Night had fallen.
The sky cloaked the world in a veil of darkness, as if hiding something that was quietly preparing to move.
Inside the noble dormitory room, all students had fallen into peaceful slumber… all but one.
Kazuki Altherion.
The twelve-year-old boy stood in the center of the room, surrounded by shadows that clung to him like a second skin. He raised his hand, and in an instant, his formal jacket transformed into a long black cloak that seemed to melt into the darkness.
"Disguise mode... perfect."
Kazuki stared at his reflection in the mirror. He took a breath and began to practice his voice.
"My name... is White Reaper."
He scoffed, clearly unsatisfied with the tone.
"...Too light. Lacking... depth."
He tried again, this time deeper, sharper—a voice that could slice the air.
"My name... is White Reaper."
He nodded slightly. That voice... was perfect. Cold, dominant, theatrical. Like a legend resurrected from its own grave.
Slowly, he pulled his hood over his head, hiding part of his face. Not to escape the world, but to create a persona that existed only in forbidden tales.
"Tonight... shall be my stage."
With one silent step, he opened the window. The night breeze greeted his face. Without a sound, Kazuki leapt and vanished into the shadows of the night.
The legend of White Reaper... had begun to move.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city...
Soft sobs echoed from a dimly lit room. A young girl sat on the floor, her body covered in bruises and wounds. Her dress was tattered, her lips cracked, and tears flowed down her cheeks.
She was the girl who had accidentally bumped into Kazuki earlier that morning.
But now... she was in hell.
"How dare you!!" shouted a middle-aged man, standing before her, his eyes burning with rage.
SLAAP!!
A hard slap landed across her face. She collapsed to the ground, blood dripping from her mouth.
"I-I just wanted... to l-learn..." she murmured through her sobs.
The nobleman glared at her in disgust.
"Learn? Hah! You're a slave! You live because of mercy!"
Without mercy, he raised his magic staff. The girl shut her eyes, trembling in terror.
But before the blow could land...
BANG!!
The wooden door blasted open, and a blinding light filled the room.
A black-cloaked figure stood in the doorway. His hood concealed much of his face, but the aura around him made the air feel heavy.
Kazuki.
In a deep, low voice, he spoke.
"Tch... boring."
The girl's master immediately raised his staff.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU, BASTARD!?"
He charged at Kazuki, but with a single light step, Kazuki dodged to the side. His cloak flowed like a shadowy illusion.
THUD!!
A powerful kick struck the man's stomach. His body slammed into the wall. Blood spewed from his mouth.
Kazuki stood calmly, his left hand tucked beneath his cloak.
"Come on. Go ahead."
He grinned.
"I've only used... 5% of my power."
The girl lying in the corner stared at Kazuki, her eyes slowly shifting from fear... to hope.
"YOU BASTARD!!"
Furious at being humiliated, the man injected a magical serum into his neck. His body swelled, muscles going berserk. A dark aura enveloped him.
"DIEEEE!!"
With savage strength, he lunged at Kazuki. But—
CLANG!
A shining white blade emerged from Kazuki's cloak. White Blade. With a single parry, the man's attack was deflected.
Kazuki glanced at his opponent.
"Unbelievable..."
He lowered his stance slightly, his breathing calm, then murmured to himself:
"...But maybe this is..."
He stepped forward, subdued the man, grabbed his head, and smashed it into the floor.
CRAAACK!!
Cracks spread across the stone like a spiderweb.
"...the moment to bloom."
Kazuki stood tall, raising the White Blade high. White light enveloped his body, pulsing like petals.
Kazuki's voice echoed through the silence.
"Your time is up."
The wind stilled.
Light swirled around his blade like luminous blossoms.
He lowered his head, closed his eyes, then slowly opened one eye.
"All light... fades..."
"DEATH BLOOM."
ZWOOOOMMMM...!!
An explosion of light bloomed in a massive circular wave. Everything within its radius was wiped clean. The man screamed—but the scream vanished instantly.
As the light faded, only a black crater remained.
Kazuki stood at its center.
One second. Two seconds. Silence.
Then he turned and walked away.
The girl still sat on the ground, her eyes wide in a mix of fear, shock, and awe unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Kazuki said nothing more.
He vanished into the shadows of the night, leaving behind a single whispered phrase in the air:
"White Reaper... has passed."