001 Alpha Prime

“Why’d you transform?” Lena asked.

“To blend in. It’s part of my professional identity,” Death replied, his tone casual as though this was something everyone did. He reached out, and the two foster parent souls appeared, swirling together into a single, glowing form. Then, to Lena’s shock, Death did something that seemed impossible—he reached into himself, his chest shimmering as though reality itself wavered, and pulled out a red orb.

“This,” Death said, holding the glowing sphere aloft, “is a soul I absorbed. When someone’s irredeemable—violent, dangerous, corrupt—I take their soul and make it part of me. That’s how I gain power, how I transform. Watch closely, kiddo. You’ll do this too, starting with your foster parents.”

He pressed the orb in his hand, consolidating it into a smaller, denser form before pushing it into his chest. His body rippled for a moment, his aura glowing faintly brighter. “Simple and easy,” he said, brushing his hands off as if it were no big deal. “For you, though, it’s different. Listening to souls crying out might bring some peace. Your foster parents might even give you advice. That’s the bonus.”

Lena’s eyes widened. “You want me to... take in my foster parents’ souls?”

“They’re willing, and it’ll help you grow stronger. Trust me. You’re not taking away who they were. You’re carrying them with you.”

Uneasy but willing to try, Lena nodded. She stepped forward, reaching out to the combined soul of her foster parents. At first, when she tried to absorb it, the soul bounced off her like a rubber ball. She furrowed her brow, focusing harder. Death stood to the side, arms crossed, watching with quiet patience.

“Feel it, don’t force it,” Death instructed. “They’re part of you, Lena. Let them in.”

This time, when Lena extended her hand, the soul flowed into her. For a brief second, the magenta world shattered, leaving her floating in a void. The air around her filled with light and the faint sounds of voices, familiar and comforting. The diamond shapes that adorned Death’s form appeared around her too, but they glowed a soft white-yellow, contrasting with his fiery red. Her pink hair shimmered, fading into a more natural blonde hue as a warmth filled her chest.

Lena blinked as the magenta world reformed around her, and she felt... different. Stronger. Her foster parents’ voices still echoed faintly in her mind, whispering words of love and guidance. She touched her chest, where the warmth lingered, and looked to Death, who was smirking faintly.

“You’ve got potential, kid,” Death said. “But keep in mind—this is just the beginning. You’ll need a lot of souls to sustain that kind of power, or—” He paused, his smirk growing slightly wider. “—one really strong soul.”

Lena gave him a skeptical look. “Are you saying I’m going to have to... what? Absorb some kind of super-soul?”

“Maybe,” Death said with a shrug. “Or maybe you’ll surprise me and find another way. You’re already doing better than most would on their first try.”

Lena looked at her hands, flexing her fingers as if testing her newfound strength. “This feels... weird. But also... right. Like they’re still with me.”

“They are,” Death said, his tone softening for the first time. “And they always will be. That’s the real power of what we do. It’s not about the transformations or the strength. It’s about carrying the ones who matter.”

Lena nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. For the first time since the tragedy, she felt like she wasn’t alone. And as the two of them prepared to face whatever the Soul Society had in store, she felt a growing determination to prove she was more than just Death’s apprentice.

Lena nodded, following closely behind. Just as they passed a group of children, one of them misjudged a kick, sending a ball flying directly into the side of a guard’s helmet. The loud clang echoed through the street, and the guard stopped abruptly, his face twisting with anger.

“Who threw that?!” the guard barked, his voice like gravel. The children froze, fear written all over their faces. The youngest, a boy no older than eight, shakily raised his hand.

“I-I didn’t mean to,” the boy stammered.

“Didn’t mean to?!” The guard stormed over, towering over the child. “You think this is a game?! Do you know what happens to people who assault guards?!”

The boy’s lip quivered as the guard reached for him. Before Death could stop her, Lena stepped forward.

“That’s enough,” she said firmly.

The guard turned his glare to her. “Stay out of this, outsider.”

Lena clenched her fists. “He’s just a kid. You don’t need to scare him like that.”

The guard’s sneer deepened. “Oh? And what’s a brat like you going to do about it?”

In a flash, Lena darted forward, twisting her body into a whirlwind kick aimed straight for the guard’s head. The guard, quicker than he looked, raised his spear and blocked her attack with a loud clang.

“Bold,” the guard snarled, shoving her back. “But foolish.” He lunged, his spear aimed directly at her. Lena braced herself, but before the attack could land, Death was suddenly there.

Death’s foot connected with the guard’s face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Before the second guard could react, Death spun and drove a devastating punch into his liver. The man crumpled with a groan, his spear slipping from his grasp as he fell.

