Part 1 – The Moment Between "Life… and Death"
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Akira dove into the swirling black mist—
But instead of finding the girl, he felt himself falling.
Deeper…
Faster…
Like plummeting through a void where even light refused to follow.
He slashed out in three directions, summoning arcs of glowing white light—
but the darkness swallowed them whole.
Nothing.
Only pitch-black silence.
Then, suddenly—
"SPLASH."
He heard it.
Something had fallen into water.
A second later—
"SPLASH."
He landed too.
It wasn't endless void.
There was water down here. Maybe a cave.
He gasped for air, diving back under.
A horizontal slash of white light lit the murky water for just a moment—
and there he was.
The child.
Sinking.
Akira kicked hard, cutting through the water like an arrow.
He wrapped his arms around the girl from behind, supporting her head and back,
pulling him upward—just like he'd learned from those drowning-rescue manuals years ago.
They breached the surface together.
The girl was unconscious.
Akira dragged them both ashore—or whatever passed for solid ground down here—and laid him down gently.
He checked the girl's body, but his own heart was pounding so violently that he couldn't feel the girl's pulse at all.
Thinking fast, Akira stabbed his white blade into the ground.
Its radiant light illuminated the gloom, creating a soft, glowing beacon beside them.
He looked again.
The girl wasn't breathing.
Akira slapped the girl's shoulder, calling out,
but there was no response.
Without hesitation,
he moved into position.
He began CPR—firm, steady, and controlled.
Chest compressions first. Then air. Then repeat.
He forced himself to stay calm.
Rhythm. Depth. Timing.
That's what mattered.
He was a drummer.
He knew rhythm better than most.
And so he followed that silent metronome in his mind, pressing to the beat of life.
One beat.
Two.
Three—
And finally,
"Hhkkk!!"
The girl coughed violently,
spitting out a rush of water, gasping as if reborn.
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After the breathless moment of revival,
Akira looked around, hoping to find something—anything—to warm and dry the child.
But there was nothing.
Only the glow from his white blade.
So he did what he'd always done.
He stabbed his black sword beside the white one,
letting it absorb the surrounding darkness,
and feed the purified energy into the light.
It was an old technique.
One unique to him.
Suddenly—
the child, who'd just been unconscious moments ago, spoke.
But it wasn't her voice.
It was her voice.
The one from the countdown.
The one from that dreamlike place earlier this morning.
Akira turned to look.
The girl's eyes were now glowing, inscribed with strange runes,
as if under a trance.
And then, she spoke again.
"Why… why don't you crave beauty?"
Akira said nothing.
But in his heart, he responded,
"She must be talking about the three women… my wives…"
"Why not power? Fame? Wealth? Pleasure?"
Again, silence.
But his mind turned over each word.
"Power like the crown. Fame as a hero. Money spent on luxuries.
Food—too much of it, in fact…"
"Why didn't you hate?
Why didn't you envy?
Why didn't you get angry?"
Akira's eyes lowered, thoughtful.
"Is she talking about that old man? The one who kept cursing me?...."
"Why… why did you try to save people you didn't even know?
Even if it meant putting your own life at risk?"
This time, he looked at the girl.
And he thought:
"You mean… you're talking about yourself. About those seven monsters."
"…Tell me. Please… tell me why."
He scratched his head, overwhelmed by the barrage of questions.
The glow from the child's body slowly began to outshine even the light of his sword.
She now stood in full view—radiant, yet fragile.
Her gaze pierced through him.
He sighed, then finally spoke,
his voice quiet, almost embarrassed.
"I don't really know.
It's just…
something my heart told me to do.
It felt right.
So I did it.
That's all."
The child burst into a soft, bubbling laugh.
"Hehe… what a vague answer."
"But still… even though this entire timeline is on the brink of collapse,
you made it further than any other.
All because of that pure, foolish little heart of yours."
Akira froze.
"Timeline…? Collapse…?"
She smiled.
Then stepped forward,
and gently touched his chest,
as if reaching out to the soul within.
"To the representative of this timeline… I thank you."
"For your courage, your kindness,
and your absurd resolve."
"I will grant you the greatest gift ever given to any key factor before you—
A chance to meet Chronos, in the land of Alteria."
"I, a vessel of Altenette, wish you luck…
Akira…
my chosen hero." ✨
As her fingers lingered on his chest,
a gentle glow bloomed beneath her touch.
And with the lightest push—
He floated.
Backward.
Weightless.
Falling.
