Imminent War (Chapter Zero)
The radiant light of the sun illuminated an environment marked by shadows.
Freedom was one of the greatest virtues of a people covered in fear, yet sustained by their trust in heroes. The sound of people moving from one place to another echoed through the streets, each of them speaking about the heroic deeds of their protectors.
Respect and admiration for them had become a reality for every civilian.
In a simple house on the far edge of the region lived a thirteen-year-old boy. His life followed the predictable rhythm of that place: hunger, training, silence.
His thin body revealed the many days he had gone without food. Still, his daily training had given him faint muscle definition. His faded brown hair resembled the color of a dead night.
His name was Mike, an orphan boy who had grown up with only his eleven-year-old brother by his side.
The house where he lived was built from fragile wooden structures that could collapse at any moment, but he had long grown used to that kind of life.
A sudden sound woke him.
The door to his room opened by itself.
He stood up immediately when he heard the noise, his movements almost robotic.
For a moment, he thought it might be an attack on the universe. His first instinct was to protect his training partner.
“Well!”
He jumped to his feet abruptly, believing their region was being invaded.
But when he looked to the side, his expression softened.
Well was standing in the doorway, his face glowing with excitement.
The small boy looked at his trainer—the one who had taught him how to fight and learn new techniques.
In the innocent eyes of a child, Mike was admirable and strong.
“Damn it, Well.” The spiky-haired boy looked at him with a hint of irritation, though the affection in his eyes was impossible to hide. “I’ve told you not to walk into my room like that.”
“And that’s what you’re worried about?” Well shouted excitedly, practically jumping with joy. “Did you forget we were chosen to join one of the elite groups? We’re supposed to meet the teacher today, remember?”
“Oh—right! What time is it?”
Mike quickly got up and rushed to the drawer to grab his clothes.
“Seven. But we still have time.” the younger boy said happily while watching him grab their clothes.
“Just imagine it! We’re going to show them we’re the strongest pair of brothers there! What do you think, Mike?”
Mike’s movements stopped.
His hand froze as he reached for the shorts he usually trained in.
He knew they weren’t truly brothers.
But telling him that would be difficult.
Maybe it was better to wait a little longer.
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“Yeah, little brother.” Mike smiled, grabbing his shorts and the tight gray shirt he used for training. “Do you want to bring any clothes?”
“All my stuff is already packed.”
Mike’s eyes widened.
A brief laugh escaped his lips.
“You packed everything already?” He stepped closer and ruffled the boy’s hair.
“Alright. Next time I think I know who my little assistant will be.”
Well crossed his arms dramatically, pretending to be offended. But before he could reply, his arm was pulled forward.
They were being led outside the house.
They would finally see what the Elite looked like.
Questions flooded his mind.
What will the teacher be like?
Will the other students be nice?
I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING!
Hours passed as they walked.
Time seemed to slow, and the streets felt longer with every step. The journey grew exhausting—the meeting point was farther away than expected.
Yet despite their aching legs, neither of them stopped.
They were afraid of arriving late.
Afraid the teacher wouldn’t give them another chance.
Finally, after a long walk, something appeared ahead.
The training field where they were supposed to meet.
“THERE!”
Well shouted and ran toward it.
Even though his legs felt like they might give out, the pain didn’t weaken his determination.
“Do you remember seeing our teacher?” Mike asked as he approached with short steps.
“No… we were just told to come here.”
“Maybe someone here looks like a strict teacher?” Mike said sarcastically, scanning the people around them.
“Maybe that guy!” Well pointed to a tall man holding a sword.
“HEY! WE’RE HERE! WE’RE YOUR STUDENTS!”
The man looked down at the child with confusion.
Looking closer, Mike noticed something.
The sword was plastic.
“Sorry… he’s just excited.” Mike nodded apologetically.
“Then if it’s not him…” Well scratched his head, blinking slowly. “Who is it?”
Something changed in the air.
This wasn’t the energy of an ordinary person.
It was something… cosmic.
Someone had been watching them the entire time.
Admiring their determination.
