Chapter 2: The Mission Begins


    Four years had passed.


    Loki jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat. That fucking dream again. Every night, the same goddamn thing.


    He sat up, rubbing his temples, trying to shake off the unease clawing at his mind.


    "Oi, Loki!" Bo’s voice cut through the silence as he barged into the room. "Are you seriously still scared of a dream? Come on, man, grow a spine already!"


    Loki shot him a glare. "Shut the fuck up, Bo."


    Before Bo could retort, something flickered in front of Loki’s eyes—a glowing, translucent screen hovering in midair.


    "The hell is this…?" Loki muttered.


    Bo frowned. "What are you talking about?"


    "You don’t see it?" Loki asked, pointing at the hologram.


    Bo stared at him like he had lost his mind. "See what? You daydreaming again, dumbass?"


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Loki ignored him and focused on the text displayed before him.


    > System Activation: Start the system?


    Yes | No


    Without thinking, Loki muttered, "Yes."


    The screen flickered again, shifting its text.


    > Mission Assigned: Kill Cyclops, the One-Eyed Giant.


    Warning: Denial will result in a penalty—5 years of lifespan lost.


    Loki’s heart pounded. Five fucking years?!


    Bo waved a hand in front of his face. "Hello? Earth to Loki? You seriously losing it, man?"


    Loki exhaled sharply. So it’s only visible to me… Shit.


    Trying to play it cool, he said, "Nothing. Forget it."


    But his mind was racing. If this thing is real… then I don’t have a fucking choice.


    Loki turned to Bo. "Hey, Bo. Have you ever been to the outskirts of Veldor?"


    Bo narrowed his eyes. "The fuck kinda question is that? You know how dangerous it is out there."


    "If I don’t go… I’ll die."


    Bo snorted. "You’re talking nonsense. But fine, I’ll tag along. If you get eaten, at least I’ll have a funny story to tell."


    Loki nodded, but deep inside, anxiety twisted in his gut. He wasn’t just taking a risk—he was stepping into something far bigger than he could comprehend.


    At home, he told his mother, "Hey, Mom, I’m heading out for a hunt. Make something good for dinner."


    A lie.


    When night fell, Loki and Bo made their way to the outskirts of Veldor. As they walked, the weight of the unknown pressed down on Loki.


    "Hey, Loki," Bo muttered. "You sure about this? A fucking Cyclops? Do you even know what that is?"


    "You’ll see," Loki replied, but inside, doubt gnawed at him. What if I’m wrong? What if I believed some fairy tale and dragged us both to our deaths?


    The city lights faded behind them, swallowed by the thick darkness of the wilderness. Streets emptied. Houses locked. The world became eerily silent.


    Bo shivered. "Loki, why the fuck aren’t you scared?"


    Loki took a sip from his water flask. "I don’t know, man. Ever since this morning… I just feel different."


    "You mean after your little ‘daydream’ about killing a Cyclops?" Bo scoffed. "You got played, dumbass."


    Loki’s breath hitched. "If I don’t do this, I lose five years of my life, Bo."


    Silence.


    Then Bo finally spoke, his voice low. "That’s some fucked-up shit, Loki."


    Before Loki could respond, something moved in the shadows.


    A dark figure. Lurking. Watching.


    Loki’s body tensed.


    "Bo," he whispered, eyes locked on the creeping silhouette. "I think we just made a huge fucking mistake."