Chapter 1
For as long as I can remember, I've been always interested in topics that involve the supernatural. Monsters that lurk at the night, half-human monsters, a monster with wings that leaves it's lower half as the upper-half with the wings hunts for prey, a baby found in the middle of the forest that is thought to be innocent but then transforms into a monster that feeds on people who took care of it, monsters of the sea, magic, psychic powers, latent ability possessors and the mythological tales.
Compared to the normal and boring world we live in, it was definitely a treat to be able to see these things. Not only see, but also live inside that world. For me, who lives in the depths of normalness for the whole 15 years of living in Earth, it would be deeply appreciated.
But things were not really going the way I've wanted it to be. There were no mysterious cases of disappearing persons, nor there are cases of people displaying never-before seen abilities. It took me a long time, a very long time for me to accept the things the way they are. Even if I accepted it, I still cling into it in the very depths of my heart. I knew, I just knew that there is something in this world that should be brought to light.
"Excuse me. Are you listening, Mr. Cruz?"
To keep myself from being bored by the world around me, I turned into watching anime and reading manga and light novels. They introduced me into the never-before seen world full of adventure, action, romance, humor, horror, fantasy and drama. It never fails to entertain me and I never felt happier when my mom introduced me to them. It was one of the things I could appreciate from having a Japanese mother.
"Mr. Cruz?"
Speaking of the topic in Japan, I've heard about the recent developments regarding the most scientific city in the world, Academy City. A city dedicated in the development of student potential. Not only student potential, Academy City also focuses on the development of science and technology. All of the recent innovations in technology are all thanks to Academy City. Though there is rumor that says that almost all technology that came from Academy City are considered obsolete from their usual standards. With all the researchers stationed there… the rumor could be close to the truth… or maybe it's the truth itself.
…
"Mr. Cruz!"
Huh…? Is there someone calling me? Oh yeah… I'm in class!
"Um, yes?"
"What is the answer?"
Ummm… Fuck this. I didn't listen at all.
"Ugh… Could you repeat the question, sir?"
"You're not listening. Sit down, and listen for once. You've been spacing out most of the time. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
Man, talk about embarrassing.
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"Yo, Kyosuke. You've done something stupid again. You know what our teacher is like, and you still didn't pay attention. Wow. Just wow..."
This guy who approached me is my buddy #1: Simon Fajardo. The most I could say about him is he had black spiky hair and has a lean, but muscular body; one could expect from doing gym everyday.
"Shut up."
"At least you didn't get any punishment. You're really lucky, you know?"
Tsk... there goes the 'lucky' comments again.
"It's just like you. You didn't pay any attention to class, yet you still get high grades during exams. Why?! Why is it always, you?"
This guy who sounded bitter is my buddy #2: Joaquin Reyes. He had messy hair and wears glasses. Only one look and you can tell what he is; an intellectual guy aka nerd. But he's a good guy... Sorta.
"Oi. It's not my fault that our exams are always multiple choice questions and I just got lucky in getting the correct answers." I explained, but that only made him more bitter.
"Tch. 'Lucky', my ass. Getting 'Lucky' for 8 years isn't what you call 'luck' anymore, you bastard!"
Tch. Like I care, I just got lucky that's all.
"Maa maa~, there's no need to fight" I heard Simon said. "Let's just hang out like we always do at my house." He then looked at us with a perverted grin in his face.
I paled, I know that look too well. "It so happened that I just acquired the latest of the series we were watching..."
"Say no more. Of course we'll come. Right, Kyosuke?"
Tch. Perverts... my 2 buddies are.
"Yeah. Of course!"
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It was almost 10pm when we left Simon's house. Man, it was really a blast. Those scenes are very hot! I acquired a lot of knowledge thanks to that. I just need to apply it! No matter what those two say about my luck, when it comes to women, it was like nil.
It was kinda embarrassing for me to say this but, this Kyosuke Cruz hadn't got a single girlfriend in the whole 15 years of his life. I mean sure, I've got pretty classmates but that's it. I'm not close to them, nor friends with them, let alone be a girlfriend. I'd be surprised if I was suddenly asked out by a girl. Worst thing that could happen is that I die, and then suddenly became a devil...
Well, let's not go there.
Being born and raised here in the isles of the Philippines, I'm very well versed in the Christian faith... or should I say, Catholic Faith. Christianity is still the major religion here and as a member of that majority, I'm a fully-pledged Catholic...
