The seven doors

Chapter Two: The First Encounter

Five minutes passed before Rio regained consciousness. He opened his eyes only to find himself engulfed in a void of absolute, endless darkness.

(FWOOOOSH!)

Suddenly, a pair of piercing crimson eyes materialized in the dead center of the black abyss, staring intently down at Rio. A booming, resonant voice echoed from the darkness:

"Rio Takeo... Welcome."

Trembling with fear, Rio stammered:

"Who... Who are you, sir?"

The crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

"I am Raijin’s Right Hand... I am Raijin. And I am here to unlock your true power."

"What... what power are you talking about?" Rio spluttered, his voice shaking. "Who is Raijin? And what does he want from me?!"

"All will be revealed in due time," the eyes replied coldly. "But as you are currently too weak to gaze upon my Master, or even upon my true form, I shall only awaken your dormant power for now."

Without giving Rio a single second to process the words, a blinding spark ignited right beside the crimson eyes.

(ZZZZZZZZT!)

In a flash of light, a formidable javelin forged from pure, crackling lightning manifested.

(CRASH-BOOM!!!)

The lightning javelin tore through the air and pierced Rio straight through the heart. Rio felt an agonizing sensation, as if his very cells were fracturing into pieces. A colossal surge of raw, untamed energy flooded his veins, and a thick plume of smoke began to drift upward from his chest.

(FWOOOOOSH)

Instantly, the darkness shattered, and Rio was violently thrown back onto the mountain plateau where he had vanished.

His heart felt as though it was being ripped apart from the inside out, and his body burned with a scalding, feverish heat. He watched in sheer disbelief as his muscles expanded, tightening and growing larger across his entire frame. His heart pounded frantically like a war drum.

(THUMP-THUMP! THUMP-THUMP!)

Tendrils of blue electricity began to seep out from his chest, creeping and spreading across his skin with excruciating slowness.

(ZZZZZZT... CRACKLE)

With every inch the electricity traveled, the agony grew more unbearable.

Forcing himself to his feet through sheer willpower, Rio stumbled back to his house. He burst through the door, made his way to his room, and locked his eyes on the mirror. What he saw there struck him with absolute horror.

Inscribed over his ocean-blue right eye, the words "Raijin 1" glowed in a luminous, electric blue.

Rio unleashed one final, agonizing shriek.

"AAAAAHHHH!"

(BANG!)

He collapsed heavily onto the floor, losing consciousness as the glowing marks faded from his body.

Down the hall, Takeo was sitting quietly in his room when a sudden, heavy thud echoed from upstairs.

(THUD!)

Sighing softly, he rose and walked up to Rio's room. He pushed the door open, only to find his son sprawled out on the floor. Panic seizing him, Takeo rushed forward and knelt beside the boy, frantically trying to wake him.

"Rio! Rio, my boy, are you okay? Please, answer me!"

Lifting him gently, Takeo placed Rio onto his bed. Noticing his son's burning temperature, he hurried to fetch cold water and a cloth, placing the damp cloth over Rio’s feverish forehead.

Deep within his unconscious mind, Rio was trapped in a nightmare. A colossal, shadowy silhouette loomed over him, erupting into a chilling, sinister laugh

(MWAHAHAHAHAHA!)

The shadow’s voice rasped with terrifying malice:

"I see you."

(COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!)

Rio began to cough violently, his eyes snapping open as he gasped heavily for air.

"Rio, are you alright?" Takeo asked anxiously.

Looking up at his father with trembling eyes, Rio managed to nod. "Yes... I'm okay."

He cautiously moved his limbs, realizing the excruciating pain had completely vanished. He looked around. "What... what happened to me?"

Helping his son sit up, Takeo explained, "I came into your room and found you passed out on the floor."

Takeo quietly left and returned with a warm meal. Rio ate in silence, his mind entirely consumed by the bizarre encounter. 'Who is Raijin?' he thought to himself. 'And what could he possibly want with me?'

Breaking the silence, Takeo spoke up, "Rio, would you like to accompany me to the market today? There are a few things I need to buy."

Rio quieted his swirling thoughts. "Sure, Father."

As Rio and his father descended the mountain paths, they once again neared the perimeter of The Cave of Disappearance.

The exact same unsettling sensation crept over Rio, but this time, it was overwhelmingly stronger. He could feel an explosive, volatile power pulsing deep within his core. Right then and there, he made a firm resolution. He would enter that cavern. Not now, under his father's watchful eye... but at the strike of midnight, alone. He would uncover the truth himself.

They continued their walk to the market. When they arrived, the square was as bustling and chaotic as ever. Vendors shouted over one another, children dashed through the crowds, and the sharp clinking of coins echoed from the stalls.

