The snow fell in silence, covering the rooftops and the trees as if the world itself was trying to sink into an endless whiteness. A young Keir carried firewood, his hands red and numb from the cold.
Behind him, his grandfather walked with short, heavy steps, leaning on a cane that sank into the snow with every step.
"Keir, come on… we're almost there," said the old man, trying to encourage him while huddling inside his worn-out coat.
"You said that ten minutes ago," Keir grumbled, without stopping, his breath forming small white clouds in the air.
The old man scratched his cheek with an embarrassed gesture.
"Really? Well… this time we actually are," he murmured, forcing a tired smile.
Keir let out a faint sigh, almost a stifled laugh, and kept walking, sinking his boots into the snow that crunched beneath his feet. The freezing air cut against his skin, yet even so, that moment… that quiet walk alongside his grandfather… would remain forever carved into his memory.
And then, the memory distorted. The images began to fade, and suddenly, a mechanical voice, cold and artificial, echoed deep within his mind:
[Challenger! Welcome to the Abyss.]
The moment the voice fell, the white world shattered, and darkness swallowed everything.
...
Seconds later, his eyes slowly opened. A dull pain throbbed in his temples. Moisture clung to his eyelids, and a faint shiver ran down his body.
"Where…?" he murmured, disoriented, his lips trembling slightly.
It took him several minutes before he could regain his senses. His muscles were tense, as if he had just awoken from a deep sleep. He slowly pushed himself up, resting one hand on the cold, damp ground, and cautiously raised his gaze.
Hundreds of people, all young, were gathered around him. Some wore arrogant expressions, as if being abducted was the greatest privilege imaginable, while others looked pale and haggard, their shoulders hunched, lips quivering with fear.
He swallowed hard, his mind still foggy, and lifted his eyes toward the sky… what he saw left him speechless.
"…This can't be real…" he whispered, utterly stunned.
Above their heads stretched a massive translucent dome, covering the entire horizon.
He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again—only to be met with the same reality.
Nothing had changed…
With no other options, a memory crossed his mind—those web novels he used to enjoy during his free time, at school, even at work… He closed his eyes for a brief moment and decided to test something:
With his heart pounding, he softly called out in his mind:
"System."
Silence enveloped him. His cheeks flushed red, embarrassed…
"Nothing," he whispered to himself, with a hint of disappointment.
But just when he thought nothing would happen, a metallic sound, like a distant chime, resonated inside his head, and a translucent window materialized before his eyes. The edges glimmered faintly, and the letters floated, sharp and precise:
──────────────
[ Challenger Status ]
Name: Keir
Age: 18
Level: 0
──────────────
[ Stats ]
• Strength : F (4/5)
• Agility : F (3/5)
• Endurance : F (1/5)
• Magic Power : E (6/10)
──────────────
[ Skills ]
Cooking : Common (88%)
Communication: Rare (5%)
──────────────
[ Gift ]
Absorption
──────────────
Keir's eyes widened, holding his breath.
His heart pounded violently, though he couldn't tell if it was from fear… or excitement.
One detail caught his attention—the last section.
"Absorption…" he muttered softly, testing the word on his tongue.
But before he could analyze it further, a deep echo reverberated through the air, resounding within the dome.
Instinctively, I lifted my gaze to the sky… and then I saw her.
Amidst the radiant glow illuminating the vast dome, a pair of colossal wings slowly descended, unfolding with breathtaking majesty. Each feather seemed to emit a faint golden light, and as the being descended, the air grew thick, heavy… almost suffocating.
A murmur spread among the gathered crowd. Some took a step back, while others stood frozen, unable to avert their gaze. I felt a knot tighten in my throat. There was no other way to describe it… an angel.
Dazed, I stared fixedly at this transcendent being… and noticed something unusual. Above the crown of her head, in blazing golden letters, floated a name that seemed to burn with living fire:
[ Aphiel | LVL: ??? ]
The being descended with an unnatural grace, and the moment her feet touched the surface of the dome, it began to crack and stretch forward, as though the membrane itself was deforming before giving way, opening a path toward the center and allowing her through.
Aphiel landed softly, and for an instant, absolute silence reigned. The only sounds were my own ragged breathing and the frantic pounding of my heart.
She lifted her head and looked at us. Her gaze… subtle, yet brimming with utter contempt.
And then… she spoke.
『Insignificant humans…』
Her voice was not human. It was ethereal, deep and immersive, as though hundreds of voices were speaking in unison. Each syllable vibrated in the air, resonating deep within the chest, shaking something primal within me.