Will and false perception

  When Kato stepped through the door, he expected another room. Walls, a floor, a ceiling. Maybe even more fire if he got particularly unlucky.

  He got none of that.

  Kato stared outwards. He should’ve been shocked, but instead he felt eerily calm. All that remained ahead of him was a starless void. The door that he had stepped through was gone. In its place all that remained was the same blackness that permeated through everything else.

  He took one step forward, somehow walking through nothing on nothing. There was no sound, no resistance, no sensation at all.

  Kato breathed in deep, though he felt the weirdest sensation. As if basic human actions like the beating of his heart and the swelling of his lungs were more choice than necessity in this foreign space.

  A voice echoed through the space. It was calm, deep and demanded attention. “A Zero dares to test their mettle.” The voice scoffed. “You do not belong here, and you know it.”

  Kato glowered outwards. “Who are you to tell me where I belong?" he shouted into the void.

  The voice scoffed again. “Such petulance is unbecoming but not entirely unexpected for one so weak.”

  Kato moved to protest, but the voice didn’t stop.

  “I am not the type to destroy the mind of one so pitiful,” it spoke with an audible sneer. “And as such, I will offer you a kindness that was never offered to me.”

  Kato severely doubted that he was about to be offered anything anyone would consider remotely close to kind, but he gestured for it to continue, nevertheless.

  “Bow. Yield. Submit. And I will let you pass.”

  “No!” Kato spoke without hesitation. He’d seen what happened to those who bowed. The type of men that they became. Lackeys and servants who were nothing more than vessels for another’s will. That would not be him. He wouldn’t allow it.

  “You will kneel, or I will make you.”

  Kato paused. He had been on the verge of death so many times. He had struggled for everything he had ever gotten. He would not prostrate himself and give up. Not for a random voice. Not for anyone. “You have my answer. It isn’t changing.”

  “So be it,” the voice spoke with finality.

  “So be it,” Kato muttered in response, but the voice was already gone.

  The void did not remain still. It wrapped around Kato, crushing him. His limbs shook as a sudden pressure tried to drag him to his knees. It started off easy, just minor urges that threatened to push him down. He forced them off. He would find another way. Ignoring the pressure, he began to walk forwards.

  Unsurprisingly, the nothingness he came from faded into further nothingness. The world appeared to be a blank slate designed with the sole purpose to beat him down. Kato’s body grew heavy as the pull on him strengthened, aiming to push him down and keep him there.

  Kato straightened his back. He wouldn’t let it.

  Chains of void coalesced around Kato’s limbs. He dragged them forward, letting them trail behind him. They got heavier and heavier. He turned with a snarl as they finally locked him into place. “You will not hold me.” Cracks spread across the black chains.

  Kato’s eyes widened in shock. “You will not bind me.” The cracks lengthened and expanded webbing across the chains. “You will break. Not me.” The chains exploded. Fragments and shrapnel shot out into the void with incredible force.

  A smirk graced Kato’s features. “So be it.” He walked forward once again. The chains began to reform as more and more fragments were pulled from the void. They were thicker and stronger than before. But it didn’t matter. He glowered at the burgeoning prison. It turned to dust. He strode on.

  The void was not done. It summoned new chains, twisting a vortex of the dust he’d created together and building it once again. It was cold, and it was powerful. He met the rising prison with a stare of pure hate. A single crack splits its surface but was sealed a moment later.

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  He glowered again. The void would not tear him down. His limbs trembled as he fought to speak. “You will break!” Kato hissed through gritted teeth. The chains remained intact, growing further and further.

  With a defiant gaze, Kato stepped forward.

  Thud! A knee came crashing to the ground. Kato roared in opposition. They could test his will all they liked. He would not be found lacking. With one shackled arm, he put a calloused fist to the ground and pushed. Kato rose even as the chains grew to drag him down.

  He stepped forward.

  A screaming pain erupted in his skull before spreading to the rest of his body. Kato trembled uncontrollably. Rage flashed in his eyes. He would not be beaten here. His soft, round pupils morphed into pitch-black swords, matching the darkness of the void. ‘We will prevail.’

  The chains shattered and, with a concussive blast, were flung back into the starless expanse. Kato stepped forward. The pain in his head grew, and his eyes unfocused as shadows flickered at the edges of his vision.

  Kato stepped forward.

  The void flickered. It recoiled. Inky blackness streamed off Kato in rivers, swirling into a deep, unending ocean around him. Then it lunged.

