Life is full of questions and mysteries.
Sometimes, it feels like a game—you're the player, and the outcome depends entirely on how you play.
You can succeed or fail. But unlike most games, life has no restart button. You don't get to start over.
Every decision you make carries consequences. That's why you must think carefully, because some choices are final.
The world is no longer the way it used to be. Once, you could see people strolling the streets, children playing freely on the ground...
To explain it more clearly: on March 1, 2060, a massive catastrophe struck the real world, so devastating it threatened to wipe out all of humanity in the blink of an eye.
Portals began appearing across the globe, and with them came the monsters.
Ghouls, goblins, and minotaurs poured out into the world, slaughtering every person in their path. The air was filled with painful screams and the heavy scent of iron as blood soaked the ground. Ordinary people could do nothing but shut their eyes... and wait for death.
Of course, the government tried to protect the world, deploying every military weapon at their disposal. At first, they managed to take down some of the monsters. But the tide turned when larger creatures appeared, giant centipedes, towering beasts, and winged wyverns.
Hope began to fade. The world plunged into despair, and people began to wonder: Why was this happening? Was it a random catastrophe... or was the world punishing humanity for its sins?
Everything had been reduced to ruins, so much so that recovery seemed impossible. But then, scientists made a groundbreaking discovery: the world was now saturated with a mysterious energy they named Spirit.
What was this Spirit? It was a new form of energy, one that allowed ordinary people to wield magic, just like the monsters. However, not everyone possessed it. And even among those who did, many suffered fatal backlash when trying to harness its power.
Worse still, magic alone wasn't enough. Humanity stood at the edge of extinction, barely scratching the surface of this new reality. Desperate for solutions, scientists began conducting dangerous experiments.
No one could blame them, it was a gamble. Die at the hands of monsters, or take a chance at survival.
"What are we supposed to do? People are dying because of these experiments."
"Just keep going. We're not doing this because we want to. This is the only choice we have."
"But innocent lives are being lost!"
"And even more will die if we do nothing! This is our only path forward!"
In the end, to survive this new world, the scientists were forced to sacrifice countless lives. It felt like murder, but there was no other way.
By some miracle, their efforts paid off. They succeeded... and helped rebuild what was left of the world.
Scientists successfully managed to transfer the monster's genes into a human subject, knowing that the monsters possessed extraordinary abilities, which could prove incredibly valuable. Initially, those who received the monster's genes began to undergo drastic transformations—skin discoloration, the growth of horns, and the emergence of tails. However, not all subjects could endure the changes. Some lost consciousness and began to behave like the monsters themselves, ultimately succumbing to death.
Despite these setbacks, the experiment continued, fueled by the faint glimmer of hope that they might one day succeed.
Five years had passed.
As the number of monsters dwindled, the world began to see the rise of a new kind of being, those with extraordinary abilities. These individuals, known as mutants, emerged as humanity's new hope.
Mutants.
They were no longer called heroes; instead, they were defined by the powers they had gained from the monsters themselves. Some possessed claws, others had the speed of wolves, while some could even sprout wings. But their abilities didn't end there. Gifted with a unique spirit, they were also able to harness magic, granting them formidable powers that played a crucial role in the battle against the remaining monsters.
Twenty years had passed, and the once-hopeless world had slowly managed to find its footing again. No one could have imagined that life would return to some semblance of normalcy. Cities were thriving, and smiles, once rare, could now be seen on people's faces. Thanks to the protective barriers and the mutants, humanity was able to avoid monster invasions, which gave them a sense of safety.
However, monsters and portals had not vanished entirely. They still appeared from time to time, a constant reminder that the world was far from free of danger.
Becoming a mutant had become the highest-paying profession, given the peril it entailed. Every encounter with a monster was a gamble, no one could predict whether they would survive or perish. Despite the risks, many aspired to join the ranks of the mutants, eager to secure a place in the top guilds, where wealth and fame awaited those who were brave enough to face the monsters head-on.
Whoever claimed that people could be happy without money was a hypocrite. Money was what made people happy.
Wealth was everything. With it, you felt invincible, as though you could bend the world to your will and do whatever you pleased. It wasn't just about survival—it was about power, influence, and control.
-
June 1, 2095
Bang!
