Ch(4):-New Purpose

Ryuusuke's eyes flickered open, the disorienting sensation of a shift in reality pulling him from his thoughts. The world around him had changed—vastly, impossibly so. He staggered to his feet, the ground beneath him unfamiliar, alien.

It wasn't like Earth. This world was alive, breathing in ways that the Earth never had. The sky above stretched endlessly, swirling with colors Ryuusuke had no name for—shades of purple, blue, and gold that merged into each other like liquid fire. The air was thick, almost tangible, crackling with energy.

Kaito, who had been silently observing his surroundings, turned to Ryuusuke with a grim expression. "We're in another dimension now. This world... it's called Valdara. A place where many forces—gods, mortals, demons, and everything in between—intersect."

Ryuusuke took in the strange landscape. Towering mountains stretched into the sky, their peaks hidden within the clouds, while vast, jagged forests of twisted trees dotted the land. The ground beneath them was a deep red, like rusted iron, and the air buzzed with strange energy. The world felt... ancient, primal. It hummed with life, yet also a deep, unsettling silence.

"Why did we come here?" Ryuusuke asked, his voice hoarse from the exertion of the battle back in the city. His hands still crackled with the remnants of power, and the strange feeling of the universe's energy coursing through him had yet to subside.

Kaito shook his head. "It's not just a random place. This is where you'll begin your journey, where you'll start to understand what's happening to you, and what you need to do."

The gravity of Kaito's words hit Ryuusuke like a punch. He'd always thought of himself as a normal college student—nothing special, just trying to survive in a chaotic world. But now, he wasn't even sure what world he belonged to. And this... this new reality felt like the beginning of something far greater, and far more dangerous.

"You're not just a random human anymore, Ryuusuke," Kaito continued. "You've been chosen for something. You're part of a plan that spans across dimensions. You're the one who will bring balance—or chaos—to the multiverse."

Ryuusuke swallowed, trying to digest what Kaito was saying. Chosen for something? What did that mean? Was he meant to be a hero? A destroyer? What was his role in all of this?

Before he could voice another question, the air around them rippled, and a low, rumbling sound filled the space. Ryuusuke instinctively stepped back, raising his hands in a defensive stance. The ground trembled beneath them, and the air grew colder, more oppressive.

The source of the disturbance revealed itself in the distance—an enormous, dark figure emerging from the swirling clouds. It was colossal, its body cloaked in shadow, towering over the landscape like an ancient god. Its eyes, burning a bright red, glowed with an unsettling intensity. It moved toward them with unnatural speed, its footsteps shaking the earth.

Kaito's expression twisted into one of grim recognition. "It's one of them... a harbinger."

The harbinger's voice boomed, resonating through the land. "Ryuusuke Tanaka. You have arrived. You are late."

Ryuusuke's heart skipped a beat. The figure knew his name. Again.

"What is this? What do you want with me?" Ryuusuke demanded, his voice trembling but firm. He had no idea what this creature was, but he wasn't about to let it intimidate him without a fight.

The harbinger's eyes flickered with amusement. "We are not here to answer your questions, child. We are here to deliver a warning. You are the one who will bring the end—or the salvation—of all things. You will learn what it means to wield true power."

The ground around them shook violently as the creature extended its arm. From the void, a storm of shadowy tendrils lashed out, curling toward Ryuusuke with impossible speed. Without thinking, he raised his hands, and a barrier of energy exploded outward, slamming into the tendrils with a deafening crack.

But the harbinger wasn't done. It raised its other arm, and the very sky seemed to darken in response. Lightning, black as pitch, crackled in the air, arcing toward Ryuusuke.

"No!" Kaito shouted, pushing Ryuusuke back just as the bolt of lightning struck the ground where they had been standing. The energy exploded with the force of a small bomb, sending them both tumbling across the ground.

Ryuusuke gasped, his body trembling from the shockwave. He pushed himself up, coughing, his hands still glowing with the power he had no control over.

"You think this power can save you?" the harbinger's voice sneered. "You are a pawn in a much larger game, Ryuusuke Tanaka. A tool, meant to be used until your purpose is fulfilled."

Ryuusuke's chest tightened. He could feel the weight of the harbinger's words. Was he really just a pawn? Was all of this happening because some greater force wanted him to fulfill a destiny that he hadn't chosen?

But deep inside him, something ignited. A spark of defiance. He wasn't just going to stand there and let this creature decide his fate.

"You're wrong," Ryuusuke muttered, his hands crackling with more power. "I'm not some tool for you to use. I'll decide what happens to me."

The harbinger's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "Then prove it, mortal. Show me what you are capable of."

Without another word, Ryuusuke thrust his hands forward, and the energy inside him exploded outward in a wave of pure force. The blast tore through the air, creating a massive shockwave that sent the harbinger stumbling back.

For the first time, the harbinger's expression shifted—surprise, perhaps even fear. It staggered, then steadied itself, a faint smile crossing its face.

"Impressive," it said. "You are far more than we expected. Perhaps the plan is not as foolproof as we thought."

Kaito, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally managed to speak. "That was—"

Before he could finish, the harbinger raised a hand, and the earth around them cracked open, creating a massive chasm. From the depths of the rift, shadowy figures began to emerge—creatures with bodies made of living darkness, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy.

"Fight if you must, Ryuusuke Tanaka," the harbinger said, its tone cold. "But remember, you are not the only one who has been chosen. And your path will not be a solitary one."

As the creatures began to surround them, Ryuusuke felt a rising tide of fear—but also something else: resolve. He wasn't going to let anyone, or anything, dictate his fate. He had power now. And he would use it.

The battle had only just begun.