《The Unwritten Dream》


 Chapter 1: Awake

    ''What a terrible dream¡­ though I¡¯m glad it was just a dream.''


    ''My body aches. It hurts. I can¡¯t move. I¡¯m so tired. I just want to rest, but something feels off. For some reason, I feel really cold.''


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ''Hm¡­ A voice? Who is it? I can barely hear them. Are there more than one? Wait¡­ what¡¯s going on? My head¡ªit feels like I¡¯m going to pass out. No, wait. I just woke up¡­ Ugh, damn it, wait¡ª''


    ¡­


    ¡°Is he alive?¡± a man¡¯s voice asked.


    ¡°Yes, barely. But this is impossible. How can he survive in this place? And with the state of his body,¡± a woman replied, her voice trembling with confusion.


    ¡°C-Commander, the necklace he¡¯s wearing!¡± the woman exclaimed, stunned, but was interrupted by a tremor in the earth. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed, like a horde approaching. The ground beneath me trembled.


    ¡°COMMANDER, THEY ARE COMING!¡± shouted a man, his voice distant but urgent.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time! We need to leave! Hera, take him before we get swarmed. We¡¯ll think about it later,¡± a commanding, deep voice urged, his tone frantic.


    ¡°All right,¡± the woman responded.


    ¡­


    ''Where am I now? Am I dreaming again? No, this doesn¡¯t feel like a dream. It¡¯s cold... empty.''


    ¡°Julian.¡±


    ''Eh? Who?''


    ¡°His name will be Julian Campbell.¡±


    ''A woman¡¯s voice? What is she talking about? It¡¯s pitch black¡ªI can¡¯t see anything. And who is Julian Campbell?''


    ¡°My son.¡±


    ''Son? Is she talking about me? Seriously, there are too many things going on¡ªI can¡¯t wrap my head around this.''


    ''Hahh... but this place¡ªrather, this feeling¡ªdoesn¡¯t feel bad. It¡¯s actually comfortable, like I belong here.''


    ''Nahh, I think I need to wake up. With this kind of comfort, I might get addicted to staying here. I feel like I don¡¯t want to wake up from this dream at all. If possible, I¡¯d just like to sle¡ª''


    ''No, what do you mean, sleep? I¡¯m dreaming, so technically, I am sleeping. This feels like some kind of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.''


    ''Anyway, when will I wake up? This is truly weird. I feel like I¡¯m sleeping but not at the same time.''


    ''It just feels like my own world¡ªa place where I belong. Rest, perhaps. Is it telling me to rest? Then I wi¡ª''


    ¡­


    ¡°How long will he rest?¡± a man with a very deep voice asked.


    ¡°I do not know, Commander. But for now, maybe it¡¯s best to let him be. Considering the condition of his body, I think¡­ it¡¯s best to consider that he is¡­¡± The woman paused for a moment before continuing, her voice trembling. ¡°Commander, maybe he is dead.¡±


    The man replied firmly, ¡°He is still breathing.¡±


    ¡°E-even so, it¡¯s strange. He¡¯s breathing, but there¡¯s no heartbeat. Not only that, the way he is breathing is abnormal. His veins, everything¡ªthey¡¯re all ruined. His body is already destroyed. And what¡¯s even more alarming is his blood. Something is wrong with him, Commander. What if he is¡ª¡±


    The man, referred to as Commander, interrupted her with authority. ¡°If he is, then I will kill him with my own hands. But for now, please do everything you can to keep him alive.¡± He paused for a moment, his tone growing serious. ¡°We need answers. Whether we survive or not, we¡¯ll gamble it all.¡±


    The woman, visibly shaken but respectful, answered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just scared. I¡¯ll do what I can, Commander.¡±


    The man nodded slightly. ¡°Thank you for your understanding.¡±


    ¡­


    ''Ugh¡­ Did I fall asleep? How is that even possible? I¡¯m pretty sure I was awake¡­ Wait. This doesn¡¯t feel the same as earlier. No, it feels like I¡¯m really awake this time.''


    ''Am I awake? Or not? Which one is it? What is this d¨¦j¨¤ vu feeling¡­''


    ''Anyway, it¡¯s dark. Are my eyes closed? Am I sure I¡¯m not back in the same place as earlier? It¡¯s dark here too, but¡­''


    ''Hmmm¡­ Earlier, I could feel my body, but now I can¡¯t. What the fuck is going on? This kind of d¨¦j¨¤ vu isn¡¯t funny anymore.''


    ''No, perhaps I¡¯m still sleeping. How do I wake up in this kind of situation? Do I just focus and try to wake up? Alright, let¡¯s try it¡­''


    ''Hmmmmphhh¡­''


    ''Nah, it¡¯s not working. I just feel embarrassed now. Anyway, I think I should just focus and try to feel my body. What I did earlier was stupid. Am I in sleep paralysis, maybe?''


    ''Well, I can¡¯t move, and it¡¯s dark¡­ but I can¡¯t see my body or any ghosts either.''


    ''Hahh¡­ In any case, maybe I¡¯ll just sleep again. If I¡¯m really awake, surely, like earlier, I¡¯ll be able to sleep again, right? But the problem is, I don¡¯t feel tired at all. I don¡¯t think I can sleep. So, let¡¯s focus on waking up. Seriously, this shit is confusing.''


    ''Alright, I should try to move my body. Even if I¡¯m in sleep paralysis, I should be able to move if I force it, maybe by moving a finger. Hmm¡­ let¡¯s see.''


    ''Oh¡­ right. I forgot¡ªI can¡¯t feel my body. It feels like I don¡¯t even have one.''


    ''Nahh, bro. This is scary. I really need to try moving my finger now.''


    ''If I can¡¯t feel my body, then I¡¯ll imagine I have one¡­ Yeah, that¡¯s stupid. Anyway, let¡¯s do this¡­''


    ''Hmmmphhh¡­''


    ''Suddenly, a surge of pain shoots through my chest.''


    ''Wh¡ªugh¡­ ahhh¡­!''Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ...


    It was a silent room¡ªa dark, shabby room. A man lay on a cheap, single bed. Beside the bed was a small table with a pencil, a few books, and an unlit candle.


    The silence was thick; there was no one else in the room, only the man resting.


    Then, suddenly, the man on the bed began to shake uncontrollably. The bed itself shook violently, creating loud thumping sounds as it struck the wooden floor.


    The table beside the bed toppled over, sending the candle, books, and pencil crashing to the floor. At the same time, the man began to vomit a thick, black liquid, spilling it across the bed and the floor.


    ''Ughhh¡­ ahhh¡­ what¡¯s going on? My chest¡­ it feels like it¡¯s going to explode! Someone¡­ save¡­ ahhhhh!''


    As though some invisible force was reconnecting strings within him, a spark of life ignited in his chest. His heart began to beat¡ªthump, thump, thump¡ªand his lungs took in a deep, ragged breath.


    ''Hahhh¡­ the pain stopped?''


    He could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat now: thump, thump, thump.


    ''What¡¯s going on? My heart¡­ I can feel my heart. I can feel myself breathing¡­¡± He paused, the fear in his voice growing. ¡°This is¡­ this is insane. I¡¯m scared now. What¡¯s happening to my body?''


    The man winced. ''Ughhh¡­ that pain¡­ I never want to feel that again.¡± He paused and took a moment to think. ¡°But wait¡­ this is strange. I can¡¯t feel my body, only my heart and my breathing. Hmm¡­ does this mean I need to go through more of this to feel the rest of my body again?''


    He hesitated, his mind racing.''But why is it just my chest? I¡¯m sure I tried to move my finger earlier. Is it because my chest is the most important part of my body? Does this mean the next thing will be my head?''


    A terrifying thought crossed his mind. ''But¡­ what happened to my body? Am I¡­ dead?''


    He shook the idea off quickly. ''No, no, no! Don¡¯t think like that. That¡¯s scary¡­ but¡­ could it be possible? Am I dead and about to be revived? Or is this heaven? Am I about to be reborn into my past life?''


    His thoughts spiraled. ''Past life? Reborn?''


    A sudden realization struck him. ''Wait¡­ who am I? I¡­ I can¡¯t seem to remember anything. All I know is that I woke up. Wait¡­ I remember dreaming¡­ but dreaming about what?''


    Fear and confusion overwhelmed him. ''This is terrifying. I can¡¯t feel my body, I don¡¯t know if this is a dream or not, and I can¡¯t remember anything. What¡¯s happening to me?''


    For three minutes, he pondered, hoping for a shred of clarity. But the more he thought, the more his confusion and fear grew. Eventually, he let out a deep sigh.


    ''Hahhh¡­ This is pointless. I can¡¯t figure out anything. I can¡¯t see, I don¡¯t know if this is real, and overthinking isn¡¯t helping.''


    He paused, replaying the moment in his mind. ''Wait. When I tried to move my finger earlier and failed, something happened to my chest instead. That¡¯s when I started breathing and my heart began to beat.''


    A terrifying thought crept into his mind. ''Could it be¡­ I didn¡¯t have a heart to begin with? Does that mean I don¡¯t have eyes to open either?¡± He clenched his nonexistent jaw. ¡°Damn it, I hope that¡¯s not true. But¡­ it might be. If that¡¯s the case, then I have no choice but to accept it for now.''


    He took a deep breath¡ªor as deep as he could manage.''Instead of worrying about who I am or what¡¯s wrong with my body, I should focus on trying to fix it. If I can regain control over my body, I might find the answers I¡¯m looking for.''


    His resolve hardened. ''The problem is¡­ I don¡¯t know the state of my body. And worse, I don¡¯t want to experience that pain again.''


    He shuddered at the memory. ''Even if it was brief, it hurt like hell. But¡­ I guess I don¡¯t have a choice, do I?''


    He thought for a moment. ''Since it started with my chest, the next part will probably be my head. After all, the brain and eyes are connected. If I can activate my head, I might be able to see where I am and figure out what¡¯s happening to me.''


    His thoughts wandered again. ''But wait¡­ how am I even alive? How am I thinking without a brain? This hurts my brain¡ªeven though I don¡¯t have one!''


    With a nervous laugh, he steeled himself. ''Alright¡­ let¡¯s do this. If I try to move my finger again, I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll redirect to my head this time. And then¡­ I¡¯ll finally be able to see.''


    He took another deep breath. ''Alright¡­ let¡¯s go.''


    ...


    It wasn¡¯t working.


    ''Ugh¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure I just tried to move my finger, and it worked before. So why not now?''


    Frustration and panic began to creep in. ''Should I¡­ should I try to go directly for my brain?''


    He hesitated but realized he had no other choice. ''Fine. I don¡¯t have many options anyway, so I might as well do whatever I can.''


    He took a deep, shaky breath and steeled himself. ''Alright, one more time¡­ I¡¯ll think I have a body. I¡¯ll think I have eyes. I¡¯ll think I have a br¡ª''


    A sudden, searing pain erupted in his head.


    ''Ughhh! Ahhh! Damn it, this pain¡ªahhh!''


    ...


    The bed began to shake violently once again. His head thrashed uncontrollably, making loud creaking noises against the old mattress.


    Suddenly, his eyes opened.


    At first, they were hollow and empty¡ªpitch black voids with no life. Then, from the emptiness, thin red veins began to emerge, weaving through the void like cracks in shattered glass. They connected and formed a circular pattern, resembling an eerie, incomplete eye.


    The veins pulsated, glowing red for a brief moment before being absorbed into the pupils. The black void turned a deep crimson, then faded into black. Finally, his eyes normalized, looking human again.


    He gasped loudly, sucking in air through his mouth as the pain dissipated.


    ¡°I-I can see¡­¡±


    He blinked, taking in his surroundings. ¡°It¡­ worked. I can really see! But¡­ why can¡¯t I move my body?¡±


    It was dark, the faintest light of the candle barely illuminating the shabby, cramped room around him. He lay on a cheap mattress, covered by a thin, scratchy blanket.


    Desperate to move, he tried forcing his body to respond. Slowly, he willed himself to lift his torso, but a sharp, stinging pain stopped him in his tracks.


    ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± He clicked his tongue in frustration and instinctively pulled the blanket off his body using his mouth. What he saw made his breath catch.


    His veins¡ªthin, red, and pulsating¡ªmoved beneath his skin as if they were alive, stitching and connecting themselves. They glowed faintly, slithering like living threads.


    ¡°Th-this is¡­ is this what¡¯s happening to me?¡±


    Little by little, he began to regain control of his body. His fingers twitched, and with effort, he managed to raise his hand. He stared at it in amazement as the veins continued to repair and recreate themselves.


    ¡°This is¡­ unbelievable.¡±


    He then removed his blanket and tried to move his arm again. Just like before, the veins beneath his skin seemed alive, shifting unnaturally. Slowly but surely, he regained control¡ªnot just over his arms, but his entire body, including his legs.


    He stood up, awestruck by the sensations coursing through him. It was like experiencing the world for the first time, akin to a newborn finally mastering their own limbs.


    ¡°This is truly... unbelievable,¡± he murmured, his voice tinged with both wonder and unease. ¡°I wonder who bestowed this upon me¡­¡± He pondered further, his thoughts swirling in the void of his missing memories. ¡°Having no recollection of anything¡ªthis is beyond unreal. And these things happening to me¡­ the most unreal of all. Is there some unseen force that has awakened me? Heh.¡±


    A faint smile flickered on his lips¡ªuntil his eyes caught sight of something hanging around his neck. A crystal-blue lapis lazuli necklace.


    "Hmm¡­ What¡¯s this?"


    Curiosity compelled him to raise his hand and touch the stone.


    The moment his fingers brushed against it, the dimly lit room was swallowed by utter darkness. The flickering candlelight vanished, leaving him blind in an abyss. His heart pounded as he frantically looked around, but there was nothing¡ªonly emptiness. It no longer felt like the same cramped room.


    He instinctively stepped back, retreating from the oppressive void, when suddenly¡ª


    Splash.


    His foot met water.


    Cold, stagnant.


    ''Water...? What is this? Where am I now? What is goi¡ª''


    Before he could process the situation, a hand shot out from the depths, latching onto his ankle.


    The darkness around him shifted. The water, once invisible, glowed crimson, illuminating the nightmare unfolding before him. The smell of iron¡ªthick and suffocating¡ªfilled the air. It wasn¡¯t just water. It was blood.


    And then came more hands. Rotting, blackened, their nails jagged and sharp, digging into his skin. The crimson tide rose unnaturally fast, engulfing his legs, creeping higher.


    From the depths of the blood, a face emerged.


    Its eyes were covered by yet another decayed hand, as if something¡ªor someone¡ªwas controlling it from behind. And as it surfaced, countless hands erupted from the blood, seizing him from all sides, gripping him tightly, rendering him unable to move.


