Early autumn in a remote forest. A cold breeze whispered through towering trees that scraped the sky—unnaturally tall, their trunks thicker and more gnarled than any ordinary tree.
The year was supposed to be 2054. But what did a *calendar* even mean here?
On a dirt mound lay a pale, bony boy, sprawled out like a discarded ragdoll. His clothes—ripped jeans and a once-black tee—were caked in mud and dried petals. Dark, sunken circles hung under his eyes. Not malnutrition. No, this kid was running on fumes, sleep a distant memory.
The wind picked up again. Leaves rustled in a delicate dance, their whispers weaving a haunting melody in the forest's silence. The boy shivered, curling into a ball.
{{ "So damn cold…" }}
Ryan grumbled, peeling his eyes open. His face stayed locked in a scowl, like the cold had frozen it there.
{{ "Was I… dreaming?" }}
A dull headache throbbed behind his temples.
{{ "The hell happened…?" }}
He didn't bother glancing around. Just wanted to get up, go home. Probably thought he'd passed out near the city pillars again, woke up after another quake. His palms pressed into soft soil and pebbles. He frowned, muttering:
{{ "Why's the ground… not concrete?" }}
Back in the city, everything was paved—asphalt, stone, steel. Dirt was a relic. He'd *felt* it before, sure, in some half-remembered past. But now? His brain was too fried to care. Just another layer of confusion.
Ryan finally looked up. Trees. Everywhere. Not the sad, stunted things in city "parks." These were *alive*. Wild. Air so clean it burned his lungs. Back home, even rain was toxic. People hid when it poured. "Acid showers cleanse the air"? Yeah, right.
He stared at the canopy, whispering:
« "Where the hell am I…?" »
Wind hummed. Sparrows chirped. Peaceful, almost. But Ryan had no time for peace.
A sharp *ping* cut through his thoughts. That voice—cold, mechanical—echoed in his skull again:
**[Aura Detection skill acquired!]**
**[Light Dagger obtained!]**
A translucent screen flickered in front of him. His breath hitched.
**Skills:**
**Aura Detection [K]**
*• Reveals target's level (up to 2 levels above user).*
**Weapons:**
**Light Dagger [K]**
*• Doubles user's speed during activation…*
Ryan's voice trembled:
« "This… this isn't a dream…" »