I don't remember very well, but the first time I opened my eyes… my body was lying on the ground.
A frail body—I already hated it, it made me angry. But what made me even angrier was seeing that other frail body curl up in front of that man.
A weak woman, letting herself be beaten by that man. That man was strong: big hands, big arms, beautiful muscles. Every time I saw them come crashing down on that woman… I told myself that I wanted to become as strong as him. Not let people crush me. See them at my knees, begging me to stop.
I scratched my arms while watching that scene. Maybe a natural reaction? I don't really know, but it soothed me…
I scratched myself so much that blood started to flow. My own blood… This body was really fragile! Why?! Why?! Why?!
But that woman on the ground looked toward me and spoke to me, smiling like one would to a child…
Weak woman — "Mike, don't stay there… Mommy is fine…"
Mike? Who was that? I don't know! But the one who claimed to be my mother had gotten my name wrong! I don't know mine, but I am not Mike… I am not that weak person!
That scene repeated itself every time I opened my eyes. The man beat the woman with all his strength. But each time, they were wearing different clothes. Between those moments, I didn't remember much. As if, every time, I was in a fog, in total darkness.
Little by little, I understood that this man was my father and that he beat my mother when he had drunk too much… That was even worse! I thought it was because the strong had to dominate the weak, but no! All of this because of a stupid drink… He was just as weak as the others! Weak before that repugnant thing called alcohol! Weaker than me!
If I had to choose, I would rather never see that scene again. I couldn't consider someone so weak as my father. Even if he was the only thing tying me to this world.
So when I saw him hit my mother again, my breath shortened, I scratched myself harder than usual, creating an abominable heat that filled my entire body.
I put all my strength into his legs and leapt at him. With a single punch, he pushed me back.
Why was it so easy to push me away? Damn body! But I couldn't give up against him!
In my momentum, I grabbed a bottle from the ground and smashed it with all my strength against his head.
Die!
Father — "Tch, you little piece of shit! What did you think you were doing?"
Those were the first words directed at me since the beginning… the first he had ever addressed to me… while spitting a clump of blood.
Unfortunately, he wasn't dead… Was this frail body not strong enough? No—was his too solid?
Heheheheh, anyway, it was already too late. He was already gripping my neck with all his strength. His big hands were preventing me from breathing… little by little, the grip I had on the rest of the bottle loosened… So we were going to die like this? Mike? He probably wouldn't realize it… He wouldn't have endured it…
Gekidō — "I curse you all for being so weak!"
For the first time, words came out of my frail mouth. And surely the last…
Sounds drifted away… My vision blurred… But one last thing remained visible to me. That weak mother plunging the broken bottle into the head of the man who was strangling me. Weakness against weakness. Maybe with a weapon one is less weak… No. Weapons are only used by the weak to get rid of the strong. It was detestable! But in the end, it was just a weak one against a weak one.
On those final thoughts, my consciousness gave way. Was I going to die with Mike? Return to total darkness?
No… my eyes opened again in a sparkle of light, and I simply understood that I was part of Mike… An alter born because of that father.
At least, that's what the two people in front of me explained.
Around us, the world seemed chaotic. Lights streaked everywhere before vanishing in huge explosions. And in the middle of all that, they were there. Beside a table.
One seemed blurred; I couldn't see his appearance, but he seemed to be smiling. And the other had her head resting in her crossed arms on the table. A very beautiful woman with violet hair, shining like a starry sky.
She slowly raised her head. The effort seemed to weigh on her; she opened her mouth with the same sluggish energy.
??? — "You who despise weakness, you whom rage keeps alive… receive your name: Gekidō."
HEHEHEHEH
A wave of heat filled my heart. My knees dropped to the ground.
Gekidō! Such a beautiful name! A name that suited me so well. She had just baptized me with a name… like a mother giving a name to her offspring.
I had to respect her! I had no choice… from her emanated such a unique presence, a strength I had never seen elsewhere. My instinct told me that the two other alters had been there for a long time, but not only that… something different emanated from the man. Like an intruder?
Then he raised his hand and pointed at me.
??? — "Gekidō! If you let me call you by your name, here are three things to respect… First, you may do whatever you want as long as you do not attempt Mike's life. Second, we have our own plans, so don't come and interfere with them. Third, with the rage within you, never give up! Ever, ever! Not even against us."
