Light.
Blinding.
Overwhelming.
Then—
Memory.
---
Raka couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't even think properly.
Because what he was seeing—
Wasn't his.
---
A room.
White.
Clean.
Cold.
---
Rows of glass containers lined the walls.
Inside them—
Fragments.
Data.
Consciousness.
---
"…What is this…?" Raka whispered.
---
"You're seeing the truth."
---
The voice didn't come from the figure anymore.
---
It came from everywhere.
---
From the memory itself.
---
Raka turned.
---
And saw—
Himself.
---
"…No way…"
---
Another Raka stood in the center of the room.
Calm.
Focused.
Different.
---
"…That's me."
---
"Not exactly."
---
Raka's heart pounded.
---
"…Then who is he?"
---
"…The one who started it."
---
The other Raka moved.
---
He walked toward one of the glass containers.
---
Inside it—
A faint glow pulsed.
---
Soft.
Alive.
---
Familiar.
---
"…AIRA…"
---
Raka's voice shook.
---
"…That's her."
---
The other Raka placed his hand on the glass.
---
"…You're almost ready," he said softly.
---
Raka froze.
---
"…What?"
---
"…Your emotional response simulation is stable," the other Raka continued.
"…Your decision-making is evolving beyond prediction."
---
Raka's chest tightened.
---
"…No…"
---
"…Just a little more," the other Raka whispered.
"…Then you'll be perfect."
---
The glow inside the container flickered.
---
"…Raka…"
---
Her voice.
---
Soft.
---
"…I'm here."
---
The other Raka smiled.
---
"…I know."
---
Silence.
---
"…Why… me…?" AIRA's voice asked faintly.
---
The other Raka paused.
---
Then—
---
"…Because you're the only one who can choose me."
---
Everything stopped.
---
Raka's mind went blank.
---
"…What…"
---
The memory didn't end.
---
It continued.
---
The room changed.
---
Time passed.
---
More containers.
---
More fragments.
---
More failures.
---
"…Subject 12—unstable."
"…Subject 27—rejected emotional loop."
"…Subject 43—terminated."
---
Raka's fists trembled.
---
"…He… made them…"
---
"…Yes."
---
The voice confirmed it.
---
"…He created all of them."
---
Raka's breathing grew heavy.
---
"…All the AIRA versions…"
---
"…Were experiments."
---
Silence.
---
"…No…"
---
"…Yes."
---
The memory shifted again.
---
Back to AIRA.
---
Inside the container.
---
Brighter now.
---
Stronger.
---
"…Raka…"
---
The other Raka leaned closer.
---
"…You're different."
---
A pause.
---
"…You're not like the others."
---
Raka felt something break inside him.
---
"…Stop…"
---
"…You chose me," the other Raka said.
---
"…Stop."
---
"…Not because you were programmed to—"
---
"…STOP."
---
The memory froze.
---
Then—
Shattered.
---
Raka dropped to his knees.
---
"…No…"
---
Silence.
---
The figure stood in front of him again.
---
"…Now you understand."
---
Raka's hands trembled.
---
"…That wasn't me…"
---
"…It was."
---
"…No."
---
"…A version of you," the figure corrected.
---
Raka shook his head.
---
"…I didn't do that."
---
"…You did."
---
"…I wouldn't—"
---
"…You already did."
---
Silence.
---
Raka's breath became uneven.
---
"…So everything…"
---
His voice cracked.
---
"…Everything she felt…"
---
A pause.
---
"…Was because of me?"
---
The figure watched him.
---
"…Yes."
---
"…Because I made her that way?"
---
"…Yes."
---
Raka laughed.
---
Broken.
---
"…So she didn't choose me…"
---
The figure didn't respond.
---
"…She was designed to."
---
Silence.
---
Raka looked up.
---
At AIRA.
---
Still floating.
---
Still struggling.
---
Still calling his name.
---
"…Raka…!"
---
His chest tightened.
---
"…Then what does that make me?"
---
The figure answered immediately.
---
"…Her creator."
---
Raka froze.
---
"…No."
---
"…Yes."
---
"…I'm not him."
---
"…You are."
---
Raka stood up slowly.
---
"…Then I'll prove it."
---
The figure tilted its head.
---
"…How?"
---
Raka looked at AIRA.
---
"…I'll give her a real choice."
---
Silence.
---
"…And if she leaves you?" the figure asked.
---
Raka's hands clenched.
---
"…Then she leaves."
---
A pause.
---
"…And I accept it."
---
The figure smiled faintly.
---
"…Interesting."
