Chapter 1:

[3:30AM]

In a darkened alley in a small rural town. A young salaryman layed injured on his back, surrounded by three thugs.

“You’re not going anywhere you know that right? Heh. You should have handed it over liked we told ya.”(First Lackey)

“Shut up…”

The man flips from his back to his stomach and attempts to support himself under his arms.

“Oi, Look at him. He’s still trying to get up.”(Second lackey)

The largest of the three kicks the blooded man as he tries to get up. He collapses onto the floor once more; the pool of blood increasing in size from the splash.

{{Is this how I go..? Working hard everyday, pulling double-shifts; Only to walk home and die from a mugging…}}

The three inch away from the blood as it moves towards their feet. The smallest of the three wiping the blood off his knife on the back of the heavily injured man.

“Pfft! What a waste of time. He didn’t even carry anything good on him. 6000 yen and a bunch of nonsense food coupons.”(Leader)

“Yeah! I thought a businessman would be carrying far more cash.”(First Lackey)

As they walked away the leader tosses the now empty wallet on the ground; where it lands in front of the face down owner.

“Well hopefully next time we’ll get enough to leave town.” (Leader)

The three laughed as they disappeared around the corner into the darkness.

{{What the fuck! Why did this have to happen! What’s wrong with this goddamn world!}}

Blood starts to pool around his face wetting his cheek and hair.

“Thiiss… Iss. soo.. Fucked..”(Bloodied man)

The man using the last of his energy flips over onto his back; reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out his cell phone.

{{Of course..}}

“Cracked.”

He muttered in utter defeat; staring up into the night sky. The stars were vibrant and appeared more vivid as he bled out. Like jewels in the sky; he reached out for them dropping his phone to the ground beside himself.

{{So beautiful. Why is there so much suffering in a universe so beautiful.}}

Slowly as his mind clouded, he gained a new sense of appreciation for having been alive in such a huge universe. But then tears fell from his eyes endlessly; flowing down the sides of his face.

{{So unfair.. This can’t be the end.. I’ve only just started to live. This shitty world… Survival of the fittest? Bwahahaha!! It’s more like the whole world is slaving away tirelessly. All I’ve ever done is work; and this is how I get repaid!? What a crappy world…}}

Just before the man’s heart stopped; Using his last breath, he declared.

“I could have done it better…”

[3:33AM]

A bright light engulfs the body for a moment before it disappears. Leaving the bloodstain and wallet behind.

~~

[6:07AM]

The stores for the surrounding area begin to start the day. Inside the store adjacent to the alley; was a baker and her husband who were preparing the morning’s batch of muffins. The baker looks around for something in the kitchen cabinets. She was a plump woman, had short brown curly hair pulled into a knot, and a very charming smile that seemed to draw in the customers.

“Hey Hun! I’m going to go get the rest of the display trays from the car” (Baker)

Her husband answers from the backroom while attending the oven. He was a large man, with short straight brown hair that stuck up from his head; Sporting a clean cut beard trapped behind a hair cover.

“Alright! Just use the side door. These aren’t gonna be ready for a while. We don’t need any customers walking in before they’re cooked.”(Husband)

Leaving through the side door into the alleyway; the woman carrying an awkwardly large cardboard box steps out and trips on something. She tumbles over to the left off balance, landing on her hand.

“Ouch..”(Baker)

Standing up and regaining her witts, she moves the cardboard box; revealing the now squished bloodstain, and wallet open on the ground. The wallet was face up and displayed a face of a young man on his licence. Examining the scene; the baker looks to her hands and dress, now soiled by the blood.

“HHHHYYEAAAAAAAAAAA!”(Baker)

The husband hearing the screams of his wife rushes outside to her aid. To discover the scene of her on her back in the doorway in a great state of shock. After assessing the situation, he continues to console and clean the blood from his wife.

“Somebody! Somebody call the police!”(Baker’s Husband)

A crowd of store owners getting ready for their day, gathered around the scene as the police arrived. At which point, they had taped off the area and started to investigate. The funeral was held after the confirmed disappearance of the wallet owner came to light. The event was filled with numerous people; those from an association through work and family. In the middle of the ceremony a young girl couldn’t help but hoist herself onto the empty casket; tears running down her face and onto the closed case. She wailed for a long time, before being taken off by her parents.

Leaving the event, the little girl stares off at the cemetery through the car window.

“Oniichan, Where are you?” (Little girl)

~~

[12:15PM]

The detectives on the case were stumped and had found themselves unable to answer the question of if it was a kidnapping. After two weeks, at the town’s police station they held a meeting regarding the incident.

