The chirping of birds filled the early morning air. The city of Azura was illuminated by the golden glow of the rising sun, reflecting off the silver rooftops of the Ackerman House.

  "Awww..." A tired yawn drifted through the open window into Code's room.

  He sat on the bed with his head spinning and eyes blank and unfocused. The sun's rays streaked through the glass and fell across his lap.

  He staggered to his feet with wobbly footsteps, reached the door, lunged for the knob, stepped out, and closed it behind him.

  "Man, I feel so tired," he whispered as he turned right and headed toward the parlor, where a loud noise was coming from.

  He walked past a door. As he reached the next one, a sudden growl made him freeze.

  "Eeek!" A shiver ran down his spine. He turned and sighted the source of the growl.

  Inside the room, Ken lay in a dramatic sprawl: legs still on the bed while his upper body had slid to the floor. The monstrous growls were his snores.

  "Damn," Code muttered, grabbing the door handle. 'He probably got drunk last night and forgot to close his door,' he thought as he slammed the door shut.

  "Arrgh," Code yawned again as he entered the parlor. His gaze slid around before locking on Hina, who sat on the sofa opposite the TV, playing her usual game.

  "Lower the volume for heaven's sake," Code murmured and shook his head.

  "YOU LOSE!" the game system declared.

  "Fucking hell!!" Hina rasped, jaws clenching as she slammed her hands together in fury.

  "Jeez," Code sighed and turned to leave, eyes still unfocused.

  He made his way to the kitchen, grabbed a glass cup, and placed it under the tap at the sink.

  Water poured out, splashing into the cup. He raised it to his lips and downed the contents in three gulps.

  Then suddenly, mid-gulp, voices hit him.

  "Oi, you can't finish it all by yourself!"

  "It's first come first served."

  "Huh?" Code paused, lowered the cup, and set it on the table with a soft clack.

  He looked forward: a long cupboard that reached the ceiling stood at the end of the room. Its door was open, blocking whoever was behind it.

  "That voice?" he whispered, eyes narrowing as he gradually tiptoed toward the voices.

  "Oi, careful! We're gonna get caught!"

  "Yeah, I'm trying."

  The voices grew more familiar as Code neared the cupboard.

  "Heyy!! That's not fair! That was mine!"

  "Hehehe. You weren't smart enough!"

  At this point, Code was already sure whose voices he was hearing.

  "What're you guys..." Code shouted as he swung the door open.

  "Ahh!!" Finn and Ryūma screamed and jumped in alarm.

  "...doing?" Code finished as he scanned their faces.

  The two's cheeks were smattered with white crumbs and particles.

  Code's eyes rolled downward to Finn's hand, where he sighted a blue carton labeled "SUGAR CUBES." Then he raised his palm and slapped it to his forehead.

  "The hell?" he muttered. "Man, can't believe you guys are stealing sugar. Are you kids?" He asked, raising a skeptical brow.

  "Heh. Don't act like you don't want some too," Ryūma pouted, voice muffled.

  "Ahem!" Code cleared his throat loudly. His eyes kept shifting between the sugar pack and the window beside him, where sunlight shone onto his face. His cheeks flushed.

  "Anyway, just don't tell anyone," Ryūma said as he and Finn went back to devouring the sugar.

  "Oi!!" Code suddenly called. They halted.

  "What now?" Ryūma asked as he rolled his eyes.

  "Y-you guys can't eat everything without me," Code stammered, gaze flicking about as he stepped closer.

  "Hah!" he shouted and plunged his hand into the pack, scooping out a handful of cubes and tossing them into his mouth.

  "Hey!!" Ryūma exclaimed.

  "Hmm hmm," Code hummed, chewed, and swallowed. "I want more," he said.

  "No, you don't!!" Ryūma screamed as he launched into a desperate scramble, grabbing as many cubes as his hands could carry.

  "Oi!!" Finn shouted and dug in.

  "Leave some for me!" Code cried as he joined the race.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  A FEW MINUTES LATER...

  "Arr..." Ryūma sighed, tossing the empty pack to the cabinet.

  "That wasn't even enough," Code murmured and licked his fingers.

  "That's because you guys poured most of it on the ground!" Finn accused, saliva splattering from his mouth.

