In a cramped apartment, the morning sun pierced the darkness through the slits of the blinds. The room was a disaster — clothes scattered across the floor, a sock or two draped over a chair, shirts tangled up with open books, and papers tossed carelessly around.
The only semblance of life was the figure sprawled on the bed, a young man fast asleep with a book resting awkwardly on his face.
No alarm clock chimed in this chaotic scene, no phone buzzed to break the silence. The room was calm and eerily quiet.
That was, until the young man jolted awake with a start. He spun in his bed, sitting upright in a daze, his breathing uneven.
He blinked against the dull morning light, his disoriented expression gradually sharpening as his vibrant blue eyes regained focus.
"Fuck, I'm late!" he exclaimed, leaping out of bed. He yanked the curtains open with one swift motion, allowing the full force of the sun's rays to invade the room.
The sudden brightness made him squint and shield his face. "I'll never get used to this," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
This was Leon, a man who, less than two months ago, had been a thirty-year-old from Earth battling terminal cancer.
His death had been inevitable, or so he'd thought. But instead of the eternal peace or fiery torment he'd expected, he'd woken up in a strange, unfamiliar world. A world that was nothing like his own.
For starters, this world was in the grip of an ongoing Apocalypse. Not the zombie kind from the movies he used to watch, but a Monster Apocalypse — a reality where the very fabric of existence had been shattered.
Years ago, the first dimensional rift had torn open the sky, a crack that unleashed monstrosities into the world.
These creatures weren't just predators; they were pure destruction, leveling entire cities and leaving nothing but ruin in their wake.
Humanity had been on the brink of annihilation, yet in the face of despair, people began to awaken. They drew power from the strange, otherworldly energy leaking from the dimensional rifts.
These chosen few were called Wizards. The first Wizard had led the charge in the Great War, pushing back the tide of destruction and saving what little was left of humanity.
In the years since, the rifts continued to appear, albeit less frequently than during the war, and humanity adapted.
Dimensional Rifts were gateways to the monsters' world, which Wizards called "Zones."
Each Zone carried a rating, determining the level of danger and the strength required to venture inside. Entering a Zone beyond one's abilities was a death sentence, a lesson etched into the very fabric of their society.
Leon was still coming to terms with it all. This wasn't just a new world; it was a battleground, and he had inherited a body already caught in the crossfire.
Shaking off his thoughts, Leon grabbed a clean pair of clothes, pulling them on hurriedly as he muttered curses under his breath.
He didn't have the luxury of time. If he didn't leave now, he'd miss his chance, and that wasn't an option.
He sprinted through the apartment, yanking the door shut behind him with a loud slam. He locked it hastily, barely pausing to check before racing down the narrow stairs and out onto the bustling streets of Eldinberg City.
The capital of the Elion Kingdom was alive with activity, its streets filled with merchants, workers, and soldiers, all going about their business. The city was a hub of trade and Wizard activity, its walls a testament to years of battles fought against the monstrous threats beyond.
Leon dodged through the crowd, his heart pounding as he weaved between vendors and carriages. The city had its own rhythm, one he wasn't quite in sync with yet.
The smells of fresh bread from bakeries mingled with the acrid scent of burning oil from the forges. Voices shouted deals, arguments erupted, and somewhere in the distance, a child laughed.
It was chaotic, vibrant, and alive — a stark contrast to the sterile hospital room where he'd spent his final days on Earth.
As he ran, his mind raced just as fast. Today wasn't just another day. It was his first step into the world of Wizards, a chance to prove himself at the academy.
Once one became of age, they were eligible to take the Awakening Test at the Wizard Academy which was hosted once every two years, it was a big event and Leon didn't want to miss it.
He rounded a corner, nearly colliding with a group of armored guards. They glared at him, muttering something about reckless kids, but he barely noticed.
His focus was on the towering spires in the distance, the academy's unmistakable silhouette against the morning sky. It was a symbol of power, of hope, and of the challenges that lay ahead.