—"Haaaah... Very well."
Kirito, after inhaling, felt his blue eyes and face return to calm. He knew he had to focus on the present first.
**Krrrk...**
—"I must find a direction... And that is..."
{—"Controlling time."}
Kirito frowned at receiving an immediate answer from his second line of thought.
**Plink—tok**
Bringing a hand to his chin, he said:
—"Control time? Really?... For being the most reasonable part of my mind, you bring some truly crazy ideas..."
{—"Reasons..."}
He was interrupted by his other mental voice before he could say more, and it continued:
{—"I must find logical reasons to believe that this is possible. To believe that the impossible is possible. I must first look for anomalies that have occurred in this world while I was away..."}
—"I see..."
The phrase was cryptic, but Kirito did not stop to analyze it. He nodded again. He could do that. Look for anomalies. Strange events. Occurrences that defied logic.
—"And the best place to start looking for those anomalies is where the mysterious note points and says..."
{<"Time is controllable in Brain Burst.">}
—"That's it... Brain Burst... I need to know what it is first..."
**Krrr—snap**
Then Kirito opened the interface with a thought. This time it was easier than before. Much easier. As if his mind had completely synchronized with NEOSPHERE.
—"Alright —he said aloud, though there was no one to hear him—. Let's begin."
**Fzzzz**
**Tin**
The NEOSPHERE interface blossomed before his eyes with great fluidity.
—"System. Information search: Brain Burst."
The icon flashed, and the neutral voice responded:
[—"Request received. Searching Central Files... Processing."]
**Bloop—fzzz**
The cursor spun for just a second before the screen was populated with data. Kirito raised an eyebrow.
**Pling—krk**
[—"Brain Burst. Full Name: Brain Burst 2039. Augmented reality program with cognitive acceleration capability. Launched in the year 2039. Its main function allowed users to experience accelerated thinking, making real-time seem to stop around them."]
Sssshhh—tin
—"2039... Cognitive acceleration... Time stopped..."
...
Kirito remained silent for a moment. His eyes scanned the number repeatedly.
—"2039..."
And then.
—"Wait. Wait a moment."
{—"I noticed."}
—"Higa died in 2031. The note found next to his body... 'Time is controllable in Brain Burst'... was left by his killer. Eight years before Brain Burst even existed."
{—"Exactly. Whoever killed Higa left a clue about something that wouldn't be invented for eight more years. The killer knew the future."}
Kirito shook his head, processing.
—"No wonder the police never understood anything. They investigated Brain Burst in 2031 and found absolutely nothing because the program didn't even exist. It was a meaningless word to them."
{—"But not for the one who wrote it. That person knew exactly what it meant. And knew that someone, in the future, would also understand."}
—"Me. That person knew I would read it."
**Crrrrhk**
Kirito clenched his fists.
{—"Which logically and irrefutably proves that time can be manipulated. Someone brought that information from the future to 2031. And left it next to Higa's corpse for me to find."}
Kirito looked up at the starless digital sky.
—"The note was not just a clue. It was proof. Proof that someone already controls time. And that this someone wants me to learn to do it too."
Kirito felt the exhaustion of the last few hours transform into determination.
Turning his gaze back to the system of this world, he said:
—"System. Continue with the information on Brain Burst. Don't stop."
[—"Processing. Continuing data exposition."]
**Bloop—fzzz**
[—"The program operated using Neuro-Linker technology, a neural connection device implanted at birth. Only those born with such an implant could activate the acceleration, which limited the user base to children and teenagers under fifteen years old."]
{—"An age limit... That kept the program hidden from any adult with real authority."}
Kirito nodded.
**Pling—tok**
—"Continue —he ordered the system—. Who were its creators?"
The screen flashed and displayed a list of names. But the system highlighted one above all.
Fzzzz—mm
[—"The main development of Brain Burst was attributed to a research team led by an individual whose name appears as Chief Administrator of The Fluctuating Light."]
—"The Fluctuating Light... —Kirito squinted—. Sounds familiar."
Bloop—shhhh
[—"Name registered in development files: Kirigaya Kazuto."]
**Sssshhhh**
The digital wind stopped blowing on the rooftop.
**Tick—tok**
Kirito stood still. His fingers trembled.
—"What...?"
[—"Confirmed. The name associated with the main authorship of the Brain Burst core is Kirigaya Kazuto. No records of other developers with the same level of access to the source code were found."]
**Fzzz—shing**
{—"Interesting. So my copy not only lived my life. He also created one of the most enigmatic programs in history."}
Kirito shook his head, processing.
**Krrrk—plin**
—"It wasn't me... It was him. The other. The impostor."
Shhhh—tok
{—"But it carried my name. And apparently, also my mind."}
—"This changes things..."