“Chief! We can’t just let this go there is a murderer on the loose!”(Officer 1)

“That’s enough Yatamoto! We have no idea where he could have gone! There was no trail, nothing that forensics could find out!”(Detective 1)

“Hrggmm…. This is very troubling… A single pool of blood that is of a lethal quantity. Yet no trails, no streaks, nothing of the kind. It seems like someone must have just poured it all over the alleyway. And… What about the wallet? Why would a young man disappear without a trace..?” (Chief)

“You… You’re right Chief! So you’re saying that this kid could have been playing a prank right? Pouring blood all over?”(Officer 1)

The Police Chief takes a long moment to think. Then he snaps his face up towards the crowd.

“No! Something’s missing here. I can feel it. Plus… That amount of blood, Is not something you can live without.. Yatamoto!”

“Sir!” (Officer 1)

“I want you to go back and see if you can find anything in the evidence locker! Also… How do you pronounce this kid’s name?”(Chief)

“Kuroki Kinzo-kun”(Officer 1)

“Kinzo, huh?”(Chief)

~~

[Time Unknown]

In an Unknown white room with no walls. There was a voice.

{{What is this? All I can see is white.}}

“Hello..?” (Kinzo)

The room shook with the sound of the voice, yet it did not hear itself. Looking around with little to no change, the voice became agitated.

“What is this!? I can’t even hear myself… What’s happening!?” (Kinzo)

The room itself shook more and more with every word spoken. But without visible edges was unnoticed by the voice. The volume increased as the voice grew frustrated, until…

“Huh? A crack?” (Kinzo)

The edge of the room now visible and the darkness of the beyond seeping in. The voice could now see for the first time since awakening.

“I can see… But what the hell is that?“ (Kinzo)

The more it spoke, the more the crack expanded, revealing the oval like casing surrounding it’s perspective. When finally, the casing disintegrates into pieces; revealing a room even more mysterious than the last. This time a room of complete darkness; however looking down Kinzo saw his body, arms and legs all healed, and emitting a strange glow. Patting himself down; he offers a sigh of relief.

“I’m okay? I’m okay! Yosh!“ (Kinzo)

{{But where am I… This is really freaky.}}

Kinzo takes a look downwards to discover a lack of any sort of footing. Proceeding to immediately fall downwards. He fell for what seemed like 20 minutes, at which point he had resolved himself to the consequences.

“I must be going to hell or something, Why am I falling this long!!!”(Kinzo)

Then suddenly a tatami mat, appears under him, providing him with a spectacular faceplant.

“God damn that hurt…”(Kinzo)

{{What the hell happened here, Where did this suddenly come from?}}

Sitting up and regaining his focus; Kinzo takes a look around. He was now in a small Japanese style room. No larger than 6 tatami. Inside there was a single tea table; with a tray that held a kettle and two sophisticated cups.

“Kuroki Kinzo-Kun.”(Old man)

{{Huh someone was here..?}}

Looking upward once more Kinzo was provided with a cheerful smile and a small clay tea cup full of herbal tea. Sitting opposite to Kinzo was an old man; his age indistinguishable yet his face was kind. He had long grey hair tied up, a straight beard that spanned over twelve inches; and was dressed in a white japanese kimono. Surprised for a moment Kinzo flinched in response. But quickly accepted the tea from the old man.

“I know what you’re thinking. Where are we? Who am I? Why are you here? Why do I know your name?” (Old man)

Kinzo’s face begins to become more serious, as he takes a seated position at the table. The old man reaches his hand out and takes a sip of tea from his cup, and Kinzo does the same. The tea calms Kinzo far more than he expected. He had never thought he could sit and enjoy something like this again. His eyes lit up and refocused on the old man. With Kinzo’s attention clearly refreshed the old man introduced himself.

“First. Allow me to apologise for the wait. It seems we’ve had trouble finding you when we first established contact. My name is Izanagi; and I have brought you here today for a specific task.”(Izanagi)

The old man’s words resounded in Kinzo’s mind. He knew well about the old gods and his family had always pushed him towards tradition. All in that moment he remembered what he had said [“I could have done it better…”]. In realization of whom he was speaking to. He adopts the most formal of poses for an apology (Dogeza). At which point the old man bursts out in a thouming laugh.

“Hahaha, it’s quite alright Kinzo-kun. I know exactly how you feel. However I’m not here to punish you for your misgivings.”(Izanagi)

“You’re not..?”(Kinzo)

Peeking out from his pose, Kinzo is greeted with another kind smile which put him at ease. Sitting back upright he inquired about his situation; while politely sipping on the tea. They talked for a long while about life and their beliefs. Until…

“So what did you need of me Izanagi-sama?”(Kinzo)

The old man smiled in the face of the youngsters adaptability.

“Well Kinzo-kun, You have been chosen to try to manage your own dimension. You see… Each dimension runs on what you would call a collective consciousness of all living things. This collective energy comes from a metamaterial released by souls. Let’s call it spirit energy?”(Izanagi)

“Alright, I think I can understand that much… But why am I being pulled into all of this?”(Kinzo)

“Well… Dimensions are a lot like, blobs of liquid in outer space. The larger they get, the more likely they are to have chunks fly off and destroy the contents inside. The solution to this, is to simply separate excess spirit energy from the dimension manually! But.. That material has to have somewhere to go; and if we leave it on it’s own in a random space; I’m not too sure what will happen.” (Izanagi)

“Ahhh I see now. So my job is..?”(Kinzo)

“Yes, Your job as I said before, will be to rule over this new dimension created by the excess spirit energy as its new God.”(Izanagi)

The old man adopts an apologetic posture and a frown.

