The universe bent and twisted around his figure, time and gravity seemed both non-existent and overly present around him.
His white long hair flowed even though no wind or air pressure existed here.
Jigoro's twin brother.
Jigen.
The KuroKami.
Jigoro always hated coming here, seeing what his brother became after their battle. Unlike Jigoro, Jigen never really died in the truest sense.
He just… ascended.
And he hated when someone reached his level. That was why he was here.
Jigen, from his throne, smiled "Hello, brother. It's been a long time has it not?" he said, though more mockingly than fondly.
"Not long enough, I'm afraid, Kuro" Jigoro grimaced.
"Since you are here, I assume you brought one of the brats again, am I correct"
Jigoro flinched a bit "Not exactly. He… fell through. Was not supposed to cross over but did. I will assume you already know why I'm here." He replied.
Sighing, the spectral being stood from his throne and walked over to his twin brother, aura briefly flaring before returning to a low hum along his skin.
"I know… and I refuse" he said, much to Jigoro's surprise.
That was a first.
Jigen turned and continued "You said it yourself, he wasn't supposed to be here and yet, he is. He's an anomaly, a distortion, a glitch. And glitches needs to be removed for the sake of the rest of the system" and with each word, Jigoro flinched.
He was right but… dammit… he was just a kid. Never asked for any of this, the power OR being reborn.
He just wanted a normal life. It was his fault, and he can't do anything about it.
Jigoro didn't answer immediately. His boots hovered inches above the floor that wasn't a floor, fists clenched so tight the air around them warped.
"He wasn't meant to come here," Jigoro said at last. "That doesn't make me a sin."
Jigen chuckled. The sound echoed too many times for a single voice.
"No, brother. It makes me worse."
That landed.
"You think I don't see it?" Jigen said, eyes narrowing. "The way he lets that thing take over. The way he steps aside and pretends it isn't him pulling the trigger."
"That's not true."
"Then why does he call it Phoenix," Jigen asked. "Why give it a name if it's just another part of him?"
Jigoro had no answer.
Jigen leaned back, smile fading just a little.
"You're repeating the same mistake. You did it with me. You're doing it again."
Jigoro's voice dropped.
"You chose this."
Jigen's gaze hardened.
"And he didn't?"
Another silence.
The throne seemed to pull Jigen back into place as his brother started to walk away.
He smiled mockingly "So… what will you do now, what will YOU choose, ShiroKami?"
Jigoro stopped, the universe seemed to pause with me as he looked over my shoulder "Humanity, always"
His voice lowered once more as he glowed faintly, anger could be felt in the air around him "And I do not go by that name anymore" he said before disappearing with a thump that echoed through the universe.
The pressure didn't leave with him.
Something, somewhere, began to fall.
TENSEI'S POV
Sunlight decided to be dramatic today, stabbing straight through my eyelids. Perfect. Just what I needed.
I opened one eye. Then the other. Yep. Still horizontal. Gravity apparently doesn't give a damn about my schedule.
My chest heaved. My side ached. Somewhere in the back of my brain, Phoenix was kicking around like a toddler hopped up on energy drinks. Typical.
Mawata appeared. Because of course. Timing impeccable as ever.
She was about to wake me up… or hit me with a baseball bat, I don't know, before she flinched back at Mach 12
"Wait… were you sleeping?" she asked, like that's a real question right now.
I blinked slowly, trying to remember if sarcasm could kill. "Nope. I was just… existing horizontally. Very productive, very Zen."
She gave a soft laugh. Gentle, patient… slightly terrified, probably aware that any sudden movement from me could unleash an interdimensional apocalypse. Again.
I sighed. Not that it did any good. The dream was still heavy on my shoulders. Not that anyone outside my room would notice. Or care.
Breakfast could wait. War could wait. Phoenix could not.
But hey, at least I'm awake. And apparently still alive. Small victories.
Wait… how the fuck am I still alive?!
I shot up and looked around. No ghosts from the past, no spectral beings who can dissolve me with looks alone.
'Was that all a dream?' I wondered.
My heartbeat said no.
The ache in my chest said definitely not.
'Nope! It definitely wasn't—'
.
The light swallowed everything.
Then folded inward.
I instinctively closed my eyes
I opened my eyes to darkness — warm, familiar darkness — and slowly floated upward. My vision was blurry at first, but as shapes came into focus, I saw two figures standing before me.
A man and a woman.
Both radiated power.
Both looked like they had been waiting a very long time.
The woman had long, flowing hair and a gentle expression — though she looked a little too exhausted to maintain it. The man had sharp features and the permanent expression of someone who had witnessed every questionable decision I had ever made.
"Ah… crap," I muttered. "Am I dead? Did I die? Did I double die?"
"No," the woman said softly. "You're unconscious. And you keep worrying me."
The man crossed my arms. "He doesn't worry me. He just pisses me off."
I pointed at him. "Yup. That's my ancestor."
The woman grabbed the man's wrist and dragged his arm down. "Stop. Be nice."
"No," the man said immediately.
I sighed. "So… what now? I wanna go back. My best friend's waiting. Probably panicking. Also, I left my ramen halfway finished. Very tragic."
The man stepped forward. "You cannot leave until you learn something important."
"Is it emotional maturity? 'Cause if it is, I'll fail."
"No," the man said. "It's—"
"—that you need to stop throwing yourself at death like it owes you money," the woman completed.
I blinked.
"Oh."
Silence.
The man coughed. "Also, you're reckless."
"And suicidal."
"And annoying."
"And—"
"Okay, I get it," I snapped. "I'm a problem child. Damn."
The woman groaned softly into her hand — tired, motherly energy radiating off her.
"It's because we love you," she said. "We want you to live."
I froze, eyes softening.
Then—
The man punched me in the stomach.
"AND BECAUSE YOU'RE A MORON!"
I folded like a paper napkin.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" I yelled, coughing.
"For nearly dying," the man said, preparing another punch.
The woman sighed, grabbed his hand again. "Don't break him."
"Why not? He'll heal."
"Stop teaching our descendant the worst coping habits!"
Their argument escalated — loud, rapid, and deeply unproductive.
I stood between them, expression blank.
"My family is insane," I muttered.
But I smiled anyway.
I felt warm. Safe. Kinda like I belonged.
The woman noticed and stepped forward, placing a glowing hand on my chest.
"It's time to wake up, Tensei."
"But—"
"We will continue later."
The light vanished.
Sunlight stabbed through my eyelids like it had personal beef with me.
My body felt wrong. Too heavy. Like gravity had remembered me all at once.
I opened one eye. Then the other. Yep. Still horizontal.
Mawata was right there.
For half a second, I thought everything was fine.
But something was wrong.
She was too close. Too quiet.
Her eyes weren't on me.
They were fixed on the corner of the room.
"…Tensei," she said slowly.
My stomach dropped.
"What?" I asked. "What's wrong?"
She swallowed.
"There's someone here."
The temperature fell.
And for the first time since I woke up, Phoenix went completely silent.