In a distant dimension lay a city that contained an army of villains, forced to remain locked in this artificial prison created especially for them. Deprived of their freedom, with their hearts gnawed at by the darkness of the world that had invaded them, only vengeance developed deep within their beings. The deep desire to escape this dimension and take revenge on those who had imprisoned them consumed every moment of their existence.
While their way out had been locked tight until now, impossible to open from the inside for some time, the spell that was holding the door was weakening day by day. Measures had been put in place to break the spell that was holding them, and people were becoming increasingly agitated, preparing for the battle to come. A battle organized, led and announced by Reimu Hikarizuki, head of the powerful Hikarizuki family, known for its glory and power that had impressed the entire world.
Within the gigantic castle in the middle of the city, visible from the ends and serving as the residence of Reimu Hikarizuki. In his throne room, sitting majestically and imposingly on his throne, he was discussing with his right-hand man.
Kneeling before him, the man spoke, his voice trembling and respectful. "My greetings, thank you for receiving me and granting me your time, Master Hikarizuki. I present myself before you to inform you of the progress of the work."
In a heavy, icy and piercing voice, he asked him, his eyes like cold blades. "I hope you have good news to report to me. I hate having my time wasted."
His gaze fixed on the ground, sweat flowing down his face, while his heart rate increased dangerously under the pressure and presence of Reimu. Taking a breath and courage, he said, his voice barely audible. "The work is progressing in great strides. Each of your men is putting all his soul into succeeding to open the door as quickly as possible. Regarding your army, it is training and preparing very hard for the big day. But unfortunately…"
He stopped abruptly, seized with fear for his life. He felt that he was imposing very great dangers on himself if he continued his sentence. Reimu slowly rose from his throne, descended the steps one by one, approaching his right-hand man still kneeling, not daring to take the risk of looking at him. In a dry and threatening voice, he exclaimed. "Speak!"
Trembling in all his limbs, he continued his report, the words coming painfully from his mouth. "Unfortunately, master, since the death of Nova Yuutaka, the spell has been weakening a little more each day. However, the power that holds it remains always very significant and solid, even though Nova Yuutaka is no longer in this world. I'm afraid it will take us much longer to open the portal permanently."
Looking down at him, his expression becoming threatening. "And you came to bother me to announce that? You surely didn't take the risk of coming to see me without having a solution to this problem."
"I'm sorry, I have no solution," he murmured, head bowed in submission.
The silence echoed in the throne room like a sentence to death. No one said another word. The walls seemed to listen, awaiting the ultimate judgment. But while the man was ready to accept his fate, going to give up hope, Reimu returned to his throne, looking thoughtful. He asked him, in a suddenly calmer voice. "Rise and look at me."
He was surprised by the request but executed it on the spot, his legs trembling. Reimu looked at him intently, with a very serious facial expression, and he spoke, his words weighing heavy. "It was to be expected from Nova. He never does things halfway. Always there to throw a wrench in my plans. Tell me, is there a way for me to cross the door without it being completely open?"
"There is indeed a way, master. If we manage to open it at fifty percent, it will be possible for you to cross it. However, under these conditions, very few of your soldiers will be able to follow you. The more the door opens, the more the amount of aetherium that can cross it increases. But in your case, you possess an extreme amount of aetherium. By yourself, the limit is reached very quickly. That's why we were waiting to open it completely to launch the operation. Once it's one hundred percent open, this limit no longer exists and we can come and go as we please."
"How long will that take and how many of my men will be able to cross the door with me?" Reimu asked.
"I think seven months will be sufficient for us to open it at fifty percent. As for the number of soldiers to mobilize, it's not an exact figure. But I would say, taking your power into account, that only a maximum of ten people."
Reimu, puzzled by his servant's words, was thinking about what he should do. His finger was tapping on the armrest of his throne. When suddenly, he spoke again. "Master, if I may, give us two more months and the door will be fifty-five percent open. A number of five hundred to seven hundred fifty will then be able to follow you in your quest."
"That number will be more than sufficient. I give you a month and a half. By that date, the door better be ready. Warn everyone and select the most apt to follow me. I will take with me those who are most loyal to me. Now, you can go," said Reimu in a tone that admitted no argument.
He knelt again, with a solemn air. "We will not disappoint you, master! You can place your trust in our hands." He stood up and left, leaving Reimu alone again in the vastness of his throne room.
Once alone, Reimu took a portal behind his throne. A portal that only he had access to. Once through the door, he arrived in a room with a bed and finely decorated furniture. It was Reimu's personal chamber, his private sanctuary. He approached a portrait where he was seen accompanied by a woman with delicate features. It looked like a family portrait, rich and magnificent.
He looked at the portrait with a deeply sad expression, his eyes shining with held-back tears, and in a weak voice full of nostalgia. "Once I have this power in my possession, I will be able to find everything I have lost. I will destroy everything that abandoned us when we needed them most. And once that is done, I will obtain the strength to give you back to life, my dear wife."
He placed his hand on the portrait, his voice breaking slightly. It was a moment of vulnerability for this man of power, revealing a hidden humanity beneath the mask of the tyrant.
After this meeting between Reimu and his right-hand man, things advanced enormously. The work moved to the next level. The workers gave their all, neglecting their health and sleep so as not to provoke their boss's wrath. Fear was the best of motivators. Other villains trained hard to be chosen and have the honor of fighting alongside Reimu Hikarizuki, dreaming of glory and revenge.
A few weeks passed and Reimu organized a session with his sons: the eldest Shinsei Hikarizuki, aged seventeen, the youngest Kuro Hikarizuki, aged only ten, and finally Shion Hikarizuki, aged fourteen. The three children gathered at the same time before their father in the throne room. The atmosphere was tense, each feeling that something important was about to happen.
