Chapter Two: The Breakdown

It was in front of my face, the Death Note notebook that was once the mere destructive that was caused back in the days when I was a child. Is this real or a fake? The police documents explain how they burned the remaining ones so how on earth is this possible? However, it was lying on my desk, staring right at me. I have to examine it, I just have to feel it out.

I used the point of my index finger and slid it up and down to feel that black leather. It feels brand new like it never was once used before, with no cracks on it nor it doesn't seem to be worn out. 

"Holy shit is this-"

" Real? Yes, it is." a sudden voice captured from behind me. I felt my whole body jump out of my office chair. That is not the sound of my father's voice so who is that? Goosebumps started to form on my arms not knowing it was from excitement or chills.

"I see you were the only one who picked up my book. I was hoping it wasn't a little kid. The last time that happened that child didn't take my word seriously and murdered his whole family. Hmmm, I wonder where he's at now? Probably at the psych ward." the mystery voice kept yapping as I was paralyzed with a known emotion that was circling within me.

" Are you ignoring me?"

My thoughts were cut short when I came face to face with the voice that had been filling up my home. Hovering above me, his powerful form was a sight to behold. Muscles rippled beneath his armor, adorned with soft feathers that cascaded from his broad shoulders and encircled his skull. The front row of feathers was a sleek grey, leading into a dusty gold hue in the middle, and finally ending with long black feathers that draped down past his shoulders. His head itself was an intimidating sight - an actual skull, adorned with intricate markings in black and dusty gold, with an unusual symbol emblazoned on his forehead. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. Felt like I was summoning a native american demon from an Ouji board. "No . . . not at all. You startled me."

"Oh." he started laughing at me as he clapped his hands together, "I forgot that humans get scared of my look. My name is Edel and I am the owner of that book."

I look back down at the death note and look back at him and no doubt repeated this cycle three times. " I see. How does it work?"

Edel stepped back down on the floor sat on the empty spot on the desk next to me and opened to the first page. "I'm glad you asked. Do you see this? These are the rules and how it works." I followed his finger to check each point of how to work this supernatural object.

○The human whose name is written in this note shall die.

○This note will not take effect unless the writer has the person's face in their mind when writing his/ her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.

○ If the cause of death is written within the next 40 seconds of writing the person's name, it will happen.

○If the cause of death is not specified, the person will simply die of a heart attack.

○After writing the cause of death, the details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

" These are the rules and how the death note works but there is a twist," Edel added on.

" What twist are you informing about?"

"I will be honest and explain the details. God is dying and a new one shall be born."

I immediately scoffed at that. How can god die? Speaking from a religious standpoint he cannot die, he is the almighty who created this earth that we walk on and call home to all living creatures. " This is definitely a dream." in a dream you will do and have abnormal things going on. In reality, I only have ten fingers altogether five fingers on each hand. Well, I'm checking right now and everything seems about right. Let me put my finger on my opposite palm to see if it goes through. 

" To stop yourself from further embarrassment, you're not dreaming."  he's right, I read the rules of the death note perfectly fine, no extra fingers or anything.

" Then explain everything to me right now so I can have a clear understanding about this."

Edel sighed as he scratched his imaginary flesh on the side of his skull. " I was going to until you interrupted me."

" Sorry."

"It's all right. As you can tell from the last incident we never had a victor since the police crackdown the case with the-"

" Light Yagami aka Kira case."

Edel raised his brow in surprise as he nodded his head at me " Exactly. I'm surprised that the case went overseas. I expected Japan to only keep it there. That was many years ago as heaven and hell are crumbling because the balance of this world will soon be shifted."

" So I'm a candidate for being the next god?"

" Well, one of them."

" Huh? But you just-"

Edel raises his finger in the air," Me and my 'coworkers', is that the correct term you humans say in a workplace?"

" Yes."

" We agreed on how 9 Death Notes would be in New York and the victor shall be the next god. The rest is in your and the other candidate's hands-on how will you humans solve this. But it's a catch, to be the victor, the others have to die."

This is just asking for a bloodbath in New York. The old documents in Japan on how Kira murdered over hundreds of thousands of people and that's only what they found. Who can imagine the actual number? 

" You look pale. It is up to you to leave this now because once you're in, it will be hard to leave."

Me leaving this? Logically speaking it's a smart choice but the exciting factor will be unanswered for me. I've been intrigued by this case for many years, and as soon the news told the world about the Kira case my imagination has been unsolved of how all of this works. It's my only chance to experience this because I always wanted to take part in this. "I'm ready, what else do I need to know?

Edel stayed silent for a brief second, I'm assuming he was trying to read my mind because probably a person who two cents would run away from this offer but I'm not just a typical person.

" You can see other's Shinigami's and people's lifespan and names with the gift of the eyes, the shinigami eyes, but it can also backfire on you."

" How so?"

" It will take half of your lifespan and let's just say how if this battle of being the next god will take years up to your remaining days. I also cannot tell you your lifespan, it's not fair." My stomach dropped hearing that, people have the advantage of seeing my name and my lifespan in the world of the living. This is not good for multiple factors. I need to find an out of this. 

"I will put a hold on that for now. Is there anything else?" I can see the gleam twinkle in Edel's red eyes as his visible cheekbones lifted.

" You will have three wishes for me to grant you and only three wishes. Choose wisely what you want to have." that is my out of this, that disadvantage I once had turned into an advantage for me.

" My mind is already telling me you have something you want to wish already, Dolion." I narrowed my eyes at him, why did he mention my dead brother's name?

"It's Yugin, not Dolion."

The deafening silence saturated the air, suffocating us with its mounting tension. We both froze, unwilling to speak or even breathe as we strained to decipher each other's thoughts. It was a dangerous game of mental chess. "I apologize, Yugin. What is your first wish?"

" My first wish is to -"