1047 B.N. – April 20th
Behind the old mansion, deep in the forest
It was a beautiful morning. I was training with Shōgan, my sparring partner. He wasn't an ordinary bear—he was learning to fight with cunning. I, Giotto, was in Dying Will Mode, clad only in my undergarments, face fierce and overflowing with energy from the transformation.
Everything was going smoothly. We had been training for nearly an hour when I launched a jass—a spinning thrust—with my right arm. I felt a sudden muscle tear. My body began to numb. Within seconds, the transformation faded, and the side effects struck mercilessly.
—System:Premium Dying Will Mode time exhausted.And then... blackness.
I collapsed among the forest's damp leaves and twisted roots.
Within Giotto's consciousness
A warm, weightless darkness enveloped him. It wasn't terrifying emptiness, but rather a serene haven. Giotto floated in a realm without time, without substance—suspended between two realities. Slowly, he began to hear an echo, a familiar voice—unnaturally clear.
Giotto(looking around, confused):—Where... am I? What happened? I remember training with Shōgan... then everything turned black…
A glowing silhouette appeared before him, made of sky-blue light. The voice was soft, feminine, but devoid of human emotion.
AI(calmly):—User Giotto Luciano Vongola Gravina. You've been temporarily transferred to your consciousness space due to a sudden loss of physical stability. You collapsed after exceeding the time limit of Dying Will Mode.
Giotto(frowning, perplexed):—Collapsed? From using Dying Will Mode...? That's never happened before. I've trained with it before and felt fine... Why now? What changed?
AI(with clinical precision):—In previous sessions, the user was granted a performance bonus as part of a system reward: a state known as "Dying Will Mode: Premium Version." This version suppressed nearly all negative side effects, including muscle fatigue, mental exhaustion, and nervous overload. It even nullified pain and physical strain.
Giotto(eyes widening):—So I've been using an enhanced version... without knowing how long it would last?
AI:—Correct. The bonus had a limited duration. The system tried to extend it through optimal synchronization, but today, the limit was reached. The Premium version expired. You've returned to the standard mode, where side effects are active. Your current body—eight years old—lacks the endurance to handle prolonged transformation.
Giotto(closing his eyes, frustrated):—That explains it… At first, I felt unstoppable, like there was no cost. But today... it was like hitting an invisible wall. My body just... shut down.
AI:—Correct. This space—your consciousness—has been activated as an emergency protocol. Its function is to warn the user of imminent fatal risk and prevent irreversible collapse. Without this forced pause, your physical body might have suffered permanent damage.
Giotto(staring at his ethereal hands):—So... I was on the edge. It wasn't just a faint. I crossed a limit.
AI:—Correct. Your current synchronization with Dying Will Mode must be limited to a maximum of 1 minute and 30 seconds, until your body adapts to the pressure. It's also advised to create mental control protocols to prevent unconscious activation during stress.
Giotto(murmuring):—I'm not a god… No matter how many lives I've lived, this body has its own rules. I can't let my ambition consume me too early.
AI(final advisory):—The Premium Mode may be reactivated in future rewards or special events, but its use will always be limited. The user must choose wisely when to risk the body... and when to preserve it.
Giotto remained silent for a few moments, absorbing every word. A sense of responsibility and maturity began to bloom within him.
Giotto(resolved):—Thank you... for preventing my death. Next time... I'll do better. With control. With purpose.
And with that, the surrounding light dissolved, and the real world reclaimed him.
At the Vongola Mansion
G, always in his improvised workshop, was diligently crafting a high-quality wooden bow.
—Hmm... —he muttered— I need to avoid it breaking too easily. I'll imbue my Storm Flames slowly, to strengthen it without destroying it.
He positioned himself and firmly grasped the arrow, concentrating energy into it.
—Let's see if my bow can endure the storm's fury...
He aimed at a straw dummy. The string drew tight. The flames roared. He released the shot. The arrow flew—then disintegrated midair, consumed by its own energy. A second later, the flame enveloped the dummy and obliterated it.
G frowned, analyzing the failure.
—Maybe my flames see the arrow as prey... I need to recalibrate my intent. If I had the bow my father gave me... maybe it wouldn't disintegrate.
That's when he heard a faint growl.
Shōgan emerged from the bushes, dragging my unconscious body. Haru, who had been training nearby, noticed and rushed to help.
—Careful, boss! —he shouted, raising his wooden sword.
He leapt to strike, but mid-air, his weapon was intercepted by a subtle arrow imbued with a faint flame from G. The wooden sword disintegrated instantly.
Everyone stood stunned.
G approached Shōgan, who remained still by my side.
—Shōgan, thank you for bringing him back. I'll reward you later.
The bear gently laid me down—no bite marks, no wounds—and calmly returned to his patrol in the woods.
