The moment Ellian whispered those words, the entire building lurched.
Not a gentle tremor, but a violent, bone-deep jolt that knocked the breath out of him. The floor rolled under his feet as if the whole skyscraper had become a ship caught in a storm. A chandelier somewhere above him swung so sharply it smashed into the ceiling.
Ellian staggered, grabbing the edge of the nearest wall to steady himself.
His heart hammered against his ribs, not from fear of the monsters anymore, but from the sudden, primal knowledge that the structure he lived in… might not last another minute.
I need to get out. Now.
The thought hit him hard and clear.
He didn't waste a second.
He rushed back into his apartment, yanked open a drawer, and shoved only the absolute essentials into a small leather satchel, his phone, his keys, and the sketchbook he never left behind. Everything else, the luxury, the art, the furniture worth millions, instantly became meaningless.
The floor shook again. Harder.
Ellian sprinted for the door.
The hallway outside was already filled with dust drifting down from the cracked ceiling. Alarm lights flicked on automatically, painting the corridor in harsh red. The building shuddered again with a sickening tilt, like it was struggling to stay upright.
Ellian took the stairs, the elevators were already dead.
He descended fast, two steps at a time, almost slipping more than once. His breath was sharp, ragged. His hands trembled as the railing vibrated violently beneath his grip.
Every few floors, the entire stairwell swayed.
He pressed his back to the wall each time, waiting for the movement to stop, whispering to himself:
Keep going. Keep going. Don't stop.
When he finally burst through the emergency exit on the ground floor, the outside world hit him like a physical force.
The city… had changed.
Completely.
In the short minutes he'd been climbing down, the chaos outside had intensified to something almost unrecognizable. Skyscrapers that had been standing moments ago were now broken silhouettes collapsing into clouds of dust. Fires spread in veins across the streets. The air was thick with smoke and a metallic scent he couldn't place.
And the creatures, there were more of them now. Crawling out of ruptured roads. Leaping across ruined balconies. Flying shapes passing overhead, blotting out pieces of the sky.
Ellian stood frozen for a breath, staring at the nightmare that used to be his city.
And it was infinitely worse than when he had seen it from his window.
Ellian unlocked his phone with shaking fingers.
[9:38 PM.]
The numbers glowed faintly against the cracked screen. He needed shelter, any shelter, somewhere he could catch his breath, somewhere he could pretend that survival was still possible.
But deep inside, he knew the truth.
There was no surviving this. Not for anyone.
A thunderous crack split the air. Ellian barely had time to flinch before a massive metal pipe, thrown by something he couldn't even see, tore through the space beside him like a spear. It slammed into the pavement ahead, exploding concrete into razor-sharp fragments.
Ellian staggered back, his heart clawing at his ribs. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the smoking crater. The realization hit him with the finality of a death sentence.
There was no hope. Not anymore.
He wasn't going to live through this.
And just as that thought settled in his chest,
just as his knees nearly buckled..
A calm voice spoke behind him.
A voice that cut through the chaos like a blade through fog.
«It's dangerous to stand in the open like that, Ellian Eldarion.»
Ellian spun around instantly, breath sharp and uneven.
A figure stood a few meters away.
Not moving.
Not panicking.
Just standing there, as if the world wasn't tearing itself apart around them.
The street was drowned in darkness; every lamp post was shattered or flickering weakly, casting jagged, broken light that revealed nothing clearly. The stranger's face was hidden beneath a hood, shadow swallowing every feature.
Ellian squinted, trying to make out even a hint of who he was.
Nothing.
«Hey– hey, man..» Ellian called out, voice trembling despite his attempt to sound composed. «Do you know any place around here where I can hide? Anywhere safe?»
For a moment, the hooded man didn't answer. He simply stood there, as still as the ruins around them, as if listening to something Ellian couldn't hear.
Then, slowly, he stepped closer.
When he finally spoke, his voice was steady.
«There are no such places. Not anymore. If you stay here, you'll die. You know that yourself… don't you?»
