...
Two years ago, on September 15th.
It was a peaceful autumn day in the city, with people going about their daily routines on the bustling streets.
However, in the early afternoon, the sky suddenly blackened, plunging the city into chaos and darkness.
People looked up in a panic to see a monstrous black orb appearing as if from nowhere above the city.
Before their eyes, the orb cracked open, revealing winged creatures with black skin and four glowing yellow eyes. They swarmed from the opening, wreaking havoc across the city.
These creatures, which became known to humanity as "Corruptors", attacked mercilessly. Countless lives were lost that day as entire city blocks burned. No one was safe from the Corruptors' attacks.
Their most sinister power was a black substance that spewed from their mouths. Those who came into contact with this substance were overcome and transformed into corrupted walkers under the creatures' control.
People soon learned the black substance was called [ Soul Corrosion ] for its ability to consume and twist beings' very souls.
While a rare few seemed able to resist its influence through their inner soul strength, none of them still survived the Corruptors' violent wrath.
Cities worldwide fell as the invasion by the Corruptors rapidly spread under the blackened sun.
The survivors of the cities Luvengton, Casunbia, and other towns of Soleria decided to create a haven where they could hide.
Luckily, they found an underground cave with a large hole above the cavern, letting in light. The remote location remained unknown even to the Corruptors with their sensitive eyes.
As time passed, the survivors wondered how they remained undiscovered. Eventually, they discovered the Corruptors could only emerge at night, as sunlight was deadly to their eyes. This also made the cave extremely difficult to find during daylight hours.
With survivors seeking refuge from across Soleria, people from all areas came together within the hidden underground cavern. They worked tirelessly to construct a permanent sanctuary.
Months went by as the once-empty cave was no more. Instead, wooden shelters, farms, and facilities now sustained the growing community.
Through their shared hardship and perseverance, the survivors built the cavern into a stronghold of hope - a haven where civilization could begin rebuilding despite the cursed darkness above.
This city within the mountain was now called Asylon.
...
"What do you think?" Scarlet asked as we walked along the bustling streets of Asylon.
"Honestly, it's quite impressive how quickly the survivors were able to establish this city," I responded with a smile on my face.
She nodded in agreement as we continued towards our destination. I glanced around curiously - the people around us didn't seem to be Awakeners. Instead, they were just normal civilians.
My brows furrowed in confusion. "Why aren't there more Awakeners around us? Shouldn't there be in the city?"
"You make a good point," Scarlet replied. "There are certain rules about where Awakeners can and can't go within Asylon."
"You see, Awakeners possess abilities that could potentially endanger others if not carefully controlled. So for safety, most Awakeners reside in a specialized section of the city."
"I see," I mumbled, as I began to ponder about my complicated situation.
"By the way, about my situation..."
"You don't need to worry about it, I've already got it covered," Scarlet reassured me.
"If you say so," I shrugged.
We soon arrived at a large gate. she took out a smooth stone and inserted it into a hole in the wall, With a rumble, the gate before us began to open.
My mouth fell open in surprise. I hadn't expected they would have such an advanced security system in place. And to have rebuilt an entire hidden city in just two years - it was nothing short of astonishing.
How had the survivors managed to not only carve out living spaces and infrastructure deep underground but also implement sophisticated defenses? The coordination and engineering feats required were incredible to imagine.
Scarlet glanced back at me with a chuckle. "Don't just stand there, come in!"
I shook off my stupor and stepped forward through the massive gate. Before me stretched a vast open courtyard, dominated by three immense stone buildings in the distance.
"What is this place?" I asked Scarlet in wonder.
"Welcome to Cres, the only awakened academy within the city of Asylon," she declared proudly.
"An academy?" My eyes widened in disbelief. "With everything happening on the surface, why did they create one here?"
Scarlet nodded knowingly at my surprise. "It may seem unusual, but education is vital to rebuilding our world, even more so now."
"Here we teach the Awakened how to hone and control their abilities, for the defense of our city and hopefully one day, reclaiming the surface."
"Some of our greatest minds are working to understand the enemies we face and how to stand against them. Knowledge will be our strongest weapon if we are to endure this war and regain what was lost. That is why Cres exists - to empower the next generation of heroes."
"Mhmm," I mumbled to myself, "I guess it makes sense if you think of it that way."
The duo walked into the building before them. Robin, who was following behind Scarlet, curiously took a glance.
Inside, a large lobby greeted them along with a stairwell leading to each floor. The duo stopped at the third-floor landing.
Scarlet stepped forward and inserted a smooth stone below the door handle. Soon, the door before them glowed and then disappeared, revealing an open passageway.
Robin couldn't help but be amazed at the advanced entrance system used by the survivors. Not only were the main gates heavily secured, but individual buildings appeared to have strong fortifications as well.
