Huff… Huff…
Lex shot up in bed, drenched in sweat. His chest heaved, eyes wild and unfocused.
"No…" he gasped, clutching his blanket as if it was the only thing keeping him anchored to reality. That dream still haunted him—the monstrous eyes, the endless sky, the way everything seemed ready to vanish in fire and shadow.
He scanned the small room: cracked ceiling, pale walls bathed in the faint glow of dawn. The window looked out on empty streets. Was it really just a dream?
He whispered, voice shaky, "What… was that?"
Scene – The Morning Calm
Steam rose around Lex, swirling in the bathroom. Water trickled over his shoulder as he leaned against cool tile, letting the heat loosen the fear that clung to his bones.
"My name is Lex," his thoughts echoed against the tiles. "And I live in Noyrom. A world so massive, it could swallow the stars."
Clearing the mirror, Lex stared at his own reflection. Tired eyes, stubborn jaw, a hint of something new—a spark of determination.
Today would be different.
He grinned, wiping away the last trace of uncertainty.
"And today… today begins my never-ending journey to become something more."
Scene – A Blade in the Morning
Elsewhere in NOR's tangled streets and silent fields…
A girl named Luo gathers her gear, tying her hair into a sleek ponytail. Her eyes burn with fierce ambition, each motion full of purpose.
Across the city, a silver-haired boy strides through the morning mist, blade slung easily at his side. Lon moves with the grace of a predator and the confidence of someone who's faced death and laughed.
Lon sparred with his friend Rulo, their katana glinting, steel ringing out in the early light.
Rulo, breathing hard, muttered, "You're leaving on an adventure, aren't you?"
Lon's lips curled into a fearless smirk. "Yeah. Life's boring here. I want to fight someone strong. Strong enough to change this world—or maybe even conquer it."
Rulo rolled his eyes. "Idiot. No one ever becomes the strongest."
Lon's focus sharpened—his eyes glowed a deep, unnatural purple. In a blur, Rulo flinched, paralyzed by invisible pressure. For a heartbeat, it felt like Lon had split him in two—but the blade never touched skin.
Rulo staggered, sweat pouring down his neck. "W-What the hell was that?!"
Smoke slipped from Lon's lips as he exhaled, calm and collected. "Oops. Guess I couldn't hold back. Be glad I didn't give it my all."
He sheathed his katana with a soft click.
Lon stepped away, waving lightly. "I'm off. Take care of the dojo, Rulo."
Rulo finally grinned, even if weakly. "Try not to die, idiot. I'll be waiting to see you actually become the STRONGEST."
Lon laughed—a sound full of promise and reckless hope.
Scene – The City of NOR
NOR stretched before them—a city both ancient and futuristic, nature woven with floating stone and shimmering towers. Islands drifted above, casting dappled light down winding paths.
Lex closed his door behind him, shoulders squared, determination sharpening his step. He glanced at a faded family photo—the faces blurred by shadow and time.
He whispered, "I'm off."
Not far away, Luo stepped into the waking world, her own resolve reflected in steady eyes.
"Time to begin," she said.
In the distant fields, Lon gripped his blade. His dream was clear: seek battle, find purpose, and claim his own legend.
Three strangers.
Three lives, three hopes—
One massive world, woven together by destiny.
And so, the journey begins.