A cold shiver ran up Ellian's spine.
Why is he so calm?
Everyone else was screaming, running, burning, dying, and this man spoke as if ordering coffee.
Ellian tried to swallow, but his throat was dry. Above them, something massive flew overhead, a dark, distorted silhouette blotting out what remained of the sky. The shockwave rattled the ground beneath his feet.
He flinched, heart hammering.
Then he looked back at the stranger.
«Who… who the hell are you?» Ellian asked.
Again, silence. The man tilted his head slightly, as though considering the question. Then, almost casually, he answered:
«Me? I am The Custodian.»
Ellian blinked. «The.. what? Who the hell are you supposed to be? The Custodian?»
The man laughed, a soft, amused sound, horribly out of place amid the chaos.
«That's not important. You'll understand later. Everything in due time.»
Ellian stared at him, completely lost. His fear was boiling into frustration.
«What the hell are you talking about? Just–just get us somewhere safe! You're the one who said standing here is dangerous!»
The stranger stepped closer again until he stood directly in front of Ellian, just a breath away.
He lifted his chin slightly, hood still hiding his eyes.
«I told you.» he said quietly, «There are no such safe places here.»
Ellian's frustration was reaching its peak. His hands trembled with a mixture of fear and anger as he stared at the hooded stranger before him.
Inside, his thoughts spiraled uncontrollably.
What the hell is wrong with this guy? And why is he talking like that? Does he not see what's happening around us?
The stranger tilted his head slightly, as if amused. Then he spoke again, voice calm to the point of cruelty.
«So? What do you think? Dying here must be terrifying, huh? Especially at the hands of those charming monsters.»
Ellian clenched his jaw. He didn't answer. But deep in his gut he knew, this man did know something about what was happening. More than anyone else he had met tonight.
He forced himself to speak, his voice tight with fear and frustration.
«Of course I don't plan on dying here. And you? How exactly do you intend to survive?»
The stranger gave a small, amused exhale.
«Don't worry about me. I'm not the one in danger. Hehe.»
Ellian's eye twitched.
«What the hell are you talking about? Just tell me what you know. You clearly understand something about this situation.»
«Correct» the man said simply. «I do.»
A long pause fell between them.
Ellian stared.
The stranger stared back.
«…So?» Ellian finally snapped. «Why are you quiet again? Speak already!»
«Just telling you outright? With no benefit to myself?» The stranger tapped his chin lightly. «Not very appealing, you know.»
«Then what do you want? Money? Fame? I can give you everything. Just help me survive this.»
The stranger burst into laughter, sharp and echoing in the ruined street.
«Hahahahahaha! You're hilarious. You think money will matter after this level of chaos?»
Ellian swallowed hard.
«Then what do you want?»
«You're an artist, right?»
«Well, yeah… you know my name, so why even ask?»
«Knowing a name and knowing what an individual does are two different things, you know.»
Another thunderous crash echoed through the night.
Ellian whipped his head around.
Far in the distance, a colossal creature, easily the size of a skyscraper, moved between the burning ruins, each step shaking the ground.
His breath hitched.
He turned back to the stranger, panic breaking through his voice.
«What the hell… please, tell me you can do something. Anything.»
The man walked closer until his shadow overlapped Ellian's. His grin widened.
«Even the great Ellian Eldarion, famous for his terrible attitude, can beg like this? How pitiful. Hehe.»
«You're pissing me off…» Ellian hissed through clenched teeth.
Without warning, he turned and ran in the opposite direction, toward the part of the city where fewer creatures were crawling out of the earth. He didn't know why he was running there. Instinct, maybe. Or desperation.
But even while sprinting, one thought lingered stubbornly in his mind:
That strange guy definitely knows something.
Ellian risked a glance back.
The stranger was gone.
«What the hell… acting like he's some kind of.. whatever.»
Breath burning in his lungs, Ellian kept running.
