🩸 Chapter I – The Day the Sky Fell
The planet Draethis was a ball of dust and stone, forgotten at the edge of a dead system. The air was thick and heavy with ash, like a promise that nothing grew here without paying for it. The old mines dug deep into the planet's guts in search of Kryst, a rare metal the Government used for ships, weapons, and probably wars no one talked about anymore. There was no news here. Only cold. And hunger.
This was where Seth lived.
He was 19, but his eyes had more cracks than all the city walls combined. He showed no sign of Ability. Around here, among the lucky 30%, he belonged to the remaining 70%: the "hollow" people. The useless ones.
His parents had worked in the mines. They died two months ago, in a demon attack reported too late. An entire colony was wiped out. The Government said it wasn't important enough to send reinforcements.
Seth didn't even get their remains. He buried a melted helmet and an identification number.
Since then… he hadn't spoken to anyone except Eran, his childhood friend. Eran had a weak power—palm-heating—but it was enough to cook food and stay warm during the freezing nights. They slept in the same makeshift shelter, an abandoned warehouse they ironically called the Temple, because the roof collapsed every time it rained.
That day, Seth was headed toward the trade sector, carrying a bag of cables stolen from some old robots.
— "Hey, look! It's the nameless kid!"
— "What's up, Seth? Find a power in the mud?"
— "Maybe the power to die like your folks!"
Three boys from the Zerak family, a local clan with strong blood and even stronger pride. Silver skin, eyes that gleamed. Inherited Abilities. In a world like this, that meant everything.
They shoved him. Spat on him. One grabbed his hair until Seth bit the dust.
— "You're nothing, get it? Just a reject from a rejected planet!"
Seth didn't say a word. Didn't even get up. He just clenched his teeth. And his fists.
When they left, Eran helped him up.
— "Next time I'll set their pants on fire," he said, forcing a smile.
Seth didn't smile. He just said:
"Next time… I hope I'm already gone."
🌘 The Fall
That night, the sky cracked. Not with rain. With smoke.
A red mist seeped over the buildings like an invisible hand. The air began to shake, and the ground vibrated. People started screaming. Some dropped to their knees. Others ran.
Seth was alone underground, at the old abandoned generator station, where he went when he couldn't take things anymore.
That's where he felt it. A presence. As if something else suddenly lived beneath his skin.
A voice spoke inside his head. Cold. Sweet. Infinite.
"Let me flow... Let me make you whole."
He tried to stand. Couldn't. His arms trembled. Joints cracked. Skin tore.
He fought. He shouted. He screamed.
But fear swallowed him. For the first time… he thought maybe it wasn't worth fighting.
Maybe the world was right. He was nothing.
And just then… something broke.
Not in him. In the demon.
Fire. Black fire. Fire that didn't burn flesh, but thoughts. Fire that refused to be possessed.
The scream burst from his chest like an explosion. And every demon around stopped. They looked at him. Fell to their knees. Began to tremble.
A window opened in front of him. Floating. Blue. Flickering:
[APEX SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Primary Shout: ACTIVE.
Possessed creatures nearby: 4 – subordinated.
Body analysis: Fusion denied. Spontaneous mutation.
Status: Run. Hide. Pull yourself together.