Though, there are things that in the Catholic doctrine that I found rather silly, like the existence of limbo and purgatory. I mean, come on... I doubt the existences of these places, since they were not found in the Bible. I wonder where the concept of them came out...
So in theory or a rather much fact, Christians see devils as an enemy to be vanquished. To get rid of, or trounce it. So being a devil is out of question... or if the devil is rather hot, I would be tempted... no no no no. I'd rather be with an angel. That's faith, yeah.
Truth to be told, Christianity isn't as strong as it was in the past. Is it because of the advancement in science and technology? Or is it something else? Something that lurks deep in the shadows...?
Nah.. I'm just over thinking things. I even don't know why I'm thinking these kinds of things right now. The idea of it suddenly entered my brain, you know what I mean?
Speaking of science, the most technological advancement ever and made surely belongs to the one and only city dedicated to the development of students and science, Academy City.
Academy City, true to its name, is a city dedicated to the development of students. Not only that. They also say that the city holds technology 20-30 years ahead of the rest of the world.
Due to the technology the city possesses, Academy City became strict with it's visitor policies. It is very hard for a person to enter the city as a guest, even for someone who is directly affiliated to the city itself. Academy City is it's own nation after all, inside Japan. Much like the Vatican is to Italy.
Then there's also the rumored "power development curriculum" inside Academy City. There are some rumors regarding this "development curriculum" that is circulating the internet right now. The rumors say that Academy City, with its superior intellect and technology, had been making students into espers, an individual with the power to somehow bend reality into their 'personal realities', whatever that is.
At first, I was intrigued, naturally. But then, rumors are tend to be false, most of the time anyways. But still, it's Academy City. Everything might be possible if the city is involved. I've heard in the news that the first space elevator that is being constructed inside Academy City is in near completion. That alone, can demonstrate how Academy City is superior to the other parts of the world. Developing espers with the knowledge of science isn't that far off from creating a space elevator... Or that's I would like to believe, anyway.
I then looked at the time 10:30PM. Shit. My mom's going to be pissed.
Now, how would I reason with this? I couldn't exactly say that "Mom, I was late because I watched porn." That would exactly give me a kick in the face. Or worse.
Maybe I could say it was school work? Nah, my mom knows it's just the start of school. It's kinda improbable that a teacher would send off a schoolwork right of the bat.
A birthday? Meh...
"Or maybe tell your mom that you came with us, Mr. Kyosuke Cruz."
Hm? Who's there?
I looked around and I saw a man around late-20s who wore a black suit and pants. Honestly, with those shades, he wouldn't look out of place inside the MIB Headquarters. And wearing shades at night? Where's your common sense?
"How rude. I just wanted your assistance, Mr. Cruz."
Yeah, yeah and I'm a cockroach.
...
...
...the hell? How could he read my thoughts?
"I'm not reading your thoughts, Mr. Cruz."
"Then how the hell can you tell?"
"There are powers in this world that you just couldn't be explained by just words. Don't you agree, Mr. Cruz?"
What the hell is he saying now? I don't need this shit. My mom's already pissed and it's not going to be very pretty for me if I stayed here for long!
In all of the sudden, the place around me changed. A magical circle of some kind suddenly spread throughout the are while turning the space it reached during its expansion to be colored in red. What is this? What the hell is thissss?
"Now then..." The man in the suit said as he held out his hand.
BUZZ!
A vibration in the air spread around the area he held his hand out and then with a bright light, a spear was created from it. This spear he created, I could feel something from it. Fear? Hopelessness? Danger? What is this? What is happening?
"Beautiful isn't it?" He said as he looked at me while twirling his spear.
"This spear... is a replica of the Longinus Spear, the Spear that pierced the side of Jesus Christ. You know of this, right?"
I nodded. It's best to let him talk while I'll contemplate something for me to be able to escape. Damn. Is this the world of the protagonists? In the anime, manga and the light novels, they made it look less dangerous and exciting. Now that I find myself in a similar situation, I could really appreciate the fact that I was just watching and reading these kind of scenarios in a room or a table just days ago. Not that it would do anything in my current situation though.
"Even though it's a replica, this spear still holds a considerable amount of power. Though I suppose, it's full output is less than 10% of the normal output of the original. Not do I mind though, this spear is enough to kill the likes of you."
What is he saying? Kill me? What did I even do?
"Your face is showing confusion. If I was put in the same situation as you, I might give the same reaction."
Bastard. This guy is a total bastard. He shows up out of nowhere and then tries to kill me all of a sudden! What's with this development?
