Arc -
Chapter - 1
Everything was black.
Until two blue eyes opened.
Mystic blue light flickered around them as a voice echoed through the darkness.
> "We won't lose."
The blue glow expanded into a brilliant sky.
A vast world appeared beneath it.
The heavens were clear, without a single cloud or bird in sight. At the center of the endless sky burned a massive blazing sphere, its heat pouring down upon the barren plains below. Warm winds swept across the dry land, travelling through a valley that rested between two towering plateaus.
From above, the world looked empty.
Silent.
Lifeless.
Then a lone black figure appeared at the edge of the plains.
A dark cloak covered his body, its high collar swaying with the wind. The fabric fluttered quietly behind him as he walked with calm, steady steps. His gaze remained fixed on the distant plateaus before slowly drifting upward toward the blazing sun hanging above his head.
The light revealed part of his face.
A thought crossed his mind.
How much time had passed since then?
The darkness within his eyes deepened.
Suddenly, the view rushed forward.
Stars shimmered within the endless void of space. Galaxies spun in silence as a blue-green sphere covered in oceans and white clouds appeared.
Earth.
The vision dived toward the planet, crossing oceans, forests, mountains, deserts, and countless lands before reaching a small village connected to a massive city.
A black crow soared through the dawn sky above the city.
It flew past forests, slipped between branches, and crossed over roaring waterfalls. Soon, dark clouds swallowed the sky. Snow began to fall as violent winds howled around the bird.
The crow pushed through the storm.
It crossed snowy mountains and freezing storms throughout the night until, eventually, the storm calmed.
Then the bird looked upward.
Before it stretched a breathtaking sight.
The rising sun illuminated the city below while golden light spread across the clouds.
The crow glided peacefully through the morning sky before diving into the city.
Tall buildings stood proudly across the streets. Vehicles moved endlessly while crowds of people filled the roads with life.
At a crossing, people waited for the signal to change.
Above them, a sparrow desperately flew through the air while another crow chased after it.
In an instant, both birds turned sharply and shot across the crossing at incredible speed.
Elsewhere, inside a dark room, the sound of munching echoed repeatedly.
A fat boy sat in front of a screen, completely focused on his game while stuffing snacks into his mouth.
Suddenly—
A glitch.
For a brief moment,a dark red aura covered his body.
At the same time, the cheers of a massive audience erupted.
> "The ball is now under the control of Thunder Flash!"
A yellow-haired football player dashed across the field with the ball at his feet.
Then another glitch appeared.
For a split second, yellow lightning aura burst around his body.
Amidst all the chaos, sunlight quietly entered the room of a sleeping boy.
Golden rays spread across the floor.
The boy slowly opened his dark eyes before turning onto his back.
A tired thought crossed his mind.
> "Another birthday…"
He stared blankly at the ceiling.
> "I wish I could live this life from the start again."
After a moment, he sat at the edge of the bed.
> "And once again… I'll probably tell myself it won't happen."
He let out a quiet sigh.
Then suddenly—
A strange smile appeared on his lips.
Blue aura covered his body as the room itself glowed with a bright blue light.
Far beyond the reach of humanity existed another place entirely.
A world of pure white clouds.
At its center stood a massive white throne.
A man dressed in pure white sat upon it silently.
His presence felt calm.
Kind.
He said nothing.
Only a gentle smile rested on his face.
Back on Earth, the crow that had entered the city earlier continued flying above rows of houses.
Suddenly, it spotted the same crow chasing the sparrow.
The sparrow quickly dived toward the balconies below, desperately trying to escape. The two birds flew wildly between buildings, startling people along the way.
A woman placing clothes out to dry slipped in surprise and nearly fell as the birds rushed past her.
Meanwhile, the watching crow remained distracted by the chase.
It never noticed the closed window ahead.
The bird's eyes widened.
Its soul practically screamed.
Just before impact—
The window opened.
CRASH!
The crow slammed directly into a boy.
A few moments earlier…
After getting out of bed, the boy had fixed his sheets before checking the birthday wishes on his phone.
Today was his eighteenth birthday.
As he walked toward the door, he noticed the crow speeding straight toward the closed window.
Without hesitation, he rushed forward and opened it.
Unfortunately, the crow crashed into him anyway.
The two fell onto the floor.
After a few seconds, the boy slowly opened his eyes.
The crow was peacefully sleeping on top of his stomach.
A faint smile appeared on the boy's face.
> "I think you're a little tired."
Gently, he picked up the sleeping bird and placed it on his bed before covering it with a blanket.
> "Make yourself at home."
He poured water into a bowl and placed biscuits beside it before leaving the room.
The crow continued sleeping comfortably.
Downstairs, the boy brushed his teeth before sitting at the dining table.
From the kitchen, a warm voice called out.
> "Happy birthday, Soul."
The boy managed a small smile.
> "Thanks, Mom."
His mother placed breakfast in front of him before returning to the kitchen.
After eating, Grim Soul stepped outside and began walking toward the city.
Meanwhile, the crow remained asleep in Grim's room.
Grim walked quietly along the side paths.
The streets around him were noisy and full of life, yet everything felt silent inside his mind.
Heavy thoughts followed him with every step.
Eventually, he reached the same crossing where the birds had flown earlier.
Grim stepped forward.
And the world froze.
Everything turned white.
Except for him.
A car hung mid-turn. A bird halted mid-flap. Two more birds, locked in a fight over a biscuit, hovered motionless. A thief running from a guard was frozen mid-stride. A boy proposing with red flowers stood still as petals lingered in the air. A cyclist stopped just before swerving.
Even the wind paused.
He blinked.
The silence pressed down on him. Heavy. Unnatural.
And then—he saw him.
A man stood at the edge of the crossing, facing him.
He wore robes white as untouched snow, glowing faintly like light through mist. His long hair was pure white, and his eyes—brighter still—shone with neither warmth nor cold, only endless clarity.
He smiled.
> "Happy Birthday…Grim Soul."
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To be continued…
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