Arun stood in front of the cocoon in a daze. The flower-like structure glowed in the dark atmosphere. Thinking back to all the thoughts he had put into his decision, he felt like a fool.
"It worked," he murmured under his breath.
He had considered countless possibilities: that his first time coming here was a dream, that the post on the internet was nothing but a fluke or coincidence. He had harbored hope that all this apocalyptic nonsense was false, believing humanity would find a way to avert global change.
But now, he felt skeptical.
Can humanity truly survive what is about to come?
What type of apocalypse will occur in upcoming days?
Will it be nuclear winter, global heating, or the rapid mutation of native creatures?
Whatever it might be, what was his role in all of this?
What is the purpose of individuals who can access the Record of Apocalypse?
Are they saviors and humanity's only hope for survival?
Or is there something more tied to it?
What is their purpose in roaming these desolate lands—are they here to learn, adapt, or merely struggle against yet another doomsday?
Arun slumped to the ground, bending his knees and resting his elbows on them.
For dozens of seconds, there was only silence, and he remained lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.
"Very well!" he said, standing up and walking toward the cocoon.
He had resolved himself.
Although he was not a fan of thrills or adventure, he was never one to face a challenge lying down.
The transparent walls of the cocoon started closing in, entrapping him inside the space.
If the arrival of the apocalypse was a fixed event, then he might as well strive to develop a safe haven for himself.
With that, the entire space of the cocoon was filled completely.
[Ding!]
[Forcefully stimulating potential...]
[Talent Awakening: 1%... 5%... 10%... 25%...]
[49% - Error!]
[Insufficient stimuli. Awakening failed.]
[You are dead.]
[Corruption 5%]
"Damn it!"
Arun woke up in a familiar room on a familiar sofa, drenched in sweat and struggling for breath. Going through death was harder than he had thought. He had almost panicked while trying to blast through the walls of the cocoon, but thankfully, the tubes had held him in place.
Moreover, the rate of awakening was lower than the first time, as though the system were mocking his resolve.
Arun turned around, checking if anyone had seen him being thrashed by reality. Holding his head high with conviction, he resolved to awaken his talent. But in exchange for his determination, he had failed yet again.
Thankfully, no one was around to witness this dark history.
He made up his mind to never mention this event to anyone. Out of sight, out of mind.
Speaking of witnesses, this time, there was no one in the chamber.
Where had they gone?
Last time, he remembered the overseer deciding to experiment on another batch of humans.
Could it be that the insects had gone to arrange new specimens? If that was the case, then this was a perfect opportunity for him to awaken.
So, Arun closed his eyes again, attempting to access the other world.
This time, it took longer than usual.
And again, he was there, standing in front of the open cocoon that had just swallowed him whole.
This time, he didn't enter it for awakening; instead, he assessed the process.
In his previous two attempts, he had failed to awaken due to insufficient stimuli.
Arun stepped closer to the green fluid, assessing it closely.
Could it be the stimuli?
But how could it have been insufficient during the process? The entire cocoon had been filled with it, so that couldn't be the case—not entirely.
Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a light within the green fluid—a glimmering, crystal-like glow floating above.
He reached out and grabbed the orb.
The tense, ball-sized crystal was white in color, illuminating like a small bulb.
[You obtained Essence Crystal (Dormant)]
[Use: Unknown.]
Is this the stimuli?
Arun ignored the prompt about its unknown use and went to another cocoon.
It was empty.
Undeterred, he moved to another cocoon.
To his surprise, he found another crystal.
That's it. Maybe this is the stimuli. If I add them inside, it might complete my awakening.
He ran back to the original cocoon and threw the crystal into the green fluid.
He prepared to attempt the awakening again.
As his foot was about to step inside, he stopped.
He turned toward the remaining dozen cocoons.
What if two isn't enough?
Would I waste precious crystals on another failed attempt?
What if this stage of the apocalypse demands all the crystals for awakening?
After some thought, he decided to collect all the remaining crystals.
If these crystals couldn't stimulate awakening, he would simply gather them again next time. And if they could, the more, the better.
