Past Story

Note: This side story will be long, if you're not that type and wanna get straight to the point, then read the short version and when you're done, scroll all the way down until you see the long dash line.

Short story in this comment.

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10 years ago, the world started to changed.

It all began when the first portal opened. It wasn't a storm, nor a warning. Just a crack in the sky, like the world had torn itself apart. The people who saw it and thought it was an illusion, a strange weather phenomenon.

But they were all wrong.

From that portal, the monsters came...

Huge, grotesque creatures with claws, fangs, and scales that shimmered like death itself. They swarmed through cities, breaking through walls, destroying everything in their path.

No weapon worked, no army could fight them. Humanity, once proud and unstoppable, was nothing more than prey. Cities fell, governments crumbled, and the world teetered on the edge of destruction.

People called it the Calamity.

In the midst of this chaos, something else appeared.

A panel appeared in front of every human. It was a blue translucent screen that hover on the air, an foreign presence in the world at near extinction.

No one knew where it came from or how it worked, but it was there. Anyone who survived the calamity saw the same thing:

[System] Please choose your 4 randomized path.

It was the first sign that had changed world forever.

Each person was presented with a choice. And the system granted them four random Paths, each with a description of what it offered. These paths were the key to survival and power.

Every list of paths offer a chance to gain a unique power. Like Warrior, Mage, Assassin, Archer and more.

The granted ability user are called Player.

These individual would help to fight against the monsters, protect their loved ones, and survive in the new world era.

For the first time since the calamity began, there was hope.

But not all paths were the same...

Some were legendary, offering powers that could level cities or bend the very elements to one's will but not literally.

While others were more practical, like the Warrior path, which gave strength and combat skills. The Mage path that promised spells of untold power. And then, there was the Samurai Path.

Among the thousands of choices, there existed one that was always overlooked.

The samurai path was different...

When the panel appeared in front of someone who chose the samurai path, they saw the description:

[Samurai Path] – This path allows you to gain a skill that is needed, but in exchange, ability will be permanently sealed, no longer be used and unobtainable.

That was all it said...

No strength. No magic. No enhanced speed or supernatural powers. The description was vague, offering nothing except a cryptic promise of a needed skill.

But what does it mean? Was it a skill for combat? For survival? The more people thought about it, the more confused they became. How could a path with no abilities be worth anything? Why would anyone choose this?

Those who had chosen it, regretted their decision. Without abilities, they were powerless. Without power, they were weak. And in a world where strength meant survival, weakness was a death sentence.

But the truth was worse than anyone realized.

The samurai path wasn't just a bad choice—it was also a trap.

The description mentioned an exchange for better skill, yet when chosen, the system revealed nothing. No skills. No abilities. Just silence.

It wasn't until later that those who chose it discovered something even crueler—there were skills, but they were all locked. Every single one, hidden behind some unknown requirement.

And the worst part?

The system didn't describe what was the requirement to unlock it, not even a hint.

So, people ignored it.

The samurai path became nothing more than a joke, a reminder that not all choices led to greatness. It was discarded, buried beneath the countless paths that actually mattered.

And yet, despite being abandoned, it remained.

Waiting...

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A small house sat in a quiet part of the city.

Inside, It was old but well-kept home, its wooden floors was smooth from years of care. The walls were bare, with only a few simple decorations. It had no signs of luxury and no excessive furniture.

in the middle of the living room, a young man was doing a body exercise.

His body was steady, muscles tense as he lowered himself to the ground and pushed back up. Again and again, doing the same push-up.

Sweat dripped from his face, but he did not stop. His breathing was controlled, his movements were sharp.

This was his routine. Every day, before the sun fully rose, he begin training.

Push-ups, sit-ups, squats and each one was done with precision, so no effort would be wasted.

His name was Kaito Nakamura.

He lived alone in this house. His family had died 10 years ago, losing his beloved during the first monster attack. The world had changed so much in that day, but for him.

Lost was something he had to move forward despite the painful past.

Now, he was here. Living, training, preparing.

Outside, the city began waking up. But inside this small house, only the sound of steady breathing and the quiet creak of the wooden floor could be heard.

Kaito did not stop. He had no reason to.

