I finally clicked it.
The moment I did, I knew this wasn't just some ordinary app. The air in my room shifted—like something heavy was settling in. A strange energy buzzed under my skin.
Then a blinding blue flash exploded from my phone, flooding my entire living room with light.
I slammed my hands over my eyes, trying to block out the intense glow. My heart hammered in my chest. What the hell was happening?
Slowly, the light dimmed.
I opened my eyes, blinking against the afterimage. My phone sat on the coffee table, back on the home screen—but the Codex app was gone.
A virus? A trick? No way I'd fall for something so dumb.
Then, out of nowhere, a woman's voice echoed—not in the room, but inside my head.
"Welcome, Shiebe Zackaria. I took you quite a while, I must say."
I froze.
"Who the hell...? How are you speaking inside my head? Get out!"
The voice chuckled, cool and amused.
"Oh, don't be rude. You've just crossed a threshold you can't come back from."
I clenched my fists, trying to shake off the unease. Talking voices inside your head weren't exactly normal. But then again, neither was this whole situation.
"Okay, first off — who the hell are you?" I demanded, glaring at my silent phone. "And second, how do you even get inside someone's head?"
The voice responded with a theatrical sigh. "I am the Codex, the magical ancient system tied to your very existence. I'm here to guide—or maybe torment—you through what's called the Reckoning."
"Reckoning?" I echoed, heart skipping a beat. This had officially jumped from weird to terrifying.
Man... I should have known this was too good to be true. I didn't want to play some trial or get caught up in some cosmic drama. All I wanted was an Execution — that legendary power everyone talked about.
"Yo... I don't want to play anymore," I muttered, more to myself than to the voice in my head. "So could you please get out of my head?"
There was a pause, then the Codex's voice returned with the same dry, deadpan tone. "Sorry, but once you've clicked me, it's too late. I'm not leaving until the day you die."
What a pain in the ass.
Honestly, this is exactly why you should always do more research before clicking on some random magical app that just appears on your phone. But, well, here we are. I guess I'm stuck with a snarky, omniscient AI voice living rent-free in my brain.
"Great," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Just what I needed — an annoying system that won't shut up and a trial that might kill me."
"Cheer up, sunshine," the Codex quipped. "At least I'm interesting. Unlike your boring university lectures."
"I guess…" I muttered under my breath, jaw clenched. "Fine… fine. I'll take part in your trial."
"Perfect," the Codex replied sweetly, with just the right amount of venom to make my skin crawl. "I'll make sure it's to your liking… Princess."
I almost choked on my own breath. "P–Princess? Excuse me?!"
"Oh, my mistake," she purred, completely unapologetic. "Your hair, your delicate voice… honestly, it's an easy mistake."
"You smug—"
But I didn't get to finish.
The floor beneath me cracked — not like something physical breaking, but like reality itself was shattering. Thin lines of blue light spiderwebbed across the apartment walls, the air humming with energy. My body went rigid.
"What the hell is happening?!"
"Your trial is beginning," the Codex said, her voice suddenly calm — too calm. "Adjusting your Reckoning scenario based on your emotional profile, psychological history, subconscious fears… oh, and of course, your lovely sense of fashion."
The room darkened.
Wind — no, static — whipped around me like a vortex. My couch dissolved into smoke, my walls folded inward like paper.
> **(RECKONING INITIATING…)**
> **(SCENARIO: THE RUINED UTOPIA)**
> **(EXECUTION UNLOCK ELIGIBLE — CONDITIONS PENDING)**
"Wait, wait—what's The Ruined Utopia?! What does that mean?!"
But by then, I was already falling — no, being pulled — through a tunnel of light, darkness, and distorted sound. My thoughts spiraled.
And over it all, the Codex whispered, smug as ever:
"Let's see if the Princess can survive."
Destruction.
That was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.
No longer in my cramped apartment, I found myself standing in the remains of a city—what I could only assume was the "Ruined Utopia." Buildings jutted out of the sea like broken ribs. Streets were cracked and swallowed by moss. Entire highways dipped beneath saltwater. And yet…
It was beautiful.
