Dawn in Berlin brought with it a heavy, almost tangible air. The streets, still marked by the destruction of the previous night, seemed to whisper secrets in an ancient language. Akihiko walked with a firm step, but his mind was in turmoil. The fragment of the Fruit of Revelation, hidden beneath his clothes, continued to vibrate with a disturbing energy, as if seeking to communicate with him.
After the confrontation at the warehouse, Akihiko had managed to escape, but the price had been high. The mafias now knew someone was close to the Apple, and rumors of a young wielder quickly spread through the underworld. As he roamed the streets, every shadow, every corner, seemed to hide eyes watching him.
In a discreet café, Kaede waited at a secluded table, a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. When Akihiko entered, her hard gaze greeted him as a reminder that there was no time for rest.
"What did you find out?" Kaede asked without preamble.
Akihiko sat down across from her, letting out a sigh. "Lucius is still alive. He says the Apple has power far greater than we imagined. It can... rewrite reality itself."
Kaede frowned. "That explains why every mafia is willing to risk everything for him. But it also means you can't trust anyone, not even those who seem to help you."
"I don't trust Lucius," Akihiko replied coldly. "But what he said makes sense. This fragment is doing something to me. I feel my Void power growing, but also... there's something else. Like the Tree is trying to manipulate me."
Kaede leaned toward him, her eyes flashing with concern. "Don't let him control you, Akihiko. You're more than just a piece in his game. But you must also remember that with power comes responsibility. If you fall, it's not just you who will suffer the consequences."
Echoes of the Past
As they spoke, a shadowy figure watched them from outside the café. Its eyes, dark as night, followed Akihiko's every move with almost predatory interest. As Akihiko and Kaede left, the figure disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind only a faint whisper in the wind.
"We need to move," Kaede said, leading Akihiko toward a car parked nearby. "The mafias have started mobilizing. There are rumors that someone in London has information on the whereabouts of the complete Apple."
"London," Akihiko repeated, looking at the horizon. "Every step we take seems to lead us closer to a trap."
Kaede smiled with a hint of irony. "That's the price of playing this game, Akihiko. But if we don't, someone else will, and that someone won't have your scruples."
As the car sped through the streets, Akihiko closed his eyes, trying to calm his mind. But instead of tranquility, new visions invaded him. This time, the images were clearer: the Tree of Eden surrounded by fire, the mafias fighting for control of it, and at the center of it all, a dark figure holding the complete Apple. The figure turned toward him, revealing a face that made him gasp. It was himself.
London: A New Battlefield
The arrival in London was discreet, but the city was far from peaceful. News of recent mafia activity had filled the underworld with rumors. Kaede had secured temporary refuge in a small, modest, but secure apartment.
"We have a contact here," Kaede said as she unpacked. "It's someone who's been studying the Tree for years. If anyone can help us understand what's going on, it's him."
Akihiko nodded, though his mind was still caught up in the vision he'd had. It was becoming increasingly clear that the Fruit and the Tree were linked to him in ways he didn't fully understand. But he also felt like he couldn't trust anyone, not even Kaede. Doubt gnawed at him, but he chose to keep it hidden.
An Unexpected Revelation
That evening, Kaede's contact arrived at the shelter. He was an older man with untidy white hair and an air of weathered wisdom. He introduced himself as Professor Elias Hartmann, a historian who had dedicated his life to researching the myths and realities of the Tree of Eden.
"The Fruit of Revelation is more than just an object of power," Hartmann began as he unfolded ancient maps and diagrams. "It is the key to unleashing humanity's hidden potential, but also its greatest curse. In the wrong hands, it could destroy everything."
Akihiko crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the diagrams. "And in the right hands?"
Hartmann looked at him gravely. "In the right hands, it could save the world. But those hands must be pure, and that kind of purity is rare, almost nonexistent. The Fruit chooses not the strongest, but the most worthy. And so far, no one has proven themselves."
As Hartmann spoke, Akihiko felt the weight of the fragment in his pocket increase, as if responding to the professor's words. The energy within him crackled, restless.
The Treachery of Shadows
As the three debated, Hartmann glanced at Kaede. Her changing expression didn't go unnoticed by Akihiko, who frowned.
"Professor, were you the one who informed the mafias about our arrival in London?" Akihiko suddenly asked.
Hartmann looked at him with a mixture of astonishment and guilt. Before he could respond, an explosion rocked the building, sending maps and diagrams flying through the air. Akihiko and Kaede leaped to their feet, drawing their weapons. The mobs had arrived, and they weren't about to wait any longer to take back what they considered theirs.
Hartmann shouted over the noise, "The Fruit is testing you, young man. The question is: are you worthy of it, or will you be consumed like all the others?"
Akihiko, katana in hand and the power of the Void flowing through him, looked toward the destroyed gate where the enemies were beginning to enter. The battle for control of the Tree had reached a new level, and the fate of the world rested in their decisions. The silence of the Void promised him one thing: this fight would be legendary.