Inside the store, Nir moved between the decaying shelves, desperately searching for any canned food to quiet his hunger. His steps were silent, the sound of his breath echoing in the cold void.
But a strange voice pierced the silence from behind—hoarse and laced with mockery:
– "Looks like I've found a rat... I thought I was lost, but it seems I've found a feast instead."
Nir froze in his tracks, then turned slowly.
A grotesque creature crawled toward him with confident strides; its body was covered in a thick, cracked shell, and four long limbs resembling spider legs sprouted from its shoulders.
With a grim face and a low voice carrying a deadly calm, Nir said:
– "I didn't expect to run into one of the Phros monsters... but it looks like it's time to move fast."
Flashback
Before the disaster, Nir was walking away from the Science Center after submitting his research papers. The city was pulsing with life, and the sky was clear, as if nothing were on the brink of collapse.
A girl called out to him playfully from a distance:
– "Brother! Did you finish the submission at the center for your research on mirrors?"
It was Ayaka, a girl of about fifteen. She wore an elegant school uniform: a black blazer with shiny buttons, a crisp white shirt, and a dark tie hanging neatly. She wore a short pleated skirt, dark knee-high socks, and her long brown hair was tied in a high ponytail that swayed gently with her steps. Her red eyes radiated both intelligence and warmth.
Nir smiled and said:
– "Yeah, they're supposed to get back to me soon. And you, Ayaka? How are things with you?"
She replied enthusiastically, clutching her small bag:
– "I applied to the Physics Center, and they accepted me because of my research! I'm so happy!"
Nir laughed with warm, brotherly pride:
– "That's amazing, Ayaka! I wish you luck... though I'll outdo you this time!"
She laughed back:
– "Yeah, yeah... good luck, big brother!"
He waved goodbye, then continued walking, thinking silently:
(I don't know how or why, but something attached itself to me one day... a strange silver, gelatinous substance. After that, I discovered I could phase through mirrors. This substance is like "slime"; I control it as I wish—an axe, a key, a sword, or even a portal I pass through via a mirror's surface or the substance itself... It was a strange ability, useful and terrifying all at once.)
When he reached home, he threw himself onto the bed with a sigh:
– "I was nine when my father ran away and left my mother drowning in his debts, all because he loved another woman..."
He continued the thought in his head, his gaze wandering toward the ceiling:
(Mom tried to pay off his debts until exhaustion broke her. Ayaka and I... we were just trying to survive. After four years of struggling, the debts were finally gone. Ayaka was thirteen when her brilliance began to shine. We got support from welfare programs for affected families, and our lives improved a little... but peace never lasts.)
(Then Mom caught the Sappa disease—that sickness that preys on those who lack enough Mana in their bodies. Mana has become the lifeblood of this era, and its absence means a slow death... and now she's gone, leaving us to try and stand on our feet again.)
Minutes later, Ayaka entered the house, calling out with her usual cheer:
– "I'm home, brother!"
She took off her shoes and entered the room, seeing Nir stretched out on the bed.
She said in a sweet, childish tone:
– "Didn't you prepare the food? I'm starving after basketball practice!"
He answered tiredly, sitting up slightly:
– "The food is on the table, you can eat. I'm just a bit exhausted."
She frowned:
– "I won't eat without you, you know that!"
Nir smiled and sighed:
– "Alright, alright... I'm coming."
Ayaka laughed happily:
– "That's more like it!"
Before sitting down, he stood before the mirror, looking at his reflection and whispering to himself:
– "I don't know why, but I've become obsessed with reflections..."
He sat with her at the table and asked as he lifted his spoon:
– "How is your project going, Ayaka?"
She replied with a bright smile:
– "It's nothing big, just working on molecular bonding between energy and Mana. I think we'll be able to generate inexhaustible power!"
Nir laughed:
– "As usual... obsessed with science."
She laughed, then asked him:
– "And you? Did they respond to your idea about the mirrors?"
– "Not yet, but I dream of a transport system through mirrors that lets people travel between cities in seconds."
She giggled:
– "Imagine getting to school in an instant! But I'd prefer if they invented a cure for aging!"
He laughed too:
– "Talking about aging and you're only fifteen?"
Suddenly, she went silent. She looked at the food, and tears began to fall.
