CHAPTER 3

  “Dejavu”

  *2 years after blue had made the declaration that he wasn’t going to waste his second opportunity*

  I have spent the last 2 years practicing the basic martial arts that I learned in murim, and also the breathing techniques to slowly gather the slight amount of qi this body has into my dantian. I now have a pea size amount of qi and I realize while playing with other children I am extremely much more stronger, faster than they are. Things are looking up, also I’ve gotten more comfortable calling David and Mary father and mother.

  The one thing I don’t think I can ever get used to in this world is school. I spend most of the day in these boring classes that seem like they are meant to make us zombies. How is all this useless information going to help me become a martial artist. As I sit in this math class she walked in. A new transfer student, deep purple hair, purple eyes, a very shy look. So-yeon???? Why does she look like my sister. Was I not the only one reincarnated in this world? It’s not like I forgotten about my siblings, but I got so wrapped up in this new world and new life that they were shoved to the back of my mind. Now all the feelings and fear, regret, and sadness from my old life are suddenly rushing back to me.

  Do I approach her? Do I somehow bring up murim or the Tang clan in hopes that she’ll understand I’m also from the same place? No I can’t do that, she may look like my sister but I doubt she also got reincarnated. If I know So-yeon she got my siblings somewhere safe the day my head was cut off by that monster, at least I hope. Still seeing this girl, I cant help but look at her like shes my sister. The soft eyes, gentle yet firm, head bowed slightly as to not impose on anyone. Quiet yet somehow intimidating, the other kids seem to be already whispering to each other and giggling. Looks like shes going to have quite the hard time here. Children even at this age in this world can be just a cruel as those monsters that destroyed my home. I wish I could just knock them out right now, but now is not the time to show that I am strong.

  Blue eventually talked to the young woman who resembled his sister and befriended her. After years of conversations and bringing up the manwha that his dad had read he realized she was, in fact, not from murim. Although it did not stop young Blue from treating her like his little sister. She looked to much like her to be able to stop those feelings, also he was the only child in his new family anyway, so having a little sister wouldn’t be so bad.

  Over the next 10 years blue and Evelynn would become inseparable. Although Eve had no interests in martial arts she would often sit and watch blue practice. When things got difficult for Eve in school she turned to Blue, he would often come to her side and rescue, like a knight in shining armor. Blue had become known as someone who nobody wanted to mess with. Too many times Blue would get into fights defending Eve. There wasn’t anybody his age or even a few years older who would dare to approach Eve carelessly, or provoke Blue in anyway. To say they were scared of Blue was an understatement.

  Eve however, knew exactly how soft and compassionate Blue was. While everyone would make comments about how they have to be in a relationship since Blue was always by her side and always came to her rescue. Blue would always yell “WE ARE FRIENDS!”, and think to himself “she looks like So-Yeon how could I look at other than any other way than my sister.” Although, Eve looked at Blue a little differently than that, but could not find a way to express how she felt about him.

  Eve watched Blue develop into a strong capable man. She could not help but be in awe that she was the one he chose to be close with. She was not the prettiest, nor the smartest, or funniest girl in school. She often contemplated why he chose her as his closest friend. Unaware that to Blue she reminded him of his sister back in murim. Blue was one of the most handsome men in the school. He also had the toned and ripped body or a grown man that trained for 20 years. His Blue hair that flowed even better than some women in our school. His deep dark eyes, which most people saw as intimidating, Eve always saw past that and saw the care and love he had in them for the people he cared about. He wasn’t tall by any means, just average height of around 5 foot 10. If you stood up to him though and he decided to get serious or angry at someone, well then it felt like you were staring at an unyielding mountain.

  *6 months later*

  *BLUE’S POV*

  Graduation, the day I can finally be done with this blasted school life, and figure out how to live the life of a martial artist. 13 years, I’ve been here for 13 years. My mom and dad are wonderful people, they have loved me unconditionally. My father encouraged me to work hard for the things I want, he set up a little training area for me in the basement where I would spend my free time training. My mom always supporting me in school and encouraging me to do my best and not worry even if I fail. Then there is Eve, my best friend, we’ve spent everyday together hanging out. We don’t have a lot of things in common, but she will sit in the basement and watch me train my martial arts. She spends a considerable amount of time at my house, which makes it harder to not look at her like my little sister.

  Today though, we both are done with high school. Eve has plans to go to college, while I have yet to make up my mind about what I want to do. My father told me I could join a gym and do MMA fighting. I would love to do that, but I feel I would have a severe advantage and I don’t wish to bring harm to people who don’t deserve it. I also can’t go around being a vigilante and fighting crime on my free time. I need to find a way to support myself. The biggest issue I’m having is being stuck as a third rate martial artist. I cant grow because the martial arts I was taught by my grandfather are just the basics, there are no elixirs in this world to expand my qi, or allow me to go through a body transformation.

