Awakening in the Unknown

  Renji’s consciousness stirred.

  His body felt like it had been dragged through a colpsing building, but at least he was alive.

  Wait—alive?

  His eyes snapped open.

  The first thing he noticed was the ceiling—not the sky, but a curved, stone surface lined with glowing blue veins. The air smelled of ancient parchment and incense, mixed with something faintly metallic.

  He pushed himself up. His clothes were intact—a miracle considering he’d just gone toe-to-wheel with Truck-kun’s final form.

  Where the hell am I?

  A soft rustling caught his attention.

  He turned—and there she was.

  The woman who had saved him.

  She sat in a high-backed chair, one leg crossed over the other, her bck robes flowing like liquid shadow. Now that he could see her more clearly, her silver hair glowed faintly, almost like it was reflecting some unseen light.

  Her eyes, however, were what caught him most.

  Deep violet, swirling with stars.

  Not just any eyes—eyes that had seen too much.

  She studied him. "You woke up faster than expected."

  Renji groaned, stretching his sore limbs. "Not my first near-death experience."

  She didn’t ugh. Instead, she leaned forward.

  "Then you already understand—" her voice carried weight, "—you cannot go back to your old life."

  Renji ran a hand through his hair. "You say that like I had much of a choice."

  The woman’s gaze softened just slightly. "No… you never did."

  The Sanctuary of the Unwritten

  Renji gnced around. The room was filled with floating bookshelves, their contents shifting on their own, rearranging constantly. Strange glyphs flickered in the air, forming and dissolving like fireflies.

  The pce felt alive.

  "Where is this?" he asked.

  The woman uncrossed her legs. "The Sanctuary of the Unwritten. One of the few pces the Eternal Wheel cannot reach."

  Renji raised an eyebrow. "So, a fancy way of saying ‘safe house’?"

  "For now."

  That wasn’t reassuring.

  The Woman’s True Identity

  Renji sat up fully. "You’ve been real cryptic since we met. Mind finally telling me who you are?"

  She hesitated.

  Then—"Call me Selene."

  Renji narrowed his eyes. "That your real name?"

  She smirked. "It’s the only name that matters now."

  Great. More mystery.

  "And you?" she asked. "You are Renji. But that is not your only name, is it?"

  A strange shiver ran through him.

  He didn’t know why, but something about the way she said it made his memories itch.

  Something was missing.

  Something he should remember.

  The Curse of the Reincarnator

  Selene watched him carefully. "Your blessing has awakened, but you are still blind to its truth."

  Renji scowled. "If you’re about to give me some ‘chosen one’ speech, I’ll pass."

  Selene’s expression darkened. "Chosen? No. You were never meant to exist at all."

  Renji froze.

  "The Eternal Wheel dictates reincarnation—" Selene stood, her robes swirling. "—but you, Renji, are outside of its cycle. You do not belong to any world. You are an anomaly."

  Renji exhaled slowly. "So that’s why Truck-kun keeps coming for me."

  Selene nodded. "It is not just a killer—it is a reaper. A guardian of fate, ensuring that those outside the Wheel are erased."

  Renji rubbed his temples. "Great. So I’m some kind of cosmic bug that needs deleting."

  "You are more than that."

  Selene waved her hand. The air rippled, revealing a floating sigil—the same mark Renji had seen in battle.

  [Blessing of the Reincarnator]

  "This gift you carry is both your strength… and your curse." Selene’s voice was quiet. "With each life, you have carried knowledge, skills—fragments of who you were. But the Wheel takes something in return."

  Renji frowned. "What do you mean?"

  Selene turned toward him, her violet eyes piercing.

  "You do not remember your first life, do you?"

  His breath caught.

  The first life.

  His true life.

  No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember. Every memory before his reincarnations was a blur, an empty void.

  Selene’s voice was gentle but firm. "That is the price. Each time you are reborn, the Wheel erases more of who you once were. Soon, there will be nothing left of the original you."

  Renji’s hands clenched into fists.

  So that’s it… That’s why I’ve always felt like something was missing.

  He wasn’t just being reincarnated—he was being erased.

  The War Against the Wheel

  Selene let the words sink in before continuing.

  "But there is a way to fight back."

  Renji looked up sharply. "How?"

  She gestured toward the floating glyphs. "There is a reason I saved you. You are not the first to defy the Eternal Wheel—nor are you alone."

  Renji’s eyes widened. "You mean there are others like me?"

  "Not many." Selene’s expression turned grim. "And those who resist… do not st long."

  A low rumble echoed through the Sanctuary.

  Renji’s pulse spiked. "What was that?"

  Selene’s expression darkened. "It seems we don’t have much time for expnations."

  Another rumble—this time, louder. The floating bookshelves shuddered, some of them colpsing as the glowing glyphs flickered wildly.

  Renji stood. "You said this pce was safe!"

  Selene’s jaw tightened. "It was. But something is forcing its way through."

  The air cracked.

  The walls of the Sanctuary warped, twisting as if some invisible force was pressing against reality itself.

  Renji took an instinctive step back. "Tell me that’s not what I think it is."

  Selene didn’t answer.

  She didn’t have to.

  Because through the fractured air, the glow of twin headlights pierced the darkness.

  A single, monstrous horn echoed through the Sanctuary.

  HONK.

  Renji’s blood ran cold.

  "It found me."

  To Be Continued…