Oblivion...
{Clide}...
"I remember stepping through the door and"....
"What happened?".
"I was here"..
"Where is"..
" here"..
***
Clide had stepped through the Bronze door—not knowing what would be on the other side.
And was on the other? "Nothing".
Clide saw nothing...
Suddenly, a Clide began falling, falling in the endless void of nothingness, falling faster and faster — the shape of what seemed like stars started forming, it was like the vacuum of space—suffocating—cold and...
Suddenly, a bright light flashed. At that moment, Clide saw something... No... Someone, a person wearing a red sweater — with white hair and eyes that felt overwhelming, all heard after that was a single "snap"...
Clide jumped up from where he had been sleeping, trying to catch his breath as if he had been drowning. He stood up from the rock he was sleeping on and looked around—an endless ocean, the sky was filled with stars, planets, and galaxies that reflected off the ocean. This sight stunned Clide so much that he let out a shout of joy, which drowned out the strange unease he felt. Clide settled himself and looked around—spotting a door, the strange part was that it was in the ocean upright and it was a black door that released a dark aura. It was the only thing there apart from the rock Clide stood on, even though it was ominous, he still planned to swim 20 feet towards it, even though he never swam a day in his life.
He readied himself and took a step, and he stood still—standing on the surface of the ocean.
"What".. " the".. "hell"..
Clide walked to the door carefully—making sure that he wasn't sinking, finally reaching it he breathed a sigh of relief—finally having solid ground to stand on.
He reached out his hand, placing it on the door's handle, and turned it. He then pushed it open and stepped inside.
"You again!?" "Are you kidding me!?"
Said a familiar individual, the person whom Clide had tried to ignore and avoid.
"Why the hell are you here," Clide said unknowingly,
"Shikimori Yatsui"..
Shiki: What does that matter to you, halfwit?
Clide: I thought the door led to singular trials so why are you in mine?
Shiki: How dare you!? You're the one in my trial, my door led me right here, so you should get the hell out before I make you!
Clide: No.
Shiki: What!?
Clide: I said. No..
Shiki: ok, I see, you don't know who I am, do you? Well, let me show you!
***
Shikimori suddenly summoned his sword in a flash of golden light before dashing towards Clide, surprisingly Clide was able to react in time—catching the blade just before it reached his face, Clide was stunned that he was able to even do that as he had only acted on instinct, Shiki on the other hand was pissed and began slashing wildly as Clide dodged every attack.
Shikimori had had enough at this point and decided to enter it,
"Soul Art: Golden Pupil technique"
"Guilded tapestry!"
Shiki lifted his sword above his head as a burst of unstable soul energy released from it, and he then swung down with as much as he could — planning to kill Clide in one shot,
Clide stood his ground,—preparing to take it head on, but right as it was about to land. A sound could be heard.
A "snap" of a finger..
And then everything went blank..
***
Clide slowly opened his eyes—his blurry vision gradually clearing, he saw trees, birds, mountains, and hills. Clide was lying in a grassy spot, looking up. He had no idea how he got there or where he even was, but one thing was certain: it was not as safe as it seemed. Clide stood up slowly and cautiously, trying not to make much noise. Earlier, he had noticed strange sounds coming from the trees around him, and just as he stood up, he was suddenly surrounded by black wolves.
***
Black Wolves
Species: Wolves Mutate
Soul rank: Gold
Danger level: Orange
——————
Black wolves are the second-strongest wolf species, second only to the legendary dire wolves.
They're known for their intense bloodlust, incredible eyesight, teamwork, and agility.
They always attack in packs of at most 15, and surprisingly only have one natural predator.
***
Sweat ran down Clide's face intensely, dripping with every passing moment. Clide was shaking from fear, trying to slowly move backward to avoid catching their attention. Maybe it was just blissful ignorance or a lack of experience, but the moment Clide took a single step, he was immediately attacked. Clide managed to dodge the first wolf pounce, but another one dashed toward him—delivering a devastating bite to his left arm. He screamed in agony, trying his best to shake the wolf off, but another one slashed his back, leaving three prominent scars.
