jorge_guillem

In a world ruled from the shadows by powerful international mafias, a mysterious tree known as “The Tree of Eden” becomes the epicenter of a global conflict. Every 1,000 years, this tree produces a single apple, a legendary fruit that grants the possessor absolute power capable of changing the fate of the world. However, the tree also grants special abilities to those who are part of these mafias, fueling a constant war for control of its power.
Akihiko Sora, a 17-year-old prodigy, has lived his entire life in the darkness of organized crime. Cold and calculating, Akihiko has learned to survive thanks to his unique ability: the manipulation of the vacuum, a devastating power that has made him one of the most lethal weapons in his organization. Armed with his katana, “Kurai no Kiba”, and guided by a code of conduct, Akihiko has learned to survive. and guided by a code of honor that contrasts with the chaos of his environment, his loyalty is shaken when he discovers fragments of the truth about the tree and the link that binds him to its dark origin. .
But as the world's mafias embark on an all-out war to claim the forbidden fruit, Akihiko is drawn into a conspiracy beyond his understanding. Ancestral secrets, unexpected betrayals and a destiny that seems written in the heart of the tree will push him to question not only his purpose, but also the price of power.
Will Akihiko be able to unravel the mysteries of the tree before its fruit falls into the wrong hands, or will the weight of his skill and his past condemn him to eternal emptiness?
In this struggle for truth and survival, one thing is certain: the next bearer of the apple will have the power to decide the future of the world .

Shikkoku no Eden

Darkness enveloped them completely.

Akihiko felt his body being pulled through a formless void, his mind trapped between fragmented memories and visions that didn't belong to him. Ancient voices whispered in the wind, words he didn't understand but that echoed in his soul.

The impact with the ground was brutal. Akihiko immediately sat up, feeling the solidity beneath his hands. They were no longer in the coliseum.

Isabella and Kael were beside him, dazed but conscious. A thick, ancient air filled the air, laden with a sweet, penetrating scent.

Before them rose an impossible structure: a gigantic tree with twisted roots and a jet-black trunk, its canopy touching the crimson sky. Its branches were filled with golden fruit that radiated a faint, pulsing glow, as if breathing.

The Keeper of Secrets

Ezra appeared a few meters away from them, his imposing figure standing out among the shadows of that primordial world.

"Welcome to the Heart of Eden," he said with disturbing calm. "Here lies the truth that has been hidden for centuries."

Akihiko didn't let his guard down. "If this is the origin of everything, then tell me, Ezra... what is the Tree of Eden really?"

Ezra walked slowly to the base of the tree, running his hand along its bark. The trunk seemed to react, trembling at his touch.

"It's not a gift from the gods, nor a relic of the past..." Ezra turned to them, his dark eyes glittering with forbidden knowledge. "It's a cage."

Ezra smiled slightly. "For what's sleeping inside."

A cracking sound echoed in the air, like a heartbeat in the earth.

The roots of the Tree began to move.

The Awakening of the True Threat

The ground beneath them shook violently. A thick, dark energy emerged from the cracks, enveloping the room in an oppressive aura. Isabella stepped back, feeling a chill run down her spine.

"Something's waking up..." he murmured.

The roots parted, revealing a crack at the base of the Tree. A figure emerged from within.

Tall. Humanoid. But she wasn't human.

His skin was an almost ghostly pale hue, his eyes a void of absolute darkness. His body was covered in ancient garments, as if he had been trapped there for eons.

Ezra bowed his head slightly. "Ah... you're finally awake."

The figure raised its face to them, and when it spoke, its voice was an echo of many.

"Who dared to break the balance...?"

Chapter 61: The Heart of Eden