    The face twisted into a grotesque grin¡ªits lips stretching unnaturally wide, nearly splitting to its ears. Then, with a voice that sent a violent shudder through his soul, it spoke:


    ¡°Ju... Julian Camp... Campbell... My son.¡±


    Terror shot through him like lightning.


    And just like that¡ª


    He was back.


    The dimly lit room returned in an instant. His body collapsed onto the cold floor with a loud thud, his breath ragged, his heart hammering against his ribs.


    Before he could fully grasp what had happened, the door burst open with a resounding crash.


    Light flooded in, momentarily blinding him.


    A figure stood in the doorway.


    A man.


    His gaze was cold, unreadable.


    The terror he had experienced had not yet faded due to what had happened earlier, but it seemed he still wasn¡¯t going to get any rest or even have time to process it. A lot had happened to him, and now, who is this man?

 Chapter 2: Prison

    I could hear my heartbeat pounding loudly in the cramped room, my breath coming in ragged gasps¡ªstill shaken by the presence of the woman earlier. But despite my terrified state, the man before me regarded me with a cold glare. His red eyes, patterned like distant stars, were filled with caution, analyzing me as if warning me that the distance between us¡ªno more than the width of the bed¡ªwas the only thing keeping me safe.


    Without warning, he spoke in a deep, icy voice.


    "You''re awake," he said nonchalantly, his cold tone carrying a hint of intimidation.


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond. I simply stared at him, still reeling from everything that had happened, still remembering what the woman had said¡ªthe name Julian Campbell. ''Am I Julian Campbell?''


    The man, however, paid me no mind. Instead, he glanced around curiously before speaking again.


    "You look like you''ve seen a ghost. Is something wrong? ¡­Perhaps something on my face?" he asked, his tone unwaveringly cold.


    I forced myself to calm down, slowing my breathing bit by bit as I tried to assess who this man was. I studied his appearance, searching for any clues about his identity.


    He wore glasses over his cold red eyes, their star-like pattern making them eerily mesmerizing. Dark circles clung beneath them, proof that he hadn¡¯t slept in a long time. A long black coat draped over his frame, adding to his dignified yet intimidating presence. He moved with an air of elegance and importance, like a nobleman or someone of great status.


    His face was flawless¡ªalmost unnaturally so, as if sculpted by the gods themselves. Despite the exhaustion evident in his sunken eyes, his beauty remained untarnished. His body was well-toned, his skin pale, and his black hair reached just past his neck. But his crimson eyes¡­ they were the most unsettling part. They didn¡¯t match his face at all. They were the eyes of a devil.


    Just as I was beginning to process my thoughts about him, he suddenly walked toward the bed. Without a word, he reached for the cheap, ragged blanket and began fixing it with practiced ease.


    "If you have time to wake up," he muttered, "can''t you at least fix the bed?"


    He adjusted the pillow, patting the blanket before sighing. Then, turning back to me, he noticed the way I was still staring at him in fear. His glare, once sharp and intimidating, softened slightly.


    "You know¡­" He sighed again. "Hahh, stop looking at me like that¡ªas if I''m about to kill you."


    After fixing the bed, he crossed his arms and continued, "It''s not like I¡¯ve become a Nightspawn or something horrible."


    Hearing that, confusion settled in my mind. ''Nightspawn? What does he mean by that?'' My thoughts were still tangled with fear, but seeing the man in front of me, I complied with his earlier request, first calming my breathing and composing myself.


    Slowly, I tried to rise, but my legs wouldn¡¯t stop trembling. I had to grip the edge of the bed for support. Even then, standing felt like an impossible feat.


    Before I could speak, he stopped me.


    "Wait," he said, leaning against the nearby table. "I see¡­ it seems I came a bit too early. I apologize. You¡¯re still having a hard time since you just woke up. And I think there¡¯s no reason for me to be here anymore¡ªI¡¯ve seen enough, including everything about you."


    His words only deepened my confusion. When he first entered, he had been wary, watching me cautiously. But now, it was as if he had already figured me out. How? I hadn¡¯t even spoken a single word. What was his real reason for coming here? Was he observing me?


    But how could he know anything about me in such a short time? And what impression did I leave on him?


    The man tilted his head slightly, his gaze scanning the room as if searching for any clues about what I had been doing before all of this. Finding nothing of interest, he crossed his arms and looked back at me.


    "Well," he said, "I say this, but it¡¯s still not over. Nothing good will come from letting you out without precautions. Your case is still unresolved¡­ but I¡¯ll let you rest for now. I just came too early, huh?"


    Finally, he introduced himself.


    "I am Lucas, the commander of this place. We¡¯ll be seeing each other often."


    I hesitated. Should I trust him? He had shown up with such wariness and hostility, yet now he was offering what seemed like kindness.


    Should I accept it? ¡­I don¡¯t even know my situation right now. I have no memories, no idea where I am. I¡¯m vulnerable in every way.


    But right now¡­ he might be the only one who can help me.


    Before I could finish my thoughts, the man suddenly smiled.


    "I see¡­ so you¡¯ve lost your memory, Julian Campbell. That¡¯s actually better¡­ or worse. But that is already enough."


    His words sent a jolt through my body. My breath caught in my throat, and I instinctively stepped back, my hands gripping the bed for support.


    Lucas, however, didn¡¯t stop.


    "I¡¯ve deduced your existence now," he continued, "but that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t continue to do so in the future. Though, it might be hard for me¡­ I have a lot of work to do." He sighed.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "Well, for now, you¡¯re free to rest here however you want. But remember¡ªdon¡¯t cause any trouble while I¡¯m gone. I¡¯m not the only Worldwalker in this place." He paused, running a hand through his hair before adding, "Though¡­ hahh, we have too many problems already."


    "In any case, your existence is safe, Julian Campbell. Welcome to the Ruin."


    Lucas then walked toward the door, but just as he was about to leave, he glanced to his left, as if acknowledging someone standing just beyond the doorway.


    ¡°He¡¯s safe,¡± he said, his voice calm yet firm. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a look at him, so there¡¯s no need to worry anymore. Please welcome him as one of us¡ªone of the survivors. I trust you with him.¡±


    He smiled at the person he was addressing, who remained hidden behind the stone wall or the doorframe. Then, turning back to me, he added with a smirk, ¡°And I also trust that you won¡¯t give me too much trouble. If you do, well¡­ I might just kick you in here.¡±


    I was puzzled by his words, unsure if he was joking or being serious. But his warm smile softened the tension in the air, almost as if he truly was welcoming me.


    And then¡ªjust as I was beginning to process everything¡ªsomething changed in him. His red, star-like eyes, which had reminded me of a devil, suddenly shifted, the crimson hue bleeding away like ink dissolving in water. In its place, a deep blue emerged¡ªvast and endless, like the ocean stretching beyond the horizon. The transformation was both startling and mesmerizing, as if I were witnessing something beyond human comprehension. It reminded me of the strange woman from earlier.


    However, Lucas¡¯s gaze soon shifted¡ªnot toward me, but to my necklace. His expression, once warm, turned serious. He stared at it for only a brief moment before finally turning away and walking off to his right.


    As soon as he left, I collapsed onto the bed, my legs finally giving out beneath me. Letting out a deep sigh, I stared at the ceiling, my mind utterly exhausted.


    ¡®I guess that¡¯s it¡­ Hahh¡­ If something else supernatural happens, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to keep up. That man¡­ Lucas¡­ His eyes changed from crimson to ocean blue. Can he read my mind? And at the very end, he looked at my necklace¡­ Why?¡¯


    I looked at the small pendant on my chest, inspecting it carefully. I was scared to touch it again, afraid that the woman might return. And as if the man and woman had drained my energy, I couldn''t even think clearly enough to truly examine it.


    ¡®Hahh¡­ I don¡¯t think I have the energy to figure it out right now. Too much has happened in such a short amount of time. My head can¡¯t wrap around all of this. Maybe I should just rest¡­¡¯


    I chuckled weakly to myself.


    ¡®Heh, I slept for so long, and now I¡¯m going to sleep again. But maybe I just need to let my brain rest and figure out my next move later. Lucas said he trusts me¡­ and that I¡¯m safe here. So maybe, just maybe, I can trust him a little, too¡­¡¯


    Just as I was about to close my eyes, I noticed movement near the door. A girl stood there, slowly stepping inside, trying not to make a sound.


    At a glance, I could see the fear in her green eyes. She looked terrified.


    She was carrying a black plate and a cup of water. Her ginger hair framed her pale face, and she wore a simple green dress. She appeared to be around eighteen or twenty years old.


    When she realized I had noticed her, she took a nervous step back, nearly dropping the plate in her hands.


    ¡°I¡ªI¡­ I¡¯ve¡­ come to bring you food,¡± she stammered. ¡°Co-Commander said it was prepared for you¡­¡±


    Not wanting to scare her any further, I sat up slowly, giving her a reassuring smile.


    ¡°I see. Well, can you please place it on the table?¡±


    She hesitated before nodding and carefully walking over to the table. Her head remained lowered, her posture tense, as if she didn¡¯t dare look at me. The atmosphere between us felt awkward¡ªI wasn¡¯t sure what to do.


    After setting the plate down, she turned back toward me, still avoiding eye contact. Her respectful and polite manner was a stark contrast to Lucas¡¯s cold and confident demeanor. There was no sense of superiority in her stance¡ªonly fear.


    ¡°If¡­ If you¡¯d like,¡± she said in a quiet voice, ¡°you can turn on the crystal light to brighten the room.¡±


    ¡®Crystal light?¡¯ I thought. I had no idea what that was.


    ¡°Sorry, but¡­ what¡¯s a crystal light?¡± I asked.


    She looked startled. ¡°E-Eh? You¡­ You don¡¯t know?¡±


    I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. ¡°Yeah, it seems I¡¯ve lost my memory. I don¡¯t know much about anything¡ªnot even myself. So¡­ I guess I¡¯m pretty ignorant about a lot of things.¡±


    I hoped that smiling warmly¡ªjust like Lucas had done earlier¡ªmight help ease her fear of me. But when I glanced at her again, she was silent, frozen as if unsure how to respond.


    Feeling awkward, I quickly added, ¡°Th-Then¡­ could you turn it on for me?¡±


    She nodded twice without a word, then crouched beside the table, reaching underneath it. She appeared to be adjusting something before moving to the right side of the table, where she pressed a hidden switch.


    Suddenly, a bright light flooded the room, momentarily blinding me.


    ¡®What the¡ª?¡¯


    I looked up and saw a crystal attached to the ceiling, glowing with a steady, almost natural light. The upper part of the crystal was encased in a circular frame, while its lower half emitted a warm, ambient glow.


    The girl then blew out the candle that had been the only source of light before. With the room fully illuminated, I was able to see everything clearly for the first time.


    I hadn¡¯t noticed earlier, but the room had no windows. There was a closet in front of me that I hadn¡¯t seen before. The bed had mirrors attached to it, and on its right side, there was a sink with a cabinet above it. Pipes extended from the spout, running along the wall and ceiling. Even the table was connected to the crystal light through a series of thin metal conduits.


    As I took in my surroundings, the girl spoke again.


    ¡°Th-Then¡­ if you need anything, please press the button on the door. I¡¯ll be leaving now. Please excuse me.¡±


    Her words made me instinctively glance at the door. Sure enough, on the left side of the metal frame, there was a button connected to small pipes that disappeared into the ceiling.


    Curious, I asked, ¡°Does that send a message to you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°It notifies us, but sometimes¡­ I might not be the one who answers.¡±


    ¡®Us? Who exactly are they?¡¯


    Another question surfaced in my mind. ¡°Sorry, but¡­ can I ask something?¡±


    The girl hesitated. ¡°Uhm¡­ If it¡¯s within my authority to answer, then please do.¡±


    ¡®Authority? So there are things she can and can¡¯t say?¡¯


    I decided not to dwell on it and asked anyway. ¡°Where exactly are we?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s all you want to know¡­ We are in the Ruin¡¯s Prison¡ªunderground. It¡¯s where our base is located. The Worldwalkers operate from here. This is also where we imprison the monsters we capture.¡±


    ¡®Monsters? Is that related to what Lucas mentioned earlier? Nightspawn?¡¯


    Realization dawned on me.


    ¡®So that¡¯s why she¡¯s afraid of me. I¡¯m being suspected as a monster¡­ and Lucas¡¯s "precaution" before letting me out means I¡¯m under investigation. Then¡­ what was that woman from before? The one with the creepy hands? Was she one of these "monsters"? Does Lucas know more than he let on?¡¯


    The girl¡¯s voice pulled me from my thoughts.


    ¡°I-Is that all?¡±


    I wanted to protest, to tell her I wasn¡¯t a monster, but I knew it wouldn¡¯t change anything. Instead, I forced another small smile.


    ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡±


    She immediately turned and left, as if she had been waiting for an excuse to escape. The door closed behind her with a heavy metallic thud, and I heard the lock click into place.


    Only then did I realize¡ªthe door was made of metal. ''So I¡¯m being suspected as a monster, and this is my prison, I thought to myself, my expression sinking with sadness.''


    Letting out another sigh, knowing I couldn¡¯t do anything, I slumped back onto the bed closing my eyes.


    Too much had happened. Too many unanswered questions.


    And yet¡­


    I was too exhausted to think anymore.

 Chapter 3: Investigation

    The sound of my pen scratching against the paper echoed through the room, accompanied by the steady drip of water from the sink¡¯s spout. The bright glow of the crystal light on the ceiling illuminated the space. In the mirror¡¯s reflection, a man sat at the table, writing.


    Julian Campbell¡­


    "It''s officially day two since I ended up here. I have nothing to do, so I¡¯ve been writing and gathering information. That man, Lucas, hasn¡¯t even visited me once. I¡¯m getting bored, so I¡¯ve just been reading the books on the table. They probably put them here for prisoners anyway. At this point, I¡¯ve gathered all the information available to me. I guess you could say information is my power¡ªheh."


    Leaning back in the chair, I propped my feet up on the table, not caring about manners. I placed my hands behind my head and closed my eyes. After a brief moment, I opened them again.


    "On the first day after I woke up¡ªor actually, just yesterday, after everything that happened¡ªthe first thing I investigated was the crystal necklace I¡¯m wearing¡­ and that woman. I touched the necklace again, but of course, I had to muster my courage first. Nothing happened. The woman didn¡¯t appear, nor was there any reaction.


    Frustrated, I tried to remove it, and¡ªyeah. The moment I lifted it, it electrocuted my hand. It stung like hell. But if I just touch it, nothing happens. What¡¯s the principle behind that? Is it just another supernatural phenomenon? Heh. I¡¯m getting tired of this shit."


    "Anyway, I ran numerous experiments on it, but none of them were useful. Every attempt failed¡ªcompletely worthless. As for the woman¡­ I have no information. The only thing I know is that she called me her son¡ªJulian Campbell.


    But is she crazy? Delusional?


    What even is she?


