Break your Origin (Shatterpoint Paradox Part 1)

From the Journal of Raizo Arashi – Entry 01

Date: November 7th, 1025

Time: Around 8 P.M.

´´Well, I guess starting this off with a title and a time stamp is the most accurate way to go. This isn't really something I thought I'd ever do. Then again, with all of these thoughts running through my mind I just had to find some way to vent so keeping a journal seems like the best way to go. Where the hell do I even begin? There are so many things to say about what all I have experienced that it's probably a book of its own or something…wait it is…okay now I'm just rambling here. Alright, seriously just gonna go with this now.

It's been almost two weeks since the Pandora Incident in which my family and I myself fought against the might of the Scarlet Cerberus and saved my world and the universe from complete destruction. With that, now everyone knows about the concept of the multiverse as well as beings that surpass the common definition of gods. The result of that war has torn a massive rift in the known structure of the world as well as this giant civil war that has been going on for months now. Given the scale of the conflict with Scarlet Cerberus, many changes have taken place.

First, a ceasefire was called between the different factions within the war. Forces from the Capital, the Revolutionary Army, as well as the Order of the Sapphire Phoenix, have all agreed to temporarily lay down their arms to focus on rebuilding and getting the many lands back under some iota of peace. It's rather ironic that it took a war in order to halt another war but given the shit that everyone has seen, I'm pretty sure we all need a break. Though it feels like conflict could start up between the three sides at any given time, it's nice to know that there is some semblance of peace among us all as we strive to heal our wounds.

I haven't heard of any movements from Aquilo since the great battle but I do know that he and I will cross paths soon due to our pending duel. As for Night Raid, there hasn't been any word of their movements since I had to…bid farewell to them. Even though I know it is my fault for my parting with them, I still miss them and I hope they are doing well. As for the Sapphire Phoenix, my mother has been focusing her foremost efforts on rebuilding her forces as well as the main camp. In addition, she has already been constructing plans on how she intends to take the Capital. It seems that not even a brush with death will keep her from focusing on her goals. With her elite four, well they have been helping but busy in their own unique ways.

Genesis has been trying to mitigate some of the responsibilities that my mother has when it comes to the army. He's been reorganizing the troops that are able as well as directing new supply routes in order to make sure the army has an adequate stock of food, water, and medicine. In addition, he's been working non-stop on rebuilding the fortress. Orion has also been lending a hand with Genesis from time to time but he's been mostly working on a little side project that often takes him far from prying eyes quite a lot. I tried to ask him about it one day but he said it was just a special little room that would help with training. He also made a playful joke that I'd have the honor of testing it first in a serious trial sooner or later but I do believe he was being serious about it. I seriously don't get this guy in the slightest but I generally try not to since I can hardly get a read on him but I digress.

Zephyria and Adena have been handling a few odds and ends but have lately been at each other's throats lately. There seems to be a disharmony within their relationship. I have no clue what's been going on between them. I mean, Adena has been spending a lot of time with me lately after my big brother and my big sisters left. She told me that she felt like she had to get to know me all over again since she has discovered a whole new world in regard to me. Of course, when she told me this she had a rather flustered expression on her face which did make me smile a bit. I actually do not mind this sentiment since…well, I do believe our engagement from when we were children still holds water even after all these years. Seeing how close we are may have caused a bit of a hiccup with Zephy. I think they do still have something going on between them so I'm not sure what to say about that aside from the fact that the jealousy is strong with this.

I know I do want to get close to Adena again especially since I have all of my memories but…I still find myself having a small sense of regret over my situation with Leone. In addition, I have to come to terms that Assana wasn't actually my first love but my second or something, and then to find out she's still…dammit this is all so fucking confusing. My mind doesn't know what to think and I feel like I have people trying to tear pieces of my heart away from me. It's so overwhelming that I just don't even know how to feel anymore. Despite all of this, it's not even a taste of what all I want to write down in this journal.

During the Pandora Incident, the one known as "The Architect" confronted me, and since our 'conversation', I've been lost in my head trying to make sense of what my life is and my identity. Is my life truly a lie? I mean, I just found out that the man whom I thought was my father isn't actually my father and that my real father is some ridiculous god. Then I found out that everything that I have done up until now has been preordained by someone else just to satisfy their own goals. Who is to say that I'm not just living according to this person's design? What the hell is the point of even living now? I don't understand it…nothing is like it was before; I know not who I am anymore!

I just want to find some semblance of peace but every time I go to close my eyes, The Architect's words just play in my mind over and over again. It's driving me to my breaking point…if it hasn't done so already. In fact, there's something I have to do now. It's something that I came to conclusion about over this past week after all of the devastation caused by this Pandora Incident occurred. In some way, I've caused all of this. The Pandora War, the God's Tear, my mother's involvement in this war, just…everything was somehow born of my own design whether anyone wants to admit it or not. So much pain and sorrow have been spread because of my existence. No, all of the tragedy that has befallen this world has been set in motion due to one event that ultimately brought me down this path.

This world…would it be this way if my clan wasn't slaughtered 6 years ago? I mean, if the Blood Wolves survived then I never would have taken Indra's Judgment and so many things that I have done with this power would never have happened right? If only there was a way to…there is actually. My speed…I can use my speed to…yes that's it. I know what I have to do now. It must be done whether it breaks the rules or not. I have to know what life would be like if these horrific tragedies never occurred and as I record these thoughts, I'm only coming to this conclusion of what I must do. I'm going to change it.