(CLINK! CHING! CLINK!)

When they reached the vegetable stall, the familiar vendor smiled at them. "How are you doing today, Rio?"

Rio, his mind still drifting back to the lightning javelin, answered softly, "I am doing well, Uncle."

"Are you ready for the military entrance exam?" the vendor continued enthusiastically. "My son is practically bursting with excitement!"

"Yes, absolutely," Rio replied, forcing a polite nod. "I wish him the best of luck."

The vendor turned his attention to Takeo, his smile fading into a grim expression. "To be honest, this whole military business has me deeply unsettled. Why did the seal have to break now? We had a peaceful hundred years."

Takeo sighed heavily, nodding in agreement. "Yes, you are right. I just don't know what kind of demons Rio might face out there. I am truly worried. Why did the seal weaken so suddenly? It is deeply disturbing."

As the older men continued their grim conversation, Rio remained completely lost in his thoughts. Once the shopping was done, they made their way back up the mountain.

The moment they stepped into the house, Rio headed straight for the study. Takeo was bewildered by his son’s sudden, abrupt behavior, but remembering how inherently curious Rio had always been, he simply shook his head and walked into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Inside the library, Rio frantically pulled books from the shelves, searching for any historical mention of the name 'Raijin'. But it was completely in vain. There was absolutely no record of such a being ever existing.

Sighing in frustration, Rio leaned his head back against the chair, deep in thought. Refusing to yield, he stood up and searched the shelves once more, but again, he found nothing.

"Rio, come along! Dinner is ready!" Takeo’s voice echoed from the dining room.

Rio joined his father at the table, quietly eating his food while keeping his agonizing secrets hidden.

Takeo looked across the table. "Rio, are you truly ready? The exam is only a week away."

Rio’s gaze turned resolute, masking everything he had endured. "Yes, Father. I am ready. Besides, I now have my own reasons for participating in this exam."

Takeo exhaled softly, deciding not to push his son any further. After finishing their meal, Takeo retired to his room, while Rio slipped out of the house as the clock neared five in the evening. He made his way to the mountain ridge and practiced yoga, meditating silently until the midnight moon hung high in the sky.

Stepping through the shadows, Rio finally stood before the gaping maw of The Cave of Disappearance. His heart hammered violently against his ribs.

(THUMP-THUMP! THUMP-THUMP!)

With every single step he took toward the darkness, the volatile power in his chest flared up, mirroring the exact sensation he felt when the javelin had pierced his heart. Stepping across the threshold, the cavern seemed to swallow him whole.

(FWOOOOOOSH!)

In an instant, he felt as though he had been transported to an entirely different realm.

He stood in a pitch-black abyss. Then, without a moment's warning, a brilliant blue flame ignited in the dead center of the darkness.

(FZZZZZZT! SHHHH)

The blue flame expanded rapidly, swirling and shaping itself until it materialized into a gargantuan azure dragon. Its eyes burned with intense, sapphire fire, and its entire massive body was composed of living flames. It was colossal—standing easily twenty meters tall and ten meters wide.

The dragon unleashed a roaring, earth-shaking greeting.

(ROOOOOAAARRR!!!)

"Welcome, Rio Takeo... Or should I say, the Heir to Raijin's Power."

Swallowing his terror, Rio demanded:

"Who are you, sir?! Who in the world is Raijin?! And why did you choose me out of everyone else?!"

The dragon erupted into a booming, thunderous laugh.

(HAHAHAHAHAHA!)

"Calm yourself, Rio," the beast spoke, its voice rattling Rio's bones. "I am the Guardian of the Seven Natural Elements. As for the rest of your questions, it is not my place to answer them.

Rio exhaled, forcing his composure back. "Fine. Then what do you want from me, sir?"

The dragon smiled grimly, its blue flames flickering. "I am here to help you unlock the varying levels of your energy."

"And why you?" Rio questioned.

"Because Raijin himself commanded it," the dragon replied.

In that fleeting moment, Rio deduced a crucial piece of the puzzle: Raijin held a status far superior to this colossal Guardian Dragon. But what kind of god-like rank did Raijin possess?

Interrupting his thoughts, the dragon sharply snapped its massive claws.

(SNAP!)

Instantly, five monolithic doors manifested out of thin air. Inscribed on each door were the words: Karoshi 1, Karoshi 2, Karoshi 3, Karoshi 4, and Karoshi 5.

The Guardian Dragon leaned down, its fiery eyes locking onto the young warrior.

"Each door contains a specific trial designed to push your capabilities to their absolute limits. And with each door you pass, the challenge will become progressively harsher. Now... step forward, Rio. This is where your true journey begins."