    A whirlpool of blood, those hands, her terrifying presence¡­ She¡¯s a monster. There¡¯s no way we¡¯re related."


    "I¡¯ll leave it at that for now. I don¡¯t have enough information about her or this so-called ¡®son¡¯ of hers. Julian Campbell¡­"


    Sigh.


    "Speaking of names, ever since that man¡ªLucas¡ªcalled me that, everyone who brings me food refers to me as Julian Campbell now. Thinking back, I should have fought back somehow, but what could I do? I was too scared. My mind wasn¡¯t working properly. And I was manipulated¡ªsomehow.


    I don¡¯t know how, but that conversation¡­ it felt planned, like I was already trapped before it even started. He was the only one actually talking in that conversation. That man, Lucas, with his devilish eyes¡­


    Can he read minds? Does he have some kind of supernatural ability?


    And if he does¡­ what other abilities does he have?"


    "Hahh¡­ There are too many things I don¡¯t know¡ªincluding myself, of course. I actually tried to gather information from the people who come here, but every time I tried to speak to them, they ignored me. They just open the food slot in the door, put the food inside my room¡ªmy prison¡ªand say the same phrase every time:


    ''Julian Campbell, classified as safe or under investigation. Your meal is here.''


    Yup. That¡¯s all they say.


    I tried to talk to them, but of course, they wouldn¡¯t respond.


    Who would even talk to a man currently suspected of being a monster, right? That¡¯s actually hurtful.


    I¡¯m not a monster.


    That¡¯s what I want to tell them¡ªto yell at them. But who would even believe me? I guess proof is the only thing they need¡­ but how do I prove it?


    All I can do is wait for their investigation to finish.


    But they haven¡¯t even done anything.


    Hahh¡­ At this point, all I can say is¡ªfuck it."


    "And the worst part? The name. Heh."


    "Well, I guess I can¡¯t do anything about my name now. Or who I am. I have no choice but to accept it.


    From now on¡­ I am Julian Campbell."


    "Names aside, I had no other option left but to press the button near the door to gather information. I was actually hoping that the woman who cared for me yesterday would show up, but yeah¡­ I guess she¡¯s scared of me. I never even saw her. Every time I pressed it, a grumpy man would always show up instead.


    The dude has anger issues or something.


    I usually call him Guard 1 because he¡¯s the only one I¡¯ve seen other than the woman and Lucas. I couldn¡¯t see his face entirely, but his eyes¡­ they screamed anger.


    I wonder what his problem is.


    But yeah, I don¡¯t care. I just need information."


    "I kept pestering him, hoping he¡¯d give me some answers, but every time I asked something, he would just say:


    ''If it¡¯s not an emergency, please do not press the button.''


    Then he¡¯d leave.


    So I pressed it again.


    And again.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    By the fifth time, he didn¡¯t even bother coming.


    So what did I do next?


    I pressed it again. Lols.


    At this point, I just wanted to annoy him because I was bored. I think I pressed it 30 or 50 times¡ªsomewhere in between. And guess what? He finally came, furious.


    So I asked where the bathroom was. Just to give a reason why I pressed it.


    And also¡­ I figured maybe I could learn something about this prison.


    If I could leave the room, I could at least get an idea of the layout. But surprisingly, they blindfolded and handcuffed me before guiding me there.


    They were so cautious¡­ maybe something had happened before, and they learned from their mistake.


    Anyway, nothing useful came from pressing the button, so I gave up on that right away.


    I actually did think about studying the layout at first because I wanted to escape, but yeah¡­ I gave up on that too.


    If I leave this place without knowing anything, that might just be suicide.


    Monsters exist.


    And since they have a prison for them, that must mean they¡¯re a frequent problem outside.


    With no memory, no weapon, no ability like that man Lucas, and only information to rely on for survival¡­ I¡¯m as good as dead."


    "Speaking of abilities, I think they¡¯re called Worldwalkers.


    I don¡¯t have much information about them since no one answers my questions, but maybe they¡¯re beings with special powers¡ªlike that man, Lucas. He introduced himself as one, after all.


    How do they become one?"


    "Hahh¡­ If only I had an ability to protect myself, I would have escaped a long time ago."


    "But I think that¡¯s still suicide since I don¡¯t even know what the outside world is like.


    I think this place is called the Ruins.


    Why, though?


    Is it on the verge of collapsing?


    What¡¯s the situation outside?


    ¡­Whatever it is, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not good."


    "My information is incomplete, but I¡¯m sure there are a lot of people like me in this prison."


    "Though¡­ not all of them are actually human.


    Heh.


    I wonder what these so-called monsters are like.


    I¡¯m curious about them.


    But I don¡¯t actually want to meet one.


    ¡­Just what do they look like?"


    Julian rocked his chair back, closing his eyes. Just as he leaned too far, a sudden knock at the door startled him, causing him to topple over with a loud crash. Groaning, he rubbed his back before picking up the chair and setting it upright.


    Then, a voice followed from the door.


    "Julian Campbell."


    Recognizing the name, I sighed and straightened myself. "If it¡¯s about the food, just do the usual and put it in the slot. No need to scare me half to death¡­ Damn, my back."


    But something was off. The voice was different from the usual person who brought my meals. It wasn¡¯t Guard 1¡¯s gruff tone. This meant something was happening. Still, I acted as if I didn¡¯t notice.


    The voice spoke again. "It¡¯s not about your food. It¡¯s about your investigation and what happens next."


    The door clanked, the knob twisted, and it swung open. A man stepped inside, flanked by a small group. "Lucas, the leader of the Falcon Squad, has requested your presence. I¡¯ll be escorting you there."


    Immediately, I could tell this man was dangerous. His presence was suffocating¡ªsimilar to Lucas¡¯s, but different. If Lucas had an aura of controlled authority, this man radiated something sharper, more brutal. The kind of person you¡¯d want to avoid at all costs.


    He was tall and well-built, with pale skin and a striking combination of red hair slicked back and a single violet eye. The other eye, a cloudy white, bore a deep scar running diagonally across it¡ªa wound that looked like a sword slash. A silver sword-shaped earring dangled from his right ear. He wore a long black coat that reached his knees, a black uniform underneath, and a gauntlet on his both hand. On the right side of his chest, pinned to his uniform, was a badge with three red stars¡ªa mark of high status. A sword rested at his waist.


    Behind him stood three others, all clad in similar coats but bearing badges with only two white stars. To his left was a man with white hair and piercing green eyes, his ivory skin and well-defined features giving him an almost noble air. To his right, a middle-aged man, possibly in his fifties, had dark auburn hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. Like their leader, both carried swords. They had to be his subordinates.


    The last person in the group stood slightly behind them¡ªa young woman in stark contrast to the rest. She wore white clothing instead of black, her long black hair framing a porcelain-skinned face with sharp green eyes.


    I frowned, assessing the situation. This setup was unusual. "Lucas? The man from yesterday? So, is my investigation finally happening?" I asked. "But what is this setup all about? I know I¡¯m being suspected of being a monster, but this is a chance to prove my innocence, right? How exactly is this going to happen?"


    The red-haired man tilted his head slightly, then narrowed his eye at me. "It seems there¡¯s a misunderstanding about your situation," he said, his voice cold and laced with intimidation. "Did Lucas not explain yesterday?"


    Misunderstanding?


    I clenched my fists. I had expected my information to be incomplete, but the way this man spoke made it clear¡ªI didn¡¯t even know the full extent of my own predicament. The weight of his presence was almost unbearable, making it difficult to think clearly, just like when I spoke to Lucas. But I couldn¡¯t afford to let that happen again. I needed to gather information this time. I needed to know what this "investigation" truly meant for me.


    I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "N-No. The information I received was so vague that I still don¡¯t understand my situation. Can you at least tell me what will happen to me?"


    The man clasped his hands behind his back. "You¡¯ll find out soon enough. Lucas will explain everything to you. But I will say this¡ªyou¡¯re lucky." His violet eye bore into me, scrutinizing. "I can see why Lucas classified you as safe, but I can¡¯t tell whether you¡¯re a monster in disguise or just an ordinary human. And that¡¯s because of that necklace of yours."


    His voice was laced with something unreadable. Caution? Disgust? Uncertainty?


    Regardless, as he spoke, he approached me until we were just centimeters apart. Up close, the difference in our height was obvious. He towered over me, the pressure of his presence pinning me in place like a predator sizing up prey. His glare was sharp, his expression unreadable¡ªbut the threat was clear.


    Then, the woman behind him spoke. "That¡¯s enough, isn¡¯t it? My commander is waiting."


    The man didn¡¯t move at first, his gaze lingering on me. I followed his glance toward the woman, who was now staring him down.


    He clicked his tongue in annoyance but finally stepped back. "Fine. I¡¯ll let it go your way. But tell your commander¡ªLucas¡ªthat no mistakes will be tolerated. If he¡¯s wrong, the risk isn¡¯t just his. We all pay the price. If this mission fails, it¡¯s his head on the line."


    The woman remained unfazed. "We know that. But your way isn¡¯t always the only answer. We need to consider what truly benefits us in the long run, rather than just immediate threats."


    The man scoffed. "Ridiculous. You and your commander are dreamers. When will you finally see reality? When it¡¯s too late?"


    The woman smiled slightly, but her words were sharp. "Hasn¡¯t our commander¡¯s decision always been the right one? Meanwhile, what about you? You stay here, killing monsters and criminals¡ªbut the cult you were tasked with eliminating? They¡¯re still out there. You never even found their bodies, did you? Some great leader you are¡ªWolves Squad Leader."


    The room¡¯s atmosphere thickened. The white-haired man and the older subordinate glared at the woman in response, their hostility evident. It was three against one, yet she stood firm, unfazed.


    Finally, the red-haired man exhaled through his nose and turned toward the door. "Tie him up and blindfold him. Bring him to Lucas."


    I tensed. "Is that really necessary? Can¡¯t I at least know¡ª"


    The woman lifted a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. She met my eyes and said in a low voice, "Comply if you want to live."


    I swallowed hard. Then, without another word, I let them bind my hands and cover my eyes. It was better to follow them than to resist¡ªmy information was incomplete. I let out a heavy sigh and thought, ''I wonder what will happen to me now.''

 Chapter 4: Identity

    It was a long walk. The two subordinates and the woman guided me, but the atmosphere was quiet¡ªalmost suffocating. I couldn''t bring myself to speak, and the only sound echoing through the corridor was the steady rhythm of our footsteps. Then, suddenly, we stopped.


    I couldn''t see anything because of the blindfold, but I knew we had finally reached our destination. A single footstep echoed ahead, followed by a knock. Then, the woman spoke.


    "Commander, we are here."


    Hearing that, the two men began untying the rope around my hands but left the blindfold in place. A door creaked open¡ªI assumed¡ªbut with my vision obscured, I couldn''t be sure.


    "You both may leave now," the woman said.


    I heard the two men take a hesitant step forward, as if reluctant to go, before their footsteps grew distant. Just as they fully disappeared, I felt the woman grasp my hand and pull me into the room.


    A faint scribbling sound filled the silence. Our footsteps echoed against the walls, but the overwhelming quiet was unnatural, almost oppressive. The only audible sounds were the woman''s footsteps, my own, and the pen scratching against paper.


    Then, suddenly, a hand touched the back of my head, untying the blindfold. As the fabric slipped away, my vision adjusted, and the first thing I saw was Lucas¡ªhis beauty almost unnatural.


    He sat at a large wooden desk, surrounded by towering stacks of books and scattered papers, writing something with unwavering focus. The room was well-furnished. To my left stood a bookshelf, followed by a closet with a mirror attached to it. To my right, statues clad in armor held swords, with various weapons displayed along the wall. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow across the room.


    Glancing toward the mirror, I caught sight of my own reflection. My face remained unchanged¡ªaverage features, black hair, red eyes, pale skin, and a well-built physique, neither too skinny nor too muscular.


    The woman stepped closer to Lucas.


    "Commander, he''s here," she announced.


    Lucas paused his writing and glanced at me with deep blue eyes, blurred slightly by his glasses. His long hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he wore a white long-sleeved shirt with black gloves. His long coat hung neatly on the chair behind him.


    Without a word, Lucas stood, adjusting his hair before opening a drawer in his desk. He rummaged through it for a moment before stopping abruptly. Then, he pulled out a small blade and, without hesitation, threw it directly at my chest.


    My heart lurched, but just before the blade could pierce me, it dissolved into nothingness¡ªvanishing into thin air. Shocked, I fell to my knees, gasping.


    Lucas spoke.


    "Just as I thought. Tell me, do you think you are human? Or is it perhaps because of that necklace of yours?"


    A glow radiated from my chest. Looking down, I saw the source¡ªit was the necklace, emitting a soft blue light.


    "Just as we expected," the woman murmured.


    Fear gripped me as I turned to Lucas.


    "Wh-what¡¯s going on? Why did you suddenly¡ª?" My voice wavered, but before I could finish, I saw the way he stared at me.


    "I do not see you as a monster," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "But your existence is... unknown to us."


    Lucas stepped closer.


    "Tell me, are my eyes telling the truth? That you are human? Or are they deceiving me?"


    I didn''t know what to say. I had no answers, only fear and confusion. Lucas let out a heavy sigh.


    "Julian," he continued, "or at least, that is what my eyes tell me. Do you know who you are? Tell me the truth, and we will grant you mercy."


    His eyes changed¡ªno longer blue, but gold. The moment I saw it, a memory resurfaced. The first time I met him, I had suspected Lucas of having the ability to read minds, though I was never certain. But golden eyes¡­? What did that mean?


    I had always thought about what I would do if we met again, but I discarded those thoughts immediately. Knowing his abilities, I couldn''t afford to lie or make up a story.


    But this time, I forced myself to remain calm. I refused to let fear control me again and be manipulated again.


    Lucas smiled. He could see it¡ªthe difference in my demeanor. The last time we met, I had been consumed by fear for unknown reason. But now, I was composed.


    I met his gaze and spoke.


    "I¡¯ve lost it. I cannot remember who I am or what I am."


    I stopped, knowing they suspected me of being a monster. Then, I added,


    "Whether I am a monster or not¡­ that depends on what you believe. Isn''t it all because of this necklace?"


    Lucas scoffed.


    "Julian, you are not human¡ªat least, not in the way we understand. That is the truth. However, we are conflicted. Every monster we have encountered acts on instinct alone. They rampage, they attack, they kill. That is the difference between a monster and a human. But you¡­ you have intelligence. You can communicate. That makes you unlike any monster we have encountered before."


    His words unsettled me.


    "Then why?" I asked, standing up. "Why am I being treated this way?"


    Lucas replied, "Julian, you had no left arm the day we found you. You were heavily wounded, with three holes in your abdomen. There was no blood¡ªas if it had dried up." He paused before continuing, "Julian, you were practically dead when we found you. With wounds like that, it would have been impossible for a human to survive, and yet... you were still breathing."


