ARC 3 — Chapter 35: Rin's Master
Silence.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The enormous gate beneath Adrian and Adriana continued opening.
Dark energy poured from it, twisting around the ruined rooftop.
Rin stood completely still.
Adrian stared at him.
"Your master?"
Rin didn't answer.
Adrian stepped closer.
"You said that voice belonged to your master."
Rin looked toward the gate.
"Yes."
"Then who is he?"
Rin closed his eyes.
For the first time since Adrian had known him, Rin looked uncertain.
"He was the strongest person I ever met."
Adriana stepped forward.
"Was?"
Rin opened his eyes.
"I thought he was dead."
A deep laugh came from beneath the gate.
The sound echoed across the entire city.
"Dead?"
The creature laughed again.
"You always believed that, Rin."
Rin's expression hardened.
"I watched you disappear."
"You watched me enter the first dimension."
Rin's eyes widened.
Adrian looked between them.
"What is the first dimension?"
Rin didn't answer.
The voice continued.
"You were always impatient."
Rin raised his weapon.
"Come out."
The darkness beneath the gate began moving.
A figure slowly emerged.
First came a pair of black boots.
Then a long coat.
Then two gloved hands.
Finally—
A face.
An ordinary-looking man.
No horns.
No monstrous features.
No armor.
Just a man with long black hair and cold silver eyes.
Adrian stared.
"That's him?"
Rin's grip tightened.
"Yes."
The man stepped onto the rooftop.
The Twelve Elite Warriors immediately lowered their weapons.
Even Malraeth looked cautious.
Asmodra stared at him.
"Impossible."
The man looked toward her.
"You recognize me."
Asmodra's eyes narrowed.
"I thought you were gone."
He smiled.
"I was."
Then he looked at Rin.
"But your former student brought me back."
Rin stepped forward.
"Don't call them students."
The man smiled.
"You still care about them."
Rin's eyes hardened.
"They have nothing to do with you."
The man looked toward Adrian and Adriana.
"Unfortunately, they have everything to do with me."
Adrian raised his sword.
"Who are you?"
The man looked at him.
"My name is—"
Rin interrupted.
"Don't."
The man smiled.
"Still afraid of the truth?"
Rin didn't respond.
Adrian looked at Rin.
"Tell me."
Rin remained silent.
Adrian raised his voice.
"RIN!"
Rin finally spoke.
"His name is Kaizen."
The man smiled.
"Good."
Adrian stared.
"Kaizen."
Kaizen nodded.
"Former master of Rin Kaito."
Adriana looked at Rin.
"You trained under him?"
Rin nodded.
"Years ago."
Adrian's expression became serious.
"What happened?"
Rin looked toward Kaizen.
"He taught me how to fight demons."
Kaizen corrected him.
"I taught you how to survive."
Rin's eyes narrowed.
"You taught me how to kill."
Kaizen smiled.
"There's a difference?"
Rin's weapon began glowing.
"Yes."
Kaizen laughed.
"That's where you and I disagreed."
Adrian looked at Kaizen.
"You created the dimensional system."
Kaizen looked at him.
"No."
Adrian frowned.
"Then what did you do?"
Kaizen walked closer.
"I discovered it."
The gate behind him continued glowing.
"I was the first human to enter the dimensional boundary."
Adriana stepped forward.
"Why?"
Kaizen looked at her.
"Because I wanted to find a way to stop the demons."
Rin's expression changed.
"And you failed."
Kaizen's smile disappeared.
"No."
He looked toward the sky.
"I succeeded."
Adrian stared.
"Then why did you disappear?"
Kaizen looked at him.
"Because I discovered something far worse than the demons."
The enormous creature above the city moved.
Its crimson eyes brightened.
Kaizen looked toward it.
"That."
Adrian followed his gaze.
"What is it?"
Kaizen's expression became serious.
"The first entity."
Rin's eyes narrowed.
"You called it the First."
Kaizen nodded.
"The first consciousness to exist beyond the dimensions."
Adriana asked:
"Is it a demon?"
"No."
"Then what is it?"
Kaizen looked at her.
"Something older."
The creature spoke.
"KAIZEN."
Kaizen looked upward.
"I haven't forgotten you."
The creature's voice shook the city.
"YOU CANNOT HIDE BEHIND THE VESSELS FOREVER."
Kaizen smiled.
"I'm not hiding."
He looked toward Adrian and Adriana.
"I'm waiting."
Adrian raised his sword.
"For what?"
Kaizen pointed toward the twins.
"For them to awaken."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"We're already awake."
Kaizen shook his head.
"No."
He looked at Adrian's Origin Mark.
"You're only beginning."
The mark suddenly burned.
Adrian dropped to one knee.
"AGH!"
Adriana grabbed him.
"Adrian!"
Blue energy exploded from his body.
The rooftop cracked.
Rin rushed forward.
"Don't touch the mark!"
Adriana looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because it's connected to the First Gate!"
Adrian looked at his palm.
The symbol was spreading.
A blue line traveled from his palm toward his arm.
Adriana's crimson mark did the same.
Kaizen watched.
"Perfect."
Rin turned toward him.
"What did you do?"
Kaizen smiled.
"I didn't do anything."
"You activated them."
"No."
Kaizen's expression became serious.
"They activated themselves."
The two marks suddenly connected.
Blue and crimson energy formed a giant symbol above the twins.
The sky shook.
The dimensional tear widened.
The creature began laughing.
"YES."
Rin looked at the sky.
"Everyone move!"
The Twelve Elite Warriors scattered.
Asmodra flew backward.
Malraeth landed beside the other warriors.
