Part A: The Assessment
The professional office inside the Hunter Bureau building was organized chaos—papers scattered across the desk, a large window showing the city at dusk, the last rays of sunlight painting everything in shades of amber and shadow. Ken Ryuji sat behind his desk, fingers steepled in front of him, his expression grave and professional but tinged with sympathy. Across from him stood Zero, his posture tense, exhausted, barely holding himself together.
The silence stretched between them like a held breath.
"Based on our preliminary investigation," Ryuji began, his voice measured and careful, "we believe this is a teleportation case."
He gestured with one hand, expressing the frustration of the unknown. "We don't even know how it happened. We didn't detect any Orb appearance in your area."
Zero's eyes lit up with sudden, desperate hope. He leaned forward slightly, his entire body trembling with the need to believe. "That means... they were just teleported to another world, right?"
His hands clenched into fists, his expression desperate but determined. "They might be alive... No—they MUST be alive!" His eyes burned with newfound purpose. "We'll find them. We have to."
He looked directly at Ryuji with intensity that seemed to make the air between them vibrate. "I want my rank assessment done today."
Ryuji's eyebrows raised in surprise and concern. "Today? Zero, you need to rest." He leaned forward, his tone becoming more insistent, almost fatherly. "You had an intense fight at school just this morning. And everything that happened with your family..." His expression softened with genuine concern. "There's no shame in taking time to process this. These things must be weighing heavily on you."
Zero shook his head firmly, his jaw set with determination, his eyes unwavering. "No. I'm fine now." His voice was steady, controlled, but carrying underlying desperation. "I need to become a Hunter. It's the only way I can enter the dungeons through the Gates." His eyes burned with purpose and pain mixed together. "The only way I can search for my parents."
Ryuji closed his eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. He recognized that look, that determination—he knew he couldn't change Zero's mind. "...Very well."
He rose from his chair, gesturing toward the door. "Come with me."
They walked through the sterile, well-lit hallways of the Hunter Bureau, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. As they walked, Ryuji spoke without looking at Zero, his tone professional and matter-of-fact.
"Let me explain how we assess Hunter ranks." He gestured with one hand. "We measure a Hunter's rank based on their aura—or mana, whatever term you prefer. To accurately gauge this, we have candidates fight a captured low-rank monster."
In Zero's mind, he could picture it—a containment cell with a monster visible behind reinforced barriers, pacing, waiting.
"During combat," Ryuji continued as they passed doors marked with various labels, "a person's aura naturally emerges—even if they're trying to suppress it. Our equipment measures the intensity and quality of that aura output, allowing us to determine their rank accurately."
Zero nodded, absorbing the information, his expression focused and determined. "I understand."
Ahead, a massive, reinforced door loomed. Warning signs and security measures were visible around it, making it clear that whatever lay beyond was dangerous. Ryuji stopped at the door, placing his hand on a security panel beside it.
"Here we are." The system beeped twice in response.
The heavy door slid open with a pneumatic hiss, revealing an enormous dome-shaped chamber. The space was vast, constructed from incredibly thick reinforced metal. Observation windows of reinforced glass lined one wall. The space felt cold, industrial, dangerous—a place built to contain violence.
Ryuji gestured inside. "Go inside. We'll observe from the control room." His expression was professional but showed underlying concern. "Don't worry. If things go wrong, we can stop the test immediately."
Zero took a breath and stepped through the threshold into the chamber. He walked to the center of the vast space, his footsteps echoing in the emptiness, looking small and alone in the enormous dome.
Ryuji entered the observation room where several technicians monitored screens and equipment. "Subject has entered the chamber, sir," one of them reported.
Behind Zero, the entrance door slid shut with a heavy, final sound, and locks engaged with mechanical precision. The chamber became airtight. Zero stood in the center, fists clenched, waiting. The silence was oppressive, pressing down on him from all sides.
Then, on the far side of the chamber, another massive door started sliding upward with a low rumble. Shadow and darkness lay beyond, and something moved within—something that growled with hunger and violence.
A Lizardman stepped into the light.
It was bipedal, reptilian, muscular—scales gleaming under harsh lights, claws flexing with obvious deadly intent. Yellow eyes locked onto Zero with predatory focus, and teeth were bared in a savage snarl.
Zero took an instinctive step back, his eyes widening. This is... a real monster...
The creature's eyes locked on him—prey identified—and then it exploded into motion, charging directly at Zero with terrifying speed.
Zero's eyes went wide. Too fast. He couldn't process what was happening. "What—?!"
