The morning sun cast its golden glow over the city, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The streets buzzed with life—students walking to school, workers rushing to their jobs, the usual rhythm of everyday existence. Among them was a boy who blended into the crowd like any other ordinary person.

His name was Kaito.

At first glance, Kaito seemed like a normal high school student. He wasn’t the top of his class, nor was he the strongest. He had a few friends, kept a low profile, and went about his life like everyone else. Nothing about him stood out. And yet, there was something… something strange that even he couldn’t explain.

Lately, he had been having dreams. Not just any dreams, but vivid, eerie dreams that felt too real. He would wake up drenched in sweat, his heart pounding, unable to shake off the feeling that he had just witnessed something that wasn’t meant to be seen.

That night, the dream returned.

Darkness. He stood in the middle of a ruined battlefield. The sky was crimson, the air thick with the scent of blood and ash. Around him lay bodies—some human, others… something else. In the distance, shadowy figures loomed, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

A voice echoed in the void.

"You will soon understand."

Before he could react, the ground beneath him cracked open, and an enormous, skeletal hand burst forth, reaching for him. Just as it was about to grab him—

He woke up.

Gasping for breath, Kaito sat up, his body trembling. His room was dimly lit by the faint glow of the streetlights outside. It was just a dream… or was it?

The feeling lingered. The smell of blood, the weight of fear—it was as if he had actually been there.

Shaking his head, he tried to push the thoughts aside.

"I need to get ready for school."

By the time he stepped out of his house, the world seemed normal again. The bustling city, the chatter of students, the honking of cars—it was just another regular day. But Kaito couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching him.

**The Unseen Presence**

As he walked to school, he noticed subtle things—people glancing at him and quickly looking away, whispers in the air that stopped the moment he got closer. Was he imagining it? Or was there something lurking just beneath the surface of his so-called normal life?

The day passed as usual, yet the unease never left him. In the classroom, he stared at the clock, watching the seconds tick away, feeling as though time itself was playing a trick on him.

And then it happened.

During lunch break, a sudden chill ran down his spine. The noisy cafeteria became eerily silent. The students around him froze, their movements sluggish, as if trapped in slow motion.

Then, a voice—low, guttural, whispering directly into his ear.

"You are not supposed to be here."

Kaito spun around, but there was no one there.

His breath quickened. Was he losing his mind? Or was something truly happening?

**The First Encounter**

That evening, as he walked home, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the city lights flickered to life.

But something felt… off.

The streets, usually filled with people, were unnaturally empty. The air was too still, too quiet. His heartbeat drummed in his ears as he turned a corner—and stopped.

A man stood in the middle of the road, his face obscured by a mask. His presence alone was suffocating, an unseen force pressing down on Kaito’s chest.

"Kaito," the man said, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.

Kaito’s body tensed. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

The man took a step forward. "It doesn’t matter who I am. What matters is that your time of ignorance is over. You have been chosen."

"Chosen? Chosen for what?"

Instead of answering, the man raised his hand. In an instant, Kaito felt an unbearable pressure around him, as if gravity itself had doubled. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, struggling to breathe.

Panic surged through him. His vision blurred. Was this it? Was he about to die without even understanding what was happening?

Just as darkness began to consume his vision—

Something awakened.

A surge of energy erupted from within him, shattering the invisible force that had been holding him down. The masked man took a step back, tilting his head in curiosity.

Kaito stared at his own hands. He could feel it—something powerful, something terrifying, something that had always been there, buried deep within him.

And for the first time in his life, he realized—

He was not normal.

**To be continued…**

Kaito’s eyes snapped open. His breath was heavy, sweat dripping down his forehead. The dream still lingered in his mind—a vision so vivid it felt real. But was it really just a dream? The unease gnawed at him as he sat on his bed, staring at his trembling hands.

The city outside remained as chaotic as ever. Life moved on, unaware of the storm brewing inside him. As he walked to school, he couldn’t shake the strange sensation clinging to him, a whisper in the back of his mind telling him that something had changed. The air around him felt heavier, like an unseen force surrounded him.

As he entered the classroom, his best friend, Riku, greeted him with a grin. “Yo, Kaito, you look like you saw a ghost.”

Kaito forced a chuckle. “Maybe I did.”

