Chapter 1: The Beginning

The time when humans looked to the heavens and offered prayers has already passed.
Yet, the echoes of that faith continue to pulse quietly in unseen places.

Forgotten gods.
And forgotten destinies.
This is the story of a single boy, born in the space between the two.

Those who turn their backs on fate—
Those who defy it—

Everything begins with the awakening of a quiet morning.

——————————————————————————————————————————

(Alarm sounding)
“Hm? Is it time to get up already?” Eden muttered, still half-asleep.

He sat up slowly, dressed without enthusiasm, and ran a hand through his hair while facing the mirror. Outside, the sky was still dark.

“How boring…” he thought. “Same thing every day: classes, routine... nothing interesting ever happens.”

“Eden, breakfast is ready!” his grandfather called out from the kitchen.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming...” Eden replied, dragging his feet.

As he stepped into the dining room, he blinked in surprise at the sight of a full cake, carefully decorated and sitting in the center of the table.

“Grandpa?”

“Hm?”

“That cake... what’s it for?”

“It’s yours,” Gen said with a smile. “Did you forget today’s your birthday?”

“Oh... right. I’ve been so busy lately I completely forgot...”

“Well, now you’ve got time to remember,” his grandfather said calmly.

“I don’t have time for celebrations... I’m gonna be late again!”

“Relax. We’ve got plenty of time.”

“What are you talking about? It’s already... wait, Grandpa?!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why does the clock say five in the morning?!”

“Because that’s what time it is,” Gen replied with utter seriousness. “Why else would it say that?”

“But... my alarm was set for seven-thirty...”

“Ah, that was me. I changed it.”

“Not again! Damn old man...!”

“I did it for your own good. You’re always running late, so this time I went easy on you,” Gen chuckled mischievously. “Remember when you turned ten?”

“...Yeah. I woke up in the zoo for some reason.”

“Hahaha! Wasn’t that fun?”

“Fun? I woke up surrounded by a family of hungry lions!”

“Well... originally I was going to leave you in the snake exhibit, but that door was locked.”

“Am I supposed to feel better about that?! No sane grandpa puts his grandson through ‘trials’ like that as a birthday gift!”

“That’s because other grandkids are weak. You’re not.”

“There you go again... You’ve been saying that since I can remember, and I still don’t get what it’s supposed to mean.”

“You’ll understand when the time comes. You’re not like the others.”

“...I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult.”

“Bah, whatever. Now sit down. This time, I’ve got a normal birthday gift for you.”

(Hours pass. Eden is now sprinting full speed down the street toward the academy.)

“Damn it! I’m late again…!”

(The school bell rings just as he arrives.)

“Yomi-kun, you’re—” Professor Reo tried to say.

Eden zoomed past him and shoved a note into his hand.

“...He never learns,” Reo sighed.

(The classroom door slams open. Eden bursts in, panting, and bows deeply.)

“Sorry I’m late!”

“Who are you apologizing to? The teacher isn’t even here yet,” Miya said with a grin.

“Huh? Seriously? That’s lucky…!”

“You’ve been cutting it close a lot lately, haven’t you?”

“Yeah... I’ve been having these really weird dreams. Huge creatures—some look like angels, others don’t even have a human shape... I can’t make sense of any of it. And they’re getting more intense each time.”

“Maybe you’re just watching too much anime?”

“Could be…”

(Just then, the door opened again.)

“Sorry for the delay, I had some things to take care of,” said Professor Mei as she stepped in.

“Good morning, Professor!” everyone replied in unison.

“Good morning. Oh, by the way, Yomi-kun, Professor Reo asked me to give you this.”

(Classes finally come to an end. Students begin leaving the room.)

“Finally…” Eden sighed.

“Today’s classes felt endless,” Miya said as she stretched. “Each hour felt twice as long.”

“Yeah, totally…”

(His stomach growls.)

“Hungry? Want to grab something to eat?”

“I didn’t bring any money today…”

“I’ll treat you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but next time you’re paying me back—with interest,” she added with a playful smile.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say…”

“Yomi-kun,” Professor Mei interrupted.

“Yes?”

“You’re on classroom cleaning duty today, along with Chiba-kun.”

“Oh, right...! But I really can’t today. Could I switch days?”

“Sorry, that’s not possible.”

“I’ll do it,” Miya said, raising her hand.

“Huh? Miya? But we were going to—”

“Don’t forget you’ve got a match today, remember?”

“A match…? Crap, that’s right!”

“Consider this my birthday gift to you.”

“Thanks, Miya! And tell Hayato I’m sorry for me!”

“Leave it to me!”

(Eden runs toward the soccer field.)

“Why am I always late for everything…?”

As he turns a corner, he bumps into someone.

