Chapter Six: Dimensional Ripples
Paris was bright and radiant under a golden sun when the air shifted unnaturally. The blue sky darkened to gray in a blink, as if a divine eraser had scrubbed color from the heavens. The temperature dropped suddenly, cold enough to fog the breath, and the tension in the atmosphere thickened like smoke before a fire.
In the heart of a busy Parisian street, the road shimmered unnaturally. Drivers slowed as electric voltage began sparking across the asphalt. A jagged crack opened in midair—splintering space like shattered glass. A glowing white line hovered vertically in space, pulsing with unstable energy.
"What in God's name... do you see that?" the driver of a black Renault asked his passenger, a woman clutching her purse.
"Turn around. Let's go. Something's wrong," she urged.
Behind them, impatient drivers honked and shouted.
"Move, dammit!" "Hey! What's going on up there?"
The man and woman ignored the noise, stepping out to investigate. The moment they rounded the car, a strange pressure dropped on the street. People instinctively froze.
Then came the scream.
"AHHHHHHHH!"
The crowd's confusion turned to panic. Drivers spilled from their vehicles, gasping and backing away from the white fissure in space. The line grew, unraveling like a tear in fabric.
---
Underground Military Base, Paris
In a high-tech military base beneath the city, a command center buzzed with activity. Dozens of uniformed personnel, some human, some hybrid, hurried across the floor beneath massive monitor displays.
Commander Sir Alexander stood before the primary display wall. His deep blue eyes studied the growing anomaly without a hint of panic.
"Sir Alexander," an officer announced, entering briskly.
"Report."
"We have a second gateway opening. North of the first. Five hundred meters. Both sharing identical dimensional frequencies."
Alexander exhaled deeply. "Both gates... synchronized."
Another voice shouted from the screen operators: "The gate is open! Displaying now!"
On-screen, the white line bloomed open. Inside was a swirling void resembling a black hole, but in the shape of an upright eye—a pupil formed of collapsing stars.
"Deploy hunters and hybrids," Alexander ordered. "Team of two per location."
"Sir!" came the synchronized response.
"Thirty silver F-rank hunters, three gold F-rank hybrids confirmed," another officer reported.
"Fifteen to each gate then."
A technician hesitated, then added, "Sir, even with relics and enchanted tech, we only have the force to repel a fraction of what's coming. Maybe one infinite layer of existence... maybe."
Alexander's voice cut through the murmurs. "We're not eliminating. We're stalling. Long enough for reinforcements."
"Where from, sir?"
"Send a request to the African division. I hear Nigeria has a boy who can rewrite entire dimensional threads. We need him."
---
Japan - Hunter Center Department (HCD)
Tokyo. At the HCD Academy, the classroom buzzed quietly. Saito sat near the back, wide-eyed as he took in the sheer size of the hall. Five hundred seats arranged like a lecture theater, filled with Hunters, Cultivators, and mysterious others.
A soft click of heels silenced the room.
The teacher entered, a tall woman in her early twenties. She wore a sleek black suit, her ponytail swaying behind her. Her yellow-tinged lemon eyes scanned the class with calm command.
"I am Jin-Young Zheng. Some of you already know me. For newcomers, today we begin with: The Basic World System."
Saito swallowed nervously. She's... beautiful. His thoughts spiraled. Focus!
Beside him, Sumi whispered, "Little brother, you like the teacher? Bad boy~"
"N-no, I don't!" he replied, flustered.
Sumi rested her cheek on his shoulder, ankle on the desk, smirking wickedly. Saito sighed internally. She's getting the wrong idea again.
"Sumi," the teacher called. "Please share your understanding of the World System."
"Okay, Tech," Sumi said, rising.
She clasped her hands behind her back and spoke confidently: "The world system is the foundation of existence. It encompasses threats, origins, and the essences of surrounding realities."
The class fell silent, listening.
"Concise. Accurate. Thank you, Sumi."
Saito blinked. Does she know everything...?
Zheng continued, "The world system defines the essence of our lower world. It includes Ki, Mana, Curses, Relics, and more. Each force has its own domain. Those who understand their nature can grasp the deeper mechanisms of existence."
A pause.
"However, today's lesson will be brief. A special event begins soon—the Hunter and Cultivator Combat Exhibition."
Murmurs rippled.
"This event was initiated by Military War General John Lloyd. Last year it involved Sorcerers and Hybrids. Today, it's your turn."
War General? So they really are big shots, Saito thought.
"Good luck to you all. I'll see you on the training field." She gathered her books and left, heels echoing.
Saito dropped his head to his desk. "My first day... and I'm thrown into a brawl."
"Too much already?" Maito chuckled, approaching.
"It's not that bad," Saito muttered.
"I think lil' bro just couldn't stop looking at Miss Zheng," Sumi teased, flipping through a book.
"I wasn't—!"
"You guys," a deep voice called. Alex, in a long black coat, entered with Sung Ki beside him.
"Alex! Sung Ki! You made it!"
"I noticed you during class. Looks like we're teamed up," Alex said, rubbing Sumi's head.
"Hey, don't treat me like a kid."
"You're still a gremlin in my book."
Sung Ki nodded. "Let's head to the field."
---
Field Grounds
Students gathered at the stadium-sized arena. Artificial hills, barriers, ruins, and platforms dotted the terrain. It looked more like a battlefield simulation than a school exercise.
Saito walked behind Sumi. As always, she wrapped her hands around his, pressing it to her chest.
He didn't flinch. Sumi noticed.
"Saito?"
"I need to ask you something. About our family. Kazuto. Shizue."
Her smirk vanished.
"They're here. Everyone connected to your story in the dream world exists in this one too. Even Shiki and Julius—I modeled the ones you knew after them."
Saito smiled faintly. "Even Shiki from the library club...?"
"Yep. But... you can't meet Kazuto and Shizue."
"Why not?"
She paused. Pain briefly crossed her face.
"You just can't. Not yet. Maybe after the event."
She pulled ahead, her smile clearly forced.
Saito slowed. Something's wrong...
Above, the clouds gathered again, as if the distant events in Paris had started to ripple across the global narrative. But none of them had realized:
Two gates had opened in the world—and now, one gate had begun to stare back.
--
To be continued...