The next morning, Lucas woke up to the harsh sound of his alarm blaring. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as the memories of the strange dream came flooding back. Even now, it left a weird sensation in his chest, like something unresolved.
He shook his head and got out of bed. No time to think about dreams — he had to get ready for work.
After a quick shower, Lucas dressed in his worn-out uniform for the part-time job he had at a local convenience store. He checked on Elara, who was still fast asleep in her room, and made sure there was enough food for her breakfast before heading out.
The chilly morning air hit him as soon as he stepped outside, but it wasn't enough to wake him up fully. His mind still lingered on the dream, especially the demon's face. The sadness in his eyes, the regret in his voice. It didn't make sense, but it felt like something more than just a dream.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Lucas focused on the day ahead. There were bills to pay, hospital visits to make, and he had to make sure Elara was taken care of. His life didn't allow for distractions . After lucas was done with his work , he goes to bus to go to hospital to meet his mother. The ride to the hospital felt longer than usual. Lucas sat at the back of the bus, staring blankly out the window as the city blurred past him. His thoughts were elsewhere — still wrapped around the strange dream from last night and the notification that had popped up on his phone earlier.
The Beginning of the End had updated. He had been waiting for it with bated breath. The story had finally reached its climax — the epic battle between Ronan Ashford and the Demon King. The SSS+ ranked demon, the final boss that had terrorized the world for decades, had been defeated. Ronan had achieved the impossible once again.
But the chapter hadn't ended the way Lucas expected.
Just as the Demon King fell, victorious Ronan standing over its defeated body, countless portals had opened. The chapter cut off there, leaving everyone wondering what new horrors were about to emerge. Lucas had nearly dropped his phone in shock.
Portals? he thought, his mind racing back to the possibilities. What could come after the Demon King?
He tried to piece it together, but there was no way to know. The author always had a way of pulling surprises, and this one felt bigger than anything before. Was this the true end? Or the start of something far worse? It gnawed at Lucas as the bus bumped along the road.
He sighed, slipping his phone back into his pocket as the hospital loomed closer. There would be time later to think about the story, but now, his focus needed to be on his mother.
The bus stopped, and Lucas stepped off, his feet dragging with fatigue as he made his way across the street and into the hospital's familiar sterile halls. The hospital had become a second home to him in recent months, but no amount of visits made it easier.
The constant smell of disinfectant and the sterile white walls were suffocating. It was a place where hope seemed to fade with every passing day, where families came to say goodbye instead of hello.
Lucas moved quietly, his eyes focused on the hallway ahead as he made his way to his mother's room. He couldn't shake the weight of exhaustion that clung to him, both physical and emotional. Every step felt heavier, as if the gravity of the situation pressed down on him harder with each visit.
When he reached her door, Lucas took a deep breath before stepping inside. The sight of her frail body hooked up to machines sent a sharp pang through his heart. His mother, who had once been so full of life and warmth, now lay there, barely a shadow of her former self.
"Hey, Mom," Lucas said softly, pulling a chair up beside her bed. He sat down, taking her hand in his. Her skin was cold, her breathing shallow. The doctors had said she didn't have much time left. They didn't need to — Lucas could see it in her sunken cheeks and hollow eyes.
She stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering open. "Lucas…?"
"I'm here," he whispered, forcing a smile as his heart clenched. "I'm always here."
Her lips twitched into a weak smile. "You… shouldn't… waste your time… like this," she murmured, her voice barely more than a breath.
Lucas shook his head. "It's not a waste. I'll be here as long as you need me."
Her eyes, clouded with pain and exhaustion, met his. "You… need to live… your life, Lucas. Not… waste it here."
A lump formed in his throat. He wanted to tell her that this was his life now. That taking care of her and Elara was the only thing that mattered to him. But he knew it wasn't what she wanted to hear.
Instead, he squeezed her hand gently. "I'll be okay, Mom. Just focus on resting."
She didn't respond, her eyes closing again as the effort of speaking became too much. Lucas sat there in silence, holding her hand as the steady beep of the machines filled the room. His thoughts drifted back to the web novel once again, to the portals that had opened after the Demon King's defeat.
The story had always felt like an escape to Lucas, a world where people could grow stronger, where power could be earned and wielded. But in his own life, there were no systems or powers to protect the people he loved. He was just Lucas — a boy who could do nothing but watch as his world crumbled around him.
For hours, Lucas stayed by his mother's side, until visiting hours ended and he was gently ushered out by the nurses. He left the hospital, his steps slow and heavy as the weight of the day settled in.
On the bus ride back home, Lucas pulled out his phone, the unfinished chapter still open on his screen. His fingers hovered over the text, rereading the last lines.
"And in the instant the Demon King fell, the sky above split open. Portals, dozens of them, tearing through the fabric of reality. From the depths of those dark rifts, figures emerged — shadows, monsters, things no one had ever seen before."
The suspense gnawed at him. He needed to know what happened next. But the update wasn't scheduled for another week. He had no choice but to wait, just as he had to wait for life to play out around him.
Closing his eyes, Lucas leaned his head against the window and sighed.
What if he could live in that world? What if he, like Ronan, had the power to fight back against the things that threatened him and his family? What if those portals weren't just in the story?
His mind wandered, and for a moment, he let himself imagine it — a world where he wasn't powerless. A world where he could do more than just survive.
But as the bus pulled up to his stop, reality came crashing back. He had no powers, no system. Just the same weary existence waiting for him.
He stepped off the bus, taking one last glance at his phone.
If only it were that easy.
Little did Lucas know, his wish for a different life was about to come true — in ways he never could have expected.