After they walked through, the door promptly reappeared behind them, sealing shut with a faint hum. What appeared before them was a spacious living area.
The living area featured two parallel double couches arranged to create a cozy seating section. Placed between the couches was an elegant center table, serving as the focal point of the room. The table could be adorned with decorative items like a vase of fresh flowers or an ornamental centerpiece.
Beneath the table lay a vibrant red carpet, providing a plush and comfortable surface. The carpet added a pop of color to the room and enhanced its warm and inviting atmosphere.
Adjacent to the seating area was an open kitchen, allowing for convenient access to cooking utilities and supplies.
The kitchen area featured cabinets, shelves, and a countertop that holds various cooking and dining items.
It provides a seamless transition between the living room and the kitchen, making it easy to engage in social interactions while preparing meals or entertaining guests.
Near the kitchen area, there is an additional table, creating a versatile space for dining, enjoying snacks, or engaging in activities such as board games or crafts. This table serves as an extension of the living room, providing functionality and flexibility.
"The living room is well decorated," Robin spoke aloud as he took in his surroundings.
Scarlet nodded with a smile, "Of course, since 9 people are living on this floor."
Robin's eyes widened in surprise as he looked around the spacious living area but couldn't discern any doors that would mark separate rooms.
Scarlet let out a soft giggle at Robin's expression. She walked over to a shelf near the wall and tapped a snowy orb.
Soon, a door began to materialize beside the shelf. Robin was utterly dumbfounded by such a feat.
Though he knew common sense no longer applied, as someone from his old world, he wasn't accustomed to such things.
'Could the reality world even do such a feat?' Robin thought to himself as he shook his head, unable to determine if it was possible or not.
"Since they are not here, they're either in the Training Hall or Meeting Hall," Scarlet spoke as she walked inside the corridor, while Robin also followed from behind.
He looked around at the corridors and saw that some of the doors had their own unique designs -one door depicted a girl with green hair, another showed a skeletal drawing, and there were many other designs as well.
Robin swept his gaze around the large room. Three double couches were arranged in a semicircle configuration, with their backs facing outward.
In the center of this arrangement sat a rectangular table, serving as a focal point and providing ample surface space.
Papers were strewn about the table and surrounding area in a disorganized manner. To the right, a full-length glass wall spanned the room, allowing an unobstructed view outside.
Robin blinked a couple of times, uncertain if this room deserved to be called a meeting room due to the disorder.
"Is this the meeting room?" he asked.
Scarlet let out a soft sigh and pressed her hands to her forehead. "What a mess. But to answer your question, yes, this is the meeting room," she replied.
Before Scarlet walks away, an individual walks out of a door on the left side of the room, grumbling aloud to himself.
"These lazy bugs, always messing things up..."
"I wish he was still here," he said with a soft sigh as his gaze soon shifted to the duo within the room.
The individual blinked his eyes a couple of times, his hand sliding nervously to his back, seemingly nervous about what might happen next.
Scarlet's expression turned icy cold as she inquired. "Eldric, what happened here?"
The man named Eldric whistled to himself as he looked away from Scarlet's stern gaze.
Eventually, Scarlet relented and rubbed her eyes with her hands. "Eldric..." she said with exasperation.
"Yes, I'll clean all this up real fast, don't worry boss!" Eldric responded with a smile. With a speed impossible to be seen by the naked eye, he quickly piled the papers into a neat stack within seconds.
"Done!" Eldric spoke as he glanced at Scarlet. Soon his gaze landed to Robin.
Scarlet just shook her head and turned her attention to Robin, who was examining Eldric curiously.
Before Scarlet could speak, Eldric hesitantly asked, "Leader, is he a new member?"
Scarlet nodded and replied to Eldric. "Let me introduce you - this is Robin, the strategist of our team."
Eldric's eyes widened in shock, as he realized what Scarlet had just said. Before he could respond further, Robin spoke up. "Nice to meet you."
Eldric quickly composed himself and showed a polite but bitter smile. "Nice to meet you as well, Robin. My name is Eldric Athame."
Eldric shifted his attention to Scarlet and fell silent. The atmosphere between the three turned awkward as an uncomfortable silence fell over them.
Letting out a sigh, Eldric spoke up to Scarlet. "The others may not take this kindly."
-Sigh..
"I know. but they need to get over it," Scarlet replied sadly.
"We are at war, and we desperately need a strategist within the squad."
"I understand.." Eldric responded with a small sigh.
Eldric turned to Robin and offered him a reassuring smile. Robin remained puzzled, unsure of his new circumstances and the situation he now found himself in.
"Robin, if you ever need help, come find me," Eldric said.
Robin nodded in return. "I'll be in your care then."
Scarlet observed the two individuals in front of her, as she showed a bitter smile. She knew Robin would struggle to fit in with the squad, that was for sure.
'Let's hope for the best'