    I was too stunned to speak. Fear was evident in my eyes.


    "D-Dead? That¡¯s how you found me?" My voice trembled with fear.


    Despite my reaction, Lucas continued, "We were tasked with exploring the forest when we discovered the base of a cult outside our land, near the barrier where the monsters roam. We didn¡¯t know what they were doing, but we stumbled upon them in the middle of our exploration. They were performing some kind of ritual¡ªbut whatever it was for, we¡¯ll never know, because every single member of that cult was dead."


    Lucas¡¯s golden eyes remained locked on me as he spoke. "The ritual failed. We assumed they summoned something terrifying¡ªsomething that killed them all. We called in the Wolves Squad to investigate and then continued our mission deeper into the forest as ordered. I can¡¯t disclose what else we found during that exploration, but I will tell you this much¡ªwhere we found you is all the information you can have¡­ for now."


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    I thought for a moment. Wolves Squad¡­ was that the person from earlier?


    Lucas continued, "Anyway, we wandered further until we were quite far from the cult''s base. Oddly enough, we didn¡¯t encounter a single monster during our search¡ªwhich was highly unusual. And then, we found you, Julian¡­ by the White Tree, connected to it."


    I listened carefully, but his last statement confused me. "C-Connected? How so?"


    Lucas closed his eyes before explaining, "The roots of the tree, its trunk, and even its leaves were attached to your body¡ªas if the tree was healing you. The necklace you wear was also glowing. Remember what I said? That you were dead? The tree and the necklace were trying to heal you, but even so, the holes in your abdomen remained, and your left arm was still missing."


    He continued, "That tree was unlike any other. Its bark was pure white, its leaves golden¡ªit was glorious. And the necklace was radiating a golden light. You were glowing as well, perhaps because of its connection to you. We tried to approach you, but the moment we got close, the once-glorious tree turned black and withered. Your healing from the tree stopped, as if it had sensed us. However, the necklace remained unchanged¡ªexcept for one thing. Instead of golden light, it began to emit a blue glow¡ªthe same glow it has now."


    Lucas''s story made me question everything. My connection to the necklace¡ªthe one that showed me that terrifying woman¡ªwas making it difficult to process all this information. ''If the tree healed me¡­ was it because of that woman? I wondered. And what about the tree itself?''


    Lucas, observing me closely, asked, "Have you finally remembered something? Anything about yourself or the necklace?"


    I looked at him and replied, "I don¡¯t know¡­ I¡¯m not sure," a sad expression crossing my face. I didn¡¯t reveal what I had seen in the necklace¡ªI feared it would only fuel more suspicion about me or lead to a stricter investigation. However, I wasn¡¯t lying either.


    Lucas sighed, then turned to the woman. She spoke up, "Did you see anything?"


    Lucas shook his head. "No. It¡¯s still the same."


    Still curious about how they found me, So I asked, "So¡­ what happened after the tree withered?"


    Lucas turned to me, smiling. The golden hue in his eyes faded like ink dissolving in water, returning to their usual deep ocean blue. "We removed you from the tree, but then we were swarmed. We ran as far as we could with you. Truthfully¡­ we only took you because we wanted the necklace on your chest."


    The necklace¡­ I thought.


    My curiosity grew stronger. "Then why haven¡¯t you taken it from me?"


    Lucas walked toward me and reached for the necklace. The moment his fingers touched it, a surge of electricity erupted, stinging his hand. He immediately pulled back and looked at his palm. "This happens every time we try to take it from you."


    However, I noticed something¡ªthe electricity didn¡¯t penetrate his skin. It was as if his black gloves had protected him.


    The scene reminded me of when I had also tried to remove it, but Lucas asked me, "You also tried to remove it, right? And it stung you as well?"


    I jolted at his words. This time, I really didn¡¯t know what kind of ability Lucas had. So, I asked, "Ho-how did you know?"


    I was hoping Lucas might reveal his ability so I could be more cautious next time.


    But Lucas ignored my question. He turned around, walked to his desk, and sat down again. Then, he said, "I''ll be honest with you." He crossed his arms and legs as he leaned back in the chair and continued, "The day we brought you to our base, we tried everything we could to remove it from you. We even attempted to kill you at that time, but the necklace was persistent."


    Lucas raised his hand and looked at the one he had used to reach for the necklace. "The necklace adapts. Even when we tried to protect ourselves with armor, it would change its method, finding a way to penetrate the armor and injure¡ªor even kill¡ªus in the process. It¡¯s protecting you. We cannot get close to it. It holds a power we do not understand, and yet¡­ you are its wearer."


    He continued, "Also, about your missing left arm and the holes in your body... in just three days, the necklace had already healed you. But your body was still in ruins¡ªyour veins, everything. Then, two days passed, and there was no change. You remained in that state. But on the third day, when I visited you, you were already awake, as if your body had healed in an instant. We weren¡¯t observing you at that moment, and we were already on the verge of giving up."


    Lucas¡¯s story brought back memories of the day I woke up¡ªthe unbearable pain I felt when I tried to move even a single part of my body.


    Lucas then asked, his voice firm, "So tell me, what happened when we weren¡¯t watching you?" He glared at me, demanding an answer. "Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten that as well. I remember finding you on the floor when I opened the room. I didn¡¯t ask then, but now¡¯s the time."


    I let out a small sigh and thought, There¡¯s no hiding it now. If what he said is true, then this necklace might be even more dangerous than I thought. Perhaps I could gamble my way out and let him handle it since I know nothing.


    I looked at Lucas and said, "When I woke up, my body was in a lot of pain."


    I didn¡¯t want to tell him the part where I couldn''t feel my body at all¡ªit would make me sound like a monster. So, I mixed a lie with the truth. It was a lie that I woke up in extreme pain, but it wasn¡¯t a lie that I still felt pain by just moving my body.


    I continued, "The first thing I noticed was that the necklace was glowing. I touched it."


    I stopped for a moment, gulping as fear crept into my voice before I went on.


    "And then¡­ the room filled with darkness. Water pooled at my feet, rising higher and higher. A hand grabbed my ankle, and a woman emerged from the water. Her face was covered by another grotesque hand growing from her back. The water smelled different¡­ and then, it turned to blood."


    I looked at Lucas and the woman beside him. They were listening intently.


    I continued, "The woman called me Julian Campbell¡­ and she called me her son. But I don¡¯t know who she is. All I know is that she was terrifying¡ªher hands, her entire appearance."


    My heart pounded loudly, my hands trembling violently.


    "And then¡­ she disappeared. And I collapsed onto the floor."


    I took a deep breath, composing myself before giving Lucas a serious look and asking, "At that time, how did you know the name Julian Campbell?"


    Lucas fell into deep thought before responding, "So that was the reason¡­" He paused before adding, "When we found you, I didn¡¯t know your name. To be more precise, you didn¡¯t have a name. Even after we brought you here, I couldn¡¯t see a name on you. Perhaps¡­ the woman you saw named you herself."


    I jolted at his words.


    Lucas continued, "If what you said is true, then that woman might be the original owner of the necklace¡ªsomething completely unknown to us. And if she was the one who named you, she may have also given you intelligence¡­ the ability to communicate with us."


    My heart pounded again, this time with an overwhelming sense of fear. I hesitated before asking, "Th-then¡­ what am I supposed to do? If that woman truly gave me my name¡­ if she gave me intelligence¡­ why?"


    Before Lucas could answer, the woman beside him spoke instead.


    "We do not have enough information to explain why the woman you saw, or the owner of that necklace, granted you intelligence and healed you. As for what you should do, we already have plans for you, Julian. Regarding the woman, we will investigate her. But for that, we need your cooperation." She smiled. "We want you to join us and become one of us. That was our original intention."


    I was shocked by her words. "Join? What does that mean?"


    Lucas answered, "Julian¡­ become a Worldwalker. Right now, no one here trusts you, and we are in charge of you. So, to keep you close to us, we want you to become one of us."


    Despite his explanation, I still asked, "Why? Doesn''t becoming a Worldwalker grant power? Why give me one?"


    Lucas sighed. "It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you¡ªbut they don¡¯t. We proposed this to the others, and of course, some objected. But in the long run, having you as one of us benefits everyone. With that unknown necklace in your possession, we might finally get some of the answers we need."


    He added, "Right now, Julian, we need power. Because we don¡¯t know how long we can truly survive in this world. And also¡­ I see the truth in you. You might think I have the ability to read minds, but it¡¯s not that¡ªI can see the truth to every being i saw."


    Silence filled the room as I processed everything. Hera and Lucas watched me closely.


    Lucas broke the silence. "Julian, right now, no one can hear us in here. The room is sealed by a special crystal behind you."


    I turned behind me and saw the door and noticed a green crystal embedded above it.


    Lucas continued, "You are free to say whatever you want in here. It¡¯s a difficult choice, after all. There are both benefits and risks to becoming a Worldwalker. Since you know nothing about it, I¡¯ll give you a brief explanation."


    He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. "But don¡¯t think we have all the answers. Some information about Worldwalkers has been lost."


    He continued, "The benefits of being a Worldwalker include gaining power to protect yourself¡ªyour strength, mind, senses, and everything about you will be enhanced. But the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Becoming a Worldwalker will allow you to see things you shouldn¡¯t. You will hear things you do not want to. And unknown entities may start lingering around you, waiting to devour you.


    "There¡¯s also the risk of failure. If you don¡¯t have the ability to become one, you will instantly die. In the worst case¡­ you¡¯ll turn into something far worse¡ªa monster. A Nightspawn. And even if you do succeed, that risk never disappears."


    Lucas¡¯s expression darkened. "Julian, if you become a Worldwalker¡­"


    His voice lowered.


    "Don¡¯t ever get devoured."


    He let that warning sink in before adding, "If there¡¯s one thing we know about Worldwalkers, it¡¯s this¡­"


    He paused, his face filled with sorrow.


    "We are the nightmares of this world. The protectors who get devoured. Pathetic beings full of regrets and sorrow¡­ who eventually become the destroyers."


    Lucas looked me in the eye and asked,


    "Julian¡­ that is all I can tell you for now. So tell me¡ªare you willing to take the risk and become a nightmare of the world?"

 Chapter 5: Worldwalker

    I was speechless, but Lucas and Hera looked at me, waiting for an answer. I pondered the decision carefully.


    Becoming a Worldwalker¡­ The risk of dying, the chance of becoming a monster myself¡­ At first, I thought it might be a good thing, but I was proven wrong. There were far too many negative consequences. However, considering my current situation, I didn¡¯t have much of a choice.


    I needed to survive.


    Memories, identity, and everything else could wait. Right now, survival was my top priority. And if becoming a Worldwalker increased my chances of staying alive, then I had to take that path¡ªeven if the risks terrified me.


    But what if I died? What if I became a monster? What exactly did they mean by "being devoured"? Was it some unknown entity that consumed failed Worldwalkers? There were too many uncertainties, which made everything worse. But if I succeeded, my odds of survival would be much higher. And if I failed¡­ perhaps I¡¯d just die a painless death.


    Right?


    I clenched my fists. What about the necklace? Could it protect me? Would I really bet everything on something I barely understood?


    Damn it.


    I didn¡¯t know. But I had no other options. Risk always comes with survival.


    I took a deep breath, then looked at Lucas with determination.


    "If I become a Worldwalker, will it increase my chances of survival?"


    Hera answered, "Yes, but only if you successfully transform. Don''t worry, though. With how the necklace is reacting to you, it might actually help during the process."


    Hearing that last part made me pause.


    Process?


    I frowned. "I forgot to ask¡­ what exactly is the process of becoming one?"


    Hera hesitated before answering. "It''s not that hard¡­ though it¡¯s dangerous. But the actual steps are easy."


    Something in her voice made me uneasy. "And those steps are?"


    "All we need is the heart of a monster¡­ and its blood."


    My stomach twisted. "T-The heart? And the blood? What are they even used for?"


    Hera winced. "Oh¡­ yeah. I forgot to mention¡ªthe process is pretty disgusting."


    She stopped mid-sentence, her expression twisting with clear disgust, as if recalling something unpleasant. Then, after a deep breath, she continued.


    "Basically¡­ you eat the monster¡¯s heart. Then you drink its blood. While you''re doing that, we carve runes into your body and all across the room. Once the ritual is complete, you¡¯ll officially become a Worldwalker."


    I froze. The entire room fell silent.


    "...What in the actual fuck?"


    Hera gave me an awkward smile. "You''ll get used to it."


    That response sent a shiver down my spine. "What do you mean, I''ll get used to it?"


    She remained silent. That silence told me everything.


    "You¡¯re telling me¡­ I have to do that again?"


    Hera looked away. Lucas sighed, then spoke in a serious tone.


    "That¡¯s how we grow stronger in the early stages of being Worldwalkers. We devour monsters to steal their power. That¡¯s our path. By consuming them, our abilities enhance and evolve."


    He met my gaze. "But even we don¡¯t fully understand what it means to be a Worldwalker. There¡¯s still too much we don¡¯t know."


    Lucas leaned forward. "So¡ªare you in or not?"


    I stared at him.


    This time, I didn¡¯t take long to decide. I couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate. There was no choice. No turning back.


    I took a deep breath and answered.


    "When do we start?"


    Lucas smiled. He stood up and walked to his desk, rummaging through the drawers. "Hera, prepare."


    Hearing that, I said, "Wait, are we doing it today?"


    Lucas replied, "Of course. That was the plan from the very start."


    Hera reached into her pocket and pulled out a glowing crystal. Meanwhile, Lucas took out a wooden stick wrapped in cloth at one end¡ªa torch. He then moved the papers off his desk and placed his palm firmly in the center.


    Suddenly, the ground shook.


    A red aura pulsed from Lucas'' hand, seeping into the massive desk. Strange, vein-like patterns spread across the surface, glowing crimson. The veins slithered to the floor, then to the walls, forming a large, rectangular frame¡ªa door.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Lucas turned to me. "Come."


    I was stunned by what had just happened, but his voice pulled me back. Slowly, I walked toward him. Hera followed.


    I stared at the glowing doorway. "...What is this?"


    Lucas smirked. "A passage. The door to becoming a Worldwalker."


    A door?


    I studied the pulsing veins, trying to make sense of it. If it was a door, did it lead to another room? And if so¡­ why?


    Lucas chuckled. "You''re wondering why the process needs to be done in another room, right?"


    At this point, I wasn¡¯t even surprised by how easily he read my thoughts. It was getting annoying.


    Lucas kept smiling. "The process itself is simple. But the conditions and requirements¡­ are difficult. Come, I¡¯ll explain on the way."


    With a flick of his hand, the red veins on the wall shifted, pulling upward with a deep, echoing thud. The door revealed a dark staircase leading underground. As if on cue, torches along the walls lit up one by one, illuminating the descent.


    We stepped inside.