Razor-sharp claws swiped horizontally toward his torso. Zero threw himself backward, the claws missing by inches, but he lost his balance, stumbling backward with arms windmilling.
The creature spun, its powerful tail swinging like a club, and the tail slammed into Zero's side with devastating force.
"AAAGH!"
Zero's body was thrown violently across the chamber, tumbling through the air before he crashed to the metal floor hard, rolling several times before coming to a stop. He lay there gasping for air, his body refusing to respond properly.
He pushed against the ground with trembling arms, trying to get up. Get up... I have to get up... But his arms buckled, and he collapsed back to the floor. Why... why can't I move...?
The Lizardman approached slowly, deliberately, each footstep echoing ominously. From Zero's position on the ground, the creature loomed larger and larger—a terrifying predator closing in on helpless prey.
The creature towered over Zero's prone form, mouth opening wide to reveal rows of sharp teeth. Its head snapped down, jaws wide, aiming to bite Zero's head clean off—
Heavy chains shot out from hidden mechanisms in the walls with a metallic clang, wrapping around the Lizardman's neck and limbs, yanking it backward inches from Zero's face. The creature struggled violently against the chains, roaring in frustration.
A side door burst open, and personnel in protective gear rushed in. "Secure the subject! Move!" They quickly reached Zero, lifting him carefully. "We've got him! Get him out of there!"
Zero was carried toward the exit, his consciousness fading, his vision blurring. Voices echoed distantly as darkness consumed his vision completely.
Part E: Aftermath
The moon hung in a dark sky, stars scattered around it like diamonds on velvet. In Ryuji's office, dimly lit by only a desk lamp, Zero lay on a couch, unconscious, a blanket draped over him. Ryuji sat at his desk, illuminated by his computer screen, papers spread before him. He looked tired, concerned, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders.
Zero's eyelids began to twitch, consciousness slowly returning. His vision was blurry at first, slowly coming into focus. He saw an unfamiliar ceiling. Where... am I?
He pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing slightly, the blanket falling to his lap. He looked around, recognition dawning. He was in Ryuji's office.
"This is..."
Ryuji looked up from his computer, his tired face showing relief. "You're awake. Good."
Zero touched his head, trying to remember. "What... what happened earlier?"
Ryuji's expression was neutral, professional, but his words were blunt and devastating. "You weren't able to defeat the lowest-rank monster." He leaned back in his chair, studying Zero. "In fact, you fainted after a single hit."
Zero's eyes widened, disbelief and shame washing over his features. "I... fainted?"
Ryuji glanced at his wristwatch. "It's nine o'clock now. You've been unconscious for several hours."
Panic flooded Zero's face. "Nine? But Zoe—where's my sister?!"
Ryuji lifted a hand in a calming gesture. "Relax. Your sister is safe." His tone became gentler. "She's staying at your friend's house. Ryo's family, I believe." He picked up a note from his desk. "She left a message saying you should come to Ryo's house when you wake up."
Zero exhaled, some tension leaving his shoulders. "Thank goodness..."
Ryuji's expression became more serious. "Are you able to walk?"
Zero tested his limbs, then nodded. "Yeah... I think I'm okay."
Ryuji's face became firm, almost scolding. "I told you that you needed to rest." He leaned forward, emphasizing his words. "Stay home for a few days. Get proper rest. Then come back for reassessment." His tone softened slightly. "I have high expectations for you, Zero. Don't waste your potential by rushing."
Zero's expression became determined despite his exhaustion. "No. I have to go to school."
Ryuji's eyebrows raised in disbelief. "School? After everything that's happened?"
Zero's eyes showed pain but also determination. "If I stay home... I'll only think about my parents." His hands clenched slightly. "I need to keep my mind occupied. Thinking dark thoughts won't help anyone."
He stood from the couch, testing his balance. He was shaky but managed. "I'm also thinking of bringing Zoe with me to school." His voice became softer, more vulnerable. "She needs to be around her friends. To feel normal again, even if just for a little while."
He gave a small, respectful bow to Ryuji. "Thank you for your time and concern, Ryuji-san." He began walking toward the office door. "I'll come back soon for the reassessment."
Ryuji remained seated, watching Zero's retreating back with a complex expression—concern, sympathy, and resignation. That boy...
Zero paused at the door, hand on the handle, but didn't look back. "I promise... I'll be stronger next time."
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Ryuji sat in silence, illuminated only by his desk lamp, his expression troubled. He couldn't even handle a low-rank monster... yet his teacher said his power was overwhelming. His eyes narrowed in thought as he looked at the computer screen showing data from Zero's assessment—all readings abnormally low.
