Part 1/3
Rougen's Past: The Zodiac Clan
—
Long before Japan became the Death Country.
Long before Tengen High.
Long before Radiances, Calamities, and Absolute Ranks.
There was a different era.
An era where the world was not yet afraid of magic.
And Rougen Ray was not yet called a Master.
He was just Rougen.
A teenager with messy silver hair, always tired eyes, and an attitude that made it look like he did not care about anything, even though he cared more than anyone else.
The sky above them was blue. Not distorted. Not fractured by mana storms. Just… normal.
They were standing on a cliff overlooking a massive valley filled with ancient ruins. Old Zodiac-era structures, covered in vines and glowing runes.
Ziroya Ketara was the first to break the silence.
"So… whose idea was it to accept a mission in a place that looks like it wants to eat us?"
Ziroya was tall, lean, with sharp eyes and long black hair tied in a loose knot. His magic was Star Thread. He could manipulate glowing cosmic threads that cut through space itself.
Nagoya Shinimaki laughed.
"That was Rougen's idea. As usual."
Nagoya had short brown hair, a constant grin, and the most reckless personality out of the four. His magic was Pulse Drive. He could amplify kinetic energy in his body, turning simple movements into devastating force.
Ren Shinoegami stood at the edge of the cliff, arms crossed, wind blowing through his dark hair.
Ren was calm. Too calm.
The kind of calm that made people feel safe just by standing near him.
His magic was Cursed Flame.
The same flame Hiko would inherit years later.
And then there was Rougen.
He yawned.
"I told you. Zodiac ruins usually mean good rewards."
Ziroya looked at him.
"They also usually mean ancient monsters."
Rougen shrugged.
"Same thing."
Ren smirked.
"That confidence is going to get you killed one day."
Rougen looked at Ren.
"If I die, you're paying for my funeral."
Nagoya laughed so hard he almost fell off the cliff.
The four of them.
They were inseparable.
Not just friends.
They were members of the Zodiac Clan.
A secret organization created centuries ago by Renzen Hironoma himself. The strongest sorcerer in history. The man who fought the devils. The man who commanded the Eight Lords.
The Zodiac Clan existed for one purpose.
To preserve the balance of the world.
To prevent reality from collapsing under its own magic.
And right now…
They were just four idiots joking around before a mission.
Ziroya stretched his arms.
"So what exactly is this mission again?"
Rougen's expression changed slightly.
Not joking this time.
"We're supposed to find a vessel."
Nagoya blinked.
"…A vessel?"
Ren turned slowly.
"For who?"
Rougen looked at the ancient ruins below.
"For the current Zodiac Leader."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Ziroya's smile faded.
Nagoya stopped laughing.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"You mean Jukari Renzen."
Rougen nodded.
Jukari Renzen.
The descendant and reincarnation line of Renzen Hironoma.
The current absolute leader of the Zodiac Clan.
The one maintaining the world's core magical structure.
Nagoya swallowed.
"…Isn't he immortal?"
Rougen shook his head.
"No."
Ziroya frowned.
"What do you mean no?"
Rougen took a deep breath.
"Every Zodiac Leader's soul decays."
Silence.
Ren spoke quietly.
"…Decays?"
Rougen continued.
"The power they hold is too much. Their soul gets washed away by the world itself. After about ten years, the soul becomes unstable. After that…"
He paused.
"The leader disappears."
Nagoya stared.
"You mean dies?"
Rougen shook his head again.
"Worse. Their existence collapses. And if the leader disappears without a successor…"
Ren finished the sentence.
"The world's magic structure breaks."
Rougen nodded.
Ziroya ran a hand through his hair.
"So that's why we need a vessel."
Rougen looked at them.
"A compatible human body. Strong soul. High magic affinity. Someone who can accept Jukari's soul."
Nagoya whispered.
"…So someone has to give up their life."
Rougen answered.
"Yes."
Another silence.
This time heavier.
Ren closed his eyes.
"And if we don't find one?"
Rougen looked at the ruins again.
"Then in less than a year, the world enters a permanent collapse state."
Nagoya forced a laugh.
"…No pressure or anything."
They moved.
Deep into the ruins.
The Zodiac structures were massive. Floating platforms. Rotating sigils. Ancient scripts carved into reality itself.
Ziroya activated his Star Threads to scan the area.
"Mana density is insane. Whoever lives near this place is definitely not normal."
They found him at dusk.
A small village built around a glowing crystal lake.
And in the center of it…
A boy.
Betelugo Fetazo.
He was sitting on a rock, skipping stones across the lake.
He looked completely ordinary.
Brown hair. Average height. Calm eyes.
No divine aura. No monstrous presence.
Nagoya whispered.
"…That's our candidate?"
Rougen activated his perception magic.
And froze.
"…Holy…"
Ren felt it too.
Ziroya stepped back.
"That magic… it's perfectly balanced."
Betelugo's magic was called Resonance Core.
A rare ability that allowed his soul to synchronize with external magical structures.
Not control.
Not resist.
Synchronize.
Ren spoke softly.
"He's… the perfect vessel."
They approached.
Betelugo looked up.
"Uh… hi?"
Nagoya waved awkwardly.
"Hey."
Betelugo tilted his head.
"…You guys look like you came out of an anime."
Ziroya coughed.
"That's rude."
Rougen stepped forward.
"Betelugo Fetazo."
Betelugo blinked.
"…How do you know my name?"
Rougen looked him in the eyes.
"Because the world is about to end, and you're the only one who can stop it."
Betelugo stared at him.
"…What."
Ren added calmly.
"No exaggeration."
Betelugo laughed.
"Okay, you're definitely cult members."
Ziroya sighed.
"This is going to be annoying."
Rougen activated a small projection.
The Zodiac symbol appeared in the air.
Ancient. Massive. Real.
Betelugo's smile slowly faded.
"…That's… not illusion magic."
Rougen spoke.
"You have the ability to carry another soul."
Betelugo's voice dropped.
"…I know."
They froze.
Ren looked at him.
"You know?"
Betelugo looked at the lake.
"I've always felt… like something is missing inside me. Like there's space for someone else."
Silence.
Nagoya swallowed.
Rougen said quietly.
"If you accept this… you will stop existing as yourself."
Betelugo closed his eyes.
"…And if I refuse?"
Ren answered.
"The world collapses."
Betelugo laughed weakly.
"So I either die… or everyone dies."
Ziroya muttered.
"That's one hell of a choice."
Betelugo looked up at the sky.
"…Do I at least get to say goodbye to my family?"
Rougen nodded.
"Yes."
Betelugo smiled.
"Then… I'll do it."
Ren felt something tighten in his chest.
Nagoya clenched his fists.
Ziroya looked away.
Rougen simply bowed his head.
And that was the moment.
The moment they realized…
Saving the world was not heroic.
It was cruel.
And this mission…
Was the beginning of everything breaking.
End of Part 1/3