Chapter Five
Kaede hesitated, her eyes flicking back to the blinking icon at the corner of her vision. It hovered there, pulsing faintly as if waiting for her to acknowledge it. She blinked a few times, half-expecting it to disappear, but it remained steadfast, drawing her attention like a beacon.
"What are you staring at?" Shogo's voice cut through her thoughts, rough and impatient.
"Nothing," she said quickly, lowering her gaze. Her hands clenched in her lap, the faint warmth still lingering from Razen's ritual. She could feel the change in her body, subtle but undeniable, a sense of energy coursing through her veins, pooling just beneath her skin.
Kirara leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Kaede with an amused grin. "You're acting all weird. Like did the old man mess up the ritual or something?"
Kaede shook her head, forcing a nervous smile. "No, I'm fine. Just… adjusting."
Kyoya glanced at her, concern flickering in his eyes. "It felt weird for me too. Like something woke up inside me. Maybe that's normal?"
Kirara snorted. "Normal? Like, nothing about this situation is normal. You're in another world, surrounded by people who'd rather use you than befriend you. Get used to it."
Kaede's stomach twisted at her words. She wanted to argue, to cling to some shred of hope that things could be different, but she knew Kirara was right. This wasn't a game, no matter how much it resembled one. There were no do-overs, no respawns.
Shogo stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "I'm done sitting around. If they want me to train, then fine. I'll show them what happens when they try to control me." He shot Kaede a sharp look, his voice dripping with disdain. "Try not to slow us down."
Before she could respond, he stormed out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him.
Kirara stretched lazily, her grin never faltering. "Well, he's in a mood. Like, don't let it get to you, though. He's all bark and… okay, like, maybe some bite."
Kyoya stood as well, his expression thoughtful. "I think I'll look around. Get a feel for this place before they start throwing us into battles." He hesitated, glancing at Kaede. "You coming?"
Kaede opened her mouth to respond, but Kirara cut in with a laugh. "Oh, let her stay. She looks like she's about to faint anyway. You go ahead and play hero, Kyoya. I'll keep her company."
Kyoya frowned but nodded reluctantly. "Alright. I'll catch up with you later."
As the door closed behind him, the room felt smaller, the air heavier. Kaede shifted uncomfortably under Kirara's gaze, her smile now carrying an edge Kaede couldn't quite place.
"You're not looking very good." Kirara said softly, her tone devoid of its usual playfulness.
Kaede blinked, startled. "What do you mean?"
Kirara leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "You're scared. Shogo's pissed off, Kyoya's curious, but you? You're terrified."
Kaede's breath hitched. "I-I don't—"
Kirara laughed, cutting her off. "Don't get why you're scared though, like, none of this is even real." She tilted her head, her smile turning thoughtful. "Once we've proven ourselves, Razen will just send us home."
Kaede's throat tightened. "Wha... I don't."
"I mean." Kirara's grin widened, but her eyes had a cold look of despair. "Its not like any of this shit is real. Like, magic? Please."
Kaede swallowed hard, the weight of Kirara's denial settling on her chest. She wasn't ready to deal with whatever that was. For a brief moment, the blinking icon at the edge of her vision pulsed brighter, drawing her attention again. Without thinking, she focused on it, her vision blurring slightly as a new interface unfolded before her.
A feminine voice immediately echoed within her mind.
<<Synchronization complete>>
<<Ultimate Skill Acknowledged: New World Order: Lord of Fate and Destiny, Ananke>>
Her breath caught as words appeared, faint and shimmering like a hologram. She glanced at Kirara, who was now leaning back in her chair, completely unaware of what Kaede was seeing.
The text continued to scroll.
[New world order: Status]
[Name:]
Kaede Honjou
Age: 19
Species: Human^
Title: None
Magic: Earth Magic • Ice Magic • Poison Magic •
---
[Unique Skills:]
Absolute Defense
Devour
Saturating Chaos
Machine God
Martyr's Devotion
Bug Urn Curse
Twisted Resurrection
Dark Rebirth
---
[Extra Skills:]
Inspire
Hydra Eater
Pandemonium
Sheep Eater
Apex of Authority
Meditation
Bomb Eater
Glow of deliverance
Heaven's Throne
---
[Ultimate Skills:]
New World Order: Lord of Fate and Destiny, Ananke
---
[Arts:]
Psychokinesis
Cataclysmic Eruption
Zone freeze
Crystallization
Earth Wielding
"Whoa..." Kaede whispered as she scrolled through all her skills. "This feels a little too much don't you think, weird voice?" She whispered again not really expecting an answer.
