Ekans_Kumar

In the isolated coastal town of Kurohane, eerie spiral patterns begin appearing everywhere—on walls, in trees, even in people’s reflections. When Renji Kisaragi, a skeptical high school journalist, returns home after hearing about his brother Shun’s sudden and mysterious death, he finds himself trapped in a nightmarish time loop.

Every time he dies, time rewinds—resetting two days earlier. But with each reset, reality twists further: people disappear, time fractures, and his own body begins to change. As he searches for the cause, he discovers his estranged father, Kaoru Kisaragi, may have been the one who triggered the loop.

Aided by his childhood friend Aoi Tsukimura, who holds secrets of her own, Renji must uncover the mystery of The Spiral Gate before it consumes everything. But some truths are worse than death. And the entity behind the spirals does not want to be stopped.

Renji must make an impossible choice: sacrifice himself to break the loop—or risk losing his humanity to escape.

The Spiral Gate

The figure at the end of the hallway was him.

Same height. Same face. Same spiraling left eye, glowing with unnatural energy.

But there was something different.

The other Renji's expression was blank—cold, emotionless. His eyes held no humanity, only an abyss of swirling spirals.

Aoi's breath was shaky. "Renji… that's—"

The Other Renji took a step forward.

His voice was calm, yet filled with an unnatural echo.

Renji clenched his fists. "Who… are you?"

The Other Renji tilted his head. "Isn't it obvious?"

He took another slow step forward.

Renji felt a chill creep down his spine.

The Other Renji's expression didn't change.

And suddenly—Renji's vision shattered.

Renji gasped as a flood of images poured into his mind.

A boy—himself—running endlessly, always restarting.

A massive, black door covered in spirals, standing at the edge of nothingness.

Renji stumbled back, gasping for air.

The Other Renji stared at him, unfazed.

> "You've almost reached the end, haven't you?"

Renji panted, struggling to stay standing.

> "Memories from the other loops. The ones you weren't supposed to remember."

He had been here before. Over and over again.

Each time, trying to escape—failing.

Aoi grabbed Renji's arm, her grip tight. "Don't listen to him!"

The Other Renji's blank expression finally shifted—into a small, almost amused smile.

> "Why not? I'm just telling him the truth."

> "Renji. The only way to escape this place… is to become me."

The Other Renji's hand slowly lifted.

> "You can't break the cycle. You can only replace me.

Had every version of himself fought, only to become the next 'Watcher'?

Was he doomed to take the place of the one before him?

Aoi stepped between them, her voice firm.

Aoi glared at him. "That's the lie this place was built on. And we're going to break it."

The Other Renji tilted his head slightly. "Oh?"

Renji swallowed hard. His mind was racing.

If Aoi was right—then this wasn't the only way out.

What if there really was no escape?

The Other Renji slowly lowered his hand.

> "I see. You're still clinging to hope."

And the hallway began to dissolve.

> "Then let's see how long that lasts."

A violent force slammed into Renji, sending him and Aoi spiraling into darkness.

The last thing Renji saw was his other self, watching him with an empty smile.