Story

Anata's voice echoed through the dimly lit room, a mixture of authority and familiarity. "Some of your bounties came in. I'll go ahead and pass those out." He reached into the depths of his lab-coat, retrieving a stack of bounty papers, each one a testament to a past misdeed or a brush with the law.

"Osoi," Anata's tone carried a hint of advice, "if you play your cards right, you may be able to get one of these..."

Osoi's response was swift, a hint of defiance lacing his words. "What if... I don't want one?"

Anata's chuckle was almost rueful. "At some point and time, you'll be considered a bad guy, no matter what. Having a bounty is completely unavoidable once you're a known bad guy."

"What if I don't turn bad?" Osoi's question hung in the air, a flicker of hope in a world veiled with shadows.

"Pff, good luck!" Anata's reply was laced with skepticism, the weight of experience behind his words.

The meeting took a formal turn as Subiru, his blindfold concealing eyes that held secrets, called for attention. "We shall start this meeting off by giving Osoi his Kagho."

With a stomp of his foot, a floating vault appeared, a testament to Subiru's mastery over the arcane. Removing his blindfold, Subiru's hollow eyes were revealed, now adorned with glowing green pupils that resembled fingerprints. His hand, almost ethereal, effortlessly retrieved a small black orb from within the vault.

"And here we are," Subiru's voice held a note of triumph as his Kagho deactivated, leaving behind lime green eyes that sparked surprise among the gathered members, save for Osoi.

"Mr. S... your eyes are..." Seinaro's words trailed off, a mixture of awe and curiosity coloring his tone.

Subiru's response was simple yet filled with satisfaction. "Oh. How wonderful! I've finally mastered my Kagho!" Applause filled the room, a chorus of approval for Subiru's achievement.

"We all know I did it first..." Reiniku's voice held a hint of mischief as he interjected, his grin devious.

"Your eyes being normal is a side effect, idiot," Sonora's retort was sharp, a reminder of the realities they faced.

"Dumbass," Ijoto's contribution was succinct, his annoyance evident.

Reiniku's protest was swift. "I know, I was just tryna joke around, you big JERK!"

Ijoto's gaze shifted to Sonora. "Asshole."

"You see, HE DOES THIS STUFF ON PURPOSE!!!" Reiniku's frustration was palpable, his accusation pointed.

Sonora's response was cool. "He hears most of this stuff from you."

"Maybe... But right now, its TOO OBVIOUS that he is doing this for fun," Reiniku's defense was swift, his indignation clear.

"Bitch," Ijoto's remark was met with exasperation from Reiniku. "SEE!!!"

"You're still a bad influence," Sonora's admonishment was tinged with concern.

"Quiet down over there, I'm trying to make this ritual as peaceful as possible," Subiru's voice cut through the rising tension, his desire for tranquility evident.

"If I may ask, what does your Kagho do?" Osoi's inquiry was filled with genuine curiosity, a desire to understand the mysteries surrounding them.

"It gives me the ability to touch anything I want to touch..." Subiru's explanation was cryptic, hinting at the depths of his power.

"That's... Oddly vague," Osoi's confusion was evident in his tone.

"Well, the full ability is, I can touch anything I want to touch within a reasonable distance," Subiru clarified, though the ambiguity remained.

"Still vague," Osoi's frustration was palpable, his desire for clarity evident.

"That's just how Kagho abilities are," Subiru's response was resigned, a testament to the enigmatic nature of their powers.

"What even-" Osoi's question was cut short by Subiru's interruption. "I'll explain it later."

"Ok..." Osoi's acquiescence was reluctant, his curiosity piqued yet unsatisfied.

"Now, stand still for me. Ritual Arts: Merge," Subiru's command was firm as the black ball began to glow white, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. With a swift motion, Subiru shoved the ball into Osoi's chest, a surge of energy coursing through the room, heralding a new chapter in their journey.

Osoi's voice trembled with uncertainty. "Is that-"

Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes turned to glass, slipping from their sockets and shattering upon meeting the ground. A surge of black and red energy erupted from his body, swirling around him like a tempest.

"Dark Magic: Binding Chains," Subiru's voice cut through the chaos, authoritative and commanding. A black, arcane sigil materialized above the body of water, birthing chains that snaked out and ensnared Osoi, lifting him above the surface before submerging him in its depths.

"Ritual Arts: Resolving Seal," Subiru's hands ignited with crimson energy as he approached the water, submerging them and causing it to glow with a fiery hue.

"I don't want to look at this anymore..." Ijoto's voice wavered with unease, his discomfort palpable.

