Max stepped out of his dorm, the cool morning air greeting him as he took his first real look at Nexus Academy. Towering buildings with sleek, modern architecture stretched into the sky, their glass reflecting the soft hues of dawn. The main building, a behemoth of steel and stone, loomed ahead like the heart of a machine—cold, imposing, and filled with the brightest, most dangerous individuals in the world.
'At least I'm in Valthesis and not Zephiron. I hate water,' Max mused, glancing around at the bustling students. Valthesis, the central city where Nexus stood, was a hub of power, influence, and history. It was a far cry from Zephiron, the coastal city known for its naval dominance and deep-sea horrors lurking beneath the waves.
But he wasn't here to admire the scenery.
Max had a mission.
He knew things that no one else did—buried secrets, hidden dungeons, forgotten relics. The novel had laid them out in plain text, waiting for the protagonist to stumble upon them. But Max wasn't going to wait. He was going to take the first step, rewrite fate before it could script him out of existence.
Max pulled out his phone, scrolling through the unfamiliar interface until he found the map function. A quick search brought up the nearest subway station—his best bet for getting around unnoticed. He memorized the route, then slipped the device back into his pocket.
Leaving Nexus, he stepped into the heart of Valthesis. The late afternoon glow cast long shadows across the streets, the city alive with movement. Stalls lined the sidewalks, vendors shouting over the din, trying to sell everything from enchanted trinkets to off-brand hero merchandise. The scent of grilled meat, fried dough, and something vaguely metallic from the alchemist's district filled the air.
Heroes in full armor strode through the streets, some bearing the insignias of famous guilds, others just students or low-ranked professionals trying to make a name for themselves. Towering buildings loomed overhead, their neon signs and holographic billboards flashing advertisements for combat gear, mana boosters, and the latest heroic exploits.
Cars zipped by on the main roads, sleek and modified to withstand the occasional superpowered brawl. Every now and then, Max spotted a hover vehicle, reserved for the wealthiest elite or government officials.
Despite the chaos, there was a rhythm to it all, a strange harmony between normal life and the extraordinary.
Max kept his head down, hood up, hands in his pockets. He didn't want attention.
Max's sneakers scuffed lightly against the pavement as he made his way down the bustling streets toward the subway station. The city around him felt both foreign and overwhelming. People swarmed past him in every direction, each with their own sense of purpose, their hurried footsteps blending into the hum of city life. Max, however, moved with a kind of quiet urgency, his head down and his hoodie pulled low over his brow, doing his best to blend into the shadows of the crowd.
The entrance to the subway station loomed ahead, a dark mouth in the side of the street, a constant flow of people descending into it, their faces all distant and unreadable. Max hesitated just for a moment before stepping down into the cool, dimly lit stairwell that led into the underground. The air smelled faintly of metal and dust, and the walls were lined with chipped tiles that reflected the harsh overhead lights. The sound of distant trains rumbled through the station as the faint stench of oil and old concrete filled his senses.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Max found himself in the main hall of the subway station. The space was wide and echoing, the clatter of footsteps reverberating off the concrete walls. Neon signs above blinked with various route numbers and ads for everything from cheap protein shakes to superhero training programs.
Max's heart thudded in his chest as he made his way to the ticket counter. He couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place, surrounded by strangers in a world that felt nothing like the one he knew before. The subway station felt like a bridge between two realities—one where he had been, and the strange new world he was trying to navigate. He gripped his ID in his pocket, feeling the cool weight of it against his skin, as he waited for his turn at the counter.
Max approached the counter, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his hoodie. He kept his gaze low, avoiding eye contact with the station lady as she finished typing away at her keyboard.
"One ticket to station 46, please," Max muttered, his voice barely rising above the low hum of the station.
The lady didn't seem to notice his unease as she typed away, the sound of keys clicking filling the silence between them. After a few moments, she printed out the ticket stub and slid it across the counter with a smile.
Max handed her his student ID without looking up, the cold metal of the ID card slipping into her warm palm. She glanced at it before nodding.
"Oh, you must be part of the new batch of first years! I hope you do good out there," she said with a cheerful tone that, despite its warmth, only made Max feel more out of place.