She raised her hand to hide her face, her voice trembling:
– "I wish Mom were with us now... to see what I've achieved..."
Nir stood up immediately, placed his hand on her head, and pulled her to his chest:
– "I know, Ayaka... but rest assured, she sees us from heaven, and she's prouder of you than you can imagine."
She continued crying until sleep overcame her.
Nir covered her gently and stood at the door, whispering to himself:
– "Even if a cure for aging existed, it wouldn't save those with Sappa... because it steals life itself."
Then he returned to his room and turned off the lights.
– "Anyway... I need to sleep. There's work waiting for me tomorrow."
He collapsed onto the bed, letting the darkness swallow his voice, leaving only his tired breathing in the stillness of the night.
The next morning, Ayaka put on her school uniform and stood at the door, putting on her shoes. She said vibrantly:
– "I'm off, brother! See you!"
Nir smiled calmly:
– "Go safely."
She closed the door behind her and left, while Nir sat eating his breakfast slowly, staring at the TV screen broadcasting the news:
– "A mysterious earthquake at a primary school, with no reported injuries."
Nir muttered, putting his spoon down:
– "An earthquake with no injuries? That's suspicious... it seems fate is playing games again."
After finishing his meal, he left for his job at the construction site. The place was ringing with the sound of hammers and iron, and dust filled the air.
One of the supervisors passed by, smiling and patting his shoulder:
– "Good job, Nir! You're my best worker—always on time and you finish fast. Truly impressive!"
Nir smiled faintly, thinking to himself:
(Everyone thinks I'm naturally strong... but the truth is, the slime living inside my body gives me this energy. I chose this manual labor because I'm a failure at technology, even though I love it.)
By the end of the day, Nir wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed:
– "Finally... finished."
He approached the employer:
– "Sir, I've finished my work. Can I have my pay?"
The man handed him the money with a smile:
– "Of course, Nir, you earned it. Don't forget to come back tomorrow; your presence is important to us."
Nir smiled gratefully:
– "I will, thank you."
He walked out into the street, muttering:
(I need something to eat...)
As he walked, he noticed a crowd of people. One of them screamed:
– "Monster! It's a monster! Get away from it!"
A woman held her child, saying fearfully:
– "Don't go near it, son, it's dangerous!"
Nir lowered his head, whispering:
(I don't know where these monsters come from... but I feel them. They are like me—outcasts from this world. Strangely, the 'Dark Core Brigade' in Astron hasn't wiped them out yet, despite their power. Why have they left them free?)
He entered a small restaurant and said calmly:
– "Please, my usual meal and a drink."
The owner welcomed him:
– "Welcome, Nir! Finished work early as usual, I see."
Nir smiled as he sat down:
– "You know me, you have to work hard to get what you want."
The man laughed:
– "I admire your positive outlook, even though we live in a dark country. You're always optimistic."
Nir replied quietly, looking at the plate in front of him:
– "It's not optimism... I'm just pretending."
Then he asked:
– "Have you noticed the number of monsters increasing lately? It's as if something is happening in the shadows, and the 'Dark Core Brigade' is completely silent."
The man said worriedly:
– "Yes, and they are dangerous. They possess supernatural powers beyond humans."
Nir reflected:
– "But what's strange is they don't hurt humans... they don't even eat meat."
The man laughed:
– "Maybe they're vegetarians like you say, or they're just pretending. I've never seen one attack a human before, but their power is terrifying."
He served the plate:
– "Here you go, your favorite."
Nir smiled:
– "Thank you."
He began to eat slowly, diving into his thoughts:
(Will I stay like this forever? When will the Science Center respond to my project? Or have they ignored me completely?)
After dinner, he left the restaurant heading home. On his way, an unusual sight stopped him:
A girl with dark purple hair and blue eyes stood firmly in front of him.
She spoke with a hauntingly calm tone:
– "You have a special ability, don't you?"
Nir hesitated for a moment, then answered simply:
– "Yes."
She smiled confidently:
– "Honest from the start... I am Serayn. Remember that name well."
He raised an eyebrow:
– "And why are you telling me your name?"
She laughed softly:
– "I don't know, but I have a feeling we'll meet again."
He asked curiously:
– "How did you know I have a special power?"