“This is the first time this has ever happened in the history of the universe. My efforts alone cannot keep something of this size together. So can I trust in you to assist me in sharing this burden?” (Izanagi)

Kinzo now felt the responsibility for the words he once spoke in his life, and was shaking. Shaking in excitement, with a large joyful grin.

“You can count on me, Izanagi-sama. But I have one question.”(Kinzo)

Kinzo was not going to back down; He did declare that he could be a better god. Thus he resolved himself to his dying wish. The old man answered his resolve in turn.

“Oh, and what is that?”(Izanagi)

{{Splitting up the spirit energy? spirit energy is from people? Does that mean he’s going to kill half of the world?}}

“What will happen to this dimension when you split it to make the new one?”(Kinzo)

With a face full of fear Kinzo looked towards the ground.

“Hrmm…… Nothing?

It’s not like spirit energy is part of a person’s soul or anything. It’s just a byproduct of them being alive in the first place. Although having too much of it is troublesome. As you can only use it for your own powers. Or to expand your dimension. For example; The room we are in right now is made with part of my power. Using spirit energy to manifest solid matter is a snap.

Frankly spirit energy has way more of a punch than you think! A small amount of energy could easily produce matter many many times larger than itself. Well if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be giving me this much of an issue to control it.”(Izanagi)

“So what’s your limit? How much spirit energy will I be able to use?”(Kinzo)

“Quick to the chase, huh? Well it seems that every deity has a certain level of spirit energy capacity. Some more than others. Although this capacity can be increased to support more when lifeforms worship them. This is because the spirit energy released from a devout follower will aim itself at you. Which will push your abilities further.”(Izanagi)

“So, To be a great god, one must gain a large number of followers.”(Kinzo)

The old man nods, but doesn’t seem to be very happy about it. Finishing his cup of tea Kinzo places it on the table.

“Thank you for the tea. Oh. One last thing? Why was I falling when I first arrived?”(Kinzo)

“Falling? That’s strange. But perhaps it was a result of your own will.”(Izanagi)

“My own will..?”(Kinzo)

Nodding wisely at Kinzo the old man explains.

“The power of a deity lies in belief. If you believe that you should fall when unsupported. You will. If you believe otherwise, you won’t. It’s as simple as that. Your consciousness drives your power. Although often these symptoms disappear after you get use to absorbing spirit energy.”(Izanagi)

A loud ringing comes from a traditional alarm clock on the ground.

“Alright, We seem to be out of time. If I leave it any longer a part of the universe may collapse. It’s time to go Kinzo-dono; I’ll be looking forward to working with you.”(Izanagi)

The old man adopts a serious expression, stands up and extends his arms outwards. Between them a large ball of mysterious liquid emerged, followed by a blinding light from within the liquid. The walls and the floor disappear from Kinzo’s view.

[“I wish you luck my comrade”](Izanami)

When the light had faded Kinzo found himself in his apartment. A cheap 1 Bedroom, 1 bath. Upon realizing this, he frantically tried to discern what had happened. But as soon as he looked outside his kitchen window, he realized.

“I’m not dreaming am I..?”(Kinzo)

Outside the window, Kinzo peered into the endless void astounded with what he saw. After the shock subsided he investigated his new-found home. Everything was exactly as he had left it on Earth. Even the electronics, water and gas worked as usual. Everything except the lack of a Earth outside of his apartment. The only thing that was really strange, was a new book left on his living room tea-table and the glowing liquid Izanagi was holding. It hovered just above the center of the tea-table and was emitting a powerful feeling.

“So everything’s the same. Other than these two things.. What the hell are they?”(Kinzo)

A thin durable obsidian cover, laced with gold borders and detailed facework; Kinzo grasped the book in one hand and flipped it to the first page. Blank.

“What the hell is this? A blank book? And here I was expecting a manual on how to be god.”(Kinzo)

{{How am I supposed to do this without any information “Gah!”, If only there was something that could tell me the basics.}}

He flails around for a moment with book in hand, upset at his current situation. Suddenly, the book closed itself up; pinching his fingers. Dropping it and being spooked by the movement, he watches as the cover changes from the Obsidian-gold, into what looks like a Shonen-Jump Magazine. Amazed at it’s transformation he once again picks it up and examines the title.

“Chronicles of the new god…. Issue one: Building a universe.

Of course…

Thank you so much, Kami-sama“(Kinzo)

[Realizing his words referred to himself and the irony of it all, he broke out into an unstoppable laugh for several minutes.]

Chapter END