Chapter 37
"Wait are you serious you are talking about something that happened over nine centuries ago…" she said carefully.
"How are you going to show us? Is that even possible?"
Elena crossed her arms. Her posture was defensive, but her voice was confused and curios at the same time
Takeda also stood beside her, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. The wind tugged lightly at his hair as his eyes remained fixed on Renji.
Sigh!!
"I hate to agree," Takeda said slowly, "but she's right, Renji what you are saying it's over ten centuries ago that was even before Japan was even a country…"
Or even before the world itself had civilization
Renji didn't answer right away.
He slowly walked near the edge of the rooftop and began gazing over the city below.
"you know from this height, everything seems smaller renji said slowly as the night breeze brushed passed him cars are crawling like insects
People just trying to live their everyday life"
Sigh
Renji exhaled softly.
"…You asked me how am going to show you with what you have seen this past years do you think it's impossible you're both thinking of memory the wrong way."
Elena tilted her head slightly. "Wrong way?"
Yes
Renji turned to face them.
"To humans, memory is something fragile," he said. "It fades, it decays and it dies alongside the body during death."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"But I am not only human and neither is the world"
Takeda's eyes narrowed
The air felt heavier but renji's voice remained steady.
"The world remembers everything ,every step we take, every word we speak, every action even down to the moment you were born."
A faint tremor ran through the air around him.
"That's why it's called…"
.....
....
.....
"The Record..
Elena instinctively stepped back.
"…Record?"
"Yes," Renji replied quietly " every action leaves an imprint, you think Ten centuries is long," Renji continued. "But to the world… it is nothing."
Takeda's voice was low now.
"Wait. I don't understand. You're saying the world remembers?"
Renji nodded "yes. The world remembers everything."
Silence stretched between them.
Elena swallowed.
"That's impossible."
Renji's faint smile returned.
"Well… let's test that theory, shall we?"
He extended both hands outward.
A low whirling sound began to form.
The space between his palms twisted inward, spiraling like liquid light folding into itself. Threads of pale silver energy wove together, forming a circular distortion in the air.
A portal.
Elena's eyes widened.
"Ehh you can open gates?!"
Renji chuckled softly.
"No no I can't open gate that's not a gate. It's a portal."
The distortion stabilized, revealing a shimmering surface that reflected light like water.
"I have the ability to open portals at any location I've been."
Elena stared "that's amazing…"
Takeda remained silent, though his gaze sharpened.
Renji tilted his head toward the portal.
"Let's go"
Without hesitation, he stepped through.
Elena glanced at Takeda.
"…We're just going to follow him?"
Takeda sighed.
"We've already come this far."
They stepped through together.
Whoosh...
The portal closed behind them.
For a brief moment, there was nothing but weightlessness.
Then.....
Whoosh.....
It reopened.
Elena stumbled forward slightly.
"…Eh?"
The faint scent of leaves lingering in the air.
Elena blinked.
"…We're in your house already?"
Takeda adjusted his stance, glancing around with measured caution.
Renji stood a few steps ahead of them, smiling.
"Isn't that the plan?"
Takeda scoffed.
Renji only laughed lightly.
"Come."
He walked towards the entrance but elena hesitated for a moment before following suit and takeda did the same
They stepped further into the home.
Soft voices drifted from the living room.
Then silence.
Footsteps approached.
The first to appear was Sakura.
Her hair fell gently over her shoulders as she stepped into view. Her eyes immediately softened
upon seeing Renji.
"You're back that was quick hope there isn't any problem."
Renji nodded.
" No there isn't a problem but we have guests."
Behind Sakura, Elyra presence emerged.
Lily also appeared from behind the hallway wall, Dracan followed shortly after,
Elena blinked.
"…Wow you really like a family?"
Renji stepped forward.
"Yes we're not just like a family, we are a family!
Renji stepped closer to Elyra.
His voice carried a different tone now.
"This… is Elyra."
Elyra stepped forward gracefully.
" She's just like me a demi god half god half human the Demi-God of Balance."
Elena froze.
Takeda's posture straightened immediately.
