...
Cassian's consciousness stirred, heavy and disoriented, like he was submerged in thick, endless water.
I'm alive?…
To say Cassian was baffled would have been an understatement. He was absolutely sure he died; that fucker ripped out his heart, and yet he was alive. Well…at least he felt alive with his familiar consciousness, mind, and emotions, although he couldn't feel his body or see anything apart from endless darkness. There was no sky, no ground, no light.
What is happening?
Then the memories came once again, jagged and vivid, crashing into him like waves. His mother, her bloodied hand reaching for him. The flames engulfed their home. The twisted figures with crimson eyes.
And Arwyn.
Cassian squeezed his eyes shut as the image of Arwyn's calm, serene smile burned itself into his mind—the glow of crimson eyes and the swirling void of a dark star consuming everything. Cassian gasped even though there was nobody; the phantom pain was vivid, expecting to feel a gaping hole where his heart should be.
If there is a second chance… I'll kill him… I'll avenge you, Mom.
As if in response to his thoughts, something shifted. A low, resonant hum vibrated through the void, cutting through the silence like a ripple in still water. Cassian froze. The hum deepened, resonating through his very bones. Then, from the darkness, a golden light appeared in the distance. Faint, pulsing. Like the beat of a heart. As it drew closer, a voice filled the void—deep, ancient, and all-encompassing.
"YOU STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF FATE, CASSIAN. RELEASE YOUR GRIP ON THIS MORTAL COIL, AND YOU SHALL BE FREED FROM THE CHAINS OF SUFFERING."
"YET, IF YOU DARE TO PROVE YOUR WORTH—IF YOU ENDURE THE TRIALS THAT AWAIT—I SHALL BESTOW UPON YOU THE DESIRES THAT BURN IN YOUR SOUL."
"CHOOSE WISELY"
Cassian froze; the words vibrating through his bones. There was no hesitation.
Then let your trials come… I will carve my path—whatever it takes. Give me the chance. Every trial. Every sacrifice. I vow it—on her soul, and mine… I'll not yield.
The light flared brighter, swallowing him whole. The void collapsed around him, folding into itself until there was nothing but darkness once more.
…
Cassian's eyes snapped open, his lungs burning as he gasped for air. His head throbbed, the pain radiating through his skull like a hammer striking metal. Slowly, he blinked, his vision swimming as the world around him came into focus.
Where… am I?
It took him a moment to realize he was trapped. He was pinned beneath a heavy mass of debris, his torso trapped and his legs pinned awkwardly at the knees. Dust coated his face, mixing with the blood dripping from his temple. He barely managed to part his eyes into a slit before the brightness of the light pierced his vision and nearly triggered a headache. Forcing himself to take slow, deliberate breaths, he scanned his surroundings. The world was a scene of utter devastation. Buildings lay in ruins, their skeletal frames jutting out against the smoke-choked sky. Fires burned in the distance, their flickering light casting eerie shadows over the broken landscape.
And the bodies.
Cassian's stomach churned as his gaze fell on the corpses scattered across the ground. Limbs twisted at unnatural angles. Faces frozen in expressions of terror. Blood pooled beneath them, seeping into the cracked earth.
Where in the hell am I? I was at home.
Then the memories came crashing down. His mother's bloodied face, her trembling hand as she reached for him. The fire. The haunting whistle. The glow of Arwyn's crimson eyes. And the pain and the choice he made.
So this is my second chance… but where am I? Did Arwyn cause this destruction?… am I still in America?
Haaa… Regardless, I should get out first. This time when I face that bastard, I'll be ready… That I promise.
He tugged against the debris pinning him, his muscles straining. It wouldn't budge.
"Come on, Cassy," he muttered through gritted teeth, "You've been through worse and all the time at the school gym I can lift it... Move, damn it."
The rubble held firm, and Cassian slumped back, his breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. He forced himself to calm down, his eyes scanning the area more carefully. Not far from where he lay, he spotted a figure slumped against a broken wall. The greenish tint of the man's uniform caught his eye, as did the rifle resting beside him.
