The Shrine (Part 1)

Inosuke wandered through the bustling city of Chronos, his footsteps quiet amid the hum of a hyper-advanced world. Cars zipped through the air above him, sleek and silent. Magnetic trains glided along sky rails overhead. People moved briskly, heading to jobs, appointments, or just living their lives in the towering glass-and-steel skyline.

Yet, amidst the noise and movement, Inosuke felt utterly alone.

In a world where over 60% Rayler blood was the bare minimum to live a “normal” life, someone like him—born entirely human—was seen as an abomination. No enhancements. No strength. No future.

He kept walking, his thoughts drifting to his sister. She had been struck by a mysterious illness that left her paralyzed, unable to speak, blink, or move. Their older brother had abandoned them, ashamed of their weakness. All Inosuke had left was her—and she was fading.

As he passed a building, a large screen displayed breaking news:

[Once again, our heroes have assisted another planet, offering valuable resources and support.]

He scoffed under his breath. He knew better. The so-called "assistance" was just conquest in disguise—another world brought under Earth’s growing empire. But he had no strength, no power, no voice. It wasn't his fight.

Turning into a narrow side street, he entered a neglected part of the city. The buildings were cracked, the air smelled of rust and decay, and the streets were littered with garbage. This was where the “low-bloods” lived—those with weak Rayler heritage or none at all, like him.

As he walked, two figures stepped out of a nearby alley. He sighed.

He knew what was coming.

“Look, kid. Just hand over the cash,” one of them said, stepping forward.

“I would... if I had any,” Inosuke replied, taking a cautious step back.

In truth, he had just gotten paid from a cleaning job—barely a thousand yen. Not much in this age, barely enough for bread and a drink. But to him, it was everything. It meant survival. It meant maybe a little medicine for his sister.

“C’mon, don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” said the second man.

“Which part is hard? The robbing or the pretending?” Inosuke asked with a dry smirk.

“Everything, man!” the first one snapped. “You gotta act tough even when you're not. You gotta be stronger than the person you’re robbing. It’s a hassle!”

“Then I feel for you,” Inosuke said, still mocking, “but I’ve got nothing to give. Not today.”

Irritated, they lunged at him. Their attacks weren’t lethal, but even with low Rayler blood, their strikes felt like getting hit by steel hammers to someone like Inosuke. He tried to fight back, but his body betrayed him. He crumpled to the ground.

Satisfied, the men walked off—too lazy to even search him for money.

He lay there for a while, pain radiating through every inch of his body. He wanted to give up. Let the world win. Let it all end.

But then, in his mind’s eye, he saw her—his sister, smiling the way she used to before the illness stole her life away.

No. He couldn’t stop.

With a grunt, he forced himself to his feet. His vision was blurred, legs shaking, but he pushed forward—each step a battle. He turned down a narrow alley he had never noticed before, a filthy passage cluttered with trash and forgotten things.

His strength finally gave out. He collapsed, falling face-first in front of an old, broken shrine. It was cracked, covered in dirt, forgotten like the rest of the alley.

Then—light.

A soft blue glow began to emanate from the shrine. Slowly, it intensified, wrapping around Inosuke’s body like mist. The light pulsed brighter, brighter—until it flashed in a blinding burst that lit up the entire alley.

And just like that, he was gone.

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