Kael suddenly felt something soft beneath him. His body was numb and immobile, as though he had been frozen for a long time.
As his senses gradually returned, the events prior to this moment rushed back to him—his time with Elsa on the bus and the wave that had engulfed them.
Out of panic, he shot upright, stretching out his hand as if to grab Elsa. But his surroundings had completely changed.
He was no longer on the bus. Instead, he found himself in an all-white room filled with strange support equipment. He was seated on a pristine white bed.
Kael tried to get off the bed, but as he moved, he noticed several needles embedded in his arms—ten on each—and even more pierced into his chest. Thin pipes connected these needles to a machine nearby, which resembled a small, transparent fridge filled with bubbling green liquid.
Irritated by the sight, Kael's stomach churned. His hands trembled as he began pulling out the needles one by one. Each removal came with a sharp sting, but the pain was insignificant compared to his desperation to free himself.
As he continued, a startling realization struck him.
"Wait… do I look more muscular?"
Kael frowned, studying his body. His physique was brimming with muscles, impossibly toned. His chest bore an intricate tattoo-like marking, resembling the mouth of a beast, interwoven with claw-like patterns.
After yanking out the last needle, Kael finally stepped off the bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor. He noticed he was wearing tight, white shorts that clung to his bulked-up thighs. Standing upright, he realized he felt taller than before.
'What's happened to me?' The thought stirred an urgent need to see his reflection.
His eyes darted around the room until they settled on a glass wall. From his angle, it mirrored his image perfectly, though he suspected it served as a one-way window from the other side.
Kael hurried to the glass, stopping short as he caught sight of his reflection.
He barely recognized himself. His body had undergone massive changes—his muscles were far more defined, the tattoo on his chest extended to his face, and his hair, once unruly, now had a sleek, almost regal appearance.
'What the hell happened to me? Where am I?'
Before he could dwell on the question, a green hologram abruptly materialized in front of him, startling him so much that he staggered backward, landing on the floor.
"W-What is this?" Kael stammered as he recognized the notification interface from before.
{Good evening, Kael Auron.}
The calm tone of the system only unsettled him further.
"The notifications are back!" Kael exclaimed. He had no intention of facing this calmly, not after his first encounter with it.
{I am your system—an interface designed to make you stronger and ensure your survival at all costs.}
"Survival? What did you do to me?"
{This enhancement is not unique to you, Kael. Everyone in your world has been affected. Consider it an upgrade to your genes.}
"An enhancement?" Kael's voice was laced with confusion and anger. "What does that even mean?"
{You have been granted abilities beyond those of a normal human. Right now, you are in the initial stage of enhancement. The stronger you become, the more you will unlock.}
Kael frowned, the explanation leaving him more unsettled than reassured. "Abilities? Like what?"
{You now possess a Soul Bound. For now, your physical attributes have been enhanced, but the extent of your power will grow with time and effort.}
'Soul Bound? Enhanced?' Kael clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. This all felt like a cruel joke.
He opened his mouth to demand answers, but before he could speak, the doors to the room burst open.
Three figures entered—a scientist in a lab coat and two armed men, one holding a sword and the other a rifle.
"Get on the ground now! We don't mean any harm!" one of the armed men barked.
Kael glanced down at himself, still sitting on the floor. He raised an eyebrow but decided not to argue. Slowly, he lowered himself completely to the ground.
"I don't know what's going on. Please don't hurt me," Kael said. His tone was devoid of emotion, almost mocking their authority.
The sound of boots clattered on the floor as the scientist approached him, stopping just a few feet away.
"We're not here to harm you," the scientist said, his voice cautious. "But this is a necessary precaution. You are genetically enhanced, and we can't take any risks."
Kael's mind raced as he processed the scientist's words. 'Just like the system said. What happened to the world while I was out?'