Eric's life was… fine. Not amazing, not terrible. Just fine. He had recently graduated from a local university and was living alone in a modest apartment with his cat, Max. Max was playful and loud, often knocking things over, but he was also the only one who greeted Eric when he came home. Eric had just landed his first job at a well-known company. The pay was decent, the office was clean, and the people were friendly enough. He was doing well. On paper, everything looked good.
But something felt off.
He couldn't explain it. He had good friends like James, who was always around to hang out or talk. His parents were supportive and checked in regularly. He wasn't struggling financially, and he didn't hate his job. Still, there was a strange emptiness inside him. A quiet feeling that something was missing. He didn't know what it was, and that bothered him more than anything.
It was the start of another ordinary day. Eric woke up late, as usual, and rushed through his morning routine. He threw on clothes, grabbed a half-made sandwich, and sprinted to catch the bus. He made it to work just in time, sliding into his seat and staring at the glowing computer screen. Another day of emails, spreadsheets, and meetings. Nothing new.
Then everything changed.
BOOM.
The building shook violently. People screamed. Eric jumped from his chair, heart pounding. Something massive had crashed into the lower floors. Alarms blared. Dust filled the air. Through the windows, Eric saw it—a giant creature, slithering and roaring. A Class 5 Serpent. Its scales shimmered like metal, and its eyes glowed red. It was fighting another monster. A Class 4 Evolved Hornet, with razor-sharp wings and a stinger that could pierce steel.
The Hornet smashed through the ground floor, sending debris flying. The Serpent followed, crashing through walls and tearing apart the structure. People were running, shouting, trying to escape. Martin, their boss, grabbed his phone and called The Order—the organization responsible for handling monster attacks. The nearest Vindicator, a trained monster-slayer, was thirty minutes away.
They barely had 10 seconds.
The building groaned under the weight of destruction. Walls cracked. Floors trembled. The monsters moved upward, fighting viciously. The fifth floor, where Eric worked, shook with every blow. Everyone had gathered in the manager's office, hoping it was safer. But safety was a distant dream.
Eric stood frozen, surrounded by terrified coworkers. Some were crying. Some were praying. Others just stared blankly, unable to process what was happening. The Hornet and Serpent were right outside, smashing through walls and support beams. Eric's thoughts raced.
"Is this it? Is this how I die?"
Suddenly, the Serpent whipped its tail, striking the Hornet with brutal force. The Hornet flew backward, crashing into the manager's office wall. The impact shattered the wall into pieces, sending deadly shards flying. Screams filled the room. Blood splattered. Several people were hit and some killed instantly, others badly injured.
Eric ducked and his heart was pounding. The Serpent turned toward them, its massive head looming just feet away. Its eyes scanned the room. Eric felt paralyzed. His body refused to move. Around him, chaos reigned. People sobbed, screamed, and collapsed.
But the Hornet wasn't done. It charged again, slamming into the Serpent and lifting it into the air. The two monsters burst through the roof, rising high above the city. Police sirens wailed below. Officers tried to evacuate the area, but families of those trapped inside refused to leave.
The Hornet soared higher, carrying the Serpent with it. Then, with terrifying force, it released the creature. The Serpent plummeted, crashing into the top of the building. The impact was catastrophic. The entire structure began to collapse.
Eric felt the floor give way beneath him. Screams echoed. Dust and debris filled the air. People were crushed, buried, lost. Eric hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his body. But he was alive. Barely.
His mind was blank. No thoughts. No fear. Just silence. The Hornet flew away, assuming the Serpent was dead. But Eric saw it. Still breathing, still alive, lying just a few feet away.
Eric's body was broken but adrenaline surged through him. He stood, wobbling, blood dripping from his forehead. The Serpent flinched. Eric didn't think, he just acted. He grabbed a nearby iron rod, lifted it with all his strength, and hurled it at the monster.
The rod pierced the Serpent's eye. It let out a final roar and collapsed. Dead.
Eric fell to the ground, unconscious.
When he woke up, he was in a hospital bed. His body ached. Bandages covered his arms and chest. His parents sat beside him, tears in their eyes. His mom held his hand. His dad stroked his hair gently. His parents talked to him about how relieved they were.
Eric blinked. The TV in the room showed footage of the destroyed building. Reporters spoke of the tragedy. Out of 304 people, only twelve had survived. Eric was one of them.
He tried to speak, but his throat was dry. Then he heard a voice.
"Welcome to the soul realm."
Eric's eyes widened. "Wait… did you hear that? Mom? Dad?"
They looked at him, confused. "Hear what?"
The voice returned calm and clear.
"Don't bother asking them. Only you can hear me. Now, ready to awaken your soul powers?"
Eric stared at the ceiling. His heart raced.
What was happening? Was he hallucinating? Dreaming?
No. This was real.
Something inside him had changed. Something had awakened.
And whatever it was… it was just the beginning.