The meeting at the Nebula nightclub, an exclusive haven for the world's most powerful and corrupt mafia minds, was in full swing. The music echoed dully behind the thick, soundproof walls of the private room, decorated with an opulent luxury that spoke to the arrogance of its occupants. Under a glass dome that reflected the city lights like an artificial starry sky, the leaders of five families argued in low voices. Every word weighed like a bullet, loaded with double entendres and veiled threats.
The evening's host, Vincenzo Moretti, a middle-aged man with a sharp gaze and an imposing bearing, gently rapped his knuckles on the table. "We are in critical times," he said in a grave voice. "The Lux Aeterna is almost ready. If we don't put aside our differences, others will take what is rightfully ours."
A woman dressed in a pristine white suit, Kaede Takasugi, raised an eyebrow. She was known as much for her beauty as for her cruelty, the daughter of the feared Yakuza leader who had consolidated his power through bloodshed and stratagem. "You speak of unity, Moretti, but your men have done nothing but invade our territories. If this is your idea of an alliance, perhaps we should discuss when the truce ended."
"My men act autonomously," Moretti replied with a crooked smile. "But we're not here for petty disputes. The Tree doesn't wait, and neither should we."
"Enough!" snarled Dimitri Volkov, a Russian giant with scars crossing his face like a map of past wars. "The Lux Aeterna doesn't wait for our squabbles. We need a plan, not recriminations."
At that moment, the club doors slowly opened, and a figure walked in with firm but silent steps. Akihiko Sora, with his immaculate black suit and katana at his side, captured everyone's attention. Despite his youth, his presence was unmistakable. A murmur ran through the room.
"You!" exclaimed one of the lesser men in Moretti's employ. "What's the Sora Clan dog doing here?"
Akihiko was unfazed. His cold gaze swept over those present before he spoke. "I'm here because this game cannot continue without me," he said, his words cutting like a sharp blade. "The Tree of Eden will not tolerate the weak. If you want to survive what's coming, you'll need more than fragile alliances. You'll need me."
Echoes of a Forgotten Past
The tension in the room was palpable. While Moretti pondered Akihiko's words, Kaede Takasugi watched him closely. She'd heard of him: the young prodigy who controlled the void, the Sora Clan's "secret weapon." However, what intrigued her most was the aura of mystery surrounding him. He didn't seem to speak like a simple soldier serving his family. There was something more.
"You speak with confidence for someone so young," Kaede said finally. "But tell me, Akihiko Sora, what makes you think you have a place at this table?"
Akihiko bowed his head slightly, his hand resting on the handle of his katana. "Because I know what the Tree desires," he replied. "And because I have something you don't: the power to destroy that which doesn't deserve to exist."
Before anyone could respond, an explosion rocked the building. The glass in the dome shattered, and a shower of debris rained down on those present. The room filled with smoke and chaos. Voices screamed, and the leaders tried to seek cover.
Appearance of the Enemy
From the shadows of the smoke, footsteps were heard. A figure slowly emerged, dressed in a long coat and a mask covering his face. His voice resonated coldly and calculatedly: "The meeting ends here. None of you deserve the Lux Aeterna."
Akihiko drew his katana in a fluid motion. The blade gleamed darkly, as if the void itself enveloped it. "So the desperate moves are starting now?" he muttered to himself. "Perfect."
The mysterious attacker wasted no time. With a wave of his hand, the shadows in the room seemed to come to life, extending like snakes toward those present. Akihiko, without hesitation, slashed through the air with his katana, dissipating the shadows with a blast of pure energy.
"Who are you?" demanded Dimitri Volkov, trying to get up from the floor.
"I am the reminder that power does not belong to those who seek it," the figure replied before vanishing into the smoke.
When the smoke cleared, the leaders looked at each other, aware that they had been humiliated. However, Akihiko remained composed, calmly putting away his katana. "This is just the beginning," he said, heading for the exit. "If you want to survive, you'd better start taking me seriously."
As he descended the club's stairs, his mind raced. Something about the attack felt familiar, as if the shadow echoed something he'd faced before. But he had no time for doubt. The war for the Tree of Eden had just escalated, and he knew he was destined to be at the center of it all.