A month later.
The mysterious sphere of light within Ake Ryu's mind finally began to stir.
That evening, he barely touched his dinner before rushing straight to his room.
He had waited eight long years for this moment.
The once faint halo in his consciousness had now transformed into a radiant orb, shining with an intensity that seemed capable of lighting up the world itself.
Its glow trembled endlessly, as if something inside was struggling to break free.
As time passed, Ake Ryu's anticipation gave way to nervousness.
One hour went by… then two… then three.
Finally, after the fourth hour—
The orb in his mind suddenly erupted in blinding brilliance.
A violent surge of light exploded outward in all directions, like a silent nuclear blast that filled every corner of his consciousness.
Ake Ryu's heart clenched, but there was no pain.
Instead, his awareness blurred for a brief instant. His mind felt full yet hollow at the same time—like being stuffed with light and emptied of thought all at once. The sensation was strange, indescribable… unreal.
When the radiance faded, Ake Ryu's consciousness wavered. It felt as though something foreign—something that hadn't existed before—had quietly settled inside him.
It was as if memories had appeared out of thin air.
In that hazy state, he caught fleeting glimpses of something that didn't belong to him.
No—calling them "images" wasn't quite right. They were more like instinctual impressions burned directly into his soul.
Within his mind's eye, he saw a pair of eyes suspended between heaven and earth.
One was scarlet-gold, the other deep crimson. In the center of both, a glowing halo shimmered faintly.
Those eyes radiated majesty, arrogance, and an overwhelming dominance—like the gaze of a ruler looking down upon the entire world.
At the same time, a peculiar feeling welled up in his body. Something about him had changed—though he couldn't yet tell what.
It was as if his body had suddenly understood something, instinctively adapting to a new awareness.
"What's… happening to me? And these eyes… why do they feel so familiar?" Ake Ryu muttered, shaking his head as his thoughts spun wildly.
After an unknown stretch of time, his mind gradually cleared.
And then—he froze.
The ball of light that had always floated in his mind was gone.
In its place stood a figure—one that looked exactly like him.
A chill ran down Ake Ryu's spine.
That figure radiated a chilling aura—a silent, commanding pressure that demanded reverence. It was the presence of a king, cold and absolute.
"Who… who are you?" Ake Ryu asked instinctively.
The figure's lips curved into a faint, almost mocking smile.
"Who am I? I'm Ake Ryu, of course."
"What?" Ake Ryu's brows furrowed. "What do you mean by that? I'm Ake Ryu."
The figure chuckled softly, its expression calm and unshaken.
"Ake Ryu is you… and also me."
Ake Ryu stared blankly, completely unable to understand.
"What are you trying to say?"
"You don't need to be so tense," the figure said evenly. "I can't harm you. You've probably felt it already—you and I are one and the same. If I had to describe it, you can think of me as… your other personality."
"…What?"
The words hit him like thunder.
"Another… personality?"
His heart pounded as thoughts raced through his head.
Then, he realized something.
It was after the ball of light vanished that this mysterious double appeared.
Could it be… related?
"Although you say we're one," Ake Ryu began cautiously, "it seems our thoughts aren't connected, are they?"
The figure stayed silent, neither denying nor confirming.
That silence told him everything.
"I knew it," Ake Ryu said.
"You were born from that ball of light. Since that's the case, you must know something I don't, right?"
The figure's scarlet-gold gaze flickered slightly before he finally replied, "You're not wrong. There are things I know that you don't. And since you'll find out eventually, I'll tell you."
He paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully.
"My existence isn't directly caused by that light. Rather, it's because of the light that we split into two distinct personalities."
Ake Ryu remained silent, turning the words over in his mind.
So the explosion of that mysterious orb had caused a division—himself, split into two.
But why? What was that light in the first place?
Before he could dwell on it further, the figure spoke again.
"You and I are one—that much doesn't need to be explained. But you should've already seen those eyes, haven't you?"
At the mention of them, Ake Ryu's pupils contracted. He instantly recalled the vision of those majestic, dual-colored eyes hanging between heaven and earth.
"Have you noticed," the figure continued calmly, "that your vision is far sharper than before?"
Ake Ryu froze.
Only then did he truly focus on his surroundings.
What he didn't realize was that in the reflection of his eyes, halos were now glowing faintly in both his scarlet-gold and crimson pupils, giving them an eerie, divine radiance.
Everything in his room looked sharper—clearer—almost alive.
He could see the minute fibers in the fabric of his sheets. The fluttering of dust in the air. Even the subtle path of a mosquito's next movement, as if the world had slowed around him.
"This is…" Ake Ryu whispered, stunned.
A realization struck him like lightning.
'These eyes… I know them.'
'They're Seijuro Akashi's—
The Emperor's Eye.'
A dizzy spell hit him without warning. His vision blurred, and the supernatural clarity faded in an instant, returning to normal.
"What was that?" he muttered, breathing heavily.
The figure's voice echoed again in his mind.
"Don't use the Emperor's Eye so recklessly. Its power is immense—but it consumes tremendous mental energy. With your current mind and body, you can't sustain it for long."
Ake Ryu didn't argue. He could already feel his mental exhaustion weighing down on him.
'Is it because I'm still too young?'
"The Emperor's Eye," the figure continued, "was granted to you by that light. I don't know the exact reason why, but judging from your body's reaction, it's clear—you now possess the same natural talent as Seijuro Akashi."
Hearing this, Ake Ryu couldn't help but agree.
Crimson hair. Dual-colored eyes. And now—the Emperor's Eye itself.
That strange sensation he'd felt earlier—was it really the awakening of his talent?
If so…
Then didn't that mean he now carries the same potential as Seijuro Akashi himself?