"Then close your eyes, young Ijoto," Sonora's response was calm, a pillar of strength amidst the turmoil.

As Subiru withdrew his hands, the water returned to its tranquil state, the chains hoisting Osoi back onto land. Landing heavily on his arm, Osoi struggled to comprehend the surreal experience.

"See, easy, right?" Subiru's reassurance was met with hollow eyes and a bewildered expression from Osoi.

"This is... so weird, how can I... still see?" Osoi's confusion was evident, his gaze searching for answers.

"Magic, of course!" Subiru's explanation was accompanied by a blindfold tossed in Osoi's direction, which he caught with uncertain hands.

"Wear that for me, please," Subiru's request was met with compliance as Osoi secured the blindfold over his sightless eyes.

"Alright, for the 13th time now, I will explain what a Kagho does," Subiru's patience was unwavering, his determination to impart knowledge evident.

"I'm still trying to process everything..." Osoi's admission was tinged with frustration, the weight of his newfound abilities weighing heavily upon him.

"Well, process this. Kaghos are laws," Subiru's words carried a weight of significance, each syllable laden with meaning.

"Excuse me, what?" Osoi's confusion was palpable, his brow furrowing in perplexity.

"Kagho's can grant you a specific ability that acts as a law, or as Anata would say, a concept," Subiru clarified, his tone patient yet firm.

"I still don't get it-" Osoi's sentence was cut short by Subiru's impassioned explanation.

"Kagho concepts are on the same level as the concept of death, life, and fate. They can't be avoided, and they affect almost everything. Kagho abilities can be in no way nullified or overpowered by lesser conceptual things. For example, the concept of gravity would be lower than the concept of death. While gravity isn't omnipresent and uniform, it is still a concept, albeit a sub-concept of reality and logic. Therefore, a Kagho ability that grants flight would be unaffected by gravity or any lesser concepts. Even in a world with the heaviest of gravity, the ability to fly would remain unaffected, albeit perhaps painful," Subiru's explanation was thorough, each detail carefully articulated to convey the complexities of their reality.

Osoi's voice wavered with uncertainty. "What..?"

Subiru's sigh carried the weight of a thousand burdens. "You'll understand soon, but that's enough of me explaining Kagho's... for now. Let's get to talking about more important things, like what we've done this week!"

"My bounty is no longer 80 million, it's 800 million!" Haneru's proclamation rang through the room, a boastful declaration of his exploits.

"What'd you do?" Dareen's curiosity was piqued, his interest evident.

"Nothing too big, just terrorized a few ogre and goblin villages, that's all," Haneru's casual admission belied the chaos he had sown.

"I made a new breakthrough and created something of a super soldier, no... an ultra soldier. This unit is going to lead Project A.N.P.U," Anata's announcement was met with a mixture of intrigue and apprehension.

"A.N.P.U?" Medusa's curiosity was evident, her gaze fixed on Anata.

"Anti-Negative Point Unit," Anata clarified, a hint of pride in his tone.

"Ok..." Medusa's response was nonchalant, though a hint of skepticism lingered in her voice.

"What can you say, I do love abbreviating things!" Anata's enthusiasm was palpable, his penchant for abbreviations evident.

"Some things shouldn't be abbreviated," Medusa's remark was laced with caution, a reminder of the dangers of oversimplification.

"And by the way, Osoi, your friends are annoying. They keep killing my subjects. I didn't expect them to be this strong! They are all literal teenagers, how are they this strong? The other day, I heard that one of them destroyed a planet-sized meteor. How do they get that strong? Maybe it's something that I should research..." Anata's frustration simmered beneath his words, his concern evident.

"Serves you right," Osoi's response was terse, a hint of satisfaction in his tone.

"Sorry to interrupt the sharing time, but I see that our new member Osoi has still not fully become a... member. So I must truly convince him!" Subiru's declaration cut through the tension, his gaze fixed on Osoi.

"And how will you do that?" Osoi's question was laced with skepticism, his uncertainty evident.

"By telling you our goal!" Subiru's voice lowered to a whisper, his words carrying an air of significance.

"And what is it?" Osoi's curiosity was piqued, his attention focused on Subiru's every word.

"This is a cruel world, don't you agree?" Subiru's question hung in the air, a rhetorical challenge to Osoi's perceptions.

"Well, kind of?" Osoi's response was hesitant, his uncertainty evident.

"There is no 'kind of' to this question. You can't have a world that is 'kind of cruel.' When cruel is in the question, cruel stays. When something is cruel, it's cruel, no matter what you say," Subiru's tone was firm, his conviction unwavering.