Against them? I simply understood that I had to be careful… but a plan? What was he talking about? And their names? What were they called? Unfortunately, none of my questions came out.
Days passed without me being able to return to the other side. Each of those days, I saw the two of them talking among themselves, and also with others. But it was impossible for me to see who they were.
After all, it wasn't my problem, because I could train every day to become stronger. Even if it didn't amount to much, since this body would always remain so pitiful… Me! I would be strong. I would be Gekidō!
Months passed with nothing new. I had my routine: physical training, punching a volcano, and bathing in it before coming back down. I poured all my rage into it.
That volcano had appeared as an obvious answer when I was looking for how to become stronger. Tall, powerful. What could destroy it other than me?
At first, it was impossible for me to touch it. I was simply burning. My body looked like nothing more than toasted bread. But by throwing punch after punch, they had no choice but to adapt. Well, "adapt" was a big word… They looked like nothing at all. Long claws were now forming at their tips.
By continuing to pour all my rage into it… I was now able to climb it. The first time, it took me months, between burns and lava coverings, then weeks.
Then I bathed in it—no, I melted in it. Not without consequences, but it was possible, and I came back down and started again. Burned to the bone.
Then one day, as I had just come down from the volcano, a small one I had never encountered before was there. Curled up on itself… It looked like a child made of stone.
It looked weak… very weak. I therefore had to get rid of it!
With one hand, I grabbed it by the neck.
Yet, crying, it uttered a few words I could barely hear.
Stone child — "Help… need…"
A radiant smile spread across my face. My hand scratched my skin with its long claws.
At that moment, I understood what it was asking.
No more volcano.
No more stone.
Nothing.
The weak body of my mother above me.
Holding a knife.
The smell.
The same.
The same as him.
Alcohol!
Detestable!
My vision trembled.
She moved too slowly.
She wanted to strike.
I saw her arm.
Her breath was dry.
Her hand trembled.
Unforgivable!
HEHEHEHEHEH.
I had to stop her.
I had to crush her.
Weak against weak.
Did I also have a knife in my hand?
Detestable! Repugnant!
A hesitation?! Me?!
Gekidō — "HEH You're letting it happen again! We already did it once! We can do it again, right?!"
After throwing those words at Mike…
All I had left was to plunge that knife!
Gekidō — "HEHEHEHEH"
She isn't dead?
She wants to suffer?
The leg!
Mother — "AHHHH"
She screamed in agony before plunging her knife into my nape. Useless! It didn't reach the level of suffering the volcano had inflicted on me.
So why… Why did I feel liquid flowing? Why was blood running down my neck? Ahhh, I had forgotten that this body was so weak.
Why?! Why?! Why?! Why are you so weak, Mike?
But that doesn't matter… I kept stabbing with my knife.
Again! Again! The weak must bow before me!
The world shrank to her screams.
Your hands! So you can't drink that disgusting alcohol anymore!
Your legs! So you kneel before me!
Your arms! So you can't strike anymore!
Your feet! So you can't stand up again!
Your torso! So every liquid spills out!
Ahhhh, it feels so good… Here is my work! So Mike, do you like what you see?
Gekidō — "HEHEHEHEH"
Ah, that's right…
He'll probably bleed out and die. Weak as he is…
Closing my eyes, I was once again before my volcano… Ahh, beautiful volcano! I had missed you so much.
Looking around me, there was only the stone child left… The other two had disappeared before reappearing a few days later. Death may have been pushed away.
I continued my training, sweating relentlessly. My daily life returned. Time passed… I could no longer measure it, but it didn't matter.
From time to time, I would observe the outside without acting, just looking for someone strong… But no one was. Just stupid middle-schoolers picking on Mike.
I still don't know why, but sometimes the stone child came to see me, telling me that I was needed. But every time, I felt entrenched, as if pushed back. I still saw Mike suffering, and I had no choice but to suffer with him… The post-its… The empty stomach… The disgusting bread… The mockery… The soaked belongings… No matter how hard I tried to talk to him, it was impossible… He couldn't become stronger with nothing in his stomach.
