Metro: Awakening – Chapter 2
"The Arrival of the Slayers"
A Night of Terror
The town of Velmir was in chaos. The streets burned with crimson flames, and the air was thick with the scent of ash and fear. People screamed as a monstrous demon, its body shifting like liquid shadow, towered over the wreckage.
Its glowing red eyes scanned the helpless civilians, its mouth stretching into a wicked grin. "More souls to consume," it growled, raising a clawed hand.
Before it could strike—
CLANG!
A silver chain wrapped around its wrist, stopping its movement. From the rooftops, three figures leaped into the battle.
The Slayers had arrived.
---
The Battle Begins
1. Ryo, The Swift Blade – A tall warrior with silver hair, wielding dual katanas. His speed was inhuman, slicing through the air like a ghost.
2. Kael, The War Bringer – A muscular fighter with a huge battle-axe, his strikes creating shockwaves as he clashed with the demon.
3. Nova, The Arcane Striker – A sharp-eyed woman with crystal daggers, moving like a shadow, her attacks infused with magic.
Ryo dashed forward, slashing at the demon's legs, but the beast dodged, countering with a dark energy blast. Ryo barely evaded, flipping backward as the attack shattered the ground.
Kael swung his axe with terrifying force, aiming for the demon's core, but it caught the weapon with one hand and sent Kael flying into a building.
Nova vanished into the shadows, reappearing above the demon, unleashing a barrage of dagger-shaped light spears, but the monster absorbed them, roaring, "You cannot kill me!"
The battle raged on. The Slayers were powerful, but this demon was unlike any they had fought before. It regenerated rapidly, its strength increasing with every attack they failed to land.
---
A Miracle in the Sky
Just as the Slayers began to falter, the sky split apart.
A blinding golden light descended, illuminating the battlefield. The demon screeched in pain as the light condensed into a brilliant sphere, growing larger by the second.
Then—
BOOM!
The sphere exploded outward in a flash of divine energy, erasing the demon from existence.
As the smoke cleared, a figure floated in the sky.
---
The Arrival of Their Teacher
The man was blindfolded, his golden eyes hidden behind a white cloth. His hair was snow-white, and he wore a long black coat with golden embroidery.
This was Lucien, The Heavenly Slayer, their master.
Kael and Nova smiled at the sight of him. "Master Lucien!" Kael grinned.
But Ryo wasn't pleased. "I didn't need your help."
Kael nudged him, chuckling. "Come on, he's our teacher."
Lucien grinned playfully. "Ah, Ryo, my most serious student. Still pretending to be the strongest?" He patted Ryo's head mockingly.
Ryo growled, stepping away. "Tch."
Nova suddenly grew serious. "Was that demon… trying to find someone?"
Ryo crossed his arms. "I heard it muttering something about 'Metro' before we engaged. Who is Metro?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… I heard that too. Who's Metro?"
Lucien's smile faded. "That... is a name we will soon find out."
---
Back to Neo City
The neon glow of Neo City filled the screen as Metro walked down an empty street, lost in thought. The air was cool, the streets unusually quiet.
"Metro!"
He turned to see a familiar face. Mark, his only friend, jogged toward him with a grin. "Man, where have you been?"
Metro smirked. "Same old, same old. You?"
Mark shrugged. "Still trying to get rich overnight."
They laughed, walking together, talking about everything and nothing. Eventually, they parted ways, and Metro continued home.
But as he walked into his apartment, an unseen force was watching him.
Deep within a dark chamber, a single demonic eye hovered in mid-air, swirling with black energy.
Through it, a powerful demon overlord gazed into Metro's world, whispering:
"So... the lost one still lives."
Metro stood outside his apartment door, his hand hovering over the doorknob. A shiver ran down his spine.
The apartment felt... wrong.
The air around it was heavy, suffocating. Every time he stepped closer, his chest tightened as if something was pushing him away.
He took a deep breath. "It's just a house... my house."
But deep down, he knew that wasn't true.
With a slow, hesitant movement, he twisted the knob and stepped inside.
The door creaked.
The moment he entered, he felt an unsettling cold crawl over his skin. His heart pounded. He shook his head, pulling off his jacket and tossing it onto a chair.
He let out a sigh, rubbing his temples. "I need sleep."
Then he turned—
And froze.
---
The Woman in the Mirror
Standing in front of his bathroom mirror was a woman.
Her long dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, her face familiar yet strange. Metro's breath caught in his throat.
It was his mother.
But that was impossible.
His legs felt weak. He took an uncertain step forward. "M-Mom...?"
The woman's lips parted, her voice a whisper that echoed in the silence.
"Metro... we need you... we need you."
His head spun. "Mom... I thought you were dead." His voice cracked.
The woman's eyes darkened, flickering with something otherworldly.
Suddenly—
RUMBLE!
The entire apartment shook violently as if an earthquake had struck. The walls trembled, objects fell, the lights flickered. Metro staggered backward, confusion clouding his mind.
He clenched his fists. "No—this isn't real!"
His powers surged, his energy crackling around him like an electric storm. He was ready to fight back against whatever this was.
Then—
"Metro!"
His body jerked as if yanked by an invisible force.
The world around him warped, reality twisting like a broken film reel—
And suddenly, he was standing outside his apartment again.
---
A Looping Nightmare
The street was silent. The night air was cool. His heart still raced in his chest.
He turned, blinking in confusion.
Mark was right in front of him, looking completely normal.
"Yo, Metro! Where have you been?" Mark asked casually.
Metro's breath hitched. What just happened?
The earthquake… the vision of his mother… it was all gone. As if it never happened.
His apartment stood there, undisturbed.
Metro stared at Mark, his voice barely a whisper. "I was just… home…?"
Mark frowned. "Dude, you haven't even entered your house yet."
Metro's hands felt cold. He clenched his fists, his mind racing.
Was it all a dream?
Or... was something messing with time?
---
TO BE CONTINUED…