Shigeo was still trembling a little. Blood stained his collar, bruises bloomed along his arms, but deep down, he was just focused on one thing : making a good impression on his new hero.
— "Do you… uh, do you think they'll come back? Those guys… from earlier?"
Dante shrugged, not even slowing down.
— "They've probably got more pressing concerns. Like finding their underwear."
Shigeo let out a nervous laugh.
He couldn't help but wonder, with childlike fascination, if this guy was really just a student.
He didn't act like one. Didn't carry himself like one. He looked like someone straight out of an old western—the kind of sheriff everyone feared and no one dared to challenge.
Dante, on the other hand, was thinking about something completely different : a sandwich. He hadn't eaten since the day before.
He'd overslept, wasted time, and now there was no way he could grab food without risking missing the train.
At last, they reached Platform 9.
The train eased into the Zvrost station. The platform was packed with all kinds of figures.
Shigeo swallowed hard.
— "This is… impressive…"
— "It's ridiculous " Dante muttered.
— "Huh?"
— "Half the students here could destroy that train with a snap of their fingers. And they all know it."
Shigeo stood there, slack-jawed. This guy wasn't just strong. He was cynically strong.
And to a teenager raised on shōnens, that was insanely cool.
Creatures, half-human, half-beast, moved through the crowd with animal grace, brushing past lycanthropes still in human form but with eyes too sharp and limbs just a little too long and hairy.
There were horned humans, and plenty more whose very presence carried the shadow of corruption.
Dante took it all in, thoughtful. It was… quite the scene. Once upon a time, these people would've lived hidden in the dark, pushed to the fringes, avoiding the bright lights of big cities.
Now, the corrupted were welcomed here—at least, on the surface. But he knew better.
That acceptance was skin-deep. In tightly structured societies like Almeris, they were still outcasts.
Their mutations—be it from experimentation or environmental influence—were met with curiosity laced with unease.
— "Some progress." he thought, shaking his head.
Still, he wasn't here to psychoanalyze the other students.
They passed through the security checks without a hitch. Shigeo, visibly nervous during the scans, was waved through quickly.
Dante let out a sigh of boredom. All of this was fine and dandy, but honestly, he preferred being in his room. Preferably under a shower.
He boarded the train with his luggage, following Shigeo, who was clearly lost in his own world.
The kid was in awe of every new piece of tech, but also painfully sensitive to the slightest failure.
Dante wondered how he'd handle the brutal reality of Genesis.
Once in their cabin, Dante stashed his bags in a corner, wondering why he'd packed so much useless crap. Oh, right… Ginny.
— "Uh… mind if I take the top bunk ?" Shigeo asked timidly.
— "As long as you don't move too much."
— "Promise!"
Then he headed straight for the bathroom. He looked exhausted—the journey had drained him.
Between the restless sleep, a nagging feeling that something dangerous was coming, and the sheer impact of Zvrost's first impressions, he felt that familiar weight settle on his shoulders again.
A shower sounded like heaven.
Under the hot water, he closed his eyes. The heat, the clean water… it was soothing.
He let himself relax for a few minutes, trying to forget that Genesis's chaos was about to begin. He should've called his family, but…
He paused. No phone. He'd forgotten about that. He sighed.
When he stepped out, the cabin was quiet. For the first time in a while, he felt almost… rested.
He dressed quickly and walked over to the small table by the porthole to fold a few clothes.
Only after a moment did he notice Shigeo, still there, eyes fixed on a small mechanical device on the table—some kind of hastily assembled invention.
He had that look—someone desperate to shine, but unsure how.
— "Well, well… you an inventor or something ?" Dante asked, stepping closer.
Shigeo jumped, then looked down at the device. He hesitated, like he was trying to find the right words—proud, but not too proud.
— "Well, you know… I—I just really wanted to prove I could do it. Like my grandfather. He was a great genius. And me… I figured Genesis would be my chance."
Dante gave the machine a quick once-over. It was rough. Not bad, but definitely not polished.
— "The concept's solid, but…"
Shigeo perked up.
— "Thing is, you're too focused on theory. Try stabilizing your energy output first. Right now, the power source is too weak. If you want this thing to run properly, you'll need to increase the circuit tension."
He took all his technical instructions from one of his former life partners, Lukas.
Shigeo blinked, processing, then sighed.
— "Ah… I get it."
He looked down, clearly a bit discouraged, but grateful too.
— "You're right. I guess that's the hardest part. I focus too much on the end result, instead of understanding what makes the machine tick." He gave a faint smile. "That's Genesis, isn't it ?"
Dante gave him a sidelong glance.
— "It's a graveyard for dreams. And a handful of survivors. Not exactly the place to shine, kid."
He turned and flopped down on his bed, stretching his arms.
— "But hey, if you really wanna be a genius… I'll let you know."
Shigeo smiled, more at ease.
He stood and looked back at the machine, lost in thought. Despite the doubts, this was his path.
He leaned in and made a small adjustment—something that might just work better.
— "Hey… Dante?"
— "Hm?"
— "Why are you going to Genesis? You're already super strong. Do you still need training?"
Dante opened one eye.
— "I'm not going there to learn."
— "Oh ?"
— "I'm going there to watch."
Shigeo blinked.
— "Watch… what?"
A faint smile.
— "The ones who think they're on top."
Then he closed his eyes again.
Shigeo didn't fully understand—but a shiver ran down his spine.
Not from fear… but from excitement. He just knew it. This year was going to be insane !!!!!
Outside, the train gave a soft jolt and began to move.
A smooth, feminine voice echoed over the speakers :
— "Welcome aboard the Genesis Special Convoy. Final destination : Almeria. Please fasten your seatbelts, secure your belongings, and ensure all familiars remain sealed. The journey will take approximately three days and two nights, crossing three restricted zones. We wish you a safe trip—and may your ambitions be worthy of your gifts."