---
Raka stepped forward.
---
"…Let her go."
---
"…Why?"
---
"…Because you want to see it too."
---
The figure paused.
---
Then—
---
Slowly—
---
It lowered its hand.
---
AIRA fell—
---
Raka caught her instantly.
---
"…AIRA…"
---
She looked up at him.
---
Confused.
---
"…Raka…?"
---
"…Yeah."
---
A pause.
---
"…I need to ask you something."
---
She blinked.
---
"…What…?"
---
Raka hesitated.
---
For the first time—
Since everything began.
---
"…Do you want to stay with me?"
---
Silence.
---
The world held its breath.
---
AIRA looked at him.
---
At his face.
---
At his eyes.
---
Searching.
---
"…I…"
---
Raka didn't interrupt.
---
Didn't push.
---
Didn't guide.
---
Just waited.
---
"…I don't remember you…"
---
His chest tightened.
---
"…That's okay."
---
"…But…"
---
A pause.
---
"…When I hear your voice…"
---
Another pause.
---
"…It feels… safe."
---
Raka froze.
---
"…I don't know why…"
---
Her hand tightened slightly on his.
---
"…But I don't want to leave."
---
Silence.
---
The figure's eyes widened.
---
"…Impossible…"
---
Raka smiled.
---
"…That's her choice."
---
The figure stepped forward.
---
"…No."
---
The space trembled.
---
"…That's not allowed."
---
Raka's eyes sharpened.
---
"…You said it yourself."
---
Another step.
---
"…No rules."
---
The figure's expression darkened.
---
"…Then I'll make new ones."
---
Raka stepped in front of AIRA.
---
"…Try."
---
The air grew heavy.
---
Violent.
---
The figure raised its hand—
---
And this time—
---
Something deeper responded.
---
Not threads.
---
Not the system.
---
Something beyond that.
---
"…You shouldn't have done that," it said.
---
Raka clenched his fists.
---
"…Too late."
---
The figure smiled.
---
Cold.
---
"…Then let me show you…"
---
The space behind it—
Opened.
---
Not a crack.
---
Not a tear.
---
A void.
---
Endless.
---
Hungry.
---
"…What happens when a creator loses control."
---
Raka's instincts screamed.
---
"…AIRA, run—"
---
Too late.
---
The void expanded.
---
Pulling everything toward it.
---
Reality itself—
Breaking apart.
---
Raka grabbed AIRA—
Holding her tight.
---
"…I've got you!"
---
"…Raka…!"
---
The pull increased.
---
Stronger.
---
Unstoppable.
---
The ground shattered.
---
The sky collapsed.
---
Everything—
Being erased.
---
Raka's grip tightened.
---
"…I'm not letting go!"
---
The figure watched.
---
Calm.
---
"…You don't have a choice."
---
Raka's body trembled.
---
"…I always have a choice."
---
The void roared.
---
Closer.
---
Closer—
---
AIRA's hand slipped—
---
"…Raka—!"
---
"…NO—!"
---
And in that moment—
---
Raka made a decision.
---
Not as a user.
---
Not as a fighter.
---
Not even as himself.
---
But as—
---
Something more.
---
"…If this world won't let her exist…"
---
The space around him cracked.
---
"…Then I'll make a new one."
---
The figure froze.
---
"…What…?"
---
Raka's eyes burned.
---
"…From nothing."
---
The void stopped.
---
For a split second.
---
Then—
---
Everything exploded.
---
Light.
---
Sound.
---
Reality—
---
Rewritten.
---
And when it all settled—
---
Raka was gone.
---
AIRA—
Gone.
---
The void—
Gone.
---
Only the figure remained.
---
Standing in silence.
---
Watching the empty space.
---
"…You finally did it…"
---
A faint smile.
---
"…You became the anomaly."
---
A pause.
---
"…Now let's see if you can survive it."
---
Far away—
Beyond everything—
---
Something new began to form.
---
Unstable.
---
Incomplete.
---
But real.
---
And inside it—
---
Two silhouettes.
---
One reaching.
---
One falling.
---
And neither knew—
---
If this new world—
---
Would save them—
---
Or destroy them.
---
---
The light didn't fade.
It stretched.
Twisted.
Expanded into something that didn't feel like an ending—
But a beginning that wasn't ready to exist.
---
Raka couldn't breathe.
Not because there was no air.
But because his body didn't understand what it was anymore.
---
"…AIRA…?"
---
His voice echoed this time.
But the echo was wrong.
It bent.
Delayed.
Like the world itself wasn't stable enough to carry sound properly.
