The Son of Kael

Reiji, with the last vestige of strength left in him, fought to rise and continue his desperate escape. Every movement was a battle against his own body, which seemed to give under the pressure. His muscles and bones were at their limit, but, surprisingly, he managed to do it!

For a moment, he felt a brief sense of relief, as if all the pain and failure in his life had been worth it. He had overcome another hurdle, but then, a brutal force crushed the back of his head. Relentless fingers grabbed his hair and forced him violently to the ground, making his forehead smash against the cold, filthy rock. The impact was devastating, and Reiji's blood spread around like his pain was being absorbed by the earth.

It was Shigeru, one of Daiki's henchmen. Before Reiji could even react, more presences closed in. The heavy steps of Daiki and Kazuki echoed in the walls, arriving like predators about to devour their fallen prey. Reiji tried to rise, but his body was exhausted, his vision blurred, and his mind fading. The pain was unbearable.

Daiki spoke, but his words came as distant echoes. His mind was stunned, and the sounds of his aggressors blended into muffled murmurs. Then, the first blow came. A strong kick hit his face with a thud, throwing his head back. The impact quickly formed a bruise, and his left eye, half-open, could barely focus on the attackers surrounding him.

The blows didn't stop. Kicks and stomps smashed his legs, arms, and chest. Each stomp from their heavy boots crushed his bones, making him scream, but his voice was swallowed by the excruciating pain.

Involuntary tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood accumulating on the ground. He felt useless, weak, unable to fight back.

"How did I end up here?" His mind was flooded with a storm of thoughts. "What did I do wrong to end up like this?"

The attack abruptly ceased, and silence filled the air. Gasping and dizzy, Reiji tried to make sense of what was happening. Daiki knelt beside him, leaned close to his ear, and whispered with utter disdain:

— I told you I would stomp on weaklings like you. You're just a mistake of nature, trash that exists only to be beaten by someone stronger. No one will miss you. And as for your mother and sister… don't worry, I'll take care of them. They need a little "treatment" in bed.

As he spoke, Daiki made an obscene gesture, making the meaning of his words clear. Rage surged within Reiji, but his body didn't respond. He could only stammer with his hoarse and weak voice:

— Go… fuck… yourself…

Daiki smiled cruelly.

— I knew that's what you'd say. — He stood up and, with a brutal kick to Reiji's chest, threw him against a rocky wall of the mine.

The pain was overwhelming. Reiji felt his ribs crack, and the impact was so violent that his body seemed ready to collapse. But his mind wouldn't let him pass out. He knew he couldn't die there. Not yet.

Then, Daiki approached, ripping the Relicary from Reiji's neck with a mocking smile.

— To remind me of you, failure. — He spun the amulet between his fingers, laughing at Reiji's misery.

The three criminals walked away, carrying heavy bags full of stolen gems. Reiji watched them disappear into the tunnels. Time seemed to drag on, and each second became an endless agony.

With superhuman effort, Reiji tried to rise. His bones felt alive, protesting with every movement. The world around him spun, his lungs burned, and he didn't know if he was still breathing. But then, the worst happened. A violent tremor shook the ground, followed by a distant explosion. The deafening sound echoed through the tunnels. Reiji understood immediately: the bastards had destroyed the exit.

There was no way out anymore. He was trapped. Without the Relicary, without strength, without hope. All that was left was to breathe, but even that seemed like a punishment.

With his mind shattered, Reiji felt his body give in. The intergalactic virus was entering his body.

The transformation was instant. A searing pain tore through him, as if his very being was being ripped apart from the inside. His blood boiled, his skin began to peel, and his organs seemed to melt. Reiji screamed in agony, but his voice was consumed by the unbearable pain. His eyes rolled back, and his mind was flooded with flashes of his childhood: the absence of a father, the constant sense of weakness, his eternal helplessness.

And then… darkness consumed him.

When Reiji opened his eyes again, there was no pain. His body floated above a lake of crystal-clear water. The air was fresh and pure, and a feeling of peace enveloped his soul. He slowly rose, taking in the landscape around him. He was on a mountain, nearly at the peak, with a waterfall pouring into a river that cut through an immense forest. At the center of the forest, a colossal tree rose into the sky, its branches hidden by bluish and purple clouds.

He was in awe. But his admiration was interrupted by soft footsteps in the water. Turning around, he saw a stunning woman with long golden hair and eyes that shimmered like the Relicaries. She carried a clay pot and was filling it with the pure water from the mountain.

— It's beautiful, isn't it? — she said, looking at him.

Reiji, unsure of what to say, swallowed hard.

— I've never seen anything like this… — he murmured, surprised by how easily the words came. He felt no fear, no shame.

— There are no earthly feelings here. Only good things can thrive. — Her smile was serene, almost divine.

Reiji hesitated. His memories of death were still fresh. Where was he? What was this place?

— Where am I? Is this… paradise? — he asked.

The woman laughed softly.

— Nothing like that. — She stepped closer and looked at him deeply. — I've been watching you, Reiji Kageyama. I've seen your struggle. I've seen your pain. Since my arrival, I've been searching for someone like you. Someone pure… yet corrupted by the harsh reality of the universe.

His heart raced, and a chill ran down his spine. Then, she spoke again:

— In your world, I am known as Kael. But my true name is Freya.

Reiji froze. The being who had destroyed a third of humanity was standing before him.

Before he could react, a deafening crash tore through the sky. A spear of purple lightning fell like a meteor. Freya shoved Reiji aside, and the weapon destroyed the mountain where they were standing.

— They've arrived… — murmured Freya, grabbing the clay pot and extending it to Reiji. — Drink. If you don't, the cosmos will perish.

The storm was closing in. From the black clouds, a hooded figure appeared. He raised his hand, forming another lightning spear.

— GO! — Freya shouted.

Reiji had no choice. He drank the water. And then… everything changed.

Light and chaos enveloped him. In Kael, in the real world, the mine tunnels lit up brightly. The star, once red, turned blue.

Reiji Kageyama had been reborn.