[Query]
<<Request Confirmed>>
<<Unique Skill: Machine God, has evolved into Ultimate Artificia, Lord of Machines>>
<<Unique Skill: Martyr's Devotion has fused with Extra Glow of deliverance and Heaven's Throne to create Ultimate Guanyin, Lord Mercy>>
<<Unique Skill: Saturating Chaos has fused with Extra Pandemonium and Apex of Authority to create Ultimate Abaddon, Lord Seeping>>
<<Unique Skill: Twisted Resurrection has evolved into Ultimate Persephone, Lord of Abyssal Rebirth>>
"...." Kaede trembled, frozen with shock as she scroll through her status and its new text.
The screen flickered once more, and the interface appeared, glowing softly in front of Kaede. The numbers and titles seemed to pulse with an almost ominous energy, as though the very status of her being had shifted. She hesitated before fully looking at it, the weight of the power now tethered to her identity.
---
[Status - New World Order: Lord of Fate and Destiny, Ananke]
Name: Kaede Honjou
Age: 19
Species: Human^
Title: None
Magic: Earth Magic • Ice Magic • Poison Magic •
---
[Unique Skills:]
Absolute Defense
Devour
Bug Urn Curse
---
[Extra Skills:]
Inspire
Hydra Eater
Sheep Eater
Meditation
Bomb Eater
---
[Ultimate Skills:]
New World Order: Lord of Fate and Destiny, Ananke
Artificia, Lord of Machine
Guanyin, Lord of Mercy
Abaddon, Lord of Seeping Chaos
Persephone, Lord of Abyssal Rebirth
---
[Arts:]
Psychokinesis
Cataclysmic Eruption
Zone Freeze
Crystallization
Earth Wielding
---
Kaede's thoughts trembled as she scrolled through the glowing text, her mind struggling to process the overwhelming flood of information. The words seemed to blur together, their weight pressing down on her chest like an iron shackle. Lord of Fate and Destiny, Ananke... Artificia, Lord of Machines... Guanyin, Lord of Mercy... Abaddon, Lord of Seeping Chaos... Persephone, Lord of Abyssal Rebirth... each name was more absurd than the last. They sounded like the titles of ancient gods, not something she should have been connected to.
A cold sweat beaded on her forehead. This isn't real. This can't be real...
But the sensation in her body—the surge of power that seemed to throb beneath her skin—was undeniable. Kaede clenched her fists, trying to calm the panic rising in her chest, but the pulse of the power only seemed to grow stronger, as though something inside her was awakening, stretching, yearning to break free.
"What the hell is all this?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes flicked back to the interface, but the more she read, the more her vision seemed to blur.
Artificia, Lord of Machines... what does that even mean? She felt a dizzying mix of awe and dread.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of a chair scraping the floor. Kaede's heart leapt in her chest, her gaze snapping toward the source of the noise. Kirara was standing, her hands resting on her hips, a bemused expression on her face.
"You've been staring off in space for ages," she said, her voice laced with curiosity and amusement. "Are you gonna freak out or what?"
Kaede didn't answer. She couldn't. The words on the screen felt like they were sinking into her very soul, embedding themselves deep in her being. I'm not supposed to have this kind of power. Am I?
Kirara raised an eyebrow. "Kaede?" Her tone shifted slightly, the teasing edge gone, replaced by a hint of genuine concern. "You good?"
Kaede swallowed hard, her throat dry. She managed a tight nod, her eyes never leaving the screen. "I'm fine." Her voice wavered, but she didn't care. You have to keep it together, Kaede. You don't have a choice.
But as she scrolled further, the numbers, the titles, the raw potential of it all, churned in her mind like a storm. She could feel her heartbeat thrumming in her ears, louder with each passing second. Lord of Machines... Lord of Chaos... Lord of Rebirth... Why me? Her thoughts hovered over the glowing text, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She had never asked for any of this. She had never wanted this kind of responsibility, this kind of power.
But here she was. What now?