What happened? Why the difference? Something doesn't add up about that boy...
Part B: Walking to School - Silence
Morning light cast long shadows across a quiet suburban street. Three figures walked together in silence—Zero in the middle, Zoe to his right, Ryo to his left. The atmosphere was heavy, oppressive, weighted down by things unsaid.
Their quiet footsteps were the only sound.
Zoe stared straight ahead, her expression blank and hollow. Dark circles under her eyes suggested she hadn't slept. Her face was emotionless, distant, as if she wasn't really there at all.
Zero glanced at his sister with growing concern, his eyebrows furrowing. She hasn't said a word since last night...
He opened his mouth, attempting to break the suffocating silence. "Zoe... how about we—"
She continued walking, not even acknowledging he'd spoken. Her eyes remained fixed forward, unseeing.
Zero tried again, forcing cheerfulness into his voice that he didn't feel. "Hey, didn't you say your class was doing something fun today? Maybe—"
Still no response. Zoe's expression didn't change. She walked like an automaton, empty and mechanical.
Ryo observed the siblings with sympathy and concern but remained quiet, unsure how to help, feeling like an intruder on their grief.
Zero's attempts at cheer faded, his face showing helplessness and pain. Nothing's working...
He came to a halt, causing the others to stop as well. He turned to face Zoe, his voice gentle, almost pleading. "Zoe..."
For the first time, she slowly turned her head toward him. Her eyes were dull, lifeless, like looking into a well with no bottom.
Zero's expression became serious, determined. He looked directly into her eyes. "We will find them." His voice carried quiet conviction, a promise he intended to keep with every fiber of his being. "Mom and Dad... we'll find them. I promise you."
His expression softened with concern. "That's why I'm taking you to school today. So you can be with your friends. So you can feel normal, even just for a little while." His smile faltered slightly, showing his own pain beneath the brave front. "Please... don't make that face. I really can't stand seeing you like this."
He straightened up, trying to project strength he didn't entirely feel. "Not until we find them. Until then... we have to keep going."
A tiny flicker of something—hope? acknowledgment?—passed through Zoe's eyes before fading again. "...Okay."
Without waiting for more response, Zero turned and began walking again, his back to them. The two followed behind. The silence continued, but something had shifted—ever so slightly, like the first crack in ice before spring.
They arrived at the large school complex where students milled about, chatting and laughing—normal life continuing despite their personal tragedy. At a branching point where the high school and college sections diverged, Zoe turned toward her section without saying goodbye.
Zero and Ryo stood together, watching her retreating back disappear through the high school entrance, swallowed by the crowd of students. Ryo placed a supportive hand on Zero's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "She'll be alright. Give her time."
Zero took a breath and nodded, though uncertainty remained in his eyes. "Yeah... I hope so."
Part C: In Class - Lost in Thought
In the typical college classroom, students sat at desks while the teacher wrote on the board at the front, sunlight streaming through windows. Zero sat at his desk by the window, chin resting on his hand, his eyes staring out but seeing nothing. The teacher's voice became muffled, indistinct background noise.
How do I find them? Where do I even start?
In his mind, he saw the image of a massive Gate, dark and foreboding. The dungeons... I have to get into the dungeons... Then a flash of memory—the Lizardman's jaws snapping toward him, chains pulling it back at the last second. But I'm too weak. I couldn't even beat the lowest-rank monster...
His hands clenched on the desk, frustration and helplessness warring on his features. How do I become strong enough? How do I...?
He released a long, exhausted sigh, his shoulders sagging, then gave up trying to focus and laid his head down on his folded arms. The noise of the classroom began to fade as his eyes closed.
Part D: The Void
The sounds stopped completely. Absolute silence pressed down on him like a physical weight.
Something felt wrong. Zero's eyes snapped open. He blinked, confused by the oppressive silence. Wait... why is it so quiet?
He slowly lifted his head from the desk.
The classroom was completely empty. Every desk vacant. The teacher gone. The blackboard blank. "What...?"
He quickly stood, spinning to look around the room in confusion and growing alarm. "Hello? Anyone?"
The edges of the classroom began darkening, shadows creeping across the walls like living things, spreading with malevolent purpose. Something cold touched his feet. He looked down sharply.
The classroom floor was covered in black water up to his ankles, rippling outward from his movement.
His eyes widened in shock and fear. "What is this?!"
He took an instinctive step backward, the water splashing around his feet. When he looked upward, the ceiling had disappeared, replaced by an endless dark void. Dozens—no, hundreds—of glowing eyes stared down at him from that darkness. Unblinking. Watching. Evaluating.
