Chapter 1: The Day the World Changed

My name is Ethan Cross.

I'm just your ordinary high school student. Not a genius. Not a delinquent. And definitely not some chosen one destined for greatness.

If anything, I'm the opposite of that.

I have no big dreams, no over-the-top ambitions. Some people want to change the world or leave a legacy. Me? I just want to live a quiet, peaceful life, preferably without getting into unnecessary trouble.

Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, yes.

Anyway, let me give you a quick rundown of my life before everything went to hell.

Friends? More Like Acquaintances

I have a few people in my life who could technically be called friends. But let's be real—I wouldn't die for them, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't die for me either.

We only contact each other when we need something, like homework answers, video game recommendations, or an extra guy for a group project.

You know that awkward relationship where you're friendly enough to say "Yo" in the hallways but not close enough to hang out on weekends?

Yeah, that's my entire social life.

Friends with benefits? Maybe. But without the actual benefits.

My Family – The Only Stable Thing in My Life

I live in a family of four—me, my dad, my mom, and my little sister, Lina.

My dad is the kind of guy who goes to work at 9, comes home at 6, and reads the newspaper like a sitcom character. He works a typical office job that pays well, so we're financially stable but not rich enough to afford unnecessary luxuries.

My mom is a full-time homemaker. If there's one thing she takes seriously, it's making sure the house is spotless. She has a weird ability to sense when something is even slightly out of place, and God help you if you don't put your socks in the laundry basket.

Then there's Lina, my little sister.

She's ten years old, full of energy, and the definition of adorable—when she's not being annoying. She has a bad habit of eating everything in sight, so I have to hide my snacks if I ever want to eat them myself.

All in all, a pretty normal family.

And I was fine with that.

Just Another Monday… or So I Thought

Like every other painfully ordinary day, my alarm screamed at 7 AM.

I slapped the snooze button.

Then I slapped it again.

By the third time, I realized that if I didn't get up, I was going to be late.

Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled to the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, and stared at my lifeless reflection in the mirror.

Black hair? Messy.

Eyes? Half-dead.

Motivation? Non-existent.

"Another day of suffering," I muttered to myself, brushing my teeth.

Once I finished my usual morning routine, I threw on my school uniform, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs.

Breakfast – The Most Peaceful Part of My Day

When I reached the dining table, my family was already seated.

My dad sat at the head of the table, wearing his usual suit and tie, sipping his coffee like a man who had already accepted the horrors of adulthood. He had his newspaper spread open, scanning through whatever boring financial news interested him.

My mom was busy making sure my little sister didn't turn into a wild animal.

Speaking of Lina—

She was devouring her breakfast like she hadn't eaten in a week.

"Slow down," I told her, sitting down. "Did you forget how to breathe?"

Lina glared at me. "I need energy for school."

"You're going to school, not a battlefield."

She ignored me and kept eating.

Mom placed a plate in front of me. Scrambled eggs, toast, and orange juice—simple but effective.

"You're leaving early today?" Dad asked, without looking up from his newspaper.

"Yeah," I said, shoving a bite of toast into my mouth. "Got a test."

Dad nodded approvingly. "Good. Keep studying hard."

…Jokes on him, I barely studied.

Breakfast was normal. Peaceful.

Too bad it was the last normal morning I would ever have.

A Normal Day at School

By 8 AM, I left home and made my way to school.

At 8:20 AM, I arrived, walked to my classroom, and collapsed into my seat right in the center.

"Yo," I mumbled to no one in particular.

To my left, there was Emma, a shy girl who kept to herself. She was the type who never caused trouble, never spoke unless necessary, and somehow managed to blend into the background no matter where she was.

I knew her name, but not her family name.

At the front, there was Leon, the student council president. He was tall, handsome, athletic, and a straight-A student.

Basically, a walking protagonist.

Compared to guys like him, I was just another background character.

Then, the day dragged on. Math class, history, science—all blurred together.

By 2 PM, school ended, and I was free.

Walking Home with Emma (Still Not Romantic, I Swear)

As usual, I found myself walking next to Emma.

Not because we were close. Not because there was some undeniable romantic tension.

No, it was just convenience.

Her house was on the way to mine, so we often walked together in silence.

It wasn't awkward or anything. It was just… normal.

I wasn't an idiot. She was cute.

But I was also too much of a coward to confess.

Instead of waiting for her to reject me, I just rejected myself first. Genius, right?

We talked occasionally. Nothing deep. Nothing special.

After walking together for a while, she reached her house, gave me a small nod, and went inside.

And that was it.

Another peaceful, uneventful day.

Or so I thought.

5 PM – The Moment Everything Changed

The first sign of disaster was a low, rumbling vibration beneath my feet.

I paused, confused.

An earthquake?

Before I could react—

BOOM.

The entire ground trembled violently. Furniture toppled over. The windows shattered.

A horrifying, deafening sound exploded through the air, as if something massive had just broken through the sky itself.

I rushed to the window—

And froze.

The sky was cracking.

Like shattered glass, a gigantic black void was forming above the city.

And from that void…

Something was coming through.

Something huge.

Something monstrous.

BOOM.

And just like that—

the world would never be the same again.