Elyra lowered her head slightly in formal greeting.
"It is an honor to meet companions of Renji."
Takeda placed a hand over his chest and bowed respectfully.
"Takeda Ryiojin pillar of Japan The honor is mine."
Elena followed quickly, bowing as well.
"Elena Warwick pillar of light of england It's… a pleasure."
Elyra also followed suit
Elyra daughter of Tyrak demi god of balance It's an honour to meet you
Renji smirked.
"Yeah… that isn't creepy at all."
He crossed his arms, his gaze shifting calmly between the shadows in the room before settling on Sakura.
"Well… let's talk about why we're really here, shall we?"
His eyes locked onto hers.
Sakura felt the shift in his expression the seriousness beneath the sarcasm
"Why are you looking at me like that"
Renji sighed.
"Because I know what your reaction will be … I know it isn't right Sakura , but I'm going to take them to the Chronoverse."
Sakura froze as her eyes widened. The silence between them felt heavy.
"What did you just say?"
Renji didn't hesitate.
"You heard me."
"What do you mean by I heard you... do you even hear yourself !" she answered sharply. "You very well know that it's forbidden for humans to even know about the Chronoverse let alone enter it!"
The room seemed to grow heavier at the mention of the name.
Renji looked away for a moment… then back at her.
"I know the law."
His voice lowered.
"But the law doesn't always protect the truth."
Sakura's expression hardened.
"It's not about protecting the truth it's about defying the one who created that law It's a law even your mother wouldn't dare break."
Her gaze locked onto him.
"If you won't listen to me… then I'll make you listen, Januza-sama.
She stepped forward slightly.
"We both know that, for now, we stand on the same level of strength and trust me I won't let you make a decision that would doom the fate of all humanity."
Elyra quickly intervened.
"She's right, Januza. If you go through with this… you could doom humanity.
Takeda frowned, confused.
"Wait I don't understand why would it doom all humanity? And you said it's a law even renji's mother wouldn't dare break that's Arin I've heard the stories countless times but I thought she was the creator of the whole universe. Isn't that true?"
Sakura answered firmly.
"She is the creator of this universe. But this universe exists as a pocket space among countless universes each of those universes having countless axis dimensions that's keeps multiplying stretching towards infinity and other countless dimensions that are diverse drifting and stacking against one another, flowing forward and backward in endless cycles."
Her tone sharpened.
"Even when she creates a law… she cannot defy it. Because it is not written under her authority. It is bound to something higher."
Elena Warwick narrowed her eyes.
"So… whose name is it written under then?"
All eyes turned.
Sakura slowly turned her head toward Renji.
"Go on. Tell them."
Renji sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Alright… alright."
He looked up slowly.
"It's under his name."
He paused.
"…The Supreme Deity."
Meanwhile.....
Location ( USA – Washington DC )
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
A deep voice broke through the thick office door.
The handle slowly turned.
A female figure stepped in, gently pushing the door open behind her. The soft click of her heels echoed faintly against the polished floor.
She paused for a second.
Marcus Steel stood before the massive glass window, hands inside the pocket of his blue hoodie. Black joggers and sneakers starring down at the street below..
She inhaled quietly before speaking.
"Guildmaster Marcus… we have successfully signed two new SS rank hunters."
Marcus didn't react.
She straightened the tablet in her hands.
"Two new hunters who goes by the name of Henry Steven and Lucifer there's no last name recorded but officially this makes us the largest guild successfully in the world having over 20 SS rankers and 30 S rank."
"I don't care!"
Marcus Steel clapped back sharply as he cut her off. His voice cracked across the office like a whip.
"Even if they're 100 SS ranked hunters I don't care anymore. They are all useless against this coming threat."
She blinked.
"Useless it's still useless? But isn't this enough guild master?"
Marcus Steel let out a long sigh.
Slowly… he turned.
His eyes were shadowed beneath the hood.
"Kikoru… I tell you everything because you are my personal assistant. You have a keen eye for seeing through lies."
He stepped closer.
"So look at me… do I look like I'm lying?"
She froze under his gaze.
She swallowed.
