Fifty years ago, Earth was invaded by the Nightspawnâmonstrous creatures from an unfathomable realm. These horrors brought chaos and destruction, annihilating cities and tearing through human civilization. But the Nightspawn were not merely invaders; they were harbingers of a greater transformation.
Soon after their appearance, individuals began to experience a phenomenon that would forever alter humanity's fate: the Trials. These trials unfolded within the mind of the chosen while their physical body remained motionless on Earth.
The process of selection began with insomniaâan inability to sleep, as though the mind resisted rest. Over time, the chosen would notice their body darkening, starting from their feet and creeping upward, signaling that their Trial was near.
Once fully consumed, the individual would fall into a dreamlike state, entering their soul space and choosing to face the Trial scenario. These surreal landscapes were filled with challenges tailored to them.
Those who succeeded awakened as Nightborn, wielding unique abilities tied to the essence of their Trialsâabilities as varied as humanity itself. These powers could heal, destroy, manipulate, or create, reflecting the vast complexity of human nature.
The Nightspawn continued their siege, their attacks relentless and devastating. Yet, the emergence of the Nightborn turned the tide.
With their newfound powers, they began to resist, reclaiming lost ground and establishing pockets of human survival. Over decades, humanity slowly rebuilt itself, though fractured and war-torn.
The Dreambound became the pillars of this new world order, though their existence was a double-edged sword; their abilities inspired both hope and fear, and their presence often sowed discord among the unpowered masses.
Earth remained under constant threat from the Nightspawn, but the Nightborn's powers offered humanity a fighting chance.
The Trials were deeply enigmatic, understood by no one. Each one was a test of the mind, heart, and soul. Participants were thrust into a surreal, often horrifying scenario crafted from their subconsciousâa mirror reflecting their inner truths.
Failure within a Trial meant death, but survival came with a price: every Dreambound bore emotional scars from their ordeal, and many struggled to reconcile their past selves with what they had become. The powers they gained were both gifts and burdens, a reminder of their deepest struggles or triumphs.
In this fragile, recovering world, the Dreambound sought ways to grow stronger,,
Meanwhile, the Nightspawn continued to roam, their ranks swelling with more monstrous entities, each more dangerous than the last. Humanity's survival teetered on a knife's edge, balanced between the efforts of the Dreambound and the overwhelming threat of the Nightspawn.
Vale tossed the pamphlet onto the cracked concrete street, watching it tumble against the wind. "Riftborns, huh? Sixteen and eligible now. Guess I should make the most of the time I've got left," he muttered to himself. His birthday had been just the day beforeâa stack of Twinkies with a single candle jammed into the middle serving as a "cake."
His lips twitched into a rare smile as he thought of his little sister Rue's laughter. She had clapped like it was a gourmet feast. That memory was warm enough to push away the cold slums, even if only for a moment.
As Vale trudged through the grime-covered streets on his way to meet his boss, his only thought was of Rue. She was his anchor, his reason. Everything else? Just background noise.
Arriving at the decrepit building, he paused in front of the splintered wooden door. He rapped twice, then added three slow knocks. The signal. A raspy voice barked from the other side, "Let him in."
The door creaked open, revealing a surprisingly pristine roomâa jarring contrast to the filth outside. Vale's eyes immediately scanned his surroundings, a habit ingrained by years of survival in the slums. His gaze lingered on the burly figure in a tailored suit, standing like a guard dog.
"It's just the kid, boss," the man rumbled, stepping aside.
At the far end of the room sat Alfredo, sprawled on a leather couch like a lazy king. A cigar dangled from his lips, and a cloud of smoke curled lazily above his head. Women draped themselves over him, laughing at jokes Vale was sure weren't funny. He averted his eyes, embarrassed by the sight.
"This bastard's always pulling some weird crap when I'm here," Vale thought, irritation flashing across his face.
"Ah, little Vale," Alfredo drawled, exhaling a puff of smoke. "You've come to pay a visit. Give him the details."
The burly man handed over a creased piece of paper. Vale unfolded it, his eyes scanning the sparse details:
TARGET: Matthias David
Background: Undercover agent for NUSA.
Job: Retrieve a black card from his wallet.Pay: 200 credits.
Photo: A rough-looking man with a full beard and a trench coat.
Vale raised an eyebrow. "What about the rest of his wallet? Anything else worth grabbing?"
Alfredo chuckled, his tone dismissive. "Keep it, kid. We're not that stingy. Just get me that card. He's at Cheryl's Diner. Now scram."
Not needing to be told twice, Vale bolted from the suffocating room.
Once the door shut, the burly man turned to Alfredo. "Boss, giving a NUSA job to a kid? You know what they're capable of."
Alfredo snorted. "It's simple. If he lives, he lives. If he doesn't... well, one less mouth to feed."
The bodyguard shrugged. "Understood."
The Heist at Cheryl's Diner
Walking through the slums, Vale's grin stretched ear to ear. "200 credits! Enough for me and Rue to eat proper meals for weeks! Maybe I can even get her a gift."
When he reached the diner, he scoped it out quickly. His eyes locked onto the targetâa grizzled man gnawing on a bagel at a corner booth. Satisfied, Vale formulated a plan.
Ten minutes later, Matthias David stood up, tossing a few crumpled bills onto the table. As he stepped outside, Vale "accidentally" collided with him, throwing his arms around the man in mock panic.
"Get off me, you little freak!" Matthias bellowed, shoving Vale with enough force to slam him into a wall.
Vale immediately crumpled to the ground, clutching his head and wailing like a banshee. "HELP! HELP! HE'S TRYING TO KILL ME!"
A small crowd gathered, their faces dark with suspicion.
"Hey, what's your problem, old man?" one person shouted.
"Think you can just stroll into the slums and push people around?" another added.
Matthias's face turned crimson. "This kidâheâ"
"Let's teach him a lesson!" someone yelled, and the crowd surged forward.
Matthias spat in frustration, backing away. "Lucky little shit!" he growled, disappearing into the streets.
Vale dusted himself off, a smug grin tugging at his lips. Sliding a hand into his pocket, he pulled out the stolen wallet. "Perfect."
Back at the warehouse, Vale handed over the black card.
"Looks like you took a beating," Alfredo said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the sight of Vale's bruised face.
"I was about to knock that bastard out, but he ran off," Vale retorted, feigning rage.
Alfredo chuckled. "You've got guts, kid. Remind me of myself at your age." He gestured toward a table. "Your payment's there. Now get out of my sight."
Vale grabbed the envelope, his thoughts already on Rue and the smile that would light up her face.
"One job down," he thought, stepping into the night. "Only a thousand more to go."
On his way home Vale fiddled around with the wallet.
'hmmm 96 credits score!' Vale raised his fist in the air finally things are taking a turn for him he thought.
Opening up the wallet further he noticed another weird object a button stuck on its side
''Fuck it''
After clicking the button a few times seeing a lack of reaction Vale put it in his pocket
'Useless'