**Pling—fzzz**
[—"Do you wish to continue with information about the nature of the program?"]
—"Yes. Continue."
**Click—shhhh**
[—"Brain Burst operated under a point system of acceleration obtained through battles in a virtual fighting environment. Users, known as Burst Linkers, faced off in one-on-one duels. Total defeat meant permanent loss of the program and the erasure of all associated memories. The ultimate declared goal was to reach Level 10 to unlock the true nature of the Accelerated World."]
—"Memory erasure..."
{—"Few users, absolute secrecy, and a promise of truth at the end of the road... Sounds familiar."}
There were already enough parallels with SAO.
**Tick—tok—shhhh**
[—"The program remained active for several years. Its user base never exceeded a thousand active players simultaneously. In 2047, Brain Burst was officially discontinued after an event known as the defeat of the Pure Color Kings. From then on, its servers were progressively shut down. As of now, in the year 2169, Brain Burst is considered an extinct program."]
—"The defeat of the Pure Color Kings... What exactly was that?"
**Pling—fzzz**
[—"The Pure Color Kings were six Burst Linkers who had reached Level 9 and dominated the Accelerated World. They were considered unbeatable. However, a single player achieved what no one else had managed: defeating them all."]
Kirito raised an eyebrow.
—"One player? Who?"
[—"His username was Silver Crow."]
—"Silver Crow..."
Kirito repeated the name softly. It did not ring a bell.
**Fzzz—mm**
{—"One player defeated the six kings... Either he was exceptionally skilled, or he had something that others did not."}
—"Did Silver Crow receive help from anyone during those battles?"
[—"Affirmative. Records indicate that Silver Crow had the support of multiple allies during his rise. Among them, one standout Burst Linker whose username was Black Lotus. She was one of the Six Kings of Pure Color but left her position to fight alongside Silver Crow, and together, with the help of other allies, they managed to defeat the remaining kings."]
—"Black Lotus... A queen who turned against her own. Interesting."
**Pling—tok**
At that moment, Kirito raised his hand before saying:
—"First of all, I want to know more about these two, the winner and the one who was a king. Give me their real names."
**Fzzzz—click**
[—"Processing request. The identity data of the Burst Linkers was sealed after the program's discontinuation. However, since they were people who died over a century ago and are no longer relevant, the confidentiality protocol has expired. I can show the information."]
—"Go ahead."
**Shhhh—tin**
[—"Silver Crow. Real name: Arita Haruyuki. Nationality: Japanese. Burst Linker of the Nega Nebulus legion. Reached Level 10 and was responsible for the defeat of several Pure Color Kings."]
**Fzzzz—tin**
The screen displayed a grainy image of a round-faced boy with a sturdy build and a shy expression. Kirito watched him for a few seconds.
—"A boy... Nothing like an unbeatable warrior. And Black Lotus?"
**Pling—fzzz**
[—"Black Lotus. Real name: Kuroyukihime. Nationality: Japanese. Burst Linker of the Nega Nebulus legion. Ex-Pure Color Queen. She possessed a deep knowledge of the Accelerated World. Became Arita Haruyuki's main ally."]
The screen showed an image of a girl with long, straight brown hair, dark eyes, and a serene yet intense expression. Kirito stared at her. There was something in her gaze that reminded him of someone.
{—"Kuroyukihime... A queen who renounced her throne to fight alongside a novice."}
**Shhhh—mm**
This piqued Kirito's interest, and with his arms crossed, he asked the system:
—"Is there any interesting data about the relationship between Arita Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime? Something that happened outside the game."
**Tick—fzzzz**
[—"Affirmative. There is an interesting fact in the historical records. Kuroyukihime and Arita Haruyuki formed a couple in the real world until marriage. According to multiple records, the event that solidified their bond was a traffic accident in a street in Tokyo, where Kuroyukihime saved Arita Haruyuki's life."]
{—"Interesting."}
Kirito raised an eyebrow.
—"She saved his life? How?"
**Pling—krk**
[—"Kuroyukihime used the special command of Brain Burst known as Physical Burst, a skill exclusive to Level 9 Burst Linkers that allows acceleration of the physical body in the real world. The command consumes ninety-nine percent of the user's Burst Points. Kuroyukihime activated it to push Arita Haruyuki out of the path of a vehicle that was about to run him over."]
—"That is... Breaking human limits..."
{—"Accelerating the real body... Not just the mind. That girl spent almost all her points to save her friend. An admirable madness."}
Kirito felt fascination.
—"Logically, she survived by a miracle..."
[—"Affirmative. Kuroyukihime survived the accident, although she suffered severe injuries due to the extreme physical stress that the Physical Burst command inflicts on the body. Arita Haruyuki stayed by her side throughout her recovery."]