"…No. It doesn't look like you are lying. But...."
"No buts, Kikoru."
He exhaled heavily.
"I have seen a little of this threat. Not even a 100 SS rankers will do anything to it."
He walked toward her slowly.
Then gently...
He patted her head.
"Thank you Kikoru. You are the only one I can count on."
Kikoru's face went red immediately.
"Y-you shouldn't say things like that guild master…"
Marcus smiled faintly.
" ehh alright, alright…."
He turned and began walking toward the door.
His footsteps were slow. Decisive.
"I'll be gone for a while. I'm leaving this place in your hands."
Kikoru's face went pale.
"Ehh what do you mean you are going for a while? Where will you go?"
Marcus opened the door.
The hallway light spilled into the office hallway.
"Isn't it obvious Kikoru."
His eyes began to glow faintly beneath the hood.
"I am going to become stronger...!"
Then he shut the door.
Marcus stepped outside of the office building with hands in his pockets.
As usual the streets were busy. Cars honking. Neon lights flickering. People crossing.
Yet he walked alone at the side of the road.
Hood over his head.
"Hmm… if I'm going to become stronger then I need to master the Apex."
He exhaled through his nose.
"But how am I going to master an ability I haven't even seen before or I don't even know anything about…"
Grumbleeeee.
He stopped walking.
"…Ehh shit how am I hungry again?"
He looked across the street.
A bright restaurant sign flickered.
"ehh nuggets palace huh... Hmmm no I'll eat when I get home
Grumbleeeee.
"Ehhh…"
He placed his hands on his stomach.
"Alright alright I'm going already."
He crossed to the other side and entered the restaurant.
A bell chimed above the door.
Warm air and the scent of fried food wrapped around him.
"Alright let's see what they have here…"
His eyes scanned the menu board.
"Ohhh chicken nuggets… tasty. Also fries and coke."
Grumbleeeeeeeeeee.
"Oii oiii I'm trying to get it chill for a bit will you?"
He walked to the counter.
"Hello good evening I'll love to get uhh chicken nuggets please. And emmm fries and emm two cokes ."
"Understood sir. Please wait at the table."
"Thank you."
Marcus sat down, stretching slightly in his chair.
Within minutes, his order was placed before him.
"Ooooi that's amazing!"
He leaned forward slightly, eyes sparkling.
"Hahahaha I'm glad you like it sir," the waiter responded. "But that will be $29.99 sir."
Marcus Steel responded, "That's no problem."
He handed out his ATM card to pay.
The waiter confirmed the payment.
"Thank you sir. Please enjoy your meal."
"Thank you."
Five Hours Later
"Sir… Sir… please wake up. We are about to close."
Marcus Steel slowly opened his eyes.
The figure in his vision was blurry then they became clearer.
It was the same waiter from before
"Sir please, we are about to close up."
"Ehh… close up? What is he talking about? I just ate my chicken nuggets and my fries…"
He stared at the clock.
After Twelve.
"Eiii shit! Did I sleep off?! Shit I'm sorry! I… I just said I should close my eyes for some time and I just totally slept off. I'm sorry."
The waiter waved lightly.
"No no no that's okay sir. At nuggets palace we priorities our customers more."
"Ohh I see…"
Marcus stood up, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm sorry once again."
He waved him good-bye.
"Goodnight sir."
Then he stepped outside.
The city was quieter now.
Streetlights humming softly.
"Shittt… I really should have taken my car."
He shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket.
"No buses at this time… Guess I'll have to walk home."
He began walking.
And walking.
And walking.
Until.....
He reached a park, the wind rustled the trees.
He stopped.
His voice cut through the night.
"Come out!! I know you are out there I'm not in a good mood for games… or do you have a death wish?"
Silence as the wind brushed against the trees again
Then....
A voice replied from the darkness.
"Uhhh uhhh… impressive to think you can sense me."
The ground beneath the grass began to ripple.
"As expected from a Pillar… but…"
Slowly…
From the earth, a female figure began to emerge.
Her body rising as if the ground itself obeyed her.
Her eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
"Wishing death on death isn't something that can go scot free."