"A soldier? Or a guard?" Cassian squinted, focusing on the corpse.
Before he could think any further, a low growl rumbled through the air. Cassian froze; every muscle in his body tensed. The sound was deep and guttural, vibrating through the ground like the warning of a predator. He turned his head toward the source with deliberate slowness.
What in the fuck is that…
His breath caught in his throat.
A massive creature stood some distance away, its hulking form illuminated by the flickering flames. It was the size of a bear, with thick, grayish fur that bristled with every movement. Long, razor-sharp claws glinted in the dim light. Its elongated, blood-dripped snout hung over a corpse. The beast crouched, tearing into the remains with horrifying enthusiasm. Wet, slurping sounds filled the air as it feasted, its glowing yellow eyes fixed intently on its meal.
Cassian's stomach turned; his mind raced.
Okay… okay, stay quiet. Stay calm. Don't let it see you.
As if on cue, a voice echoed in his mind—low, resonant, and cold.
[SURVIVE THE FIRST ORDEAL]
Cassian flinched as a translucent blue box materialized in his vision, hovering just beyond his reach. He reached out instinctively, but his hand passed through the box like it wasn't even there.
What the…
Before he could form his thoughts, a sharp growl snapped his attention back to the beast. It had stopped eating, its snout lifting as it sniffed the air. Its ears twitched, and its glowing eyes swept across the rubble. Cassian's heart pounded as panic surged through him.
"No, no, no," he whispered, pressing himself harder against the debris. The beast's gaze landed on him.
Fuck me sideways.
It let out a deafening roar, its powerful body shifting as it started to move toward him. Cassian's body screamed in protest as he pushed against the rubble pinning him down. He gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he shoved with everything he had. The jagged edges cut into his hands, drawing blood, but he didn't stop.
"Move!" he growled through clenched teeth. "Come on, move, damn it!"
With a final, desperate shove, Cassian freed himself from the rubble and rolled onto the ground. Pain flared through his ankle, sharp and unrelenting, but he forced himself to his feet. There was no time to think about pain. The guttural growl of the beast pierced through the destruction, vibrating in the air like a death knell. Cassian's gaze snapped to the creature, and his blood turned ice-cold.
The beast was closing in; its yellow eyes were locked onto him. In his vision, the glowing text hung ominously, mocking him with its simplicity.
[SURVIVE THE FIRST ORDEAL]
Cassian's eyes darted to the soldier's corpse he'd spotted earlier. The greenish uniform was smeared with dirt and blood, and next to it, half-buried in rubble, was the gun. A spark of hope flared in his chest, burning brighter than the fear that threatened to overwhelm him.
"Move, damn it!" he hissed to himself, forcing his aching legs into motion. Every step sent fresh spikes of agony up his broken ankle, but he didn't stop. He limped and stumbled toward the body, his breaths ragged and his heart hammering against his ribs. The beast snarled behind him; its growls grew louder.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Cassian panted, his fingers reaching desperately for the weapon. The rifle was oddly like an AR-15, its matte-black frame chipped and worn. It was the same model Carl had shown him in his collection. He remembered Carl taking him to the range where they fired guns all day.
"This better work," Cassian muttered. His fingers brushed against a satchel bag beside the corpse, and without thinking, he slung it over his shoulder.
The growl behind him turned into a thunderous roar.
Cassian looked up just in time to see the beast jump. Its huge claws reached out, and saliva flew from its wide-open mouth.
"Fuck!" Cassian dropped to one knee, flipping the safety off with a sharp click and raising the rifle. The creature closed the distance, its glowing eyes filled with primal hunger.
Cassian squeezed the trigger.
"RATATATATA!"
