Aleck awoke to an overwhelming pressure, his body feeling heavy and sluggish as if a weight pressed down on his chest. Blinking against the harsh light, he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. His first instinct was to assume it was a dream—a bizarre, vivid dream. But the chill in the air, and the sheer reality of it all quickly dispelled that notion.
As his vision cleared, Aleck noticed he wasn't alone. Surrounding him were fifteen others, scattered in various states of confusion and fear. They looked disoriented, much like him, their faces pale and eyes wide with panic. It was clear that they, too, had been abruptly torn from their ordinary lives. A younger man to Aleck's right murmured, "I definitely gave a 'No.' Then why am I here?"
Aleck's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't the only one. The comment confirmed that this wasn't just some random selection—others had selected 'No' too, yet here they all were, plucked from their worlds and thrown into this strange place. So, it wasn't a matter of consent. The system didn't care about their choices. It seemed as if selecting 'No' had sealed their fate.
His thoughts raced. Why pick those who chose "No"? The answer began to form in his mind, piecing together fragments of his observations. Most people, when faced with such a strange choice through a strange system, would be clueless and avoid answering altogether. The ones who selected 'Yes' were probably the adventurous ones, those who indulged in fantasies and saw only excitement instead of danger. However, those who chose 'No' were the cautious, the grounded—the ones with better survival instincts. It made sense. These were the people more likely to survive whatever nightmare awaited them. Aleck grimaced. They weren't chosen because they were heroes. They were probably chosen because they were practical.
Then, the words from the system message replayed in his head: [You have been gifted a Titan Serum. Please use it immediately.]
Titan. Arkellith. Serum. None of it made sense. What kind of world had they been thrust into?
Before he could process any further, a voice broke through his thoughts. "Welcome to Arkellith, outsiders," said a smooth, almost soothing voice.
Aleck turned toward the sound, and for the first time, noticed a woman standing before them. She appeared to be in her thirties, her presence calm and commanding. Surrounding her were five hooded figures, their faces obscured, standing silently like statues. The robes they wore gave off an eerie vibe, making them look more like members of a cult than people who would help them.
"I am the Saintess," the woman continued, her voice carrying an unnatural serenity. "You have been brought here to help us and our home Arkellith. Our world is plagued by Voiders—infected creatures that have invaded from outside our realm. Our world's protector, the Titan God, has long abandoned us, and without his grace, we no longer have the strength to fend off these enemies."
Aleck frowned, Do we Save the world? This was heading in a direction he didn't like. He glanced at the others, who seemed equally lost. He raised his hand, interrupting her explanation.
"What exactly do you expect us to do? Why us? And… Who exactly is this Titan God?"
His question hung in the air for a moment. The Saintess remained composed, but the hooded figures surrounding her stirred. One of them stepped forward, and though his face remained hidden, his voice dripped with disdain. "Watch your tongue, outsider. It is not your place to question the Saintess."
Aleck held his ground, but he could feel the tension rising. It was clear that these people were used to reverence, not questions. The Saintess gave a small gesture, and the hooded figure stepped back.
"Forgive my servant's rudeness," she said calmly, the woman smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"You are outsiders. Not of this world, which means you have not fallen from the Titan God's grace. You can receive his power—the power we have lost. That is why you were brought here. The Titan God is one of the strongest humanoid gods, and through his blessing, you will gain the strength needed to rid Arkellith of its enemies."
A man beside Aleck spoke up, his voice tight with suspicion. "Hello. I'm Ben. What happens to us once we're done saving your world? Will we be discarded?"
"No," the woman answered firmly. "Once the world is stabilized, you will have a choice. You may stay here, as protectors of Arkellith, or return to your own world. However, to return, you must relinquish all the power you have gained here. You cannot bring the Titan God's strength back with you."
Ben frowned, "What do you mean, 'relinquish our power'? Will we lose everything?"
The Saintess nodded, her expression serious. "Yes. You will sacrifice all the power you've earned here. The portal that will return you to your world can only be opened by the energy of the Titan God. Once it is used, you will return to your previous state—no powers, no strength."
Ben folded his arms, his suspicion deepening. "And you expect us to just trust you? Can you guarantee that everything you're saying is true?"
"We swear it on the Titan God's name," the woman said solemnly. "We do not lie when it comes to our god, lest we incur his wrath once again. Our people have suffered enough for straying from his grace."
Aleck felt a growing sense of unease. Everything about this world, from the system screens to the god-like powers, felt like something ripped straight from one of his novels. But the stakes were real. The consequences, tangible. He raised his hand, wanting to clarify something else. "This black screen... the system we're seeing in front of us. What is it? Some kind of magical interface?"
The woman hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. It is called the Creator's Lens. It is a system developed by the God of Creation to aid living beings in understanding their skills, status, and powers."
Ben looked puzzled. "All I see is something about a Titan Serum. It doesn't react to anything I say, except when I mention 'skill,' but even then, nothing shows up."
"The version you are using is limited," the woman explained, almost apologetic. "It is all we could afford. The advanced version is currently beyond our means, let alone the complete version. However, once you enter the Titan's holy ground, you will have full access to the system. The Titan God has provided it for those who take on his mantle."
Aleck nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place. The system, the powers, the god-like influence—it was all eerily familiar. However, there was no comfort in that. This wasn't a fantasy. This was real.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft chime in his mind. A system notification appeared before him.
[Time is running out. Use the Titan Serum to obtain your skill. 4 minutes, 56 seconds.]
The countdown had begun.