Rain tapped softly against the windows of the old laboratory.
Eight-year-old Reiji stood silently in the corner.
His crimson eyes watching everything with unusual stillness for a child.
In front of him stood his father—
A brilliant scientist, feared and respected by many.
And lying weakly on a hospital bed nearby was Reiji’s four-year-old little sister, Riko.
Pale.
Fragile.
Sick.
Reiji’s mother had died three years ago, only one year after giving birth to Riko.
Not because of illness.
Not because of fate.
Because of Reiji’s father.
He had injected her with experimental drugs, forcing her body to endure tests no human body should ever suffer through.
She had not survived.
Yet even after her death—
He never showed regret.
Never grief.
Never guilt.
To him, emotions were worthless.
Love was weakness.
Attachment was meaningless.
He often said only one thing.
“Love does not help anyone survive.”
“Power does.”
“The one with power survives.
The weak are discarded.”
And now—
Riko had become his next experiment.
Again and again, he injected chemicals into her tiny body.
Her health worsened every day.
Her coughing became worse.
Her body weaker.
But her father never cared.
One evening, Reiji entered the laboratory and froze.
His father was preparing another syringe.
The needle gleamed under the white light.
And it was pointed at Riko.
Reiji’s eyes widened.
“W-Wait, Father!”
His voice trembled.
He ran forward and stood protectively in front of his sister.
His father narrowed his eyes.
“What is it?”
Reiji’s hands shook.
Tears filled his eyes.
“Please… don’t do this to Riko anymore.”
His voice cracked.
“She’s already sick… she’s getting weaker every day…”
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
“I already lost Mother…”
He clenched his fists.
“I can’t lose Riko too.”
He dropped to his knees.
“Please… experiment on me instead.”
Silence.
His father stared at him.
No sympathy.
No warmth.
Only calculation.
Finally, he spoke.
“…Fine.”
Even Reiji was shocked by that answer.
Just like that.
No hesitation.
No concern.
To Reiji’s father, it did not matter who became the test subject.
Only the experiment mattered.
From that day onward—
Reiji became the subject.
Injection after injection entered his body.
Chemical after chemical.
Pain after pain.
Strangely—
Reiji survived them all.
His body endured what should have destroyed him.
Even his father found that…
interesting.
But despite all of that—
Riko’s condition continued worsening.
Day by day.
Until one day—
Reiji walked into her room.
And the sight before him made the ground beneath him feel as if it had vanished.
Riko was coughing violently.
Blood spilled from her mouth.
Her tiny body trembled uncontrollably.
“R-Riko?!”
Panic exploded inside him.
He rushed toward her.
“Riko!”
She looked at him weakly.
Her breathing was unstable.
Blood stained the bedsheets.
Reiji’s hands trembled.
He turned and ran.
“Father!”
He burst into the laboratory.
“Father!”
His voice cracked.
“R-Riko… she’s really sick… she’s coughing blood!”
He was crying now.
“Please do something!”
His father did not even turn around.
“I’m busy.”
Reiji froze.
“…What?”
“I said I’m busy.”
Reiji dropped to his knees.
He bowed desperately.
“Please!”
He cried uncontrollably.
“I already lost Mother!”
“Please save Riko!”
“I’m begging you!”
His father slowly turned.
Then—
His expression hardened.
Disgust.
Annoyance.
He stepped forward.
And kicked Reiji hard in the stomach.
THUD.
Reiji crashed onto the floor.
Pain shot through his body.
He coughed violently.
His father looked down at him coldly.
“Look at yourself.”
His voice was merciless.
“Begging.”
“Crying.”
“Pathetic.”
He crouched slightly.
“Think.”
“If you had power…”
He stared into Reiji’s eyes.
“Would you need to beg?”
Reiji trembled.
His father continued.
“This world runs on power.”
“Not love.”
“Not kindness.”
“Not emotions.”
“Only power.”
His voice grew colder.
“The powerful survive.”
“The weak perish.”
“That is truth.”
Reiji stared at the floor.
Those words pierced deep.
Still trembling, he forced himself up.
