At that sudden shift in his mind, he stepped back from the terrace fence of his hostel. The cold breeze brushed against his face. He stared at his hands, his expression tense.
"Do I really have to do this?" he muttered.
He let out a deep sigh. The atmosphere around him felt heavier.
"I need to change myself."
He gazed at the night sky, lost in his thoughts.
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed above him, it sounded like people were crying in despair, like wanting forgiveness.
He jerked his head upward and saw the sky slowly shattering like a mirror. His breath caught in his throat. Was he dreaming?
But as the seconds passed, it felt real — terrifyingly real.
The sky turned crimson red.
People rushed out of their rooms and gathered around the building, staring upward in confusion, whispering to eachother saying what's happening. Albert remained frozen, eyes locked on the fractured sky.
His neighbor, Alya, who lived beside his room, ran up and lightly shoved him.
"Hey! Albert! What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to snap him out of it.
"Huh? Alya, look! What's happening? The sky turned re—"
Before he could finish, something emerged from the crack, the crying sound that was comming from the crack began to get louder every second, everyone got sacred.
The air grew dense, suffocating.
A cold voice echoed across the area.
"Get on your knees, filthy animals!"
As if controlled by an unseen force, everyone dropped to their knees. Albert felt his body move against his will.
He looked at Alya in fear.
He whispered to Alya, "Do you have any idea what's happening right now?"
"Like hell I do," she muttered, frustration mixing with fear.
The being began chanting in an unknown language. No one understood the words, yet none of them could lift their heads.
The crowd trembled.
A bulky man somehow forced himself to look up. People whispered desperately for him to stop.
But he didn't.
The moment he raised his head, he was killed instantly.
A scream rippled through the crowd.
The chanting continued.
When it finally stopped, everyone was able to lift their heads. Albert and Alya kept theirs lowered.
Albert subtly signaled Alya to stay quiet.
Alya nodded her head, saying yes.
The being began chanting again.
And then—
A glowing blue panel appeared before everyone.
It displayed a single word.
SYSTEM