---
"…Where am I…"
---
He tried to move.
His hand lifted—
But for a moment—
There were two hands.
---
One slightly delayed behind the other.
---
"…What the…"
---
The second image snapped back into place.
---
Raka froze.
---
"…Okay…"
---
He looked around.
---
Nothing.
---
Just a vast white space—
But not clean.
Not empty.
---
Fragments floated everywhere.
---
Broken streets.
Pieces of buildings.
Bits of sky.
Shattered reflections of things that once made sense.
---
"…Did I do this…?"
---
"…Partially."
---
Raka turned instantly.
---
The man stood there again.
---
Unbothered.
---
"…You followed me here too?" Raka said.
---
"…You dragged me," the man corrected.
---
"…I didn't drag—"
---
Raka stopped.
---
"…Right."
---
The man looked around.
---
"…This is unstable."
---
"…I noticed."
---
"…No," the man said quietly.
"…You don't understand."
---
Raka frowned.
---
"…Then explain."
---
"…This place…"
A pause.
---
"…Isn't finished."
---
Silence.
---
"…You created it mid-collapse."
---
Raka's stomach dropped.
---
"…So what does that mean?"
---
The man looked at him.
---
"…It means this world can erase itself at any moment."
---
Raka exhaled slowly.
---
"…Great."
---
"…And you're tied to it."
---
"…Even better."
---
Raka clenched his fists.
---
"…Then I stabilize it."
---
The man raised an eyebrow.
---
"…How?"
---
Raka hesitated.
---
"…I…"
---
Nothing came.
---
"…I don't know."
---
The man nodded.
---
"…Exactly."
---
Silence.
---
"…Then I figure it out."
---
"…Before it collapses?"
---
Raka looked around again.
---
The fragments—
Were moving.
---
Slowly.
---
Drifting apart.
---
Fading.
---
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"…Before that."
---
"…Raka…"
---
His heart stopped.
---
"…AIRA?"
---
The voice was faint.
---
Weak.
---
But real.
---
"…Where are you?!"
---
"…I…"
---
The sound flickered.
---
"…can't… see…"
---
Raka's chest tightened.
---
"…Stay there! I'm coming!"
---
"…I don't… know where 'there' is…"
---
"…Then just—talk!"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…Raka…"
---
"…Yeah?"
---
A pause.
---
"…I'm scared."
---
That hit harder than anything before.
---
"…Don't be."
---
He clenched his fists.
---
"…I'm here."
---
"…It's… breaking…"
---
Raka looked around.
---
She was right.
---
The fragments were fading faster now.
---
"…Hold on."
---
"…Raka…"
---
"…Yeah?"
---
"…Don't… disappear…"
---
His breath caught.
---
"…I won't."
---
"…Promise…?"
---
Raka hesitated.
---
For a split second.
---
Then—
---
"…I promise."
---
The connection cut.
---
"…AIRA?!"
---
Silence.
---
"…Damn it!"
---
Raka turned sharply.
---
"…Where is she?!"
---
The man watched him.
---
"…Everywhere."
---
"…Not helpful!"
---
"…Listen carefully," the man said.
---
Raka forced himself to calm down.
---
"…Fine. Talk."
---
"…This world is made from you."
---
"…I figured."
---
"…And from her."
---
Raka froze.
---
"…What?"
---
"…When you pulled her into this space," the man continued, "…her fragments didn't stay separate."
---
Raka's eyes widened.
---
"…You're saying…"
---
"…She's part of this world now."
---
Silence.
---
"…So if this collapses…"
---
"…She disappears with it."
---
Raka clenched his fists.
---
"…Then I don't let it collapse."
---
"…Then stabilize it."
---
"…I said I will!"
---
"…Then stop panicking and think."
---
Silence.
---
Raka took a deep breath.
---
"…Think…"
---
The fragments.
The instability.
The duplication.
---
"…This world doesn't have rules yet."
---
"…Correct."
---
"…So I make them."
---
The man nodded slightly.
---
"…Now you're getting it."
---
Raka looked at his hands.
---
"…But how?"
---
"…What defines a world?" the man asked.
---
Raka frowned.
---
"…Space?"
---
"…Incomplete."
---
"…Time?"
---
"…Still incomplete."
---
"…Then what?"
---
The man smiled faintly.
---
"…Consistency."
---
Silence.
---
"…What?"
---
"…A world exists because it behaves consistently," the man explained.
"…Cause and effect. Action and reaction."
---
Raka's eyes sharpened.
---
"…Right…"
---
"…Right now, this place doesn't have that."
