Chapter 1: Rebirth
"Something's wrong… something's very wrong with this world!"
In 2009, at the Sunflower Children's Welfare Home, the eight year old Souta Enjou stood silently, gazing at the orphanage shrouded in darkness.
The place he knew so well now felt eerily unfamiliar. All the children and adults had vanished. Enveloped in unsettling shadows, the buildings themselves seemed distorted… unnatural.
Souta Enjou recalled the simple yet intricate memories of his life. In his previous existence, he had been an ordinary person on the Blue Planet. But at a young age, he succumbed to a terminal illness and died.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself reborn as a small boy in an island nation, almost devoid of memories of his parents. He had lived in this orphanage for as long as he could remember.
Perhaps because of this rebirth, his former life felt like a vivid dream real yet blurred by the thin veil between illusion and reality. Through various bits of information he'd gathered, he discovered that this world was completely different from his own. Despite many similarities, they were not the same. Could this be… a parallel universe?
The most undeniable proof came when he discovered his "superpower."
He called it telekinesis or something akin to it. Its main ability was to enhance his physical capabilities, allowing even a child to perform extraordinary feats.
However, Souta Enjou avoided overusing it, afraid it might harm his still developing body. If his power itself was incomplete, could overuse destroy him? It was only his own speculation no one had ever taught him about such things.
Life in the orphanage had been peaceful and uneventful. He rarely used his powers, but even that was enough to make him the king among the children. His telekinetic energy usually glowed faintly blue, and at times he could move so fast it resembled teleportation. Yet each use left him with a slight discomfort so he stopped relying on it.
Back then, whenever he used it, the world around him seemed to freeze. It reminded him of the supernatural powers he'd seen in stories and for a long time, it had thrilled him.
But then came the second proof
Ghosts existed in this world.
At first, he thought perhaps others like him possessed powers too, hidden from ordinary people, like in the movies. But he never expected to encounter actual spirits.
Over the years, Souta Enjou had seen ghosts at least five or six times. Yet they were not like the ghosts from his past life no Sadako, no Kayako. They were stranger, weaker, and invisible to everyone else.
Once, he'd seen a couple visiting the orphanage to adopt a child. Between them hovered a bizarre creature, like an oversized mosquito with palm sized wings, needle sharp mouthparts, and a twisted body. Souta Enjou simply called it "the mosquito."
No one else seemed to notice it. Could it be that only those with powers could see them?
Now, Souta Enjou felt certain this time, he had encountered a powerful spirit. Even the environment had warped around it. Fear, anger, and irritation surged within him.
"Why now when I'm still so weak? I haven't even grown up yet! No… I can't give up. I've been reborn I have a power! I can't die here!"
Channeling his telekinesis, his body ignited with a surge of strength. His speed, power, and reflexes surpassed human limits. Even as a child, he could crush grown men with ease.
In this twisted, unpredictable place, he would need every ounce of strength to survive.
"...Yes, I understand. Don't forget the agreed payment. It's a confirmed First Grade Cursed Fetus, possibly Special Grade. I'll notify you if there's any change. Wu, that's all."
A woman with long white hair stood near the Sunflower Welfare Home. Despite the heavy aura of cursed energy surrounding the area, she showed no fear only a distant glimmer of fascination in her eyes.
"Born of darkness, to darkness return. All filth and impurity be exorcised."
As she chanted, ripples of black gray energy expanded like waves, engulfing the entire orphanage. Without hesitation, the white haired beauty stepped inside and vanished.
"It's bad," Souta Enjou muttered, staring at the grotesque little body fading into the ground.
Five minutes earlier, he had encountered his first "ghost" a twisted creature that looked like a fusion of a dog and a boy, howling as it lunged at him.
Panicked, he struck it down with his amplified telekinesis. The result was astonishing within a few blows, the monster crumbled.
The scene looked almost absurd: a child beating down a deformed beast.
But soon, Souta Enjou realized the orphanage itself had changed. No matter how he tried to escape, the path out was gone like a looping nightmare. Each attempt brought him back to the same place.
Left with no choice, he ventured deeper inside, hoping to destroy the spirit or find another way out.
Along the way, he faced several more small creatures each shaped differently but sharing one feature: they resembled children.
Could these ghosts have been born from the grudges of children? That's how it always went in movies and novels. They looked strange, yes but not unfamiliar.
At first, fear gripped him. But after defeating several with ease, his terror waned. After all, when you have the power to destroy ghosts… they stop being so frightening.
"...Waaah…"
A soft sob broke the silence. Souta Enjou froze. Was it another ghost?
Following the sound, he found himself in the staff dormitory corridor. The crying came from inside a closet. It didn't sound like the spirits' eerie wails it was human. Could there be survivors?
Readying himself, Souta Enjou carefully opened the door
and was met with two terrified children, huddled together and screaming.
"Hey! Stop yelling! Do you want to attract the ghosts?"
The two froze. His voice was familiar human. They stopped crying.
"Gen… Enjou?" one whispered.
Souta Enjou known to the others as Enjou recognized them: a boy and a girl. He barely remembered the boy, but the girl was likely Kumiko, the one who had almost been adopted before. A birthmark on her cheek had prevented it.
Everyone in the orphanage knew Enjou. With his supernatural power, he'd become an untouchable presence after beating a group of bullies.
As for why he'd never been adopted it was his own choice. Though he was clever, well behaved, and strikingly handsome for his age, he refused to join a strange new family.
The kind director had even planned to adopt him herself and send him to school, since the orphanage could only raise children until elementary graduation. Some did grow up and return to help but that was another story.
After calming the two children, Souta Enjou tried to question them. But they were incoherent, terrified beyond reason. They had no idea what was happening only that monsters appeared, and they'd hidden in the closet ever since.
A sudden noise echoed from nearby. Souta Enjou's expression hardened.
"Hide. Stay quiet."
The two quickly crawled back inside. It was safer there. Even with his powers, protecting two helpless kids while fighting was impossible.
As their whimpers faded, Souta Enjou turned toward the sound. Heavy footsteps echoed in the narrow hallway followed by strange, distorted screams and the scraping of limbs across the floor.
Whatever was coming… there were many of them.
He clenched his fists, blue light flickering at his fingertips.
He needed an open space to fight.
(End of Chapter 1)