A bright ray of light shohrough the crack between the curtains, illuminating the empty bedroom. Quiet. Still. Dust particles floating mid-air. Eren watched them dance around the room, unblinking in his trance, eyes fixated on the spinning specks.

  Eren was getting used to awakening in his own bed, no touchy reapers hands, no poorly designed rooms, and no being dragged out of your slumber to go fight monsters. Just rest, a wonderful thing after years of none. Not sure what time it was; Eren picked up his phone (which Baelor repced) seeing several notifications pop up; mostly from his stats window.

  ---

  Name: Ere

  Level: 1

  Rank: Ex

  Css: Harbinger

  Current Jobs: N/A

  Current Guild: N/A

  Gates cleared: 0

  Abilities:

  - Apex instincts: LvEx

  - on proficy (Close bat): LvEx

  - Boendril: LvEx

  - Human physiology (Body ditioning): LvEx

  ---

  Eren also looked at his ring, dispying the exact same message instead in AR form. However, Eren gru his stats.

  "Of all the human imagination; why is this the exact same as something you would see in a fantasy manhwa or anime." He sighed aloud.

  "Only an unimaginative idiot would be so zy, they couldn't e up with something inal?"

  Eren put on his pants; throwing on a shirt and jacket, heading downstairs. In a huff, still disgruntled about the ck of creativity.

  "You're awake Eren, Good M." Mr. Heart greeted, livelier than he has beely.

  "M dad. Where's Emi?" He asked inquisitively.

  "Still asleep. Teenage girl's heir beauty sleep." His father joked.

  "Fair enough." Taking a seat at the table.

  "Any luck breaking through to your sister yesterday?" Mr. Heart inquired. Ere silent, a look of failure written across his expression.

  "Oh. Sorry Eren." He replied sadly, l his gaze, fog on his bowl of cereal. Silened heavy in the air, the two-remainied; lost in their own thoughts.

  "What are you doing today Eren?" His father asked after sometime.

  "Going out, there's someone I o visit." Rising from the chair, pushing it uhe table.

  "Rika?"

  "Yeah. Rika..." Eren's response was curt, voice g emotion.

  "You know that she is married?" Mr. Heart spoke softly.

  "I have no iion of interfering... She moved on and that's fine. I would too if I was her." Eren gnced out the living room window, watg the world pass by.

  "Tell her I said hi."

  "Sure…” In truth Eren was as nervous as he had ever been. Seeing a man that betrayed him and a woman who loved him. How much have they ged?

  After Eren bid farewell, He began his journey downtowurbation weighing him down with every step; dreadiing the person he left behind.

  'Perhaps I should see Akira first. Make me feel more at ease.' Thinking to himself, deg on a detour, searg for his previous guild master.

  ***

  First stop is Akira:

  Gng at Haruto's h the address of Akira's new guild, via his local train station. In his previous life, his neighbourhood station was small but ; the smell of fresh paint g to the ptform walls, floors scrubbed to a gleaming shine eaight. Tracked freshly polished and maintained. Everythi and tidy. But now, the tracks were rusted with age, no trace of polish to be seen. Station walls coated with a grey haze; a stale musty aroma seeped from its crevasses. Walls tagged with crimson ink in various designs; graffiti marring what was once a pristine building.

  The train ride was o empty, save for a couple of families and elderly folk. Smiles wide spread among the group, ughing, and joking; joyful. All things Eren once sidered normal, now only reserved for children, family, and friends, for others it was rare. Eren stared out the window bnkly into the world of light; the sun now fully risen, casg yellow rays of light, stretg out as far as his eye could see, warmth spreading throughout.

  At least Eren had something to be thankful for.

  A rge white tower loomed ahead, dwarfing everything surrounding it in both size and width; smooth gss exterior refleg the sunlight like a prism of rainbow, casting its lights on the ground below.

  'This is the pce. Kitsuwa banking group.' The name embzoned in golden characters and a matg tiger statue ad the entrance.

  The lobby was just as extravagant, polished granite floors shone brightly, tall elegant ns ed in gold rose high to the roof, stretg out like skyscrapers themselves. Grand fountains rain down water from hidden sprinklers. Various employees scurried around like ants; moving in chaos betweeions, sing ID's, carrying dots and packages; rushing to their destinations with frantic steps.

  "Good m, sir. Wele to the Kitsuwa Banking Group. Are you looking to open an at?" A young dy greeted Eren cheerfully from behind her desk, smiling warmly while bowing low.

  "No. I'm here to visit someone." Eren replied politely, handing her a slip of paper.

  "Ah, you would be looking for the gold tiger’s guild. 25th floor suit number 27." Her eyes darted over the dot, noting the visitor pass.

  "Here is yuests’ badge. The elevator is straight across from here, press the button with the symbol of the tigers, thank you and have a pleasant stay." She responded dutifully, a robotic er service tone permeating through every word.

  "Why is everyone w? Isn't it a Sunday?" Eren asked curiously.

  "Yes, it is sir. However, monthly reports a due soon and everyone is busy trying to finish it off. Please enjoy your stay." Giving a dismissive smile; bags under eyes more prevalent than before.

  Eren found his way to the elevator; followed in by a flurry of workers. The ride is slow and cramped, filled with destitute strangers and unfortable silehe stench is horrid, these sarymen & wome like they had not bathed in days. A bination of cigarettes, alcohol, and cheap cologhey rode in silence up to their destinations; doors chimed at every level, each employee departing hurriedly. One by one leaving only three standing at the top.

  ‘GOLDEN TIGERS’

  Eren is greeted by the loud signage as he exited. ‘A subsidiary of Kitsuwa Banking group’

  This se of the building was vastly different. siderably smaller than the lobby; yet as magnifit. Ane tiger greeted him at the entrance, made entirely from gold; its eyes glistened emeralds, and its mouth opened wide, bearing ferocious fangs of onyx.