Haru lowered his head, ashamed.
—I'm sorry, G-san... I saw Giotto unconscious and lost control.
—Haru, —G said calmly— Giotto is not immortal. He's no god. That's why we're here. Mortals fail... and so does he.
—Yes... especially after using the Dying Will Mode, —he added— I knew all those advantages were too good to be true.
He bent down to lift me, like a sack of rice.
—When he wakes, he'll explain. The bear didn't hurt him. No bite marks. You should've noticed.
—Truly sorry, G-san...
—It's fine. Time to get the boss to his room.
G walked with firm steps, carrying me. Haru helped, his face full of worry.
—G-san... be careful. He has no spare parts, —muttered Haru, visibly affected.
They walked through the mansion's halls in silence. Behind them, the others—Takeshi, Daiki, Sana, Reijiro, and Ugetsu—followed in a quiet procession.
Upon reaching the room, a large window covered by heavy curtains greeted them. The bed was ready. G gently laid the boss down.
—There, he said. Say goodbye to Dying Will Mode for today. Rest.
Sana stepped forward with her healing knowledge and began placing cold cloths on Giotto's forehead, while Daiki held his hand, checking for vital signs.
—He has a pulse, Sana whispered. It's a collapse from physical and mental overload, not internal damage.
Haru, eyes on the floor, murmured:
—I promise not to shout... or charge in without thinking again.
Daiki looked at him calmly:
—We're here for you, Boss. You're not alone.
Takeshi tapped a wooden table.
—When he wakes, I want to see him well... but stronger.
Reijiro nodded gravely:
—We must learn from this: Dying Will Mode has limits.
Ugetsu, fanning himself, added softly:
—Strength without purpose can break what we love most...
Hours later…
The bed shifted slightly. Giotto awoke. His eyes were still hazy, but his voice was firm.
G closed his eyes in relief. Ugetsu sat on the edge of the bed, Sana sat beside him, and Haru approached slowly. They all gathered around him silently. Daiki and Reijiro waited in stillness, and Takeshi crossed his arms, alert.
—Sorry, everyone…
He sighed, then spoke clearly and slowly:
—I think I didn't eat properly today... and couldn't control the transformation.
He gave them a simplified version—without mentioning the system—of the Dying Will Mode's side effects.
Haru, still holding his katana, asked:
—Boss... what will you do now?
—Train more carefully, Giotto replied, meeting his gaze. Don't worry, you won't see me like that again. I'll take precautions.
Sana touched his forehead to check for fever.
—Your body is stable now. But you need rest... especially after this emotional shock.
Takeshi smirked:
—I hope that means tougher training too, boss.
Giotto smiled weakly but with conviction:
—Yes. But this time… I'll avoid collapsing again.
Reijiro added:
—With limits. Without dying. That's your victory.
—Well… I need to rest, Giotto said. Everyone, leave... except G and Ugetsu, please.
The others nodded and left the room, leaving the three alone.
Silence settled in. Only the soft creaking of wood and breeze through the curtains remained.
—I want to explain what happened, Giotto began firmly but calmly. I was using Dying Will Mode, and I didn't feel much pressure... because the system was helping me. But apparently, that service... expired. Let's call it the "Premium" mode.
—In the Premium version, he continued, physical limiters are removed—no pain, no fatigue, no muscular overload... but it only lasts as long as the system does: a minute, maybe two, depending on sync. Today… I used the last of it.
—My body is that of an eight-year-old. It can't withstand that pressure long. That's why I collapsed. It wasn't a defeat. It was a limit reached. A warning.
G nodded gravely.
—You must log the time precisely. For now, the max is 1 minute and 30 seconds... like in the old days, when you first created the technique.
—Exactly... like the old days, G, Giotto replied.
Ugetsu swung his fan and said softly:
—There is still time to grow... like a tree, Giotto.
—You are right, Ugetsu —Giotto nodded serenely.
Four Days Later
The song of birds intertwined with the gentle breeze that drifted through the courtyards of the old mansion. It was another day under the reign of the sun, not a single cloud in the sky, as if the heavens themselves respected the slow rhythm of that place, secluded from the world. For four consecutive days, that radiant sun had not ceased to shine, offering a constant warmth—a perpetual light that seemed to bless the silent land surrounding the building.
There, sitting at the center of the main courtyard, was Giotto Luciano Vongola Gravina. With his legs crossed atop a stone platform surrounded by tall vegetation, he maintained his meditative posture with the stillness of a windless lake. The breeze brushed against his golden hair, and his breathing was so slow it seemed to blend with the environment. His aura, however, was impossible to ignore—a mix of calm authority, restrained strength, and such profound serenity that everything around him seemed to harmonize with him.
