Chapter 1: Focus
Earth.
A planet that orbits the Sun.
A perfectly normal planet.
A perfectly ordinary world.
A world where nothing unusual ever happens.
Narrator: I know everyone knows this. Why did you add it?
Author: Do your work, motherf**k*r.
The view zooms in.
Clouds drift lazily across the blue atmosphere. Continents stretch beneath like ancient maps carved by time itself. Oceans shimmer under sunlight.
Zoom in further.
A country appears.
A place unknown to most of the world.
A nation called Gargantua.
In the Gargan language:
- Gargant means spiritual
- UA means land
Together:
Gargantua — The Spiritual Land
A country where spiritual traditions and modern life coexist.
A place where old beliefs and new freedoms collide.
Zoom in.
A sprawling modern city.
Clean streets.
Neon billboards.
Public transit gliding through elevated rails.
People walking freely, dressed in styles ranging from traditional robes to punk jackets and anime hoodies.
Freedom of expression is a cultural pillar here.
Zoom in.
A school campus.
Three large buildings.
A sports ground.
Students laughing.
Others rushing to class.
Some pretending to rush while actually strolling.
Birds chirping.
A peaceful morning.
Zoom in.
A classroom.
Inside, rows of desks.
A whiteboard.
Sunlight pouring through the windows.
And in the last row near the window…
A boy.
Sleeping.
Narrator: And?
Author: And what? He's a 14-year-old boy. That's it.
He wears:
- a black hoodie
- black pants
- white shoes
His posture is relaxed, head tilted slightly toward the window as if the sunlight itself is his pillow.
Narrator: Where is his school uniform?
Author: In this country, everyone has the right to wear whatever they want.
The boy's hair is jet black.
His eyes—
Closed.
But when they open, they reveal something unusual.
Red.
Deep crimson.
The kind of red that feels calm rather than threatening.
Narrator: Red eyes. He looks like an antagonist.
Author: Or maybe you watch too many dramas.
This boy is Akira Tatsu.
And he is currently asleep.
On his right side is a window.
Warm sunlight drifts across his face.
Dust particles float in the golden glow.
Outside, the wind whispers through tree leaves.
Peaceful.
Still.
Quiet.
Narrator: Wait a second… he was awake earlier.
Author: That was for his introduction.
The classroom door slides open.
Students murmur.
The teacher enters.
A middle-aged man with thinning hair and tired eyes.
He places his books on the desk.
Turns.
Sees Akira sleeping.
Sighs.
He has seen this too many times.
But today…
He feels motivated.
Teacher continues the lesson.
No one listens.
Except one.
Takashi.
Glasses.
Perfect posture.
Notebook open.
Pen moving like a machine.
Top student energy.
Beside him sits Yuki, another boy with calm features and quiet presence.
Behind them sprawls Kenji.
Red hair.
Black clothes.
A grin that suggests trouble is his natural habitat.
Riko sits near the window aisle.
She is beautiful.
Not in an exaggerated way.
But in a calm, elegant way that draws attention without trying.
Her long hair catches sunlight like silk threads.
Even she occasionally glances toward the sleeping boy.
Back row.
Akira continues sleeping.
Teacher pauses.
Looks at him.
Sighs again.
Picks up a piece of chalk.
Throws it.
FAST.
Without opening his eyes—
Akira's hand moves.
He catches it.
Silently.
And throws it back.
Still asleep.
The chalk flies toward the teacher's face.
The teacher dodges with surprising agility.
The chalk hits the board.
Falls.
The classroom freezes.
Silence.
Teacher slowly picks up the chalk.
Dusts it.
Teacher: Someone pour water on his face.
Kenji immediately stands.
Walks to the window.
Opens it.
Instead of water…
Sunlight floods in.
The beam hits Akira's face.
Warmth spreads.
Akira slowly opens his eyes.
He looks around.
Everyone is staring.
He blinks once.
Then again.
He does not speak.
Scene shifts.
Akira stands outside the classroom.
Punishment.
Narrator: Just standing? That's the punishment?
Yes.
He stands in the corridor.
Leaning slightly against the wall.
Still sleepy.
A gentle breeze flows through the open hallways.
Students pass.