The sky was painted in hues of gold and orange, sunlight bleeding through thick clouds like spotlight on a fallen stage. The scent of salt, moss, and something old—almost ancient—hung in the air.
Even the sea looked like a painting.
"Wh—Whoa!"
A voice, not mine, jumped out from behind me. I flinched. That wasn't the Codex.
I turned quickly—and froze.
A girl stood there. Maybe a year younger than me. Crimson-red hair tied loosely at the back, sea-blue eyes wide with wonder. She wore ripped jeans and a black hoodie with a cartoon bear on the front.
She hadn't noticed me yet, too entranced by the scenery around us.
Was she... real?
An NPC? Or—?
"Don't worry, she's real," the Codex chimed in with a smug edge. "Just don't start drooling, lover boy."
"S-Shut up!" I barked aloud, a little louder than I meant to.
The girl jumped slightly, spinning on her heel to face me.
Great. Now I looked insane.
"Huh? Who are you?"she asked, blinking in confusion. "The Codex never mentioned anyone else would be here."
So it was true. She had one too.
I should've figured. I mean, why would I be the only poor soul thrown into this place?
Still, it was strange. I always assumed I was alone in this. That maybe this trial was my punishment, my twisted game. But now—there were others?
And of course… if she had a Codex too, I had questions. Was hers also a walking headache?
"Each Codex is unique," mine cut in smoothly, "tailored to reflect the personality of its user. So if you're stuck with a sarcastic genius, you only have yourself to blame."
"Um… Sir, are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle but laced with concern.
I blinked. "Huh? Y-Yeah... I'm fine. Sorry. I—uh—I'm also taking part in the trial," I stammered.
Flawless delivery, I thought bitterly. Could I be any more awkward?
She smiled, the kind of warm, patient smile people give when they're trying not to laugh at you. "Ah, I see. It would've been kind of lonely if I was the only one. Glad to meet ya. I'm Algera Longhand."
I gave her a quick nod. "S-Shiebe Zackaria. Nice to meet you as well."
We stood there for a moment, both of us awkward in different ways. She seemed more comfortable than me, but there was something about her tone, a certain strained brightness that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Still, her presence made the eerie silence of this ruined city feel… a little less lonely.
"Looks like we're both rookies at this," she said, looking around. Her eyes scanned the horizon—half-submerged skyscrapers, shattered roads, creeping vines claiming metal bones.
"You think the Codex will give us a map or something?"
Before I could answer, a third voice entered the scene—low, calm, and sharp like the edge of a polished blade.
"Don't count on it."
We both turned.
A tall figure stood a few meters away, arms crossed. Jet-black coat, confident posture, cool expression. His hair was slicked back, and his eyes were piercing—analytical.
"The Codex doesn't hold your hand. If you're looking for directions, you'd better start walking."
Another participant.
He stepped closer.
Talk about edgy...I never liked the whole emo-shadow-lord-with-a-dark-past type of guy. Especially the ones at university who thought trench coats and poetry about death made them philosophers.
…Then again, I have caught myself imitating that whole broody walk when I'm out late. Makes me feel kinda cool, not gonna lie.
Algera tilted her head, blinking up at him. "I see… Are there any more participants?"
Ronove gave a small, unimpressed exhale. "No. The maximum number of participants for a Reckoning trial is three. It's basic knowledge."
Edgy and a smart-ass. This is going to be a long day.
I exchanged a quick glance with Algera. Her expression mirrored my own—equal parts confused, curious, and already exhausted. And we hadn't even started the trial yet.
The wind picked up slightly, brushing past the ruins and filling the silence between us. Somewhere in the distance, a strange bird call echoed across the waterlogged streets.
That was it. The three of us. Strangers tossed into a broken world to survive whatever chaos the Codex had waiting for us.
And something told me this "Ruined Utopia" wasn't going to live up to either of those words.