    I glanced down the long staircase, wondering just how deep it went. Lucas walked ahead and used his torch to light another one along the wall.


    ...Wait.


    If the entire place was already lined with torches, what was even the point of carrying one?


    Before I could ask, a loud thud echoed behind me.


    I spun around¡ªthe entrance had vanished, replaced by a solid wall. The glowing veins were gone.


    Lucas kept walking as our footsteps echoed in the underground passage. Then he spoke.


    "As Hera mentioned earlier, the requirements for becoming a Worldwalker are simple¡ªyou need to consume the blood and heart of a monster."


    I frowned. "Yeah, you already said that."


    Lucas smirked.


    "You''ll be drinking the blood and eat the heart raw."


    I stopped in my tracks.


    "...Wait. Raw?!"


    Disgust twisted in my stomach. I frowned deeply, feeling the urge to gag.


    Was that really what I had to do¡­?


    Lucas continued, "I know it¡¯s disgusting, but this is the only way to become one¡­ There¡¯s a chance you could turn into a monster, a chance you might die instantly, and another chance that you¡¯ll successfully become a Worldwalker."


    A question suddenly came to mind, stopping Lucas in his tracks. "Can I ask something? When you become a Worldwalker, do you get to choose your power or ability?"


    Lucas shook his head. "No, becoming a Worldwalker doesn¡¯t give you a choice. The ability you gain depends on the power already inside you. To put it simply, your power is automatically given based on your innate self. For example, my ability allows me to see the truth in all beings. However, we don¡¯t call them abilities¡ªwe call them Authorities. An Authority is a power unique to each Worldwalker, and every Authority has a name. Mine is called The Truth."


    "So, when you become a Worldwalker, your Authority is determined by who you are," Lucas continued. "And once you obtain it, its name will automatically be bound to you. As for how to use it¡­ you¡¯ll just know¡ªit¡¯ll feel as natural as breathing."


    I thought to myself¡­ Authority? A power unique to me? That sounds amazing. I wonder what kind of Authority I¡¯ll have¡­ A mix of excitement and nervousness stirred within me.


    "But," Lucas added, his tone turning serious, "using an Authority doesn¡¯t mean you can use it endlessly. Do you remember that red aura I had earlier? That¡¯s called Worldflow. It fuels our Authorities and allows us to use them without problems. Worldflow is the source of power for us and the monsters roaming this world. Once you become a Worldwalker, you¡¯ll be able to sense it immediately.


    "However, be careful, Julian. Running out of Worldflow will leave you powerless against the unknown entities that want to devour you. Worse, it can drive you insane and turn you into a monster yourself."


    His words made me tense up. So Worldwalkers risk losing their sanity¡­?


    "If you ever start feeling unstable," Lucas warned, "tell us immediately. We can¡¯t afford to have someone go insane and endanger everyone here. If a Worldwalker turns into a monster, the only option is to kill them. That applies to me, to Hera, and to everyone else who lives in this place."


    Lucas looked at me and noticed the fear on my face, as if I was hesitating about whether to become a Worldwalker or not. But then, he continued, "Either way, let¡¯s finally talk about the ranking system of Worldwalkers."


    Hearing that, I interrupted, "Ranking system?"


    Lucas nodded. "There are eleven ranks for a Worldwalker. The first rank is Awakened, which is where you¡¯ll start. From there, the first phase consists of the 10th to 8th cycles. The second phase includes the 7th to 5th cycles. The third phase covers the 4th to 3rd cycles. And finally, the last phase consists of the 2nd to 1st cycles. Think of it like leveling up¡ªthe lower the cycle, the stronger you become.


    "When you first awaken, your Authority will be unstable, since you¡¯re just starting out. Once you reach the 10th cycle, both you and your Authority will evolve, allowing you to control it with more precision."


    We were still walking as Lucas explained, the sound of our footsteps echoing through the underground staircase. The path to our destination stretched on, seemingly endless.


    I pondered over what he said. So Worldwalkers have a ranking system¡­ which means I¡¯ll need to descend through the cycles to become stronger. But how do I go from Awakened to the 10th cycle?


    "How do I advance from Awakened to the 10th cycle?" I asked. "Is there another process for that?"


    Lucas answered, "To reach the 10th cycle, you need to devour a lot of monsters. You¡¯ll have to engage in countless battles, using your Authority until you can fully control it. When you¡¯re ready, you¡¯ll ascend to the next cycle through a process we call Ascension."


    I frowned. "How do I know when I¡¯m ready to ascend?"


    "You¡¯ll feel it," Lucas replied. "Your Authority will send you a signal when it¡¯s time to evolve. When that happens, you¡¯ll need to perform another ritual."


    I hesitated before asking, "Is there a specific ritual required for Ascension?"


    Lucas scratched his chin. "That¡¯s something we don¡¯t fully understand yet. There is a ritual, but it varies from person to person. Some old records say that the more people who witness the ritual, the stronger you¡¯ll become. Others claim that the riskier the ritual, the greater the benefits. We¡¯ve tested some of these theories, but¡­ nothing conclusive. For now, we follow a standard ritual that works, but we still don¡¯t know how to maximize its effects."


    I nodded, absorbing the information. Then, one final question came to mind. "By the way¡­ what rank are you?"


    Lucas smirked. "I¡¯m currently in the 9th cycle. At this rank, you gain a Sub-Authority. Your first Authority remains your main power, but as you ascend, you unlock additional abilities related to it."


    Seeing my confusion, he elaborated, "Think of it like being a swordsman. Your Authority is your body, and your Sub-Authorities are the different sword techniques you learn over time. Your core power remains the same, but you develop new ways to use it as you grow stronger."


    "I see¡­ If that¡¯s the 9th cycle, what do you gain in the higher cycles?"


    Lucas shrugged. "That, I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t reached those levels yet."


    Suddenly, Lucas stopped walking. Hera and I halted as well.


    Before us stood a massive steel door.


    We had finally reached our destination.


    Lucas looked at me and smiled. "Julian, from here on out, we will begin the process of becoming a Worldwalker. If you ever feel fear because of how dangerous it is, just become stronger," he said with a scoff. "Though, that¡¯s the very reason we are always in danger anyway."


    Lucas placed his hand on the door, and the same red aura from before glowed around his palm. As if responding to his touch, red veins began to spread across the surface of the door. Slowly, it started to move, creaking open.


    Lucas glanced at me and said, "The path of the Worldwalkers is unknown. It will grant you power to protect yourself, but it will also destroy you. I¡¯ll say this now¡ªdo not treat it as a blessing. Think of it as a curse. We are those who cannot protect anyone, not even ourselves. We are forever cursed."

 Chapter 6: Process

    As the door opened slowly, a creepy, cold sensation slipped in, freezing my body in an instant. Reacting quickly, I clasped my arms around myself, trying to warm up.


    ¡°What is this?¡± I asked, my breath visible in the air.


    Lucas chuckled. ¡°Ahh, sorry, I forgot to mention¡ªone of the requirements for becoming a Worldwalker is that the room must be kept at a really low temperature. I don¡¯t know why, but it has always been that way. Probably because we¡¯re eating a dead monster¡¯s heart, but who knows, heh.¡±


    He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. His palm turned red, a sign of him using Worldflow. Suddenly, warmth flooded my body.


    ¡°This is one of the convenient things about being a Worldwalker," Lucas continued. "We can protect ourselves not just physically, but also from extreme temperatures. Worldflow is incredibly versatile¡ªit can be used in all sorts of situations, just like this. Make sure to remember that well.¡±


    I see... So Worldflow can be used like this. Becoming a Worldwalker would be really useful for me¡ªbut that¡¯s only if I succeed. For now, I¡¯ll trust my necklace.


    I nodded and asked, ¡°Is this the room where we¡¯re doing the ritual?¡±


    Lucas nodded. ¡°Yeah. Mei is already inside, waiting.¡±


    Another person? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter... I thought to myself.


    ¡°So, I guess this person will help me become a Worldwalker? That means gaining an authority is finally within reach,¡± I said, feeling a mix of anticipation and unease.


    But Lucas suddenly added, ¡°Oh, I forgot to mention... Not all Worldwalkers gain an authority. In fact, some never receive one at all.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I shouted.


    ¡°No need to yell,¡± Lucas said, shrugging. ¡°There¡¯s just a lot to consider when becoming a Worldwalker, and I¡¯m no expert on all of it, heh.¡±


    What do you mean by that? You clearly know everything...


    Lucas smirked before adding, ¡°Mei will explain everything to you¡ªespecially the risks a Worldwalker faces when dealing with an unknown entity. I¡¯ve already told you about our abilities and the ranking system, but she¡¯ll clarify everything in detail. Honestly, there¡¯s too much information for one person to keep track of.¡±


    So you''re telling me this now¡ªright before the ritual?


    I shot Lucas a sharp look of disdain. He had a smug expression on his face.


    Damn it. He did this on purpose. He made becoming a Worldwalker sound worth risking by laying out the benefits and the risks, but now he¡¯s just revealing this¡ªthe most important risk of all.


    What¡¯s the point of becoming a Worldwalker if I can¡¯t even gain an ability?


    Well he didn¡¯t lie¡ªhe just conveniently left out this crucial detail. He wanted me to focus on the advantages first, then hesitate when faced with the risks. But the worst part? He left out the most frustrating risk of all¡ªnot gaining an authority. He made sure I¡¯d commit before knowing the whole picture.


    I was manipulated.


    I turned to Hera, but she looked away silently. She didn¡¯t intervene when Lucas "forgot" that crucial detail. She¡¯s an accomplice. This was the perfect moment to reveal this¡ªnow that we¡¯re already here, refusing isn¡¯t an option anymore.


    I also remember Lucas saying this was part of their plan.


    So, I don¡¯t really have a choice, do I?


    Even if I wanted to refuse¡­ could I even refuse?


    Lucas then smirked. ¡°Well, no point in backing out now. Let¡¯s go in.¡± A wicked smile crossed his face as his eyes glowed red.


    Shit¡­


    I exhaled sharply. Fine. I was already committed to this. No point in blaming them¡ªI made this choice myself.


    Lucas looked at me. ¡°Are you hesitating now?¡±


    I met his gaze and answered firmly, ¡°No. A survival without risk is nothing but a foolish thought. And today, I realized something¡ªsince the moment we met, you¡¯ve been manipulating me. But I¡¯ve given up trying to fight it. I don¡¯t know your circumstances, but I can tell you¡¯re betting your own survival on me because of this unknown necklace. And I also know that, in the end, we¡¯re the same¡ªyou don¡¯t know anything about me, yet you¡¯re still taking the gamble.¡±


    I smirked and added, ¡°So, how about today, we truly become comrades? Friends. Two people who don¡¯t know each other but will fight together. We¡¯re risking our lives in the face of the unknown¡­ That¡¯s why, starting today, I¡¯ll trust you, and I¡¯ll risk my life alongside you as we charge into the unknown.¡±


    With a firm voice, I declared, ¡°I will become a Worldwalker and survive. ¡±


    Lucas scoffed. ¡°A friend, huh? Betting my life on someone¡ªor something¡ªI don¡¯t fully understand¡­ doesn¡¯t sound too bad.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I wonder what kind of knowledge that woman you saw gave you to make you think like this. If even a monster could possess such wisdom, would we really need to fight just to survive? This is the first time a monster has made a deal with me¡­ and even more, become a friend.¡±


    Lucas then smirked. ¡°Fine then. Whether you¡¯re planning to turn on me later or just making me lower my guard, I¡¯ll be your friend and trust you as well. Whether we live or die, it¡¯s not so bad to put my faith in someone so suddenly. In fact, it¡¯s rather exciting¡ªto fight alongside someone as reckless as me, a comrade facing the unknown. You¡¯re the first to make a move like this, despite knowing you were manipulated and had no choice. You really are¡­ unique.¡±


    Lucas turned to the door as it finally opened completely.


    Inside, a woman sat in the center of the room. She wore a black robe adorned with dark red linear patterns. Despite the robe, her long, curly black hair was visible, as was the black blindfold covering her eyes.


    She sat on a ritual circle engraved into the ground¡ªdrawn in dried blood. Around her were braziers, unlit for now, and towering pillars supporting the chamber.


    The room was dark, the only light coming from the torch Lucas held and the small red particles floating in the air. They illuminated the space, casting eerie shadows. The woman sitting there seemed to glow a dim, ominous red, as if she herself was the center of the light.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The woman noticed us entering and turned her head toward us, despite being blindfolded. It felt as though she could see through the fabric. She tilted her head slightly, as if observing us¡ªno, observing me¡ªbefore speaking in a calm yet chilling voice.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s him.¡±


    Lucas waved casually. ¡°Yep, he¡¯s the one who¡¯ll become a Worldwalker today. His name is Julian Campbell.¡± He then turned to me. ¡°Julian, this is Mei. She¡¯s in charge of making you a Worldwalker.¡±


    Someone in charge¡­? I pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°I thought you were the one who would handle the ritual. Can¡¯t anyone do it?¡±


    Lucas shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t. It¡¯s just that she¡¯s more well-versed in Worldwalker rituals than I am. One of the steps to becoming a Worldwalker requires injecting Worldflow into your body, and she¡¯ll be the one to do it.¡±


    "Wait, but isn¡¯t that why I¡¯m supposed to eat the monster¡¯s heart and drink its blood? Wasn¡¯t that supposed to give me Worldflow?"


    Lucas sighed. ¡°Full of questions, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Before he could continue, Mei cut in with a calm voice. ¡°You didn¡¯t explain everything to him?¡±


    Lucas smirked and shook his head. ¡°Nope.¡±


    Mei let out a small sigh. ¡°I see. So, you told him everything but deliberately left out certain details to steer him toward the answer you wanted. I guess I¡¯ll have to take over from here and explain everything properly.¡±


    Lucas chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I trust you with that.¡±


    Mei stood up. Before saying ¡°Hah¡­ A manipulator indeed. You dream foolishly, but your intelligence and deceptive nature are too much.¡±


    She turned to me, exhaling as if this was inevitable. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no point in asking now. Even if you refused, we would still force you.¡± Her voice was firm but not hostile. ¡°I am Mei, the one in charge of turning you into a Worldwalker. The commander¡ªLucas¡ªprobably gave you the basics already, including the fact that not all Worldwalkers gain an Authority. But don¡¯t worry, not all members here can use one. Even without an Authority, you¡¯ll still gain enhancements in your physical abilities and mental capacity, as well as the ability to use Worldflow."