{—"A girl who accelerates her body beyond human limits... That's proof that Brain Burst could manipulate the physical laws of the real world... An underutilized technology."}
—"I want to see it. System, is there any visual record of that accident?"
**Pling—click**
[—"Affirmative. There are multiple recordings of the incident. Traffic cameras, security cameras from a nearby café, and bystander recordings captured the moment from different angles."]
—"Play them. I want to see them all."
**Whirrr—fzzzz**
The interface expanded, and multiple windows appeared before his eyes. Each showed the same moment from different perspectives.
**Shhhh—tin**
The scene was clear. A quiet street. A sidewalk with few people. Two figures walking together: a robust boy and a girl with dark hair and elegant bearing. Arita Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime.
They were talking. Kirito could see their lips move, although there was no audio. And then, the vehicle appeared.
**Fzzzz—tin**
A car that turned the corner at reckless speed, directly towards the boy.
(—"...")
Kirito held his breath.
**Shing—fzzzt**
In the images, Kuroyukihime moved.
But it wasn't a normal movement. It was a flash. A fraction of a second where her body seemed to blur. She pushed Haruyuki with both hands, launching him out of the way. The car hit her.
**Crrrk**
Kirito clenched his fists.
—"That... That wasn't human speed."
{—"No. It wasn't. That girl moved at a physically impossible speed for a body without assistance. She activated the command in a fraction of a second. Calculated the trajectory. Intervened. And paid the price."}
—"I admire her courage," Kirito said quietly. "But I need to see more. System, can you play the video in slow motion? Very slow. A thousand times slower than normal."
**Pling—click**
[—"Processing. I can interpolate the available data to simulate playback at the requested speed."]
—"Do it."
**Fzzzz—shhhnk**
The image slowed down to an almost unreal point. The cars on the street seemed motionless. The leaves of the trees, frozen in the air. And there, in that suspended instant, Kirito saw it.
Kuroyukihime and Haruyuki were on the sidewalk. The car, barely inches away, moved millimeter by millimeter. But they weren't frozen. They were moving. Talking.
—"It can't be..."
**Shhhh—tok**
Kirito brought a fist close to his lips while keeping his arms crossed.
{—"They're conversing. In the middle of an accident, with time practically frozen, those two are having a conversation."}
Kuroyukihime's lips moved calmly. Her expression was serene, almost sad. Haruyuki looked at her with wide eyes, as if she were telling him something important. Something definitive.
**Tick—pling—shhhh**
—"It's a farewell," Kirito murmured. "She knew she could die. And yet... she devoted her last words to him."
But then, her expression changed. His second mind also noticed it.
{—"Wait. Something doesn't add up."}
—"I know. I'm seeing it."
**Krrrk—tin**
As the super-slow camera continued to play, Kirito diverted his gaze to the edges of the image. Then, pointing, he said:
—"System. Show me all the available videos of the accident on this particular street. I want to see every detail of it."
**Whirrr—fzzzz—pling**
More windows opened. Traffic cameras. Store cameras. Bystander recordings. Kirito reviewed them one by one at a speed that would have been impossible for him hours ago.
{—"It's strange. In most of the videos, bystanders don't even react to the accident until seconds after it happens."}
—"It's not that they didn't see it coming. It happened too fast for them. But they captured it by chance."
**Fzzzz—mm**
{—"However, that person..."}
—"Certainly..."
Kirito felt again.
Then he stopped at a specific image. A traffic camera on the opposite corner of the street. And there he saw it.
—"System. Stop playback here. Zoom in on the lower left quadrant."
**Pling—fzzzz—shing**
The image expanded. And Kirito felt a chill run down his spine.
It was a boy. He was on the opposite sidewalk, a considerable distance from the accident. He had black hair and features that didn't seem entirely Japanese. He wore casual red clothing. And he was smiling.
{—"That boy... is smiling before the accident."}
—"That's not all. System, advance the playback. After the impact."
**Fzzzz—click**
The image advanced. The car hit Kuroyukihime. Haruyuki was thrown. Bystanders began to react. Chaos erupted in the street.
(—"...")
But the boy was still there. In the same position. With the same hands in his pockets.
And the smile hadn't disappeared.
It wasn't a smile of surprise or relief for what had just happened. It was a calm, almost amused smile. As if what he was seeing—a girl moving at superhuman speed to save a reckless boy—was nothing out of the ordinary. As if it was something he expected to see.
{—"He hasn't changed his expression. Not before, not during, nor after."}
—"And not to mention the fact that his gaze could follow their accelerated movement without any problem..."
{—"He's not normal."}
Kirito felt the abnormality of that person. It was as if everything that had happened was meant to happen.