She said with a mysterious smile:
– "I feel the aura surrounding you. The Mana in your body is strangely stable; that's rare. It seems you've mastered your ability."
His face flushed slightly, and he laughed:
– "I'm not that strong, but thanks for the compliment. I'm Nir, nice to meet you."
She shook his hand, smiling sweetly:
– "Me too."
Nir asked:
– "What is your ability?"
She answered confidently:
– "I control water."
He mused:
– "Beautiful... as for me, I control a gelatinous substance that looks like glass. I can shape it into anything and pass through mirrors."
Her eyes widened in surprise:
– "A slime-like ability? Amazing! You can make almost anything from it... that's a top-tier power!"
He laughed softly:
– "It might seem that way, but it's not just for convenience... it's actually quite powerful."
She replied calmly:
– "Perhaps, but I think it's more like a skill added to you, not your original power."
He asked:
– "Are you a student at the Ability Center?"
She shook her head:
– "No, but I was there looking for some files. My powers are elemental—water, fire, air, ice... but you, you're different. Your ability is more like a tool."
Nir thought for a moment:
(Tools? Maybe... but that's not what it is at its core.)
She suddenly said, looking at her phone:
– "I have to go, I have a meeting."
He asked, puzzled:
– "A meeting? What kind of meeting?"
She put her finger to her lips, smiling with a wink:
– "That's a secret."
Then she left quietly, leaving Nir drowned in his questions:
(Who is she? What does she know about abilities? And why did I feel like she was watching me from the start?)
At Nir's house in Astron, he returned after a long day, changed his clothes, and began preparing lunch for his sister while the news broadcast repeated scenes of chaos in the city. He sat before the TV watching silently, then got up to head to the bathroom.
He pulled out his phone to check the news, but suddenly the network connection dropped.
He muttered in frustration, fiddling with the settings:
– "Strange... first time this has happened. No matter."
He put the phone back in his pocket and looked toward the bathroom door—and suddenly, a bizarre creature burst through the wall!
Nir jumped back, startled. He formed a sword from his gelatinous material and struck the creature with a single, decisive blow, severing its head from its body.
He ran to his room, the sounds of screaming and chaos rising outside. Looking out the window, he saw the streets flooded with fire and smoke; monsters were attacking people, and soldiers were firing in all directions.
(What's happening? No internet... but the cellular network is still up! Oh god, Ayaka... please tell me you're okay!)
The phone rang suddenly. He grabbed it and answered:
– "Ayaka! Are you okay?!"
Her trembling voice came from the other side:
– "Yes, brother, I'm okay... I'm in the girls' bathroom at school with two of my friends. There are monsters outside... screaming everywhere! I'm scared!"
A loud thud echoed, followed by the sound of a door shattering.
Ayaka whispered in terror:
– "They've entered the bathroom!"
Nir shouted quickly:
– "Don't be afraid! Take out the necklace, throw it over the door! I'm coming!"
Ayaka threw the necklace, and the monsters turned toward the sound. Nir raised his hand and said with grim determination:
– "It's time to fight... let's open the gate."
He opened a silver portal through the mirror and jumped, appearing in the school bathroom in the blink of an eye.
He formed his slime sword again and attacked the monsters with rapid, successive strikes, tearing them apart one by one until they all fell.
Ayaka came out crying and threw herself into his arms:
– "I thought I was going to die, brother!"
He patted her head reassuringly:
– "That won't happen. As long as I'm here, no harm will come to you."
A girl with curly blonde hair approached and asked fearfully:
– "What now, Mr. Nir?"
He replied seriously:
– "It's not safe to go out. We need to clear the school of monsters and lock it down from the inside."
Another girl with braided brown hair asked:
– "Are you going out to fight alone?!"
He answered, looking toward the door:
– "Maybe... but first, I need a plan."
The braided girl whispered in a shaky voice:
– "Mr. Nir... are we going to die here? Is it the end of the world?"
Nir was silent for seconds, then said with calm confidence:
– "No one is going to die. Stay here; I'm going out to assess the situation. Agreed?"
The blonde girl said worriedly:
– "But what if the monsters come back?"
He replied, placing his hand on his sister's shoulder:
– "Ayaka is with you. If anything happens, use the necklace... I'll know your location immediately and come at once."
