The light was blinding—so intense that it seemed to burn away everything around us. My mind screamed for clarity, but I couldn't focus, couldn't fight the disorienting force of the energy pouring from the masked figure's hand.
The world warped and twisted, and for a brief moment, I felt as if I was falling into nothingness. My vision blurred, and all sounds became muffled, as if I was submerged underwater. The last thing I saw before everything faded away was Touka's silhouette, her face twisted in surprise as the energy engulfed us.
Then, silence.
When I awoke, I was lying on cold, hard ground. My head throbbed, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog from my mind. Slowly, the world began to sharpen into focus.
I was no longer in the abandoned facility. In fact, I wasn't even sure where I was. The landscape around me was unfamiliar—vast, barren, and eerily silent. The sky above was a dull, sickly gray, casting everything in a strange, muted light.
I pushed myself up, my body feeling heavy, as though every movement required an immense effort. My senses were still scrambled, but I could make out the faint hum of something in the distance. It wasn't the familiar sounds of the city—it was something… off.
I staggered to my feet, trying to steady myself. Where were the others? Where was Kaneki? Touka? Rize?
"Hello?" I called out, my voice echoing in the emptiness. "Anyone?"
There was no answer, just the oppressive silence. I took a tentative step forward, my legs shaky as I moved. My kagune throbbed with energy, but it felt… different. Weaker, somehow. The power I had relied on was still there, but it felt distant, out of reach.
Then I heard it—the faintest rustle behind me. I spun around, my senses sharp, my body tensed for a fight. But there was no enemy. Instead, standing in the distance, just beyond the horizon, was a figure.
A woman.
Her silhouette was barely visible against the gray sky, but I could see enough to know she was watching me. She was tall, with flowing dark hair, her movements graceful, yet haunting. The moment I locked eyes with her, I felt a chill run down my spine.
"You," I said, my voice almost a whisper. "Who are you?"
The woman tilted her head slightly, as if considering my question. Then, in a voice that sent a shiver through my bones, she spoke.
"You're finally awake."
Her words weren't a question, but a statement of fact. I felt a flicker of recognition deep within me, though I couldn't place where it came from. This woman… she seemed familiar, yet I couldn't remember ever meeting her.
"Where am I?" I demanded, my frustration growing. "What's going on? Where's everyone else?"
The woman stepped forward, her presence both calming and unnerving at the same time. "You are in a place between places," she said softly. "A world beyond the veil of reality. This is where the true power lies—the power that is both part of you and apart from you."
I took a step back, my mind racing. "This doesn't make any sense. What are you talking about?"
The woman's smile was gentle but enigmatic. "The truth is often hard to accept, but the moment you crossed into this world, you began to change. You began to understand your place in it."
"Change?" I repeated, my voice harsh. "I don't want any part of this. I just want to go back and stop Miyu!"
She shook her head, her expression unreadable. "Miyu is only a small part of the larger game. The forces you are facing, the ones you call enemies—they are merely pieces in a much grander design. You are not just a player in this game. You are the key to its outcome."
I stared at her, my heart pounding. "What do you mean? Why am I the key?"
The woman's eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. "You hold the power to reshape everything. But to do that, you must first understand the choices you've made and the path you've set yourself on."
My mind raced, trying to make sense of her cryptic words. "What choices? What path?"
She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The path of a hybrid. The path of a god. A being who can control both ghoul and human, darkness and light. But to control it, you must first embrace both sides of yourself—your humanity and your ghoul instincts."
The weight of her words settled over me like a suffocating cloud. A god? Could I really have that kind of power? And was I truly ready for it?
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, my voice trembling. "What do you want from me?"
The woman's smile softened. "I am not here to make demands. I am here to help you understand the truth. But that truth comes with a price."
I frowned, my heart pounding. "A price?"
She nodded, her gaze never leaving mine. "Every choice has its consequences. The path you choose will determine not only your fate, but the fate of everyone you care about."
Before I could respond, the world around us began to shift. The ground trembled beneath my feet, and the sky above darkened even further. The woman's form blurred, her presence fading like mist in the wind.
"Remember," she said, her voice echoing in the emptiness. "The true battle is not against Miyu or anyone else. It's against yourself."
And then she was gone.