Arc III.5: “Zero”
Chapter III: “Ground Zero”
Episode I: “Kai and Kuro”
[Kukito and Kuro]
“What’s even the difference between us?” Kuro asked. “We all look the same to me.”
“On the surface, we do,” Kukito said. “And in truth, we are one people—living on one great planet.”
He exhaled, then continued, more carefully.
“But Dystopians differ from Pure Utopians because of a small genetic variation—one that shows up in the meridians.”
“Our meridians recover Utopic aether slower… but they also adapt differently under strain.”
He glanced down at his hands. “That adaptation is why some of us can force growth—push our Flux and spike our Yield—even without the Spirit of Utopia’s blessing.”
Kukito’s eyes sharpened. “And because of that… they call it blasphemy. They call it demonic.”
He raised his stance. “Utopic Boost.”
Golden aether wrapped his frame—muscle and pressure—tightening like a seal locking into place.
“Whoa…” Kuro breathed. “Can I do that?”
Kukito let the aura fall away. “Yeah,” he said with a quiet chuckle. “If you keep training—really training—then one day you’ll do it too.”
[Meanwhile]
Down in the Dystopian district, a young boy was on the ground, getting beaten by three older kids.
“Take that, you piece of shit!” one of them snarled.
“That’ll teach you to hang around us!”
“We might be ‘dirty’ Dystopians—” another spat, “—but you’re worse. You’re a devil!”
They laughed as they kept swinging, like cruelty was a game.
“Hey.”
Raida Aether-Skipped in—clean displacement, no warning—appearing between the boy and the next punch.
He caught two fists at once and stopped them as if the air had turned to stone.
“I-it’s the Sages—RUN!”
They scattered instantly.
Raida didn’t chase. He turned instead, eyes dropping to the boy on the ground.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Are you alright?” Raida asked, kneeling. “What’s your name?”
“K-Kai…” the boy coughed, blood at the corner of his lip.
“Kai…” Raida repeated. “Do you know why they were targeting you?”
Kai swallowed hard. “It’s probably…” he sniffled, “…because of my parents.”
“Your parents?” Raida frowned. “Why would that matter?”
“Because I’m different,” Kai whispered. “They’re scared of me. Or they think I’m… gross.”
“Aren’t they Dystopians too?” Raida asked gently. “Why would you be ‘different’?”
Kai shook his head.
“My dad’s Dystopian,” he said. “But my mom…”
He hesitated, voice shrinking.
“…people call her a demon.”
A demon?
Raida’s expression didn’t flinch—but something in his eyes hardened, the way it did when he heard injustice dressed up as “truth.”
Raida placed a steady hand on Kai’s shoulder.
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he said firmly. “You were born into this world, same as anyone else.”
He stood and offered his hand. “Your heritage doesn’t make you lesser. It makes you unique.”
Raida’s grip was warm—certain. “One day, you’ll be strong enough that nobody can touch you like this again. I can’t wait to see who you’ll grow up to be.”
He guided Kai upright. “But first, let’s take you to the clinic.”
[One year later]
A year later, Kuro trained in an abandoned park—cracked pavement, dead fountains, and broken lights.
“Utopic Boost—Level Two!”
Golden aether surged around him, his Yield snapping upward with a controlled spike.
“I see your training has come a long way,” Kukito said, stepping out of the shadows.
“Master Kukito!”
“Hey, Kuro.” Kukito nodded. “It’s been a while.”
His gaze tracked Kuro’s stance, breathing, and aura control. “You’ve improved.”
“Yes, Master! I’ve trained every day!”
“I can tell.” Kukito’s voice softened—then steadied. “I think you’re ready.”
He paused. “I’ll recommend you for the Sages.”
“The Utopic Sages…?” Kuro echoed, stunned.
“Yes,” Kukito said. “With your strength—and your discipline—you could do real good for our people.”
Kuro’s face tightened. “Why would I want to join the Sages?”
“Aren’t they just self-serving Pure Utopians in robes?”
He scoffed. “What good does it do me to work for them? And why would they even want more Dystopians in their ranks?”
Kukito sighed. “I’ve told you before—the Sages aren’t automatically our enemy.”
“Some of them are corrupt. Some of them are cowards.”
“But some of them are willing to fight beside us—and change this planet from the inside.”
His eyes sharpened. “And whether you like it or not… we need allies to win rights without turning into monsters.”
Kuro smirked. “Dystopians are stronger than those ‘Pure’ bastards.”
“Why don’t we just crush them and be done with it?”
“Kuro…” Kukito said quietly. “Not all Pure Utopians are bad.”
“And if we ‘win’ by becoming what they fear… then we prove them right.”
He stepped closer. “Besides, don’t you have something… or someone… You want to protect?”
Kuro’s voice dropped. “Someone… I want to protect?”
[Elsewhere]
“Master Raida!” a young voice called.
Raida walked through the Dystopian district on his way to meet Kukito—cloak clean against a world that wasn’t.
“Oh—Kai.” Raida smiled. “It’s been a while. How’s training?”
“Awesome!” Kai beamed. “I’m gonna be strong enough to join the Sages soon!”
“I don’t doubt it,” Raida said. “I’m busy right now, but when I’m back in town—come by. I’ll give you some lessons.”
“Yes, Master! I’ll be ready!”
Kai waved and ran off, practically floating with pride.
He’s grown up fast… Raida thought. He’ll be one of the pillars under Ryoda one day.
But as the years turned, Utopia’s tensions didn’t heal.
They festered.
Living conditions in the Dystopian district stayed broken, and the silence above them stayed comfortable.
[Two years later]
Two years later, Kai and Kuro were accepted into the Utopic Sages.
Young, yes. But exceptional.
During that same stretch of time, Kukito and Mizuka had a child, Rikito.
Raida and Carrie married that year… and welcomed their son the year after.
“It’s been a while, Master,” Kuro said.
They stood on a small bridge as the sun sank—gold light turning the river into a blade.
“Yeah,” Kukito answered.
“Congrats on your kid.”
“…Thanks.”
Silence stretched. Not awkward, just heavy.
Then Kuro spoke, quieter.
“I’ve been thinking about what you told me.”
Kukito didn’t interrupt.
“About… having something to protect.” Kuro swallowed. “Someone.”
His ears reddened. “I think I finally get it.”
Kukito’s brow lifted. “Oh?”
A pause—then a knowing, tired smile. “Who is she?”
Kuro blushed hard. “Her name is… Nami.”
“Really,” Kukito murmured. “Have you told her?”
“Told her…?”
“How you feel,” Kukito said, like it was obvious.
Kuro choked. “W-what—?!”
“You should tell her,” Kukito said.
His voice went quieter—darker around the edges.
“Sooner rather than later.”
He looked out at the sunset as if it were a warning.
“Because the day might come when… You can’t tell her anything at all.”
And as the years went on, the political turmoil didn’t improve.
It escalated.
Within another two and a half years, thousands of Dystopians died—riots, disappearances, “accidents”… all filed away like paperwork.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Fall of Kukito”
[Yield Levels]:
Kukito: 15,000
- Utopic Boost: 75,000
- Post-Training (2-3 years): 21,000
Raida: 20,000
Kuro: 5,000
- Post-Training (1 year): 10,000
- PT (1y) + Utopic Boost (Level 2): 100,000
- PT (2-3 years): 12,000
Kai: 3,000
- Post-Training (1 year): 6,000
- PT (2-3 years): 8,000
Rikito: (1,800)
Akira: (2,000)