“I'm really sorry!”

“No problem, kid,” replied a man he didn’t recognize.

“I mean it, I’m really sorry…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks for understanding! Bye!”

“…We’ll meet again,” the man murmured.

(Eden arrives at the field.)

“You’re late, Eden!”

“Sorry, Coach Akino! I completely forgot!”

“Didn’t Professor Reo give you a note?”

“Oh, right... I forgot it in my pocket. I didn’t read it…” he said with an awkward laugh.

“Why the hell did I make you captain again…?”

“He’s an idiot,” Akino thought, “but once he’s on the field... he becomes someone else. That kid could make it to the national team someday.”

“You ready, Eden?”

“Yes!”

In that very moment—
a massive explosion shook the entire area.

(Explosion. Fire and smoke engulf the field. Terrified screams echo all around.)

“W-what… what just happened…?!” Eden stammered, his vision shaking.

All around him, shards of twisted metal were embedded in the ground.

And then he saw it.

“...Eden…”

Coach Akino’s body lay impaled by a metal rod.

“P-Professor…!”

“Run…” was all he managed to say before his breath gave out.

“Well, well. Still alive, huh? This kid’s tougher than he looks…”

A second stranger approached calmly, and without a shred of mercy, crushed the coach’s head underfoot.

“I told you not to give him false hope.”

“Who are you?! What do you want from me?!”

“Hey, relax. No need to shout, alright? I really don’t like people raising their voices. Especially when I could slit your throat at any moment.”

“Keep yelling and I’ll gut you like a pig... then hang your intestines from the trees.”

“That’s enough,” said a different voice.

“You’re… the guy from earlier…”

“Yeah. We’ve already met, haven’t we?”

“Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. Name’s Kai. And that guy over there is Ryu.”

“Why are you doing this?!”

“That was on me,” Ryu said with a twisted grin. “I wanted to test you. Maybe I went a little overboard.”

“‘A little’?! Are you insane?! People are dead! People I cared about!”

“Sorry,” said Kai, “but honestly... we don’t care.”

“That look…” Eden thought. “Cold, hollow... like human life means absolutely nothing to them.”

“Well then, time for us to go,” Kai announced.

“Like hell it is!”

A black aura surged from Eden’s body.

“Well now… this is getting interesting,” Ryu muttered—just before a blade flew through the air and sliced his arm clean off.

“What? When did—?”

“Eden!”

“Grandpa?”

“Well, looks like we’ve got a guest,” Kai said with a smile.

Gen appeared out of nowhere, stepping in between Eden and the intruders.

“Grandpa?! What are you doing here?! Get out of here—these guys aren’t normal!”

“Are you calling your grandpa weak?”

Ryu appeared behind Gen, seething with rage.

“Damn old man…!”

But Gen spun around with inhuman speed and sliced off Ryu’s arm in a single strike.

“GAAAAAAHHH!!”

“Incredible…” Kai thought. “That speed and precision... If we don’t act now, he’ll kill us.”

Kai smiled calmly.

“This man...” Gen thought. “He’s not just some killer. He’s a monster. One wrong move and—”

Kai grabbed Gen’s dominant wrist—tight.

“You’re impressive, old man… At that speed, anyone else would be dead already.”

“Grandpa!” Eden shouted.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Kai fight seriously…” Ryu thought.

“Ryu, I’m sorry,” Kai said with a dangerous grin.

“Huh?”

“This boy… belongs to me now.”

A dark aura erupted from Kai’s body. The air grew thick. Heavy.

No one moved.

“I… can’t move? Am I really just going to stand here… and watch them kill my grandpa?”

The dark aura spread... more and more.

“No! I… I’ll protect him!”

At that moment, a violent surge of dark energy exploded from Eden, consuming everything around him.

“W-what is this…?!”

“This energy… it’s unstable,” Kai thought, “but it’s real. And it’s dangerous.”

Everything was swallowed by a burst of darkness.

“EDEN!!” Gen screamed.

And then…
everything went black.

(Time passed. Eden slowly opened his eyes, aching all over.)

“Ugh… Grandpa…?”

“Well, you’re finally awake,” said an unfamiliar voice.

“W-who are you…? Where’s my grandfather…?”

“Calm down. There’s a lot you need to understand.”

“I won’t repeat myself. I saved you. But Gen… was captured.”

“Why didn’t you save him too?!”

“Because you were dying. One more second… and you’d be dead.”

“I don’t care!”

“Stubborn brat…” the stranger thought.

He pushed Eden hard to the ground.

“You’ve got two choices: stay here crying like a helpless kid... or come with me, get stronger, and take your revenge.”

“…I’ll go with you. I’ll get my grandfather back. No matter what it takes.”

“Good. But there’s one condition.”