"I guess this world is cruel..." Osoi's admission was reluctant, his acknowledgment of the harsh realities they faced evident.

"Now, our little team here has a lot of experience with the multiverse, things that exist outside of our own realm, and beyond most people's comprehension. Though one thing stays consistent in certain kinds of universes: humans are always relevant, yet there are too many universes where humans are ants. Humans, mentally, are the strongest beings to exist," Subiru's words carried a weight of significance, each syllable laden with meaning.

Osoi's voice was tinged with skepticism. "Are they really thou-"

"Our research on the multiverse led us to the answer to why there are infinite multiverses and realms, and reality. The human mind is something precious, the humans you are thinking about aren't all that precious, but out there far away from us, far away from anything anyone can reach, are people who create stories, people who can fabricate worlds. You do this too; every being thinks and creates their own perception of the world, and every time someone does that, they create a new universe. When somebody mentally creates a short story of some sort, a fairy tale, a lie, a religion, it creates a new universe far, far away from that of the creator. And when you spread that story, the perspective of that person's story also creates a universe, an alternate universe that changes and shifts or creates another universe every time somebody changes their perspective on that vision or decides to add their own thing to it, which creates parallel dimensions and universes. And when you create a universe full of people, no matter how dimensional, smart, or lively they are, they will think of solutions to problems, they will dream, they will have their own perspective on their world, and all of this creates more and more universes. This domino effect of actions is what I call an infinite multiverse creation effect," Subiru's explanation flowed effortlessly, each word painting a picture of cosmic intricacy.

"I actually understood all of that but... I still don't understand," Osoi's admission was met with a mixture of confusion and frustration.

"So you understood none of that? Look at you making contradictory remarks. You and some others are the reason I know for the fact our multiverse is just another thought made by some greater being, more likely a human," Subiru's tone was laced with exasperation, his patience wearing thin.

"But still-" Osoi attempted to interject, his desire for clarity evident.

"Alright, Osoi, I'll sum it up for you. Fiction does not exist," Subiru's assertion was met with a sarcastic remark from Osoi.

"No, the concept of fiction doesn't exist, since everything, every thought that is fictional, is real somewhere else, and to such an extent that not even I or greater beings from other universes can imagine the being who started this insufferable chain of madness, and infinite suffering for others. But there is only one logical answer for this," Subiru's words carried a weight of finality, a conclusion drawn from eons of contemplation and study.

"And that is-" Osoi's voice trailed off, anticipation hanging heavy in the air.

"A human did. In many universes, humans are always treated as ants. Humans are the greatest way to show how weak or strong something is because only a human knows all the capabilities of a human. When making a story, when you want something to be seen as strong, what other way of doing that than terrorizing or eliminating humans in that said universe? In the simplest of words, humans are everything. There is no difference between the concept of a human and death because both are the ultimate equalizers that can both damn and bless everything. Both are unavoidable in most situations. When you have a universe full of non-humans, the logical thing to assume is that that universe was thought of and created by a human for the pleasure of other humans. Humans are perfect beings; they like to tell themselves that they aren't, but considering that the only way that people can truly do the things that they can do, and in most universes for some reason give themselves the right to do whatever they want to the planet they live on and the things on the planet all because they are the best and most capable beings in all of reality, fiction, whatever, is just amazing! For humans to create and imagine greater beings who supposedly are supposed to be smarter, stronger, and much more lethal than themselves tells me something. It tells me that humans are just humble gods with no powers because the world only moves with them. I don't want humans to be stepped on anymore in all the universes that they aren't the apex predator of, including this one. Though some hate humanity, many don't know that humanity is the reason for our happiness, our evolution, our love, and most importantly, our lives. So to bring hope back to our race, to bring meaning back to the existence of humans in all human-irrelevant universes, I will bring back our leader, and he will make us great again," Subiru's words carried the weight of conviction, each syllable a testament to his unwavering determination.

"But how will he do that?" Osoi's question hung in the air, a plea for clarity in the face of uncertainty.

"My jaw is getting tired of talking so I'll talk about that some time later, but everyone here isn't doing anything for the worse or demise of the world. We're doing this because we all want humanity to finally get the respect that they deserve, to finally join the gods that they think of and praise, to finally come full circle, and split all of the gods away from the non-gods," Subiru's response was resolute, his gaze fixed on a future where humanity reclaimed its rightful place among the cosmos.

"But when this happens, what will happen to all the other non-humans..." Osoi's concern was palpable, his empathy extending beyond the bounds of his own kind.

