Time: May 7, 2032. 12:00 PM (Noon).
Location: Tokyo National Arena. The Final Stage of the Tournament.
The stadium was packed to the rafters. Over 100,000 spectators had gathered to cheer for their "new heroes." The government propaganda machine was working overtime: screens looped footage claiming the "Neutron" guild and the traitors in Prison "Void" had been drowned at the bottom of the sea, and the country was now safe.
In the VIP box, the Prime Minister sipped expensive champagne, wearing a satisfied smile. Beside him, the surviving guild leaders of the "Great Seven" carried themselves like victors.
"A wonderful day," the Prime Minister said to his aide. "That thug 'Shadow' is finally dead. Now, no one can threaten our power. Announce the winner."
The Announcer stepped onto the stage and raised his microphone:
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Historic justice has been served! Those who sought to disturb our peace have been eliminated! And now, with your permission, the absolute winner of this year's Tournament..."
The sentence was cut short.
Suddenly, a strange, low-frequency Hum resonated throughout the entire stadium. The sound wasn't heard with the ears, but felt through the bones. People's teeth chattered, and the hair on their arms stood on end.
The air pressure dropped sharply.
"What is happening?" The Prime Minister stood up. "An earthquake?"
"No, sir!" the head of security shouted, looking at the sky. "The radars... Radars are showing a massive energy anomaly in the sky!"
At that instant, the sky cracked open.
In the middle of the cloudless, pristine blue sky, as if black ink had been spilled, a massive, violet-and-black Vortex (Portal) opened, stretching a kilometer in diameter.
The moment the portal opened, a terrifying Shockwave slammed downwards.
CRASH! SHATTER!
All the massive LED screens in the stadium, the floodlights, the armored glass of the VIP box, and even the screens of the smartphones in the hands of 100,000 spectators shattered simultaneously.
Shards of glass rained down. People screamed and covered their heads.
And from within that black hole... the nose of a massive Atlantean Ship emerged, its sleek silver hull gleaming blindingly in the sunlight.
It looked like a predatory bird from the future. The ship descended rapidly but silently, casting a terrifying shadow over the stadium field.
On the deck, 500 warriors stood motionless as statues, clad from head to toe in gleaming "Hydro-Armor," holding plasma spears.
At the very front, with one foot resting on the railing of the ship's bow and a microphone in hand, stood Kenji.
Rynna (Admin) hacked the ship's speakers into the surviving audio system of the stadium.
Kenji's voice shook all of Tokyo:
"Hello, boys and girls! I thought I was bringing the pizza, but you started the party without me? Zero points for hospitality!"
The Prime Minister nearly fell out of his chair. His eyes bulged.
"He... He is alive?! How?! We crushed him at 8000 meters depth! What is this?! A spaceship?!"
The ship came to a hovering stop five meters above the stadium field.
Kenji jumped down. His coat fluttered in the air, and he landed lightly.
Behind him, Zero, Odin, Kaito, and Rynna jumped down as well.
Kenji stood up, dusted himself off (though there was no dust), and walked straight toward the VIP box. On his face was that famous, brazen, slightly arrogant, and utterly dangerous smile.
"So, gentlemen," Kenji said, toying with the microphone. "I hear you've declared me 'Dead' and a 'Criminal Gang Leader'."
"I'm deeply hurt."
Kenji gave a thumbs-up gesture to the army of 500 behind him—warriors with fire in their eyes, armed with cutting-edge Atlantean weaponry.
"I am not just a criminal."
"I am... the New Administration. And today is your 'Termination Day'."
The Announcer, trembling violently, tried not to drop his microphone.
"You... Who are you?!"
Kenji approached the nearest video camera (which Rynna had reactivated).
His eyes glowed violet.
"You want to know who I am?"
"Open the System. And look at the rankings."
"I am Player #1. I am Shadow."
The stadium fell silent for a second.
Then... it exploded.
Not with fear. With excitement. People recognized the heroes from "Void"—General Odin, "Wind Mother," and the others.
"It's Shadow! He's alive! He saved our heroes!"
"Shadow! Shadow! Shadow!"
The roar of hundreds of thousands of people terrified the Government officials. They realized: they had lost not just the physical battle, but the information war as well.
The Prime Minister turned red with rage. His plans were turning to ash.
"Enough!" he screamed, spraying spittle. "I don't care! Execute all plans!"
"Activate 'Project: Light'! Kill him! I want his head!"
The Arena gates—those heavy, black metal doors—began to open slowly.
From within, a blinding, pure white light poured out.
There was no warmth in this light. Only cold, emotionless sanctity.
Kenji stopped smiling. His heart began to pound with a strange, painful rhythm.
"No..." he whispered. "Don't do this..."
From the gate, a girl in a white dress emerged.
Her hair was black and long, fluttering in the wind. But her eyes... those eyes were empty. No pupils, just white light.
In her hand, she held a massive Holy Staff made of gold and platinum alloy.
Aira (Light).
Behind her, hundreds, thousands of NPC Guards (the Government's new batch) marched out in formation.
Kenji stared at Aira. The person he had waited eighty years for, the person he had searched for over the last two years.
"Aira..." his voice trembled. "Are they forcing you again?"
Aira looked at Kenji. There was no emotion on her face, no sign of recognition. She looked like a robot.
She pointed her staff at Kenji.
"System Enemy Detected," Aira said. Her voice had a mechanical, metallic ring to it. "Command: Eliminate."
In the Government box, the Prime Minister laughed.
"Here is a gift for you, Shadow! How does it feel to die at the hands of the girl you love?"
Kenji turned back to his army.
Grom raised his axe, Odin aimed his rifle.
"Stop!" Kenji commanded sharply.
"The Guards—they are yours. Tear them apart."
"But Aira..."
Kenji activated his new "Abyssal Shadow" sword (the liquid metal bracelet). A black blade materialized in his hand.
"Aira is mine."
"No one touches her! If anyone puts a single scratch on her, I will kill you myself! Understood?!"
"Understood, Captain!" the army replied.
Kenji walked toward Aira.
"Come, my Princess," he said in a low voice. "I'm going to have to make a little noise to wake you from this 'sleep'."