The gate stood a short distance away, its form barely visible beyond the glow that surrounded it.
Akira stared at it for a long time.
His body did not respond immediately when he tried to move. The first attempt ended in failure, his limbs trembling weakly as though they no longer knew how to function.
Slowly, he forced himself up.
Every movement felt foreign, but he fought through the pain that had become a habit.
Eventually, he was able to stand on his own two feet.
But he didn't seem to rejoice much as his gaze was fixated on the gate.
Step by step, he moved toward it, drawn in by a feeling he did not know.
The closer he got, the stronger the pull became.
When he finally reached it, he did not hesitate to push it open.
The light immediately blinded him, but he still stepped through.
The moment he crossed the threshold, something collided with him.
