Chapter 8: No Power
The air was cold.Not from the wind—but from expectation.
Aki was already sprinting before the sun touched the sky. Barefoot. Shirtless. Heart racing like he was outrunning the past.
"Today's the day…"
His breath was fog in the morning chill.
"I turn ten."
"I get my core."
"I get strong. I get revenge."
He reached the center of the hilltop outside his shack—the place where kids gathered when it was their time.
His chest began to glow.A faint yellow shimmer, pulsing slowly.
It's happening…
Then—
BOOOOM.
The glow backfired, exploded outward like a dying star.
Aki was launched backwards, slammed through the shack's door, hitting the floor like a ragdoll.
"UGH—!!""Cough—cough—ghk—!!"
Smoke and splinters filled the air.
He rolled onto his stomach. Eyes wide. Teeth clenched.
He slammed his fist into the floor.
THUD.THUD.THUD.THUD.
"DAMMIT—DAMMIT—DAMMIT!!"
Tears blurred his vision.
"WHY ME?!"
He passed out, the rage muting into blackness.
The sun was already shining when he awoke.
Outside the cracked window of his shack, he heard cheers.
Laughter.
Kids' voices echoed like knives:
"I GOT MY FIRE POWER—TOLD YOU!""I HAVE LIGHTNING!""I CAN CONTROL SHADOWS!"
Aki opened his eyes. Tears still stained his cheeks. His heart felt like a hollow drum.
Then—A pair of beady fake plush eyes stared down at him.
"Hmph. No power, huh?"
Cotton didn't smile. Didn't joke.He just stood there—arms folded, gun at his side.
Aki looked away.
"Don't remind me…"
Cotton turned toward the door.
"Get up. We're leaving."
Aki blinked.
"W-What?"
The bear was already walking.
"You're not wanted here anymore. That much is obvious."
Anna stood outside the shack, arms crossed, face unreadable.
Aki rose slowly, body aching, pride shattered.
"...She's coming too?"
"Yeah. She wants to see if there's something more to you. I said maybe."
Together, they went to the castle.
King Satan stood at the docks without a single guard.
When they asked for a boat, he didn't flinch.
Didn't question.
He handed them a single, beautiful canoe—lined in silver, with a single glowing lantern hanging off the bow.
"May the world treat you kinder than fate has," he said softly. "And when you return… come back strong."
They sailed into the horizon.
Water stretched endlessly, waves silent under the setting sun.
Aki sat with his knees pulled to his chest, quiet.
Cotton leaned against the side of the boat, arms resting.
"You think power defines you?"
Aki didn't answer.
Cotton held up a paw.
A glow started from his elbows—rising up his forearms, glowing faint blue.
"This world has something else. Not all of us got flashy RACs. Some of us got will. This technique—'Forearm Flow'—is only usable by those who've been through hell."
Aki stared.
"Blue?"
Cotton nodded.
"It glows based on your intentions. Mine's blue… because I want to make a difference."
He looked over his shoulder at Aki.
"What's your reason, void twin?"
Aki looked at his own arms.Nothing. Just bruises.
But his fists slowly clenched.
"I don't know yet…"
"But I'll find it."
End of Chapter 8