    Currently, only three of us can use an Authority¡ªmyself, the commander, and Hera. The other six members cannot. So, the number of those who can use an Authority is quite small.¡±


    She then smiled, this time with warmth. ¡°Now, will you become a Worldwalker?¡±


    With a firm voice, I answered, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Mei nodded. ¡°Before we begin, let me explain the process. First, you will eat the monster¡¯s heart and drink its blood. This will allow you to feel Worldflow and use it. I will then stabilize it by infusing my own Worldflow into you, helping you control what you¡¯ve just consumed. You will need to sit in the center of the ritual circle. Also, please remove your upper clothing.¡±


    A thought crossed my mind, so I asked, ¡°Does the type of monster I eat affect my strength? Will it maximize my potential?¡±


    Mei shook her head. ¡°No, it won¡¯t. You¡¯re not absorbing the monster¡¯s strength; you¡¯re simply stealing the power needed to use Worldflow. The Authority you may or may not gain won¡¯t change based on what you eat. Now, remove your clothing.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°It¡¯s part of the process, right?¡±


    Mei confirmed, ¡°Yes. The second step to becoming a Worldwalker is inscribing runes onto your body. The ritual circle on the ground is designed to transform you, but the runes we draw on you will serve as protection, reducing the chances of you dying or turning into a monster.¡±


    So, the risk of death and transformation can be minimized¡­ I thought to myself before removing my upper clothing without hesitation.


    Mei turned to Hera. ¡°Hera, if you would.¡±


    Hera approached me and bit her hand, causing blood to drip from it. She then began drawing the runes onto my back.


    Mei continued explaining. ¡°These runes will lower the risk of death and prevent you from being devoured by an unknown entity.¡±


    Her words made me pause. ¡°Wait¡­ devoured?¡±


    Mei nodded. ¡°Yes. When someone becomes a Worldwalker, they attract unknown entities. However, considering the mysterious necklace you¡¯re wearing, I doubt you¡¯ll be devoured. That thing might even protect you. And to clarify something¡ªsince I know Lucas conveniently avoided explaining it¡ªbeing ¡®devoured¡¯ doesn¡¯t mean being physically eaten. It means being possessed by an unknown entity. If that happens, your body will no longer be yours. Depending on the entity that takes over, your body might even transform into something monstrous.¡±


    A chill ran down my spine. ¡°That sounds terrifying¡­ So, the unknown entities that could devour me¡ªare they the same ones you¡¯ve been talking about?¡±


    Mei confirmed, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Another question immediately came to mind. ¡°Then what about this necklace? And the woman I saw?¡±


    Mei¡¯s expression remained unreadable. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we¡¯re investigating you. We don¡¯t know anything about that necklace¡ªor about you. But, what do you mean by ¡®the woman¡¯?¡±


    Lucas interjected. ¡°He said that when he touched the necklace, a woman appeared and named him. I suspect that might be the unknown entity residing in the necklace.¡±


    Mei fell into deep thought before responding. ¡°I see¡­ An unknown entity named you and is protecting you? Then perhaps you¡¯ll have no difficulty becoming a Worldwalker. However, if it truly is an unknown entity, there¡¯s also a chance it might devour you once we begin. It could go either way.¡±


    I tensed. ¡°Th-Then you have precautions for that, right?¡±


    Hera scoffed. ¡°Of course. Do you really think we¡¯d be stupid enough to start this ritual without preparing for the worst?¡±


    She held up a crystal in her right hand. Lucas grinned. ¡°If anything goes wrong, we¡¯re ready for the worst-case scenario¡­ which means killing you.¡±


    I swallowed hard as my heart raced. Clenching my fists, I muttered, ¡°I see.¡±


    Lucas smiled and teased, ¡°What, are you scared and backing out already, friend? I thought we were going to fight toward the unknown to survive.¡±


    I took a deep breath. ¡°No¡­ thinking about it deeply, I have no recollection of myself, yet I still want to survive. Maybe it¡¯s just human instinct. But then I wonder¡ªif I die, will anything really change?¡±


    Lucas¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°You¡¯re right. But there¡¯s always something worth surviving for.¡±


    Then, he smiled at me¡ªa warm, genuine smile. ¡°Life is a beautiful thing to experience, but the future is unknown. That¡¯s why dreams are wonderful¡ªthey let you see yourself in the future, friend.¡±


    Mei, who had been silently listening, was stunned for a moment. She coughed into her hand and muttered, ¡°Is this a sign that another idiot is joining? And that our foolish leader has actually made a friend?¡±


    Hera laughed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a bad thing, though.¡±


    I turned to Lucas, confused. ¡°What are they laughing about? And why do they call you a fool?¡±


    Lucas just shrugged it off, while Mei spoke up again. ¡°Now then, Julian Campbell, the final step to becoming a Worldwalker actually begins with a prayer to the goddess. Before we start the ritual, we must say a prayer¡ªa plea for guidance and protection from Sanguira, the Blood-Teared Goddess.¡±


    ¡°A prayer?¡± I asked.


    Mei nodded. ¡°Yes. During the process, I told you that many unknown entities will whisper to you, trying to get you to respond. No matter what, do not speak to them. Even after you become a Worldwalker, never acknowledge them. This is one of the most important rules of being a Worldwalker¡ªact like you don¡¯t see them. They know you can, and they will try to annoy you at every opportunity.¡±


    I hesitated before asking, ¡°What if they don¡¯t stop?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why we have Worldflow,¡± Mei explained. ¡°You can use it to silence them.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ but what happens if I do talk to them?¡±


    Mei¡¯s voice turned deadly serious. ¡°There have been fools who tried. They either died instantly or had their minds corrupted, doomed to talk to them forever, unable to stop. Once you acknowledge them, they will start entering your body, one by one, turning you into something grotesque. They will consume your soul and body. That¡¯s why, if a Worldwalker runs out of Worldflow, they must inform us immediately¡ªwe can protect you.¡±


    A chill ran down my spine. Fear settled in, but all I could do was nod. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Mei smirked. ¡°Heh, don¡¯t be too nervous. The glowing particles floating around this room are Worldflow. Before you entered, I blessed them in the name of our goddess, the Blood-Teared Goddess. This place is protected¡­ though an unknown entity may still slip through.¡±


    I then sighed. ¡°Is this what we¡¯re always supposed to do, even after becoming a Worldwalker? Ascending to one seems like a bunch of work, and on top of all that, we have to do different rituals?¡±


    Mei then said, ¡°Well, of course. It¡¯s part of gaining power. Through this, you evolve¡ªnot just your Worldflow but also your authority. However, in the old records, there¡¯s mention that the ritual in phase two might change. It might not even require a ritual at all. Though, we don¡¯t know yet, since no one has actually reached that stage here. But I think it¡¯s called evolution.¡±


    I then said, ¡°I see.¡±


    Mei then said, ¡°I think I have pretty much explained everything.¡±


    She then glanced at Hera, who had just finished drawing the runes on my body. Then, she looked back at me.


    ¡°Now then, are you ready to become a Worldwalker?¡±


    With a firm voice, I answered, ¡°Yes.¡±

 Chapter 7:Ritual

    Mei then said, "Then let''s start now. Please sit in the middle of the ritual."


    Following Mei¡¯s words, I sat in the center of the ritual circle. Just then, a warm glow suddenly lit up from my necklace.


    Shocked, I looked at both Hera and Lucas. Lucas nodded, and Mei then remarked, "It seems the necklace is reacting quickly."


    Lucas and Hera stepped away from the ritual circle. Noticing this, I turned to them, but Mei reassured me, "Do not worry. They''re just getting ready. In this ritual, their only role is to be lookouts. They cannot interfere, because if they do, the ritual will fail instantly¡ªturning you into a monster. Their job is to watch and act only if something goes wrong because of the necklace."


    Lucas and Hera took their positions. Hera held a crystal in her hand and, without hesitation, crushed it. The moment it shattered, the fragments reassembled¡ªforming a long spear. The remaining shards floated behind her and transformed into a small sword. She took a stance, ready for battle at any moment.


    Lucas removed his glasses, and in an instant, his eyes turned red¡ªdevilish, piercing. His pupils shifted into something unnatural, watching me intently. Then, suddenly, his sclera darkened, turning pitch black. A truly demonic gaze bore down on me.


    What the fuck is that?! His Authority is supposed to be called "The Truth," but how the hell does this count as that? Shouldn''t it be called "Demonic Eyes" or something? That name sounds way more reasonable¡ªand cooler, honestly.


    I turned my attention to Hera. What kind of Authority does she even have?


    Before I could dwell on it, Mei stepped in front of me and sat down. Smiling, she said, "If anything goes wrong, those two will kill you. If you turn into a monster, that is."


    She grinned, then asked, "Now, are you ready?"


    I glanced at Hera and Lucas. If I fail, they¡¯re going to kill me. If I get devoured, they¡¯ll kill me. But honestly, it won¡¯t even matter. The entity will get me first.


    Even so, I met Mei¡¯s gaze and steeled myself. "Please begin."


    Mei then smiled and raised both arms. Her sleeves slid down, revealing a golden bracelet embedded with a green gemstone. She made a strange gesture¡ªher right hand poised as if holding an invisible orb, while her left cradled an unseen cup.


    A green light flickered from the gemstone.


    "What is that?" I asked.


    Mei answered without hesitation, "A relic."


    She turned to me, and though blindfolded, it felt like she could see me.


    A relic¡­? I thought.


    Suddenly, a green cube, invisible except for its glowing edges, appeared before her. Light radiated from within. A golden cup materialized in her left hand, filled with a thick, blue liquid¡ªblood. In her right hand, something grotesque took shape. A beating, blood-soaked heart, deep blue and dripping.


    The overwhelming stench hit me instantly¡ªa rotting, putrid smell so strong I instinctively covered my nose.


    That¡¯s a heart, but¡­ Mei calmly stated, "This is the heart of the monster you will eat. And this is its blood. You will drink it."


    I looked at her in disbelief, but she simply said, "Hold it."


    I hesitated, repulsed by the stench, but eventually reached out, grabbing the heart. It pulsed in my palm. Its aura was unsettling¡ªdangerous, filled with uncertainty. The texture was slimy, squishy, and warm, blood oozing between my fingers.


    Am I seriously eating this?! Where the hell did it even come from?


    Mei smiled, explaining one last time, "Now then, Julian, I will begin the prayer and bless it for protection. When I tell you to eat, swallow it whole¡ªdo not bite it. Keeping the heart intact ensures the connection to the Worldflow remains unbroken. Once you swallow it, drink the blood immediately. It will be painful, but endure it. Savor every drop, even the blood dripping from the heart itself. It may sound disgusting, but this is the only way to become a Worldwalker. Focus."


    Are you sure this isn¡¯t a ritual to become a monster? I thought grimly, staring at the heart in my hand.


    My heart pounded violently in my chest, but I still followed Mei¡¯s orders. Steeling myself, I closed my eyes. Mei turned to Lucas and Hera¡ªLucas nodded, signaling for her to proceed.


    Mei pressed her palms together in prayer, bowing her head before speaking:


    "Oh, Sanguira, Goddess of the Crimson Tears,


    You who weep for the forsaken and bleed for the faithful,


    In this sacred hour, as the ritual begins,


    I call upon Your gaze to fall upon me.


    Let Your blood-stained tears be my shield,


    Let the sorrow You bear be my strength.


    In the dark embrace of the unknown,


    Guard my soul, my flesh, my fate.


    If trials seek to break me, let them tremble before You,


    If shadows dare consume me, let Your light drown them in crimson.


    May Your will carve my path,


    May Your mercy temper my suffering,


    As I walk this path of transformation.


    I give this offering in faith,


    I spill this blood in reverence,


    And I stand beneath Your name,


    Unyielding, unbroken, unforgotten.


    By Your tears, by Your blood, by Your will¡ªso it shall be."


    As she prayed, blood seeped from beneath her blindfold, as if she were weeping in blood. The blue heart in my hands slowly turned red, as did the blood in the cup. The blessing was complete.


    Mei raised her arms. Using her right hand, she wiped the blood dripping from her right eye. With her left, she wiped the blood from her left eye. Then, in a commanding voice, she declared:


    "Awaken, my goddess."


    The braziers surrounding the ritual suddenly ignited with crimson flames. Red orb embers floated in the air like scattered stars, illuminated the chamber with an eerie glow.


    Mei turned to me. "The blessing is done. Now, eat the heart and drink the blood."


    Taking a deep breath, I lifted the heart in my right hand, bringing it to my mouth. The stench grew even stronger, its rotten scent burning my nose. But I was prepared.


    Opening my mouth wide enough to fit it, I shoved the heart inside, swallowing it whole in one motion. Thick, warm blood spilled from it, some sliding past my lips and dripping down my chest, soaking my necklace in red.


    Mei stood up.


    The ritual had begun.


    Just as I swallowed, a burning sensation surged through my chest. In that moment, I coughed up blood, pain tearing through me as if something inside was trying to take over.


    Ugh¡­ What is this?


    I struggled to endure it¡ªit felt like my heart was being replaced by the monster¡¯s heart. A pained cry escaped my lips, and instinctively, I clutched my chest with my right hand, fingers digging into my skin as if trying to rip out whatever was inside me.


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    But before I could, Mei grabbed my hand, stopping me.


    "Endure and focus, Julian. If you fail, you will be devoured," she warned.


    The sensation was eerily familiar¡ªthe same feeling I had when I first struggled to move my body. But this time, the pain was lesser. The real difference, however, was the overwhelming presence of something inside me, devouring me, trying to take control.


    Ugh¡­ Is this the monster I ate? I thought, trying to steady my breath.


    I forced myself to focus, willing the pain to fade from my mind. If I lost control, I would become a monster.


    Mei then stepped behind me. "Interesting¡­ You''re still holding on. Now, drink. This is the part where you must never acknowledge anything, Julian. No matter what."


    I glanced at the necklace on my chest¡ªit wasn¡¯t reacting. Not even the slightest glow. Lucas and Hera, who had been watching closely, seemed particularly fixated on it, yet there was no response.


    Is the necklace really not going to help me? I wondered.


    But there was no time for doubt. I had to push forward. Hera and Lucas would do their job¡ªwhether that meant protecting me or killing me if I lost control.


    With the cup in my left hand, I raised it. The stench was unbearable, rotting and putrid, but I gritted my teeth and drank, forcing myself to savor every last drop of the thick, nauseating blood.


    Heat exploded through me, burning me from the inside out while a freezing cold spread over my skin. My body convulsed as the monster I had consumed fought harder, its presence growing stronger.


    And then¡ªI felt it.


    Worldflow.


    It surged within me, wild and untamed, a chaotic force rampaging through my veins. A scream ripped from my throat as a red aura flared around me, but at the same time, it bled out of my body like fire scorching my skin. Burns began to spread across my arms, my chest¡ªfirst-degree burns erupting in different spots as the power threatened to tear me apart.


    Mei acted fast. She pressed a hand to my back, her own Worldflow pouring into me, healing the burns, soothing the violent energy inside me.


    But I could feel it¡ªthe Worldflow, the blood, the heart. They were changing me.


    Yet, the necklace still didn¡¯t react.