Once they entered, they immediately knelt down, saluting their father as was proper, their hearts beating in anticipation.
Shinsei spoke, his voice respectful but slightly worried. "Father, we are here assembled as you requested."
Reimu rose from his throne, then he asked his sons to stand up. Once that was done, he told them in a grave voice. "As you already know, an operation is being prepared. We will soon leave this dimension to return to where we were born. If I have summoned you, it is to announce some news to you."
He approached his sons, and in a heavy voice, charged with absolute authority, he turned to Kuro and told him, his eyes shining with obvious pride. "Kuro, I have decided that of my sons, I want you to be part of the operation. You will come with me and fight at my side."
Kuro was surprised and filled with joy at having his father's confidence, his face lighting up with a triumphant smile. With a joyful and relieved air, he exclaimed. "It is an honor, father. Thank you and I promise not to disappoint you."
Reimu's gaze darkened slightly when he turned to Shinsei and Shion. "As for you two, you will stay here. You will not be part of the operation. You can now leave. I have said what I wanted to say."
Shinsei looked indifferent to his father's choice, he kept calm and in a controlled voice exclaimed. "At your orders, father. We respect your choice and we are convinced that your future victory is inevitable."
They stood up, ready to leave the room when suddenly Shion spoke and asked his father, his voice trembling slightly. "Father, why won't you take me with you? I will become strong so as not to disappoint you. I too can be useful to you. So, please…"
He couldn't finish his sentence when the icy gaze that Reimu sent him met his, chilling the blood in his veins. "You stand against my word? You dare to question my judgment?"
He approached Shion with threatening steps when suddenly Shinsei stood in front of him and begged his father, his voice echoing in the hall. "Please forgive him, father. Shion admires you and wants to prove his worth to you. He had no bad intentions and certainly did not want to question you. These words are proof of his determination to make you proud."
Reimu stopped and the angry expression on his face disappeared slightly. He looked at Shion behind the silhouette of Shinsei who stood firmly in front of him, protecting him. In a dry voice, he said. "If I chose Kuro, it is because of you three, he is the only one to have unlocked the Shugan, the pride of our family, which is only transmitted in our family. That's why I chose Kuro and not you two. You are not ready and incapable of satisfying me under these conditions."
He approached and shoved Shinsei to the side with calculated force. He came directly in front of Shion, his shadow dominating him, and told him in a cutting voice. "If you want to stand at my side, take an example from your little brother. At only ten years old, he already surpasses you all. Instead of spending your time with your big brother Shinsei, unable to unlock his Shugan at seventeen."
Shinsei remained silent, his fists clenched, with an indifferent look facing his father's words. After Reimu's words, the children said no more and left the hall silently, like broken souls. The heavy atmosphere followed them step by step.
Once they left the hall and Reimu could no longer see or hear them, Kuro addressed Shion directly, a haughty smile on his juvenile lips. "You really made father angry. You don't have to be jealous of me. One day maybe you can catch up with me. Although I doubt that day will ever come. Wake up and come down from the sky. The reality and truth is that you'll never be able to do anything."
His tone was cruel, almost sadistic for a ten-year-old child. It was a trait of the Hikarizuki family, an unshakeable arrogance.
Shinsei stepped in front of Kuro, preventing him from continuing, his eyes ablaze with barely contained anger. He told him, in a low but threatening voice. "I congratulate you, as your big brother I am very proud of you. Your efforts paid off. But that's no reason to look down on your brother."
Kuro became angry and shouted at Shinsei, his young face distorted by rage. "Don't tell me what to do! I don't need lessons from you, the family failure! I worked hard to earn father's graces despite the difficulties. While you two, even though you were of no use to him, he still watches you. So don't come playing the big brother!"
Breathless and with a face expressing pure anger, Shinsei didn't have time to answer before Kuro left without saying a word, disappearing into the corridors of the castle. Leaving the two alone behind him, brothers now separated by the cruelty of a father they all feared.
Shion asked his big brother, his voice filled with doubt and distress. "Big brother, why does father always behave as if he doesn't care about us? If I unlock the Shugan, will he finally look at me the way he does with Kuro?"
Shinsei, in a calm and soothing voice, placed his hands on Shion's shoulders. "Shion, you admire our father far too much. He has done nothing that deserves all this admiration. I've already told you: you must not act based on him or anyone else, but based on what you truly want." He paused, his eyes shining with wisdom beyond his age before continuing. "Become the person you want to become. Don't be stubborn and don't stress yourself about the Shugan."
He pressed Shion's head against his chest, enveloping him in a protective embrace. He told him gently. "You will become strong one day or another, and know that no matter what you become, I will be by your side, watching you without missing anything. Little brother."
Shinsei left leaving Shion alone after their little discussion, he had things to do. This event did not leave Shion indifferent. Sitting alone in the dark corridor of the castle, he no longer knew what he really wanted. Was it the approval of his father? Or his own strength? Doubt was gnawing at him from the inside.
The advances continued and the day of the escape approached rapidly, each hour bringing this family of villains closer to their vengeful freedom.
Meanwhile, in the depths of Drakaryon, Nozomi's body lay, covered with wounds and blood all over his body. Totally unconscious, after the fall he had suffered, no one would imagine he was alive. But his weak breathing and an almost imperceptible heartbeat were fragile proof that his life was not over.
He barely breathed, each breath a struggle against the darkness. In the abyssal depths, far from his companions, far from the light, Nozomi remained clinging to life by a single thread.