I closed the final volume of THE EMINENCE IN SHADOW manga and let out a slow breath.
Then I clapped
I mean not ironically or sarcastically. It was a genuine applause for a masterpiece.
"That," I said to myself... "was incredible."
The anime had hooked me, and I was consumed by the manga. I had stayed up for three straight nights, skipping food, skipping sleep, all to read and watch the story of a madman who chased power so hard that he caught it.
Cid Kagenou.
The greatest dumbest genius ever written.
I sat back in my chair and stared at the ceiling. The clock read 3:47 AM. And my room was dark except for the glow of my phone and the stacked-up manga volumes on my desk.
But as I sat
I suddenly frowned
Why was I feeling this way?
I picked up volume one again and flipped through.
Something is off.
I started talking to myself. I did that when my brain got moving.
"Cid's Philosophy is solid. "He who lurks in the shadows, Hunt the shadows". I mean, it's beautiful and all that, but
I stood up and started pacing the dark room again.
"But what happens if the shadows themselves have to run?"
I suddenly stopped walking.
"Cid hides because he is not absolute. He hides because he can be hurt. He hides because if the world knew about him, the world might find a way to stop him."
My reflection stared back from my dark window.
What if you didn't have to hide??
What if you were above everyone that hiding wasn't optional?
What if you were absolute??
I laughed at myself.
"Look at me getting philosophical over a manga at 4 AM. Pathetic."
But I couldn't stop.
I picked up volume three. The Bushin Festival Arc was where Cid had to pretend to be a background character while casually destroying everyone.
"Look at this," I muttered. "He's holding back, constantly. He never shows his real power because he's scared of losing the "BACKGROUND CHARACTER" persona. He'd rather be underestimated than be absolute.
I closed the book.
"What if someone showed everything? What is it like for someone to walk through the world with zero deception, zero masks? Zero hiding and still couldn't be touched?"
The Question sat in my chest like a rock.
I opened my laptop and started typing notes on Cid's Weaknesses.
1. He relies on misunderstandings
2. Hides too much
3. Doesn't prepare for real threats
4. Plays a lot of Games.
I then made another list of what I would do differently.
1. No BACKGROUND CHARACTER persona
2. Prepare for every possible threat
3. If I reincarnated somewhere with magic
4. If I knew the story ahead of time
5. Better mindset
6 Better...
I stopped typing and stared at the screen.
What if??
I leaned back
"What if something like that happens to me?"
Well, that's a stupid question and a childlike fantasy. Normal People would think about it and forget.
But I wasn't normal anymore since I started this obsession.
I looked at my hands.
I need to be stronger.
I need MAGIC.
I need to be ready even if there is a slim chance.
No, even if there is no chance.
Even if I look insane.
I started training the next morning.
Pushups, Situps, Squats, Running. Hours every day until my body could not hold up, and yet I screamed at myself and continued.
I found thugs since the city had a lot of alleys.
I started raiding thug hideouts at night, not as a hero ot a vigilante. I just wanted to test my resolve.
How hard can I hit before a bone breaks?
How much pain can I take before I stop?
How long until they start begging for their lives and never show their faces?
With time, the thugs learnt my face and ran anytime they saw my silhouette.
Between fights, I searched Libraries, occult shops, online forums, Abandoned Houses, every lead, no matter how stupid it was.
I searched for anything supernatural.
People laughed and called me crazy. They even threatened to call the cops on me.
Like I care.
If Cid could find magic, then so can I.
If Cid trained for years, then so can I.
If Cid got hit by a truck...
I suddenly stopped.
A truck.
There is this internet theory about the Truck Kun.
People joked about it. Memed about it and even used it as a punchline.
But what if??
What if ??
Its real?
What if dying by a vehicle were the most valid method?
No one has ever tried it because they are too scared.
I stood in the middle of a busy street at 3 AM, watching cars pass.
Well, for one, and not scared, I'm obsessed, and that's a huge difference.
I spent months watching traffic patterns.
Which streets had the fastest trucks? What road had the highest fatality rates?
I suddenly became an expert in dead statistics.
Well, at this point, I knew I was insane.
After about another two days, I stood at the edge of a crossroad. It was currently 2 AM.
My heart was calm, my hands were steady, and my mind was so clear.
If this works, I win.
If it doesn't work...Well, I will be dead anyway.
Either way, I am not losing.
Instantly, a Truck's Headlights appeared in the distance.
I checked my watch, 2:16 AM.
Well, it's a good time to die.
I stepped into the road.
The truck drew closer, and it seemed the driver hadn't spotted me.
I thought about Cid. About his smile, things went his way.
Being Absolute.
Being the thing that shadows fear.
The truck was close now.
I smiled.
Was it a sad one? NO
A scared one, NO
I think it was CHAOTIC.
This is it.
This is the moment.
Well, let's see what is on the other side.
BOOMM!!1
The truck hit. Bones crushed and blood splattered.
It was painful. But then everything went blank.
I didn't know how much time passed, but when I opened my eyes, I was floating somewhere in infinity.
Did it work?
Am I Dead?
Is this the afterlife?
Instantly, I heard loud laughter.
It was so raw and uncontrolled. This is the kind of laughter that belongs to someone who has seen the funniest thing in existence.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
I turned only to see a being behind me. I couldn't describe it even if I tried. It was like...Light.
"YOU." It gasped between the laughs.
"YOU ACTUALLY DID IT".
"Huh, I was confused but waited."
"I've been here for eternity. Millions of Souls passed here, and you?? You are the first one planned to be here. The first person who smiled at it."
It pointed me.
"That smile was beautiful."
It started laughing again.
When it finally calmed down. It got closer to me.
"So what in the world do you want??"
A smile crept along my face.
Without hesitation, I spoke.
"THE EMINENCE IN SHADOW"
The being tilted its head.
The....the anime one??
"Yes"
It suddenly paused.
"Why"
I met its gaze and then spoke
"Because I can be better"
Suddenly, the being began laughing again.
"OH! OH, THIS IS GETTING BETTER! You want to be better than the protagonist in his world?
"Yes, I said.
The being threw its head back and laughed again.
"PERFECT, ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, It's been a millennium, I can finally have a good show.
Well, you have a deal.
"One condition, I said"
The being raised what might have been an eyebrow.
"Name it."
"I want to be born the same time as Cid Kagenou, Same year, Same month. Same week, if possible. I want to grow up in a parallel to him, not replacing him."
"Why tho, Most people want to be born earlier and get a headstart."
"My answer was simple, because if I were born earlier, it's not fair, I want to be born at the same time and still surpass him. Thats What being absolute means."
After my answer, there was silence.
The being smiled and raised his hand.
"Done. Midgar Kingdom. Noble family, but not that powerful. Enough resources to do what you want. Same birth week as Cid."
Suddenly, the being Paused.
"One more thing, I am going to watch everything, and I want to see what you'll truly become."
I smiled
"DEAL!"
"Ah, and also some unexpected Issues might affect the world that even I have no control over, so be careful."
I nodded.
Instantly, the world dissolved into light.
The last thing I heard was the being's voice.
"HAVE FUN, YOU MADMAN"
The end.