Max cleared his throat, an awkward pause stretching between them. "Uh… yeah, I'll, uh… I'll do that," he said, his voice trailing off as he quickly grabbed the ticket and his ID.
The lady giggled lightly, something that made the back of his neck burn with embarrassment.
"Thanks…" Max mumbled under his breath as he turned to walk away, already wishing he could disappear into the crowd. He could feel her gaze lingering for just a second longer than he liked, her laughter still echoing softly in his ears as he shuffled quickly through the station, desperate to put distance between himself and the awkward exchange.
Max stood by the platform, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie, the faint hum of the subway's distant arrival vibrating through the air. The bright fluorescent lights above flickered every few seconds, casting a harsh, unnatural glow over the space. He kept his eyes fixed on the rows of advertisements that adorned the station walls, each flashing with loud, colorful promises of new products, services, and events.
One ad stood out to him—a towering poster showing a group of smiling, armored heroes. The text blared: Join the Vanguard: Shape Your Future in Nexus! He stared at the image, the bold characters boasting the same name as the academy he now found himself enrolled in. Below the smiling faces of heroes, there were smaller ads for upcoming hero battles, weapons training, and even classified missions for 'elite recruits.' It was hard to ignore the gnawing feeling in his gut that this was a world where violence and glory went hand in hand.
As the subway train's distant roar grew louder, Max's mind wandered again, unable to fully grasp the surreal nature of what had happened. How had he ended up here? In a strange city, in a strange world, enrolled in an academy for heroes—heroes he used to read about in novels. How did he fit into this world, or even worse, how would this world fit him? He caught his reflection in the glass of an ad kiosk—his face looked just as confused as he felt. Max's reflection blinked back at him, the boy in the mirror just a stranger to him now. The weight of his thoughts pressed on him like a heavy cloak.
A loud thud followed by a metallic screech echoed through the station as the subway train slid into view, the front lights blinding and reflecting off the steel of the train's exterior. Max blinked, shaking off the uncomfortable feeling, and watched as the doors opened with a hiss. He stepped forward.
The subway car was packed, bodies pressed against each other in the early evening rush. Max squeezed into an empty space by the door, his eyes scanning the crowd, trying to avoid standing out. People of all ages were scattered around, some glued to their phones, others lost in quiet conversations. A few wore armor, or at least the kind of gear that looked like it could be easily transformed into battle-ready armor with a flick of the wrist. Heroes, or those hoping to become heroes, Max guessed. He tried not to stare too long, his discomfort growing at the realization that he was among these people now.
He let out a small sigh and turned his attention to the walls instead. They were plastered with bright, glossy travel brochures, each filled with vibrant images and bold promises of adventure. Most were focused on the neighboring districts.
Max slid through the crowd, cautiously reaching for the stack of brochures. He grabbed one without a second thought, feeling the weight of it in his hands, and he retreated to the farthest corner of the car. He opened the brochure on Valethesis, flipping through its glossy pages.
The city practically screamed history—rich, grand, heroic. Every other page was filled with advertisements for various sections of the city: Nexus Academy (the crown jewel of the city),
Valethesis: The heart of humanity. A city of opportunity. Heroes make history here.
Max felt a slight pang in his chest as his gaze landed on the section about Nexus. He should have felt more excited, more relieved, but instead, there was a growing knot in his stomach. The more he read about this place, the more real it became—and the more terrifying it seemed. History had been built by people like the ones around him—heroes, villains, and all the chaos in between.
But then, his eyes narrowed at a section talking about the "amazing city life", the "vibrant culture", and "excellent infrastructure". For a moment, his mind wandered, drawn to the idea of the people here, the buildings, the rhythm of it all. He tried to hold onto that thought, the small part of the brochure that made him feel something other than dread.
Thank god I got the best city to come back to life in.
His thoughts were interrupted as the train jerked forward, and the noise of the wheels against the tracks grew louder. Max glanced up at the window, his reflection still haunting him, but for a moment, he focused on the city outside.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, he thought. Maybe this world had a place for someone like him, someone who didn't want attention, someone who just wanted to survive. The idea felt almost comforting—until reality slammed back into him, reminding him that even in a city like this, heroes were built on blood and sacrifice.
