Cycles of Eternity

A dantesque scene unfolded before their eyes. The area where a hotel once stood was now nothing but a field of devastation and death. Shattered human bodies and slain monsters lay scattered among the rubble, with remnants of what had once been rooms and furniture now stained with blood. The air reeked of death, the silence broken only by the crunch of boots over debris and the occasional groan of dying creatures.

Amid those investigating the disaster, one figure stood out: Mr. Spencer Sawamura, elegant even amidst tragedy, though his somber expression betrayed the concern gnawing at him. Around him, men and women in advanced armor combed through the area with a mix of professionalism and horror.

"Mr. Sawamura, we haven't found any survivors in this section," one soldier reported respectfully, breaking the heavy silence.

Mr. Spencer closed his eyes briefly, his jaw tightening as he fought the despair threatening to surface.

"I see. Keep searching. Don't stop until you find something," he commanded firmly, though his pain seeped subtly into his tone.

The soldier nodded and quickly moved on, leaving Spencer to wrestle with his anguish. Moments later, another voice called out:

"Mr. Sawamura, you need to see this!"

Without hesitation, Spencer moved swiftly, his speed almost inhuman, heading toward the voice. He wove through the forest, his senses sharp, until he reached the indicated spot. There, among the trees, pulsed a sinister red portal, glowing and throbbing like a diseased heart.

"A sealed dungeon," murmured a familiar voice behind him. Koichi Yaegashi, a robust man with dark hair, had appeared silently.

Mr. Spencer barely acknowledged him, his eyes fixed on the portal.

"Any news?" he asked, his tone betraying his tightly contained desperation.

Koichi shook his head but allowed a glimmer of hope to flicker in his eyes.

"We haven't found their bodies. That means there's a chance they're alive. If they are, it's highly likely they're inside this dungeon."

Mr. Spencer clenched his fists, his gaze hardening.

Minutes later, hurried footsteps announced the arrival of Sayuri Sawamura, accompanied by Tomoichi Shirasaki and Issei Ichijō. Sayuri's face was pale, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, her breathing uneven.

"How could the detectors fail to pick up a dungeon breach?!" Tomoichi bellowed, his fury palpable as his oppressive aura filled the air.

"This... Kaori..." he growled, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

A deep voice cut through his anger.

"Calm down, Tomoichi," said Issei Ichijō, his tone firm though frustration etched his face.

"No one could have foreseen this."

Tomoichi glared at his friend but, seeing the same frustration mirrored in Issei's expression, gritted his teeth and fought to control his temper.

"Adam..." Sayuri barely managed to whisper the word before collapsing into her husband's arms, her body trembling as tears finally streamed down her face. "What could have happened to them?"

Mr. Spencer held her tightly, his eyes glinting with a mixture of determination and sorrow.

One Hour Earlier

The gentle aroma of tea filled the Sawamura living room. Sayuri and Spencer were enjoying a quiet moment together on the couch as the setting sun painted the sky in warm hues. Sayuri, her hair styled in two elegant pigtails, rested her head on her husband's shoulder, savoring the peace.

"Sometimes I wonder how we manage to find moments like this, with everything happening around us," she murmured, gazing out at the garden.

Mr. Spencer smiled, placing a hand over hers.

"Because we make time for them, Sayuri. Even amidst chaos, we find a way to protect what matters most."

Sayuri looked up at him, her smile soft yet tinged with hidden worry.

"Promise me you always will, Adam. Always protect our family."

"I promise," he replied without hesitation, his voice laden with sincerity.

At that moment, the ringing of the phone shattered their calm. Mr. Spencer quickly picked up, and as he answered, an urgent voice came through the line.

"Mr. Sawamura, we have a problem. A Class C dungeon breach has been detected in Area..."

The color drained from Spencer's face as he heard the location. His pupils contracted as he processed the information.

"Understood. I'll head there immediately."

He ended the call without waiting for more details and turned to Sayuri, who looked at him with growing concern.

"Adam, what's wrong?"

"It's a dungeon. It's near... where the children are."

Sayuri raised a trembling hand to her mouth, her face pale with fear. Before she could say another word, Mr. Spencer embraced her tightly.

"I'll bring them back. I promise."

Without further explanation, he dashed out, his incredible speed leaving behind only a gust of wind in his wake.

At the Scene of the Tragedy

Mr. Spencer arrived at the designated area to find utter chaos. Class C and D monsters filled the zone, attacking civilians and destroying everything in their path. Without hesitation, Spencer joined the local forces, dispatching the creatures with precise, lethal movements. In mere minutes, the battlefield fell silent, the monsters reduced to smoldering corpses.

It was then that he saw the ruins of the destroyed hotel, and the grim reality of what might have happened began to sink in. But he refused to let fear take hold. He had to find them—alive or dead.

What followed led him to the ominous red portal. Now, standing before it, hope was the only thing keeping Mr. Spencer Sawamura steady.

.

.

.

To Understand, We Must Look to the Past

In the past, humanity relied on ingenuity and tools to overcome the challenges of nature. But the emergence of Manifestors—individuals with extraordinary abilities—forever shifted the balance of the world.

These powers, unique to each individual, were tied to their capacity to manipulate a universal energy source known as mana. While some Manifestors could perform relatively modest feats, like sparking a flame or controlling small water currents, others could unleash devastating forces capable of reshaping landscapes—or threatening humanity itself.

To maintain order, a classification system was developed, measuring the level of destruction a Manifestor could cause. This system not only determined threat levels but also dictated who could face challenges like clearing dungeons:

Rank E: Slightly stronger than a well-trained group of regular humans, capable of causing minor structural damage or defeating small creatures.

Rank D: Manifestors with basic combat abilities, able to destroy small buildings or fend off moderate enemies.

Rank C: The foundation of real power. These individuals could level city blocks and effectively tackle mid-tier dungeons.

Rank B: Far surpassing previous levels, they could devastate entire cities and handle high-tier dungeons.

Rank A: Forces of nature, capable of obliterating entire regions and serving as last-resort solutions in major crises.

Rank S: An anomaly. Individuals at this level could destroy entire continents. Only one person was known to hold this rank.

Dungeons were an inscrutable mystery—portals that appeared randomly, connecting the world to dimensions filled with monstrous creatures. If left uncleared, these creatures would break through the dimensional barrier, wreaking havoc in the human world.

In Japan, the management of Manifestors and dungeons fell to a council composed of the leaders of the four main clans. This organization ensured Manifestors were used efficiently, maintaining balance, though tensions between clans never ceased.

Back at the Incident

Tension hung thick in the air. As the group discussed possible actions, a casual, mocking voice rang out behind them:

"Well, well, this is certainly interesting."

Everyone turned instantly, their senses on high alert. Leaning casually against a tree stood a tall, lean man. His white hair glowed faintly in the light, and a dark blindfold covered his eyes.

With a grin that exuded both amusement and superiority, the man raised a hand to his blindfold, lowering it for a few seconds. His piercing blue eyes, holding an infinite sky within them, scanned the portal calmly before covering them again.

"Definitely something unusual," he remarked in a light tone.

The group stared, stunned. Standing before them was Gojo Satoru, the only recognized Rank S Manifestor—the strongest of them all.