After a while, Arun stood in front of the cocoon, now filled with dozens of crystals floating in the fluid like fish searching for food.
Satisfied with his reasoning, he stepped into the cocoon.
As before, the transparent walls closed in, sealing him inside.
The green fluid surged upward, filling the tank.
The illuminating crystals floated around him, encircling him like planets around the sun.
Tubes connected to his navel, spinal cord, and brain.
He became a silent observer of his own awakening.
Suddenly, he felt strange and panicked.
It was the fear of death, like the Reaper's scythe grazing his neck.
" I'm getting PTSD," he thought.
Too bad he couldn't move or feel anything.
Suddenly, an energy crystal shook violently. Its surface cracked, turning into glowing particles.
[Ding!]
[Forcefully stimulating potential...]
[Talent Awakening: 1%... 5%... 10%... 25%... 50%...]
As the timer progressed, more crystals broke down visibly.
[65%... 75%... 80%...]
"Holy fuck, I think I overdid it!" Arun thought as only half the crystals turned into stimuli, while the remaining half remained intact.
[99%... 100%...]
[Congratulations—]
Before the message could finish, the timer appeared again.
[105%...]
[110%...]
[120%...]
[Warning: Overload of stimuli can lead to death.]
[151%...]
[Congratulations! You have successfully awakened the Unique Talent: Runic Resonance]
[You have gained Talent-Specific Ability:]
[Run Sight]
[Grants 360° Vision and unique instinctively understanding of any rune.]
[Warning: Overload of energy is breaking down your body...]
[You are dead.]
"That's it! I did it!" Arun thought, jumping up.
He expected to be in his room but quickly realized he was very, very wrong.
[You are being influenced by unknown energy.]
[ Corruption: 10%...]
[20%...]
[30%...]
[50%...]
[Warning: Excessive corruption can lead to permanent death.]
At this point, Arun felt like he was floating—levitating in the air, traveling beyond comprehension.
[ Corruption: 51%...]
The moment this notification appeared, Arun felt a pull from an unknown direction.
The space around him cracked, and he found himself in an endless void.
A searing heat crawled up his limbs, freezing his thoughts and clouding his vision
He was in a dark, colorless place. On one side, countless nodes were connected, forming a gigantic white web that covered most of the void.
[70%...]
On the other side of this white web was a blue, blinding light, struggling desperately against the white threads.
[85%...]
And in between, there he was—alone.
His once radiant, white silhouette now bore the creeping stain of blackness, tendrils of corruption coiling around his form.
The darkness rose steadily, relentless, as if seeking to consume every last fragment of his essence.
[90%...]
So, this is how it ends? Arun thought bitterly, his chest tightening with a mix of fear and resignation.
After everything, this is my fate? Just another soul lost to the void?
A bone-chilling cold seeped into him, extinguishing even the faintest embers of hope.
The world around him blurred, his senses dulled, and his thoughts faded into the encroaching abyss.
[ Corruption: 98%...]
Arun's breaths—if they could still be called that—became shallow, his fragmented consciousness teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Suddenly, Arun felt a pressure from above. In the dark, neutral zone, a warm light washed over him, stalling the corrupting force.
"You, little one, should use precautions when branding your mark on the void."
A voice, distant yet commanding, echoed through the void.
"Which side are you from?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Arun said although no sound left his mouth.
The unknown figure seemed to understand him nonetheless.
"Interesting... a neutral being."
"Your neutrality won't last—choose wisely."
Before Arun could respond, a blinding golden light washed over him.
He felt a sharp, piercing sensation, as though a nail had been driven into his very essence.
[You have been Currupted by the source of Apocalypse]
[Soul Corruption 10%]
[Unique Attributes Gained: Hive Mind(Dormant)]
[Your mind can connect with other living beings.]
The moment the system announced his new trait, Arun felt a jolt in his mind—a subtle yet profound change.
Faint whispers brushed the edges of his consciousness, not words but fragments of thoughts and emotions.
A surge of fear, a flicker of hope, a pang of despair.
Were these his own feelings, or did they belong to someone—or something—else?