Raiyokan and the Fibonacci Sequence

Chapter 15: The Fight Begins!!

In a macabre performance, the parasite wove its venomous words, casting doubts on the image I had built of Peter, as if aiming to undermine my faith. Its voice revealed a narrative intended to corrode trust in Peter and the hope I placed in humanity.

— You see, my dear — hissed the parasite — Peter is not the sanctuary of virtues you believe him to be. Unconsciously, he offered space for my presence, feeding me with his vulnerabilities. His integrity is nothing but a mask, an illusion that will crumble.

The revelation struck like a dagger to the convictions I held. The parasite, a manipulator of the psyche, insisted that its action was merely a response to human behavior, a symbiosis between its malevolence and the host's predisposition. In its view, the responsibility fell upon each individual's shoulders.

— Understand this — it continued, voice thick with malice — my existence depends on the gaps left by humans. Only when someone like your dear Peter opens the doors of his soul to darkness can I thrive. I am the product of shadows humanity projects, a reflection of its inclination toward degradation.

It was undeniable that the parasite, despite its dark nature, found justification in the opening humanity inadvertently allowed. Yet the irony lay in the clear incompatibility between the space offered by society and Peter's unyielding resistance.

— No, you are wrong — I replied, striving to maintain firmness in my voice. — Peter did not yield space to you. He is a victim of circumstances, of the inequality society perpetuates. You merely exploited his wounds.

— Ah, how naïve you are — the parasite mocked. — Society is complicit, yes, but Peter opened the door. He is weak, like all of you. And I, cunningly, exploit these weaknesses.

I knew the truth: Peter had not surrendered space to the parasite; on the contrary, he had involuntarily become a victim of a reality he had not forged. Society, unfortunately, acted as an accomplice, stigmatizing those like Peter who emerged from challenging circumstances. He had thus become a vulnerable target for the parasite's malevolent designs, which cunningly exploited the wounds of inequality.

Peter, an example of resilience, had faced the adversities of a community without surrendering to victimhood. On the contrary, he was a virtuous figure, defying expectations and shaping himself through the strength of his integrity.

The parasite, insidiously, confronted me with the cruel irony of inequality and prejudice, demonstrating how these negative forces granted it authority to sow destruction. Yet even in the face of this reality, I knew it was not a simple linear equation, where inequality guaranteed the parasite's appearance.

I recalled the rise of the Thunder clan, a manifestation of the darker side of social disparities in my native universe. Yet, a disquieting understanding emerged: there were universes where inequality did not spawn evil entities like the Thunders or the parasite now threatening Earth.

This enigma demanded discernment before a pattern that remained elusive. Inequality, it seemed, was not the only catalyst for darkness; there was something else, a hidden variable that eluded me. The mystery provoked a quest for understanding, as I faced the task of uncovering why in some regions inequality was fertile ground for evil, while in others it remained a fleeting shadow.

The weight of this realization—the idea that evil was not a simple consequence of social injustice—instigated reflection. What distinguished the realities where inequality catalyzed the emergence of evil from those where this link did not exist? The answer seemed to reside at the intersection of free will and the forces shaping existence.

As my mind absorbed these riddles, I was pulled from this abyss of thought, focusing on the arena where Mariana, the fearless warrior of Yetu County, engaged in a duel with a traitor from her own community.