Even the cosmos itself seemed to fear the mysterious presence that now revealed itself.
“Forgive me for not appearing earlier.”
A voice spoke behind them.
Yet the speaker could not be seen.
“I was enjoying the look on your faces when you thought you’d been stood up. I should’ve filmed it.”
“Who said that?” Well looked up and down. “Where are you?”
Mike stayed alert.
Even if this was their mentor, he refused to lower his guard—not with Well beside him.
“Right here.”
Black slime formed on the ground.
From it, a figure began to rise.
It was nothing like any human—or creature—they had ever seen.
The power it radiated made them sweat.
Finally, the silhouette took shape.
It was slender and thin, but instead of flesh, its body seemed made from the very structure of the universe itself.
It had no mouth, no nose, no eyes.
Only a smooth, dark face.
Its voice came from within the void of its form.
Even without muscles, the force it carried surpassed anything they had ever felt.
The entity reduced its size until it stood about five feet three inches tall.
Both boys knelt.
Not from fear.
But from respect.
“Allow me to introduce myself to my new students,” the being said calmly while studying them.
“My name is Jitsuzai. You have been summoned to the Class-C Elite of the Cosmic Multiverse.”
“Sir…” Mike raised his head respectfully.
“I heard there are wars between universes. Could you explain that?”
“Excellent question.”
Jitsuzai nodded, almost as if smiling with pride.
“I’ll explain everything once we reach the Elite.”
“Well…” Well said awkwardly, looking up at the entity.
“Master… we’re kinda exhausted. The Elite must be far away, right?”
For a moment, the atmosphere became tense.
Mike broke into a cold sweat.
His hands trembled against the ground.
He imagined every possible way to escape if the teacher got angry.
No one would touch Well.
Even if it cost him his life.
Then suddenly—
Jitsuzai burst into laughter.
A laugh almost childish in tone.
“OF COURSE, MY CHILDREN!”
He stretched his arms dramatically.
“If I were cruel, I’d make you walk the whole way. But since you’re newcomers, I’ll cut you some slack.”
He pointed forward.
A portal opened.
“Go ahead, boys.”
One of his slender hands gestured toward the swirling tear in space.
“I promise you’ll like it there.”
Well and Mike exchanged glances.
They knew the entity, as disturbing as it was, would guide them.
Still, the uncertainty of what lay beyond the portal filled them with unease.
Unable to resist their curiosity, they stepped forward together.
And crossed the portal.
They had finally arrived at Class-C Elite.
But instead of a battlefield, they found something unexpected.
A massive, beautifully decorated living room.
One couch was bright blue.
Another shone with pink tones.
White walls radiated an almost divine light, illuminating statues around the solemn room.
Across the structures that supported the Elite, drawings of planets and stars formed a map of the universe they belonged to.
On one of the couches sat a boy with bluish hair, calmly eating an almost frozen strawberry ice cream.
His skin had a corpse-like pale tone.
His eyes wandered around the room, as if searching for something endlessly.
His name was Kiluni.
His gaze finally met Mike and Well’s.
Curious.
But bored.
“Who are those two, master?” he asked calmly.
“They’re the new students I told you about,” Jitsuzai said.
“Mike, Well—this is Kiluni.
Kiluni—these are Well and Mike.”
“Nice to meet you…” Kiluni said briefly before returning to his ice cream.
“He’s just tired. He had a long training session,” Jitsuzai explained before turning to the newcomers.
“Now, let me explain something important—including the wars between universes.”
Kiluni’s attention sharpened.
“The years of peace are over,” Jitsuzai said calmly.
“Empires and governments have begun rising again. The Roman Empire, for instance, has caused many conflicts.”
“Territories like the Sword Universe are currently suffering attacks from infected androids, Roman soldiers, and other atrocities.”
Mike spoke again.
“What are you trying to tell us, master?”
“I want you to understand something.”
Jitsuzai looked around the room.
“In times like this, we cannot save everyone.”
“But we can still prevent many deaths.”
“Tomorrow, I will teach you combat techniques and new powers to prepare you.”
“Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
The three students answered together.
