They say there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity. As I stand here, alone in this place where nothingness reigns over everything, staring at the dimensional crack before me, I realize I will soon cross that very line, to a point of no return.

It is common knowledge that these cracks in space are like lottery tickets. If you're lucky, you will obtain unimaginable wealth, enough for you to live a life even the richest man alive would be jealous of. If you're unlucky, however, you'll certainly die a horrible death, probably eaten alive by creatures you've always thought could only exist in your worst nightmare.

Ordinary people would never think of exploring these dimensional cracks, fortunately, I'm no ordinary people. My name is Rainer Reinhardt, and I'm dead. Yes, you heard that right, I'm dead. I was well over one-hundreds years old when I chose to die. Sounds crazy? Probably because it is. But it is already far too late to go back. The only way left for me now is forward.

As time passes by, the crack also grows smaller little by little. Knowing this might be my last chance for salvation, I can't help but feel calm about the whole thing. I'm the strongest devilukean to ever exist, and I'll fight until I breathe my last, even in the face of the mortal danger that awaits me, even against these impossible odds, even when there is no hope of victory, I'll not allow myself to give up. I can't.

Smilling confidently, I head straight for the crack. For all I know, there could be a monstrous demon behind that beautiful curtain of purple light, but at the moment I couldn't care less about that. If I die, then so be it. As the saying goes, we only regret the chances we didn't take. With this, at least I can proudly say I've done my very best.

As my hands touch the seemingly harmless light, I feel a slight resistance before a huge suction force drags me into the center of the crack. Violent energy sweeps through me, attempting to rip my soul apart. I feel like a kid in the midst of a storm, the pain is almost unbearable.

Yet despite all this, I hold on, gritting my teeth to endure. Fortunately, this is just my soul, if it was my physical body instead, my whole jaw would have broken off.

"I've got to hold on!!!" I roar, trying hard to keep my composure, but the tremor in my voice betrays me. For the first time in my long life, I feel true despair. To make things worse, the energy, as if possessing a consciousness of its own, becomes even more chaotic hearing my voice. This goes on for awhile.

Everytime I thought I could finally hold my ground against it, the energy would immediately go on to prove me wrong by increasing the pressure several folds, taunting me, telling me that my efforts are in vain. This process repeats again and again dozens of times. Until I can feel my eyelids grow heavier by the second. Then suddenly, a fragment of condensed energy, like a hot knife through butter, pierces straight through my left eye. Too tired to even move, I can only helplessly look on.

"A-at least I tri--" Before I could finish, darkness embraces me as I fall into deep slumber. So, I guess this it then...

•▪•▪•▪•

Pacing outside the birthing room, I impatiently bite my fingernails. It doesn't take a genius to see I'm stressing out. But could anyone blame me? My wife is in there, screaming her lungs out while I can only stay here and helplessly listen.

Her painful voice is like knives penetrating my skin, I feel so powerless that it causes me to wonder, just what is the point of me coming here for? I should be in there, she needs me and God knows I would trade anything just to hold her hands right now.

My more emotional part tells me to ignore the doctor warnings and just rush directly inside to see if she is alright or not, but somewhere deep in my mind, I know doing that would only make this that much harder for them.

Time trickles away slowly, only one hour has passed, yet it felt like eternity for me. Frustrated, I ruffle my hair, turning it into an even bigger mess than it already is. My red headband, which says 'Big Haul' got loosened and fell off, but at time like this, I could hardly care for it.

Only when others start pointing fingers at me, did I finally realize I must look like an absolute nutcase right now. Unlike my usual appearance, my clothes are all messed up. Although my outfit is nothing special, just a cheap blue shirt and brown cargo pant, I always try to keep it as neat and clean as possible. It's a matter of principal.

Ignoring the stares, I temporarily force my mind off of the painful screams issued by my wife and sit down on one of those uncomfortably cold hospital chair. The coolness doesn't help much, if anything, it only makes me more anxious. Other than that, I also have the urge to punch whoever it was that designed this chair in the face.

Me sitting down doesn't last long, however, as my patient is gradually running out, and I try to look through the glass panel, but the sudden lack of noises inside causes my blood to grow cold, and for a brief moment, I fear for the worst ~ That wasn't it. Out of their mother womb, the baby lets out loud cries, making me fall flat on my butt. I, now reassured, can't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thank God nothing bad happened to them..."

Before long, the doctor comes out with a happy smile plastered on her face and tells me the good news, a moment I promise to never forget in this entire lifetime.

"Congratulations Saibai-san, you're a father. It's a boy."

Like a bomb has just been detonated nearby, I break into a run, using a speed that I never knew I had. Soon, the sight of my wife holding our son enters my eyes, and I, without any care in the world, immediately pull them both in a warm embrace. All those anxiety and nervousness come crashing down on me at once, and one by one, tears of joy slowly roll down my cheeks.

•▪•▪•▪•

"So, have you thought of a name for him ?" The doctor asks. Me and my wife look at each other.

"Yes, yes we have." I answer

"It's Rito, we'll name him Yuuki Rito." My wife continues. It's not a great name by any mean, but it is the first name we both agree on.

Yes, he is my, Yuuki Saibai and my wife, Yuuki Ringo's son. From now on, he'll be known as Yuuki Rito.