Clide gasped for air, trying to catch his breath — blood sprayed from the open wound, coating Clide's black shirt with a chilling red hue.
Clide fell to his knees in pain—trying to endure when suddenly another black wolf launched at Clide, mouth wide open bearing its razor-sharp teeth, this time was different— Clide felt only anger in that moment, his eye started glowing red, his hair began slowly standing upright
Clide stood up and shouted with pure anger
"Leave me! The hell! Alone!!" Before delivering a devastating punch to the wolf's lower jaw — shattering it instantly and causing a massive shockwave that knocked all the other wolves away, this gave Clide enough time to escape so he took the chance, deciding to run into the nearby trees.
Clide, sitting behind a tree began to break down—his eyes filled with tears partly because of the slashes in his back
and on his left arm. He thought of running away he really wanted to but he had no idea of where to go or what he would find out there, he was truly lost.
He cried intensely as his and began to drip more blood,
He thought to himself that he was just a kid who didn't deserve this, he had never done anything that would fit this punishment so why? Why did this happen?
He sat there for a while sobbing when suddenly he heard
a voice, one that was very familiar, he turned his head slightly looking behind the tree — seeing someone fight the very black wolves he ran from, Shikimori Yatsui in an open area in the forest fought off a pack of black wolves all by himself.
***
Shikimori dashed forward at the pack of black wolves. In one clean, practiced motion, his blade swept horizontally—steel singing—before the nearest wolf even had time to snarl. Its head hit the grass first. The body collapsed a heartbeat later.
The other wolves froze.
Then their eyes burned red.
Instead of retreating, the pack surged toward him with feral rage.
Shiki pivoted, dragging his heel through the dust as two wolves leapt from opposite sides. His sword flashed twice—clang, shhk—deflecting one and carving along the ribs of the other. Hot air blasted against his face as another wolf lunged low. He vaulted over it, twisting midair, and drove his blade straight down its spine.
But they just kept coming.
A wolf clamped its jaws on his sleeve. Shiki spun, yanking his arm free before plunging his knee into its snout. Another pounced from behind—he felt the breath on his neck. Instinct guided his hand as he thrust backward, his blade punching clean through its throat.
He exhaled sharply, sweat stinging his eyes.
His movements were perfect… but his body was slowing.
A strange emptiness tugged at his chest. Not pain. Not fear. Just… hollowness. A fading glow inside him.
My soul energy… already?
Three wolves circled him now—the last of the pack. Their growls rumbled like thunder in a cave.
Shiki tightened his grip on the hilt, but his arms trembled.
The wolves attacked together.
Shiki stepped in, slicing one across the jaw and dropping it instantly, but the second tackled him to the ground. He jammed a forearm into its throat as its teeth gnashed inches from his face. With a burst of fading strength, he rolled, flinging it off—only to meet the third wolf barreling toward him.
He forced his body up just long enough to bring the blade down in a brutal arc.
All three wolves fell.
Silence.
Shiki stood for a second… then the world tilted. His vision washed white at the edges, shimmering like heat waves.
"Soul… energy…" he muttered.
His knees buckled.
He hit the ground hard, the dirt warm beneath his cheek. His fingers twitched, reaching for his sword, but they barely moved.
Then—
A deep growl rolled through the clearing.
Far heavier. Far darker.
The ground vibrated as something massive stepped out from the shadows of the forest. A wolf—twice the size of the others, its fur black as tar and its eyes burning like molten gold. Scars lined its muzzle, and smoke curled from between its teeth.
A Dire Wolf. A lord of the wild.
It stared down at Shiki's fallen form, its presence crushing.
Shiki's vision blurred completely, but he could see the shape… towering… approaching…
And then everything went black.
