Silent Space: First Fracture

23:55

Only five minutes remained before Reo would once again face the summoner.

He scrolled through his phone, scanning the messages in the group chat.

———

Itsuki: Everyone, don't forget the plan. Good luck.

Ayaka: Good luck, everyone.

Yui: Yeah! Good luck!

Aoi: Please don’t do anything stupid before the summoning. And good luck.

Ren: Just said bye to my parents for the last time. They probably think I’ve gone crazy. Anyway good luck.

Hina: Same, lol. And good luck.

Reo: Let’s complete this mission—and come back home safely. Good luck everyone.

———

After sending his message, Reo exited the chat. He remembered what Ren mentioned. It urged him to try and call his parents one last time.

"...Should I?" With a small sigh, he dialed his father first. No answer. "Tch. Should’ve known."

Next, he called his mother. He wasn’t expecting her to pick up either—but the phone rang... and rang... until—

[Mother:] Reo. I’m a little busy right now, so talk fast, okay?

[Reo:] Mom! Is that really you?!

[Mother:] Of course it’s me, silly. Who else would it be? So? Why'd you call?

[Reo:] No reason... I just wanted to hear your voice and say I love you. You and Dad.

[Mother:] Reo...? What’s wrong? Are you okay? Did something happen?

[Reo:] Nothing. I just... wanted to tell you that. I’m hanging up now...

[Mother:] Wait—! Reo... I’m sorry we can’t always be there for you, but please don’t forget that we’ll always lo—[GLITCH—]

Before she could finish, Reo’s phone flashed with unnatural colors—and then shut off completely.

"Mom?! What’s going on—"

He never finished that sentence.

The space in front of him crackled violently, black and white energy distorting the air.

He knew this moment.

It was happening again—just like in his previous life.

A jagged tear split reality open. Two pale, skeletal hands with long, black claws reached through, gripping the edges of the rift like it was tearing paper. Then came the hooded head, face hidden beneath a shadow so deep it rejected all light. No matter how Reo strained his senses, he could not see the summoner's face.

Even though he had lived this before, unease clawed at him. Something about the summoner’s presence felt more... sinister than he remembered.

The entity froze, keeping the rift open with its hands, then spoke. Its voice echoed in every register—low, high, old, young—as if a thousand beings spoke as one:

"Reo Kimura. You are hereby confirmed as the 101st hero."

It reached toward Reo’s forehead.

The moment had come.

Reo gripped his bag and the guitar case beside him. He braced himself—then felt the cold touch of the summoner's fingers on his head. A jolt of foreign energy surged through him.

Then—he vanished.

Bag and case in tow.

The summoner retreated, sealing the tear behind it. And the room returned to stillness. Reo was gone.

***

Silent Space.

A pure white void.

Here, Reo stood—alongside the others—facing the summoner.

It was humanoid in size, its body wrapped in a black robe darker than shadow.

Only its pale hands were visible, clasped as if in silent prayer.

The group squinted. The blinding void made it hard to see anything, yet the summoner's black silhouette stood out vividly—as though it alone existed in this realm.

Reo blinked. His eyes finally adjusted.

He glanced around.

Yui and Aoi didn’t have their bags.

They were too slow.

Itsuki looked ready to curse.

It was a serious problem.

Yui—shockingly skilled with firearms—was now near-useless. And Aoi too. 

But there was no time to dwell on it.

The summoner spoke once more.

"O, exalted heroes, you have been chosen to serve the stars. I grant you the freedom to ask any three questions."

Same words as last time.

Reo gave a subtle nod—a silent signal for the others to stay ready. Then he stepped forward. The rest followed, hesitant, clutching their bags.

He stopped just a few meters from the summoner.

"...W-Where are we?!" he asked, voice trembling.

It was all an act. He already knew—but if he looked too calm, the summoner might grow suspicious.

Just like before, the summoner answered:

"The white darkness. Silent Space."

Reo exhaled slowly. "Then... what are you? A human?"

A different question than the one they asked last time. Before, they had asked why they were summoned. The summoner had answered:

"Because your souls were the only ones strong enough to be summoned to save Primordia from destruction."

But this time, they needed more. If they were to kill it... they had to know what it truly was.

The summoner responded, simply:

"Yes."

Everyone's eyes widened.

A human? That thing? Reo was stunned.

It didn’t look human. Not one bit.

But the summoner had never lied before.

He narrowed his gaze, slowly slipping his hand into his bag. His fingers curled around the grip of his gun. The others followed.

The summoner noticed—but remained unbothered.

Reo asked the final question.

"...Do you know anything about [STATIC]?"

"Where did you learn that name? [STATIC] is not something a mere human should be able to speak. How dare you try and gaze into the [STATIC]!"

It unclasped its hands.

The air turned heavy.

Everyone tensed.

It raised a hand and pointed straight at Reo.

"You are dangerous. Hero number 101. Hence, you are branded a Fallen. You must die—"

"Now!"

Reo shouted.

In a blur, he pulled his gun and fired.

The others followed, unleashing a barrage of bullets.

Blood sprayed. The summoner’s body jolted as each shot landed. They fired until their weapons clicked—empty.

The robed figure slumped to the ground, a pool of blood spreading beneath it.

"...D-Did we do it?" Ayaka asked, her voice shaky.

"I don’t know," Reo replied.

He tossed his gun aside. Useless now.

"I’ll check. Everyone stay ready. If I give the signal—throw the grenades."

Everyone nodded.

"Be careful!" Aoi called.

Reo strapped the guitar case over his shoulder and approached the body.

The blood glistened on the white floor, vivid and wrong.

He moved to the body’s head, crouched—then hesitated.

His heart was pounding.

He knew instinctively: once he saw the summoner’s face, there would be no going back.

Everyone else felt it too. Something—deep, primal—was warning them not to look.

But Reo ignored it.

And slowly… he reached out… and lifted the hood.