As soon as I awoke, the intense light assaulted my vision, almost blinding me.
My surroundings were a hazy blur, with only the faint glow of a ceiling lamp and the sound of medical equipment to guide me.
The smell of blood hung heavy in the air, causing me to realize that I was lying in a hospital bed, being rushed down the hallway by two nurses.
"The extent of his injuries is staggering," one nurse remarked, her voice strained with worry.
"He has multiple fractures throughout his body. It's a miracle he's still alive."
"His breathing is being sustained by the oxygen mask, but for how long is uncertain," replied the other nurse.
"I fear the doctor may give up on this poor soul. Have you managed to reach his family?"
"We contacted his mother, who is on her way here," the first nurse replied. "According to our records, he is a Knight of the lowest rank, with minimal armor and weapons."
"A Lowest Rank Knight, you say?" The second nurse's tone was filled with pity.
"It's no surprise he sustained such severe injuries from being struck by a truck."
The conversation between the two nurses seemed like a death sentence to me.
My body is paralyzed, but my mind is racing.
The desire to participate in the conversation consumes me, but the oxygen mask stifles my words.
I battle to move my hand, trying tear off this cursed mask, but my body only responds with gradual eye movements.
As the nurses exit the room, slamming the door behind them, the stillness is overwhelming.
My breaths become slower, more agonizing, signaling my impending demise. I don't have time for this nonsense.
I must rise and continue working, for my mother's sake.
Ever since my father went missing while on duty as a Knight, my mother has been forced to work tirelessly to keep our family afloat.
Upon graduating from high school, I made the decision to become a Knight, sacrificing my dream of a proper education in order to help support my family financially.
But now, after nearly four years as a weak and stagnant Knight, with minimal earnings from my job, it seems foolish.
And now, with this stupid accident, it has become even worse, as I was struck by a truck in the street.
Damn!
These thoughts make me sick!
I refuse to spend my days confined to this bed!
It is excruciating to realize the burden my mother and sister bear for me.
I must be strong!
I must awaken!
But as I try to force myself out of bed, my bones feel crippled and my joints ache, forcing me to lay back down, struggling to catch my breath.
My vision blurs as I desperately try to inhale, feeling suffocated.
Once again, thoughts of death flood my mind.
They say that in your last moments, your life flashes before your eyes.
And as a lowest Knight, constantly suffering just for the sake of my family, my mind drifts to the chaos that enveloped the world ten years ago.
The monsters opened the magical gate and invaded our world, destroying everything in their path.
The military was no match for them, and humanity was on the brink of extinction.
But then came the Global Knight Association, formed by the remaining countries as a desperate attempt at survival.
And for ten years, we have been at war with these creatures, with countless casualties.
Whether the war will lead to total apocalypse or freedom for us, all I care is to collect money for my mother and sister while being survive at the same time.
Amidst the depressing thought, suddenly a child's voice breaks through the eerie silence.
I think it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but then a second voice joins in, clearer and stronger.
I gasp as I see a young boy, wearing black clothes, standing by my bedside.
"Why did you save me, human?" he asks.
I am taken aback by the question and struggle to find the words to answer.
But before I can, the boy speaks again, his voice filled with a sense of purpose. "It's not over yet."
The boy's bright blue eyes fixated on me, studying my entire body with a curious grin.
As I gazed back at him, it suddenly dawned on me why I had been hit by the truck - I had saved this boy from recklessly crossing the road.
"You don't even know me, yet you risked your life for mine," the boy said, his curiosity still evident in his gaze.
He gently removed the oxygen mask from my face, realizing it was difficult for me to speak with it on. "Look at you now... crippling weak, waiting death come to took your soul. Aren't you regret your decision to save me?", the boy ask me again arrogantly.
Despite the crippling bone and sore joint, I extended my hand, pulling the boy as near as I can.
"I will survive and return for my mother and sister. I'm not dead yet.", I said it even it make me vomiting blood because I forcing myself too much.
My body trembled and grew cold, but the boy's strange smile remained.
I'm stumbled speechless when the boy casually took my dripped blood and smearing it into his face.
"I can sense your strong determination, human. Let's us see together whether it's just a nonsense or pure survival instinct.", the boy sound suddenly changed entirely to menacing.
It was almost as if he was enjoying my suffering.
As my heart slowed and I felt the grip of death approaching, I saw a dark aura emanating from the boy's body.
It slowly transformed into a tall figure with a long black cloak and a skeletal head.
The blue eyes of the skeleton were eerily similar to the boy's, and I realized with horror that this was the Supreme Sorcerer Monster, Zeta Maurer, feared by among elite and strong Knights in the earth.
I see there were five holes on Zeta's skeleton, and in the center hole, a blue gem glowed.
The monster plucked the gem from its head and unexpectedly shoved it into my mouth.
My heart felt like it was about to explode as all my muscles contracted painfully.
It was as if a lightning struck me down from sky, then tearing at every fiber of my being.
I'm screamed with my eyes bug out, but all I can hear is thunderous of lightning bolt everywhere.
The room was filled with steam from my body as I gasped for air, my body suffocating under the intense pain.
Through it all, Zeta grinned at me. "Fascinating... your body and soul were locked in stasis, but then its quickly adapted to my Soul Core. I can sense your potential, Alstair. Let's explore it further, shall we?"
I couldn't comprehend how Zeta knew my name or how it was speaking at all.
My mind was clouded by the excruciating pain coursing through my body.
All I could do was scream, a primal sound of agony, until I could no longer muster the strength and my eyes slowly closed.
As darkness consumed my vision, a notification bar appeared, almost like a game, with a female voice shouting out words that I couldn't quite grasp.
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