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Chapter 2: Echoes of the Past
The cold sweat clung to Lucian's skin as he jolted awake, his breath ragged, heart pounding in his chest. His surroundings were familiar, yet his mind was still trapped in the remnants of the dream—a nightmare that always returned. It had been so vivid this time, as if it was more than just a dream. There was something about it, something... real.
"Awaken…"
Lucian's body trembled. That voice. It always whispered to him, lingering just beyond the veil of his consciousness, like a shadow he couldn't escape. He shook his head, pushing it away, trying to focus on the here and now. His gaze landed on the cracked ceiling above him, the peeling paint a constant reminder of the apartment's disrepair. The faint hum of the city outside filtered through the thin walls. He was alive, and that's all that mattered—at least for now.
Neo, his younger brother, was still asleep beside him on the thin mattress. His chest rose and fell with every peaceful breath. Lucian's fingers twitched as he watched him, the boy who was still innocent, untouched by the cruel reality that had consumed their lives. Lucian's heart ached. He couldn't bear the thought of Neo waking up to the harsh world they now inhabited.
He needed to survive. For Neo.
"Lucian…"
The voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it cut through his thoughts like a blade. Lucian turned, looking toward his brother, but Neo was still asleep, his face relaxed in the innocence of his dreams.
Lucian sighed. The voice wasn't real. It never was.
With a grunt, he threw off the thin blanket and stood up. His body ached from the nights of restless sleep and constant worrying. He had grown accustomed to the weight of his responsibilities, but it didn't make the burden any lighter. If anything, it was getting heavier with each passing day.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the fog of sleep, and reached for the small wooden chest beside his bed. Inside, it held all their savings—everything they had left. Not much. But it was enough to survive another day, another week, maybe.
"Lucian?"
The voice again. But this time, it wasn't just in his head. Neo stirred beside him, blinking sleepily as he rubbed his eyes. Lucian froze. For a brief moment, he felt his heart skip a beat.
"Yeah, it's me," Lucian said, forcing a smile as he looked down at his brother. "Go back to sleep, Neo. You still need rest."
Neo shook his head, his expression serious for someone so young. "I can't sleep. It's not fair, Lucian. I know you're worried about Mom and Dad."
Lucian's throat tightened, but he forced the smile to remain. "I'm not worried. You're here, aren't you?" He knelt beside the bed, brushing a lock of hair from his brother's face. "Everything's fine. We'll figure it out."
Neo gave him a doubtful look but said nothing. Instead, he lay back down, pulling the blanket up to his chin, his large brown eyes never leaving Lucian.
Lucian watched his brother for a moment, then turned toward the small kitchen area. He didn't have time to dwell on emotions; he had a mission today. He had to find a way to keep the lights on, to keep them fed, to find a way to bring their parents back.
The city outside had changed. What was once a thriving, bustling metropolis had become a dangerous, unpredictable landscape. Dungeons had appeared without warning. They were like open wounds in the fabric of reality, portals to strange worlds filled with unimaginable dangers. Some of the creatures that emerged were nothing short of nightmares, beasts that tore through the streets, leaving destruction in their wake. Others, the more powerful ones, were hunted by those with the ability to fight back.
Lucian had never been one of those people. He was just an ordinary boy, one of the millions who had been born into a world that had suddenly become far too big and dangerous for him to understand. But still, he persisted. For Neo. For his parents.
And maybe—just maybe—there was a chance for a cure.
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Lucian pulled his hood low as he stepped out onto the streets, the weight of the world pressing down on him. He passed through the crowded marketplace, eyes darting over the familiar sights. People hawked their wares, trying to sell anything of value they could find. A few traders offered scraps of magical items they had scavenged from the dungeons, but Lucian knew better than to waste his money on things that wouldn't help them.
He didn't have time for distractions. He needed a job.
The memory of his last few days flashed before him. It had been a whirlwind of unsuccessful job offers and failed attempts to find a way to cover his family's medical expenses dept has stressed him out for days,. Neo had grown weaker every day, and with their parents in a coma, there was no one left to turn to.
But today was different. Today, Lucian had found a lead.
A low-tier dungeon job. Dangerous, yes, but it paid well. It wasn't a cure for his parents, but it was a start. The money would keep them alive for a little longer. Maybe even give him a few more days to find something that would save them.
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The dungeon entrance was a strange, dark swirl in the air, its edges rippling like the surface of a disturbed pond. Lucian could feel the tension in the air, the primal fear that the place invoked in him. Other scavengers milled about, their faces hard with determination—or fear.
Some wore armor, weapons in hand, ready for whatever lay beyond. Others, like Lucian, were just ordinary people, hoping to scrape by.
"Lucian?"
Lucian turned to see Axel, an old classmate from school. Axel had been Awakened months ago and had already gained considerable power. He wore the uniform of the Awakened Control Organization (ACO), the elite group that regulated dungeons and the monsters that emerged from them.
Axel was tall, with an air of confidence that Lucian couldn't help but envy. He had everything Lucian lacked—power, influence, and the connections to survive in this new world.
"I'm surprised to see you here," Axel said, crossing his arms. "You're not exactly... equipped for this, Lucian."
Lucian shrugged, trying to mask the doubt that crept into his chest. "I don't have much of a choice. My brother's sick, and my parents—well, you know."
Axel's face softened, but only for a moment. "You're putting yourself in danger. You don't even have a proper weapon."
Lucian clenched his fists. He didn't need a lecture. He had been trying to survive in a world where survival wasn't guaranteed for someone like him. But Axel didn't understand that. He never would.
"I'll be fine," Lucian said, his voice hardening. "I'm doing this, no matter what."
Axel studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you." He turned and walked away, leaving Lucian to face the dungeon alone.
---
As Lucian stepped through the entrance, the world seemed to shift. The air grew colder, the ground beneath his feet softer. For a moment, everything around him blurred—like a dreamscape. Then, the voices started again.
"Remember..."
The voice echoed in his mind, and with it came images—flashes of a figure standing amidst a battlefield, cloaked in shadows, surrounded by fallen gods. The figure was familiar, but Lucian couldn't place it. His head throbbed as memories that didn't belong to him flooded his consciousness.
"Who... am I?"
The dizziness was overwhelming. He staggered forward, falling to his knees as his vision swam. The world around him twisted, like the very fabric of reality was unraveling.
Then, everything went dark.
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