The sky… looked almost exactly the same as when he first entered. Same color. Same position of the sun. Same air temperature brushing against his skin.
Kaizo:
“Huh. That’s weird.”
Infinity (in his head):
“Chrono Labs used to experiment with temporal stability. It’s possible that part of the forest is caught in some kind of time lock. At least, that’s what I saw in some of their notes-”
Kaizo:
“You’re just gonna say that casually like it’s normal?”
Infinity didn’t respond.
Kaizo (sighs):
“…Whatever. Let’s get something to eat. I'm starving.”
They headed into the city and began cutting through a narrow alley on the way to a nearby restaurant—just a quiet shortcut through the backstreets.
That’s when Kaizo saw it.
A black cat.
Dead. Lying limp in the corner of the alley, its body halfway decomposed, flies hovering nearby. It didn’t look like it had suffered—it just… was destroyed. It looked so small and innocent, almost about the size of a kitten, just a bit bigger.
Kaizo slowed down and gave it a solemn nod.
Kaizo:
“Rest easy, little guy.”
He turned to walk away—until something tugged at him mentally.
Infinity:
“Wait. Let me check something.”
Kaizo blinked.
“Check what—”
Before he could finish, a streak of black goo leapt out from his body. Infinity shot forward in his symbiotic form—oozing across the ground—and slithered into the cat’s corpse.
Kaizo:
“…Well. That was unexpected.”
Silence.
Ten seconds passed. Then twenty.
Kaizo frowned.
Kaizo (nervously):
“…Infinity?”
Nothing.
Then—
“Meow.”
The cat's head tilted. Its back arched as it stood on shaky legs. It blinked up at Kaizo with glowing eyes and—
Infinity (in cat form):
“Kaizo! It works! I can survive without being in your body now. I can move around on my own—like this!”
Kaizo (to the audience):
“…We haven’t even made it through five chapters, and my overly dependent pet’s already evolved into his own character. Sigh. Anime logic.”
Kaizo (aloud):
“Well, cool! But… dude.”
He winced and leaned back slightly.
Kaizo:
“You stink, buddy.”
Infinity (sniffs himself):
“…Is it that bad?”
Kaizo:
“No comment. Let’s just fix it before someone calls animal control.”
The restaurant they entered was pet-friendly—thankfully. Though the stench still turned heads.
Inside the restroom, Kaizo scrubbed down the zombie cat in the sink while Infinity whined like a toddler.
Random guy in the bathroom stall:
“Ughh, what is that smell?!”
Infinity:
“...Is it that bad?”
Kaizo (deadpan):
“Let’s just finish up and never speak of this again.”
He dried him off quickly, tucked him under his jacket, and returned to the table.
Once the food was ordered and the waiter left, Kaizo leaned forward.
Kaizo (rubbing his temples): “Alright. While we wait—let’s figure out how this ‘you living in my body and living on your own thing actually works. Well, I guess that doesn’t matter much anymore…”
Infinity (grinning, tail swaying awkwardly): “I know, right?”
And so began a small experiment — between two weirdos in a city diner.
Stolen story; please report.
They discovered that:
- Infinity could exit and re-enter Kaizo’s body at will. Every time he phased through Kaizo’s chest, it left behind faint ripples of black light, like ink dissolving in water.
- He could travel into something he called the Infinity Realm — a vast, dim void shaped by Kaizo’s subconscious imagination. Only the two of them could access it.
- They could speak telepathically, even while apart — voices echoing in each other’s heads like whispers through static.
- Kaizo could see through Infinity’s eyes, the world painted in strange monochrome when he did.
- Infinity could manipulate Kaizo’s DNA internally, tweaking muscle density or speed — giving him the DNA of certain animals.
- Now that synchronization had begun, Kaizo could do it himself too — albeit clumsily, with the focus of someone trying to flex a muscle they didn’t know existed.
- And as the bond deepened, so did their link: memories, instincts, emotions. Kaizo could sense Infinity’s excitement. Infinity could feel Kaizo’s hunger. It was… weirdly intimate.
Back in the booth, Kaizo leaned on one elbow, watching the cat curiously.
Kaizo (squinting): “…You know you’re starting to act and talk a lot like me.”
Infinity (matter-of-factly): “Of course I do. My personality formed based on yours.”
Kaizo (to the audience, deadpan): “…So basically, I’m arguing with myself. Great.”
He sighed, pushing aside an untouched plate of eggs as Infinity jumped down to the table, tail flicking.
Kaizo (noticing): “Wait. Is your tail… inside me right now?”
Infinity (nodding, almost proud): “Technically, yes. Even though I’m using this body as my vessel, I’m still anchored to your internal structure. Until we’re fully bonded, part of me has to stay connected.”
Kaizo leaned back, staring at the faint shadow-like tendril that pulsed faintly near his stomach.
Kaizo (grimacing): “So what you’re saying is… I’m basically your life-support machine.”
Infinity (grinning wider): “Sure.”
Kaizo (flatly): “Fantastic.”
Infinity snickered, curling up beside the half-empty coffee cup. The diner’s flickering lights reflected faintly off his dark fur.
