The darkness did not feel like something that existed.
It was vast and hollow, a place where even sound itself had been erased. No wind whispered, no echoes lingered—there was nothing. Not even my own heartbeat could be heard, as if silence had swallowed me entirely.
Within that void, the darkness swirled inside me.
My thoughts fractured as a violent storm tore through my mind, ripping sensation apart piece by piece. Pain followed—brutal and relentless—like countless drilling machines boring straight into my very being. My consciousness began to collapse under its weight.
I tried to scream—
But I can't.
"Waaah!" A baby's cry.
The sound tore through the absolute silence, shattering it completely. It echoed far deeper than my ears, reverberating through my soul itself. I was pulled toward it, dragged against my will, as if my entire existence was being forced to converge into that single cry.
Then, through the fading darkness, a man's voice reached me.
"Oh Lord… he really looks just like me, darling!"
Darling? What do you mean, darling?
Before I could think further, another voice followed—gentle, warm, unmistakably feminine.
"Of course, honey. He's ours. He'll grow into a great person, just like you."
Ours? Confusion surged.
Who are they? A rescue team? But why would they bring a child here…?
Instinctively, I tried to open my eyes.
They felt unbearably heavy, as though they had not been opened for an eternity.
Then excitement filled the air.
"Look—look! He's opening his eyes!"
I slowly opened my heavy eyelids.
It felt as though I hadn't woken up in months—perhaps even longer.
As my vision cleared, the first thing I saw was a beautiful woman. Silvery-white hair cascaded down her shoulders like a gentle waterfall, and her azure blue eyes sparkled with pure, unfiltered happiness. The moment our gazes met, her expression lit up, radiant and overflowing with warmth.
Standing close beside her was a man with black hair and a slightly receding hairline. His sharp brown eyes were glazed with emotion—happiness mixed with something deeper, like awe— as though he were witnessing a moment he would remember for the rest of his life.
She leaned closer, her smile bright and tender.
"Look at him," she said softly, joy dancing on her face. "He really does look just like you, honey."
…Their child? Both of them?
Before I could process the meaning of her words—
A wave of drowsiness washed over my vision. My eyelids grew unbearably heavy, trembling as they slowly fell shut...
Compatible system detected. Activating.
You have acquired the #####.
What's happening…?
Initiating transfer of necessary knowledge.
Knowledge…?
In that instant, unbearable pain exploded inside my head—
like a nail being driven straight through my skull, hammered in without mercy.After a while, the pain slowly faded away.
The violent storm within my mind quieted, easing at last, and a soothing calm settled over my nerves.
Even my mental training never leaves me this exhausted…
As my mind gradually settled, something felt different.
Unknown knowledge lingered within my memories—as if it had always been there, buried deep in the past, waiting to surface.
Void Sense…? What is this…? I don't remember learning it… yet I understand it.
Confusion crept in.
What kind of system is this? Wait—system? What even happened to me? Was I experimented on…?
Questions flooded my thoughts one after another, piling up without answers. But before I could grasp them, the weight of exhaustion dragged them down, scattering them into nothingness.
I groaned softly.
Ugh… my head still hurts. I guess I should get some rest… Whatever happened to me, I'll think about it later.
Succumbing to the drowsiness clouding my mind, I drifted off once more.When I awoke, the faint sound of metal echoed nearby.
Hmm? Is that food? I'm… hungry?
I opened my eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.
An intricately detailed room flooded my vision. Walls, floors, and even the ceiling were inlaid with gold and marble, gleaming softly beneath warm light. It felt less like a recovery room and more like a VVIP suite—something only billionaires within the dome could afford.
Where am I?
I glanced around, and that was when I noticed a child lying beside me. He had wavy black hair and slept peacefully, his breathing slow and steady.
Who is this child? Is he… their child? Then why is he placed next to me? And where am I, exactly?
I raised my hand toward my chin, trying to think clearly—
only to pause
.
My hand felt… soft. Too soft. My chin as well.
Slowly, I lifted my hand into view.
Realization crept in, cold and undeniable.
I... am a BABY!