[ CHAPTER 2 - Double Vision ]
The evening settled into quiet, the only sound the hum of a passing car outside. He was still scrolling through his phone when it happened.
A strange sensation washed over him, like the hum of static in the air.
"What the—"
Sudden flashes of light attacked his eyes, making him drop his phone.
And then, in front of him floated a glowing, semi-transparent screen, its sleek design pulsing faintly as if alive.
He stared at it, his breath shallow.
[Welcome to the Reality Travel System.]
The system hovered in his vision, shimmering softly. He waved a hand in front of his face, half-expecting the screen to flicker or vanish, but it didn't. His heart thudded in his chest as more text appeared.
[Primary Functions Unlocked:]
1. Universal Travel
2. Karma Points Acquisition
3. Universe Pass Purchase
Beneath the list, a small bar displayed:
Karma Points: 0
"Universal travel..." Kuroshio muttered, his voice hushed. The words sent a ripple of both fear and excitement through him. He tapped the screen experimentally, and it responded to his touch with smooth precision, pulling up another menu.
[Universal Travel Rules:]
1. Users cannot choose the universe.
2. Only unlocked universes can be revisited.
3. Universe Passes must be purchased with Karma Points.
4. Leaving a universe depends on survival and escape conditions.
"Figures," he said, rubbing his temples. "Can't make it too easy."
He leaned back against the couch, his mind racing. If this system was real—and every fiber of his being screamed that it was—then he had stumbled into something... Something he doesn't understand.
---
The sound of the front door sliding open snapped him out of his thoughts. Kuroshio froze, his pulse quickening as soft footsteps echoed through the hallway.
"Kuu?"
The voice was gentle, familiar, and warm in a way that caught him off guard. His mother—his new mother.
"I'm home," he called back, his voice steady.
She appeared in the doorway moments later, a slender woman with kind eyes and a soft smile. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun, and she carried a grocery bag in one hand. The sight of her made Kuroshio feel weird... awkward.
"How was school?" she asked, setting the bag on the counter.
"Same as usual," he said, keeping his tone neutral.
She glanced at him, her brow furrowing slightly. "You look pale. Are you feeling okay?"
"Just tired," he replied quickly. "I didn't sleep well last night."
Kuroshio forced a small smile. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll be fine after some rest."
Her expression softened. "Alright. Dinner will be ready in a bit. Let me know if you need anything."
He nodded, watching as she turned back to the kitchen. The interaction left him uneasy. The warmth in her voice was genuine, and it was clear she cared deeply for this version of him. But the more she cared, the harder it would be for him.
---
Kuroshio retreated to his room, shutting the door behind him. The system screen was still there, waiting patiently. He sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair.
"This is too much," he muttered. "I need to think. I need... options."
Scrolling through the system's functions. The Universal Travel feature stood out, glowing faintly. He tapped it out of curiosity.
[Universe Travel Unavailable: Requires Universe Pass.]
"Great. So I can't even use it."
The next second, his eyes stopped on one particular line of text, glowing faintly:
[Unique Ability: Avatar Creation]
"Let's see what this does," he muttered.
Closing his eyes, he tried this ability.
Almost imidiately, a figure appeared, standing before him—a perfect replica of himself, identical down to the smallest detail. The avatar opened its eyes, a calm, neutral expression etched across its face.
"Whoa," Kuroshio whispered, staring at his duplicate. "It really worked."
The connection was immediate and overwhelming. His vision blurred as his mind suddenly split, torn between two perspectives. He was literally looking through two pairs of eyes at once, each feeding him simultaneous streams of information. He saw himself sitting on the bed through the avatar's eyes while still perceiving the room through his own.
The dizziness hit like a train. He gripped the edge of the bed tightly, squeezing his eyes shut in an effort to stabilize himself.
"Okay... not as easy as I thought," he muttered, his voice shaking.
"I just need a few minutes."
He fainted.
---
Kuroshio groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, his head spinning. He opened his eyes, blinking against. The cool air from the open window brushed against his skin, grounding him as the dizziness began to fade. His heartbeat slowed, and he sat up, rubbing his temples.
His mind had been split so violently that he'd fainted, completely overwhelmed by the experience.
He glanced at the spot where his avatar had stood. He sighed deeply, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck.
"Alright, let's try again," he said to himself.
In an instant, the avatar stood before him. Kuroshio felt the familiar connection, but this time he focused on controlling it, trying to keep his own vision separate from the avatar's. It was like controlling the flow of water, but infinitely harder.
For a few moments, his vision flickered, and he could still see through avatar's eyes. His stomach lurched, and he quickly clenched his fists, forcing himself to take deep, controlled breaths.
....
1..2...3...6...How many tries has it been?
Kuroshio had already summoned the avatar multiple times, but the problem was still the same—he couldn't separate his perspective from his avatar's.
His hands pressed against his temples. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he tried to focus.
The connection with the avatar felt like a live wire connected directly to his brain. He reached into his mind, once again attempting to sever the sensory link.
His stomach twisted, and he gasped for air, dropping his back on the bed. "This isn't working."
His breath came in shallow gasps as his mind struggled to make sense of it all.
"You can do this," Kuroshio gritted through his teeth. "Just control it. Focus…"
But it was no use. Again and again, the perspectives overlapped. He needed a different approach.
With a deep breath, Kuroshio focused his mind, feeling the mental connection between him and the avatar. He didn't sever it. He simply shifted his focus, choosing when to see through the avatar's eyes and when to return to his own. It was subtle, a matter of intent, not force.
"You got to be kidding me."
For the first time, the two perspectives didn't crash together. The dizziness faded. His senses stabilized.
He smiled weakly.
When he opened his eyes again, he felt more in control. He wasn't seeing through the avatar's eyes unless he chose to.
He look to the clock in his room. "hmm, school is in an hour..."
He looked at the avatar, which stood patiently in front of him, awaiting orders.
"You need a name," he said, his voice firm despite the lingering dizziness. "How about... Kurama?"
A calm smile spread across Kuroshio's face. Despite the overwhelming start, the potential of his ability was undeniable.
"Alright, Kurama," he said, his voice steady. "I need you to go to school for me today."
[Chapter End]