"Nothing! This plan only brings the mass ascension of one race, thus also eliminating the former race that we all used to call humans, and creating a lot more gods, thus bringing existence, in all multiverses and dimensions, to a new era," Subiru's vision of the future was grandiose, a symphony of cosmic proportions playing out in his mind's eye.

"I still don't know about this. I'm betraying my friends and my family by doing this..." Osoi's voice trembled with uncertainty, the weight of his decision bearing down on him.

"They don't really care about you, Osoi. If they cared, they'd do the same thing that they are doing to save Ryoshi right now," Subiru's words cut through the air, his conviction unwavering.

"I know for certain that they will save me! Th-They just don't know that I'm gone yet-" Osoi's protest was cut short by Medusa's interjection.

"There was an extra person watching us. I'm aware that they are aware of us taking you, Osoi..." Medusa's revelation hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the dangers they faced.

The scene flashed back to a day ago, the memory etched vividly in their minds like an indelible mark.

"So we're set. I'll show you guys out to the base," Medusa's voice broke through the calm, her demeanor resolute as she led the way.

As they made their way, Medusa's gaze caught sight of a mysterious figure hovering above the trees, defying gravity with an otherworldly presence. Clad in a peculiar ensemble of wool, copper brown tunic, fingerless arm sleeves, and navy blue board shorts, the figure exuded an air of intrigue. His copper brown flap hat, split through the middle, obscured one eye, while his dual-toned pupils hinted at a depth of mystery. With a flicker of fear, the man vanished into thin air, leaving behind a shroud of uncertainty.

"I see you," Medusa's voice cut through the silence, her gaze lingering on the spot where the enigmatic figure once stood.

"What was that about?" Medusa's inquiry hung in the air, unanswered as the memory faded away.

Back in the present, Subiru's voice brought Osoi back to reality, his words laden with persuasion.

"This isn't a bad situation for you at all, Osoi. For you, this is a win-win situation. You win if we win, and you win if we lose because they'd trust you if you decide to go back to being good," Subiru's logic resonated, casting a new light on Osoi's dilemma.

"That's a... good point... fine, I'll tag along," Osoi's reluctant acceptance signaled a shift in his resolve.

"Wonderful! Welcome to the team, Osoi," Subiru's enthusiasm was infectious, his words sealing the deal.

In the midst of uncertainty, Osoi's thoughts turned to a familiar presence, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.

"You'll save me, right mom?" Osoi's silent plea echoed in the depths of his soul, a whispered prayer for salvation.

In the quiet confines of a house nestled within the Negative Point, a man lay sprawled on his bed, his face buried in a pillow. Tomiro Karagoku, an Ofensu ranked member of the Negative Point, found himself engulfed in despair.

"IT'S OVER, I'M FINISHED!!!" Tomiro's anguished cry filled the room, his voice muffled by the fabric of the pillow.

Rolling off the bed and onto the ground, Tomiro's anguish was palpable.

"YOU HAD ONE JOB, TOMIRO!!! GUARD OSOI AT ALL TIMES FOR A YEAR, AND AFTER THAT, YOU GET PROMOTED TO PUROTEKUTO, BUT NO!!!" Tomiro's voice cracked with emotion, his words tinged with regret.

Sitting up, tears welled in Tomiro's eyes, his heart heavy with the weight of failure.

"My career is over, I must retire now..." Tomiro's resignation hung in the air, a bitter realization of dashed hopes and shattered dreams.

The scene flashed back to a tense moment after Tomiro had reported back to the Great Ones, his fate hanging in the balance amidst a storm of anger and disappointment.

Aki's face burned with fury, her anger simmering just below the surface as she struggled to contain her emotions. The room was engulfed in a suffocating silence, broken only by the snickers of Fuyu and another man dressed in a vibrant red suit, who found amusement in Tomiro's predicament. Tomiro himself wore an awkward smile, his demeanor betraying the unease that gnawed at him.

"Yea..." Tomiro clicked his tongue and performed jazz hands in a feeble attempt to defuse the tension.

"BAAAAHAAAAAHAHAAAAAAHAHAHAAA," Fuyu and the other man erupted into laughter, their mirth echoing off the walls. But Aki's fury only intensified with each passing moment.

"DID YOU SERIOUSLY JUST DO JAZZ HANDS AFTER ANNOUNCING TWO PUROTEKUTO DEAD, AND TELLING A MOTHER THAT HER CHILD GOT SNATCHED!?" The other man, identified as Yunqi, exclaimed incredulously, his voice dripping with scorn.

"And all because you sat back and let it happen! AND DENSHIN SHOWED UP! If you helped, this wouldn't have happened, but you sat back and watched it all unfold," Fuyu's accusation cut through the air like a knife, each word a condemnation of Tomiro's inaction.