"Arriving shortly."
The voice over the intercom was dry, mechanical, but it stirred something inside Max. His chest tightened, a mix of anticipation and anxiety building up with every word. He looked around the subway car, feeling the weight of the world pressing against his shoulders. This wasn't his world—no, he was just passing through, trying to make sense of everything that had already been decided for him. But for now, all he could do was move forward.
The train screeched to a halt, jerking Max out of his thoughts. The doors opened with a hiss, and the cool night air rushed in, heavy with the scent of earth and something else—fresh, untouched. He stepped out, one foot after the other, the clack of his boots on the platform sounding louder than they should. Max didn't look back as the subway doors slid shut with a quiet thud. The train was gone, leaving only the lingering hum of machinery behind.
He walked off the platform, feeling the pulse of the city slowly fade as he left the station. His eyes adjusted to the dimming light, the sun just a sliver on the horizon, casting a pale glow over the dirt paths leading away from the heart of the city. The streets grew quieter, the sounds of distant traffic and chatter swallowed by the growing wilderness around him. The path ahead was worn but still clear, as if it had been traveled before—by someone, something. It wasn't long before the crumbling edge of civilization began to fall away, replaced by the thickening embrace of the forest.
The trees loomed taller, their branches creaking in the wind, like ancient sentinels watching over a world that didn't care about time. The dirt underfoot was soft, spongy with the remnants of a day's rain, and the air was thick with the scent of wet earth and leaves. Max's skin tingled with the sharp scent of pine and damp moss, and his boots sank slightly into the mud as he walked deeper into the woods.
As night began to fall in earnest, the first signs of the creatures who owned this forest made themselves known. In the distance, he could hear the soft hum of insects, a constant symphony of buzzing and chirping that seemed to echo through the trees. It was peaceful.
Max glanced up at the sky, watching as the last remnants of daylight faded into the horizon. The shadows of the trees grew longer, creeping across the forest floor like silent, lurking creatures. The air was growing cooler now, and the chorus of crickets and rustling leaves filled the stillness around him.
He needed to wait.
So, Max found a large, weathered log lying near the path and sat down with a soft sigh. His legs were stiff from the walk, and the rough bark of the log dug into his thighs, but he didn't mind. He needed the moment of stillness, the quiet that enveloped him as the night began to unfurl.
Max picked up a long stick from the ground, its end cracked and jagged from some long-forgotten use. He twirled it between his fingers for a moment before pushing it into the dirt at his feet. The soil was loose here, moist from the earlier rain, and as he scraped the stick through the earth, it left behind a soft trail—a line in the dirt that didn't really matter, but it was something to focus on. The repetitive motion soothed him.
…
'Finally.'
The last threads of daylight had finally disappeared, and the moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale silver light over the forest. Max's heartbeat quickened as he scanned the darkened woods, his eyes fixed on the task ahead. The cool air carried the faint hum of night creatures, but all he could focus on was the glimmering light he had been waiting for.
It flickered, just as he had anticipated. A faint, almost imperceptible glimmer that caught his eye through the thick branches of the trees. He didn't hesitate. His feet shifted into motion, and he started running, the forest stretching out before him in a blur of shadows and moonlight.
He could feel time pressing in on him, urging him faster. The moon climbed steadily in the sky, and with each passing second, the pressure grew heavier. He had no time to waste, not now.
His breath came in steady bursts as he navigated the uneven ground, dodging branches and rocks. His pulse pounded in his ears, and yet the world around him seemed impossibly still—too quiet, as if even the forest itself was holding its breath.
Max pushed himself harder, muscles burning with the effort, until the light finally came into full view—a soft, steady glow against the trunk of an ancient tree.
The light seemed to pulse, beckoning him forward.
Without thinking, he surged toward it, his boots thudding softly against the dirt. As he reached it, he noticed something—a shift in the ground beneath him.
The moment his foot touched the earth where the light had shone, the ground gave way beneath him. His body jerked forward, but there was no surface to land on. He fell, the world twisting around him as he plunged into the darkness.