Dark trudged through the forest, his eyes vacant, his mind reeling from the revelation. The trees seemed to thin out with each step, and the silence was oppressive. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being pulled apart by the conflicting emotions and thoughts swirling inside him.
As he emerged from the forest, he spotted a road in the distance. A spark of hope ignited within him, and he quickened his pace. "Didi, Didi...if this is really the beginning, she must be alive now. I have to see her."
His eyes locked onto the road, and he started running, his feet pounding against the dirt. The wind whipped through his hair, and his lungs burned, but he didn't slow down. He knew this road; it led to his hometown. He could see the town rising over the hills, its buildings and streets familiar yet slightly off.
As he entered the town, Dark's excitement grew. He ran past shops and market stalls, weaving through people who turned away, their faces fearful. Children scurried out of his path, and Dark realized he must look like a wild man, his hair disheveled, his eyes wild.
He approached his parents' house, his heart racing. He barely stopped at the front porch, one foot still on the road, the other on the stairs. He caught his breath, his hand on the railing, and listened to the sound of a birthday song drifting from inside.
A smile spread across his face as he remembered his own birthday. He pushed open the door, and the singing grew louder. His family and friends were gathered in the living room, their faces lit up with joy. But as Dark entered, they fell silent, their eyes fixed on him.
"Happy birthday, dear Rudy," they sang, their voices trailing off as they realized their mistake.
Dark's eyes widened as he took in the scene. His family looked younger, and there was a baby in his mother's arms. A name he didn't recognize: Rudy.
"Mom, Dad, what's going on?" Dark asked, confusion etched on his face. "Who's Rudy?"
His mother's expression turned fearful. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Dark's world crumbled. He stumbled backward, his eyes scanning the room, searching for answers. The calendar on the wall caught his attention: January 1, 2000. His birthday, but also the year he was born.
As the truth dawned on him, Dark turned and ran, leaving behind the only family he had ever known. His father's angry shout followed him: "Don't ever come back here, you filthy thief!"
Dark's feet carried him through the empty streets, his mind reeling. He arrived at Didi's house, his heart heavy with hope. He burst through the door, not bothering to knock, and rushed into the kitchen.
Didi's mother sat at the table, a look of fear on her face. "Where is Didi?" Dark asked, his voice cracking.
The woman's eyes widened. "How do you know my baby's name?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Dark's eyes dropped, and he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. Didi's mother was still pregnant. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks: he had traveled back in time, to a point before Didi was even born.
As the woman reached for a knife to defend herself, Dark's emotions snapped. He stood frozen, his mind a blank slate. He turned and left, walking out of the house, out of the town, and into the unknown.
The road stretched out before him, empty and desolate. Dark's feet carried him forward, one step at a time, as he struggled to process the events that had unfolded.
After a brief moment, the status window opened, and his eyes focused on the passive skill [Blood Art]. He activated it, and a wave of mana shot out of his body, surrounding him in a dense, lava-like aura.
For a moment, Dark stood there, his mind numb, his body awash with the power of the mana. Then, slowly, he began to walk, one step at a time, into a future that was no longer certain.As he walked away from the town, Dark realized that the reason people were so afraid of him was because they could sense the intense mana emanating from his body.