-Kent Nagano

━━━━━━━━┓ ✠ ┏━━━━━━━━

As presaged, the school year started with the opening ceremony that everybody hates and was then followed by a brief getting-to-know-your-cla.s.smates activity which was, of course, spearheaded by the cla.s.s adviser. I was able to introduce myself without anything worthy to be mentioned and yet, everybody got to know me in a very different manner as I was the first to approach the girl undauntedly, while they were trying there very best to avert their gazes from her.

I was the first to ever approach her like that and while I saw it, as rather a defenseless and a cold approach, for her, it was an act of courage, such as one that never takes into account social boundaries, but for everyone, it was an act of me challenging her to an academic rivalry or any of the same sorts. Which was not the case.

The first day of the cla.s.s ended. Overall, there were 22 of us in that cla.s.s and everyone had their backgrounds. The majority formed circles of new friends and several others left the campus for shopping, etc.

Yet, at my seat I found myself alone again, but, I could not care less. Same as the Prima Donna herself who was too focused on reading her philosophical book. But what I least expected was for me to get an invitation form her. It was then that the normal high school life I expected became the very pedestal of the opposite.

We had a little awkward chitchat towards the university cafeteria to buy some lunch and possibly eat there. Yet, it was ideally crowded, not a place for a de facto loner like myself. She suggested that we eat somewhere more peaceful, away from there and I approved. From there, I presaged that the school rooftop was the perfect spot.

Yes...It was to be the perfect spot for us to eat without intervention from hose socialized ones, not until she took a different turn. Little did I knew that there lies a motive in her invitation and her plan was working flawlessly. She knew that I had a connection with a supernatural, which was probably the allegiance of me with that G.o.ddess. Of course, I tried to divert her from the truth, yet nothing worked. She was dead set in her decision. a.s.suming that I was an enemy, she was ready to obliterate me with a powerful-looking sword she summoned out of nowhere using mere french words.

But, I called out to Lacrimosa"s name. She severed the swords power and a deity called "Deus Ex Machina" who calls himself the phantom deity that appeared on the side of the Prima Donna. From there she and Lacrimosa who appeared to be an acquaintance of the past had their little brutal reunion.

The phantom deity was by far ready to kill me as he said that it was the worst sin to form a contract with the G.o.ddess she called as a puppet of the devil. For my sake, Lacrimosa introduced me to her customized minimalist realm and there gave me the answers to the most fundamental questions, that should have been already answered if I have had allotted a little time to scan the contact"s terms and conditions.

I am a Herrscher. Someone who bears the will of a deity.

I am in a game, a war between fates spearheaded by the deities of old to decide humanity"s extremity as a race. If either they deserve salvation or d.a.m.nation.

I am to be a subject of her decision if whether she wants to save or destroy mankind.

That was supposed to be it. But, for additional the deity made me choose my power given that it is not too overpowered or too weak to defend myself while I am on this gamble.

I chose to "Control anything dark by default". The G.o.ddess granted it as she thought it was not significant. Little did she know that I feigned her.

After the pa.s.sing of powers, I was to follow the G.o.ddess outside of her realm. Towards reality. I was ready to defend myself from Celes and the phantom with whatever black I had with me. The jet black ink of my pen of course.

Yet, the moment I stepped out of the portal, something more peculiar was spelled into the city affecting even those who are not a partic.i.p.ant of the warfare. A powerful viscount figure named "End" summoned a giant and putrid gargoyle emblazoned "Atlas". The giant, in its wake, killed several hundred while he strangled the island with brute force. If it were not of the ma.s.sive magical circles protecting us, a fraction of the whole population could have been the only ones that are left.

Many died, as those gigantic hand took hold of the whole island dragging us towards this dark tear on the sky. which was little known to be some sort of a portal towards a different realm, which we knew nothing of. For hours the island has been in the dark, with gruesome death, cries of pain and agony engulfing us whole.

I then found myself helping this little girl whose name is Shiro. Her family was one of those killed in the wake of the gargoyle. I was certainly not an act of kindness nor sympathy. I just saw myself in her as she gazed on the lifeless bodies of her beloved mom and dad.

Now as the gargoyle stepped out from the darkness where it dragged us into, here we are. In what Lacrimosa called as "The Third Realm". The far vision of Tokyo is gone and the towering skysc.r.a.pers of neighboring cities are nowhere in sight. In contrast, you could see medieval-themed kingdoms, with dragons drifting in the vast skies and other unnamed ent.i.ties.

I already get it. The purpose of this game that we are to partic.i.p.ate into. What I don"t get is why they decided to also draw those mere humans in this game. I presumed that they came into this city to start anew in their lives. Now, here they are questioning everything that they are seeing and recovering from their loss. Probably having difficulties in differentiating reality and delusion while also being trapped in a vicious circle of carnage in a world they believed could have only existed in fairy tales.

(...)

"All right gather round now!"

A large and virile-pitched voice then came echoing in the far ends of the island through the Public Address System. I then found myself and the whole population in that dominance listening and taking heed of the voice as it seemed rather important. Maybe it would explain the whole status quo...

"I am Hermes. One of the game masters of this warfare... I am summoned to explain to you the basics, the rules, and also to give you a little overview of the game...While there are so many things that are needed to be explained...Ehhh... Let me say this one thing as a major kick start of the most antic.i.p.ated event of the eon... WELCOME TO THE THIRD REALM!"