ROME In the eerie confines of an ancient hallway, I found myself treading a path that seemed familiar, yet subtly altered – a distorted echo of my old school days. The air hung heavy with a disquieting sense of déjà vu, setting the stage for an unfolding mystery. Somewhere in the shadows, the muffled sounds of a struggle drew me closer. A strange compulsion propelled me toward the commotion, only to witness a surreal spectacle – a frenzied clash between my present self and an old classmate, a violent dance that mirrored the tumultuous recesses of my own psyche. Haunted by the specter of my own anger issues, I stood paralyzed, tears streaking down my face as I clenched my fists. The urge to retaliate against my assailant pulsed beneath my skin, yet the counseling I sought to rein in my fury tethered me to a tenuous restraint. As I struggled against the raging tempest within, time itself seemed to congeal, freezing the macabre scene before me. Suddenly, my doppelganger turned, locking eyes with me in a sinister display. Amidst the tears, a chilling smile crept across the distorted reflection of myself. In a voice that resonated with malevolence, he accused me of weakness, of an unforgivable failure to annihilate my tormentor. The sensation of being judged by my own dark reflection sent a shiver down my spine. Backing away, and running from my dopplgabger. I encountered more versions of myself, each echoing the same ominous command – "Yes, kill, destroy, eradicate, purge. Let carnage fill this earth. Obliterate everything in sight." The relentless repetition surrounded me, suffocating the air with a chorus of self-inflicted doom. Desperation drove me into a corner, where I sank to the ground, my screams reverberating through the distorted reality. Amidst the cacophony, a hand, belonging to a mysterious figure, rested upon my trembling shoulders. The man, towering at 6 feet, exuded an enigmatic aura that cut through the chaos. "It's time to wake up," he declared, his words a lifeline cutting through the disorienting nightmare. As consciousness beckoned, fragments of recognition flickered – a vague memory of this enigmatic figure. "Wake up," he urged once more, leaving me grappling with the lingering mystery of his identity and the unsettling dreamscape I had traversed. Awakening to a world of pain, my senses struggled to focus through the blurry haze, but the radiant glow of the stones adorning the room pierced through the darkness. As my vision gradually cleared, I found myself under the watchful gaze of the enigmatic figure from my dreams – the same man who had intervened in the chaotic maelstrom of my nightmares. "You're finally up. You need to eat something," he spoke with an air of calm authority, his hand still resting on my shoulders. His eyes, an otherworldly fusion of yellow and gold, held a captivating intensity. "What are you?" I questioned, my mind racing with confusion and a desperate yearning for answers about the fate of my friends. "Wow... an excellent way to address someone that saved you and your friends. Also, I should be asking what you are as well. Have you forgotten?" he retorted, his tone carrying a hint of both amusement and curiosity. Suddenly, the memories flooded back – the monstrous foes, the destructive rampage I had unleashed. A sense of guilt and disbelief gripped me as I struggled to accept the reality of my actions. "That... that... wasn't me at all. That was..." I faltered, unable to articulate the overwhelming conflict within. "It was you, alright," he affirmed, his gaze unyielding. Anxious to find my friends, I inquired about their whereabouts. "Where are my friends?" I asked. "They're outside preparing dinner. They insisted while I took care of you. Such great friends they are, after you tried to kill them," he replied, his words tinged with a sardonic edge. Despite the lingering pain, I pushed myself to rise, parting a curtain of leaves that revealed an enchanting landscape outside. Multiple colored trees stood sentinel, and a row of about 20 houses adorned the surroundings. Strangely, there was no sign of any inhabitants. "Your friends are about 2 minutes out," the mysterious man informed me. Inquisitive, I sought to unveil the identity of my savior. "What's your name?" I questioned. "My name... well... you can call me Master Zonare." "Why should I call you master?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued. "You'll know soon enough," he replied, leaving me standing at the threshold of a revelation, my mind buzzing with anticipation and a myriad of unanswered questions. He led me to where Laylah and Durato were, their figures silhouetted against the dying light as they gathered spices for dinner. Nearby, a pot bubbled over an open flame, the scent of the simmering concoction teasing my senses. I had always been the chef among us, but now, as I approached, a knot of uncertainty twisted in my stomach. They hadn't noticed me yet—or at least, I hoped they hadn't. Would they be angry? Afraid? I debated retreating back inside, but their tense postures betrayed their awareness of my presence. Durato's peculiar abilities likely tipped them off. Silence hung heavy between us, pregnant with unspoken words and unasked questions. Finally, the stranger among us broke the stifling quiet. "Well, this is awkward," he remarked, his voice strained. "I'll explain everything. But for now, let's not make this any weirder than it already is." I opened my mouth to speak, to offer some explanation for my inexplicable behavior, but words failed