“Oh great, now you’re giving me conditions?”

“If you want my training, you’ll need to pass the entrance exam for the organization known as GODS.”

“GODS? Are you kidding me?”

“After what you saw, you still think this is a joke? Those people weren’t just criminals. If you join GODS, you’ll gain access to their files… and you’ll be able to hunt them down.”

“I’ll do it.”

“If you fail, you’re coming back here. So you can’t afford to lose.”

“I won’t fail.”

“By the way, I never introduced myself. My name’s Shun.”

“I’m Eden Yomi.”

“Pleasure working with you, Eden.”

Behind the two of them… two opposing auras rose—
one dark as the abyss.
The other, white as pure light.

————————————————————————————————————————————

(Alarm sound)

"Eden, breakfast is ready!" His grandfather shouted from the kitchen. "Yes, yes, I'm coming..." he replied shuffling.

As soon as he arrived at the dining room, Eden was surprised to see a whole cake decorated in the center of the table.—Grandpa?—Hm?—That cake... "It's yours," Gen said with a smile. Did you forget that today is your birthday?—Oh... it's true. I've been so busy lately that I didn't even remember it...

"Well, now you have time to remember," said Grandfather calmly. "I don't have time for celebrations... I'm going to be late again!" "Don't worry, we have plenty of time." If they are the... wait, grandpa?! "What's wrong?" "Why does the clock strike five in the morning?"

"Because that is the hour," Gen replied in all seriousness. "What other reason would there be?" my alarm was supposed to go off at seven-thirty...
"Ah, that was because I changed the time." "Not again! You damned old man...!"

"I did it for your good. You're always late, so this time I was kinder," Gen said with a mischievous laugh. Do you remember when you turned ten?—... Yes. When I woke up at the zoo for some reason.—Hahahaha! And wasn't it funny?—Funny? I woke up surrounded by a family of hungry lions!—Well... I originally planned to leave you in the snake sector, but that door was locked.

"Is that supposed to make me feel relieved?" No sane grandparent would put his grandchild on "tryouts" as well as a birthday present.—That's because the other grandchildren are weak. You're not." "Again with that..." You've been saying it for as long as I can remember, and I still don't understand what it's supposed to mean." You're not like everyone else.

—… I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or a mockery.—Bah, it doesn't matter. Come on, sit down. This time I'll give you a "normal" birthday present.

(Hours pass. Eden runs at full speed through the streets on his way to high school.)

"Damn it!" I'm late again...!

(The institute bell rings just as he arrives.)

"Yomi-kun, not anymore," Professor Reo tried to say.

Eden passed by at great speed and left a note in his hand.

—… He never learns," Reo sighed.

(The classroom door bursts open. Eden comes in panting and bows.)

"Sorry for being late!"

"Who do you apologize to?" The teacher hasn't arrived yet," Miya said with a smile.

"Huh?" Seriously? How lucky...!

"Lately you've been running down every day, huh?"

"Yes... It's just that lately I've had very strange dreams. Huge creatures, some look like angels, others don't even have human form... I don't understand anything. They are getting more and more intense.—Couldn't it be that you watch too much anime?—Maybe...

(At that moment, the door opens again.)

"Sorry for the delay, I had some business to attend to," Professor Mei said as she entered.

"Good morning, teacher!" They all answered in unison.

"Good morning. By the way, Yomi-kun, Professor Reo asked me to deliver this to you.

(Classes finally end. Students leave the classroom.)

"At last," sighs Eden.

"Today the classes seemed eternal," Miya says stretching. Every hour seemed to last twice as long.

"Yes, you're right... (Her stomach rings.)

"Are you hungry?" Are we going to eat something?

"I didn't bring any money today...

"I invite you."

"Really?"

"Yes, but next time you pay..." with interest," he adds with a smile.

"Yes, yes, whatever you say...

"Yomi-kun," Professor Mei interrupts.

"Yes?"

"Today it's your turn to clean the classroom with Chiba-kun.

"Ah, it's true...!" But right now I can't... Could it change the day?

"I'm sorry, it's not possible.

"Teacher, I'll take care of it," Miya says raising her hand.

"Huh?" Miya? But we were going to...

"Remember that today you have a game, or did you forget it?"

"A match...?" Shit, it's true!

"Consider it my birthday present.

"Thank you, Miya." And apologize to Hayato for me!

"Leave it to me!"

(Eden runs to the football field.)

"Why am I always late for everything...?"
When turning a corner, he bumps into someone.

"I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, boy," an unknown man replies.

"Really, I'm sorry...

"Don't worry.

"Thank you for understanding. Goodbye!

—… We'll see you later.

(Eden arrives in the field.)

"You're late, Eden!

"I'm sorry, Coach Akino!" I completely forgot!

