RE: Zero King of Kings

Chapter 1 A New Beginning

Kaishinmo's vision blurred as he stumbled forward, the air around him thick and oppressive. His senses, usually sharp and finely tuned, were engulfed by a strange weight—a distortion that seemed to tug at the edges of his existence. It was like his very soul was being pulled through a needle's eye. When he blinked, the world shifted, twisting into sharp clarity, and he found himself no longer in the dark alley of his pursuit.

Instead, he stood amidst a small, snow-covered clearing, surrounding him with a strange, otherworldly silence. The frigid air nipped at his face as he slowly took in his new surroundings. This place was foreign, unsettling in its stillness as if time itself had stopped. His grip tightened on the high-collared black jacket, his fingers instinctively brushing against the blood mark across his face, the only thing grounding him amidst the swirling confusion in his mind.

Kaishinmo's gaze moved down to his hands, noticing how the fresh snow melted upon contact, seeping into the fabric of his jacket. He frowned, the coldness prickling his skin and making him aware of the silence echoing around him. For a moment, the pain of losing his brothers surged within him—Eso's graceful laugh, Kechizu's unrestrained energy, and Yuta's silent strength all seemed so far away. He had no idea how he had arrived here, but the foreign aura surrounding this place was unmistakable.

"Where... am I?" he muttered, his voice sounding foreign to his ears. He took a slow step forward, the snow crunching softly beneath his boots. His body still hummed with the resolve he had carried in his previous battle—the oath he had sworn to avenge his brothers. Yet, in this unfamiliar world, his purpose felt fragmented, as if it, too, had been transported to an uncharted realm.

Suddenly, a soft, almost eerie melody broke the silence, drifting through the clearing and wrapping around him like a distant whisper. Kaishinmo's gaze snapped to his right, catching sight of a figure draped in white. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her pale blue eyes focused intently on something in the distance. She looked ethereal, almost too pure for the harsh world Kaishinmo was accustomed to.

He moved toward her instinctively, his feet finding their way through the snow as if compelled by an invisible force. The woman didn't seem to notice him as she continued to walk forward, her expression calm but strangely detached, as if she were following some unseen path.

The woman's steps were light, barely leaving any trace in the snow. Kaishinmo slowed, his instincts cautioning him to keep his distance. She seemed otherworldly, her presence delicate yet powerful, a contrast that intrigued him. For a cursed spirit who had endured battles, betrayals, and a lifetime of bitterness, this strange tranquility was both unsettling and oddly... alluring.

Just as he was about to turn away, she paused and glanced over her shoulder, her pale blue eyes locking onto his. A chill that had nothing to do with the cold washed over him. She looked at him with a quiet curiosity, as if she were seeing into a part of him he rarely exposed.

"Are you lost?" she asked, her voice soft yet steady.

Kaishinmo hesitated, gripping the edge of his black jacket. "Maybe," he replied, his tone guarded. "But I'm not sure I'm meant to be here,"

A faint smile touched her lips, and she turned fully to face him. "Few are," she replied, her gaze unwavering. "This world is... different. It's a place where those who don't belong often find themselves drawn,"

The weight of her words hung in the air, resonating with a part of him he rarely acknowledged. In this strange world, his anger felt dimmed, as though even his hatred had been swallowed by the unnatural quiet around him. Yet, Kaishinmo could feel the resentment brewing beneath the surface—his promise, his mission. Even here, that would not fade.