Chapter I: Another World.

We live in an ordinary world where almost nothing seems to have significance. In fact, it feels as though only human conflict and atrocities grant it a purpose, reflecting our struggle to coexist in peace.

However, many long for a different reality; they dream of adventure and a full life, even as they remain tethered to routine. It is within that longing that a risk resides, for desires can be dangerous when they are fulfilled—especially because they rarely manifest the way we imagine.

—The Creator.

The Kyoto Tournament

“Attention, everyone! We are beginning the final match of the season!” the referee announced with a booming voice.

The Kyoto Combat Arts Stadium erupted in cheers and applause. Thousands of spectators waited expectantly for the tournament’s final showdown.

“In one corner, we have the five-time champion, only twenty years old!” the referee said, building suspense. “Please welcome… Aoi Aoki!”

Aoi Aoki was a young martial arts prodigy. He had practiced since the age of four and had won every tournament he had ever entered. At fourteen, he was already the champion of the prestigious Kyoto Tournament, and he had held the title for five consecutive seasons.

“And in the other corner, we have the two-time teen tournament champion, making his major league debut today at the Kyoto Combat Arts Tournament! Please welcome… Hiroshi Itō!”

The crowd roared with enthusiasm at the appearance of the young challenger.

Hiroshi Itō, a sixteen-year-old boy, had been learning all types of martial arts since he was twelve. In a short time, he was labeled a true prodigy; a two-time youth champion chosen by an international judge to participate in this event that could change his life forever. The fighters stepped onto the stage amidst cheers and applause; the tension in the air was palpable.

“Wow, there are so many people watching me… I have to give it my all!” Hiroshi whispered, excited.

“I can’t believe they put me up against this cocky brat… I don’t plan on holding back,” Aoi growled, eyeing his opponent with disdain.

The referee raised his hand: “Begin!”

Aoi was the first to move, launching a rapid attack, but Hiroshi dodged it with surprising agility.

“What…? How did he dodge that so easily?” Aoi thought, incredulous.

“I thought you’d fight seriously,” Hiroshi countered with a stern look.

“I was just warming up. Now I’m getting serious… but you’d better do the same. I want to see what you’re capable of.”

“Then make it worth my while,” Hiroshi replied confidently.

“You’re a fool… and that is your weakness,” Aoi said, preparing to attack with fury.

A flurry of blows began. Aoi attacked relentlessly, but Hiroshi dodged with impeccable precision. This only infuriated the champion further.

“It’s impossible! I can’t touch him!” Aoi shouted, desperate. “This is starting to piss me off!”

In desperation, he charged his strongest strike, an attack capable of knocking out or even killing a man three times his size. His fist went straight for Hiroshi’s face, but the boy remained motionless, serene, watching with cold indifference.

In Aoi’s mind, time stopped. The screams of the crowd faded. All that remained was his heavy breathing, his frustration, and his need to avoid humiliation.

And then, in the blink of an eye, Hiroshi vanished from his sight. An instant later, Aoi was already on the ground.

Hiroshi had waited for the exact moment. Instead of dodging aimlessly, he had stepped back and analyzed. When Aoi launched his final blow, Hiroshi counterattacked with surgical precision: a vital strike that ended the fight in one minute and thirty-seven seconds. The shortest professional fight in history.

“The winner is Hiroshi Itō!” the referee shouted, raising Hiroshi's arm to the crowd.

“Hehe… thanks for the applause,” Hiroshi said, smiling modestly as the multitude cheered his name.

“You have a lot of potential, kid,” the referee told him.

Those words echoed in his mind as he headed home.

“I’m home,” Hiroshi said as he walked in. “I hope you haven’t been getting into mischief while I was out.”

A small cat stepped out of a room, meowing.

“Oh, there you are, little guy. You must be hungry,” Hiroshi said, leaning down to pet him. He prepared food and served the cat a bowl of milk and tuna.

“Today was a great day. I won the regional tournament, I got paid well… and they told me the next tournament will be international. A great chance to earn more money and buy more food! What do you think?”

The cat watched him in silence.

“Tomorrow I’ll buy you a big salmon, little one…” he smiled. “That’s right, I still haven’t given you a name. Well, I’ll think of one soon.”

Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the building.

“What was that?” Hiroshi stood up, intrigued. He went out to check. He saw nothing, but the crash had been intense. “I’m surprised none of the neighbors noticed…”

He went to take out the trash, holding his breath against the smell of rot.

“It reeks worse than usual…”

Hiroshi noticed that the wall of the neighboring apartment was destroyed.

“Did that cause the noise? I wonder why nobody checked it out.”

He approached slowly. Though he tried to stay calm, an unsettling sensation began to crawl over his skin.

“Hello? Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice trembling. Terrified, Hiroshi continued walking toward the source of the noise.

The feeling grew until it finally overwhelmed him completely.

“What… what is that…?”

His eyes widened in horror: a dog was devouring its owner. Hiroshi froze, sweating, unable to move. The animal raised its head. Its eyes were red as blood.

(If I don’t do something… it’s going to attack me), Hiroshi thought.

The dog had heard him. It immediately lunged toward his apartment as Hiroshi ran, the animal chasing him and smashing everything in its path.