Ayaka said, wiping her tears:
– "Okay, brother... we'll stay here."
Nir left the bathroom and walked down the long, blood-stained hallway. The walls were cracked, and the air was thick with the scent of death. He put his hand over his nose and said lowly:
– "My god... it seems no one is here. I have to lock the windows and doors quickly."
At that moment, the blonde girl turned to Ayaka and asked:
– "Do you think your brother will be okay?"
Ayaka replied with teary but steady eyes:
– "Yes... he's strong. He'll come back."
The braided girl whispered fearfully:
– "I hope he comes back soon... I feel like something bad is going to happen."
Ayaka looked at the door and whispered to herself:
– "Everything will be okay... please, come back quickly, brother."
As for Nir, he stood at the school's main gate, locking it tight, then prowled the empty corridors. He looked around cautiously and thought:
(No other monsters... just one in one of the rooms. Strange, things are going too smoothly...)
He looked up at the ceiling, a faint smile on his face:
– "Most likely... this isn't the end."
Nir raised his voice slightly:
– "Ayaka! Come out, the place is safe!"
His sister rushed toward him, tears glistening as she hugged him tightly.
She said shakily:
– "You're finally back... I was so scared for you, brother."
Nir smiled and patted her head:
– "Don't worry, I'm fine as you can see. Let's head to the cafeteria; we'll look for some food."
The four of them headed to the cafeteria. As soon as they entered, Nir frowned at the foul stench filling the room.
He said seriously:
– "We need to clean this place first."
The two girls nodded simultaneously: "Understood."
They all began cleaning, until one of them suddenly screamed.
Nir ran toward her, finding her weeping while Ayaka tried to comfort her.
He asked anxiously:
– "What's wrong?"
Ayaka answered sadly:
– "She saw her little brother's body... that's why she screamed."
A heavy silence fell, then Nir said in a low voice, looking at the body:
– "I see... alright, I'll take care of burying him. I'm sorry you had to see him like this."
Hours passed, and evening fell.
Nir said with an exhausted tone:
– "Sleep now, I'll take the watch."
The curly-haired girl said in a faint, scared voice:
– "Okay..."
While Ayaka whispered:
– "Will you be okay, brother?"
He replied with a reassuring smile:
– "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just sleep now."
– "Okay... wake me up if you want me to take over the watch."
– "I will."
Nir sat in the dark, thoughts racing in his head:
(It's good we found some food that hasn't spoiled... and even some canned goods. It'll last us for days.)
(But... how long will we stay like this? Damn... I need to move around a bit so I don't fall asleep.)
He walked around while the wind shook the window panes.
Outside, a spider-like female creature was climbing the school roof, whispering in a distorted voice:
– "Humans... humans... where are they? Oh, what a beautiful building... I'll make it my private home, hehehe..."
Inside, Nir sat down tiredly, his head heavy with sleep, his thoughts becoming blurred:
(Am I supposed to sleep now? If I do, will that cursed hospital take me back? No... I don't want to go back there. I just wanted to look at the sea... the jellyfish... Ayaka, are you here? ... Yes, I'm here... good... I was just checking...)
Nir drifted off without realizing it.
Four hours passed before he woke up suddenly, looking around and muttering:
– "I actually fell asleep? The girls... where are they?"
He checked the area quickly, but found only small footprints.
(One of them is missing... where did she go?)
He rushed to where they were sleeping, only to find that the last girl had also vanished.
He stood stunned, then said in confusion and panic:
– "Is this a joke? You can't be joking at a time like this. Ayaka... she must know something."
He went to her bed, shaking her gently:
– "Ayaka! Wake up!"
But when he lifted the blanket... he found a pillow in her place.
He froze, then whispered while staring:
– "Am I... dreaming? I must still be asleep..."
He slapped his face repeatedly.
– "Wake up! Wake up!"
But reality didn't change.
– "No... this isn't a dream. Is this a joke from Ayaka? Impossible!"
Nir ran through the halls, climbing floors one by one, until he burst into a dark room.
He froze when he saw the braided brown-haired girl, wrapped in spider webs, barely moving.
He approached her and whispered:
– "Hey... can you hear me?"
But she was unconscious.
