A distant chorus of groans and muffled cries pulled Aren back from the abyss of unconsciousness. His eyelids felt heavy, as if weighed down by lead. Forcing them open, he was met with a hazy blur of flickering lights and twisted metal.
What happened? he wondered, his thoughts sluggish. Suddenly, a series of translucent screens flashed before his eyes, text scrolling rapidly across them.
[Detecting mana... Activating System]
[System activated... Scanning Host]
[Starting evolution... Evolution completed]
[Booting of System]
The words made little sense, but before he could process them, a searing pain erupted across his face. He gasped, the sharp intake of breath sending a jolt of agony through his body. Raising a trembling hand to his left eye, his fingers met warm, sticky blood. A jagged piece of metal had cut deep across his face, over his eye.
Panic surged through him. I can't see! His left eye refused to open, darkness clouding half his vision. The realization that he was now blind in one eye hit him like a blow.
The train carriage was a scene of devastation. Seats were torn from their fixtures, windows shattered, and personal belongings strewn everywhere. Dim emergency lights cast an eerie red glow, illuminating injured passengers—some moving weakly, others eerily still.
"Help... someone," a weak voice called out nearby.
He turned his head, wincing as the movement aggravated his wound. A young woman was pinned under a collapsed luggage rack a few seats away. Strands of chestnut hair clung to her pale face, and her emerald eyes reflected pain but also determination.
Mustering his strength, he crawled toward her, shards of glass crunching under his hands and knees. "Are you okay?" he rasped.
She looked at him, relief flickering across her features. "I think my leg is trapped. Can you help me?"
"Hang on," he said, positioning himself beside the twisted metal. Gripping it tightly, he strained to lift. His arms shook, and for a moment, he feared he lacked the strength. Just then, a subtle warmth coursed through his body, and he felt a surge of energy. With a grunt, he heaved the debris aside.
She exhaled in relief as the weight lifted off her leg. "Thank you," she said, attempting to sit up.
He offered his hand to steady her. "Can you stand?"
She tested her weight on the leg and winced. "It's sprained, but I think I can manage." He noticed her gaze lingering on his bloodied face. "It's not as bad as it looks," he lied. "You're hurt," she insisted, tearing a strip from her sleeve. "Let me help." As she gently pressed the cloth against his wound, he felt the sting lessen slightly. "I appreciate it," he said. "I'm... I'm Aren, by the way."
She offered a small smile. "I'm Elara."
A moment of silence passed between them, interrupted by a low groan echoing from the far end of the carriage. They both turned toward the sound. A man was struggling to his feet, his movements unsteady.
"Maybe he needs help," Elara suggested.
Aren hesitated. "Something doesn't feel right."
Before they could act, the man turned toward them. Under the dim emergency lights, his appearance became clearer—skin pallid, eyes unfocused, veins darkened beneath the surface.
"Sir, are you okay?" Elara called out gently.
The man responded with a guttural growl, his head tilting unnaturally. Then, with alarming speed, he lurched over the scattered debris toward them.
"Get back!" Aren shouted, stepping protectively in front of Elara.
The man crashed into the seats between them, momentarily hindered by the obstacles. He began clawing his way through, fingers grasping desperately.
"What's wrong with him?" Elara gasped.
"I don't know, but we need to move!" Aren grabbed her hand, and they scrambled away from the approaching figure.
As they moved toward the rear of the carriage, more passengers began to stir. Relief turned to horror as each one exhibited the same unsettling signs—blank eyes, unnatural movements, and an eerie focus on the two of them.
"They're all like him," Elara whispered, fear evident in her voice.
Aren's heart pounded. "We have to help them. Maybe they're injured or confused."
He approached a woman who was swaying unsteadily. "Ma'am, can you hear me?"
She snapped her head toward him, lips peeling back to reveal bloodstained teeth. With a hiss, she reached out, attempting to grab him.
Aren stumbled back. "Okay, definitely not okay!"
An infected passenger blocked their path to the emergency exit. "This way!" Elara urged, pointing to a narrow corridor leading to the next carriage.
They darted through the doorway, slamming it shut behind them. Aren wedged a fallen metal bar into the handle to slow down their pursuers.
Breathing heavily, Elara looked at him with wide eyes. "What is happening?"
Aren shook his head, wincing at the pain. "I have no idea, but we need to get out of here."
They navigated through the next carriage, which was mercifully empty. The train had derailed, and the floor was tilted, making each step precarious. Sparks flickered from exposed wires, and the scent of smoke hung in the air.
"Over here!" Aren pointed to an emergency window exit. Together, they managed to pry it open.
Climbing out, they found themselves on a steep embankment. The surrounding countryside was bathed in an otherworldly glow, the sky painted with swirling colors that defied explanation.
Elara gazed upward, awe and fear mingling in her expression. "It's like the world has changed completely."
A chilling howl pierced the air, drawing their attention back to the train. Several infected passengers were clambering out of the wreckage, their movements erratic but purposeful.
"They're coming," Aren said urgently. "We need to run."
Elara nodded, and they hurried down the embankment into a dense grove of trees. The canopy provided some cover, and the sounds of pursuit grew fainter.
As they weaved through the forest, Aren's injury began to take its toll. His steps faltered, and dizziness threatened to overwhelm him.
Elara noticed his struggle. "We have to stop and tend to your wound properly."
He shook his head. "We can't stop now. Those... people might catch up."
She guided him to a fallen log. "Just for a moment. If you collapse, we won't get far."
Reluctantly, he sat down. Elara examined the gash over his left eye. "The bleeding has slowed, but we need to clean it to prevent infection."
She rummaged through a small bag she had managed to grab. Pulling out a water bottle and a clean cloth, she carefully cleaned the wound.
Aren winced but remained still. "You're prepared," he remarked.
"I was returning from a first aid seminar," she explained. "Guess it came in handy."
He managed a faint smile. "Lucky us."
Once she finished bandaging his eye, they sat in silence for a moment. The reality of their situation weighed heavily.
"Back on the train," Aren began, breaking the silence, "did you see any... messages? Like words appearing out of nowhere?"
Elara looked at him, surprised. "Yes. Something about activating a system and evolution. I thought I was imagining things."
"So did I," he admitted. "But maybe it's connected to what's happening."
She considered this. "It could explain the changes—the sky, those people... us waking up sooner than others."
A rustling nearby snapped them to attention. They held their breath, but it was just a small animal scurrying through the underbrush.
"We should keep moving," Elara suggested, standing up.
Aren nodded, rising slowly. His vision adjusted slightly, but the left side remained dark. "Do you think there are others like us?"
"Awake and not... like them?" She gestured back toward the train. "I hope so."
They pressed on, the forest around them growing denser. The ethereal glow filtered through the leaves, casting strange patterns on the forest floor.
After a while, Aren couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves set his nerves on edge.
"Did you hear that?" Elara whispered.
Before he could respond, a figure stepped out from behind a tree—a man, disheveled but alert, holding a makeshift spear.
"Stop right there!" the stranger commanded.
Aren raised his hands defensively. "We don't want any trouble."
The man's eyes darted between them. "Are you... normal?"
Elara took a cautious step forward. "We're not like those people from the train, if that's what you mean."
He lowered his spear slightly. "You saw them too? The ones that turned?"
"Yes," Aren confirmed. "Do you know what's going on?"
The man shook his head. "No clue. Name's Tom. Been wandering these woods since I woke up. You're the first sane people I've met."
Elara offered a tentative smile. "I'm Elara, and this is Aren."
Tom nodded. "Good to meet you both. Strength in numbers. We should stick together."
Aren glanced at Elara, who gave a slight nod. "Agreed," he said.