"System. Investigate everything related to this individual..."
**Bloop—fzzzz**
[—"Processing... Searching in supplemental files."]
**Fzzzz—shhhnk**
A few seconds passed. The screen flickered, and new data began to emerge. But something was different this time. The system hesitated.
[—"Warning: The information available about this individual is abnormally scarce. No birth records have been found. There are no medical, census, or immigration files prior to his arrival in Japan."]
Kirito frowned.
—"What do you mean there are no birth records? Everyone has a birth record."
[—"Affirmative under normal circumstances. However, the few existing data show signs of digital corruption. They appear to have been artificially inserted into the databases. The integrity of the information is unreliable."]
{—"False data. Someone created a false trail for this individual, but just enough for it not to raise immediate suspicion."}
—"So his identity is a fabrication."
[—"Partially. The most comprehensive and verifiable information about the subject only begins from his stay in Japan."]
**Pling—click—tok**
The screen then displayed the only data that the system could validate.
[—"Additional information has been found. The individual is registered in school files from Umesato Academy under the name Lin Re. Registered nationality: Chinese. He arrived in Japan as part of an international cultural exchange program approximately one week before the traffic accident of Arita Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime."]
—"Chinese... —murmured Kirito—. That explains why his features didn't quite match with being Japanese."
**Shhhh—tin**
But his expression remained tense. His second mind was also unsatisfied.
{—"His nationality says 'Chinese', but there's no record of his life in China. No birth, no family, no history. It's as if he appeared out of nowhere a week before the accident."}
—"Exactly. The only real information that exists about him starts when he sets foot on Japanese soil. Before that... there's nothing. Just corrupt data and false files."
{—"Which means Lin Re created a fabricated identity."}
**Crrrrkh**
Kirito clenched his fists once again.
—"Someone erased his past. Or concealed it. And did it so well that even NEOSPHERE, with all its files, can't find the truth."
{—"Or maybe they didn't erase it. Maybe Lin Re never had a past in this world."}
(—"¡...!")
Kirito nodded slowly.
—"Go on, system. What did this Lin Re do at Umesato Academy?"
**Fzzzz—mm—click**
[—"According to school records, Lin Re quickly integrated and became popular among students. However, multiple testimonies indicate that he ignored most of the student body and focused his attention exclusively on two individuals: Arita Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime."]
Kirito raised an eyebrow.
—"He focused on them... Just on them."
[—"Affirmative. Initially, both Arita Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime showed reluctance to associate with him. But in a short time, they accepted him and formed a close bond. Records indicate that Lin Re also entered Brain Burst and became a Burst Linker."]
—"He was also a Brain Burst player?"
**Tick—fzzzz**
[—"Affirmative. And he wasn't just another player. Under the avatar Storm Herald, dark crimson with golden highlights, Lin Re began to level up at an unprecedented speed in the history of the program. He broke consecutive rising records within the Accelerated World. He reached Level 8 in less than a year, something no Burst Linker had accomplished before."]
{—"Leveling up so quickly within the game... That doesn't happen just with talent. He had insider information or abilities that others didn't possess."}
—"What else? Did he have any special abilities?"
**Pling—fzzzz**
[—"Affirmative. Storm Herald possessed an extremely rare ability within Brain Burst: he could fly, just like Silver Crow. However, his flight was distinguished by being accompanied by bursts of crimson wind, granting him greater speed but less maneuverability."]
Kirito was intrigued by this.
—"Flying? Like Silver Crow... He wasn't just his equal."
{—"He was his counterpart. Two players with the same exceptional ability in the same timeframe, but with opposite styles. That's not a coincidence."}
—"What happened to him? Did he reach Level 10?"
**Click—shhhh**
[—"Negative. Storm Herald reached Level 9 within the Accelerated World and was considered by the Burst Linker community as the most likely candidate to reach Level 10 and unlock the secret of the program. However, he never achieved it."]
—"Why?"
**fzzzz**
[—"Because he disappeared."]
(—"¿¡...?!")
Sssshhhh
The wind fell silent again. Kirito frowned.
**Krrrk—plin**
—"Disappeared? From the game?"
[—"Affirmative. Lin Re abruptly stopped connecting to Brain Burst. His avatar was never seen again in the Accelerated World. But the disappearance wasn't limited to the virtual realm. He also vanished from the real world. He left Umesato Academy without warning and has not been heard from since."]
{—"He disappeared from the game and the real world at the same time. It wasn't a voluntary drop. It was a planned withdrawal."}
**Fzzzmm**
Kirito brought a hand to his chin. His mind was racing.
—"System... Did he disappear alone or was there someone else?"