me. Instead, I settled for a feeble attempt. "I, um, I'm..." My voice trailed off, lost in the chasm of uncertainty. I blurted out, even though I initially struggled to speak. "My apologies. I don't know what happened. It was like I was a spectator in my own body, powerless to intervene." Laylah's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Are you possessed?" she asked, her eyes wide with concern. "It felt like it," I admitted, the weight of the admission heavy on my shoulders. "After dinner, I promise I'll explain everything." Said Master Zonare. As we sat down to eat, the atmosphere remained stifling, the air thick with unsaid words and unspoken apologies. Despite the unease, we ate in silence, the taste of the unfamiliar meal a stark reminder of our shared struggle. "So, Master Zonare," Durato finally spoke up, breaking the tension. "Talk to us. I can't handle the suspense." "Very well," Master Zonare replied, his voice grave. "From what I've gathered, the entity that took control of you is a manifestation of your negative emotions, fueled by the trauma of your grandfather's passing." "How is that possible?" Durato interjected, his brow furrowed in confusion. "After the Primordial Supernova, the world changed," Master Zonare explained. "It unleashed forces beyond our comprehension, altering the very fabric of reality." "The Primordial Supernova?" Laylah echoed, her curiosity piqued. "It's what I call it," Master Zonare clarified. "But it devastated everything, leaving only a handful of survivors." "How do you know all this?" I couldn't help but ask, my curiosity getting the better of me. Master Zonare's gaze turned somber. "Let's just say I've seen more than my fair share of tragedy." He went on to explain the nature of my alter ego, cautioning me against feeding it with negative emotions. There was a chance, he said, that he could seal it away, but the process would be risky. As the conversation drew to a close, I found myself apologizing once more, the weight of my actions heavy on my conscience. To my relief, my friends accepted my apology, their forgiveness a balm to my wounded soul. Yet, amidst the reconciliation, a question lingered in my mind, one that had been gnawing at me since I woke up in this strange place. "Why are you the only one living here?" I asked Master Zonare, my voice tinged with empathy. His response was a tale of tragedy and loss, of a life shattered by forces beyond his control. As he spoke, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for the man who had sacrificed everything to protect those he loved, only to be left with nothing but memories and regrets. "So, what do we do now??" Asked Laylah after dinner.' "Yea, we have nothing left to do, we're trapped here from what we've seen so far and..and...." Durato trailed off. "Dont worry, there's a way off the island but at your currently level you cant get away from this place soo I'll train you guys." Said master Zonare. Master Zonare, as we began calling him, started to train us to survive in the harsh environment of our new temporary home. He explained that the gravity was different on this island, the air was heavier and harder to breathe, and the objects around were more dense. For example, a stone the size of a basketball would weigh almost 1.5 times more than it would on the mainland. No wonder we had struggled so much when we first arrived. We trained as hard as they could, focusing on strength training by adding weights to our bodies. The first week was difficult, as we struggled to move around with the added weight. But as time passed, we grew stronger and more accustomed to the added burden. We also practiced meditation, sword play with wooden swords, and honed our abilities with their nova force. As I meditated I tried to lifestyle off the ground. It was more difficult than using a fire nova force attack or to create a shield or push an invisible force in front of me. I had to focus deeply to move objects, starting with smaller ones and gradually working his way up to himself. Two months darted, during which we didn't encounter any monsters. Master Zonare did all the hunting while we stayed behind, as the monsters on this island were potent and we didn't want to risk any more casualties. Some may have thought we were afraid, but that wasn't the case at all. Just watching Laylah train would have shown anyone that we weren't scared. She had fire in her eyes and seemed determined to kill every last monster. One evening, after Master Zonare returned from hunting, we approached him with a request. We told him that we wanted a way off the island right now and that training was taking too long. We needed to see our families again. "I figured as much," he replied. "Rememeber, that's why I've been training you all. You need to get strong enough to leave this place and protect yourselves, because the way off the island is perilous. Even in its weakened state, it can still kill an Advanced level monster." He said. "Weakened state??" We asked in unison. "Yes, it's better to let you see it for yourselves. Let's go." He instructed.
We were all puzzled by this, so he offered to take us to the exit the next day. We spent the rest of the night talking about a variety of topics, including what we would do once we left the island. When I mentioned that I would try to gather information about what caused all of this, Master Zonare gave me a strange look. I wasn't sure what it meant, but I knew it was significant. I didn't ask him about it, and instead we continued our conversation.