The chaos around him evolved with every passing second, flames climbing new buildings, roads collapsing into gaps, monstrous shapes tearing through shadows.
His panic blurred his senses. He barely noticed the terrified crowds rushing past him in the opposite direction. His mind was consumed entirely by one question:
How do I survive this? How do I survive this?
After what felt like endless minutes of running, he stumbled into an underground parking structure. Compared to the screaming streets outside, it was almost quiet. Almost.
The monstrous roars from above still shuddered through the concrete ceiling.
Ellian leaned against a pillar, panting, shaking. He pulled out his smartphone with trembling hands.
[10:22 PM]
«…Shit. We're not getting out of this alive.»
He tried to open the news app, but as expected, the signal was gone. Every cell tower in the area was either destroyed or burning.
He exhaled shakily.
Then, behind him, a voice spoke.
A voice that was disturbingly familiar.
«You really think you can survive by hiding here?»
Ellian froze.
He turned slowly.
There, sitting casually on the roof of a car, was the same hooded figure.
«What the hell? How did you even get here?» Ellian demanded.
«Same way you did. I ran. Strange question.»
Ellian rubbed his face in frustration.
«Damn it… what do you want? Why are you following me?»
The stranger smiled.
«I want your talent. Your mastery. And you.»
Ellian stared, horrified.
«That sounds creepy as hell… just get the fuck out of here, you're insane.»
«If I leave, you'll definitely die here. And I'll be punished. So no, I won't go.»
«Punished? Did someone assign you to save me?»
«No. Your life isn't worth anything to them. But your talent and mastery in painting are.»
Ellian's breath caught.
«…»
«So?» the stranger leaned forward. «Are you coming with me?»
«You didn't even ask properly. And where the hell are we even going?»
«You're annoying. Does it matter where? Just say yes. You'll die here anyway, but out there you might have a chance.»
Ellian scowled.
«What are you, my stalker? Why the hell do you think I'd go somewhere with a creepy stranger like you?»
«Stalker? Idiot. I'm not even from this world. Why would I stalk you?»
Ellian groaned.
«Fuck, You're such a childish… another world? Seriously?»
«Forget it. I'll just find a different artist. You're not the only one in this world.»
He hopped down from the car and started walking toward the parking exit.
Ellian blinked.
The words echoed strangely.
Artist… another world…
There was nothing normal about this man. Nothing human in how calm he was.
«Artist? Hey! Wait! What do you mean by that?»
The stranger didn't turn. He waved a hand lazily as he walked.
«Asking one last time. There won't be another chance. Are you coming with me?»
Ellian felt irritation spike, mostly directed at his own pride.
His ego bristled at the tone the stranger used.
«Fine, I'll go. But don't act like that. You said you'd be punished if I refused.»
«Good. You'll see where we're going soon. Just follow me.»
For the first time, the stranger turned fully toward him, revealing his face.
A wide, irritatingly smug smirk stretched across it.
Ellian inhaled sharply.
«Bastard… you're even smiling about it.»
But despite everything, Ellian followed.
They walked with a cautious distance between them. After a few steps, the stranger glanced back.
«We're going to a train.»
«A train? What train in—»
He cut Ellian off immediately.
«If you want to live, start treating this world as 'Reality' and forget the usual rules you're used to. It'll make things easier.»
«So the train you mentioned… it's not normal, is it?»
«Yep. In short, it travels to another world.»
«So that's what you meant earlier, when you said you're from another world… that's a hell of a fantasy.»
«Shut up. I said stop interpreting things normally. Are you losing your mind already?»
«The only insane one here is you. I just don't get what you're saying.»
«You'll understand soon. Your reaction is normal for someone who's never been around worlds with Void.»
«Void?»
The stranger groaned loudly.
«You're irritating. Don't ask so many questions. You'll probably die on the train anyway.»
«…»
Then, in a single smooth motion, the stranger reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card. He glanced at Ellian, his expression unreadable.
«Come closer. We're leaving for the train.»