    Lucas, his demonic eyes unblinking, continued to watch it closely. Hera did the same, her expression unreadable.


    This is¡­ Mei thought, her focus sharpening. A Worldflow rampage. This is too much. Right now, I''m expelling the excess, but Worldflow keeps forcing its way inside. I need to create a path, guiding it through his body, forming a proper stream. But this monster¡¯s heart¡­ It¡¯s corrupting him. At this rate, he¡¯ll turn into a monster.


    The battle inside me grew fiercer. The Worldflow tore at my insides, the monster''s will refusing to be subdued. My mind wavered, but I clenched my jaw. I have to hold on.


    And then¡ª


    A voice.


    Cryptic. Haunting.


    "Cam¡­ Campbell¡­ Julian¡­"


    It echoed from every direction, calling my name.


    Different voices¡ªsome like a woman, some like a child, others not human at all.


    The ritual chamber darkened. A thick, black mist slithered into the room.


    Lucas stiffened. "They''re here. The invitation has come."


    Hera moved instantly. Her body glowed blue as she coated herself in Worldflow, repelling the mist. Lucas followed, his red aura flaring. The floating red orbs in the room blazed, pushing the darkness back. The entities lurking in the walls tried to slip through, but the protection of the Goddess held firm. The red braziers flared, forcing the shadows to retreat. The voices softened, their eerie whispers fading.


    This is my chance!


    I forced myself to focus, tuning everything else out. I could feel it now¡ªMei¡¯s Worldflow forming a stream inside me, guiding the energy through my veins, expelling the corruption.


    Follow her lead. Guide the energy. Expel the corruption.


    Mei¡¯s breath hitched as she noticed. "He¡¯s¡­ controlling it?"


    The monster¡¯s will was unrelenting. It clung to me, refusing to be subdued.


    "I¡­ don¡¯t wa¡­"


    A voice echoed¡ªnot from outside, but inside me.


    "I don¡¯t want to be eaten¡­"


    A plea. Desperate.


    "Please¡­ do no¡­ don¡¯t eat me¡­ Don¡¯t eat me¡­"


    A chill ran down my spine.


    Terror.


    But before I could react, Mei¡¯s voice cut through the fear. "Do not acknowledge it. Focus."


    I snapped back, shoving the voice aside. No distractions. Just focus.


    But the monster inside of me spoke out, its voice much louder now ¡ª a chorus of horrifying cries, some human, some utterly inhuman. The voices were filled with agony, despair, and curses, and they came one after another, overlapping into a nightmare symphony.


    ¡°Wh¡­ Why? Why?¡­ You devoured us¡­ For power?¡­ You¡­ We will curse you¡­ Curse you!!¡± a pained and cursed voice echoed.


    Who¡­? Is this from the monster I consumed? Mei said not to acknowledge them. I have to focus¡­ I have to¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Please don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want to be devoured¡­ No¡­ no¡­ no¡­ I¡¯m begging you¡­ Please¡­¡± a desperate, trembling voice pleaded.


    This¡­ This is a monster I ate, right? Then why does it sound like a woman? Whose voice is this¡­?


    ¡°Noo¡­ Mommy sa¡­ Save me¡­ Where are you¡­ Please don¡¯t devour me¡­¡± a child¡¯s voice cried out in gut-wrenching horror.


    A child?! What the hell is this?! Is the monster trying to trick me? Is this its way of making me acknowledge it?


    ¡°Devoured¡­ No¡­ No¡­ I am alone¡­ I don¡¯t want to be alone¡­ I don¡¯t want to be devoured¡­¡± another voice sobbed in pure despair.


    I felt my skin crawl, but I kept my focus razor-sharp, refusing to acknowledge them as Mei instructed. I can¡¯t break. I won¡¯t break.


    But the voices only grew more sinister, more terrifying. One, in particular, sounded far more deranged.


    ¡°Heh¡­ Hahaha¡­ HAHAHAHA¡­ Devoured¡­ Haha¡­¡± It laughed maniacally in my ears. ¡°I¡­ I am being devoured¡­ I can¡¯t accept this¡­ I-I am being devoured¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ No, we will devour you¡­ YOU WILL BE WITH US¡­ WE WILL BE YOUR NIGHTMARE¡­ WE ARE THE NIGHTMAREEEE!!¡±


    A bone-chilling terror struck my core. My body stiffened, but I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to give in. Ignore it¡­ ignore it¡­


    Suddenly, the monster within me screamed ¡ª a piercing, deafening cry that flooded my ears with unbearable pain. Blood burst from both my and Mei¡¯s ears as the sheer force of its will resisted being devoured. Black veins began to spread across my body, and the corruption was setting in fast.


    Lucas¡¯ eyes widened, as did Hera¡¯s. However, despite witnessing everything unfold before them, they could not intervene¡ªnot until the ritual was complete. If they stepped in now, the ritual would fail instantly.


    Lucas clenched his fists as tightly as he could, his demonic eye glowing as he observed the ritual. He watched not only as corruption devoured me little by little but also how the monster inside me slowly consumed me. Yet, his focus was also on the necklace¡ªwatching for any reaction.


    But despite everything, the necklace remained unresponsive, showing no intention of aiding its wearer. Lucas couldn''t understand why. It had healed Julian from the moment they found him, so why was it silent now? His demonic eye pulsed, reacting to his search for an answer. And then¡ªhe saw it.


    A shadowy figure¡ªa black woman¡ªemerged from the ground behind Julian Campbell. She reached out, her hands embracing him from behind. A chilling, eerie smile spread across her face. Lucas could see it clearly.


    Who...? The woman from Julian''s story...? What is that...?


    Blood began to trickle from Lucas'' eyes, yet he felt no pain. Instead, his hands trembled, and his heart pounded erratically. The sheer presence of this being¡ªthis thing¡ªterrified him. But he couldn¡¯t look away.


    Hera, standing beside Lucas, saw the blood dripping from his eyes. Alarmed, she immediately turned her gaze toward the ritual, but all she could see was Julian and Mei struggling. She couldn¡¯t perceive the orb or the braziers reacting to whatever Lucas was witnessing. But she knew¡ªsomething was there.


    Is it bypassing the protection of the Goddess Sanguira...?


    Sensing Lucas'' fear, Hera instantly tapped into him, shouting, "Commander!"¡ªdesperately trying to bring him back to reality.


    Lucas heard her voice, but he still couldn''t tear his gaze away from the being. His voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with fear.


    "Release all your Worldflow at once."


    He could feel it¡ªhe could see the truth. But this being¡­ This thing was beyond truth itself. A being of absolute danger standing behind Julian.


    Meanwhile, Julian and Mei continued their struggle against the monster he had consumed. Julian''s heart pounded wildly, veins bulging across his body, pain surging through every inch of him. The monster''s screams grew worse¡ªlouder, more agonized.


    Ugh¡­ Ahhh¡­ Am I¡­?


    Before Julian could finish his thought, a voice echoed from behind him. The monster instantly fell silent¡ªnot just silenced, but terrified. It had sensed something.


    A presence.


    Mei, standing behind Julian, stabilizing him, immediately sensed the shift. Her instincts screamed danger, and she reacted without hesitation.


    "Sanguir¡ª!"


    But before she could finish, Julian heard it.


    A voice.


    A voice that crawled under his skin, chilling him to his core.


    A familiar voice.


    A terrifying, eerie whisper.


    "Mother loves you."


    Lucas'' eyes widened in horror.


    "Hera!" he shouted.


    Without hesitation, Hera¡¯s entire body became engulfed in intense Worldflow. Though she didn''t understand the situation, she followed Lucas'' orders without question.


    Lucas'' demonic eyes burned brighter, his voice ringing with power.


    "The truth is what I see. My eyes lead me to the truth and change what I see to my desire¡ªfor the truth is what I saw!"


    At his command, the orbs and the braziers blazed with blinding light, their radiance intense enough to make one go blind. In Lucas'' vision, the orbs gathered in the center, drawn toward the shadowy woman behind Julian. The flames of the braziers followed, twisting into a vortex, forming a ritual circle.


    A small tornado erupted within the ritual room, swirling with light and fire.


    Hera''s voice rang out, panic-stricken. "Commander! Mei is¡ª!"


    Lucas clenched his teeth, hesitating. Then, with a blink of his eyes, he dispelled his power, returning the orbs and braziers to their original state.


    But in that fleeting moment¡ªbefore everything returned to normal¡ªhe felt it.


    A gaze.


    The woman was looking directly at him.


    Her voice, deep and terrifying, reached him.


    "What an interesting authority. Sadly, you were born in this world."


    She laughed. A slow, unsettling, creeping laugh.


    Time seemed to slow just for her.


    "Do you fear me, child? Even though this is our first time meeting? Well¡­ I am not here to harm anyone.


    The new world has come.


    The Last has been born."


    She laughed again¡ªlow, cruel, and mocking.


    Then, in an instant, she vanished.


    A powerful gust of wind followed, extinguishing the flames and scattering the orbs. The force sent Mei, Lucas, and Hera reeling, despite their protective Worldflow.


    And just like that¡ªshe was gone.

 Chapter 8: The Slacker

    With the force of the wind vanishing the woman, Lucas, Hera, and Mei were blown away despite the protection of the worldflow. Dust filled the room, making it difficult for Lucas to see what was happening.


    Lucas''s eyes began to glow gold, and golden worldflow radiated from his body. Raising his right hand, he swung it downward behind him, and the dust moved as if being pulled by the golden worldflow. As the dust gathered in his palm, it started to dissipate, vanishing as though being absorbed by the golden energy in his right hand.


    Then, a powerful surge of worldflow erupted from his side. Lucas didn¡¯t need to look¡ªhe knew exactly who it was. Hera stood with her spear pierced into the ground, shielding herself. But the spear was shattering little by little until it crumbled completely, just like the small sword behind her.


    Looking at Lucas, Hera spoke, her voice filled with concern. "Commander, Mei is¡ª" She didn''t ask what was happening¡ªher worry was solely for Mei.


    As commander, Lucas forced himself to remain steady despite the fear coursing through him. His hand trembled¡ªhe knew it. The woman was dangerous, and so was the one who wore the necklace: Julian Campbell. Biting his tongue, his right eye turned red once again, but his left remained gold. Worldflow wrapped around his right hand.


    Lucas looked at Hera and raised his hand. Understanding his silent command, Hera picked up one of the shattered crystal fragments and handed it to him.


    Clenching his fist around the crystal, it glowed golden. He raised it high before swinging it downward, instantly forging a sword in his grasp.


    His crimson right eye, glowing with a demonic radiance, widened as he spoke: "Let the truth be shown."


    At once, the dust-filled room was completely cleared.


    Lucas wiped the blood from his eye with his right hand and saw the scene before him. Julian sat on the floor in the middle of the ritual room, gasping for air, his face pressed against the ground. Lucas couldn¡¯t tell what Julian had become. Behind him, Mei lay with her burned hand outstretched¡ªclearly, she had also been thrown by the powerful force. Hera, seeing her condition, rushed to her side to aid her.


    Lucas took a step forward. He had no time to hesitate. He was left with only two choices: kill Julian, who was now a dangerous unknown variable, but risk making the unknown woman their enemy, or follow the plan¡ªuse Julian and the necklace, despite the continued risk it posed.


    Clicking his tongue, Lucas looked at Julian and sighed. He couldn''t afford to endanger them any further, but that necklace was their only chance of survival. The weight of the decision pressed on him¡ªuntil Mei spoke.


    "The ritual is a success," she said. "He has become a Worldwalker."


    Lucas instantly turned to her, seeing a small smile on her face¡ªan unspoken confirmation that it was done. Julian hadn¡¯t become a monster or been devoured. He hesitated, the golden worldflow in his right hand dissipating, along with the sword. The weapon returned to its original form¡ªa shattered crystal¡ªbefore slipping from his fingers and clattering to the ground.


    Looking back at Julian, Lucas thought to himself:


    How laughable. No matter what we do, our lives will always be filled with choices we¡¯re forced to make¡­


    He chuckled, then snickered. The fear that gripped him earlier now felt laughable¡ªa mockery of himself.


    Reaching Julian¡¯s side, he smiled and asked, "Well? What do you think of becoming one?"


    Slowly, Julian raised his head, his expression filled with fear.


    Lucas laughed, brushing aside everything that had happened as if it were nothing more than an accident. "I guess," he mused, "you¡¯re the most unknown being to me."


    Lucas¡ªunpredictable as ever¡ªlooked at Julian and asked, "How do you feel?"


    ...


    I gasped for breath, my heart racing. The voice of the woman earlier, the screams of the monster¡ªthey still shook me. But the person in front of me, Lucas, smiled as if none of it had ever happened.


    I tried to calm myself, but something felt different. My eyesight was sharper. My body¡ªsomething about it had changed entirely.


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    Suddenly, a sharp pain crawled through me, vibrating through every vein before shooting straight into my brain. It was as if something had forcibly invaded my mind.


    "Ughh¡­!"


    I winced, clutching my head as worldflow enveloped me. Then, realization struck as the new information successfully settled in my brain. I gasped, overwhelmed, and managed to say, "The Slacker."


    I had gained an authority¡ªone that belonged solely to me. But I couldn¡¯t celebrate because of everything that had just happened¡ªuntil Lucas chuckled.


    "Heh, so you became a lazy person?"


    Mei, standing behind me, chimed in. "The Slacker? That doesn¡¯t sound amazing at all."


    Hera laughed, finding the situation amusing. But to me, the fear hadn¡¯t left. My hands were still shaking.


    How could they laugh after everything that had just happened?


    I turned to Lucas and demanded, "You saw that woman earlier, right? Why are you laughing after that?"


    Lucas extended his hand to me, still smiling. "I thought we were friends, fighting against the unknown. Besides, fear won¡¯t do anything for us¡ªwe already know how to fight it. Or rather, we¡¯re already used to it."


    His eyes held a hint of sadness¡ªan unspoken burden. And I could see it in Mei and Hera as well. Even through their laughter, there was exhaustion. But Lucas¡ªhe carried the heaviest weight of all.


    Then he added, "If a person only knows fear, nothing will ever get done. So either I use you and that necklace¡ªwhich gives us a massive advantage¡ªor I kill you and make that unknown woman our enemy. And from what I¡¯ve seen, that¡¯s a fight we cannot win."


    His words carried a self-mocking tone. I hesitated for a moment, then reached for his hand and stood up. As I did, the trembling in my hands slowly faded.


    But Lucas¡¯s hands were shaking, too.


    "I¡¯d rather use everything I can," he said, "even if it means being used myself¡ªjust to save my people."


    I looked at him. A man burdened by so much that I couldn¡¯t even begin to understand his struggles.


    Then Lucas smiled. "So? Are you going to let me use you and your necklace, my friend, and charge toward the unknown¡ªjust like you said?"