Classes dragged on, but Kaito felt disconnected. His focus wavered, thoughts drifting back to the dream. The strange symbols, the darkness consuming everything—what did it mean? Just as he was lost in thought, a chill ran down his spine. A presence.

He turned his head slightly and caught a glimpse of a figure standing just outside the classroom window. A tall man in a long coat, face obscured by shadows. But the moment Kaito blinked, he was gone.

His heart pounded. Was he hallucinating?

The final bell rang, and Kaito hurried out, eager to clear his mind. As he walked through the narrow streets, the feeling of being watched returned. He glanced over his shoulder—nothing. But the moment he stepped into an alley shortcut, a deep voice echoed from behind him.

“You’re not supposed to be aware yet.”

Kaito spun around, fists clenched, but saw nothing. Suddenly, the air turned frigid. His breath misted. A shadowy hand emerged from the darkness and grabbed his arm.

Pain surged through his body as visions flooded his mind. Death. Chaos. A city in flames. And at the center of it all—him.

His body acted on instinct. A surge of energy exploded from within him, and the shadowy figure was blasted away. Kaito gasped, his hands crackling with a dark aura before it faded as quickly as it appeared.

Panting, he looked at where the figure had been. Nothing remained except a faint whisper in the wind.

“This is just the beginning.”

Kaito staggered back, his mind racing. He needed answers. And deep inside, he knew—this power wasn’t normal. It was something far beyond human comprehension.

Little did he know, his awakening had already been noticed. And those watching would not let him remain free for long.

The cold breeze of the night whispered through the empty streets as Kaito walked back home, his mind tangled in confusion. The dream, the encounter with the masked figure, and the strange energy that pulsed through his veins—everything felt surreal. He clenched his fists, trying to shake off the uneasiness gnawing at him.

As he stepped inside his dimly lit apartment, his eyes fell upon the mirror.

TO BE CONTINUED......

The cold breeze of the night whispered through the empty streets as Kaito walked back home, his mind tangled in confusion. The dream, the encounter with the masked figure, and the strange energy that pulsed through his veins—everything felt surreal. He clenched his fists, trying to shake off the uneasiness gnawing at him.

As he stepped inside his dimly lit apartment, his eyes fell upon the mirror.

He looked normal, but something about his reflection unsettled him. His pupils, just for a moment, glowed faintly, almost like a flicker of power threatening to escape. He shook his head and turned away.

That night, sleep didn’t come easy. The moment he closed his eyes, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar place—a vast, desolate land with a blood-red sky. In front of him stood a monstrous figure, its form shifting between shadows and fire. The ground beneath them cracked with each step it took.

**“You are not ready,”** the beast growled, its voice sending shockwaves through his body. **“Yet, you are chosen.”**

Kaito could feel an invisible force pressing against him, crushing his lungs. But something deep inside him responded. His body refused to kneel, his will refusing to shatter. He clenched his fists, the veins in his arms bulging as an unseen power surged within him.

And then—he woke up.

Drenched in sweat, he gasped for air, his heart pounding against his ribs. **“What the hell was that?”** he whispered to himself. The dream felt too real to be just a dream. He sat up, his hands trembling slightly.

Then, he noticed it.

His handprint was burned into the mattress. Smoke rose from the scorched fabric.

Panic surged through him, but before he could react further, a knock on his door shattered the silence. He turned sharply. It was late. Too late for a visitor.

Cautiously, he moved towards the door, his mind racing. As he reached for the knob, his instincts screamed at him—something wasn’t right. He stepped back just as the door burst open with an explosive force, sending him flying back.

Through the dust and debris, a tall figure stepped inside. A man dressed in a dark suit, his face hidden beneath a hood.

**“Kaito Kazuki.”** His voice was eerily calm. **“You have something we need.”**

Kaito’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t know who this man was, but he could feel it—an overwhelming presence. This man wasn’t normal. And neither was he anymore.

His journey had just begun.

Kaito's heart pounded as the dust settled. The dark figure stood motionless in the doorway, his presence suffocating. The way he carried himself, the aura of control—it was clear he wasn’t just an ordinary person.

“Who the hell are you?” Kaito demanded, forcing himself to his feet. His body still tingled from the strange energy that had surged through him earlier, but he didn’t know if he could control it yet.

***TO BE CONTINUED ***

wait for next episode.....