressed on… and pressed on.
My limbs shattered, my body burned with every strike; the smell of blood, mud, and destruction filled me. Yet I refused to yield.
AND THEN—
The creature turned back to the rift, as dark and radiant as ever:
"DAMN YOU! HOW DARE YOU! TRY TO RUN AND YOU'LL REGRET IT! "
Without thinking, I gave chase.
---
When I opened my eyes, the world I knew was gone.
The sky shimmered in strange shades of purple and green. Underground caverns sparkled with crystals; each step fractured the light, casting eerie shadows.
I could not breathe the air, nor sense the flow of time. All that remained was my battered yet functional body and my sword.
I had to learn to survive here. At first, hunger, exhaustion, and the unknown wore me down.
The creatures here… there were thousands. Some lived like us, others were wild, ruthless predators. Each day was a struggle for survival, each night a new terror.
One day, a frog-like creature entered my hiding cave. At first, I was wary; but its intelligence and curiosity inspired a sense of trust within me. I shared my food with it; by morning, all my wounds had miraculously healed.
To show my gratitude, I took it with me. Together, we became stronger; we cut down the creatures, I honed my skills, and continued growing in power.
Months, even years passed…
One day, I discovered a magnificent palace, more grand than anything I had ever seen. I stepped inside and found doors leading to other worlds.
I opened one door and found myself battling in scorching deserts. Another led to frozen valleys, cold and deadly.
Every fight, every strike made me stronger. I refined my techniques, pushing my limits.
Weeks, months, years… even time itself seemed different, yet I continued learning and growing.
Eventually, I deciphered the power these creatures wielded, mastering it and incorporating it into my own abilities.
Finally… I discovered a way to return to my own world.
But the journey back was more than just physical; my mind and soul had also been tested.
When I opened my eyes, everything around me was in ruins. People stared at me; the world I knew had changed.
Skyscrapers stretched toward the sky, humans radiating bright lights, a new order…
Everything was different. But one thing hadn't changed: I had become the strongest.
---