  "Yeah yeah," Ryūma said flatly, waving dismissively.

  "Anyway," his expression brightened, "I heard there's more in the next cupboard," he said, pointing to the other end of the kitchen.

  "Hehehe!" Code chuckled darkly. Ryūma grinned, and Finn cracked his knuckles in anticipation.

  The three reached the cupboard, their shadows engulfing it. Ryūma lunged for the door and slowly slid it open.

  A groan answered back. "Hurr!"

  "What the—?" Finn exclaimed. He was staring at Van, who was slouched inside the cupboard, eyes baggy and face smattered with sugar crumbs. All the packs of sugar in the cupboard were empty.

  "Ohmigosh!" Ryūma exclaimed and jerked backward.

  "Man, I thought I was gonna die," Van groaned as he sat up.

  "Jeez, man. You sure you're not already dead yet?" Code chuckled.

  "Tch!" Van clicked his tongue as he recounted everything that had happened.

  After yesterday’s dinner, when everyone had retired to bed, Hina stayed up in the parlour, playing games on the TV through the console.

  Van woke in the middle of the night, groggy and thirsty. He tiptoed out of his room half-asleep, rubbing his eyes.

  As he shuffled into the parlour, Hina was still deep in her game. But in his drowsy state, Van didn’t notice her. He assumed someone had simply forgotten to switch off the TV.

  He walked straight to the set, reached down, and yanked the plug from the socket, causing the screen to go black.

  Van yawned deeply, stretched his arms overhead, and turned toward the kitchen.

  That was when he felt it; a sharp, unmistakable wave of murderous intent.

  His neck turned slowly and mechanically. In the darkness, two glowing eyes stared back at him.

  “You bastard!!” Hina growled, cracking her knuckles as she rose to her feet.

  Van’s eyes snapped wide open. “Wait, it was a mistake!” he tried to explain but Hina didn’t listen. She drove a fist straight into his stomach, doubling him over. Before he could recover, she grabbed his collar, hauled him across the room, and shoved him head-first into the cupboard. Then she dusted her hands, snorted, and walked out.

  “Arrgh. I had to survive on sugar cubes,” Van sighed grimly, rubbing his stomach.

  “Damn. That must’ve been a lot,” Code said, wincing in sympathy. “But I don’t see how finishing all the sugar was necessary,” he added.

  “For real, man, we had plans for that stuff,” Ryūma grumbled.

  “You guys are supposed to pity me, y’know,” Van rasped. He stood up and shuffled out of the room.

  “Jeez, we’d better leave before Hina comes,” Finn whispered, voice shaky.

  But before they could scatter, a soft splish-splash drifted into the room.

  “What is—” Van started, spinning around, as he swallowed the rest of his words and froze.

  Hina stood at the sink, calmly pouring water into her cup. Her eyes weren’t on the glass, they were locked on the four guilty faces staring back at her.

  ‘We’re dead!’ Sweat slid down Code’s face.

  ‘This is the end,’ Ryūma thought.

  “’Twas him!” Finn blurted first, jabbing an accusing finger at Code.

  “What the hell, bro?!” Code exclaimed.

  Hina’s glare shifted to him.

  “You gotta believe me, it was him,” Code said quickly, pointing at Ryūma.

  “Heh?!” Ryūma blurted, eyes wide. He immediately pointed at Van.

  Hina blinked once, slowly. Her icy gaze settled on Van and didn’t move.

  'Why you—!' Van rasped internally. He gulped and pointed his finger away, but luckily—

  "Arrgh, what a stupid way to wake up."

  —it landed on Ken.

  "Huh?" Ken froze as his eyes followed the chain of pointing until it reached him.

  "What now?" he sighed.

  AFTERNOON.

  "The Civic Arcana have been going around breaking records if you ask me," the TV blared.

  Before the television sat Code and Ken on the sofa, eyes lazily fixed on the screen.

  "Arrgh," Code yawned as he fanned himself. "Gosh! How's everywhere so dry?" he murmured. He rolled his head toward Ken.

  Ken was fast asleep.

  "What a drag," Code sighed and rose to his feet, then walked away. "Might as well get some fresh air."

