Squish ... Squish
Zayn felt a sensation of someone poking on his cheeks. Initially, he disregarded it, but as time passed, it became increasingly bothersome to him.
His eyes fluttered open, but he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
When he was in the Shadow Grave, all he saw was blood, bones, and skeletons until he grew sick of it.
But now
He gazed at the bright stars in the night sky, enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze surrounding him.
He savored the beautiful sight while lying in the grass.
"Hehe"
Then he heard someone giggling nearby. Turning his head, he spotted an adorable child with dark violet eyes and black hair, highlighted by streaks of purple.
The boy smiled and began running around.
Fireflies appeared from the grasses as the boy ran past them.
As the fireflies emerged from the grass and illuminated the surroundings, Zayn felt a sense of relaxation wash over him as he observed the scene.
Then he raised his head and saw the beautiful moon, which was covered by multiple clouds.
That's when a sudden realization hit him.
Luna
The moment he thought about her, more questions began to arise in his mind.
Where am I?
Where's shorty?
What happened to her?
What's happening to me?
Am I.. am I dead?
"No"
"No"
"Nooo!" He shouted.
"This can't be happening. I refuse to believe it"
"She is waiting for me. I have to get back to her"
"I have to go! I promised her. I swore I'd make it back alive," he muttered frantically, his voice trembling with anxiety.
"Ahhh!" he exclaimed, clutching his head and shouting as memories of his last moments began to resurface in his mind.
"I've awakened my abilities before I lost consciousness, and my body has also started to heal at an incredible rate," he thought as he kneeled on the ground.
Then how?
"What the heck happened to me?" he cursed, his frustration evident as he lowered his hand and placed it on his heart.
Lub..dub..lub..dub
"I can hear my heartbeat. I didn't die. Then where am I? Am I in some kind of illusion or dream?" he pondered, his tone slightly happier with this confirmation.
"Don't worry. You're still alive"
While Zayn was trying to figure out what was happening, he heard an angelic voice coming from behind him.
He turned back, but surprisingly, it was the same kid who had been running around earlier.
"What do you mean?" Zayn asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"Your body is still in the Shadow Grave, and it's perfectly safe and alive. So don't worry. You'll wake up tomorrow," the purple-haired kid said reassuringly.
"Then where am I?" Zayn asked, his tone becoming clearer.
"First, calm yourself. Then we can talk about why you're here," the purple-haired kid said soothingly.
Zayn closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his mind. Then he nodded toward the kid, indicating that he was ready to listen.
"Okay"
Snap
With a snap of his fingers, the child made the night scenery around them slowly fade away, and Zayn found himself standing in a vast expanse of white.
No matter where he looked, all he could see was an endless sea of white.
"Ready to chat?" the kid asked, snapping his fingers once more. Suddenly, a dining table with two chairs materialized.
Zayn's mouth opened wide in shock.
Not because of some dining table and chairs, but because the kid before him had transformed into a handsome adult.
The man standing in front of him had a handsome face, with violet eyes and black hair streaked with purple and white. His strong physique and commanding presence made him even more attractive.
"Close your mouth before a bug flies in," the man gestured, signaling for Zayn to shut his mouth.
"Can't handle seeing someone more handsome than yourself?" the man teased, flashing a grin.
"Hey, I'm shocked because I thought you were just a kid, and I'm clearly the better-looking one here," Zayn retorted with a smirk.
"You wish! I'm the epitome of handsomeness," the man boasted.
"Dream on," Zayn countered.
"Tch, quit your childish antics and take a seat," the man chided, clicking his tongue and motioning for Zayn to sit.
"You're the one who started it," Zayn retorted.
"Do you want to return to your sister or not?"
Zayn complied and sat down.
"Now, go ahead and ask me what you want."
"Who are you?," Zayn asked without a hint of hesitation.
"You're dying to find out who I am after seeing how handsome I am, aren't you? I know nobody can resist my charm," the man boasted.
"I used to be the dragon king, but now you can refer to me as the protector or guardian of your planet, Zephyr."
"I'm Azar—the most handsome being in the universe," he declared proudly, spreading his arms as if reveling in applause and adoration.
Zayn's lips twitched when he heard Azar bragging about himself.
"Ah, forget it. If I start talking about myself, we'll be here all day," Azar said, shaking his head and meeting Zayn's gaze.
"You want to know why you're here, right?" he asked.
Zayn nodded.
"It's because of your awakening."
Zayn tilted his head in confusion.
"I've never heard of anyone meeting you after awakening, though," Zayn asked.
"Of course not. Do you think this is some kind of park where anyone can come and go?" Azar scoffed.
"Then why am I here?"
"It's because you're different from them."
"Sorry, I don't understand."
"Okay. See your status page"
"Status," Zayn muttered.
Soon, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
_____
- Name: Zayn Suarez
- Race : Nefarix [view]
- Rank : E+
- Exp : (0/100)
- Health : 200
- Strength : 16
- Agility : 19
- Mana : 13
- Intelligence : 45
- Charm : 300
_____
The moment Zayn saw his stats, his eyes widened in surprise.
Typically, after awakening, everyone starts from E- rank and gradually develops their skills, striving harder to reach their potential.
However, Zayn's starting rank is now E+.
But that's not the reason for his surprise.
"I... I'm not human," he stuttered, his voice heavy with despair, his eyes locked onto Azar's piercing violet gaze.
"Then... what am I?"
-----
A/N:
Wow, that was unexpected! Right.
Can you guess what type of species he is? Share your thoughts!