A loud, metallic clang echoed through the area as a figure was forcefully slammed to the ground. His body was covered in bruises, and it seemed as though every ounce of strength had drained from him, leaving him unable to fight back.
Even through the searing pain, his face remained expressionless. His vision was blurred, yet he could still recognize the silver-haired figure standing before him, sword in hand. It was his brother, Laros Quellen.
"You can kill me now. I have no reason to live," Zev said in a lifeless tone, his voice void of fear or desperation. He wasn't begging for mercy, nor asking for a second chance, just stating a truth that had long hollowed him out.
Zev Quellen came from the renowned Quellen family. His father, Lucan Quellen, was the founder of the Black Sigil guild—one of the most powerful guilds still standing today. Lucan had earned the respect of countless people, having fought in numerous battles against monsters. He wielded the power of the Dark Crow, granting him incredible speed and a shadowy aura that perfectly complemented his swordsmanship.
Thud!
Laros kicked Zev hard in the side, the force cracking bones with a sickening snap. Zev's body, already battered and fragile, collapsed like a broken doll.
"When did I say you could talk back?" Laros growled, then threw his gear at Zev's face with disdain. "Get out of my sight, while I can still control my temper."
Zev slowly pushed himself to his feet, staggering as though his legs could barely hold him. His body trembled, but he forced himself to stay upright. Once he found his balance, he walked away, without a word, without looking back.
As he limped through the silence, a question echoed in his mind: How did it come to this?
It was all because of the Awakening…
In the beginning, Zev had shown remarkable promise. His swordsmanship was exceptional, even before he had awakened, he could defeat those who already had. Now twenty-five, Zev had undergone his Awakening at the age of ten. Back then, everyone believed he was destined for greatness.
Awakening.
It was the process where a person unlocked the dormant monster gene inherited from their parents, a moment that determined their power, rank, and future.
But during Zev's Awakening, something went wrong.
An explosion erupted in the facility, violently disrupting the process. The Awakening was a fragile moment, one that demanded complete focus and zero interference. Any distraction could sever the thin thread between control and chaos, causing the subject to lose consciousness or, worse, transform into a monster.
Zev never truly recovered from that day.
The spirit plate malfunctioned, causing a violent explosion that sent Zev flying. Dark energy spiraled around him, electrifying his body and searing him with intense, agonizing burns.
After the incident, everyone believed he had died, as he remained unconscious for months. But somehow, he managed to regain his senses. However, his body was left in a horrific status burn scars covered his skin, leaving him looking unrecognizable and terrifying.
-
After leaving the Black Sigil three years ago, Zev continued his life as a mutant, taking on jobs to hunt and eliminate monsters. Through constant battles and encounters with others, he honed his skills and utilized his awakened gene, slowly making a name for himself.
"We getting bountiful rewards today?" Zev asked, his voice raspy as he stood drenched in his own blood, the aftermath of a brutal fight with an evolved Minotaur. "Let's clean up and get out of here..."
Swish!
Zev couldn't finish his swing as a sharp blade suddenly stabbed into his side. The attack was so fast, his guard had dropped too late to block it. A wave of numbness spread through his body as the poison-coated blade did its work, seeping into his veins.
Purkh!
Blood spilled from Zev's mouth, but he still managed to lock eyes with the man standing before him, a figure with blond hair. "Why, Eros?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. He glanced at his comrades, but they were all laughing. A bitter smile tugged at his lips as realization dawned. "I was fooled."
"Don't take it personally, Zev. We're just doing our job," Eros said, his voice cold and detached.
Zev focused, gathering dark aura around his sword, determined to take Eros down before his life faded. But just as he prepared to strike, a magic array materialized beneath him, trapping him in place, his body paralyzed.
Stab.
Eros drove the blade into Zev's chest, and a searing pain shot through him, causing his vision to blur. As the poison spread rapidly through his body, everything around him began to fade into darkness.
"I knew you'd try that," Eros said, a smirk in his voice as he turned away. "I set up a countermeasure."
"Let's go. Time to claim our rewards."
As Zev lay there, blood pouring from his wounds, a bitter thought ran through his mind: Wherever I go, it seems I'm destined to fail.
He had just begun to master his power, and yet, it would all be in vain. He was going to die. I don't want to die.
For the first time since the Awakening incident, Zev felt a desperate desire to live.
[Would you like to restart your life?]