Some whisper.
Some laugh.
Akira doesn't care.
An old janitor walks past pushing a cleaning cart.
The principal appears from the opposite direction.
He stops.
Sees Akira.
Eyes narrow.
Principal: Sleeping while standing?
SLAP.
A sudden slap lands across Akira's cheek.
Not extremely hard.
But loud enough.
Akira blinks slowly.
Inside his mind:
"Bad day."
Five minutes later.
Akira stands with arms raised as an added punishment.
His expression remains neutral.
Then—
His eyes widen.
Something appears in front of him.
A translucent window.
Floating.
Only visible to him.
A SYSTEM INTERFACE.
---
System: Do you want System?
YES / NO
---
Akira stares.
Looks around.
No one reacts.
He presses YES.
---
System Activated
Master Status
Name: Akira Tatsu
Age: 14
Ki: 0
Rank: 0
---
Akira blinks.
"…huh."
The bell rings.
Students rush out.
Akira lowers his arms.
Akira: Yes… finally I can go home.
---
After School
Akira slings his bag over his shoulder.
Outside the school gate, his older brother waits.
Shinji Tatsu.
Black hair.
Black eyes.
Wearing a plain white shirt.
Normal.
Reliable.
Looks like someone who pays bills on time.
Akira's friends gather.
Takashi adjusts his glasses.
Yuki stretches.
Kenji is already complaining about something.
Riko walks beside them quietly.
They walk through the city streets.
Akira hums a random tune.
Kenji steps dramatically onto a wet patch of pavement.
Slips.
Falls.
SPLASH.
His shirt gets soaked.
Akira looks down.
Smirks slightly.
Akira: See? That's what happens to people who try to hurt me.
Kenji: How did I hurt you?!
Akira: By making me wake up.
Kenji: Blah blah blah.
They continue walking.
Akira suddenly stops.
He points.
A black-and-white dog sits beside a food stall.
It tilts its head.
Akira squints.
Akira: What a dog… with the same face as Kenji. Hey Kenji, I found your twin.
Kenji turns.
Kenji: That's your father.
Shinji kicks Kenji in the butt.
Shinji: What did you just say?
Kenji: These two brothers are violent…
Everyone laughs.
Even Riko hides a smile.
---
Evening — Akira's Home
A modest two-story house.
Akira enters.
Heads upstairs to his room.
Shinji remains downstairs and immediately turns on his gaming console.
Akira tosses his bag onto the bed.
The System window appears again.
---
System: Do you want to unseal your first Pin Point?
YES / NO
---
Akira clicks YES.
A pulse of warmth spreads through his chest.
---
System: First Pin Point unlocked.
Master can now use Ki.
---
Master Ki Attributes
Basic Abilities:
Fire
Water
Earth
Forest
Metal
Ice
Wind
Thunder
Light
Dark
Shadow
Akira's eyes widen.
Akira: Many abilities…
---
Special Abilities:
Copy & Clone
Flash Step
Detection
Summoning
Automatic Healing
Akira: Eleven basic… five special… total sixteen…
---
Ki Control: Novice
---
Akira sits cross-legged.
Closes his eyes.
Breath slows.
He focuses.
Something warm gathers inside him.
Like a faint current.
Like quiet electricity.
Energy flows into his palm.
A soft glow forms.
Smooth.
Gentle.
Alive.
Akira stares at his glowing hand.
"…cool."
---
Meanwhile — Outside the City
Shinji arrives at a dusty open ground.
A few streetlights flicker.
Shadows stretch across cracked earth.
Shinji: Where are they?
Footsteps approach.
Kenji and others arrive.
Kenji: Where is Akira?
Shinji: He said he's not coming.
Kenji shrugs.
Night wind moves through the empty field.
Something feels… off.
---
Elsewhere
A boy with white hair runs through an alley.
His clothes are strange.
Not modern.
Not traditional.
Unfamiliar.
His breathing is ragged.
Behind him—
Men in black clothing chase him.
Silent.
Precise.
Relentless.
The boy stumbles.
Gets back up.
Keeps running.
Fear burns in his eyes.
His name is Haruto.
And tonight…
he is running for his life.
---
End of Chapter 1