[—"He did not disappear alone. Alongside him, a girl identified as Fuko Kurasaki disappeared. Japanese nationality. Student of Umesato Academy. Burst Linker under the avatar Sky Raker. She had a medical condition that forced her to use a wheelchair. She was Lin Re's girlfriend."]
{—"His girlfriend also disappeared. A girl in a wheelchair... This is getting stranger."}
—"System. Are there recordings of Lin Re and Fuko Kurasaki together? Photos, videos, anything."
**Pling—fzzzz**
[—"Affirmative. There are multiple visual records of the couple. They were captured on various occasions: at the academy, in cafes, in parks, and in a port area near Tokyo Bay."]
—"Show me the videos. Only the videos."
**Whirrr—fzzzz**
The interface filled with thumbnails. Kirito selected the first recording with a mental gesture.
Lin Re and Fuko Kurasaki appeared together. They were everyday images at first. Laughter. Walks. Conversations in a café. Him pushing her wheelchair through a park.
But one particular video caught his attention.
The recording was distant. A security camera in the port area, near the docks. The quality was low and the audio nonexistent. But the scene was unmistakable.
**Sssshhh—mm**
Lin Re and Fuko Kurasaki were face to face. He held her hands. She was crying.
—"It's a farewell..."
Kirito whispered
{—"But this time is different. Look at the girl."}
Kirito watched closely. And then he saw it.
Fuko Kurasaki was not in her wheelchair.
She was standing.
On her own legs.
—"How is this possible? —Kirito shook his head—. The system said she had a condition that forced her to use a wheelchair."
{—"And now she is standing. Without crutches. Without help. As if she had never been disabled."}
**Shhhh—tok—krk**
Kirito gritted his teeth. His mind raced.
—"It wasn't a miracle. It wasn't a spontaneous healing. Someone healed her. And that someone is right in front of her."
{—"Lin Re. He healed her. Off-camera. Before this farewell. Which means he has abilities that go beyond Brain Burst."}
With a much more serious face, Kirito said:
—"I need to know what they are saying. System, can you enhance the audio of this recording?"
[—"Negative. The recording does not contain an audio track. The distance between the camera and the subjects was approximately forty meters. No voices were recorded."]
**Tick—tok—plin**
Kirito stomped harder at that response.
—"Damn..."
{—"Then I'll have to learn to read lips."}
**Sssshhh**
Kirito blinked. He turned his head slightly, as if his second mind was beside him.
**Tick—tok—shhhh**
—"I don't know how to read lips."
**Fzzzz—mm**
{—"Learn."}
—"It's not that easy. It takes months of practice to..."
{—"Learn. Quickly. You have the ability. You know it... You are no longer normal."}
**Sssshhh...**
(—"...")
Kirito fell silent. His sapphire blue eyes reflected the images on the screen for a long moment.
—"Okay. I'm going to try this new ability."
He raised his voice.
—"System. Search for tutorials, courses, and learning materials on lip reading. I want the most comprehensive and advanced material available in NEOSPHERE or on the internet. From basics to expert level."
**Bloop—fzzzz**
[—"Processing. One hundred forty-seven resources on lip reading have been found. Would you like me to play them in ascending order of difficulty?"]
—"Yes. And increase the playback speed to six."
**Pling—click**
[—"Playback speed adjusted to 6x."]
The windows filled with videos. Instructors explaining lip positions, phoneme identification, differences between languages, speech patterns.
**Tick—tok—shhhh—krk**
Kirito immersed himself in them, analyzing two at the same time, one for each thread of thought.
And it was then that he noticed it.
**Sssshhh—mm**
He had photographic memory now, but that wasn't all.
Not only did he understand what the instructors were saying. His mind went further. Before they finished explaining a concept, he had already deduced the conclusion. Before they showed an example, he had already anticipated the exception. In less than ten minutes, he was mentally correcting the instructors, finding patterns they didn't even mention.
**Fzzzz—tin**
{—"I'm not just learning quickly. I'm perfecting what I learn. I'm going beyond what they teach me and I can keep up with the speed of 6 without any problem..."}
—"It's... incredible. I can see the patterns before they explain them. I can anticipate the variations."
******
**Pling—click—shhhh**
2 hours later, Kirito closed the last window.
[—"Assessment completed. You have acquired the skill: Lip Reading. Mastery level: Perfect. This level of knowledge is classified as 'Ultra Rare', the highest in NEOSPHERE. You can sell this skill in the information market for system credits. Would you like to make a transaction in the market?"]
—"Sell knowledge? —Kirito blinked, bewildered—. How does that work?"
**Tick—fzzzz**
[—"In NEOSPHERE, knowledge is a commodity. Learned skills can be transferred to other users via data contracts. Perfect mastery level is extremely valuable and could be sold to the highest bidder in the information market."]