"Then, why? Why are you trying to kill me?"
The man gave a hearty laugh before answering.
"You seriously didn't know? Then this makes things a whole lot easier."
He snapped his fingers and all of a sudden, tiny spears made of light suddenly appeared and impaled me in my feet, holding me in my place. Gah! The pain! It hurts, dammit!
"Hahahaha! Even though you're a fellow Christian and didn't know a thing, the organization feels a bit threatened because of the power you possess! I thought this would bring me a challenge, and yet what do I get? A weak, powerless guy who didn't know the threat he holds to the world! Lumen539!"
In just a fraction of a second, he suddenly appeared in front of me and then...
SWISH!
STAB!
Gah! D-Damn... he really didn't joke... about it. This bastard... he actually... stabbed me... in my stomach. F-Fuh...
I tried to grab the spear, but as soon as the spear managed to pierce through my body, he immediately pulled it out. And then the next thing I know, my body was lying on the ground as he looked at me with pity and disappointment. A lot of blood is flowing from my body as I felt my consciousness suddenly became blurry.
"Heh. Sorry on my part, but it's a job given to me. If you manage to survive, then you are exactly what the organization envisioned on what you will come to be. If you are not, then you will see God a little early, don't you think?"
Tch… This bastard… I swear, if I survive this ordeal…
"So, I'll be taking my leave, Mr. Cruz. How does the Japanese say it again? Ah right. Ja Ne!"
Then I heard footsteps slowly fading away into nothingness… I then realized that he really left me to die.
I don't know what circumstances lead to this kind of development… but I found myself battered, injured, dying… and all alone in an alleyway far away from home… and to think I wished for this to happen… I feel like laughing even at a time like this.
I feel stupid sometimes.
To think that I wished for an extraordinary world… and this is what I get…
Is this the reason why the saying 'be careful on what you wish for' exists?
In my situation right now, it could be said that the saying is quite true…
No, it is the truth in this case.
Gh… I moved my hands to the wound I received in my stomach… I gently touched the wound. I braced myself for the sudden jolt of pain, but I didn't receive anything. I then realized that my wound became numb due to the excessive pain that was inflicted.
My consciousness became more blurry though… The blood that was freely flowing through the wound soaked the clothes I'm wearing and the ground where I'm currently lying on became redder.
At the same time, I realized that a losing consciousness is a very bad situation to be in my state right now.
If I'm going to lose consciousness right now, I will certainly die. It must be nice…
Am I really going to die…?
I didn't do anything significant in my life yet…
I haven't even reached the peak of my teenage life…
I didn't experience what it is like to be a teenager…
The worst of it… I'm going to die a virgin… Unacceptable! But at this rate…
Kuh… My consciousness is fading away while I'm having these thoughts…
I tried to stand up… but my strength left me a long time ago… I can't even move a muscle right now.
What would happen tomorrow? Will they find my body? How would my family and friends react to my death?
Simon and Joaquin? They won't cry… It's impossible for those two bastards to cry at my grave… Otherwise, it wouldn't be them…
My parents…? I haven't even done anything that might please them…
Or that's what I wanted to think… I don't know how they would react if they found my hidden collection at my closet… It won't be a pretty sight…
Hahaha… even on my deathbed… I'm still thinking of this kind of stuff…
I can open barely my eyes this time… My body? It's out of question… My blood that stained the road where I'm lying is flowing freely…
Even if I wanted to otherwise… I have to accept my fate…
…
…
…no…
I won't accept this…
I… I still wanted to live!
I still have many things to do!
Why did I have to die?!
It's… it's… unfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaair!
Why is it just me?!
I was shedding tears at this point. I don't care anymore… Why did I have to suffer this kind of fate?!
God… help me live… I… I… know that I'm not a good person… I'll be good this time! I… I would help anyone if needed to be… just… just let me live through this… I, I swear!
I thought at that time that I was hallucinating… but I heard footsteps coming towards me…
I could tell since the footsteps were becoming louder and louder…
But I don't have the strength left in me to see who it was… my eyesight was so blurry I couldn't recognize her face and her clothing… the only thing I could focus on is the hair… her long, wavy, golden hair….
"…"
I tried to speak but my mouth wouldn't open… let alone speak, but she seemed to be doing something else…
"I'm doing this all because of a whim. Be glad I decided to do this."
Before I lost consciousness… I managed to see her face… her eye to be exact… her lone green eye…
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