2 Chapter 2  

The desperate plea for help hung in the air, momentarily freezing the passersby. A young man, caught in the crossfire of Aruno's plea, turned with widened eyes. Fear etched across his face as his gaze shifted from Aruno to the growing number of portals unfurling around Tokyo.

“Help? What's happening?" What did I just do?”

Portals are constantly opening as I stand here. What is this place?

The man stammered, his voice a tremor in the cacophony.

Before Aruno could respond, the young man's eyes widened, and he sprinted away, joining the stampede of people fleeing the enigmatic portals. The disorienting sight of portals continued to punctuate the cityscape.

Aruno, just as bewildered as the Tokyo residents, found himself navigating the tumultuous streets, his gaze flickering between the unfolding chaos and the uncertain faces around him. Confusion etched his features, his world unraveling with each portal's emergence.

Driven by the instinct to survive, Aruno weaved through the crowd, Tokyo a bewildering maze of unfamiliarity. The city, though captivating in its diversity, presented a challenge for the newcomer. Aruno, now a part of this inexplicable convergence, wandered through the streets with an air of disorientation.

"What the hell going on? My hair is getting longer! What is happening!”

The architecture stood tall, a blend of traditional and modern structures creating a unique tapestry. Neon lights adorned the cityscape, casting an otherworldly glow that illuminated Aruno's bewildered expression. Technology and tradition coexisted in a cityscape that seemed to defy explanation.

"This place... it's like a dream."

Aruno marveled, his eyes flitting between the ancient and the futuristic.

Aruno observed the seamless choreography of this alien world, a stranger in a city that seemed to possess its own language.

“I need to find out what to do. There must be some place I could post up.”

By the corner of my eye, I spot a long black trenchcoat and tactical knife lying on the ground. “Might as-well take these it’s getting windy and this should come in handy.”

As he wandered through the unfamiliar landscape, Aruno sought refuge in abandoned alleyways and quieter districts. The unpredictable nature of the portals heightened his sense of unease, leaving him questioning the fabric of this reality.

It was amidst the dance of uncertainty that Aruno's path converged with another. As he turned a corner, he encountered a figure—a silhouette against the chaotic backdrop, a presence embodying both mystery and danger.

Aruno's eyes widened as he witnessed the woman shaped figure stabbing something with a knife, the blade viciously dripping with blood. The sight added another layer of enigma to the unfolding mysteries of Tokyo, a city caught in the throes of a convergence that defied all explanation.

Those shadow-flare eyes pierced into my soul. 

“Are you next?”

The woman uttered from her mouth, as she slowly walked towards me.