After finishing his set, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and began getting ready for the next round.

Then suddenly, the doorbell rang.

The sound echoed through the silent house, catching Kaito's attention and pulling him away from his training. For a moment, he froze, listening carefully.

The bell rang again, more persistent this time.

He let out a sigh and rested his chin on his hands, thinking hard about what to do. It wasn't common for visitors to show up, especially at such an early hour.

After a few seconds.

Kaito straighten his back, pushing the thought aside. There was no point in ignoring it, so he turned and walked toward the door.

As he reached the door, pausing for a moment. Kaito stared at the handle, considering who it might be. He hadn't been expecting anyone. No one had ever came, except for rare occasions.

Finally, he reached out, his fingers curling around the door handle. He turned it and pulled the door open.

Then he was met with the sight of a tall, muscular man standing on the other side. The man's grin was wide and bright, so much so that it nearly blinded Kaito with its intensity.

It took Kaito a moment to process, but he quickly recognized the face.

"Ryan…" Kaito muttered, his voice flat as always.

The man at the door was none other than Ryan Fujioka, his longtime friend. Ryan stood there casually, wearing his usual relaxed grin and dressed in loose, comfortable clothing.

"Yo, Kaito!" Ryan said cheerfully, the energy in his voice a sharp contrast to Kaito's calm tone. "Been a while, huh?"

Ryan stood there for a moment, his grin still in place as he looked Kaito up and down.

"What's up with you, man? You're not at work today?"

Kaito blinked a few time, then his gaze become lazy.

"It's Sunday. I don't work on Sundays."

Ryan's smile faltered for just a moment before he pulled out his phone and held it up, the screen clearly showing the date: Monday.

Kaito glanced at it, then back at Ryan, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Monday?"

"Yep." Ryan said, tapping the screen.

"You better hurry, man. It's 7:46 am, so if you don't get dressed soon, you're gonna be late."

Kaito stood there for a second, trying to process it. He hadn't noticed the days slipping by so fast. But then, it wasn't as if it mattered much to him. Still, he wasn't about to let Ryan get the last word.

"I'll be there, in a bit." Kaito said, his tone calm.

Ryan gave him a knowing look.

"Yeah, yeah, sure. Don't make me drag you outta here. You can't just hide forever, man."

Kaito didn't respond, his gaze already turning toward the door to close it.

Just as he was about to close the door, Ryan quickly stepped forward and stopped it with his hand, blocking the way. He frowned, clearly not amused.

"You're really going to let your best friend stand outside?"

Ryan said, his tone teasing but with a hint of seriousness.

Kaito paused, meeting his eyes for a moment. He didn't say anything, but the look on his face said enough.

"What, you're just going to leave me out here while you go on about your day?"

Ryan grinned, leaning against the doorframe, his expression softening.

"Come on, man. You've been living in this little house for too long. Let me in, at least for a minute. You can't be this cold all the time."

With a small sigh, Kaito stepped back, allowing the door to swing open. He didn't argue, but his expression remained as calm as always.

Ryan walked inside, not waiting for an invitation, his smile returning as he looked around.

"I swear, you never change. Anyway, you might want to hurry up, or you'll really be late."

Continue...

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• Bonus information!

🔵Name: Kaito Nakamura (the protagonist)

Age: 18

Personality: Stoic, disciplined, and indifferent to others' opinions. Kaito is quiet and reserved, rarely speaking unless necessary. He prioritizes self-improvement over shortcut and respecting those who earn strength through their own efforts.

Appearance: Lean but well-built with sharp muscle definition. Black hair is slightly unkempt but never messy. Deep blue eyes with an intense focus. His presence is quiet but commanding, like a drawn blade that hasn't struck yet.

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🟡Name: Ryan Fujioka (protagonist best friend)

Age: 18

Personality: Ryan has a high-energy, laid-back attitude. He embraces challenges with excitement and never gets stressed. Carefree yet reliable when needed, his charisma makes him easy to get along with, though his nonchalant nature can frustrate more serious people.

Appearance: Tall and muscular with a blonde hair in an buzz cut. Golden-brown eyes that always seem amused. Always has a relaxed posture, yet his reflexes are razor-sharp when needed.