"Whoosh—"
John Wilson suddenly sat bolt upright on his luxurious bed, drenched in sweat. He panted heavily, his eyes quickly scanning his surroundings. The familiar opulence of the mansion momentarily disoriented him. Trembling, he picked up the phone on the bedside table—the date displayed on the screen pierced his eyes—
"June 15, 2025, exactly two months before the cataclysm."
"Could it be... I've been reborn?"
His heart pounded as memories of the apocalyptic scenes from his past life surged in his mind. That day, the sky was replaced by a blood-red moon, plants and animals mutated abruptly, and humanity found itself on the brink of despair almost overnight.
Quiet towns nestled in the mountains were devoured by giant mutant ants in an instant; once-docile house cats transformed into fierce tigers, turning entire cities into hellish landscapes overnight; many families were plunged into endless grief, as the cataclysm brought about brutal deaths.
The cataclysm had arrived, humans globally became prey, struggling desperately to survive, while the killing instincts of the mutated flora and fauna made human survival increasingly precarious.
John vividly remembered those with massive strength, the Awakeners, who used their newfound superpowers to combat these monstrous creatures, offering humanity a fleeting glimmer of hope in the face of annihilation.
Among them, the most feared and respected were those who gained their power through tattoos — they were known as the Tattooed.
Each possessed immense strength and incredible abilities, their power far surpassing that of ordinary Awakeners. The images tattooed on their bodies transformed into powers, and the more intricate the tattoo, the greater the effect!
Some had tattoos of giant wolves—gaining the ability to transform into werewolves.
Some had fire tattoos—gained the power to create and control immense flames.
Some had Buddhist scriptures—gained the Buddha's light protection and could chant to invoke Buddhist attacks.
With these thoughts in mind, John clenched his fists.
Recalling the helpless moments he had endured, living in constant fear, barely surviving for three years by hiding and evading, only to ultimately be killed by deranged human marauders.
To change the future, time was of the essence. John Wilson quickly calmed down, his eyes flashing with extreme cold determination. From this moment on, he no longer had time for hesitation or confusion.
"Secretary, come to my room immediately."
A few seconds after the call connected, Sarah Brooks' familiar, gentle voice sounded, "Yes, Mr. Wilson." Less than two minutes later, Sarah came to his room, a look of confusion and worry on her face.
"Sarah, I need you to find the best tattoo artist in the world immediately, at any cost." John said seriously, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
The secretary was obviously taken aback by such an order, momentarily at a loss for words, but she dutifully responded, "Yes, sir, I'll handle it right away."
"And," John paused briefly before continuing, "we need to start preparing a massive supply of materials and build a heavily fortified secret refuge immediately. Time is of the essence, maintain the highest level of secrecy, and no leaks are allowed."
A string of instructions left Sarah somewhat overwhelmed. She sensed the gravity of the situation but couldn't comprehend the intricacies. However, with the trust built from long-term work with John, she asked no further questions, nodding and quickly going to execute the tasks.
After the secretary left, John stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the luxurious city below. He understood that the future gains and losses were no longer related to this superficial opulence; these would be the cornerstone for avoiding a recurrence of past tragedies.
"Never again will I allow myself and my loved ones to fall into such despair and panic."
Armed with memories of the days before the cataclysm and the secret of tattoo awakening that brought immense power, John believed he could change the course of events. He took a deep breath, determined to use every moment of the next two months to prepare thoroughly. The unyielding power of dignity would become the key to reclaiming his fate.
"I won't miss again, John," he murmured his name, his eyes reflecting unwavering resolve and fearlessness.
From this day on, he began to plan comprehensively. Resources, weapons, equipment—every tool to be grasped was not just for survival, but to become a force that could steer the currents of history when the inevitable storm arrived.
At the break of dawn, with the light of dawn slowly rising, he stood by the bedroom window overlooking the city below, his gaze was firm and resolute. The chirping of birds outside seemed to announce a new day's beginning, also heralding the start of a new chapter.
Awakening would be his only hope to face the change and reshape the world.
From within his mansion, he had already begun the meticulous planning. Whether it was searching for the top tattoo artist or constructing an impregnable refuge, every move was being implemented efficiently. The future was in his hands, ready to greet the oncoming storm with the strongest stance.
He was unwavering in his belief that the power gained from tattoo awakening would, in two months' time, shine like a guiding light during the global cataclysm, leading him and others towards victory and hope.
In this lifetime, he would not be alone, nor helpless.
"Hang in there, myself!" This was the vow John made to himself, the deepest cry from his heart.
The fortitude in preparation over the next two months destined this forthcoming challenge and unknown cataclysm to be even more tumultuous. And this was just the beginning.
The future had already unfolding at his feet, and the era of tattoo awakening was about to arrive!