Pretty Insane

The battle was over, but the aftermath lingered in the air. The telekinetic man lay motionless on the ground, his body dissolving into faint particles of light that swirled together into a small, pulsating sphere. The street was eerily silent, save for the faint hum of the newly formed sphere.

Alulu stood over the scene, breathing heavily, his war hammer still faintly glowing before it dissipated into thin air. He turned to the swordsman, who had been watching in silence. The shieldbearer's body lay nearby, a grim reminder of the cost they had paid for victory.

The swordsman's eyes narrowed as he approached the sphere. "What's happening?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity and suspicion.

Alulu sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "That's a sphere," he explained, his tone steady. "When certain beings die, they revert into one of these. It's a gateway, connecting different places, different worlds."

The swordsman's gaze shifted from the sphere to Alulu, his expression tightening. "You're saying this isn't your world?"

Alulu nodded. "No, it's not. I came here through a sphere like this. My world is… different."

The swordsman's intrigue deepened. "Different how?"

Alulu hesitated, glancing at the sphere. "It's more advanced. We have technology that makes life easier, but it's also harsher in some ways. If you want, I can show you."

The swordsman's grip on his sword relaxed, curiosity clearly piqued. "I want to see it."

Alulu reached out, his hand brushing the surface of the sphere. The light intensified, and in an instant, both men were pulled into its glow.

---

When the light faded, they stood in a new world—Alulu's world. The air was crisp, the city alive with the distant hum of traffic and the faint murmur of people going about their lives. Skyscrapers towered overhead, their lights blinking in the early evening haze.

Alulu inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar scent of his city. "This is it. My world."

But when he turned to face the swordsman, his heart sank.

The swordsman was gone.

There was no trace of him—no sign that he had ever been there. Alulu's eyes darted around, searching for any clue, but there was nothing. The man had simply vanished.

Alulu's chest tightened. "What the hell…"

He clenched his fists, a growing unease settling in his stomach. The city's familiar sights and sounds did little to comfort him now. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.

---

Scene 2: Rowan's Journey

Meanwhile, in another city, Rowan strode alongside Kyra and Hinami, his usual swagger tempered by a growing irritation. The streets were foreign, the architecture unfamiliar. It wasn't his city, and that alone was enough to set him on edge.

Rowan scowled, glancing around. "Where the hell are we?"

Kyra, walking beside him with an air of calm, responded without looking up. "We're in another city. No one in your city wanted to take care of you because of your… reputation."

Rowan's face twisted into a scowl. "What? My reputation? They're just scared."

Kyra nodded slightly, acknowledging his point but not engaging further. Instead, she pulled a small toy car from her pocket, holding it up with a smirk. "Walking's a hassle, isn't it?"

Rowan rolled his eyes. "Just do it already."

Kyra tossed the toy car onto the ground, and in seconds, it expanded, transforming into a sleek, black vehicle. The doors unlocked with a soft click, and Kyra slid into the driver's seat without missing a beat.

Rowan followed, sliding into the passenger seat, while Hinami climbed into the back. As the car roared to life, Rowan leaned back, crossing his arms. "Where are we going?"

Kyra kept her focus on the road. "To the Sphere Reviewers headquarters."

Rowan raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell are they?"

Kyra sighed softly, as if she'd explained this a dozen times before. "They're the organization that reviews spheres to determine their threat levels. You know, to see if they're weak or dangerous."

Rowan frowned. "And why are we going there?"

Hinami chimed in from the back, his tone indifferent. "They've developed a ranking system for Awakened, classifying them by their strength. It's to avoid mistakes like sending weak Awakened into dangerous spheres or strong ones into weak spheres. Some Awakened lie about their abilities, so this system helps identify their true capabilities."

Rowan leaned forward slightly, curiosity sparked despite himself. "What's the highest rank?"

"Tier 1," Kyra replied.

Rowan's grin returned, his pride swelling. "No doubt I'll be Tier 1."

Kyra chuckled, her eyes still on the road. "I think so too."

Rowan stretched, enjoying the moment. "So we're going to the Sphere Reviewers to find out my real strength?"

"Yes," Kyra said simply.

Rowan tapped his fingers on the door, thinking. "How do they figure it out?"

Hinami spoke again, scrolling through his phone. "They look at your history, the spheres you've entered, and then put you through three different tests to measure your strength."

"My history?" Rowan scoffed. "How do they even know that?"

Kyra smirked. "Every time you go into a sphere, I send a report to their workers. Like the last sphere—we had two workers on standby, observing."

Rowan's eyes widened slightly. "Ah, that makes sense now."

Kyra nodded. "Exactly."

Rowan let out a sigh. "And how long is this gonna take?"

"About two hours," Kyra replied.

Rowan groaned, his annoyance palpable. "Fuck, that's too long!"

Kyra chuckled, her tone teasing. "Patience, Rowan. It'll be worth it."

Hinami looked back at Rowan, "And also they have 3 test ready for the review of your strength"

Rowan chuckled "Test? Ha! If hospitals won't take care of me because of my reputation then that damn organization must already know how strong I am"

"Strength is not the only test they will conduct, Intelligence and battle understanding is also a must" Hinami replied.

"Well I'm definitely sure Rowan is gonna fail the intelligence test!" Kyra teased

Rowan muttered something under his breath, but despite his grumbling, he couldn't help but look forward to proving his worth. The anticipation of being officially recognized as one of the strongest was enough to keep a sly grin on his face.

As they drove toward the Sphere Reviewers headquarters, Rowan's mind buzzed with excitement. He was ready to show them all exactly what he was capable of.