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Long ago, when the skies were still pure and the gods still watched from above, ten divine beings sealed their power into mystical orbs called the Tenku Balls.
It is said:
> "He who gathers all ten Tenku Balls shall be granted one wish—no matter how impossible."
But with great power comes great danger.
If a monster claims even one Tenku Ball, their power multiplies exponentially. If they collect them all… the world as we know it may fall.
Each ball holds the soul of a god:
1. Kiyoshi Raiden – Divine Spirit of Bond and Courage
2. Zarkhoth – Demon King of Destruction
3. Serenya – Goddess of Elements: Flame, Tide, Stone, and Wind
4. Ryuzan – God of War
5. Nytheris – God of Strength and Endurance
6. Xyandras – God of Punishment and Retribution
7. Chronael – Goddess of Time
8. Valkyrois – God of Protection
9. Seraphion – Goddess of Rebirth
10. Altheria – Goddess of Fate and Thread
To prevent catastrophe, the world government established Fatebound Academy — a school where, on their sixteenth birthday, students would face their destiny.
---
The morning sun spilled through the window, golden and warm.
A hand slapped the alarm clock.
A boy sat up, yawning, his black hair sticking in every direction.
> "My name's Shotaro Kurgane. And today… my life changes."
He quickly pulled on his uniform — black jacket with crimson trim and the silver Fatebound crest on the chest. He grabbed his school bag and bolted toward the door.
"Why are you in such a rush?" his sister called out, toothbrush in mouth.
Shotaro laughed nervously. "Today I meet my destiny! Maybe I'll become a hero. Maybe… I'll get a harem! Heh—anyway, I'm gonna be late!"
He burst out the door, feet pounding the pavement. The streets were already alive — cars gliding by, people chatting, school bells ringing in the distance.
He spotted a familiar face across the intersection.
> "Shotaro!"
"Leif! Rina!" he shouted back.
Two friends waved — Leif, tall and cheerful, and Rina, sharp-eyed with silver hair and a quiet stare.
They exchanged brief nods and headed toward Fatebound Academy together, where hundreds of students were gathering under a massive glass dome.
As they approached, memories washed over Shotaro.
> We were little kids, racing through the fields...
"Even if our destinies are different," Leif once said, "we'll always be friends."
"Yeah!" they all agreed.
---
Inside the Destiny Hall, the atmosphere was tense.
The Tenku Ball floated on a glowing pedestal, pulsing faintly with ethereal light. Students whispered nervously.
"All you have to do is touch the ball," the instructor said. "It will speak your fate."
One student stepped forward.
He placed his hand on the ball. It flashed white.
> "Destiny: Knight."
Cheers. Smiles. Pride.
Then the teacher called, "Shotaro Kurgane."
Shotaro stepped forward. His heart raced.
Please be something cool… Hero. Warrior. Anything but…
He touched the orb.
BOOM.
The orb pulsed violently — the ground trembled. A shockwave of red and black energy exploded outward.
> "Destiny: The Demon King… Zarkhoth."
The room fell silent.
Then gasps. Screams. Students backed away, eyes wide with fear.
> "T-The Demon King?!"
"He's a monster!"
"Get away from him!"
Shotaro's breath caught. "No. This… this has to be wrong…"
"The Tenku Ball never lies," the teacher said grimly.
Shotaro turned to his friends.
> "Leif? Rina…?"
They stepped back.
> "I don't know this person."
"Stay away from us."
His heart cracked.
> "Get him!"
Fire magic exploded toward him. Shotaro barely rolled to the side, feeling the heat sear past his shoulder. More spells came—light, ice, wind.
> "STOP!" he shouted. "I'm still me!"
But no one listened.
He ran. Bolted through the hallway. Outside. Down the stairs. Tears blurred his vision.
I'll go home… My sister. She'll understand!
He burst through the front door of his house.
"Sis—!"
SPLASH!
A powerful stream of water struck the wall beside his face.
She stood, shaking, magic glowing in her hands.
> "You… you're a MONSTER!"
Shotaro froze. "No… not you too…"
He turned and ran again — through alleys, through streets, until his legs gave out.
> This can't be real… This isn't fair…
Then—voices.
"We found him!"
He turned.
His old friends, glowing with battle magic. Cold eyes. No smiles. No hesitation.
> "You're not one of us anymore."
> "Please… stop…"
They raised their hands.
Light and fire burst toward him—
CLANG!
A glowing shield of white light formed around him.
A figure stood in front of him — a girl with long white hair and cold violet eyes.
She raised a hand.
THWIP! Glowing threads flew from her fingers, slicing clean through the attackers' spells—and the attackers themselves.
Shotaro stared in horror at the blood.
Then everything went black.
---
Flashback.
> "We'll always be friends!"
"Liar… You lied…"
---
He woke up in a quiet cabin. His shirt was torn. His chest ached.
The white-haired girl sat by the window, arms crossed.
> "You're awake."
He sat up. "You saved me… Why?"
She turned, looking out at the trees.
> "Because you remind me of myself."
Shotaro blinked. "Huh?"
"I'm Hikari Shiramine. When I turned sixteen, my destiny was revealed too. It said I would awaken all Ten Tenku Gods."
Shotaro gasped. "You're lying… that's just a legend…"
Hikari smiled faintly. "It's real. Just like your destiny. You bear the second god—Zarkhoth, the Demon King."
Shotaro looked at his trembling hands. "Then… everyone was right to fear me…"
Tears welled in his eyes. "I lost everything. My friends. My family. I have no one…"
Hikari stood.
She walked over, placed her hand on his head.
> "You have me."
He looked up at her, stunned.
> "Really?"
She nodded. "I don't think you're a monster. I think you're just like me… and maybe together, we can change this world."
Shotaro stared, heart pounding.
> "Then… I'll help you. I'll make your wish come true."
She smiled. "Thank you."
---
Later that night.
A thunderous BOOM rocked the ground.
Shotaro shot up, alarmed. "What was that?!"
He ran outside—
"HIKARI!" he screamed.
She lay on the ground, blood pooling beneath her.
A cloaked man stood over her, laughing.
> "You thought you could hide?"
Shotaro's mind flashed.
His friends abandoning him. The betrayal. The screams.
Something inside him snapped.
His eyes glowed red.
> "You'll pay."
FWOOM!
A surge of power erupted from his body — red fire, jagged stone, explosive force. The man's spells shattered. The air trembled.
Shotaro raised his hand. Fire and rock shot forward, engulfing the enemy and sending him flying.
The crowd watching screamed in terror.
He walked forward, his eyes glowing with rage and sorrow.
> "I will gather all ten Tenku Balls…"
"I will bring her back…"
"And I will destroy every monster who dares to hurt the innocent."
> "This is my story…"
> And I won't let fate control me.
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Next Time: Chapter 2 – The Threads of Rebellion
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