  "Killing over one hundred mid-class demons in just one night is just... what the fuck!" the man on TV said, displaying his shock with wild arm gestures.

  "Language, sir!" the program anchor cautioned.

  "Code!" Ryūma called as Code stepped out onto the veranda.

  "Huh?" Code whirled toward him.

  Ryūma smirked. "Wanna duel?" he asked.

  ...

  Underground Orbis—Circular Hall.

  "Suuu..." Code exhaled calmly, eyes narrowed.

  He stood in a wide dark hall. The walls and floor were made of shiny marble, and the room had no windows.

  Before Code stood Ryūma, trails of flame emanating from his hands, flaring against his trousers and reflecting off the marble floors.

  A long silence stretched between them until Ryūma slammed his foot into the ground as flames surged from his arms.

  "Muscle Enhancement..." Code whispered as his pupils hardened and veins bulged along his arms.

  The two combatants zapped forward, hurtling toward each other with immense momentum.

  They collided. The impact generated a shockwave that tore through the floor and shook the house to its foundation.

  "What's that?" Finn exclaimed, eyes widening.

  "Probably someone training," Van replied.

  The two sat on a bench outside the house as the wind tugged at their hair. Van's arms were spread across the back of the bench.

  "Finn. Do you know why I took you into this guild?" Van asked.

  Finn's eyeballs rolled around. "I-I don't know. All you told me was that I was special," he stammered.

  Fire swarmed throughout the hall, incinerating the air.

  "Crimson Burst!!" Ryūma yelled and propelled forward. Code stood in place, right arm drawn back, left foot forward.

  Ryūma reached Code in a flash of sparks. He exhaled and brought his blazing fist downward.

  "Acceleration!" Code muttered. His kneecap twisted, femur rotating as he spun in a rapid motion and appeared beside Ryūma.

  "Eeh, that was close," Ryūma bit his lip.

  "Hehe. Too fast, huh?" Code laughed. "Pulverize!!" he shouted as he twisted his waist and hurtled his right fist toward Ryūma's cheek.

  "That's right," Van nodded. "I chose you because you're special. The ability of four-dimensional perception—referred to as the eyes of God—has only been recorded once in history: in Leonis Gravant, the Great Sorcerer-General."

  "B-B-But..." Finn cut in. "You also have those eyes," he said.

  "Well, yeah. What can I say?" Van shrugged proudly. Then his expression turned serious. He brought his hands down and rested his chin on them.

  "Besides me, you're the only other person in this world who possesses those eyes," he said in a low tone. "So, Finn..." Van turned to him.

  Finn swallowed.

  "You're the eyes of this guild." Van flashed a thumbs-up and smiled.

  "Arrgh..." A burst of hot steam gushed from the corner of Ryūma's lips. His crimson hair glowed deeper, pupils reddening.

  "No, you don't!" he shouted and launched a blazing uppercut toward Code's fist.

  The two attacks collided and instantly neutralized each other. But the reaction was immense.

  A mix of air thrust and heat wave erupted and spread outward in every direction, smashing the walls inward.

  "Whew," Code's heart raced as he staggered backward. "I almost had you there," he sighed.

  "Phew," Ryūma gasped. He stared at his palm and clenched it. 'Looks like I'm not behind,' he reassured himself.

  Suddenly... SWAM!

  The entrance flung open as Hina stepped in.

  "Heh?" Code and Ryūma spun toward her.

  "What?" Hina purred as she walked toward them. In her right hand was her katana.

  "You guys didn't invite me to the fun?" she asked, expression souring.

  "Um... ah..." Ryūma mumbled, but the right words weren't coming.

  "Hm?" Hina looked at Code.

  "Gah!" Code stumbled backward. 'Who'd wanna duel against you?' he thought.

  "Okay, let's do it like this," Hina declared. Her eyes turned dark.

  "I'll take the two of you on!"

  "No, thanks!" Ryūma fled out of the room.

  "Ah?" Code gasped, realizing he was the only one left.

  Hina's lips curled as she drew her sword. The metallic sound sent shivers through Code's body. "Thanks for the meal," she beamed.

  'D-did she just say thanks for the meal?!' Code's legs vibrated.

  "It's over." He admitted grimly.