Caden awoke to the shrill beeping of his alarm, but instead of the usual annoyance, the sound felt like a hammer pounding on his skull. He groaned and pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes. The dim light of morning filtered through the blinds, but everything felt off. The ache in his head, the persistent throbbing in his chest, the weight of a thousand thoughts pressing down on him. He couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered after yesterday's raid. The power, the control—it all felt wrong.
I can't keep doing this...
His gaze drifted to his computer screen, still glowing faintly in the corner of the room. The Eternal Dominion logo was emblazoned on it, a reminder of the game he'd become more than just a part of—he was now something else, something… more.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, but the thought of logging in filled him with unease. The power was intoxicating, yes, but it was also a curse. Every time he pushed it, he felt the growing weight of responsibility. And every time, the fear of losing control gnawed at him.
I need answers.
With a heavy sigh, Caden stood up from his bed. He had to face it. Whatever was happening to him, he couldn't ignore it anymore. He couldn't just keep pretending everything was fine.
---
Inside Eternal Dominion, Caden found himself in the guild hall, the familiar surroundings of the game offering him a slight sense of comfort. His team had gathered, their avatars standing in the center of the hall, waiting for him. Astra, Selene, Kai, and Lara were all there, but their expressions were anything but welcoming.
Astra spoke first, her voice carrying an edge of frustration. "Caden, what the hell happened out there?" she demanded, her avatar's fiery red hair flickering with the intensity of her anger. "You almost got us killed. Twice."
Caden opened his mouth to reply, but the words caught in his throat. How could he explain what had happened? How could he tell them that he wasn't sure what was going on with him either?
"I… I don't know," he admitted, lowering his head. "My powers… they spiraled out of control. I tried to help, but it was too much."
The silence in the room was thick, and the weight of their stares bore down on him. Astra crossed her arms, her expression hard. "That's not good enough, Caden. We're all risking our lives here, and you're out there throwing your power around like it's nothing. You need to get a handle on this."
"I know," he muttered, looking away. "But I don't even know what's happening to me. One minute, I'm fine, and the next—" He stopped, unsure how to describe it. The glitches. The vision. The warning. It all felt too real, but it was slipping away, like a dream fading in the light of day.
Lara stepped forward, her avatar's blonde hair swishing as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Caden, no one's blaming you. But we need to figure this out. You're not alone in this." Her voice softened. "We'll work through it together. But you can't keep pushing yourself like this."
Selene, who had been silent until now, spoke up with a sharp edge to her voice. "It's not just about you, Caden. You've got power, but no control. And that makes all of us vulnerable." She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "You're going to have to make some hard choices. If you don't get this under control, we're not going to be able to protect you—or each other."
Caden felt the sting of her words, but he didn't argue. She was right. He had no idea what was happening, and it was putting everyone at risk.
Kai, usually the lighthearted one, finally spoke, his voice steady. "We'll figure this out, alright? But we need to stick together. You're not going through this alone."
Caden nodded, but the feeling of dread in his chest only grew stronger. There was something more to this, something that none of them understood. And it was getting worse.
Caden logged off from the call, feeling the weight of his friends' words heavy in his chest. I need to understand my powers. He couldn't keep putting his friends at risk. If he was going to survive in this world—and protect them—he had to figure out how his powers worked.
The thought of pushing his abilities again made him nervous. His last experiment had left him weak and disoriented, but he couldn't afford to hesitate. Not now. He sat down at his desk and accessed the system's interface.
He was still unsure of what exactly he could do. The system had granted him immense power, but it wasn't as simple as just wielding it. There were consequences to every action, every choice. But if he could learn to control it…
Caden focused on the task at hand: manipulating time. The surge of power felt familiar, a slow hum that built in the back of his mind. He reached out, extending his senses through the game world. For a moment, everything slowed. The air around him shimmered, and time itself seemed to stretch.
He held the power longer this time, feeling the weight of it pressing down on him. But something felt off. His vision blurred, the world around him twisting and flickering. A chill ran down his spine.
No… it's too much.
Suddenly, the world snapped back into focus, and Caden staggered, his head spinning. He barely managed to catch himself on the desk before collapsing. His chest heaved, and the pain from the exertion hit him all at once. He gasped for air, feeling the strain deep in his muscles.
His vision flickered once again, but this time, it wasn't just the game. The entire screen seemed to glitch, warping and distorting. Something was wrong. Caden squinted at the display, trying to make sense of it, but before he could react, the image on the screen shifted.
A figure—dark and indistinct—appeared on the edge of his vision. Caden's heart skipped a beat. The figure was almost... real, its form flickering like static on a TV screen, but it seemed to stare directly at him, its presence overwhelming. His fingers trembled as he reached for the mouse, but before he could click anything, the figure vanished, leaving only the glitching interface behind.
What the hell was that?
His heart pounded in his chest. The figure hadn't been a part of the game—it felt different, almost like it was something... outside of the game.
A system notification appeared suddenly, catching his attention. The message was simple, but the implications were enough to make his blood run cold:
"The path you walk is not without its dangers. The balance you seek is fragile. Each power used will bind you closer to the fate of this world."
Caden leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. The figure. The message. They were connected. But how? What was the "fate of this world," and why was he tied to it?
He knew one thing for sure: He couldn't keep ignoring these signs. He had to find answers, and soon. Whatever was happening to him was only going to get worse. But could he handle the responsibility?
When he logged back into the game, his team was waiting for him. Astra, Selene, Lara, and Kai had gathered in the guild hall. Their avatars were silent, watching him expectantly. Caden felt the weight of their gazes, the unspoken worry and fear hanging in the air.
He took a deep breath, then spoke, his voice steady despite the uncertainty inside him. "I need to know what's happening. I need to figure out why this power is affecting me like this. I can't keep risking you all."
Astra nodded, though her expression was still guarded. "You're not alone in this, Caden. But we need to be careful. We can't afford to lose you."
"I won't let that happen," he said, meeting her gaze. "I'll control it. But first, I need to understand the truth about these powers. And I will."