The diner windows rattled as a thunderous roar rolled through the city. Distant screams echoed off the buildings outside.
Kaizo (turning his head, annoyed): “…Of course.”
He gives us that familiar deadpan glance.
Kaizo (to audience): “Yeah, of course I have to check this out.”
Infinity (confused): “…Who are you talking to?”
Kaizo (quickly): “Nobody. Let’s go.”
(Apparently, Infinity hadn’t realized what the “fourth wall” was yet.)
They stepped out of the diner and into chaos. The street was a disaster zone—smoke coiled up from cracked asphalt, shattered glass littered the ground, and the air buzzed with sirens and screams.
Then came the sound—deep, guttural, and primal.
The PrimeBeast Bear.
The same one that attacked before, its massive frame blotting out the sun as it rampaged down the boulevard, swiping through cars like toys.
Kaizo froze. Just ahead, a girl—frozen in terror—stood directly in its path.
Kaizo (low): “…Hey, Infinity.”
Infinity (concerned): “What’s up?”
Kaizo: “Is it possible I can change my DNA on my own now?”
Infinity (uncertain): “Honestly? No clue. But there’s really only one way to find out, right?”
Kaizo exhaled, shutting his eyes. He reached inward, feeling for that familiar spark—the same one from their first sync. The world around him dimmed. His pulse quickened. His cells… shifted.
Kaizo (gritting his teeth): “Okay… here we go.”
His body blurred. Asphalt cracked beneath his feet. In an instant, Kaizo was gone—nothing but a streak of motion.
He appeared beside the girl, arm hooking around her waist just as the PrimeBeast’s claw smashed into the ground, missing her by inches. Dust and debris erupted like an explosion.
Kaizo (grinning): “Nice to see you too, buddy.”
The bear bellowed in rage. Kaizo bent his knees, coiled tight, then sprang—soaring upward with the raw leg power of a grasshopper. They landed on a nearby rooftop, the girl trembling in his grasp.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
Her glasses caught the sunlight, her violet hair flowing in the rising smoke. Her skin almost shimmered beneath the glow of fire and chaos.
Kaizo (internally, trying to look away): “Okay, well, she’s definitely gorgeous— but where is her che—nope, don’t finish that thought.”
He set her down gently, taking one last glance before looking away.
He confirmed it: they have not grown yet…
Below, the bear roared again, swiping through buildings like paper.
Kaizo (thinking): “It’s been a while since I’ve done something like this, hopefully I can still…”
He raised his arm, trying to summon that energy again—white light flickered faintly along his forearm, then sputtered out.
Kaizo (muttering): “Fucking hell, I’m washed…”
Infinity Realm – Telepathic Link
Infinity (curious): “What’s wrong, Kaizo?”
Kaizo (focused): “Can you alter my DNA to give me the strength of a tiger, on top of the cheetah speed?”
Infinity: “I mean, yeah… but what abou—”
Kaizo (interrupting): “Don’t worry about it. Just trust me..”
Infinity (smirking): “Alright, bud…”
Kaizo’s pulse spiked. His muscles expanded slightly, joints tightening under new power. His eyes sharpened, and he gained a familiar sense of power.
He turned to the girl.
Kaizo (grinning): “Name?”
Yumi (nervous): “Arai… Yumi.”
Kaizo (smiling): “Cool name. Just hang tight and enjoy the rooftop view—preferably without falling with me.”
Yumi (blank stare): “…”
Terrible comedian.
Before she could respond, Kaizo leapt from the roof—air whipping past as he plummeted back toward the street.
Yumi (blinking): “Did he just—?”
He landed smoothly, crouched, eyes locked on the PrimeBeast.
Kaizo (taunting): “What’s up?”
The bear roared, swinging its paw in a wild horizontal slash. Kaizo ducked, feeling the wind shear over his hair. Another swing. Another slip. His movements were fluid, effortless—like a dancer built for combat.
Infinity (watching nervously): “That’s shocking. How is he utilizing this so well? Has he fought animals before?”
Kaizo was calm, almost too calm in the eyes of Infinity. His concentration and decision making was extremely good for a kid who’s only fourteen.
Every dodge was precise, every step calculated. His instincts—merged with Infinity’s DNA swapping—let him react to attacks as they were coming towards them.
Then, an opening.
Kaizo surged forward, palm slamming into the bear’s chest with the strength of a tiger. The impact made the beast grunt and stumble. Before it could recover, Kaizo vaulted backward, twisting midair—then came down like a meteor.
WHAM.
Both heels crashed into the creature’s skull, flattening it to the asphalt.
Kaizo (deadpan, dusting off his hands): “Sorry to disappoint, but this isn’t one of those stories where the MC starts off as a bum.”
The PrimeBeast convulsed once, twice… and fell still.
Kaizo exhaled. The city’s sirens filled the silence again.
Kaizo (to himself): “These animals are crazy.”
He looked up at the rooftop, at the girl still watching him in disbelief.
Yumi had no words. The kid in front of her just defeated an crazy, powerful animal and is showing off in front of her.
Kaizo (grinning faintly): “Do you love me, yet?”