What lies beyond death? Is it darkness? Light? Or something in between?
Adrian stirred, his body heavy, his mind clouded. When he opened his eyes—or what felt like opening them—he found himself in an expanse of darkness. No light. No shapes. Just an endless void.
Yet he could see his own hands and body, faintly illuminated as though by an internal glow. The silence pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating, making him acutely aware of his breathing. The only sound was the tremble of his voice when he whispered, "Where… am I?"
No answer came.
He began to walk, slowly at first, unsure if the ground beneath him even existed. Each step echoed in the void, an empty, hollow sound that only deepened his unease.
Flashes of memory returned: Lucy's terrified face, the monstrous blade descending, the sharp pain that tore through him as he shielded her. His steps faltered as realization sank in.
"I died…" he murmured, his voice cracking. "I must've…"
His thoughts turned to his friends. Were Lucas and Nova okay? Was Lucy safe? His chest tightened with fear and regret.
"Useless," a voice echoed suddenly, sharp and cold, cutting through the silence like a blade. "You are weak."
Adrian froze, his heart pounding.
"You couldn't save them. You couldn't save yourself. But… you need me," the voice continued, deep and resonant, yet strangely intimate.
"Who… who are you?" Adrian asked, his voice trembling.
"I am what you've always lacked. Strength. Power. Purpose. I will lend you my eyes. My power."
Adrian took a step back. "What do you mean?"
The voice's tone grew darker, almost amused. "My eyes are unlike any others. They are a Calamity Class."
Adrian's breath hitched. He knew exactly what that meant.
Calamity Class. Powers from this class were nothing like the others. While most powers depended on magical energy, stamina, and even physical strength to wield effectively, Calamity Class powers broke all those rules. They operated without limits, unfettered by human constraints. Only one person in thousands—perhaps tens of thousands—of years was ever bestowed such a gift. Or curse.
"Why… why would you give me something like that?" Adrian demanded.
"To make you more than you are. To make you worthy of survival. Now… accept it."
Before Adrian could react, an invisible force seized him. He screamed as a searing pain erupted in his eyes. He clutched at his face, his fingers trembling as he felt his own eyes being plucked out, leaving only agonizing emptiness behind.
But despite the pain, he could still see. He could see the void, see himself, see… everything.
Then, a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, burning with an eerie, otherworldly light. They moved toward him, closing the distance until they settled into the empty sockets where his eyes had once been. The pain subsided, replaced by a strange clarity, a heightened awareness of the void around him.
Adrian gasped, trying to make sense of what had just happened. But before he could, the world around him shifted.
He awoke with a violent gasp, his chest heaving as air flooded his lungs.
The battlefield stretched before him, blood and rubble littering the ground. He could hear distant sobs, and when he turned his head, he saw Lucas and Nova rushing toward him.
"Adrian!" Lucas shouted, his voice cracking.
Nova dropped to her knees beside him, tears streaming down her face. "You're alive! How—? We thought—"
Adrian tried to speak but stopped short when he noticed their expressions shift to confusion and concern.
"Your… your eyes," Nova whispered, pointing.
Adrian reached up and touched his face, his fingers coming away wet with blood. Tears of crimson streaked down his cheeks, staining the dirt beneath him.
"I…" Adrian stammered, his mind reeling.
This wasn't a dream. The void, the voice, the pain—it was real. He could still feel the presence of those eyes, powerful and unrelenting, burning within him.
But what had he become?