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Chapter 2 - 2. Kensei Igarashi

Around the year 1945, the Second World War, which had engulfed the continents in flames, abruptly came to a halt. Not because of a peace treaty, nor due to a crushing defeat on either side, but because of a strange phenomenon that defied human understanding.

On the battlefield, tanks floated inexplicably in mid-air. Bullets froze before hitting their targets. Soldiers lost control of their bodies.

Some even began walking on water or destroying buildings with nothing but a scream.

People called that day The Partial Erasure of Limits.

The Law of Limitation, just one among many laws of nature. A law that once dictated humans couldn't leap over mountains, summon fire, or bend the impossible.

After that day, those boundaries started to blur. And from that blur, people with special abilities began to appear.

These individuals came to be known as Miracle Holders.

At first, their powers were seen as a blessing.

But it didn't take long before the world plunged into another, far more terrifying war.

Now, battles weren't just fought with bullets and bombs, but with fire and ice. Powers that defied all logic.

The world nearly ended in just a short time.

But on the brink of destruction, seven legendary figures emerged—each unmatched in strength and fueled by a burning desire to save the world.

They were called the Viarki.

These broken laws didn't affect only humans, animals and plants began to evolve too.

Displaced wildlife turned violent, and trees, struggling to survive, began fighting back against monsters that invaded their land.

Five centuries passed, and humanity gradually adapted.

Massive walls were built around cities across the world, to keep monsters at bay.

Transportation evolved into air travel, bullet trains, subways, and teleportation portals.

Life inside the city walls grew expensive.

The poor were pushed to live near the city gates, technically still inside, but close enough to danger. It was a compromise between safety and affordability.

Arvani was one such person—technically a citizen inside the walls, but living no better than those cast outside.

To survive, she worked any job she could find.

One of those jobs? Acting as monster bait—to help Miracle Holders hunt more easily.

The pay was enough to keep her fed for a week.

Survival was troublesome. So if she were ever to face a monster she couldn't beat, Arvani had already accepted she'd die.

That's why she could still remain calm even in front of the sword-wielding man—Kensei Igarashi.

"I'll ask one more time, filthy woman. Are you the one who pulled my soul out of that cursed prison?"

Damn it. The man standing before her looked prettier than any noblewoman she'd ever seen. Soft white hair that curled gently at the ends. Heavy-lidded gray eyes framed by lashes more elegant than hers. Flawless, pale skin without a wrinkle in sight.

"Beats me," Arvani muttered.

Only then did she notice her vision had dimmed. When she touched her left eye, it felt... wrong.

It was gone.

"Ah, my eye's gone?" she said to no one in particular.

Kensei quickly assessed the situation.

This woman must have a Miracle that could summon spirits, at the cost of one of her body parts.

He chuckled.

"Well, since you possess a useful ability, I suppose I'll allow you to become my servant, filthy woman."

"Hah?! As if I'd want to serve someone like you! That sounds exhausting—go away!"

Maybe it was the sleepiness talking, but Arvani couldn't stop herself from saying what was on her mind.

Kensei tilted his head slightly, surprised by the sudden boldness.

Maybe she's gone numb after losing her eye? he wondered.

"You know, normally, I'd kill someone for talking back like that. But since you freed me, I'll let it slide—this once."

Without a sound, Kensei walked away from the cave. He spared her one last glance.

"If we meet again, I'll slice off that ugly face of yours."

Only after his figure disappeared did Arvani finally exhale. Her hands were still trembling with fear.

"Was it really my Miracle that brought that terrifying man here? Guess I should've taken that Miracle test after all…"

But there was no point in blaming fate.

Arvani decided to sleep early. She was exhausted and probably wouldn't wake up until noon.

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.

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Kensei, now far from the cave, sensed the presence of several low-level monsters nearby.

He smirked.

"Perfect. I'm in a foul mood tonight."

Shuffle! Shuffle! Shuffle!

A pack of giant, sharp-toothed hounds sprinted past him—completely ignoring his presence.

That was strange.

Just because he was in spirit form didn't mean monsters couldn't sense him.

"Don't tell me…"

As he feared, his body began to fade again.

Panicked, Kensei rushed back toward the cave—toward the woman who had summoned him.

"This must be tied to her Miracle. Damn it, I should've stayed. People like her always try to exploit me!"

He pictured her standing smugly at the cave's entrance, waiting to make some shady contract with him.

But instead, he was met with the sound of deep snoring.

"This woman… is she serious?"

Fighting the urge to slice her neck, Kensei walked in and nudged her face with his foot.

Arvani winced and snapped.

"Quit bothering my sleep!"

She turned over, and at that moment—Kensei vanished again.

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Land of the Rising Sun. Year 2445.

Panic erupted in an underground government lab. They had just lost their primary energy source, used to power the shield protecting the capital.

That source? The soul of Kensei Igarashi, trapped inside a magical mirror.

Without it, flying monsters began targeting the capital. Specifically the dragon egg displayed on the Monument of Awakening in the city center.

Miracle Holders scrambled to reinforce the skies.

Meanwhile, the nation's leaders debated—should they track down Kensei's missing soul or search for another energy source?

In the end, they resorted to using monster-core crystals from state-owned beasts… And dispatched a special force to retrieve Kensei Igarashi.

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The next day, as the sun reached its peak, Arvani woke up.

She touched her left eye, still there.

"Was last night just a dream?"

'No. I'm still here, woman.'

"Why are you in my body? Didn't you leave last night?!"

'I wish I could—but thanks to your Miracle, I'm stuck. Go to the nearest Miracle scanner and figure out how this power works so I can leave.'

Arvani fell silent. Her dark eyes shifted toward the small wooden box where she stored her food money.

"I can't."

'Why not?' Kensei's voice tightened with frustration.

"Because I'm broke."

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