  "Is that really necessary?" Eren grumbled aloud.

  Everywhere he walked people moved about, each wearing expensive suits, briefcases, and sungsses. On the surface they all look calm, posed but Eren sehat underh it all, they are all imbued with ay, desperation, and hunger; a need for something unknown, or perhaps... greed.

  "Hello, sir. What may I help you with?" A polite man at the front desk weled Eren in. The secretary's face is perfectly chiselled, sharp eyes like bck diamonds; bck hair ly bed to the side. Face sculpted with immacute precision.

  "I'm here to see Akira." The reception gave a look of mild amusement, giving a curt nod.

  "Oh, that old dog... I'll lead you to him."

  He walked Eren down a hallway, stopping outside the lun. There Akira sat all by his lonesome, drinking a hot cup of coffee aing a bowl of instant ramen. He had kept his hulking build through the years, his short office shirt showed faded scars of glory days past, rippling muscles covered his arms and legs. Though now they seemed tired and fatigued, no longer radiatiermined vigour.

  Eren hadn't thought about what would happen if he ever saw Akira again. The man who betrayed him, sent Eren to the world of death. A in the final moments tried to dht.

  'Why?' It bothered him, why try to protect him? Why the double betrayal? Should he punish him? Five him... Kill him?

  "We're just in time for the show." The assistant broke Eren out of his trance.

  "Akira! Where are you!" A thunderous voice bellowed from behind the wall. The two peered around the er.

  A man half of Akira's age stood menagly over his table. Slim and well-groomed in appearance; pale plexion, slick hair bed into pce.

  "What the fuck is this! Typos, formatting errors, double sided sheets! What kind of report is this!?" The youth spped a pile of paper hard into Akira's face.

  Akira kept silent taking the verbal shing head on. His assistant chuckled quietly beside Eren.

  "You’ll o start again... this... this is fug trash!" The younger one spat venomously.

  "Yes... I uand sir. I will redo it immediately." The old warrior replied calmly, l his head in shame.

  "Fu hell, get it done by tonight!" the d barked in respourning to walk away; fists tightly ched in rage.

  For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked. Eren searched for something—reition, guilt, anything—but Akira’s gaze remaiy. No spark, no flicker, just the tired, hollow stare of a shackled man. A cold feeling spread through Eren's chest; a deep seeded disgust blooming from within. Anger. But not at Akira.

  The assistaured for Eren to enter. However, Eren vanished. N, no goodbyes, just gone.

  Ba the elevator, Eren was once more alone. 'Why did I go see him?' The elevator arrived otom floor. Stepping out. The sign of a broken man, whatever Eren thought about doing; it would pale in parison to what Akira's current situation must be. His own special kind of hell.

  ***

  Last stop is Rika, Eren's Ex-girlfriend:

  'She never cared frand romantic gestures, always said I worried too much about those things, rather brighten her day, smile.' Eren reminisced. Passing through several neighbourhoods, taking in his surroundings.

  Everything was different. Old haunts repced with modern structures. People too. All absorbed into their little bubble, tapping away on their phones, ign the outside world. This isotion tio fester within himself, a leech growing fat off despair.

  'Unit 24.' The note read.

  The apartment's door was a rich shade of blue; fading paint on a cracked surface, blending seamlessly with the aged brickwork behind. Paint chipped at the edges, rough to the touch.

  Eren raised his hand.

  *Knock* *Knock*

  Footsteps echoed behind the door. Heavy steps drawing closer.

  Suddenly, the door opened wide. Stood in front of Eren was a young dy, short bck hair with violet streaks; hazel green eyes sparkling in the light; skin lightly bronzed; bony build with some curve to the hips and bust. Her clothes fitted tight, hugging her feminiures nicely. She looked the same as st they meet, however, her face seemed gaunt

  A brief pause, her knowing what to say. "Hi, Rika..." Eren started softly, sheepishly gng around, trying to avoid eye tact.

  "It's me, Eren..." The woman looked taken aback; slowly, realization dawned on her, shock washing over.

  "Eren?" She whispered in disbelief.

  Her eye’s role back colpsing to the floor.

  "Shit, not again." Eren caught her; carefully pulling her close to him. Eren scooped her up into his arms, entering the house closing the door quietly. Laying her on the sofa inside, resting her head dowly, fanning her with his hand. Eren took a moment to appreciate his surroundings.

  The room was modest. Wood panelled fl, pstered walls a beige colour, well-kept and ed; a brown sofa set with cushions to match; Everythio a high standard of liness. However, a foul odour permeated through the apartment. Ohat Eren couldn't quite pce. Like a siess ied the air, poisoning the very roots of the foundation.

  Suddenly a soft murmur drew his attention. "You... came back..." Rika groaned weakly. She forced herself upright, ing her slim arms around his shoulders; holding tight to her beloved. Tears ran from her eyes, falling onto Eren's shoulder.

  "I mourned you... I cried every night; hoping... wishing it was all a dream." Her voice breaking with emotion.

  Eren hugged back awkwardly patting her softly, trying to fort her in the moment. "And now you're just... back."

  After a few minutes Rika released her grip, wiping her eyes dry.

  "I know, the world has gone and gotten itself in a big hurry." Rika let out a weak ugh; puffy cheeks stained red; eyes slightly swollen.

  "Oh, there is someone I would like you to meet..." She rose from the sofa, disappearing into a hall; returning moments ter. In her hands, a small girl; pale white skin, thin bck hair; bright sky-blue eyes shining from beh.

  "Eren. I would like you to meet my daughter... Makoto."