Beneath the vastness of the quiet night sky, adorned with thousands of starlights that soothed the eyes. It felt as if all the burdens that had piled up along the course of life were finally being released.
Such was the case for a man who stood still without emotion. He was Ace Hankaza, staring blankly over the calm ocean. Wearing a yellow hoodie jacket that covered his long hair and his weary face, worn down by a long lifetime that had ultimately left behind only memories and trauma.
His thoughts were fixed on a single purpose. To rest upon a wide stretch of green land, beneath a bright blue sky and gentle, peaceful winds.
"A place… for tranquility."
But none of it lasted long—
⬤ THE BEGINNING OF THE FRACTURE
Something altered the path of his desire.
Without warning, a burst of flames created a tremendous explosion. One that dragged Ace into misfortune, ultimately plunging him into the depths of the ocean.
So this is how it ends… how pathetic. Living life only to seek peace for myself, yet… it feels as though the world simply stood still.
His breathing grew erratic as he slowly lost consciousness. He observed the light from the explosion with his vision deteriorating beneath the sea—until he finally closed his eyes, to lessen the pain.
As Ace sank deeper. His body and being began to experience strange symptoms—he felt as though his body was being pulled slowly. Unable to move or scream, as if it was already meaningless.
Even at death's door, I'm still alone.
Ace could do nothing with his body that had gone limp. All that remained was to wait for time… to finally claim his soul.
{ A fallen wanderer in the dark mire }
{ Helpless, lost in his path }
{ I shall extend my hand }
{ To grant a sliver of hope }
An ancient, calm chant veered like an arrow. It pierced directly into Ace's consciousness, like an apple set as a target.
Ace's soul began to experience an overload of spiritual energy. Causing a massive rupture to form within his body.
What is…
Without any movement, Ace's body was suddenly wrapped from all directions by something that made it difficult for him to resist. He felt that the bindings were made of segmented metal with an intense heat.
The bindings began to wound the helpless Ace with a powerful grip. Feeling the overwhelming heat upon his body, Ace started to struggle to free himself. But that action—was nothing but a wrong decision.
With his vision impaired, it was difficult for Ace to predict what was happening. Until it was followed by the emergence of a divine hand that forcefully pulled Ace's soul without consent.
He fell silent as his vision began to darken. His thoughts grew empty, leaving only a single question in his mind. What is the meaning of all this.
No space was given to think. The divine hand dragged him straight into a white sphere that radiated light, absorbing him like a particle of dust.
After passing through a long wormhole and reaching its end. A heartbeat began to echo from a soul. None other than Ace's own soul, stranded in a fog-covered place.
Ace awoke with a shocked expression, his breath ragged and uneven. A sign that he had just experienced what one would call death.
"I… I.. (choking)." He gently touched his throat to ease the lingering pain.
He calmed himself for a moment, reducing the excessive shock affecting his body. Even though the time he needed to truly settle down was quite long.
Ace looked at his own palms with disbelief. That he was still alive after an incident that had nearly taken his life. With a sense of gratitude, he lay back weakly to rest his mind, which made him drowsy and soon fall asleep.
Five hours passed.
After getting sufficient rest, Ace slowly opened his eyes. Thinking for a moment about what had happened to him.
Ace then sat up and gently played with his long hair to make sure.
Everything felt real. There wasn't even a single trace of the bindings left on his body. As if his brain had created an illusion, making the body believe that a foreign object had been detected.
As Ace reflected on his own condition. In a quiet place with minimal light, someone had been watching Ace's arrival from afar, appearing somehow in this strange land. Yet it seemed that the figure did not mind his presence here.
Sensing that he was being watched. Ace immediately glanced around, scanning the area within his reach. But his vision met a dead end, as the surroundings were completely enveloped in thick fog.
Unable to do anything, Ace could only sigh at his current situation. With the refreshing and rather cool temperature of this place. Ace waited longer where he rested, as the atmosphere was quite comfortable. Like entering a beautiful dream, calm and peaceful.
Like a comfortable isolation space for a final rest.
Unfortunately, there was no such thing as a folding bed here, but it wasn't too bad either. Quite enjoyable, actually.
Despite his complaints. Ace still accepted what was given.
Before Ace could drift back to sleep in comfort. Something began to draw him from afar. Like a magnet pulling him toward a destination desired by the one doing the pulling.
{ O wandering soul }
{ I call upon you to come }
{ For the place that befits you }
{ Exists only near me }
The calm chant easily captivated Ace's soul.
The spell began to instruct Ace to move toward the designated location in an unconscious state. His body rose on its own, eyes hollow and staring blankly ahead. His pupils locked by strange symbols.
His body stepped forward with no purpose other than the sudden command of the spell. Accompanied by thick fog that cleared a path for him. With no obstacles hindering his journey. As if it had all been planned long ago.
Deep within his soul, Ace was trapped within his own consciousness. He could not move his body—only observe through his vision with an anxious feeling.
As time passed and he continued walking without rest, frustration grew within him, as he felt he was being toyed with like a puppet. He screamed from within his soul, begging to be freed from the curse or whatever it was. But his efforts were nothing but futile.
Feeling fed up, Ace mustered all his strength to reclaim his consciousness. Even as excruciating pain accompanied his struggle to resist.
After a long, exhausting ordeal. Little by little, Ace began to regain control over his body—though only partially, he still tried to seize it completely.
Sensing Ace's resistance. The spell was gradually reinforced, as the destination was nearly reached.
The intense pressure slowly pushed Ace out of his body. Growing irritated—he groaned in pain, his right hand finally able to move. His left leg also struggled to brace itself, trying to stop his body from advancing.
Realizing he was cornered. Ace clenched his fist tightly and focused his strike on a single point. His own head.
Ace struck his face with full force. Until finally. He collapsed and lost consciousness. Blood spread from his face, pooling as he lay there.
Now Ace lay sprawled at the predetermined location. A massive gate towering high, reaching beyond the sky.
End of Chapter (the fresh soul).