  I suppose I should be happy with where I am at the moment, even as a third rate I am still considerably stronger than anyone I’ve encountered or seen so far. I am almost certain im the only person in this world who even knows qi exists. I hear about qi all the time in anime and reading manwhas, but the people of this world see it as something that is made up and they have yet to understand that they all have that same qi they read about.

  *LATER THAT EVENING AT HIS PARENTS HOUSE*

  “Congratulations Blue and Evelynn.” “We are all so proud of you for graduating high school, and we look forward to the things you both will accomplish as adults.” my mom shouts in front of all our family and friends and Eve’s parents. Dad is standing in the doorway with his usual blank look of no emotions “food is about ready, we’ve got steaks, burgers, and hot dogs. Everyone come grab a plate while we celebrate these two knuckleheads.”

  The next few hours dragged on with gifts, and praise for both of us. After an hour or so of praise from everyone I had enough though. Time for me to make my escape and head to the basement and train a little bit. As I walk down the stairs ready to make my escape I hear Eve “oh you are just going to leave me to deal with all of them by myself are ya, either I come down there with you and escape as well, or you are coming back upstairs with me.” I relent and gesture her to follow me and to close the door quietly.

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  *SCREAMS* *GLASSES SHATTERING* *STEPS OF PEOPLE RUNNING INTO THE HOUSE*

  “CALL 911!” I hear my mom scream. As I throw a punch onto the punching bag that is placed in the center of the basement. “Eve, go see whats going.” I don’t say it with a sense of urgency, more of an annoyed tone. My mom, the worry wart, the psychopathy that would freak out if she even thought I was hurt or in any type of danger. I love you her but she overreacts to the most little things so I’m sure she is throwing a fit over something small.

  “BLUE, YOU NEED TO COME SEE THIS!” I can hear the panic in Eve’s voice. I rush upstairs and shes standing there pale faced pointing to the deck outside. I slowly walk to the deck and as I take a step outside, I see why people are screaming. The same red sky, the same red gates, the same monsters from murim are now here as well? “WHAT THE HELL?”

  Why is this happening, why here, why now? Don’t panic, I’m stronger than I was when I was in murim. I can not let what happened there happen here. “GET TO THE BASEMENT NOW!” I scream, this time with a sense or urgency. In the basement family and friends gather, Eve’s mom and my mom in a corner crying. My dad and Eve’s father whispering about what could possibly be happening. Others are speculating that it could be a movie shoot, or some type of holographic projection, maybe some secret government program gone wrong.

  Fools! This isn’t time to be wrapped up in some metube conspiracy. I know exactly what I saw, it was the same thing I saw back in murim. I can’t tell these people that though, I need to keep my composure and remain calm, I have to be ready to fight if anything comes down those stairs. I will protect this family. I will make sure this time I do not die a foolish death.

  As Blue and everyone else sit in the basement, the sounds of jets, tanks, bombs, and guns can be heard. Nobody tried to leave that basement for the entire night. Luckily, the men of the family had gathered food and drinks while heading to the basement, so everyone had something to eat and drink. You could cut through the tension in that basement with a knife. Everyone was starting to act like it wasn’t a big deal, even though you could hear the insanity that was going on outside.

  *The basement door starts to creak open slowly*

  A man wearing fatigues and carrying his rifle comes walking down the stairs of the basement. “Is anyone down here?” “YES!” my dad yelled. “My whole family and some friends are here and we are all safe. What the hell is going in outside?” “Nothing you need to worry about at the moment, although right now outside is kind of a mess, but it should be okay for everyone to come out from your basement now.”

  As head upstairs and go outside and see the devastation, fires you can see from miles away that reach the sky. The sky with a dark red ominous hue, The smoke from fires makes it almost unbearable to be outside. Some family members leave to go check on their own houses and their families. Eve and her parents decide to stay with us for the moment. I turn on the tv and try and get a grasp of whats going on. If I can get some information, then maybe I can also know what happened to the murim I once knew as well.

  “Channel 7 news with an urgent update.” as everyone sits attentively listening to the news reporter. “It seems there has been a worldwide catastrophe, holes have opened up in the sky on every continent and monsters of some sorts have poured out. Some mythological creatures, some beasts you would only see in cartoons and comics. Here in the United States, thanks to the quick actions of the military and the police the situation has seem to dissolve. Most of the holes in the sky have closed, although some of these holes, that are not being referred to as “gates” are still around. The majority of the monsters that appeared have been taken care of. It is still quite dangerous to resume your lives as normal. The government is asking for everyone to try and remain in your homes. The president has declared martial law and asked all citizens to please follow the instructions of the military that are stationed near you. They are there to minimize damage and help keep citizens safe as of right now we do not know the extent of this invasion, nor if more will becoming. It also appears that along with the appearance of the gates that people have come forward with strange abilities that helped destroy the monsters. We ask if you are one that received any strange ability that you report to the nearest military outpost. We are not demanding you do so, we just wish for your cooperation in handling any future incidents that may occur.”

