The Endless Cycle
On the sidewalk, a teenage boy walked with a troubled expression.
This boy's name was Orion, and he had just been chewed out by his teacher for not turning in his assignments on time.
"I need to finish my homework tonight and send it tomorrow morning," Orion muttered, tilting his head toward the sky.
"But I just want to lie down, watch some anime, maybe read a novel…" he sighed.
This week had been brutal—assignments stacked higher than his patience. If he didn't finish, the teacher would probably fail him, and he'd be stuck repeating his second year of high school.
'If only I could just live inside an anime or novel world,' Orion thought, shaking his head. "Well, time to speedrun my tasks."
He stepped off the curb.
A blinding light swallowed his vision.
BAM!
"What—" His voice was cut short as a truck slammed into him, sending his body tumbling across the asphalt.
THUD!
'Am I… dying?' His thoughts blurred as pain lanced through him. 'I didn't even destroy my PC…'
Blood bubbled in his throat as he coughed. 'And I never cleared my browser history. Should've used incognito…'
Darkness claimed him.
Orion opened his eyes.
"Hm? Where… am I?"
The ceiling was unfamiliar. The air heavy. Outside the window, a crimson moon glowed against black skies.
"This isn't a hospital." He pinched his hand—it hurt. "Not a dream."
Then, like a hammer, memories not his own rushed into his head.
"Ugh!" He clutched his temples. The fragments belonged to a boy named Ryouma, a member of a hidden clan of shadow warriors in a world that bled danger.
'This isn't Earth… I've been reborn.'
But before the thought could settle, cold steel pierced his chest.
Puchi!
Blood sprayed as a man appeared behind him, blade sinking through his heart. The man's eyes glowed like burning coals, his presence calm yet merciless.
"I'm sorry," the man said, voice low and steady.
Orion's vision blurred as he fell to his knees. "W-Why?"
The man withdrew the blade, his silhouette framed against the red moon.
"This clan's fate… is sealed." His sword flashed again—cold steel across Orion's neck.
Slash!
Darkness, again.
Orion gasped awake. His wrists and ankles ached—bound tightly to a chair. The air stank of iron and disinfectant. Surgical tools gleamed under the dim light.
"That was… my second death."
Memories crashed again. This time of a child named Ryuu, heir to a line of healers in a world of heroes and villains.
His heart sank. "Another reincarnation…"
Footsteps echoed. A voice followed—deep, cruel, amused.
"Your gift… is exquisite."
A man entered, his face hidden behind a mask of shadows, his aura suffocating. The Sovereign of Chains, a tyrant whispered to rule the underworld of this world.
"You'll make a perfect experiment," the Sovereign said, lifting a scalpel.
Pain exploded as the blade cut into Orion's stomach.
"AAHHHH!"
White light suddenly flickered across his wounds, knitting flesh back together.
The Sovereign's laughter shook the room. "Marvelous! A self-repairing gift. Stronger even than your grandmother's healing arts!"
Days blurred into endless agony—cut, heal, cut again. Each moment stretched into torment until finally—
BOOM!
The door caved in. A towering man strode inside, golden hair blazing like fire, his very presence shaking the ground. The Champion of Light.
"Sovereign!" his voice thundered.
"Well, well…" The Sovereign smirked, raising a hand as Orion's stolen light flickered from his palm. "Looking for the boy? Too late. His gift belongs to me now."
"No…" the Champion whispered, horror twisting his face.
"DETROIT—" He stopped himself. His voice hardened. "SOLAR STRIKE!"
Their fists collided—light against chains.
The Sovereign staggered, blood spraying, but he only laughed. "As long as I wield this boy's light, you cannot kill me!"
"WHERE IS HE?!" the Champion roared, pummeling him blow after blow.
A faint whisper reached his ear.
"…Here…"
The Champion froze.
"…Here…" The voice again, weak, trembling.
He followed the sound, dashing into the back chamber.
"Orion!" The Champion's voice cracked.
The boy was tied to a chair, his body stitched, bleeding, broken beyond recognition.
"Champion… I'm sorry…" Orion whispered, eyes fluttering shut.
"No!" The man fell to his knees, clutching him. "No, no, no!" His cry split the night, echoing with grief.
Darkness swallowed Orion once more.