Outset

As I floated there, suspended in the endless expanse of the void, my mind reeled with confusion and disbelief. How had I ended up here, in this surreal and otherworldly place?

"What is all of this?" I repeated, my voice echoing again through the void.

"This is a reality much like your own, but with some alterations," she said, her voice gentle and soothing.

"What kind of alterations?" I asked, feeling creeped out by her response.

"A catastrophic event has befallen this world, and its inhabitants have gained mysterious powers - supernatural abilities that can change the course of their history," she explained.

I struggled to process the enormity of her words. Was she saying that there was another world, just like mine, but with incredible abilities that defied all logic and reason?

"And what do you want me to do about it? Stop it?" I asked, my tone laced with skepticism.

"No, not at all," she replied with a smile. "I want you to do the opposite. I want you to enter this world and discover your purpose."

"My purpose?" I repeated, feeling a mix of emotions.

"Yes, your purpose. You've always yearned for a connection - a way to feel alive and be a part of something greater. And I believe that this world, with all its hardships, may be just what you need to find that connection."

I stood there, my mind reeling at the implications of her words. "What makes you so certain that I'll find that type of connection and what do you mean by hardships?" I asked.

"It seems like you didn't quite understand. As I said, this world is not just a copy of your world, but the exact same," she replied, with a grin.

My heart dropped. "The exact same?" I asked, feeling a bit anxious.

"Your friends, family, and everything that you once cherished, in the other world, are also in the world," she simply put it.

I felt my breath catch in my throat as I struggled to process what she was telling me. I looked down at the world below, feeling terrified just by the thought that my friends and family could be in danger.

...

"Time is of the essence. If you don't act swiftly, they may already be gone," she said while gesturing towards a shimmering portal that had just opened up.

I wanted to tell her more, to lash out for thrusting me into this predicament. However, her words were true - I didn't have enough information, and time was not on my side. Yet, before I traversed the portal, I made sure to let her know the weight of her actions. "You will regret this," I warned.

A sly grin crept across her face as she retorted, "Oh, oh, well I guess only time will tell." With a casual wave, she bade me farewell, leaving me no choice but to step into this other world.

As soon as I crossed over into this new world, my senses were overwhelmed by the intense heat of flames, the sight of crumbled buildings, and the sounds of chaos. It was as if the end of the world had already taken place, and I was caught in the midst of it.

"So, is this the alteration she was talking about?," I murmured to myself as I tried to steady my nerves and take in my surroundings.

The deafening sounds of chaos and destruction were the only melodies in the air, accompanied by thick clouds of dust that obscured my vision.

Amid the desolation, there lay remnants of a broken mirror, crumbling buildings, and the flickering remnants of a fire. However, what stood out most prominently was a mysterious path.

As I maneuvered through the path which was covered in rubble and debris, the sight of lifeless bodies and bloodshed surrounded me. Amidst the chaos, I stumbled upon a cracked TV screen.

I turned it on, hoping for some kind of feedback.

"To this moment, the country of Japan is on the brink of collapse. Citizens are advised to evacuate to shelters and gather at the nearest police station," the news reporter's words echoed through the desolate streets.

I was initially in disbelief, but the grim reality became all too clear.

I needed to find my, father, mother, and little sister and brother.

Or my so-called family, you could say.

Lost in thought, I was abruptly jolted back, by the sound of commotion a few blocks away.

Curious, I made my way toward the source of the noise, wondering if it was some building collapsing or some other disturbance.

As I approached, I climbed over a pile of rubble blocking my path and came face to face with a gruesome sight.

A male who appeared to be around my age was holding a person by the neck, choking him while standing atop a pile of bodies at least ten people deep. The scene was surreal, like something out of a nightmare.

He was quite literally dog-walking them like it was nothing.

As I watched this surreal fight before me, an inexplicable feeling of unease coursed through my veins.

How was it possible for him to take down eleven individuals with such ease? It was as if he possessed some otherworldly power.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through my mind, reminding me of what the girl had said before, "It's a dimension beyond your own, where the laws and rules are different."

Perhaps this enigmatic figure had been bestowed with some extraordinary abilities, rendering him unbeatable.

Lost in thought, I hadn't noticed his disappearance. Panic crept into my heart as I frantically searched for his whereabouts. "Oh shit," I muttered under my breath, fearing the worst.

But before I could take another step, a sudden movement caught my eye.

I spun around, only to come face-to-face with the very man I had been searching for. A devilish grin adorned his face, sending shivers down my spine.

My heart raced as I stood there before him. He smiled with blood all over his face and I knew at that moment that he was not someone to be underestimated.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

"Nothing much, just a little fun," he replied, still grinning. "How about a little game of cat and mouse?"

Before I could even respond, he lunged at me with incredible speed, his hand aimed at my throat. I barely managed to dodge his attack, but it was clear that I was outmatched. I knew that if I didn't find a way to stop him, he would kill me without a second thought.

"What's the matter, tired already?" he jested, closing the gap between us with a leisurely stride.

Was this truly the end for me, and in such an undignified manner? My muscles tensed, bracing for the inevitable impact.

Suddenly, a voice resonated in the distance, faint yet unmistakable. I turned my head to the left and spotted a young boy, perhaps the same age as us too, rapidly approaching us.

"Enough, Haruto. Don't you think it's about time you stopped?" the boy called out firmly, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the man in front of me.

As my gaze sharpened, I discerned the glint of a sword at the boy's left hip. A sword? In this day and age? I mused incredulously, trying to understand the situation that I was in.

But before I could dwell on the matter any further, Haruto's boisterous laughter disrupted my thoughts. His hold on me slackened as he redirected his attention toward the approaching boy.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Lucien," Haruto drawled, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Come to save the day, have you?"

Lucien remained unfazed by Haruto's taunting. With measured steps, he drew closer until he stood a few feet away, sword at the ready.

"Release him, Haruto," Lucien spoke with an unwavering tone, his gaze locked onto Haruto's every move.

Haruto's expression twisted in a mixture of amusement and irritation. "Oh, lighten up, will you? We're just having a little fun," he said, his grip on me tightening again.

But Lucien didn't budge. "This is not a game, Haruto," he said firmly. "The power you wield is not something to be taken lightly. So retreat, when you still have the breath to do so."

Haruto's sneer turned into a scowl. "Don't tell me what to do, Lucien," he spat. "Stop acting so high and mighty."

Lucien didn't respond, but his grip on the sword got stronger. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. Would this end in bloodshed? Or would Lucien be able to reason with Haruto?

I watched anxiously, unable to move or speak as the two faced off against each other. The fate of the situation hung in the balance, and I could only hope that it wouldn't end with me being in the middle of it.