This is probably ignorant and selfish but like Leone told me, I'm nothing but a selfish bastard. I can only hope that if anyone reads this, you can understand why I'm going to do what I'm about to do. Even if it comes across as self-serving, I just want to rid the world of these horrors that were inadvertently born of my existence. To those I've hurt, I hope that one day you'll be able to forgive me. To those who are disappointed in me, I can only believe that you may be able to see my perspective. If nothing else, I'm just a waste of space that's trying to matter for once. I just want to make things right and actually do something that I know for a fact will be of my own free will. Though…there is a chance that this is just another thing that will somehow benefit some power that I cannot understand. For better or worse, my life can be summarized as one that exists on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell.``

***

After recording his thoughts in his journal Raizo sat down his book at the foot of his cot within his tent. Grabbing his gear, the youth quietly crept outside of his quarters and made his way through the night sneaking away from the Sapphire Phoenix encampment. Once cleared of any prying eyes, the male took one last look back at the makeshift military base as if bidding farewell. With that lingering gaze, the male refocused his attention straight ahead and took off into the darkness to do what he sought to do.

As the time that felt like an eternity passed, Raizo found himself hundreds of miles away from the location of the Sapphire Phoenix wandering in the countryside within a fraction of a second. The light of the moon beats down upon the youth as his red eyes glistened in the night. A heavy feeling of misery weighed down his chest as numbness gripped his entire body. It wasn't something that was unfamiliar to him as this feeling had taken hold of his heart for many days now. Taking a deep breath, the boy looked around his surroundings.

"This ironically feels familiar," he spoke to himself as he stood upon a large dirt road that seemed to stretch endlessly into the night. Memories from the God's Tear days came back to him as this setting reminded him of when his big brother tossed him back into this world. It was a rather interesting experience but hopefully, he wouldn't have to worry about winding up in someone's chest while doing this. Unsure of how much speed would be required to generate a portal through time, Raizo took a deep breath.

"Heart of the Storm!" he shouted as his body became enveloped in a purple aura and his eyes change to their primrose shade as he felt his power spike dramatically. Taking a moment to relish in the strong burst of energy flowing through him, the boy knelt down as if taking a stance at the starting line for a race. His breathing became slow and steady as everything around him seemed to freeze in place. He could no longer hear the sounds of the creatures of the night nor feel the breeze of the air. In the next instant, the Stormbringer took off in less than a blink of an eye following the dirt road underneath him. As the flash of an amethyst streak illuminated the area, it eventually could be seen to drawing a circle within the area for a brief period of time. In the next instant, space seemed to warp as a white rift seemed to tear into existence. A temporal distortion appeared on the path that Raizo circled. In the following moment, the purple streak disappeared within it as the rift quickly closed behind him.

Immersed in what could only be described as a kaleidoscope composed of his memories, Raizo found himself racing through time seeing all the moments that have occurred in his life so far. He kept his focus narrowed on the moment that everything changed for him and what he felt was ultimately the event that led him down the path that ruined the known world. The boy wanted to try and arrive at least a day before that fateful day which meant hunting down and erasing the one who caused it. As he thought this, everything became white.

***

Year 1019

Time: Unknown

Regaining his sight, Raizo found himself standing on a cliff that overlooked the area that was home to the Order of the Blood Wolves. The light of the moon basked over the peaceful village that the Stormbringer called home. Seeing it once again brought tears to the boy's eyes as he knew that his trip had been a success but now wasn't the time to get sentimental. One, he stuck out like a sore thumb while in his Heart state, and two, he had to find his target before that massacre took place. Using his superior speed, he began his search for the treacherous snake that threatened to tear this peace asunder.

A lone figure draped in a black cloak was wandering away from the village trying to be sneaky about how they left the area. Underneath that very cloak was the very person that would ultimately change the life of Raizo Arashi forever—Aquilo. The would-be Silver Fox had just managed to break away from prying eyes as he sought to carry out his absolute act of betrayal against everyone he's ever known in order to satisfy his own greed and lust for power. Taking off in the midst of the darkness that filled the forest, the emerald-eyed youth occasionally felt the light of the moon over his figure as if that lone celestial body was bearing witness to what he was about to do; however, he would not have that chance.

In the next instant, a blinding light assailed the youth as he came to a small clearing thus disorienting him for a small period of time. It was within that time, he felt his breath cease and his throat filled with an iron taste. Red pools of liquid burst from his mouth as well as his chest decorating the once-green grass beneath his feet. His vision became hazy as he heard his heartbeat slowly fade. Unsure of what just happened, the male turned around to see a presence that could only be described as otherworldly stare down at him with irradiated primrose hues. As an aura of purple surrounded the ghost, he saw that a blade was being held by it as it impaled him.

"You're never going to get the chance to slaughter anyone. Burn in hell you treacherous son of a bitch," a voice said filling Aquilo's ears as he collapsed forward with his life taken from him.

Seeing his target die before him, Raizo took a deep breath as his aura from Heart of the Storm disappeared. He felt a brief sense of relief as he had managed to prevent a disaster that would forever change the scope of his life as well as affect the lives of many more be averted. However, little did he know that this would wind up costing him more than he has initially predicted. The male went to wipe off the blade of his weapon when he felt his whole body grow weak. What followed next was just blackness as his vision was seemingly stolen from him. The glass ceiling that blocked the Stormbringer from moving forward was shattered at long last but at what cost?