Darkness…
That profound void that surrounded me from every direction.
One of humanity's greatest fears has always been darkness, for it reveals their truth and exposes their true essence—their thoughts, sorrows, ambitions, and even their despair.
All those emotions we flee from through light.
Yet here I am, drifting in a deep abyss of endless blackness—a void that devoured everything, even time itself.
No sound, no taste, no scent, no movement…
As if I were in a world condemned to death and annihilation.
I did not exist—only darkness did.
Voices echoed within my mind, remnants of a past swept away by the ocean's current, voices that chased my thoughts until I nearly lost my sanity.
Indeed, a human being is nothing but a battlefield between the logical thoughts of the mind and the emotional sensations of the heart.
My inner demons were locked in a struggle over who I truly was.
And then I thought…
What am I?
Am I alive or dead?
Am I nothing in a world ruled by everything?
Or am I everything in a world where time has left nothing behind?
Am I the light that illuminates the darkness?
Or am I the darkness that devours the light?
I kept thinking… and thinking…
Amid my thoughts, the voices in my mind, and the whispers of that voice emerging from the darkness…
A voice that felt strangely familiar.
It was not new to me, but rather the whisper of something that touched my heart—as if it were a voice very much like my own.
Yes, that presence had been whispering for a long time, but I had not been listening.
A gentle voice, yet resolute; angry, yet sorrowful.
It took only a moment for every part of me to wonder about the nature of that voice.
Light.
The light my eyes saw for the first time after I awoke…
Was that a dream?
Amid a forest where sunlight filtered through the leaves, I was there—lying down, trying to understand what was happening.
What was that voice?
Where am I?
And even… who am I?
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft breeze that brushed against every inch of my body, as though hundreds of arms were trying to calm me.
In this peaceful atmosphere, I felt a slight pain in my arm, only to be surprised by a strange tattoo upon it.
I was astonished to see that it was a shattered hourglass.
I kept wondering about its meaning, or why it was there, as I drowned in endless thoughts—my mind turning into a maze of voices and conflicting ideas.
Suddenly, I sensed movement among the trees…
And I saw a strange creature.
Terror filled my heart as I stared at the beast in disbelief.
It was unlike anything my eyes had ever seen—
Simply put, it was unnatural.
Three red eyes, claws capable of crushing the largest rocks into dust.
A body resembling that of a lion or panther, with the tail of a scorpion.
It was enormous.
It stood staring at me with its three eyes until my heart was overwhelmed with fear and dread. I stood frozen, unsure of what to do…
Running—escape—was the only thing I could manage.
I tried to hide, though I had no idea how one could escape such a creature—one that made trees fall like raindrops, as if they were nothing before it.
It lunged at me, nearly ending my life with its claw, but I hurled a rock at it, aiming for its eye, forcing it to step back.
I ran… and ran…
Fear devouring me.
This is the end…
I will surely die.
After a long run and a desperate attempt to escape, I could no longer see or hear it.
My heart calmed slightly…
But then my right arm was severed by the claws of that terrifying beast.
Truly… this is the end.
Death is inevitable, and there is no other solution.
I wanted to recover some of my memories and discover this world…
But my role ended here—so easily.
I surrendered to reality, relaxing my body, accepting my death willingly.
I cry…
I feel my body aching with every moment,
And I see the beast drawing closer and closer, staring at me with pride and arrogance.
I closed my eyes, and then…
A sharp cutting sound…
Scattered blood…
Loud screams…