“…I-I’ll take her to a hospital.”
His voice shook.
“Please… just give me money for treatment.”
He was still crying.
His father sighed.
Annoyed.
“As stubborn as ever.”
He grabbed a bundle of cash.
Then he threw it directly at Reiji’s face.
The money scattered.
“Take it.”
“I have no more time for this.”
Reiji quickly gathered the money.
His hands shook.
But he wasted no time.
He ran.
Outside—
Rain poured heavily.
The storm was merciless.
Reiji carried Riko on his back.
Step by step.
Through the rain.
His small body struggled under her weight.
Riko’s blood stained his shirt completely red.
Her weak voice trembled.
“B-Brother…”
Reiji tightened his hold.
“It’s okay.”
He panted.
“You’ll be okay.”
Rain soaked them both.
His legs felt numb.
But he kept running.
Running.
Running.
Until finally—
He reached the hospital.
He collapsed near the entrance.
Doctors rushed toward them.
Riko was taken to the emergency room.
Reiji sat on a hospital bench.
Soaked.
Shivering.
Crying.
A doctor approached him.
“We need to begin treatment immediately.”
“If she had arrived any later…”
He paused.
“She may not have survived.”
Reiji’s heart trembled.
Relief mixed with terror.
Then—
Chaos erupted.
People flooded into the hospital.
Shouting.
Running.
A famous politician had been brought in.
Severely injured in an accident.
Suddenly, every doctor rushed toward the emergency operating room.
Even the doctors assigned to Riko.
Reiji blinked.
Confused.
Then panicked.
He ran after one doctor.
“Doctor!”
He grabbed his sleeve.
“Where are you going?!”
“My sister needs treatment!”
“Please!”
The doctor looked troubled.
“Kid, you don’t understand.”
“That politician is important.”
Reiji’s breathing grew shaky.
“What about my sister?!”
The doctor clenched his jaw.
“That man has political power.”
“If I refuse treatment…”
“I could lose my job.”
Then—
One word froze Reiji completely.
Power.
The doctor pulled away and ran.
All of them left.
For the politician.
For power.
Reiji stood motionless.
His father’s voice echoed inside his mind.
“The powerful survive.”
“The weak perish.”
Reiji slowly turned.
He walked toward Riko’s room.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He entered.
Riko lay weakly in bed.
Machines beeped around her.
Reiji sat beside her.
He took her tiny hand in both of his.
It felt cold.
Too cold.
Tears rolled down his face.
“Riko…”
His voice broke.
“It’ll be okay.”
He forced a smile.
“Believe me.”
Then—
The monitor beep changed.
Reiji looked up.
The line on the screen flattened.
A straight line.
No movement.
No heartbeat.
No life.
Reiji stopped breathing.
His eyes widened.
His heart forgot how to beat.
For one impossible second—
The world became silent.
Then—
He shattered.
“No…”
His voice cracked.
“No… no…”
Tears exploded from his eyes.
“RIKO!”
He broke into uncontrollable sobs.
His small body shook violently.
His screams filled the room.
But no one came.
No one cared.
No one saved her.
Because they chose power.
Not her.
Not Riko.
Power.
His father’s words returned once more.
Over and over.
“The one with power survives.”
“The weak perish.”
Reiji’s sobbing slowly stopped.
Silence returned.
His tears continued falling.
But something inside him changed.
Something broke.
Something froze.
His trembling fists slowly tightened.
His crimson eyes darkened.
He whispered to himself.
“…I understand now.”
His voice was empty.
Cold.
“If power decides everything…”
He lowered his head.
Then slowly looked up.
The innocence in his eyes was gone.
Completely.
“Then I will become the most powerful person in this world.”
His voice no longer sounded like a child’s.
Calm.
Terrifying.
“Power greater than anyone.”
“So no one will ever be able to deny me.”
A faint smile appeared.
Not warm.
Not human.
Almost cruel.
“And when that happens…”
“This world will belong to me.”
He clenched Riko’s lifeless hand.
And made his vow.
“I WILL RULE THIS WORLD.”
End of Chapter 22.