Chapter 2: The Forge
The darkness hums, alive with an energy I can't see but can feel deep in my bones. I stand in the endless void, my breath shallow as the weight of the voice bears down on me again.
"You are unmade," it says, its tone sharp, deliberate. "And now, you will be remade."
The air crackles. Before I can react, a sharp pain shoots through my chest, and I double over, gasping. My body feels like it's tearing apart and being stitched back together all at once.
"Wha —what's happening to me?" I choke out.
"Quiet." The voice is cold, indifferent. "Your form is adjusting. The old you was not fit for what lies ahead."
Raahhh raaaash.....
My hoarse scream gets lost in the void as the transformation tears through me. Heat and cold rush over my skin in a strange alternating wave.
It feels like an eternity before the agony subsides, replaced by a strangely cool stillness.
I open my eyes....---or maybe I never closed them—...and see a glowing panel floating before me. Lines of text blink into existence, unreadable at first, until they rearrange themselves into words I can understand.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED.
WELCOME, USER.
"What... is this?" My voice is hoarse, and I reach out instinctively, though my hand doesn't quite touch the glowing display.
"This is your guide," the voice answers. "A tool to help you survive and fulfill your purpose. It will track your progress, manage your abilities, and provide access to the tools you need."
"Tools? What tools?"
Before the voice responds, the panel shifts, and two lines of text appear:
UNLOCKED ABILITIES:
Pocket Space
Telekinesis
Gravity Control
Locked abilities remain inaccessible until further notice.
My heart races as the words sink in. Abilities? Is this some kind of game?
"You'll discover their uses in time," the voice says. "For now, you will learn to harness them."
Another sharp jolt shoots through me, and I instinctively clutch my chest as new sensations ripple outward.
---
Pocket Space:
The first thing I notice is a strange tug at the edge of my awareness, like a door just waiting to be opened. Without thinking, I reach out mentally, and suddenly, I'm looking at... something.
It's a void within the void—an empty space, small and featureless, but undeniably there.
"This... is mine?" I murmur.
"A pocket dimension," the voice confirms. "You may store objects here. It will grow with time and experience."
I hesitate, then pull my hand away mentally, feeling the connection sever. It's strange, but I can already imagine how useful it might be.
---
Telekinesis:
Next, a wierd tingling sensation flows through my arms, as though something invisible is pulling at my muscles. I glance down, and without realizing it, I've started focusing on a small, floating shard of glowing light nearby.
It trembles, then lifts into the air, wobbling uncertainly.
"Whoa." I laugh nervously, the sound hollow in the vast emptiness. The shard dips slightly, and I can feel the strain in my mind, like trying to lift something with a muscle I've never used before.
"Concentration is key," the voice instructs. "Without focus, you will falter."
I nod, teeth clenched, and manage to hold the shard steady before letting it drop.
---
Gravity Control:
A new sensation creeps into my awareness, heavy and powerful, like an anchor I can barely lift. I experiment hesitantly, and the weight shifts around me. My feet feel lighter, and then heavier, as if the ground itself is adjusting to my will.
"This one is... harder," I admit, sweat forming on my brow.
"The force of gravity is not to be taken lightly," the voice warns. "Master it, or it will crush you."
I grit my teeth and try again, creating a small bubble of lighter gravity around me. The strain is exhausting, but for a moment, I feel weightless.
---
As I experiment with each ability, the voice remains silent, watching. When I finally collapse to my knees, gasping for breath, it speaks again.
"These are but fragments of what you will become," it says. "The rest will reveal themselves in time. For now, your task is simple: prepare."
"Prepare for what?" I demand, though the fear in my voice betrays me.
"The end," the voice says, its tone dark and absolute. "Your world has three months before it collapses. What happens next depends on you."
.
.
*The end huh*.....a sense of realization hits me....
.
.
.
The glowing panel in front of me shifts again, and I see a new tab appear:
SHOP UNLOCKED.
"Here," the voice continues, "you will find weapons, tools, and upgrades to aid you. Use it wisely."
The panel flashes, and a list of items appears—basic supplies, low-tier weapons, things that don't seem all that impressive. But as I scroll through, I notice that many are locked, requiring a currency I don't yet have.
"How do I earn this currency?" I ask.
"Through effort. Through survival," the voice replies. "Now go. Your journey awaits."
The void around me begins to shift, the darkness peeling back to reveal a crappy rotting room.
This is oddly familiar.....
"So I'm back to this place huh.
Thank you for this chance.....I will try not to fail you".