The rifle barked to life, the recoil slamming into his shoulder. The muzzle flashed brightly in the dim, smoky air. Bullets ripped through the space between them. Cassian's aim was far from perfect—panic and pain made his hands shake—but at such close range, most of the shots found their mark. The monster's charge faltered midair as rounds tore into its thick hide. Blood sprayed from its chest and shoulder, dark and viscous, as it let out a deafening howl of pain. But even as it faltered, its momentum carried it forward.
"No, no, no!" Cassian yelled, trying to move out of the way.
The creature crashed into him like a wrecking ball. Its weight knocked the wind from his lungs. Cassian hit the ground hard as the monster pinned him to the ground. Its claws dug into his chest, holding him down with unrelenting force. His head slammed back against the jagged rubble beneath him. Stars exploded in his vision, and pain shot through his left shoulder as the beast tore into him. Its jagged teeth ripped through flesh like paper.
"AHHH!" Cassian screamed, his voice raw and breaking. His free hand flailed, clawing at the ground as he tried frantically to reach the rifle just out of his grasp. His fingertips brushed the cold metal, but the weight of the monster kept him pinned. The creature was too heavy; its massive frame crushed him against the debris-strewn ground.
"Get… off me!" he gasped, his voice trembling with fury and pain.
The monster snarled in response, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto his as it bore down harder. The stench of its rancid breath filled his nose, making him gag. Every nerve in his body begged him to give up, to let the pain consume him. But through the haze of agony, a spark ignited—a flame fueled by grief and rage.
His mother's voice echoed in his mind, clear and resolute.
"Run, Cassy. Survive."
And then Arwyn's face. That gentle, mocking smile. The crimson eyes, swirling with dark stars. A fire roared to life in Cassian's chest, burning through the pain and despair. He gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening into fists. His eyes flicked to the satchel bag just within reach.
There's gotta be something in there. Come on, come on! I'm not dying here. Not like this. Not again.
With a surge of determination, he shoved his hand into the satchel slung across his shoulder. His fingers fumbled blindly, grasping for anything—anything—that could save him. His hand closed around something cold and cylindrical. He didn't think. He didn't hesitate. Cassian pulled the object from the bag, holding it tightly as the monster's teeth dug deeper into his shoulder. He felt the pin beneath his fingers and yanked it free with his teeth.
"Take this, you bastard!" Cassian growled, his voice shaking with desperation and fury.
With a final burst of strength, he shoved the metal cylinder into the monster's face. The world exploded in light. A blinding flash, so bright that it seemed to tear through the darkness itself. The noise was deafening, a high-pitched, piercing ring that drowned out everything else. Cassian's ears felt like they had been ripped apart, and his head spun as if the ground beneath him had vanished. The monster let out a guttural, pained howl, its massive body rearing back and thrashing violently. Its claws scraped against the ground as it stumbled away from Cassian, its anguished roars reverberating in the chaos.
Cassian screamed too; his voice was lost in the cacophony of pain and confusion. His ears rang so loudly that they drowned out even his own cries, and his vision was a blur of white and shadows. The heat from the flash burned his skin, and his right hand throbbed with a searing pain that felt like fire had consumed it. He tried to open his eyes, but they refused to cooperate. A warm, wet sensation trickled down his cheeks—blood.
"I can't see…" His voice was faint, or was it loud, trembling as he pressed his shaking hands to his ears. "I can't hear…"
His chest heaved as he lay there, sobbing in the dirt. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, and his body felt like it had been torn apart. His shoulder throbbed with every beat of his heart, the jagged wound oozing warmth into the cold ground beneath him.
"Mom…" he whispered, his voice cracking. His fingers curled weakly around the satchel, his strength fading. "I'm sorry… you were right. I'm useless. I'm just a big baby. I can't even do one thing right."
The monster's pained howls began to fade, its thrashing growing weaker. Cassian felt the vibrations in the ground lessen, but he couldn't muster the strength to care. He wanted to fight. He wanted to live. He wanted revenge. But lying there, broken and bleeding, he couldn't imagine getting back up.
I failed... I failed you, Mom.
And then, cutting through the ringing in his ears, he heard it.