Not into water.
Not into stone.
He drifted above the still lake,
unable to move a muscle.
Paralyzed.
And then, the words echoed in his mind:
"Alteria… Chronos…
Isn't that the village of the Creator Gods?
The God of Time himself!?"
Suddenly,
the soft light on his chest began to unravel—
strings of luminous energy branching out like circuitry.
They ran across the cavern walls, weaving in loops,
forming rings and layers of magic circles—
each more intricate than the last.
Lines began overlapping in a 3D latticework,
until the entire cave was saturated with glowing patterns.
Then—
it all converged.
All of it sucked into a single point.
A miniature sun.
It pulsed once—
Then—
FLASH.
Like a divine flashbang.
"BOOMMMMMMM."
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Part 2 – Arrival in Alteria
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The moment the flashbang light exploded,
Akira fell into the water again.
But this time—he couldn't move.
He just floated there,
paralyzed,
but still able to hear voices from above.
"Huh? Something fell into the water!"
A girl's voice rang out.
Playful. Curious. Young.
"Hikari! Light it up for Mu, please!"
"Got it, sis!"
The girl named Hikari replied cheerfully.
Her light began to shine down, illuminating Akira.
"Okay, I see him now!"
The one called Mu leapt into the air like a paper plane,
effortless and weightless.
She twirled her staff playfully.
"Flip-flop Gravity Pole… Anti-gravity~!"
And then—
WHAM.
She smacked the surface of the water with her staff.
SPLASH.
Suddenly, the entire mass of water around Akira lifted—
forming a perfect cylindrical column.
He rose with it,
encased like a suspended relic.
Then, with the reflexes of a snake,
Mu grabbed his leg and yanked him out in one smooth motion.
Swooosh.
As if peeling a toy out of jelly.
Then, she tapped the undisturbed surface of the lake with her staff again.
"Cancel."
The raised water collapsed back into the lake with a soothing cascade,
rippling behind them.
Mu dashed across the water's surface with childlike ease,
dragging Akira behind her like a balloon tied to a string.
She gently laid him down at the edge of the pool.
Nearby, Hikari—
a petite girl with pristine white hair in a clean hime-cut—
began chanting a soft spell of light.
Magic washed over Akira,
and at last,
he could move.
His voice came out hoarse.
"Ugh… thank you. Um… where… where am I?"
Hikari turned to her sister, who was still twirling her staff confidently like a trickster on stage.
"This place is called Alteria!"
"You're the first visitor here, you know!"
Then, as if remembering something important,
Hikari's eyes lit up.
"Ah! I should do the greeting, shouldn't I?"
She stood up, dusted her knees,
and gave a graceful bow.
"Welcome to Alteria." ✨
She smiled, bright as a rising sun.
Akira stared, stunned.
"Altheria…
The village of Time…
The home of Chronos himself…
I'm really… here?"
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Part 2: The Village of Alteria
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Under a starlit sky that shimmered like it was watching over them, Akira followed the two children, his soaked body covered in bruises. Mu walked ahead with her usual confident bounce, while Hikari stayed just a few steps in front of Akira—almost as if worried he might stumble.
With the grace of a shrine maiden and a quiet, composed aura, Hikari carried herself in a way that far surpassed her youthful appearance. A sense of curiosity tugged at Akira's heart, and he decided to ask,
"Um… Lady Hikari, is this place called Alteria? The village of time?"
Hikari glanced back and smiled softly.
"Hmm… I guess you could call it that. This dimension belongs to my father, and well, Daddy Chronos is the god of time, after all."
Mu, the twin-tailed girl with unmistakable confidence, stopped at the edge of a high stone path and turned around.
"Technically, no one should ever be able to reach this dimension. This case is completely unprecedented. We've gotta report to Altenette right away… Oh! And let's call Haruki back too! It's not every day we get a once-in-forever visitor like this!"
Akira smiled awkwardly, the corner of his lips twitching as he thought,
"Once-in-forever, huh…?"
As he followed them, his eyes wandered to a breathtaking sight—a tiered four-story house built along a mountain slope, surrounded by small cozy homes. The landscape reminded him of Switzerland, except the mountain behind the house shimmered with crystal, while beyond the lake stood an icy peak. All around were prairie meadows, and above… an endless field of stars glittered across the sky, their light dancing on the lake's surface.
Akira felt his breath catch.
"Wow… if I could choose where to build a home, this would be it. So stunning… and so peaceful."
