A Glimpse Of The Void

Darkness.

That was all Kikidori knew after his death. A vast, infinite blackness stretched out in every direction, pressing against him, suffocating and silent. Yet, something stirred deep within that void. It wasn't a voice—it was a sensation, a tug at the very core of his existence.

He groaned, his consciousness flickering like a dying flame. The pain was unbearable, searing through his chest where the Unknown's attack had struck.

"What the fuck is this...?" Kikidori muttered, his voice echoing in the emptiness. "Am I dead, or am I in some goddamn waiting room?"

Suddenly, a blinding light cut through the darkness, and Kikidori felt himself being pulled upward, his body weightless.

"Rise, Kikidori," a voice boomed. It wasn't one he recognized—it was ancient, commanding, and fucking annoying.

"Who the hell—" Kikidori growled, squinting as the light surrounded him.

When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in a vast, ethereal realm. The skies were a swirling mixture of gold and silver, and the ground beneath him shimmered like glass. In front of him stood a towering figure cloaked in radiant light, its face obscured.

"Kikidori," the figure said, "you are not meant to remain in the void. Your destiny as a god is not yet fulfilled."

Kikidori blinked, still disoriented. "Wait, hold the fuck up. Who even are you? And what the hell do you mean 'not fulfilled'? I died, didn't I? I sacrificed myself. That should be the end of it."

The figure sighed, as if explaining something to a particularly slow student. "You are no ordinary being, Kikidori. You are a god. Though you once fell from grace, your divinity remains. And now, you must rise again."

"Rise again? For what? I already saved everyone's asses. Can't I just rest?" Kikidori snapped, crossing his arms.

"There is more to come," the figure said ominously. "The Unknown's defeat was only the beginning. Forces greater than you can imagine are stirring, and they will come for the realms. You are needed, Kikidori."

Kikidori groaned, rubbing his temples. "Great. Fucking great. I just wanted some peace, but no—there's always some new bullshit."

The figure raised a hand, and Kikidori's body began to glow with a soft, golden light. He felt his strength returning, his wounds healing.

"Return to your realm," the figure commanded. "Reclaim your place, and prepare for what lies ahead."

Before Kikidori could argue, the light around him intensified, and he felt himself being pulled away.

---

Kikidori woke up gasping, his body jerking upright. He was lying on the cold, hard ground in the center of the pentagram. The battlefield was empty now, but the bloodstains and scorch marks remained.

"What the fuck…" he muttered, looking down at his hands. They were glowing faintly, the golden light slowly fading.

He stood up, wincing as he stretched. "Well, shit. Guess I'm alive again. Hope I didn't miss anything important."

Kikidori looked around, his mismatched eyes scanning the barren wasteland. Then he remembered—Yumi. Ere'ana. The war. His sacrifice.

"Fuck," he whispered, his chest tightening. "They think I'm dead."

Without another word, he spread his wings and took off into the sky, heading straight for the castle.

---

When Kikidori landed at the gates of the castle, the guards nearly dropped their weapons in shock.

"Prince Kikidori?" one of them stammered.

"Yeah, yeah, it's me," Kikidori said, brushing past them. "Don't faint or anything."

The guards scrambled to open the gates, and Kikidori stormed inside, his boots echoing against the stone floors.

He found Ere'ana in the throne room, pacing back and forth with tears streaming down her face.

"Ere'ana," Kikidori called out.

She froze, turning to look at him. For a moment, she just stared, her mouth opening and closing like she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Kikidori?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Yeah, it's me," he said with a smirk. "Back from the dead. Miss me?"

Ere'ana let out a choked sob and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. "You fucking idiot!" she cried, hitting his chest. "I thought you were gone! We all thought you were gone!"

"Yeah, well, I was," Kikidori said, holding her tightly. "But apparently, gods don't stay dead for long."

Ere'ana pulled back, her eyes searching his face. "You're really here," she whispered.

"I'm really here," he said.

---

In her room, Yumi sat on her bed, staring at the sketchbook in her lap. Her father's death still weighed heavily on her, and she hadn't spoken to anyone since the war ended.

There was a knock at the door.

"Go away," she muttered.

The door opened anyway, and Yumi looked up, ready to snap at whoever it was. But when she saw him, her breath caught in her throat.

"Hey, golden arrow," Kikidori said, leaning against the doorframe.

Yumi's sketchbook fell to the floor as she stood up, her legs shaking. "Dad…?"

"It's me," he said, stepping into the room.

Yumi ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. "You asshole!" she cried. "You fucking died! I thought you were gone forever!"

"I know, I know," Kikidori said, holding her tightly. "But I'm back now, and I'm not going anywhere."

Yumi pulled back, tears streaming down her face. "Promise?"

"Promise," Kikidori said with a small smile. "Now, how about we get some food? Dying makes a guy hungry."

The End of Chapter 1