The street fell silent, save for the faint clang of the guards’ weapons hitting the ground. Death stood over them, his glasses reflecting the light. He straightened his coat, turning to Lena, his voice calm but firm.

“What part of ‘lay low’ didn’t you understand?” he asked.

Lena crossed her arms, defiant. “He was going to hurt the kid.”

Death sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I get it, but this isn’t the time to be a hero. These guards aren’t like the people in your world. They don’t just yell—they kill.”

The boy and the other children stared in awe, but Death waved them off. “Go home, all of you. Don’t get caught up in this.”

The children scattered, leaving Death and Lena alone in the street with the unconscious guards. Death glanced at the two fallen figures, then back at Lena.

“Next time,” he said, his tone softening slightly, “let me handle it. You’ve got guts, but you’re not ready for what this place can throw at you.”

Lena frowned but nodded. “Fine. But you can’t expect me to just stand by and do nothing.”

Death smirked faintly. “Fair enough. But at least give me a heads-up next time, so I can make it look cool.”

As Death and Lena prepared to leave, the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed through the street. Ten more guards stormed in, their armor clinking as they encircled the duo. Their spears glinted with an eerie, otherworldly energy.

“Here we go again,” Death muttered. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing behind one of the guards. With a fluid motion, he grabbed the man’s face and slammed it into the ground with such force that the stone cracked beneath him, leaving the guard unconscious.

Meanwhile, Lena transformed. Her hair shimmered with the soft blonde hue from before, her movements fluid and swift. She leaped toward one of the guards, her momentum carrying her above the ground as her foot connected with the guard’s stomach. The sheer force of her kick caused a shockwave to ripple outward, blasting the man through the air and into the wall of a nearby house. The structure groaned from the impact as debris scattered.

“Alright! I did it!” Lena exclaimed with a triumphant grin.

Her celebration was short-lived. Another guard stepped in and slapped her across the face, sending her staggering. Before the guard could follow up, Death was there. His hand shot out, grabbing the man’s wrist with a bone-crunching sound. The guard let out a howl of pain, but Death silenced it with a sharp punch to the back. The man collapsed like a ragdoll.

The remaining guards hesitated for a moment before lunging. Death stepped forward calmly, his aura darkening as his hair rose even more spikily, glowing faintly with white energy.

The first guard thrust his spear, but Death sidestepped with ease. His hand moved like a whip, striking the man’s neck in a precise motion. The guard’s body went limp, dropping to the ground.

The next two guards charged simultaneously. Death crouched, sweeping his leg in a low arc. The move toppled both men, and before they could recover, he delivered a crushing downward kick to each of their helmets, knocking them unconscious.

Three guards rushed him from behind, but Death leapt into the air with incredible speed. His figure blurred as he twisted mid-flight, delivering a spinning kick that sent all three sprawling to the ground. Their spears clattered uselessly on the cobblestones.

The final two guards hesitated, clearly shaken. One raised his spear in a last-ditch effort, but Death was faster. He lunged, his fist crackling with red energy as he punched the spear, snapping it in half. He then grabbed the guard by the collar and hurled him into his companion. The two collided with a resounding crash, crumpling in a heap.

Dust settled around them as Death straightened his coat, his hair returning to its usual form. He turned to Lena, who was rubbing her cheek where she had been slapped.

“You okay?” he asked.

She nodded, a bit sheepishly. “Yeah… thanks.”

Death smirked. “You’re improving. Just… celebrate after the fight’s over next time.”

Lena huffed but managed a small smile. “Noted.”

“Let’s move before reinforcements show up,” Death said, glancing at the growing crowd of onlookers. Without another word, the two vanished into the shadows, leaving the guards groaning in the street.

The KPA's revolt highlights internal tensions within Rj805sere as the Communist faction opposes the government's transition to a mixed economy. This dissent has spilled into the streets, with communist and socialist citizens staging widespread protests, demanding a stronger commitment to their ideology. The government's challenge lies in addressing these grievances while maintaining stability in the mixed system.

Behind the scenes, the KGB's covert operations aim to destabilize the New World colonies and sway their allegiances through bribery and sabotage. This strategy seeks to strengthen the KGB's influence and potentially secure allies.

Status of the Colonies in the New World:
New Rj805seria: Remains neutral, carefully navigating the turbulent political landscape.

Sarcabia: Also neutral, though its position may shift depending on unfolding events and external pressures.

Clacavia: Aligns with the 5th Reich, presenting a potential challenge to the KGB's operations and Rj805serean unity.

This fragmented political environment risks further instability if the government cannot reconcile the mixed economy with the KPA's demands. The KGB’s efforts, if exposed, could exacerbate these tensions or provoke an international backlash.

- IPOR