Soul opened his eyes to a blinding flash. A massive explosion had ripped through the ground where he had been standing, leaving behind a gaping crater. The man with the sword had been caught in the blast as well, vanishing into the debris.
Heart pounding, Soul gasped for air, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"W-what… How am I even alive?" he whispered, trembling. "I feel… so strange…"
A calm, soothing voice echoed in his mind.
"Don't stay there. Run before someone finds you."
Soul's eyes widened as panic set in.
"Run? But… how? I'm buried so deep underground…"
"Don't overthink it," the voice said serenely. "Just jump—with everything you've got."
"Jump?" Soul murmured, bewildered. "I… I don't even know how that will help…"
With no other choice, he shut his eyes and leaped. During the fall, he felt weightless—he couldn't feel the ground at all.
When he opened his eyes again, he was on solid earth. Soul looked around in astonishment.
"Ah… I thought I'd at least land on top. I know it's impossible, but…"
He staggered forward, still dizzy, trying to understand his surroundings.
"Watch your step," the voice warned.
Soul glanced down and froze. Behind him lay the enormous crater. He stumbled back, heart racing.
"No… no way… This can't be real! I must be dreaming! Something felt off the whole time…"
"You really are an idiot," the voice said dryly.
"I heard that!" Soul shouted.
"You'd better run," the voice insisted.
"Why?" Soul asked nervously, forcing a smile. "I've always wanted a dream where I could use supernatural powers. Maybe I just fell asleep in the restaurant. That's the simplest explanation."
"Still think this is a dream?" the voice asked impatiently. "Then try to connect with the ground."
"Good idea," Soul said, placing a hand on the earth.
Before he could process it, a figure appeared in front of him—it was the man with the sword.
The swordsman stared at Soul for a moment, his expression icy.
"I knew it… that monster wasn't what I feared."
For a brief moment, his gaze went distant, as if recalling a memory.
Flashback: He had been perched atop a hundred-meter-tall building when a surge of energy tore through the air. The ground trembled beneath him.
"What… is that?" he murmured. "This power… it's terrifying!"
The memory faded, and he refocused on Soul.
"I don't understand any of this," Soul muttered, frowning.
"I warned you to get out of here," the voice in his head replied.
The swordsman planted his feet firmly and drew a deep breath.
"I didn't want to hurt you… but you must come with me. The power… it's going to get worse."
With lightning speed, he lunged and swung his sword through the air. Soul barely dodged, but a graze cut across his cheek, and blood trickled slowly down.
Soul pressed his hand to the wound, trembling.
"That hurt… Shit… so this isn't a dream…"
The swordsman stepped closer, his cold smile widening.
"Don't worry. I'll just take your hands and feet. It won't hurt that much."
Fear surged in Soul's chest. There was no time to question whether this was real or a dream…
He threw a desperate punch with all his strength, but the swordsman blocked it effortlessly. The sharp clang echoed, and the man's arm creaked under the force.
"Damn it… if only I had my sword…" he growled.
Seizing the moment, Soul bolted, gasping, sweat streaming down his face.
"I don't feel that same fear anymore…" he thought.
"That's normal," the voice said. "You're not the same person now."
"What do you mean? Are you still reading my mind?!" Soul snapped.
"Yes," the voice said calmly. "I am inside your mind. That's normal."
"Shit…" Soul muttered, racing through the ruined streets. "I don't understand any of this. I need to get home and think."
At home, everything was in disarray. Soul collapsed onto his bed, exhausted.
When he woke, he noticed the ceiling had been blown open. Light poured into the room. Heart racing, he dove for the bathroom and hid behind the door.
"This… isn't a dream," he whispered, gasping.
The voice returned, firmer than before.
"You still don't understand. By drinking that monster's blood, you awakened the power within you."
"What? I didn't even know I had any power!" Soul gasped, leaning against the wall.
"Do you remember when the monster dragged you and the chair glowed?" the voice asked. "Extreme fear triggered your power, but it wasn't enough. Drinking the purple blood reactivated your strength—and your memories."
"So… I'm a monster?" Soul asked, eyes brimming with tears.
"I don't know," the voice admitted. "But your mother was an 'Awakened,' and your father… a powerful monster. You inherited strength from both."
Soul bowed his head, tears falling.
"I thought I was the only one without memories of my family… but now… I'll remember my mother's face, no matter what it takes!"
"How touching," said the voice. "But know this: what awaits you is far more dangerous."
Determined, Soul stood.
"Hey, you out there!" he shouted. "I won't be captured that easily!"
Suddenly, a rope fell through the ceiling hole, and soldiers descended, aiming weapons at him.
Soul's eyes widened.
"Shit… they know I'm the key. But… the key to what?"
"Good question," the voice said. "I don't remember everything either. But if you bite your tongue, your energy will disappear temporarily."
Soul hesitated, then bit down. Pain seared through him, but his energy faded.
The soldiers received orders over the radio and suddenly backed off.
A man descended from the ceiling with calm precision.
"Strange…" he said. "I could swear I felt a powerful energy here."
He spotted Soul.
"You don't speak?" he asked.
Soul gestured as if he were mute.
"Ah, I see." The man smiled coldly. "I don't have purple blood to erase your memory, but I have an idea. Why not work for us?"
Soul hesitated, sweat beading on his forehead. If he accepted… he could be captured if he stopped biting his tongue.
The man waited a moment, then said, his tone icy:
"You're taking too long to answer… if you won't join, tell me where I can find…"
He tilted his head, a crooked, blood–cold smile spreading across his face.
"…your corpse."