Gekidō — "Mike, idiot! Let me handle the problems…"
Mike — "No, you'll just do like with mom and dad."
That was the only answer he gave me to my offer of help. What a shame.
OF COURSE I WANTED TO CRUSH ALL THOSE USELESS BODIES, ALL THOSE WHO HURT US SHOULD JUST DIE OR AT LEAST UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO US!
And it was always the same refrain. I endured all the humiliations with him. No matter how much I offered my help, nothing worked.
I eventually could no longer go outside. That was for the best… He only had to suffer alone… Anyway, he wouldn't die since the other two were preventing it.
And me, in any case, I finally had the appearance that suited me: beautiful red hair, beautiful burning claws, a slightly long coat, bandages to hide all the burns and scratches I had inflicted on myself.
Those were the things that proved I was stronger than him!
Then nothing… Total darkness… So I was going to return to that state after everything I had done? No, I wouldn't accept it so easily. But I had no choice…
What felt like years passed. During which I questioned myself many times. What use was that strength if I was just stuck here? In the dark…
The answer came sooner than expected!
Entity N°260 — "Your… hair…?"
I could hear a man's voice, I could see the outside… Another knife in my hand…
Who did I have to kill this time?
Who is this person in front of me? An armor? A man?
I have to kill him! Crush him!
But I couldn't move a single limb… It burns!
Mike? You fought? Well done!
But those burns are nothing compared to the volcano! I poured all my rage into that burning arm, unleashing a flurry of knife strikes against the armor.
Gekidō — "HEHEHEHEH"
Laughing out loud had missed me so much… It feels so good to go wild! To strike with all my strength using a knife.
Unfortunately, this body was frail and that armor far too solid, to the point where the knife broke.
Sorry, Mike… I could only give him a few scratches…
Hey, why do I feel watched? He's there? The smiling man… Even if he's strong… he disgusts me… Why is he doing nothing?
Entity N°260 — "Well do—"
Those were the last words I heard from the armored man… The sound cut off again…
Like everything else… I was going to return to total darkness once more.
At least, that's what I thought… But before I could even think, I found myself facing Mike.
He could finally see me! His weak body was right in front of me!
But why was I behind a mirror? Why does he refuse to help me? Did he recognize me? Why are these memories blurred? Does he understand who I am?
Why are you listening to him, huh Mike?! You really are an idiot. You and your weakness should never have refused me.
Now that the mirrors were shattered, I could follow him to the next floor. Try to convince him again while he relived his best middle-school years—years during which I had suffered with him. Besides, this place is pretty funny with all these memories scattered everywhere.
But nothing worked. If I had to kill that weakness, then I would.
The many bodies I had shaped by climbing the volcano were now real in this place. My efforts had not been in vain.
All that was left was to fight him and confront him with reality, and that's what I did…
But he was acting like an idiot… So I plunged him into that sea of fire.
Look at all my efforts! Let's see if you can endure what I inflicted on myself for years!
He couldn't? He's dead? That which proved I had been weak was destroyed? Reduced to dust?
Gekidō — HEHEHEHEH! Finally dead! Finally! Finally! FINALLY!
I was right to consider him weak! The weak have no right to live!
It's just a shame… I won't see that woman anymore… But after all, what did she even look like?
Doesn't matter, all I have to do is pierce the membrane with his knife. That membrane that kept me from going lower…
Gekidō — To me, FREEDOM!
Freed from all weakness. Free as air. All that remained was to find that liquid that could heal!
So why! Why!? WHY!? WAS I SCRATCHING MY ARMS?!
??? — Gekidō…
Mike? He was alive?!
Those locks were violet? That way of speaking… slow… soothing… Was it her?
I barely had time to turn around when I felt a sharp gust of air. Not a gust of air: something luminous had passed close to my neck.
A knife? No… Her hand was empty… That movement seemed slow, yet of unparalleled finesse…
But… Why am I seeing my body? Why is it so far away?
Ah, my head got detached? So this is how I end?!
I was right—she is the most respectable person… Strong… She doesn't need a weapon…
She had accomplished something that was impossible for me with a body as weak as Mike's…
I could only bow before her…
Mike ? — "You had three rules to respect… And you managed to break every single one of them…"
NO! MY RAGE WAS STILL THERE!