Divine Protocol: Rise Beyond Mortals

Hiroshi sat lost in thought in the quiet Asakusa apartment, his mind consumed with the question of how to reach Kami no Sekai. Then Aoi's words echoed in his memory: "With the power of your inner soul." Inspired, he clapped his hands and sat cross-legged like a seasoned yogi, closing his eyes to calm his mind. He ignored the world around him—the soft hum of Tokyo beyond the walls, the faint scent of tatami—focusing solely on his inner self. One hour passed, then two, then three, but no change came. Undeterred, Hiroshi persisted, searching for the power within. Six hours slipped by, his body still as stone, until a sudden jolt struck his mind.

In an instant, he found himself in a swirling vortex of white light, its edges shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Fear gripped him at first, but his gaze landed on nine radiant pearls orbiting the vortex, each a different color: red, green, blue, yellow, pink, orange, black, purple, and brown. Confused, he couldn't decipher their meaning, but he sensed he was witnessing his inner soul's power. "Take me to Kami no Sekai!" he declared, his voice firm. Nothing happened. He repeated the command, but the vortex remained silent. Panic crept in, his heart racing, when a voice broke through the stillness. "What's this, buddy? You don't just demand a trip like that!"

Hiroshi tensed, scanning the vortex, but saw no one. The voice chuckled again. "Don't look out there, my friend! I'm locked in your chest, buddy!"

Startled, Hiroshi opened his eyes, returning to the Asakusa room. "Who are you? Why won't you show yourself?!" he demanded. The voice laughed. "Coming, bro! No need to get cranky!" A burst of white light erupted from Hiroshi's chest, swirling around him like a playful spirit. Astonished, Hiroshi connected the dots. "Are you the Divine Fire?"

The light laughed, its sound echoing through the room, grating on Hiroshi's nerves. "Nah, mate! I'm not that big a deal. I was just sealed in your chest, and today you broke that seal with your inner soul's vortex."

Hiroshi gaped, stunned. "A seal in my chest? What does that mean?" The light softened, its tone explanatory. "Someone used a seal to trap me, buddy. I don't know who—my memory's a blank. But I chose to be sealed, though why… that's a mystery. To find out, you'll need to get stronger. The more power you gain, the stronger I'll become, and my memories will return bit by bit. Got it?"

Hiroshi fell into deep thought, processing this revelation. Curiosity piqued, he asked, "What's your name?" The light chuckled, its glow dimming, and from it emerged a small white snake, no longer than a finger, hovering in the air. A crown-like mark adorned its forehead, and its deep blue eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom.

Hiroshi recognized those eyes. "Wait… those blue eyes I saw in the sky that day—they were yours! I can't believe someone sealed a bug with blue eyes in my chest!" Disappointment washed over him, replacing his initial awe. He'd expected a grand power, not this tiny serpent. His face fell, his hopes dashed.

The snake, Ryūjin Shirakawa, read Hiroshi's expression and hissed in anger. "What's with that sour face?! Think I'm weak, huh? Know who I am? Ryūjin Shirakawa, King of the Snake Realm! And you're grimacing at me?!"

Hiroshi blinked, shocked. "You can talk? Then who was chatting with me earlier—my ghost?!" Ryūjin growled, offended. Hiroshi, still disheartened, muttered, "I could sell you and get rich, but I'd still be stuck here, not in Kami no Sekai."

Ryūjin's mind reeled at the insult. "Sell me?! Idiot! I can take you to Kami no Sekai, and you want to sell me?!" Hiroshi's eyes lit up. "Really? You can take me to Kami no Sekai, Chandu?"

"Chandu?! Who's Chandu?!" Ryūjin snapped, looking around in confusion. Hiroshi grinned. "You are! Your name's too long, so I shortened it. Like it?" Ryūjin's temper flared. "My name's Ryūjin Shirakawa, not Chandu! Don't mess with it, or I won't take you anywhere!"

Hiroshi backtracked quickly. "Okay, okay, Ryūjin Shirakawa! Please take me to Kami no Sekai!" Flattered by the respect, Ryūjin nodded. "Fine, I'll make the path. Get ready—when it's open, jump in without delay." He prepared to act, but Hiroshi stopped him, grabbing a pen and paper.

He scribbled a note: My dear sisters, I'm leaving for some work. Don't look for me—I'll return soon. Take care, and Deepika, don't get mad, or you'll get pimples. Khushbu, don't trust anyone blindly. I love you, your brother Hiroshi. Placing it on the table, he felt a pang of sorrow leaving Hana and Kaede. I'll bring Aoi back, then we'll all live happily together, he vowed silently.

Ryūjin, who'd watched Hiroshi's family from within his chest since childhood, understood his pain. Though he'd never spoken to Hana or Kaede, he'd seen their love for Hiroshi and felt a strange kinship with them.

Hiroshi signaled Ryūjin, who focused intently. Blue light streamed from his eyes, defying gravity to tear open a rift in the air. When it stabilized, Ryūjin nodded. Hiroshi glanced back at the apartment, steeling his resolve, then stepped into the rift. Ryūjin slipped back into his chest, and as Hiroshi entered, a scream escaped him—he plummeted downward, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colors.

Fear gripped him, and he shut his eyes, the fall feeling like a massive stone dropping into a bottomless well. After what seemed an eternity, he dared to open his eyes, spotting a rift below. Before he could react, he burst through, crashing onto solid ground. "Ouch! That hurt!" he yelped, wincing. Bruises marred his body, and his clothes were caked with dirt.

Groaning, Hiroshi stood and surveyed his surroundings—a vast, dense forest stretching endlessly. "Am I in Kami no Sekai?" he muttered. Ryūjin emerged from his chest, nodding. "Yep, buddy, we've arrived."

Relief washed over Hiroshi. "So, where are we in Kami no Sekai?" Ryūjin shrugged. "How should I know? My memory's shot. We'll have to figure it out ourselves."

Understanding Ryūjin's limitation, Hiroshi sighed. "Fair enough. Let's rest first—my head's still spinning." Ryūjin agreed, and they soon spotted a tranquil pond, Shinrin Lake, beneath a towering Yoshino Cedar. They settled under the tree, Hiroshi gazing at the water, lost in thought. Suddenly, he realized he'd never asked Aoi where she lived in Kami no Sekai. Frustration boiled within him.

A rustling sound snapped him alert. Standing, he scanned the forest, spotting a figure fleeing toward him. As it neared, he saw it—a massive deer, far larger than any on Earth, with two heads. Stunned, Hiroshi planned to flee, but the deer collapsed, crying out in pain. Abandoning his escape, he approached cautiously. The Kami Shika's dual faces locked onto him, its cries pleading for help.

Hiroshi noticed an arrow lodged in its leg—not a common arrow, but one glowing with an eerie aura. The deer's eyes begged for mercy, and Hiroshi's heart stirred with compassion.

Will Hiroshi help the Kami Shika? Whose arrow struck it—will they turn against him for aiding it? Without a clear destination, how will Hiroshi find Aoi? Will demons find him before he finds her?