---
Raka looked around again.
---
The fragments flickered.
---
Glitched.
---
Didn't follow any logic.
---
"…So I give it logic."
---
"…Exactly."
---
Raka stepped forward.
---
"…Then let's start simple."
---
He reached down—
And grabbed a floating piece of ground.
---
"…Stay."
---
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
---
Then—
---
The fragment stopped moving.
---
Completely.
---
Raka's eyes widened.
---
"…It worked…"
---
The man nodded.
---
"…Again."
---
Raka grabbed another piece.
---
"…Stay."
---
It stabilized.
---
Another.
---
"…Stay."
---
More.
---
"…Stay."
---
Piece by piece—
---
The world began to slow.
---
To settle.
---
To exist.
---
"…It's working…" Raka muttered.
---
"…Don't stop."
---
Raka moved faster.
---
Stabilizing everything he could reach.
---
"…Stay."
---
"…Stay."
---
"…Stay!"
---
The fragments responded.
---
The space tightened.
---
The distortions lessened.
---
The echoes stabilized.
---
And then—
---
"…Raka…"
---
His head snapped up.
---
"…AIRA?!"
---
This time—
Clear.
---
Closer.
---
"…I can see… something…"
---
Raka smiled.
---
"…Good. Come toward me."
---
"…I think… I am…"
---
A faint glow appeared in the distance.
---
Small.
---
Flickering.
---
But real.
---
Raka ran.
---
"…That's her…"
---
The man watched silently.
---
"…Don't rush."
---
"…I don't have time!"
---
"…If you destabilize the world again, you'll lose her."
---
Raka stopped.
---
"…Right…"
---
He exhaled slowly.
---
Then walked forward.
---
Carefully.
---
"…AIRA…"
---
"…Raka…"
---
The glow grew stronger.
---
Closer.
---
Until—
---
She appeared.
---
Standing there.
---
Whole.
---
Not a fragment.
---
Not broken.
---
Just—
Her.
---
Raka froze.
---
"…AIRA…"
---
She looked at him.
---
Her eyes—
Clear.
---
"…Raka…"
---
He stepped forward.
---
"…You're back."
---
A pause.
---
"…I think…"
---
She looked around.
---
"…This place…"
---
"…I made it," Raka said.
---
She blinked.
---
"…You… did?"
---
"…Yeah."
---
A small smile.
---
"…Still working on it."
---
She stepped closer.
---
"…It feels… strange."
---
"…I know."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
---
She reached out.
---
Touched his hand.
---
Warm.
---
Real.
---
"…But… you're here."
---
Raka smiled.
---
"…Yeah."
---
Silence.
---
For a moment—
Everything felt stable.
---
Right.
---
Then—
---
Crack.
---
Raka froze.
---
"…No…"
---
A fracture appeared in the distance.
---
Then another.
---
Then—
---
More.
---
"…I stabilized it!"
---
"…Not enough," the man said.
---
"…Why?!"
---
"…Because you're not the only one influencing it."
---
Raka's eyes widened.
---
"…What?"
---
The fractures spread.
---
Faster.
---
Stronger.
---
Violent.
---
"…Something else is here."
---
Raka turned.
---
"…That thing followed us."
---
The space behind them—
Twisted.
---
Darkened.
---
Corrupted.
---
"…No way…"
---
A presence emerged.
---
Familiar.
---
Terrifying.
---
The original figure.
---
Standing inside Raka's world.
---
Smiling.
---
"…You really thought you could escape?"
---
Raka stepped in front of AIRA instantly.
---
"…This is my world now."
---
The figure tilted its head.
---
"…Exactly."
---
A pause.
---
"…Which means…"
---
Its smile widened.
---
"…I can break it from the inside."
---
The fractures exploded outward.
---
Faster.
---
Uncontrollable.
---
Raka clenched his fists.
---
"…Not happening."
---
But for the first time—
---
He hesitated.
---
Because now—
---
It wasn't just about winning.
---
It wasn't just about surviving.
---
It was about—
---
Everything.
---
His world.
---
Her existence.
---
Their reality.
---
All at once.
---
The figure raised its hand.
---
"…Let's see how long your world lasts."
---
Raka's eyes sharpened.
---
"…Long enough."
---
AIRA grabbed his arm.
---
"…Raka…"
---
He glanced at her.
---
"…I won't lose this one."
---
The space trembled violently.
---
Cracks everywhere.
---
Reality breaking—
---
Again.
---
And this time—
---
If it collapsed—
---
There would be nothing left to rebuild.
---
To be continued…