Suddenly, a strange voice rang out behind him:
– "Finally... you've woken from your slumber, little one."
He turned quickly to find a creature: her upper half was a beautiful woman with dark features, and her lower half was a massive spider. Her hair was dark, her eyes wide, and her hybrid body pulsed with glowing neon blue lines.
Nir said sternly, raising his slime sword:
– "Who are you? And where is my sister?!"
The creature smiled with vile malice:
– "Slow down... is this how you greet a beautiful lady who appeared before you?"
Nir muttered in his mind:
(Beautiful lady? What nonsense!)
He lunged at her, trying to stab her, but his sword didn't pierce her chitinous armor.
She said mockingly:
– "Do you think you can kill me that easily? For your information... the monsters you killed before me were originally humans."
Nir's eyes widened in shock:
– "Humans?!"
– "Yes, we call them the Sappa. As for me and those like me... we are the Phros, true monsters from the start. But enough talk... it's time for my meal."
She leaped at him with supernatural speed. He dodged by a hair's breadth and ran out of the room with her chasing him, laughing:
– "You won't escape me, haha!"
(What do I do now? There must be a way...)
He turned to find her behind him again.
She said with a wicked smile:
– "Give up, and it won't hurt much."
He answered firmly:
– "No... I won't die tonight."
– "Tonight? For your information... it's noon, you sleepyhead."
(Noon?! How long was I asleep?!)
The fight continued fiercely until Nir noticed something... the rear part of her body didn't move much.
(Her weak point... at the connection between the two sections!)
The spider-woman smiled slyly:
– "I was leaving you alive because you have a unique energy... stronger than that delicious girl I ate."
Nir gasped:
– "Which girl?"
She said, putting a finger to her chin:
– "I don't remember well, but she thought I wouldn't notice her decoy pillow, hahaha!"
Nir froze, then whispered with a dark rage:
– "Did you say... pillow?"
– "Of course, hahaha!"
Nir screamed:
– "The stupid one is you!"
He lunged with everything he had and severed her rear section with a lethal blow.
She shrieked in agony, writhing on the ground and cursing him:
– "You bastard! I didn't know you were a traitor!"
He answered with cold deadliness:
– "There are no laws in hell, you old hag!"
He attacked her violently until he tore her body apart, then thrust his sword into her head.
He then ran searching for Ayaka... opening doors one by one, until he reached a room where her mangled body lay.
He froze in place, his eyes wide, his voice trembling:
(Here... the last human part of me died. When I saw my sister dead before me, I realized I had died inside. I searched for the others, but I found they had been dead from the start. Now... I am alone. Even she... died because of me. Since that day, I've been living in this hell, fighting only to stay alive. Until I reached the store looking for food... and I didn't know I would face a 'Phros' again.)
The monster in the store said in a hoarse voice as it approached slowly:
– "Hey, you... why do you look so absent-minded?"
Nir muttered in his mind:
(I planned for this moment... just to escape it.)
He raised his hand, and a shimmering silver portal opened before him.
He entered immediately, finding himself on the roof of a high-rise building. He picked up his necklace from the ground and breathed deeply.
He said in a calm tone:
– "Do you think I didn't expect this to happen? You won't catch me that easily."
But a familiar voice rang out behind him:
– "Where do you think you're going?"
He spun around quickly, his eyes wide in shock.
– "What?! How did you get here? I was supposed to be far away!"
The monster laughed:
– "Fool... do you think teleporting will stop me from finding you? Get ready... I haven't tasted meat in three days!"
Nir froze, then whispered to himself:
(It seems there's no choice but to fight...)
His body was enveloped in a silver glow, transforming into a silver-armored form.
Silence fell for moments before the air was suddenly sliced.
The monster... was cut in half.
Nir stared, stunned:
– "What... happened?"
Before he could finish, a girl with a strong and confident presence appeared, standing before him with a lethal grace.
Her long dark purple hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her blue eyes shone with serious focus.
She wore a short-sleeved white shirt, black shorts, over-the-knee socks, and dark combat boots.
In her right hand, she held a short sword made of crystalline blue water, and she was surrounded by a swirl of flowing water as if it were a living entity.
She smiled as she looked at him, saying:
– "Hello, Nir... did you miss me?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he whispered her name:
– "Serayn..."