The ambition of humans and their desire to achieve material progress have only resulted in disasters. The more they advanced, the more they pursued, confining their happiness to temporary and materialistic goals. Humanity has transformed from a being with a spiritual and idealistic essence into a mass of flesh, whose vision is restricted to material benefits alone. No longer does it value the non-material principles that enrich existence; instead, its perspective has become singular and limited, governed by relativity and self-interest.
Amid this frantic pursuit, creatures emerged—not from another dimension, but as a direct consequence of human transgressions.
When scientists attempted to harness the latent energy within the human soul to achieve a monumental leap in development, they inadvertently unleashed mysterious waves of energy from the depths of the earth. This energy was strangely tied to suppressed human desires, warped by excessive ambition and greed.
What seemed to be humanity's greatest scientific breakthrough turned into its greatest curse.
That energy manifested as monstrous creatures, as if nightmares drawn from the depths of the human subconscious. These beasts were reflections of humanity's most distorted desires: greed, rage, lust, fear, and sorrow. As long as these desires remained unbalanced, the creatures continued to emerge, impossible to eliminate entirely, for they were not mere physical entities but living ideas.
Amidst this calamity, humanity suffered a profound schism.
The powerful and influential barricaded themselves behind fortified walls brimming with advanced technology, indifferent to the grim fate of the impoverished masses left as prey for these creatures. For the weak, the stomachs of the beasts became their final refuge, with no escape from this bleak destiny.
Yet, in the darkest of moments, a glimmer of hope emerged.
Some individuals discovered within themselves mysterious powers that arose from their very being. These abilities did not stem from external sources such as mana or chi but from the depths of the human soul itself. They were intrinsically tied to a person's true desires.
The deeper a person delved into understanding themselves and uncovering the essence of their true desire, the more their power multiplied.
However, this path was far from easy; it was fraught with challenges. These individuals had to confront the depths of their own souls, unveiling the most painful truths about their nature. Yet, not everyone was equal in this new world.
Mysterious exceptions emerged: individuals who possessed no clear desires, yet exhibited powers equal to others.
This phenomenon was shrouded in mystery, as if the emptiness within them was a source of strength in itself. Perhaps the absence of desires allowed them a deeper connection to the surrounding nature, or perhaps their power reflected a peculiar balance that remained unexplained.
___
Inside a laboratory filled with the latest advanced equipment, the dim lighting reflected off the metal and glass, revealing capsules lining the room, each containing human bodies submerged in a strange liquid, connected to wires and monitors displaying complex data.
Kyle, standing beside Sylvin, felt his breath quicken as his eyes wandered over the capsules. The scene before him was like a nightmare.
Kyle (with a trembling voice): "W-what is this? And why are these people here?"
Sylvin, who stood calmly observing the room, replied in an emotionless voice, "They are volunteers."
Kyle (in shock): "Volunteers?!"
Sylvin (in a calm but cold tone): "Yes. After the world was destroyed, the government announced the need to create human weapons to counter those creatures. They said they needed volunteers to help restore balance. That's why they're here."
Kyle glanced again at the bodies inside the capsules. Some had their eyes closed, while others' faces seemed to be silently screaming from within. A strange feeling washed over him; it wasn't just fear but something deeper, as if his heart was crying out that something was terribly wrong.
Kyle (in a low voice filled with doubt):
"But... why do I feel like something is off here?"
Sylvin (turning to him calmly):
"If you don't understand now, you will later. You should rest because your training starts in two days."
Kyle left the room, but he couldn't shake the horrifying images from his mind. He felt that a dark secret surrounded everything.
As for Sylvin, he remained in place, gazing at the capsules with a look that carried a mix of painful memories and cold indifference.
___
In a dark corner of a world engulfed in chaos, Arin stood at the edge of a bottomless cliff. The abyss below was deep, swallowing any light that dared approach, while the winds howled like the cries of lost souls. Arin stared into the darkness, unfazed by the dread this place might instill in others.
Amidst the silence, a sound rose from the depths—a strange, intermittent wail, filled with anguish and mystery. Arin froze for a moment, listening intently, before another voice interrupted from behind:
"It's in pain."
