SAI SHINU
We stood before the shimmering surface of the gate, its silver waves pulling at us like a tide. Just as Taro took a step closer, Yosuke's voice cut through the silence.
"Wait," he said sharply. His eyes were narrowed, calculating. "Wouldn't it be more efficient if we split?"
Taro turned to him, brow furrowed. "In what way?"
Yosuke folded his arms. "Six of us already have powers. If we form two teams of three, then while one team tackles this gate, Naemi can guide the other team to another. That way, we secure two godglyphs instead of just one. Right now, we're already on the edge of war—if we don't take risks, we'll lose."
For a moment, no one spoke. His words hung heavy in the air.
Finally, Taro let out a slow breath, nodding once. "You're right—it's a risk. But it's one we need to take." His gaze swept across the group. "If anyone agrees, we'll do it."
One by one, everyone gave their nod of approval. The decision was made.
Taro's voice carried authority as he laid out the teams. "The fair split would be me and Yosuke as Team One, and Sai and Jiro as Team Two. I'll take Yuri with me—Sai's got healing abilities, so Namae will go with him and Jiro."
Yuri gave me a brief look, almost like she wanted to protest, but she didn't. Namae, meanwhile, placed a hand on Jiro's shoulder. "We'll be fine. Let's make this count."
Taro stepped toward the gate, the rippling light reflecting across his face. "Team One goes first. We'll handle this gate." He glanced at me, his tone sharpened with urgency. "Sai, Jiro, Namae—Naemi will lead you to the next one. Don't waste time."
I gave a small nod. "Understood."
Without another word, Team One—Taro, Yosuke, and Yuri—stepped into the gate, their bodies swallowed by the silver surface until they vanished.
I turned to Naemi, who was already closing her eyes, sensing the pull of another godglyph. "Lead the way," I told her.
She nodded firmly. "Follow me. I can feel it… not far from here."
And just like that, our group split in two—two teams, two gates, two chances at power. Or two chances at disaster.
Naemi's steps slowed as we reached the clearing. The trees thinned out, and in the middle of the silence, the air shimmered unnaturally—another gate, swirling with that same ominous energy.
"There it is," Naemi said softly, pointing toward it.
We approached, the hum of its power crawling across my skin. Before stepping closer, I reached into the system's inventory, the cool weight of a silver ring materializing in my hand. I held it out toward Naemi.
"Take this," I said firmly. "Wear it. If something happens, use it. It will summon about ten chimeras stored inside… and then run back to the village."
Her eyes widened slightly as she accepted it, clutching it carefully in her palm. "Thank you, Sai," she whispered.
Namae, who had been watching, tilted her head curiously. "That design… this is from my master, isn't it?"
I shook my head. "It was invented by your master, yes. But no—I didn't get this from him. I took it from the soldiers back then."
Namae's expression shifted—part recognition, part unease—but she said nothing further.
I glanced at Jiro, then at Namae, and finally back to the gate. "Let's go," I said. "No point waiting."
Together, the three of us stepped forward. The air of the gate wrapped around us, pulling us into its strange dimension.
And just like that, the forest vanished.
NARRATOR
At this brief moment, despair and agony held tight to the hearts of many, whispering doubts into every corner of their minds. Yet, inside of them all, there was hope—fragile, trembling, but unbroken.
The hope of an entire village rested on the shoulders of seven people, each carrying not just their own burdens but the future of those who looked up to them. And beyond that, unseen by most, the hope of the entire universe itself balanced precariously in the hands of one man.
Godslayer