Kaizen remained standing.
Adrian and Adriana were trapped inside the energy.
Adrian shouted.
"Rin!"
Rin rushed toward them.
Kaizen blocked his path.
"Move."
"No."
Rin raised his weapon.
"I won't let you take them."
Kaizen looked at him.
"You're still making the same mistake."
Rin attacked.
Kaizen blocked with one hand.
BOOM!
Rin was thrown backward.
He landed hard.
Adrian stared.
"Rin!"
Kaizen didn't even look at him.
"You've become stronger."
Rin stood.
"You haven't changed."
Kaizen smiled.
"That's because I didn't need to."
Rin charged again.
This time, Kaizen disappeared.
Rin's eyes widened.
A strike hit his chest.
He was sent across the rooftop.
"RIN!"
Adrian tried to move.
The energy around him prevented it.
Kaizen turned toward Adrian.
"Don't worry."
Adrian glared at him.
"Why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't."
Kaizen looked at Adriana.
"Neither should she."
Adriana's eyes narrowed.
"Then what do you want?"
Kaizen pointed toward the gate.
"I want you to open it."
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
Kaizen smiled.
"You will."
The ground began shaking.
The First Gate opened farther.
A massive staircase appeared inside it.
At the bottom stood a city.
An impossible city.
Buildings floated upside down.
Dark oceans moved through the sky.
Massive structures stretched across the horizon.
And in the center—
A gigantic black throne.
Adrian stared.
"What is that place?"
Kaizen answered:
"The First Dimension."
Rin slowly stood.
His expression changed.
"You brought the gate here."
Kaizen nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because the original twins are waiting."
Adrian's eyes widened.
"You said they were alive."
"They are."
Adriana looked into the gate.
"Then why haven't they come out?"
Kaizen smiled.
"Because they can't."
"Why?"
"Something is keeping them there."
The creature above spoke.
"THEY ARE MINE."
Adrian looked upward.
Kaizen's eyes became cold.
"No."
The creature stared at him.
Kaizen stepped forward.
"They belong to themselves."
The creature's voice became louder.
"YOU FAILED THEM."
Kaizen's expression changed.
For the first time, anger appeared in his eyes.
"I know."
The creature laughed.
"YOU COULD NOT SAVE THE ORIGINALS."
Kaizen clenched his fists.
"I know."
"YOU COULD NOT SAVE THEIR WORLD."
Kaizen's fists tightened.
"I know."
"AND YOU COULD NOT SAVE YOUR STUDENT."
Kaizen suddenly looked at Rin.
Rin froze.
Kaizen whispered:
"Enough."
Dark energy exploded from his body.
The entire rooftop shook.
Malraeth looked at him.
"His power..."
Asmodra stepped backward.
"He's using the First Dimension's energy."
Kaizen looked toward the creature.
"You've had your fun."
He raised his hand.
A massive black blade formed.
The creature's eyes widened.
Kaizen jumped.
He flew directly toward the dimensional entity.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
His blade struck the creature's hand.
The impact shook the sky.
Adrian stared.
"He's fighting that thing?"
Rin stood beside him.
"Yes."
Adriana looked at Rin.
"Can he win?"
Rin didn't answer.
Kaizen pushed against the creature's hand.
The creature growled.
"YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME."
Kaizen smiled.
"I'm not trying to."
He suddenly looked down at Adrian.
Adrian's eyes widened.
Kaizen shouted:
"NOW!"
Adrian didn't understand.
"NOW WHAT?!"
Kaizen pointed toward the gate.
"OPEN IT!"
Adrian stared.
"Why?"
Kaizen's voice became serious.
"Because your original self is trapped inside!"
Adrian froze.
The gate suddenly pulled him forward.
Adriana grabbed his arm.
"ADRIAN!"
Rin rushed toward them.
"Don't let go!"
The twins were dragged toward the First Gate.
Adrian reached out.
"RIN!"
Rin grabbed Adrian's hand.
Adriana grabbed Rin's arm.
The three formed a chain.
But the gate continued pulling.
Rin shouted:
"ADRIAN!"
Adrian looked toward him.
"What?!"
Rin's eyes were serious.
"Whatever happens inside that dimension..."
He paused.
"...don't trust anyone."
Adrian nodded.
The gate pulled harder.
Rin's grip began slipping.
Adriana grabbed him tighter.
"We're not losing him!"
Rin nodded.
"Together!"
Kaizen watched them.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then he looked back toward the creature.
"You see?"
The creature roared.
"THE VESSEL MUST ENTER ALONE."
Kaizen smiled.
"That's where you're wrong."
He slammed his black blade into the creature's hand.
BOOOOOOM!
The dimensional entity recoiled.
The pressure around the gate weakened.
Rin pulled Adrian back.
But Adrian suddenly stopped.
He stared inside the First Dimension.
Someone was standing at the bottom of the staircase.
A boy.
Dark hair.
Ice katana.
Same face.
Same eyes.
The original Adrian.
He slowly raised his head.
And behind him stood the original Adriana.
Adrian's breath stopped.
"They're there."
Adriana stared.
"Who?"
Adrian pointed.
"Our originals."
The original Adrian looked directly at him.
Then he smiled.
But something was wrong.
His eyes were completely black.
He raised his sword.
And behind him—
Thousands of shadowy figures appeared.
Rin's expression changed.
"Close the gate."
Adrian looked at him.
"Why?"
Rin whispered:
"Because that's not the original Adrian."
The black-eyed boy smiled wider.
Then he spoke.
"Finally."
The First Gate opened completely.
TO BE CONTINUED.