Arin turned swiftly to see a strange man standing a few steps away, his metallic staff secured at his waist. His features were indifferent, but his eyes held a hint of curiosity—or perhaps challenge.
Arin (coldly): "And how would you know that?"
The strange man gazed at Arin for a moment, taking a deep breath, as if choosing his words carefully. Despite his calm demeanor, there was a contemplative glint in his eyes, as if he were deciphering the sorrowful sound echoing through the air.
"Because I can hear it."
Arin stared at the man with indifference, dismissing his words as mere fanciful thought.
Arin: "And what good does that knowledge bring? Aren't these creatures the reason for all this destruction?"
Strange man: "What do you know about these creatures?"
Arin sighed lightly, as if tired of repetitive questions, then replied, "Aren't these creatures the ones that destroyed this world?"
Strange man: "True. But what caused their appearance in the first place?"
Arin responded dryly, as though repeating an obvious fact: "Human greed."
The strange man smiled faintly, his expression reflecting an unspoken idea. He said, "And are we not humans as well?"
Arin stepped back from the edge, his tone growing colder and more disdainful.
"Don't lump me in with the likes of you. The humans you speak of are nothing but filth. What's the point of humanity's progress if it leads to creating such curses?"
The strange man fell silent for a moment, as if weighing Arin's words, before replying in a calm yet profound voice:
"They are merely a reflection of us. Every creature here has a story, a desire, just like humans."
Arin remained silent, though his expression carried a mixture of rejection and ambiguity as he continued to gaze into the abyss. The words lingered in his mind, but he showed no sign of internal conflict.
The strange man spoke again, his voice quiet but heavy with meaning:
"Not all creatures are dangerous. Like the one below... it embodies sorrow. All it can do is hide and wail."
Arin glanced at the cliff again, but this time without apparent concern. His eyes reflected no interest in the man's words or the creature below, as if everything around him was merely an unnecessary detail.
"All you need to do now to awaken your power is to discover your true desire."
Arin turned his head slowly to look at the man, his eyes filled with doubt and mistrust.
Arin: "My true desire? Do you really think I need powers drawn from something like that?"
The strange man gave a faint smile, as if expecting the response.
"Power is not a choice, Arin. In this world, you either know what you truly want, or you become prey to the creatures that embody the desires and emotions of others. Your desires define you... and they protect you."
"If you want to understand your power, you must first understand yourself. Desires aren't burdens; they're what give us strength. What drives you now is your desire for revenge. But is that the whole truth?"
Arin (coldly):
"Revenge is all I have. Nothing else matters."
The strange man lifted his gaze to the sky.
"Maybe. But the road ahead is long. Don't forget that the desire consuming you today might become your greatest obstacle tomorrow."
"By the way, when you need me, just call. I'm always where you tread."
The man turned and vanished into the shadows.
Arin stood silently after the man's departure. The wind whipped around him, making his clothes flutter violently, but the chill in the air did not reach his core. The darkness before him felt like a mirror to his troubled soul—a boundless void, yet filled with an unrelenting echo.
He whispered to himself, barely audible:
"My desires? My revenge? Is that what defines me?"
But he quickly brushed the thoughts aside as though they were nothing more than an annoying fly. He looked at the abyss again, this time with a mix of apathy and caution.
"The creature below? Sorrow? Just emotions that don't concern me."
He turned away from the edge, his steps quiet yet laden with an internal weight. He didn't look back, didn't care about the creature said to reflect human emotions, and paid no mind to the words the strange man had left behind.
But he couldn't stop himself from pondering that final statement:
"The desire consuming you today might become your greatest obstacle tomorrow."
He paused for a moment, gazing at his hands marked by bruises and scars, seeing in them the reflection of his life—hands filled with anger, yet ultimately empty of meaning.
He whispered again, as though speaking to the void:
"Desires? If they are strength, why do they also feel like weakness?"
Then he continued on his path, disappearing into the shadows, leaving behind unanswered questions and a silhouette concealing an inner struggle far greater than his stoic face revealed.