"Guh—!" I gasped, eyes shooting open as I lay on my back, clutching my chest for air.
I scanned the entire room, though my vision was still blurred and my head hurt so badly I could barely think straight.
I was in a room, and from the feeling on my back, I was lying on something soft—it felt like a bed. I was convinced this was a room.
"...Ugh, where am I?" I asked the empty, dimly lit space. The silence answered back until I heard footsteps coming from outside.
"Wh-Who is it?" I asked, but the sounds only grew louder. Then, a girl burst into the room. She was an average-height blonde with light pink eyes.
"Brother, you've been sleeping for days. When are you going to stop being lazy already?" she asked. Her tone was soft, yet motherly.
I stared at her blankly, still trying to gather my thoughts.
"Brother, are you even listening?" she asked again, waving her hand in front of me to snap me back to reality.
"Y-Yes, I am," I responded meekly. My voice wasn't that manly, but it was firm.
Something felt... off.
I remembered staring death in the face. My entire body had gone numb, my bones twisting inside me. I was in a dungeon—but now, I felt fine, like nothing had happened.
"Brother, you seem distant, shocked, and surprised all at once," she said, staring deep into my face. "Don't tell me it's that Selene girl again? She's always making you do crazy stuff..." she trailed off, turning her face away, "...crazy stuff you wouldn't do for me."
Silence.
The silence stretched—not long, just a little.
"It's okay," I assured her, scribbling her hair with my right hand. "It's definitely not about Selene, at least for now."
I strode to the sitting room, which was neatly organized by my sister. To be honest, she was too damn good for her age.
"Brother, what would you like for dinner?" Arielle asked. I could hear the plates she was tending to clinking against each other.
Everything still felt like a dream. My life, my purpose, my entire existence—it all looked like a mirage to me.
"Brother!" she barked. "Stop your deep thoughts and talk already."
"I'll have anything you're having," I replied, running a hand through my hair.
That seemed to calm her down a bit.
But I still needed to find out what this thing was. It wasn't like the traditional system interface I'd heard about.
In front of me floated a faint blue holographic interface.
Its display was professional, cold, and a bit menacing:
[Primordial System - Ver. ∞]
User: Louis Draven
Rank: F (Evolving)
Path: Primordial Ascension
Level: 1
Title: [The Fallen]
HP: 100/100
EP (Essence Points): 0
Soul Energy: 0Affinity: Unknown (Locked)Primordial Cores: 0/12
Stats:
• Strength: 5
• Agility: 4
• Endurance: 3
• Intelligence: 6
• Charm: 8
• Libido: 10 ⚠️ (Special Stat)
Unique Skills:
• Soul Resonance (Locked)
• Primordial Devour (Locked)
• Lust of Ascension (Unlocked)
Missions:• Survive your first dungeon.
• Obtain your first kill.
• Awaken your first Core.
Rewards:
• Essence Points
• System Unlocks
• Evolution Paths
The more I read down the list, the more complicated and harder it was to understand.
There was one thing I was sure of in the interface—the Rank that stood there, mocking me.
"I need to figure out how this works," I muttered, stroking my chin. Everything was starting to feel unreal.
I wore my black hoodie and a pair of blue jeans that weren't too tight to reveal my long legs, but not too loose either.
"Where are you going?" Arielle asked, peeking out of the kitchen a bit. I was already at the door, but I turned back slightly, not wanting to reveal the nervous look on my face.
If she saw it, she'd only get more worried and stop me from leaving... like she always did.
"I'm going to clear my thoughts a bit," I replied, my voice cold and distant.
"But... you haven't had dinner," she remarked. Her voice was full of concern and worry—something I feared most.
"I'll be back before you know it," I said and strode out, not sparing a second glance. Staying any longer would only feed her worry.
Click.
The door closed softly behind me, and the view ahead was far from welcoming.
With a deep breath, I buried my hands in my pockets and climbed the stairs outside the apartment that led to the roof—my favorite hangout spot ever since I turned twelve. That was also the year I lost my parents to the Rift.
Each step felt heavier than the last, as if something was drawing me into a fate I wasn't ready for... or maybe I was.
Either way, I wasn't ready to think about that now. I felt too numb to care.
After a few steps, I reached the roof. The wind brushed past my hoodie—cold, yet strangely welcoming.
"Long time... no see," I muttered to the wind. Somehow, the night seemed to smile back at me. Or was it just a dream?
At this point in my life, I couldn't tell what was real anymore.
"System," I commanded, and the interface came into view.
The same glowing hologram appeared again.
"Do you have an instruction manual or something?" I asked, eyes closed, hoping for the best.
Another screen appeared before me:
[Primordial System – Guide Mode Activated]
Welcome, User: Louis Draven.
Query recognized: Instruction Manual.
Displaying basic system functions...
[SYSTEM FUNCTIONS OVERVIEW]
Status Interface – Displays user stats, rank, and attributes.
Missions Tab – Tracks quests, side missions, and objectives.
Inventory – Stores acquired loot, materials, and Primordial Essence.
Skills Tree – Shows unlocked and locked unique abilities.
Core Chamber – Visual interface for Primordial Core evolution. (Locked)
Cultivation Mode – Converts intimacy, essence, or energy into EXP.
Ascension Path – Reveals advancement requirements for the next Rank. (Locked)
Primordial Shop – Trade points for upgrades and rare relics. (Locked)
Communication Node – Direct interface interaction or system voice. (Offline)
[SYSTEM TIP] "Power isn't given—it's taken. The stronger your desire, the louder I answer."
[WARNING] Libido stat affects system synchronization. Proceed with caution. ⚠️
"If this is real…" I whispered, eyes burning with the same hunger that once died in me."...then I'm never being weak again."