  Something massive and formless smashed into Kato, tearing him from his feet and hurling him through the dark. He hit the ground in a crumpled heap, unmoving and eyes closed.

  Kato woke up some time later. The pain was gone. There were no chains or void pressing against him. He was just in a normal room.

  It was small, and the walls were a smooth, pale grey that curved gently around him. A single door stood at the far end. It was lit up. Apparently, he’d passed. The words ‘Test of Perception’ were carved into the rock above it.

  Kato stood up, stretching his arms above him as he basked in the sensations that the real world brought. It was nice being able to breathe and for it to actually matter. He stepped forward. His eyes warily traced the wooden door. ‘How many of these tests are there?’

  Kato walked over to it. He was reluctant, but it was his duty to keep going. His hand traced the door frame as he braced himself. “This place better be real,” Kato said to the door as his hand reached down and gripped around the handle. He pulled. It swung open. The number eighteen flashed in silver, followed by a question mark.

  Kato raised an eyebrow. That was new.

  He stepped into lush greenery. His eyes scanned the scenery. There were trees, lush bushes and even the faint cawing of birds in the distance. ‘Am I still inside?’ Kato questioned. His eyes traced around the room. Several doors had been scattered throughout the room. By his count, there were nine of them, and they appeared to be scattered at random.

  One was lodged in the trunk of a wide, dark tree, another on a thick, gnarled branch, and one peculiarly appeared to balance on leaves. Four of them were buried in the walls. One was peculiarly buried into the floor. Kato glanced at it. He was glad it wasn’t lit, as he didn’t want to fall through the floor to complete this challenge.

  What he was less sure about was the soft glow that emanated from the final door. It rested on the back of a wide-shouldered boar. Its fur was bristled, and the door sank low into its back. If it hadn’t been glowing, Kato might not have seen it at all. Thankfully, the boar was sleeping, but Kato didn’t count on that lasting forever. Warily, he walked over to one of the doors buried in the wall. He’d be remiss if he didn’t at least try.

  He crossed as lightly as he could, but he couldn’t avoid the snapping and crunching of twigs and leaves as he picked his way through the undergrowth.

  Thunk! Something hard jarred Kato’s body. He spun around searching for what had hit him. He saw nothing. ‘That’s weird,’ he thought, carefully watching his surroundings as he continued forward. He reached the dull, inert door he’d been aiming for. He pulled it. It didn’t move. ‘It could be stuck,’ Kato reasoned, remembering the strength door. He pulled harder. It didn’t move. He sighed. As much as he would love to reason that the perception door would have a strength test, that felt unlikely.

  He glanced back at the sleeping boar. Its chest rose and fell rhythmically. ‘They’re probably really friendly,’ Kato assured himself as he began to approach, flinching slightly as each crack and crunch alerted to his presence. He continued to watch it as he walked with measured steps. Its ears twitched. He froze, looking down. His foot was buried in a pile of dry leaves.

  The boar snorted and rolled onto its side. Kato exhaled, a slow breath of relief slipping from his lips. ‘It turned away. This will be easy.’

  He darted forward, feet light, barely brushing the undergrowth. He reached the door within instants. It glowed faintly, and the light seemed to bend and be absorbed by the boar’s bristled fur. ‘That isn’t weird.’

  Tentatively, Kato reached forward. ‘Do it fast. It won’t even notice.’ His fingers lightly wrapped around the warm wooden handle. Kato pulled back, and the door swung open.

  The boar exploded into motion.

  Kato jolted backwards, narrowly avoiding being gored by the gigantic monster. A tusk brushed past his head as the boar jabbed forward in rage. The creature snorted, staring him down, as if daring him to act. Its breath was hot and heavy against his face and sent Kato’s black hair wildly flapping.

  With one last venomous look, the boar grunted and turned, bolting into the bush.

  Kato lunged forward, shooting towards the opened door. It was mere inches away. A second later it was gone with its ride. Kato missed the door, landing hard on the flattened patch the boar had lain. Warm mud splattered him.

  He groaned, rolling onto his back as he looked up at the vibrant green canopy above him. ‘That went well.’

  Pushing himself up, Kato scanned the clearing. The boar had left and taken his way out with it. Only eight doors remained.

  He sighed, staring at the bush it had disappeared into. ‘Great. Looks like I’m not done perceiving just yet.’

  Chapter 1

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