***
Clide gasped, hand clamped over his mouth as he watched Shiki collapse. The Dire Wolf loomed over him, shadows swallowing the clearing. Clide wanted to stay hidden. He wanted to stay behind the tree, where the pain in his back and left arm wouldn't burn so violently he could barely breathe.
But Shiki…
Even if the guy acted like he was carved from arrogance and ice… he was still just a kid.
Just like him.
Clide tore off what was left of his shirt, wrapping the jagged claw mark on his left arm with shaky hands. Blood seeped through instantly, but he pulled it tight and forced himself to stand.
"Okay… okay… you got this…" he whispered to himself, voice trembling.
He didn't.
But he ran anyway.
Bursting from behind the tree, Clide shouted at the top of his lungs, waving his uninjured arm.
"HEY! OVER HERE, YOU OVERGROWN MUTT!"
The Dire Wolf's massive head jerked toward him. Its burning gold eyes narrowed. It growled—a deep, thunderous sound that shook leaves from the branches.
But it worked.
Shiki's half-conscious instincts kicked in. When the wolf stomped down where his head had been, Shiki rolled weakly aside, the earth splitting under the beast's weight.
Shiki coughed, pushing himself onto one knee. "You… idiot," he rasped. "You again!—why would you interfere? Do you think someone of my status needs—"
"Oh, shut up!" Clide snapped, stepping between Shiki and the wolf. "I'm not pitying you! I'm trying to make sure you don't end up as wolf food! You're not special—you're just a stupid arrogant dumbass!"
Shiki's jaw tightened, eyes burning with anger—maybe at Clide, maybe at himself.
The wolf lunged.
Clide barely raised his arms before a colossal paw slammed into him. The force lifted him off the ground like a rag doll and sent him crashing into the dirt. He rolled, skidding across rocks, finally stopping facedown.
He didn't move.
Shiki scoffed, though his voice cracked. "See? Pathetic. You step into a fight you can't handle, and look what—"
The wolf roared, and Shiki cut himself off. Blade shaking in his hands, he lifted it.
"Fine. I'll handle this myself."
He charged.
And for a moment—just a moment—Shikimori fought like lightning. Every strike was clean, every dodge razor-thin. He sliced across the wolf's legs, vaulted over its tail, and carved a glowing arc across its back.
But then—
That emptiness.
That familiar, devouring hollowness.
His soul energy flickered.
"Not now—"
The Dire Wolf's claw slammed into him before he could finish. The hit was direct.
Shiki flew backward, smashing into a tree. Wood cracked. The air exploded from his lungs. He slid down the trunk and lay still, coughing blood.
Everything blurred. The forest spun.
Then footsteps.
Weak. Staggering.
Shiki's golden eyes cracked open.
Clide…?
The boy was standing—barely. His knees shook, dirt clung to his skin, but he was upright. Walking forward. Toward the wolf.
"Idiot…" Shiki muttered, vision swimming. "Why… get up…?"
Clide didn't answer.
A light flickered around him—soft at first, then brighter. A blue aura wrapped his body, rippling like water made of living flame. His eyes snapped open, glowing a deep, burning red. His hair rose, floating as if gravity no longer applied.
Shiki stared, stunned.
His wounds…
They were healing. Right before his eyes.
Clide clenched his fists.
The air vibrated.
Then—
He vanished.
A sonic boom shattered the ground where he had been standing.
In a blink, Clide appeared in front of the Dire Wolf and drove his fist into its chest with a roar.
The impact unleashed a shockwave so fierce the surrounding trees snapped like twigs. Leaves, dirt, and debris blasted outward in a swirling storm.
The wolf didn't even have time to howl.
It was obliterated—body dispersing into dust and mist under the force of the blow.
Silence crashed over the clearing.
Clide stood trembling, the blue aura flickering violently. His breathing grew ragged. His legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees, hands sinking into the dirt.
The glow died.
He was completely depleted.
Shiki, barely conscious, could only watch.
"…How?…" he whispered.
The forest held its breath.
And everything went still.