Chapter 2 –
Sylryk stepped out of the room.
The light blinded him instantly.
He blinked several times until his vision cleared.
He found himself in a vast space, like an indoor park, with a large central circle surrounded by benches. Around it, multiple doors—like rooms—all connected to this common point.
In the center, an older man sat calmly, waiting.
Upon seeing Sylryk, he smiled and raised his hand.
—"Hello there, young man. You've got quite the scowl."
Sylryk eyed him warily.
—"I don't get it. What is this place?"
The man stood up slowly, his smile unwavering.
—"Life itself," he replied. "Take a look around."
Suddenly, the walls turned transparent.
Sylryk stepped back, startled.
For the first time, he saw the entire place: a massive facility bathed in light, with floating structures, glowing trees, and distant sectors stretching far beyond.
In the blink of an eye, the vision vanished.
Everything returned to normal.
—"Don't you appreciate this place?" the man asked with a nostalgic tone. "I don't know what kind of life you had before, but this is your home now."
Sylryk frowned. The life I had, huh... Hope this guy doesn't know about it.
—"You see, certain people are chosen to come here after death. But it depends heavily on the lives they lived. We welcome them here, to live again… in this world.
This has been happening for a long time. Many lives are lost here, and many are brought from the other world."
—"Live… again?"
—"Each city has sectors like this," the old man continued. "Places where people 'rebirth,' so to speak."
Sylryk was about to respond when several doors began to open.
People walked out one by one, confused, murmuring among themselves.
—"Where am I...?"
—"Is this heaven?"
—"Am I dreaming?"
The old man sighed, folding his arms.
—"You'll understand more on your own," he said to Sylryk. "You can go now."
Sylryk looked at him indifferently, then nodded slightly.
—"Thanks," he replied flatly.
And left.
The city outside was even more chaotic.
Wide streets paved with glowing stone. Countless market stalls. Tall, rounded buildings.
The sky looked liquid, shifting in soft, swirling shades of blue.
Sylryk wandered aimlessly.
He avoided eye contact.
He passed shops filled with floating swords, arcane-designed firearms, glowing potions, armor engraved with strange symbols—
Even medicine that seemed to pulse.
What kind of world is this...?
Then, something caught his attention.
A crowd had gathered in the plaza.
One of them raised their hand… and a blue flame spear materialized mid-air.
Another conjured a glowing shield that blocked it with a flash.
Sylryk froze.
Magic? Was that magic...?
He watched the demonstration a little longer until it ended.
As their final act, the two performers vanished in a blink.
—"What was that?" Sylryk muttered.
He touched his chest.
There was a strange pressure inside—
As if… he could do something similar.
I feel it… like I could do the same.
But for what? What's the point of all this?
Should I try it?
He sat beside a shop.
His head was spinning.
Questions. Theories. Doubts.
Until he whispered to himself:
—"I should try…"
He raised his hand toward the shop, playing with the absurd idea.
—"Come on… nothing's gonna happen."
BOOM.
A bluish explosion shot out from his palm.
The shop blew apart in an instant.
Wood, fabric, and objects soared through the air.
A dense cloud of smoke consumed everything.
Sylryk's eyes widened in shock.
—"Shit!"
He bolted.
Behind him, people shouted.
Objects clattered to the ground.
—"You! Stop right there!"
A glowing pink rope shot through the smoke—
It wrapped around his waist and yanked him to a halt.
Sylryk twisted around sharply…
And saw three people standing in the smoke.