{—"Knowledge is bought and sold... Like it's a weapon or armor. Interesting. But now is not the time."}
—"No —Kirito said firmly—. Save it in my files. You'll explain more about this market later. Right now I have something more urgent."
**Pling—tok**
[—"As you wish."]
Kirito turned to the recording of Lin Re and Fuko Kurasaki.
—"Play it again. This time... I'm going to understand every word."
**Fzzzz—shhhnk**
The image returned. The dock. The digital sunset imitating the real sun from over a century ago. Lin Re holding Fuko Kurasaki's hands. She was crying.
Kirito focused his eyes on the boy's lips.
And read.
<—"I'm leaving.">
Fuko Kurasaki shook her head, gripping his hands. Her lips trembled before responding.
<—"To your land? To China?">
Lin Re smiled. A sad smile.
<—"No. I don't mean China. I'm not from this world.">
**Doom**
Kirito felt a dry hit in his chest.
Fuko Kurasaki looked at him with wide eyes. Her hands released his and rested on her own legs. Legs that once did not respond.
<—"You're not from this world...? —Kirito read on her lips—. Is that why... you were able to heal me? Why you are so different?">
Lin Re nodded.
<—"Will I see you again?">
He slowly shook his head.
<—"Maybe not.">
Fuko Kurasaki's tears intensified. Her face crumpled into a silent sob.
**Sssshhh—krk**
<—"Then... I want to go with you.">
Lin Re looked at her in surprise. Then, with tenderness.
<—"If you come with me... it will take a long time to return. Maybe you'll never come back.">
**Fzzzz—mm**
<—"I don't care. I don't want to stay here without you.">
He remained silent for a few seconds. Then he pointed towards the bay, towards the boats docked in the port.
<—"There. Next to the boats. Tonight. If you really want to come... I'll be waiting for you.">
She nodded. Wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Then she hugged him.
**Pling—tok—fzzz**
The recording ended.
**Sssshhhh**
Kirito remained silent. The frozen image of the two young people embraced in front of the sea filled the screen. Fuko had decided to leave with Lin Re. To abandon her world. To abandon her life. All to be with him.
**Tick—krk—shhhh**
—"System. Search for recordings after this farewell. Nearby cameras at the port. Docks. Alleys. Whatever."
**Bloop—fzzzz**
[—"Processing... Search in progress."]
A few seconds passed. The screen flickered.
**Pling—click**
[—"An additional recording has been found. It corresponds to a security camera located in the port area, side alley number seven. Activity log: same date as the previous farewell, approximately 5 hours after sunset."]
—"Play it. Now."
**Whirrr—fzzzz**
The new recording appeared. The quality was mediocre, barely lit by a distant streetlamp and the moon's reflection on the water.
**Sssshhh—tin**
The alley was empty at first. Then, a figure appeared.
It was Lin Re.
He was standing, hands in pockets, leaning against the brick wall. He was waiting. His eyes looked towards the entrance of the alley with absolute patience.
Several minutes passed. He did not move.
Then, a second figure appeared in the frame.
Fuko Kurasaki.
She walked.
Without a wheelchair. Without crutches. Without anyone's help. Her legs moved with a firmness that left no room for doubt: she was completely healed. She wore a small backpack, just the right luggage for a one-way trip. And she smiled.
**Krrrk—tin**
Kirito stood still. His eyes widened.
—"She is walking..."
{—"Without a wheelchair. Without a cane. As if she had never been disabled."}
—"The system said she had a medical condition that forced her to use a wheelchair. But there she is. Standing. Walking towards him naturally."
{—"Miraculous healings do exist."}
—"Or the powers to achieve them..."
Kirito was thrilled by such possibilities.
In the image, Fuko Kurasaki stopped in front of Lin Re. Her lips moved.
Kirito focused on his new ability.
**Click—shhhh**
<—"I arrived on time.">
Lin Re stepped away from the wall. His face relaxed into a warm smile.
<—"I could have waited all night for you.">
She laughed. A silent laugh that Kirito could see in the movement of her shoulders. Then, Lin Re took a step towards her. He didn't have to help her get up from any chair. He simply wrapped his arms around her and she melted into him. They embraced. And they kissed.
**Sssshhh—mm**
Kirito did not avert his gaze this time. His sapphire blue eyes remained fixed on the scene, analyzing every detail.
**Krccccrr**
Kirito clenched his fists. His mind burned with a mix of wonder and certainty at the truth before his eyes and mind.
Lin Re and Fuko Kurasaki held hands. She adjusted her backpack over her shoulder. Without looking back, without a single doubt in her steps, they entered the alley together. The shadows swallowed them.
