Chapter 21: A Twisted World… This Isn't the Ending They Promised Me
Scene One: A Chaotic Exit
Rin stumbled out of the massive gate, collapsing to his knees as he sucked in heavy breaths. Behind him, the rest of the team emerged one by one—Leon face-planting into the ground, the girl with the giant sword tripping over her own feet, and Mr. X stepping out with forced dignity despite the blood dripping from his arm.
Rin (coughing): "Great… at least nobody died on the way out."
Leon (getting up and polishing his sword automatically): "We made it! But… where exactly are we?"
They looked around.
This wasn't the city they knew.
Towering buildings were wrapped in glowing vines, streets coated in a purple sheen, and the sky… a swirling mix of gold and violet.
Sword Girl (staring at her hands): "My powers… they feel different."
Mr. X (checking his wounds): "The energies here are blended. The human world and the mid-realm… they've partially merged."
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Scene Two: Facing the New Reality
While walking cautiously through the distorted streets, they heard voices coming from a nearby building. Inside an abandoned shopping mall, a group of survivors cowered behind makeshift barricades.
Elderly Woman (fearful): "A-are you hunters?"
Rin (carefully): "Something happened to the world, didn't it?"
Young Man (voice shaking): "The gates… they exploded everywhere. Everything changed overnight."
The survivors explained how countless small rifts had spread through the city, twisting each district into a warped version of itself.
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Scene Three: Returning to a Home That No Longer Exists
The team headed toward the Association headquarters.
The sight froze them in place.
Half the building was swallowed by a glowing mist.
The other half floated several meters off the ground.
Leon (stunned): "The Association… it's destroyed."
Rin (studying the structure): "Not destroyed… transformed. Just like everything else."
Inside, a handful of surviving hunters were scrambling to establish a new command post. Panic was everywhere.
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Scene Four: The Confrontation with Mr. X
In a quiet corner, Rin turned sharply toward Mr. X.
Rin (accusatory): "You knew something like this could happen, didn't you?"
Mr. X (shaking his head slowly): "I knew there was a risk… but not on this scale."
Rin (raising his voice): "Look around you! The world turned into a nightmare! And this is the result of me trying to 'save' it?"
Mr. X: "You prevented total annihilation! The entire world would have collapsed!"
Rin stared out the shattered window at the twisted city. For the first time in a long while, sarcasm didn't feel like enough.
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Scene Five: The Purifiers—A New Threat
A commotion outside caught their attention.
A group of people dressed in white marched down the street, carrying signs that read:
"Return to Purity—Eliminate All Powers."
Purifiers' Leader (shouting through a megaphone):
"Look at what powers have done! They've defiled our world! All powered beings must be purged!"
Leon (grabbing his sword): "They're insane! How dare they—"
Rin (stopping him): "Wait. Listen."
The Purifiers ranted, blaming every empowered individual for the catastrophe.
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Scene Six: The Emotional Outburst
Rin finally snapped.
He stepped into the street, facing them directly.
Purifiers' Leader: "You! The Devourer! The prophecy spoke of your arrival!"
Rin (bitter laugh): "A prophecy? Which one? There are dozens these days."
Purifier Member: "You caused all this destruction!"
Rin (exploding):
"You really think it's that simple?"
He walked toward them, his eyes glowing—dark energy laced with gold.
Rin:
"I tried to save this world! I sacrificed my memories! A part of my humanity! And all I get is blame from people who understand nothing!"
Purifiers' Leader (trembling): "You're a monster!"
Rin (shouting back):
"Yeah? Maybe I am! But I'm the monster trying to fix what's broken! All you do is scream and point fingers!"
The Purifiers fled in terror.
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Scene Seven: A Moment of Truth
Rin returned to the team, emotionally drained.
Sword Girl (softly): "Rin… you didn't fail us."
Leon (reluctantly): "He… had a point. The world is a mess."
Rin (sitting on rubble): "Sorry. I wasn't supposed to lose control like that."
Mr. X: "You had every right. We're all angry."
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Scene Eight: The Discovery
As Rin sat quietly, something strange washed over him.
He could feel the small gates around them—
not as threats…
but as extensions of himself.
Rin (staring at his hands): "Wait… I can sense them. All the minor gates… they can hear me."
Mr. X: "What do you mean?"
Rin (closing his eyes): "I was wrong all along. I'm not the 'Devourer'…
I'm the Conductor."
His real ability wasn't to steal—
but to link, to connect, to bridge worlds.
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Scene Nine: A Decision and a New Beginning
Rin gathered the team.
Rin: "I'm not going to close the gates anymore."
Leon (shocked): "What? But—"
Rin:
"I'll learn to connect them properly. Make them coexist instead of tearing each other apart."
Mr. X: "That's extremely dangerous."
Rin:
"The whole world is dangerous already. It's time we stop pretending we're heroes or villains… and actually fix what's broken."
He looked out at the warped horizon—
but with new eyes.
Rin (smiling faintly):
"This isn't the world I wanted… but it's the world we have. And it's time I finally do what I'm meant to do."
Energy flowed from him—not violent, but calm and structured.
The small gates around them stabilized, and the air grew clearer.
Rin (for the first time, genuinely smiling):
"I'm not the hero they expected…
but maybe I'm the one they need."
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(To be continued…)