    Hearing that, I smiled and chuckled, just like the three of them. "Well¡­ isn¡¯t that what¡¯s already happening?"


    Lucas put his glasses back on after wiping them with a cloth. His demonic eyes returned to normal as he said, "Well, that''s true. Heh. The ritual you experienced was unique, probably because of that necklace of yours. It protected you from the monster that almost devoured you. You''re lucky¡ªothers failed because no one protected them from being consumed."


    Curious, I asked, "Then what about when you became a Worldwalker? And what was that voice inside the monster? There were multiple voices."


    Lucas answered, "Well, the monster I ate was the same as yours. They use different voices to catch you off guard. But what you consumed is different. I didn''t know a person''s will against a monster could be that strong. If it weren''t for the necklace, you would have been devoured long ago, your body turned into its nest."


    I gulped but pressed on. "One more thing. What about the woman? How were you able to see her? And what¡¯s up with her?"


    Lucas crossed his arms and looked at me. "I think it''s obsessed with you. Perhaps she¡¯s your mother?"


    Annoyed, I immediately replied, "She''s not."


    Hera smirked and said, "That was a quick response¡­ and honestly, kinda hurts."


    What? Do you have feelings for that woman? I thought.


    I turned to Hera and asked, "Were you able to see her?"


    She shrugged. "I don''t know. Only you and the Commander could see her. Probably because of his authority."


    Before I could say anything else, Mei changed the subject. "Speaking of authority, what kind of ability does The Slacker have?"


    I paused for a moment, but my mind was still stuck on that woman. Lucas must''ve noticed because he reassured me, "If it¡¯s about the woman, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll investigate it thoroughly, and I¡¯ll discuss it with the higher-ups. For now, we should focus on you¡ªon the ability you gained. Let¡¯s talk about that first."


    Even so, I was still worried. "What did you see in that woman? No¡ªrather, what was your impression of her?"


    Lucas sighed before answering, "Well, one thing is certain: when I saw her, I knew she was dangerous. She might not be real. It¡¯s hard to explain, but¡­ she¡¯s beyond truth itself¡ªsomething even my authority can¡¯t comprehend."


    Something beyond truth itself¡­? I thought, looking at my palm. I clenched and unclenched my fist, realizing that ever since I woke up, I had been caught in something I didn¡¯t understand.


    Lucas then changed the subject. "Enough of that. Now, let¡¯s talk about your authority. You should be able to use it like breathing."


    I asked, "How?"


    Lucas pondered for a moment before saying, "Well, didn¡¯t the authority just enter you?"


    "Yeah, I know that, but how do I activate it?"


    "Oh, right." Lucas nodded. "First of all, you have to feel the worldflow in your veins, circulating through your body. Close your eyes and sense it. Since you ate the monster¡¯s heart, you should be able to feel it easily. Then, channel that worldflow, like awakening your authority. Remember, you are the authority. The worldflow is charging you. Now, think about activating it through your brain."


    Feels like a pretty shitty explanation coming from a smart guy¡­ I thought, raising an eyebrow at him.


    Lucas gave a thumbs-up. "It¡¯s easier to feel than to explain, trust me."


    I glanced at Hera and Mei. They both shrugged.


    With no other choice, I did as Lucas said. Feel the worldflow...


    I closed my eyes and focused. Then, I felt it¡ªa surge of power circulating through my veins like it was my own blood. It began to manifest, radiating from my body, enveloping me.


    Lucas smirked. "A fast learner, huh? It took me thirty minutes just to feel it."


    Just like he said, it was like channeling the authority, because the authority was me.


    But suddenly, as I was about to fully grasp it, I collapsed. A red mist began to form in front of me.


    Lucas, Mei, and Hera all watched. Lucas instinctively looked at the necklace, but it showed no reaction. He was about to radiate his worldflow¡ªuntil the being in the mist appeared.


    It was me.

 Chapter 9: The Slacker 2

    In the dark ritual room, four people stood as a red mist appeared. Three of them were on high alert, their surroundings barely illuminated by the faint glow of crystals embedded in the walls. One by one, the crystals flickered to life, but the dim light did little to dispel the tension in the air.


    From within the mist, I emerged.


    Lucas reacted instantly, his body tensing, while Hera moved to shield Mei. A flash of red flickered in Lucas¡¯s eyes¡ªhis demonic authority manifesting¡ªbut before he could act, I quickly spoke.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s gaze snapped to me.


    A sharp pain surged through my head, and I instinctively clutched it, wincing. Despite the agony, my mind felt strangely clear, as if sharpened by an unseen force. I knew what the red mist was. I knew why it had appeared. Because I had caused it.


    Even in the dim light, my vision was enhanced, allowing me to see everything with unsettling clarity.


    Lucas narrowed his eyes. ¡°Is this your authority?¡±


    I met his gaze and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ but yes.¡±


    Then, without warning, a searing pain erupted in my chest.


    The figure emerging from the red mist¡ªan identical copy of me¡ªbegan to tremble violently. Blood gushed from its mouth as it staggered forward. Lucas instinctively stepped back, while Hera pulled Mei away.


    ¡°Stop.¡± My voice came out strained, but the command held authority.


    A pulse of worldflow radiated from the being, and then, in a horrifying display, it began to tear itself apart. It clawed at its own chest, its fingers digging deep into its flesh.


    Lucas, Hera, and Mei remained still, watching with unsettling calm, as if they had witnessed this kind of thing before.


    I, however, stood frozen in disbelief, thinking... What in the actual fuck?


    The copy of me¡ªthe entity created by my authority¡ªcontinued to rip itself apart in a gruesome fashion. Blood splattered onto the floor, pooling at its feet. And then, as its body collapsed, the blood began to dissolve into black smoke, vanishing into the air until nothing remained.


    I gasped, struggling for breath, clutching my chest as the pain lingered. However, even after seeing this gruesome scene, there was no fear in me. Instead, my mind remained calm.


    Is this the benefit of becoming a Worldwalker?


    It was as if I could think properly without distractions. My mind felt enhanced, sharpened.


    Despite the pain, I can feel my body reacting to it as if suppressing it.


    Then, as the identical copy of me vanishes, a rotting stench fills the air, assaulting my nose. The smell is so strong that Lucas and Hera instantly cover their noses. I do the same. "Ugh... it stinks," I think to myself. However, Mei remains completely unfazed by the smell.


    Breaking the silence without a single care for the stench, as if she were already used to it, Mei speaks. "This is the first stage of being a Worldwalker¡ªthe Awakening. What you''re feeling now is the pain caused by using your Authority before your body has fully adapted to it."


    I forced out a breath. ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to warn me?¡±


    Mei merely shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s better to experience it firsthand. You¡¯ll be doing this every day until you master it.¡±


    ¡°Every day?¡± I repeated.


    She nodded. ¡°Yes. All Worldwalkers who gain an authority must go through this process. The only way to master it is to use it repeatedly. That¡¯s why you¡¯ll need someone to observe you.¡±


    Lucas smirked. ¡°It¡¯s completely normal. When I first gained my authority, my eyes felt like they were being gouged out. I was constantly weeping blood. This is just the first side effect. Eventually, you¡¯ll master it, and by the time you reach Cycle 10, you won¡¯t even need to train anymore.¡±


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    I exhaled slowly, feeling the pain gradually fade. Removing my hand from my chest, I finally felt some relief.


    Mei smiled. ¡°So, this is the new authority gained by our squad.¡±


    Hera scoffed. ¡°Great. We got a lazy one.¡±


    Lucas chuckled. ¡°Judging by what we just saw, your authority lets you create another version of yourself to do your work. Seems fitting, don¡¯t you think? The Slacker. Maybe mastering your authority just means lying in bed while your clones handle everything for you.¡±


    Mei tilted her head. ¡°Honestly, that doesn¡¯t sound bad. Imagine having a power that lets you get everything done without lifting a finger.¡±


    Hera fell into deep thought. ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± She turned to me, her eyes gleaming with something unsettling. Lucas shared her expression.


    I glanced between them, then at Mei, who sighed. ¡°Good luck.¡±


    I swallowed hard. ¡°Why are they looking at me like that?¡±


    Lucas waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s welcome Julian Campbell. Congratulations on becoming a Worldwalker. Welcome to the Scouts Squad.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject. You¡¯re planning something, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Lucas simply shrugged, looking away.


    At that moment, I realized something.


    I was screwed.


    Then Lucas suddenly stepped forward, reaching into his pocket. ¡°Well, with all that being said¡­¡±


    He pulled out a small black ring inscribed with an unknown text and slipped it onto his finger. I eyed him warily.


    ¡°What is that? And why are you coming toward me?¡±


    Ignoring my question, he pulled out another identical ring and knelt in front of me. Before I could react, he took my right hand and slid the ring onto my finger.


    The moment it settled, the inscriptions glowed with a golden light¡ªjust like the ring he wore.


    I stared at it in shock. ¡°What¡­ What is this?¡±


    Lucas exhaled. ¡°Well, going back to the topic of investigation¡­ this is our way of keeping an eye on you. Now that you¡¯ve successfully become a Worldwalker, we can¡¯t just let you run around unchecked. You¡¯re still under investigation.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°I see¡­ but what exactly can this ring do?¡±


    Lucas replied, ¡°This ring lets me track where you are, sense the danger you¡¯re in, monitor your worldflow state, and even see what you see and hear what you hear. In short, it¡¯s the perfect relic for observing you.¡±


    A disturbing thought crossed my mind. I hesitated before asking, ¡°So¡­ uh¡­ I¡¯m not against it, but¡­¡±


    Before I could finish, Lucas cut me off, already knowing what I was about to say. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going to spy on you while you¡¯re in the bathroom. What do you take me for?¡± His tone was exasperated.


    I sighed in relief.


    Lucas stood up, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Julian, the woman, the necklace¡­ and now you. You all need to be thoroughly investigated. Now that I¡¯ve seen the woman myself, I understand how dangerous she is. Even if we try to use her¡ªor let her use us¡ªI can¡¯t afford to ignore the risks.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°No need to explain. I understand my situation.¡±


    Lucas smiled and asked, "Good, now then, are you already accustomed to becoming a Worldwalker? What about the feeling of the worldflow?"


    I looked at my fist, closing and opening it, sensing the worldflow radiating inside of me and the changes in my body. I felt much stronger; I had truly become a Worldwalker.


    But my strength was still unknown. I didn¡¯t know the limit of what my body had become, so I thought to myself... knowing the limit of what I can do would actually raise my survival rate. I shouldn¡¯t be arrogant just because I was one of the few to gain an authority. The woman of the necklace, the entity, and the monster I had eaten were proof that I should think carefully...


    So, I turned to Lucas and asked, "How do I test the limit of my strength and my worldflow?"


    Lucas replied, "Don¡¯t worry about that. Just like Mei said, you will continue to practice your authority until you master it. In that time, you''ll be able to understand your strength."


    I nodded, and Lucas added, "Well, if that¡¯s all, we should leave this room. Let the others clean it up because leaving it this way is dangerous. After all, this is the place where Worldwalkers ascend to their rank or become a Worldwalker, and the stench is becoming unbearable."


    Lucas covered his nose as he spoke.


    I stood up, picked up the clothes I had removed for the ritual, and used them to wipe the blood and dirt off my body. It was then that I could clearly see how much my body had changed. I had become more fit and muscular, but not overly buff. I couldn¡¯t help but touch my body, becoming engrossed in the changes.


    The three of them looked at me, and Lucas followed with, "You¡¯ll be given time to love your body more. For now, let¡¯s leave."


    With those words, I snapped out of it, embarrassed, and turned away. Hera scoffed, and Mei smiled warmly.


    I then put on my clothes, trying to do anything to reduce my embarrassment, and we walked to the door. Lucas opened it, and as soon as the door was opened, the temperature quickly became hot. It was probably because I had gotten used to the coldness of the room, but my body quickly adapted, and the heat was replaced by a normal temperature.


    We walked toward the door, and Lucas picked up the torch on the wall and lit it. As I looked above, the torches on the wall lit up one after another.


    We went upstairs, chatting a little until we passed the wall where we entered. Lucas quickly opened the door, and as the four of us left, he slid open a drawer on the long table, picked up a towel, and wiped the dirt off him before sitting back and relaxing in his chair. He then leaned down as if looking for something in the long table and pressed something that I wasn¡¯t able to see.


    Maybe it was the same in my prison, where he would call in someone... I thought.


    Mei then said, "Well, it was nice meeting you, Julian. I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. The church will surely be waiting for me." She smiled before saying, "Goodbye." She bowed, placing her hands together, and said, "May the goddess bless you with her blood tears."


    Hera watched Mei leave, then stood by the door. I paid it no mind and instead turned to Lucas, asking, "So what¡¯s going to happen now?"


    Lucas answered, "Well, it¡¯s time to relax now," then laughed. "Well, that¡¯s for you to do. As for me, I have lots of work to do, so you¡¯ll be going back to your prison once again."


    I sighed, knowing it was expected but not surprised... Well, guess I¡¯m not going to have a proper room that isn¡¯t a prison.


    I said, "Haha, I thought I would finally have a proper room for myself now that I¡¯ve joined you, but I guess not."


    Lucas said, "Oh, don¡¯t worry about that. You¡¯ll have your own proper room since you¡¯re one of us now. But not today. We¡¯ll need to decide where to put you, and I have to report what happened today. So, just wait patiently, alright? In the meantime, practice controlling your worldflow and authority. It doesn¡¯t need to be perfect; just get used to it. After I finish my work, I¡¯ll be the one to teach you the way of a Worldwalker."


    Lucas opened a drawer on his long table, took out a piece of paper, and a pen, then began writing. "Well, it¡¯s time for you to go back to your room and rest since your body must have been strained. Practice your worldflow and authority, but don¡¯t overdo it. We don¡¯t want anything to happen to you just because you pushed yourself too hard. For now, rest."


    I then said, "Can¡¯t I take a bath first? I mean, the smell will be terrible if I just let myself be like this."


    Lucas said, "Hmm, now that you mention it, I really need a bath too, hah. But work comes first. Damn it."


    Hera interrupted, "Then I can take him to the bathhouse, as I also need to clean myself."


    Lucas put his hand to his head. "Damn it, you just want to get away from working with me. Fine, go. Maybe I¡¯ll let the others help me with my work when the cleaners come to the room. Hah..."


    Looking at Lucas, I had a sense of enjoyment, and I could see Hera smiling as if she had already planned this. Well, this was a nice feeling...


    Hera then said, as she put her hand in her pocket, "Julian, please follow me. Also, you¡¯ll need to wear a blindfold again."


    I asked, "Really?"


    Hera answered, "Yes."


    Damn it...


    As I was putting it on, Lucas said, "Well, Julian Campbell, good luck."


    I looked at him confused, and he said, "The future awaiting you will surely be hard. I wonder how far you can go." Lucas smiled as he said it.