A vein pulsated on Aki's forehead as she glared daggers at Tomiro, her anger palpable.

"After this disaster, we will need to reconsider your promotion, but by the looks of it, we might retire you, the painful way," Kai's voice carried a note of finality, his words a harbinger of Tomiro's impending fate.

"No, we must not kill the boy," Tai interjected, his voice tinged with reluctance.

"No, I'm talking about erasing his memory and exiling him," Kai clarified, his decision firm and unwavering.

Tears welled in Tomiro's eyes as he pleaded for mercy. "Please no! I will do anything, I swear!!!"

But Aki's resolve remained unshaken. "No... that sounds perfectly fine to me," she declared with chilling calmness.

"You sound awfully calm Ak-" Fuyu's words were cut short as Aki lunged towards Tomiro, her fury unleashed in a torrent of rage.

"I'LL KILL YOU!!! MY SON IS GONE AND YOU TOOK TWO OF OUR TEAMMATES AWAY FROM US!!! ARE YOU AN ALLY OR AN ENEMY!!?" Aki's voice reverberated with raw emotion, her anguish laid bare for all to see.

"Aki, calm down..." Juyo's voice cut through the chaos, his attempt to soothe her anger falling on deaf ears.

"DON'T YOU TELL ME TO CALM DOWN, HE LITERALLY IS THE REASON MY SON IS GONE!!! HIS INCOMPETENT ASS SHOULD BE THROWN IN PRISON!!!" Aki's fury reached its peak, her words a damning indictment of Tomiro's failures.

"ENOUGH!!! Tomiro, leave before things get worse..." Rai's authoritative command echoed through the room, a final warning before the situation spiraled out of control.

The flashback concluded, Tomiro found himself grappling with the tumultuous events of the past as he contemplated the unexpected turn of events.

"And now I'm enemies with a season!? This week can't get any worse-" Tomiro's words were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door, heralding the arrival of unexpected visitors.

"That might prove me wrong," Tomiro muttered under his breath as he rose to answer the door, his apprehension mounting with each passing moment.

Opening the door, Tomiro was met by the ominous figures of Herrin and Ienoru, their presence casting a shadow of uncertainty over the room.

"Tomiro... We're here to kill you," Ienoru's words hung in the air like a dark cloud, their intent clear and menacing.

"Ah, no, it's too soon—wait a sec, why would they send you two low grades to kill me?" Tomiro's confusion was evident as he struggled to comprehend the situation.

"Uh... THE RUSE IS UP IENORU, RUN!!!" Herrin's panicked outburst shattered the tension, prompting the duo to make a hasty retreat.

But their escape was short-lived as they collided with an invisible obstacle, sending them sprawling to the ground in a heap.

"You guys aren't going anywhere, what's the deal?" Tomiro's voice held a note of suspicion as he confronted the bewildered pair.

"We heard what happened, Tomiro, and we wanted to cheer you up," Herrin offered tentatively, her attempt at reassurance falling flat.

"She forced me to come, gave me a script and everything," Ienoru added sheepishly, his reluctance palpable.

"How is telling me that you're going to kill me going to cheer me up?" Tomiro's frustration bubbled to the surface, his patience wearing thin.

"Well, that wouldn't..." Herrin trailed off, realizing the folly of their plan.

"We have a good idea for you to redeem yourself," Ienoru interjected, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

"How?" Tomiro's interest was piqued, his curiosity overcoming his initial skepticism.

"You can go with your crew to help with the retrieval of Ryoshi Taisaku!" Herrin suggested eagerly, her voice tinged with urgency.

"Ry-oshi?" Tomiro's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind racing to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

"Have you heard of him? He's the new winter season inheritor," Herrin explained, her words resonating with a sense of urgency.

"I guess I've been living under a rock... BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS HERE, AND HE WAS KIDNAPPED!?" Tomiro's shock was palpable as the weight of the news settled upon him.

"Yea, but—" Herrin attempted to interject, but Tomiro cut her off with a determined declaration.

"YOU GUYS ARE COMING WITH ME, I NEED TO SEE HIM, I NEED TO SAVE HIM!!!" Tomiro's resolve was unwavering as he seized upon the opportunity to right his past wrongs.

As Tomiro bolted out the door, dragging Herrin and Ienoru along with him, Ienoru's voice echoed with a note of concern.

"What about your crew!?"

"FORGET ABOUT THEM, THERE IS NO TIME TO GET THEM!!!" Tomiro's response was firm, his mind focused solely on the mission ahead.