Scene shifts to the next day, where the final ceremony was about to take place. The grand hall was larger than any Kazuki had seen so far in this world — towering marble pillars reached into the heavens, engraved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly with blue and golden light. A massive circular altar stood in the center of the room, surrounded by rows of nobles, generals, scholars, and other powerful figures of the kingdom. The air was thick with a mixture of anticipation and fear.
As Kazuki and Emperor Shang entered the hall, a heavy silence fell over the gathered crowd. Every pair of eyes turned toward them. Whispers rippled through the room like an invisible tide.
"That's the child who awakened both Holy and Chaos Force…"
"A prodigy… or a disaster waiting to happen."
Kazuki heard their voices in his mind, even though none spoke directly to him. He clenched his tiny fists but kept his expression calm, acting like the 5-year-old child he appeared to be.
Kazuki already knew about this ceremony, and as he stepped closer to the altar, he thought to himself:
"Spiritual Force is the energy and path granted by gods or demons. Spiritual Capacity is the amount of Spiritual Force a soul can hold… but neither mean anything without spirits. Spirits are the ones who harness and shape Spiritual Force into real power."
"There are two types of spirits in this world. First — Holy Spirits. Beings born of the light, consuming Holy Force and offering their abilities to those they deem worthy. They're said to be kind to mortals, never consuming more force than their user allows."
"Then there are Chaos Spirits. Most call them evil… and maybe they are. They consume Chaos Force, and often, corrupt their hosts. Though I've overheard that some rare ones might be friendly — but it's almost impossible to find one like that. No one alive can tell a story of it."
"Every living being forms a bond with one of these two spirit types. They live within our souls, and once connected, we can call on them in battle or times of need. Communication happens deep within our soulscape."
He glanced up at the massive ceremonial altar where he'd soon stand. The golden carvings of ancient kings and mythical spirits seemed to watch him.
"We're all born with neutral Spiritual Force — a simple soul force. But during these ceremonies, the gods or demons change a soul if they deem a person worthy of their blessing or curse."
He swallowed, his throat dry.
"And now… it's my turn."
Kazuki's mind raced as he pieced together something else.
"After learning all this, I have a terrifying thought… What if that entity, the one who summoned me into this world… the one appearing in my dreams… and stopping time… what if he's a spirit too? A Chaos Spirit? Or something even worse. I can't believe he's good after all the twisted things he's done."
The large hall doors groaned shut behind him, cutting off the outside world.
"Still… if a Holy Spirit chooses me today because of my Holy Force, maybe… just maybe… I'll have a weapon strong enough to fight back when the time comes."
Kazuki took a deep breath as Emperor Shang placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Be strong, my son," Shang said softly, his voice low enough that only Kazuki could hear. "No matter what spirit chooses you today — never forget who you are."
Kazuki gave a small nod, though his heart pounded like a drum in his chest.
The officiating priest called out, "Let the Spirit Choosing Ceremony… begin!"
And with that, Kazuki stepped forward onto the altar, his fate about to be sealed.