A sound.
It was faint at first, like a distant chime carried on the wind, but it grew louder and clearer until it filled his mind completely: Ding!
[DING! CONGRATULATIONS ON PROVING YOUR WORTH]
Cassian's body stiffened. The words reverberated through him, calm and almost mechanical, yet undeniably real. He blinked blindly into the darkness, his breath hitching. "What…" he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What was that?"
Even without his vision, he could sense it—see it. The blue box hovered just beyond his reach, its faint glow cutting through the black void of his sightless eyes.
"What do you want from me?" he whispered, his trembling hand reaching toward the box. His fingers brushed against it, and a wave of warmth surged through his body. The sensation was instant, overwhelming. Cassian gasped as his wounds knitted themselves together, the pain in his shoulder fading into nothingness. His right hand, charred and useless moments ago, flexed easily as if it had never been injured. The blood in his ears stopped flowing, and his hearing returned in a rush of clarity. His vision sharpened, and he blinked rapidly as the world around him came into focus. He jolted upright, his chest heaving as he looked down at himself. His clothes were still torn and bloodied, but his skin was unblemished, not a single wound remaining.
What… the hell… How??
Cassian's chest heaved as he knelt beside the monster's massive, lifeless body. Its blood pooled around it, thick and dark, soaking into the cracks of the rubble-strewn ground. The stench of copper filled his nostrils, but it barely registered.
"I survived…" Cassian whispered, his voice barely audible. He flexed his fingers; his right hand—the one that had been charred and useless just moments ago—moved effortlessly. The warmth that had coursed through his body was gone now, leaving behind a strange emptiness. He stared down at himself, his mind reeling. Then the blue box flickered back into view, hovering just above his line of sight. A soft chime accompanied the first notification; the glowing text hovered as though waiting for him to focus.
Cassian hesitated, his jaw tightening as he willed the box to appear fully.
[DING! CONGRATULATIONS ON PROVING YOUR WORTH BY SURVIVING THE FIRST ORDEAL]
Cassian's brow furrowed as he read the words. His heart still raced from the battle, the adrenaline coursing through him refusing to fade.
Proving my worth.
He clenched his fists, the memories of the creature's claws tearing into his shoulder flashing through his mind. But the notifications didn't stop.
[DING! THEN AS PER
[DING! ALL YOUR INJURIES ARE HEALED AS A ONE-TIME REWARD FOR CLEARING THE NEAR-IMPOSSIBLE FIRST ORDEAL]
"Yeah, thanks for that," he muttered sarcastically. "Really made the whole 'nearly getting eaten alive' thing worth it."
But the next line made him pause; his breath caught in his throat.
[DING! YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE BY ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃'S SPONSORSHIP. YOU ARE CURRENTLY PLACED IN A 'STORY.' FIND AND CLEAR THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IN 30 DAYS TO RETURN BACK TO EARTH]
Cassian's eyes locked onto the words, their meaning sinking into his mind like a weight dragging him underwater.
Return to Earth.
The phrase burned itself into his thoughts, eclipsing everything else. His chest tightened, and his hands trembled as a storm of emotions churned within him.
"Return to Earth..." he whispered, his voice hollow.
His mother.
Cassian's stomach twisted violently, a pang of guilt stabbing through his chest. He closed his eyes, and the image of her bloodied, lifeless body filled his mind.
"No." He shook his head violently, his hands gripping the satchel on his shoulder as though it were the only thing keeping him grounded. "No, I can't think about that. I can't…"
But the grief refused to fade. It surged forward like a tidal wave, drowning him in its wake. His knees hit the ground, his body trembling as hot tears streamed down his face.
"I was too weak," he choked, his voice barely audible. "I couldn't save her. I couldn't even protect myself."
Cassian's hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms.
I'll become strong… strong enough to have that bastard forced to kneel and then I'll kill him…
The notifications faded one by one until only one remained.
[DING! ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ IS ENJOYING WATCHING YOU.]
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