Hikari and Mu led him into the house, stopping on the second floor in what seemed to be a warm, welcoming guest area. Mu darted off toward the stairs, while Hikari handed Akira a dry towel for his drenched clothes and quietly mopped the wet floor beneath him.
Just as she swept beneath the sofa—
"Meow."
Hikari gasped, startled.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, Lady Yuki! I didn't know you were lying there watching the view."
A white Siamese cat with galaxy-colored eyes gracefully stepped out from the shadows. Akira blinked in surprise and murmured,
"There's a cat here too, huh?"
Hikari gently scooped her up.
"Yes. Lady Yuki loves to lie in that secret corner and watch the view. It's her favorite cat-spot."
Akira smiled, glancing at the same hidden nook.
A moment later, Mu returned from upstairs.
"Heyyy! Papa and Mama are calling us to the cozy zone on the fourth floor!"
Hikari stood up and looked back.
"Alright, let's go! Oh, by the way… what's your name again?"
Akira smiled warmly.
"It's Akira."
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He followed Mu and Hikari up the stairs, passing the third floor that held several bedrooms, a laundry room, and an outdoor drying area. By the time they reached the fourth floor, it felt like an entire kingdom dedicated to relaxation. One particular room stood out—its door bore a plaque that read:
"Daddy's Chamber, Creator of the Universe."
Akira gave a soft smile.
"This Creator god sure pays attention to every detail… A cat's stargazing corner, a full laundry and drying zone, even private lounging spots for everyone. Maybe… he's actually a kind god."
He stepped out onto the open-air terrace, only to be swept away by the breathtaking view. It was even more stunning than he'd imagined. A cool breeze danced through the air, tinged with the scent of sweet blooming flowers. From this vantage point, the landscape unfolded like a dream—glimmering stars, crystal mountains, and icy peaks, all wrapped in a gentle hush of night.
A woman in a galaxy-patterned kimono approached with a serene smile.
"Welcome, traveler. Come, sit and rest. Let's have a gentle chat."
Akira froze.
That voice—
It's the one from the countdown… the one that spoke through the girl… Is this… Altenette? The wife of Chronos?
She guided him toward the cozy corner of the rooftop terrace. Akira followed, stiff and wary.
"It feels so calm… but these people hold cosmic-level power. I can't afford a single wrong move."
As they reached a reclining sofa, he noticed someone napping there. Curled on top of him was a fluffy Scottish Fold cat.
Altenette gently called out,
"Darling… we have a guest."
The man stirred with a stretch, groaning groggily.
"Ohhh, no wonder I felt something heavy. Mochi's napping on Papa's belly again. You little fatty—there you go."
He scratched the cat's chin lovingly.
Altenette cleared her throat softly.
"Ahem… Darling, I said we have a guest."
"Oh! Right, sorry, Al. We've never had visitors at home before, you know."
He stood and walked toward Akira. Dressed in relaxed clothes, he looked like a gentle soul—until you noticed the galaxy-patterned mask on his face. Not just a design—it was like gazing into a real void of space.
He quickly raised a hand to cover it.
"Ah—don't stare into the Vision of Genesis, kid. Not good for you. Dangerous stuff. Anyway… it's a pleasure to meet you.
I'm Chronos."
Akira looked at the hand reaching toward him.
The hand of a real, living Creator God.
He took it.
"I… I'm Akira."
The moment their hands touched—
It was like a tidal wave of memories crashed into his mind. Images, sensations, timelines—
He staggered.
Altenette gently placed a hand on his back—firm, yet full of warmth.
"Are you alright? You probably felt a ripple from the flow of time itself.
It's perfectly natural to feel lightheaded. Come, sit down and rest."
Still light-headed, Akira made his way to a chair, his heart pounding.
"I've fought gods before… but this pressure? This is something else entirely. He may be dressed casually… but if he snapped his fingers, I'd probably turn to dust. I need to watch every word I say…"
Chronos stood behind him, quietly observing. Then, as if he had noticed something… he leaned closer, placing a hand on the back of Akira's chair. And with a low, chilling whisper, he said—
"Looks like we have a serious matter to discuss…
Don't we… Third Hero?"
A cold shiver shot down Akira's spine. His arms and legs went numb.
"A serious matter… with the Creator of time himself…
And he knows about the Heroes…?
Oh no—
I'm in deep trouble now…"
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…And if it were you?
If you came face-to-face with the god who created everything…
And he whispered to you in that bone-chilling voice—
What would you do?
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