The world vanished in white.
One moment, Reiji Hashimoto was sitting on a bus, half-asleep as it rattled along the road with his classmates. The next, his senses were drowned in blinding light, his body weightless and numb.
When his vision returned, he was standing on cold marble.
A vast throne room stretched before him. Golden pillars rose endlessly toward a ceiling lost in shadows, each carved with glowing symbols that pulsed with unfamiliar power. At the far end sat a king upon an ornate throne, his presence heavy and imposing.
Beside him stood a goddess.
She was beautiful—unnaturally so. Long silver hair flowed down her back like liquid moonlight, and her radiant eyes looked down upon the students without warmth or mercy.
Murmurs spread through the room. Panic. Confusion. Awe.
The goddess raised a single finger.
Silence fell instantly.
"This world faces annihilation," she said, her voice calm and absolute.
"A Demon Lord threatens all life. To oppose it, heroes have been summoned from another world."
A crystal orb floated into the air between them.
"One by one, touch the Orb of Judgment. It will reveal your role."
The class president stepped forward.
Kanzaki Ryo—tall, confident, admired by everyone.
The moment his hand touched the orb, it erupted in blinding light.
『Hero』
Gasps echoed through the throne room.
The king rose from his seat. "A Hero…!"
Cheers broke out among the students. Some cried in relief. Others smiled in hope.
Then she stepped forward.
Reiji's childhood friend.
The girl he had trusted more than anyone else.
She placed her hand on the orb without hesitation.
A holy light burst forth, brighter than before.
『Saint』
The room froze.
Even the king stared in disbelief.
A Saint.
Reiji felt his chest tighten. Despite everything, a small smile formed on his lips. She had always been special. Always strong.
Then it was his turn.
Reiji stepped forward and placed his hand on the orb.
Nothing happened.
No light.
No voice.
The silence was unbearable.
Then laughter erupted.
Mocking whispers spread like poison.
"Useless."
"A failure."
"Why was he even summoned?"
Reiji turned desperately toward her.
"It's okay… right?"
She slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me," she said coldly.
"You're useless."
She walked past him without a second glance and wrapped her arms around Kanzaki.
Reiji's knees gave out.
He collapsed onto the marble floor as memories flooded his mind—shared lunches, childhood promises, laughter beneath the summer sun.
All of it shattered.
Kanzaki looked down at him, then turned to the king.
"Should I kill him?"
The king hesitated.
The goddess smiled.
"There is a more suitable place for him," she said lightly.
The floor beneath Reiji split open.
As he fell, the goddess laughed.
His voice echoed upward one last time:
"Once I return… none of you will be alive."
Darkness swallowed him whole.
And Death Valley awaited.
[End of Chapter 1]