**Shhhh—plin**
And then, it happened.
FLASH!
A bright, intense, blinding light illuminated the entire alley for a fraction of a second. The camera was completely saturated.
**Fzzzz—shhhnk**
[—"Warning: the recording presents an unidentified light anomaly. No artificial light sources were detected in the vicinity during that interval."]
The light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
**Sssshhh—tin**
And the alley was left empty.
**Sssshhhh**
Kirito stood still.
—"Where are they? Where did they go?"
**Tick—fzzzz**
[—"The recording shows no subsequent activity. Subjects Lin Re and Fuko Kurasaki do not reappear in the frame. They also did not exit the alley through any visible exits."]
{—"They entered a dead-end alley... and disappeared. With a flash of light."}
**Krrrk—mm**
Kirito clenched his fists. Frustration began to boil in his chest.
—"It's not enough. I need to see what happened inside that alley. System, is there any other camera? Any reflection? Anything!"
**Bloop—fzzzz**
[—"Analyzing the visual environment of the recording... Searching for reflective surfaces in the area."]
**Fzzzz—shhhnk**
The screen flickered several times. The system zoomed in on different areas of the image. The streetlamp. A puddle of water. A window.
It stopped at the window.
**Pling—fzzz**
[—"A reflective surface has been detected. Glass window in the building adjacent to the alley. The angle of incidence captured a partial reflection of the inside of the alley during the moment of the light anomaly."]
Kirito stepped forward.
**Krrrk—tin**
—"Show it!"
[—"The quality of the reflection is low. However, by applying image enhancement algorithms and digital recreation... it is possible to reconstruct a visual approximation."]
—"Do it. I don't care if the quality is poor. I want to see it."
**Whirrr—fzzzz—shhhnk**
The screen transformed. The window's reflection was isolated, enlarged, and processed. The resulting image was grainy, filled with digital artifacts, shaky.
**Sssshhh—mm**
But enough.
(—"...")
Kirito held his breath.
In the reconstructed reflection, Lin Re and Fuko Kurasaki were seen standing in the center of the alley. They were holding hands. But Lin Re was not looking at the girl.
He was looking at the air.
**Fzzzz—shing**
No. Not at the air.
**Krrrk—mm**
{—"There's something in front of him. Something that's floating."}
Kirito squinted. Barely perceptible in the grainy image, a tiny shape floated in front of Lin Re's face. A point of light. Or perhaps an icon. An interface.
Shhhh—tok—pling
{—"That... That is a system."}
Lin Re moved his lips. Kirito focused on his lip reading with all the intensity he could muster.
**Click—fzzzz—tin**
The quality was terrible. But a few words were distinguishable.
<—"No matter the risks. Open it.">
**Krrrk—shhhh**
The floating shape glowed. And then, in front of Lin Re, the air tore.
Literally.
**Fzzzz—shing—pling**
A crack of light appeared in the middle of the alley. It expanded to form a glowing, pulsing oval, like a luminous wound in reality itself.
{—"A portal. That's a portal."}
Lin Re turned to Fuko Kurasaki. He extended his hand. She took it without hesitation. Their fingers interlaced.
**Sssshhh—tin**
And together, they crossed the portal.
The light enveloped them. The reflection of the window flooded with white. And when the brightness faded, the alley was empty.
Shhhh—krk
The crack had disappeared.
**Sssshhhh**
(—"!...")
The digital wind blew over the rooftop. Kirito remained silent for what felt like an eternity.
**Tick—tok—plin**
—"He had a system... Like the ones in the web novels I've read in the past..."
Kirito's eyes widened.
His voice sounded hoarse, barely a whisper.
**Fzzzz—mm**
{—"Yes. A floating interface. Something he communicated with. Something that obeyed him."}
—"And opened a portal. A damn portal. As if this world were just another stop on his journey..."
Krrrk—shing
{—"Lin Re was not from this world. He said it himself. And now we have visual proof. He was not an advanced player. He was something completely different."}
**Doom**
The internal pulse throbbed. Stronger than ever.
**Sssshhh—tok**
—"He also had a system. Or something similar. A system that allowed him to do impossible things."
Kirito stared at the frozen image of the reflection. The oval of light. The two figures holding hands. The moment before disappearing forever.
—"They weren't just a player and his girlfriend fleeing. They were two people who crossed into another world. Or to another time."
{—"Or both."}
Kirito raised his voice.
—"System. Is there any other record of similar activity in NEOSPHERE? Portals, disappearances with light anomalies, anything like that."
**Bloop—fzzzz**
[—"Processing... Initiating search in historical databases."]
**Fzzzz—shhhnk**
The cursor spun for several seconds this time. Then, the system's voice returned.