  Blue leans forward elbows on his knees, fist clenched tightly against his chin as he thinks. “Abilities, powers?” “Did the same thing happen in murim as well, could So-yeon and my other siblings still be alive, was murim not destroyed?” “Is this all a coincidence? How can I be reincarnated to a world where murim doesn’t exist, yet the same monsters that destroyed Chendu suddenly appear here?”

  Everyone, I’m going to go my room and lie down as I’m as tired as everyone else here. As I sit on my bed pondering Eve walks in. “hey are you alright? You look like you got a lot on your mind, like you are contemplating a thousand things, you act like you have seen those monsters before.” she asks with a concerned look on her face. “I’m okay Eve, I am just extremely tired, I think I am going to try and sleep since I stayed up all night making sure nothing came down those basement stairs that wasn’t suppose to.” I’m trying to be dismissive of what she said, and give her a vague answer without revealing that I have seen those monsters before. I can tell she doesn’t believe me though, she knows me too well. Hopefully she won’t press the issue right now, maybe one day I’ll tell her the truth. As eve starts to walk out of the room she turns her head around and sighs. “Okay fine, have it your way Blue. Just know that I am here for you no matter what.” she reminds me as she closes the door behind her.

  I have to find a way to get stronger, I have to find a way to protect Eve, and my family. I didn’t gain any ability or powers. Should I pretend I did and go report to a military outpost? *Blue shakes his head and gives himself a slap as well* No way my mom would lose your damn mind. I would never hear the end of it. What if I am still not strong enough to deal with these monsters and I die recklessly because I thought I was strong enough. I should let the military handle things, and let those with real abilities and powers do what is needed.

  That day would become known as the awakening. Across the world gates opened, and monsters flooded out wreaking havoc and devastation. Millions were dead, the world economy came to a halt. Some countries weren’t able to withstand the monsters and eventually fell to them. Hundreds of thousands of people were “awakened” with abilities and supernatural powers. Order has slightly been restored for most of the world with the help of the awakened. Over the next few years more gates had appeared, and humanity had realized that the awakened were the only ones that were able to go through and defeat the monsters inside. Through this the Awakened Association had appeared. A world wide association that would register, what would eventually be refereed to as hunters. The association wasn’t established just to keep hunters in check, but also as a way to for humanity to join as one to fight for their own existence. As hunters were awakening all the time, every country had their own division of the association to provide training, and compensation for hunters to go into gates and “Clear” them.

  There were specific gates that only a selected few who were compatible were able to cross the threshold. These special gates led to other worlds who have also been overran by these gates and monsters. Over time however, Trade lines would be established between worlds, resources, information, and training. There would be no denying if a gate was a special class gate as it would appear golden unlike the normal red gates.

  Guilds had also been formed with the strongest hunters in each nation establishing their own guilds under the watchful eyes of the association. These guilds would work hand in hand with the association to clear gates, and to make money. They would also use their guild members who could traverse the special class gates to establish trading between each world as a way to strengthen their own guild and their pockets. So those who were compatible to cross the through the Golden gates would become very valuable to guilds, and would eventually lead to guilds fighting over hunters, even if they were weak. Greed would come before survival for some guilds it seems.

  Two years after the awakening 2 golden gates had appeared, one which led to a world filled with magic. Only those compatible with mana were able to travel to this world. There they would learn advanced magic spells, and how to properly utilize mana that had appeared on earth when the gates appeared. The other world was a fallen world of spirits and wild animals, and those that could contract those spirits and command the animals. Only those compatible with spirits and taming were able to pass through this gate. Those who went to this land would learn to make contracts with spirits that could cross back over the threshold of the gate with them. These spirits became influential to recovering crops, forest, and even the water supply. The world seemed to finally reached a sense or normalcy, even though the gates started to appear more frequently.

  The weaker countries had “gate breaks” quite often as their hunters were lower in numbers and couldn’t clear the gates. Blue had still remained unawakened, while Eve had been awakened as someone who would control spirits and nature itself. Eve eventually headed towards the golden gate that led to Valhalla, the world of spirits. Saying goodbye to Blue and her family in hope of becoming strong enough to protect them, as well as becoming strong enough to tell Blue she loved him.

  We find Blue a year after Eve left for the golden gate preparing to enter an e-ranked gate as a porter. Although he may not have been awakened, he was recognized eventually for his extreme strength and stamina. He was recruited by a guild to be their guild porter and gather things found in the gates and collect them by the entrance while they hunted. Not a flashy job, but it paid the bills. Blue held tremendous regret that with his martial arts he still couldn’t fight against these monsters, and his best friend is off in some strange world without knowing when she will return. As he walks into the gate with his tools and huge rucksack on his back, he sighs. Seemingly depressed that his second chance has turned out like this. Little did he know, a special class gate, that only he could pass through would await him on his way home.