"Didn't Professor Reo give you a grade?"

"Ah, that... I forgot it in my pocket. I didn't read it..." he laughs nervously.

"And why on earth did I make you captain...?"

"He's an idiot," Akino thought, "but when he enters the field... is another. He can become a player of the national team."

"Are you ready, Eden?"

"Yes!"

At that moment... An explosion shook the whole place!

(Explosion. Fire and smoke cover the field. Heart-rending screams are heard.)

"W-what... what happened...?! Eden stammered as his vision trembled.

Around him, pieces of twisted iron were nailed to the ground. And then he saw it.

—… Eden...

Coach Akino's body lay pierced by a metal bar.

"P-Professor...!"

"Run away," was the last thing he managed to say.

"Well, well. Are you still alive? This guy is tougher than he looks...

A second stranger calmly approached and, without a hint of mercy, crushed the coach's head.

"I told you not to give him ideas.

"Who are you?!" What do you want from me?!

"Hey, don't worry. Don't yell at me, do you? I don't like them to raise their voices. Less if I can slit your throat at any time.

"Keep screaming and I'll slit your neck... Then I'll take out your entrails and hang them from the trees.

"Enough," said a different voice.

"You are... the guy from before...

"Yes. We've already seen each other, haven't we?

"Sorry for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Kai. And that one over there is Ryu.

"Why are you doing this?"

"That was my fault," Ryu said with a crooked smile. I wanted to test you. Maybe I went a little too far.

"A little"? Are you kidding?! People have been killed! People I cared about!

"I'm sorry," Kai said, "but honestly—" We don't care about them.

"What is that look...?", thought Eden. "Cold, empty... as if human life had no value to them."

"Well, it's time to go," Kai announced.

"Don't even dream of it!"

A black aura erupted from Eden's body.

"Wow... this gets interesting," Ryu muttered just before a sword flew at high speed and cut off his arm.

"What?" When...?

"Eden!

"Grandpa?"

"Wow, we look like we have a guest," Kai smiled.

Gen suddenly appeared, placing himself between Eden and the intruders.

"Grandpa?!" What are you doing here? Go away, these guys aren't normal!

"Are you calling your grandfather weak?"

Ryu appeared after Gen, furious.

"Damn old man...!"

But Gen spun with superhuman speed and slashed Ryu's arm in one fell swoop.

"GAAAAAHHH!

"Unbelievable...", Kai thought. "That speed and precision ... If we don't act now, it will kill us."

Kai smiled, calmly.

"This guy...", thought Gen. "He is not just any murderer. He's a monster. A single mistake and..."

Kai gripped Gen's dominant wrist tightly.

Kai squeezed Gen's wrist tightly.

"You're amazing, old man... At that speed, anyone else would already be dead.

"Grandpa!" Eden shouted.

"It's the first time I've seen Kai fight seriously...", Ryu thought.

"Ryu, I'm sorry," Kai said with a dangerous smile.

"Huh?"

"This boy... now it's mine.

A dark aura emerged from Kai's body. The air became dense. Heavy. No one moved.

"Can't I... Do anything? Am I just going to stand by and watch while... kill my grandfather?"

The dark aura expanded... more and more.

"No!" ¡I... I will protect him!

In that instant, a dark and violent energy erupted from Eden, filling everything around him.

"W-what is this...?"

"This energy... it's not controlled...", Kai thought, "but it's real. Is... dangerous."

Everything was swallowed by a blast of darkness.

"Eden! Gen shouted.

And then... everything went black.

(Time passed. Eden opened his eyes, pained.)

"Ugh... Grandpa...?"

"Why, you're awake at last," said an unknown voice.

"W-who are you...?" Where is my grandfather...?

"Calm down." There is a lot to explain to you.

"I won't repeat it. I saved you. But Gen... he was captured.

"Why didn't you save him too?!"

"Because you were dying. One more second... And you'd have died.

"I don't care!"

"Damn kid...", thought the stranger.

He pushed him to the ground hard.

"You have two options: cry here like a useless person... Or come with me, become strong and take revenge.

—… I'll go with you. I will get my grandfather back. Whatever the cost.

"Good. But there is a condition.

"Now you come to me with conditions?"

"If you want my training, you must take the entrance exam to the GODS organization.

"GODS?" Is this a joke?

"After what you saw, do you still think this is a joke?" These were not simple criminals. If you log into GODS, you'll have access to their information... and you can hunt them.

"I will.

"If you fail, you come back here." So you can't afford to lose.

"I will not fail.

"By the way, I didn't show up. My name is Shun.

"I'm Eden Yomi.

"It will be a pleasure to work with you, Eden.

Behind both... opposite auras were rising. A dark as the abyss. The other, white as light.