Exactly four days had passed since his last mission. Since the system had activated the next phase of its development, he had dedicated every dawn to meditation, seeking to stabilize the energy growing inside him. The Flames of the Will were still not directly accessible as they had been in his past life, but the system was guiding him. He knew something was coming.
And then, it happened.
System: "Alert: Sun Guardian Summoning: Knuckle. All requirements fulfilled. Initiating process…"
A subtle vibration ran through his skull when the notification rang in his mind. He slowly opened his eyes. There was no surprise, but an emotion hard to describe. As soon as he opened his eyelids, an intense light forced them shut again.
The sky... had been torn open.
A massive sphere of light floated amidst invisible clouds, growing as if the sun itself had descended to Earth. It was warm, radiant, blinding. Giotto raised his right arm to shield his face and squinted as he focused his gaze.
—"The Sun Seed…"—he murmured—"I didn't notice when it floated away from me…"
As if responding to his words, a figure began to take shape in the center of that celestial glow, suspended between sky and earth.
From inside the mansion, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. One by one, the sliding doors slammed open as the mansion's inhabitants rushed into the courtyard, drawn by the unprecedented phenomenon.
Takeshi, Sana, Haru, Reijiro, G, and Ugetsu arrived with varying degrees of confusion. Some ran, others approached cautiously, and a few froze in place upon seeing the light.
—"What is that in the sky?!"—Haru cried out, shielding her eyes with her hand.
—"It feels… like something pure! But burning at the same time!"—Reijiro exclaimed.
—"Master Giotto!"—Sana stopped beside him, panting.
G and Ugetsu, however, remained silent. They knew exactly what was happening. Their eyes showed no fear or doubt, only reverent anticipation.
—"He's about to arrive,"—G whispered.
—"Knuckle…"—Ugetsu confirmed solemnly.
The light began to descend slowly. Its intensity diminished, revealing a silhouette at its center. A childlike figure, suspended in the air, as if descending in slow motion on a ray of sun. When he finally touched the ground, the glow faded gently, as if it had never been there.
What stood before them was a boy of about eight years old. He wore a priest-like robe tailored to his size, with golden and black trimmings that shimmered softly under the sunlight. Around his shoulders, a red scarf flowed with grace, swayed by the breeze. His outfit combined tradition and simplicity—a white sleeveless shirt underneath, and long black pants reminiscent of the Kofun period. A white bandage crossed over his nose. But his eyes… his eyes were the most striking. They held a warm, kind, unwavering glow. A light from within that seemed to pierce hearts.
The boy smiled.
—"Oh…"—he said, with a young voice charged with emotion—"Primo, it's been so long…"
Giotto stood motionless for a moment. He recognized that voice. Though much higher-pitched than in his other life, something unmistakable lingered in the way he spoke.
—"Knuckle…"—he whispered.
The boy nodded.
—"I've come to help you, just like you helped me when I was lost… when you inspired my boxing career… and my faith. I came to fulfill that promise, Primo."
He waited no longer.
Giotto stepped forward and knelt before the boy. He looked into his eyes, as if seeking confirmation of what he already knew. In his past life, Knuckle was one of the noblest Guardians—a man who balanced strength and faith in equal measure. Now he was here… younger, but with the same spirit. The same heart.
Without another word, Giotto embraced him.
Knuckle stiffened slightly, surprised, but then his small body relaxed. He closed his eyes and returned the hug firmly.
—"I never forgot your light, Knuckle…"—Giotto murmured.
—"And I never forgot your example, Primo,"—he replied.
The others watched the scene, not fully understanding, but not daring to interrupt.
Haru leaned toward Takeshi and whispered:
—"That kid… is he a Guardian?"
—"Guardia what? He looks more like a weird monk with those clothes…"
G and Ugetsu, however, remained quiet, knowing that this boy held more power within than many grown warriors combined.
After a few moments, Knuckle pulled away slightly and straightened with the expression of one ready to fulfill a mission.
—"As the Sun Guardian,"—he declared—"let me introduce myself properly. I am Knuckle. Destroying the misfortune that attacks the Family with my own body, I become the Sun that shines brilliantly upon you… I am here to protect Vongola Primo… and all who dwell beneath his sky."
The breeze swirled through the courtyard, and the sky returned to its normal appearance, as if the summoning had rebalanced the surroundings.
But Knuckle wasn't finished.
He turned toward everyone present, still smiling.
—"From now on… this place will become brighter, stronger… and more tested. Remember, light may heal, but it also reveals what hides in the shadows."
Giotto calmly stood and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
—"Come, I'll introduce you to everyone."
Knuckle nodded, and together they began walking toward the others.
But no one spoke. All eyes remained fixed on the new figure—a child who had descended from the heavens, bearing the presence of an eternal sun.
And in Giotto's heart, something lit up.
It wasn't just power.
It was hope.
…
To be continued…