Pure fear crossed his face. He was frozen, unable to look away from the countless eyes. "What... what is this place?!"
The ground beneath him suddenly trembled violently. He stumbled, arms windmilling to keep from falling as the water splashed around him.
In an instant, the classroom vanished.
Zero now stood in an impossibly vast space—a colossal chamber that stretched in all directions. Massive pillars rose into darkness, each one wider than buildings. The walls were constructed of dark charcoal-gray and soot-black stone, weathered by what looked like centuries yet somehow pristine. The walls were so distant they were barely visible, creating a sense of infinite space.
Zero spun slowly, trying to take in the impossible architecture, the incomprehensible scale. Where... where am I?
A wide shot would show how tiny Zero appeared in this immense space—like an insect in a cathedral, insignificant and small.
Something massive drew his attention. Far ahead, at the end of the vast hall, something enormous sat upon a throne.
Zero's feet moved on their own, carrying him toward the throne against his will. He tried to stop but couldn't. My body... it's moving on its own!
As he approached, the scale of the throne became clear. It was impossibly large. A figure sat upon it—so large that Zero couldn't see all of it at once. The entity dwarfed everything, as big as ten whales together, a presence so massive it defied comprehension.
Zero came to a halt at the base of the throne, forced to crane his neck upward to even attempt to see the figure. His face showed complete shock, confusion, and terror mixed together. What... what IS this thing?! His mind flooded with questions, too many to process. Is this a dream? Am I dying? What's happening?!
A deep, resonant voice echoed through the chamber—or perhaps directly in Zero's mind, bypassing his ears entirely.
"YOU WERE SAVED BY ME."
The words carried such weight that Zero's body jerked as if struck by physical force. "Gah!"
He spun, looking back at where he came from. "Wait... just a moment ago I was in my classroom..." He looked around at the vast castle interior, so impossibly large, so ancient yet pristine. This place... I can't even see where it ends!
The voice resonated once more, commanding absolute attention. "I SAVED YOU."
Zero forced himself to look up at the massive figure, even though every instinct screamed at him to run. "Saved me? What do you mean?"
The words that came next carried immense weight, as if each syllable contained universes. "YOU HAVE TO COME TO ME. THE CENTER OF SPACE AND TIME."
Zero's expression showed complete bewilderment. "Center of space and time? What are you talking about?!"
The voice became more urgent, commanding. "JUST FOLLOW YOUR THOUGHTS." The words seemed to reverberate with cosmic significance. "YOU ARE THE KEY."
Zero reached forward desperately. "Wait! What does that mean?! The key to what?!"
Part F: Awakening
The entire castle began trembling violently. The vision destabilized, the world around him fragmenting, breaking apart like shattered glass. "What's happening?!"
The castle, the throne, the entity—everything exploded into fragments of darkness.
Zero's eyes snapped open. He was back in the classroom, jerking upright in his seat, gasping for air as if he'd been drowning. "Hah! Hah! Hah!"
Ryo stood beside Zero's desk, hand on his shoulder, looking worried. "Zero! Hey, are you okay?!"
Zero's eyes darted around the classroom frantically. It was normal. Students were there. The teacher was teaching. Everything was as it should be. He looked down at his hands—they were shaking uncontrollably.
Ryo squeezed Zero's shoulder gently, trying to ground him. "Hey, it's okay. You're okay." He gave Zero a sympathetic smile. "You fell asleep and had a nightmare, I think. During the day, too."
Zero took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. His face was pale, covered in cold sweat. "A nightmare...?"
Ryo stepped back, gesturing toward the door. "Come on, let's get some fresh air. Everyone's at the track for javelin practice anyway."
Zero nodded mechanically, still processing what he'd experienced. "Yeah... okay..."
They exited into the hallway where other students passed by, chatting normally. As they walked down the corridor toward the stairs, Ryo chattered, trying to distract Zero. "The javelin competition is coming up next week. A lot of people are taking it seriously this year."
Zero walked beside him but didn't respond. His mind was clearly elsewhere, replaying the vision—that place, that thing on the throne.
They began descending the staircase, and Zero's thoughts consumed him. What was that place? That... thing? "You were saved by me..." What does that mean?
The Entity's words echoed in his mind: "YOU ARE THE KEY."
His hand clenched tightly at his side as they continued walking. The key... to what?
As they continued down the stairs heading toward the track, Zero's posture showed the weight of his confusion and the mystery now added to his already overwhelming burdens. One more impossible thing in a world that had become nothing but impossible things.
And somewhere, in a place beyond space and time, something ancient and vast waited patiently for Zero to understand.