**Pling—tok**
[—"Seven incidents with similar characteristics have been found in the last hundred years. All categorized as 'unresolved anomalies' by the NEOSPHERE administrators. Four of them occurred in the vicinity of the former Umesato Academy."]
**Krrrk—mm**
{—"Seven incidents. Four near the academy. That's not a coincidence."}
—"Save all those records in my files. I want to review them later."
**Click—shhhh**
[—"Request processed."]
Kirito ran a hand over his face. He was exhausted. Not physically, but his mind had processed more information in the last hour than in all his years in Aincrad and Underworld combined.
**Tick—tok—fzzzz**
He searched for more data about Fuko Kurasaki. He needed to know what had happened to her after that night. And what he found was even stranger.
**Sssshhh—plin**
According to the records —news, police reports, testimonies— Fuko appeared and disappeared intermittently over the years. She would spend months away, then return for a few weeks, only to leave again.
Always young. Always adult. Not aging. As if time did not pass for her.
—"She appears and disappears —murmured Kirito as he reviewed the data—. As if she were traveling between... between worlds?"
{—"It seems we have a visitor from another world... Just like Lin Re."}
Kirito shook his head. That was madness. Interdimensional travel. Parallel universes. Alternative realities. It sounded like bad science fiction.
And yet...
{—"And yet, it is reasonable. Considering what I've seen. Superhuman speed. Time acceleration. A boy who appears out of nowhere and disappears just as easily. A girl who travels between realities. Everything points to the same thing."}
—"Certainly..."
Kirito nodded.
**Krrrk—tin**
{—"That the impossible is possible... I have more than enough reasons to believe it."}
—"Time is controllable... That's what the one who left the note wanted: for me to discover Lin Re and his abnormal abilities or powers outside of this world..."
**Krrr**
Kirito gritted his teeth.
—"Lin Re... A Chinese boy. A player who wasn't a player. A traveler who could open portals and heal the invalid."
Kirito turned toward the digital horizon.
**Crrrrkss**
He clenched his fists. His sapphire blue eyes reflected the city.
—"The impossible... —he murmured, and this time his voice did not tremble—. The impossible is possible."
Inside him, something had changed even more. Something had clicked completely.
**Krrrk—shing**
He no longer doubted.
**Sssshhh—tin**
—"Lin Re found the entry and exit to this world..."
{—"If he could... I will also find and control it, even if I don't have a Universal System like his..."}
**Krrrrrk**
Kirito tightened both his fists with all his might for what he felt.
—"This is exciting... It means that not only is there control of time, but..."
{—"Parallel worlds. It's a great opportunity to start a new life."}
Now he just needed more knowledge of this world to achieve it.
...
**Fzzzz—tin**
Kirito remained silent for a moment, staring into the digital horizon. Then, he looked up at the floating system icon that continued to blink patiently beside him.
—"System. One more question."
[—"I am waiting."]
—"The money obtained in NEOSPHERE... the credits, the digital coins... Can they be exchanged for real money? Yen?"
[—"Affirmative. NEOSPHERE operates under an equivalent exchange system. Credits obtained within the platform can be converted to physical currency through authorized currency exchange houses. The exchange rate fluctuates according to the market, but the conversion is legal and regulated by the Japanese government."]
Kirito nodded slowly. His expression remained serious, but something sparkled in the depths of his eyes.
—"And can bodies be bought? I mean... robotic bodies. Androids. Something that allows me to move in the real world."
[—"Affirmative. There are manufacturers of synthetic bodies and androids available for virtual users. The Japanese government provides a basic prototype free of charge to those virtual souls or digital humans who lack a physical body. However, these prototypes are of limited quality: reduced mobility, minimal tactile sensors, and restricted energy autonomy."]
—"But if I want a better one... a customizable one. Something that I can truly call my body."
[—"In that case, it would need to be purchased through private manufacturers. The cost varies based on quality, customization, and technical capabilities. A high-performance android body can reach prices comparable to that of a house in the real world."]
Kirito smiled. It was not a kind smile. It was a bold, sharp smile, filled with determination.
—"Then I'll have to do that."
{—"Get real money to buy a body."}
—"Exactly. If I want to move in the real world, I need a body. And if I need a body, I need money. And if I need money..."
{—"You need to sell what I have. And what I have is knowledge."}
Kirito turned toward the system icon.
—"System. Explain to me how the buying and selling of knowledge works in NEOSPHERE."
[—"Gladly. Please tell me what you want to know."]
—"Everything!..."
His sapphire blue eyes sparkled with joy. His smile could not be contained for what he had
discovered and for what was yet to be discovered to achieve power beyond this world.
{—"And I will make sure to obtain it myself."}