Zero awoke to the sound of rushing water.
He gasped, sitting up quickly. His head throbbed like he had been asleep for a hundred years. Cold mist surrounded him, and beyond it, dark trees stretched toward a sky filled with swirling stars. He had no idea where he was. Worse—he had no idea who he was.
A single word echoed in his mind: Eversoul.
Zero glanced down at himself. He wore a long, dark coat with silver embroidery lining its edges, its fabric both foreign and familiar. Underneath, a fitted tunic hugged his lean frame, reinforced with light armor plating at the shoulders. His boots were scuffed, his gloves worn, as if he had traveled countless miles before arriving here. Strapped to his side was an empty sheath—no weapon, just the lingering weight of something missing.
His fingers curled into the damp grass beneath him. He tried to remember anything—his name, his home—but nothing came. Just the emptiness of a forgotten past.
A chill ran down his spine. Something was watching him.
Slowly, he turned. From the mist, shadowy figures emerged—twisted creatures with glowing eyes and whispering voices. Fear gripped Zero's chest. He had no weapons, no way to fight.
The creatures lunged.
A flash of silver light exploded from the ground. A small, glowing shard lay before him, pulsing with a strange warmth. Instinct took over. He grabbed it, and the moment his fingers closed around it, a surge of power rushed through his body. The shard transformed, forming a blade of pure energy in his hand.
He didn't have time to question it. As the first creature leaped, Zero dodged, moving with surprising speed. His body knew what to do, even if his mind didn't. The blade swung through the creature, slicing it in half. It let out a shriek before dissolving into mist.
More came. Zero moved, slashing through them one by one. With each defeated enemy, he felt… stronger, like a missing part of himself was returning.
And then, silence. The creatures were gone.
A slow clap echoed through the clearing. A figure in a black cloak stepped from the mist. Their face was hidden by a mask, but their voice was smooth and knowing.
"You're beginning to remember."
Zero tightened his grip on the glowing blade. "Who are you?"
The masked figure tilted their head. "The better question is—who are you?"
Zero opened his mouth to answer, but no words came. He didn't know. But something told him that if he wanted the truth, he would have to find it himself.
And it all started with the word Eversoul.