Limping through the wreckage, Will's steps echoed off the shattered stone and fallen buildings. His house lay in ruins before him—a grim mess of scorched timber and ash. The air was thick with the stench of burnt wood and something far worse.
As he navigated the debris, his breath caught. Something familiar caught his eye: a patch of scorched brown hair, the same shade as his own. His heart stopped, a cold chill running through his bones as his gut twisted into knots. No… No, this can't be happening, his mind screamed, though deep down, he already knew.
The horror of the scene burned into his mind. He couldn't stop the vomit rising in his throat, his body convulsing as he threw up onto the blood-covered ground. Next to his sister's lifeless form, he saw them—his parents, or what he assumed were their remains. They were barely recognizable: mangled bodies crushed beneath broken pillars, bones twisted at unnatural angles. Their faces... unrecognizable. The sight of torn flesh where a head should have been was too much to bear.
His legs gave out beneath him. "Fuck. FUCK," Will screamed, his emotions pouring out. "Those fucking bastards, fuck their shit gods, shit promises, and this shit tutorial!" He yelled and swore, his anger spilling out with every profanity. Ever since the arrival of the gods on Earth, things had seemed so good, even beneficial. But it all felt like a lie.
He squeezed his eyes shut, the pain overwhelming him as his adrenaline subsided. When he looked down, he saw the extent of his injuries. His leg was a mess of spikes and blood. The beasts that had attacked him—quill beasts, grotesque mixes of rat, dog, and porcupine, enhanced by mana—had left him in this state. The forest had been filled with them, and today, of all days, he'd been careless and got himself caught.
His thoughts swirled, making it hard to focus. He needed to move, but the weight of it all pressed down on him like the world was collapsing. His head swam as his thoughts fractured, and he was suddenly back to that day…
"Will. Will. William Hayes. Answer the question on the board."
"Uh… sorry, I… I'm not sure, maybe…"
RUMBLE. The floor shook violently, followed by the splintering sounds of the walls beginning to split. A bone-jarring CRACK echoed around the room. The roof of the school was ripped off, and chaos erupted. Students bolted for the door, shoving and pushing, some collapsing and crying uncontrollably. Others were trampled under the mass of 367 people in that assembly, their screams piercing the air.
*"What the…"
"HELP!"
"Susan!"
"We're all dead!"*
Will was thrown to the ground, the world spinning, screams filling the air. Abruptly, everything became dark and silent.
He was still aware of his surroundings, able to move his body but finding it incredibly difficult, as if trapped in a tar pit. Panic began to rise. What is going on?
Gradually, light returned, but with it came distorted whispers and echoes, growing louder by the second. Will glanced around, noticing that nobody else was moving. Everyone seemed frozen in shock, paralyzed by dread. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness and impending doom pressed down on them all.
With trembling hands, Will looked up at the sky. His eyes widened in fear as the sky was ripped apart, a pitch-black void spreading across the heavens. It grew slowly, the air itself darkening as if being drained of life.
Without warning, the darkness halted, blocked by an unseen force. Figures began to emerge from the void, stepping forward with a gliding, fluid motion. Each one moved with practiced grace, like actors taking their places on a stage, yet their confidence radiated beyond mere performance.
The lead figure stepped forward, his tone rich with arrogance. "Beings of Earth," he began, his voice low and carrying an authority. "Count yourselves fortunate. It is not every world that receives the honor of our help. We are messengers, sent from a pantheon."
His gaze swept over the crowd as though weighing their worth. Then he gave a small, almost dismissive smile. "The surge of mana that will impact this world will mutate the entire planet—all the animals, plants, and life will be changed. But the Sovereigns see potential in you… potential worth cultivating. So now we have decided to lend a hand to you mortals with the gift of the System."
With a snap of his fingers, a semi-translucent screen appeared, displaying a voice that spoke directly into Will's mind.
Model System Overview
PRIORITY: TESTS
Soul Compatibility: Positive
Initiation survival Probability: 93.62%
Mana Filter: testing… testing… COMPLEAT
Mana color: Crimson
Tests COMPLEAT
Show overview: ( Y , N )
What the actual fuck is going on? A violating pulse seemed to go right through him, making him feel all weird inside. Remembering the screen that was reminiscent of the video games he used to play, he tried to remain objective. The system overview seemed promising. His soul was compatible, survivability was high, and the mana color looked interesting.
Show Overview: ( Y , N )
"Um… sure." He accepted, feeling overwhelmed as this "System" seemed quite pushy.
Status
Name: William Hayes
Race: Human
Class: None
Grade: 0
Level: 0
AC: 0
HP: 0
MP: 0
Stamina: 0
Stats
Strength: 0
Agility: 0
Endurance: 0
Vitality: 0
Intelligence: 0
Wisdom: 0
Perception: 0
Titles: None
"This is a Model Overview, and the stats displayed aren't reminiscent of your own. The system is the Sovereigns' divine gift to those they deem worthy in the form of a blessing," the man continued, his voice echoing in stunned silence. "Each blessing brings its own unique gift. Your path, abilities, and future may depend on the blessing bestowed upon you. Some may enhance your strength, others your mind. What you gain in one aspect, you may lose in another. No two blessings are the same, and none are without consequence."
As the man stopped talking, he and the others around him began to glow with a white light and shot off, dispersing in all directions. The system's words lingered. The world seemed to stretch endlessly, everything around him feeling distant, like a fog rolling in. He was trapped in a state of limbo, unable to move or think clearly.
A sharp pulse of pressure gripped his chest as if a claw was tightening around his heart. His entire body tensed, and the sensation grew in intensity, a burning heat spreading through his veins.
What… what is that? Will thought as the fog started to split.
Another pulse of pain shot up his leg, searing hot. His breath became ragged. The edges of his dream shattered like glass, replaced by the harsh pull of reality. The world around him began to blur and fade, and memories hit him with a sudden, painful clarity.