NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Chapter - 2
Kaito groaned, his body aching as if he had been crushed under a mountain. He struggled to sit up on the bed, every movement sending sharp pains through his legs and torso. A chill ran down his spine as he noticed the strange wounds etched across his pale skin—jagged cuts and bruises, some still seeping faint traces of blood. His hands trembled as they hovered over his legs, which felt as though the bones were shattered.
"What... what happened to me?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
The faint aroma of cooking wafted into the room, drawing his attention to the closed door. Slowly, cautiously, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and forced himself to stand. Pain erupted through his body, and his knees buckled, but he bit his lip and steadied himself, his breath ragged.
As he took a tentative step forward, his gaze was drawn to the walls of the room. Dozens of photos hung on them. His heart pounded as he recognized himself in every single one—smiling, laughing, posing with a woman whose face now seemed achingly familiar.
His fingers brushed against one of the frames. "This woman..." he whispered. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. "She's... my stepmother?"
The idea felt foreign, yet the evidence was undeniable. Flashes of scattered memories surged through his mind—a faint smile, a warm embrace, the sound of her laughter. "Did I... have an accident?" he wondered aloud, his voice laced with confusion. "Is that why I can't remember anything?"
He stumbled back, his head spinning, trying to piece together the fragments of his thoughts. As his eyes darted around the room, they suddenly froze in place.
A soft chime echoed, and a glowing, blue-transparent screen appeared in mid-air before him.
Kaito's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened as he took a shaky step closer to the mysterious screen, its ethereal glow casting a faint blue hue on his face. The words etched onto the screen were sharp and clear, as though they were speaking directly to his soul.
Name: Kaito Asura
Level: 1
Status: Critical
Objective: Increase level to unlock powers. Complete tasks to regain strength and memory.
"What... what is this?" he stammered, his voice trembling. He reached out a hesitant hand, his fingers brushing the surface of the screen, but it rippled like water.
The screen shifted, revealing more details: a progress bar labeled "Level Up", and a series of locked abilities glowing faintly in red. His breathing quickened as realization dawned.
"This... this isn't real," he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Am I... in a game? No, this is my life... isn't it?"
Images flashed through his mind: battles fought, a dark void, voices calling his name. His knees gave way, and he collapsed to the floor, clutching his head.
The screen blinked, and a new line of text appeared:
"Welcome back, Kaito. Your journey begins now."
A jolt of energy surged through his body as the words burned themselves into his mind. Trembling, Kaito raised his head, his eyes blazing with determination despite the pain.
"If this is my reality," he muttered, his voice growing steady, "then I'll find the truth. I'll uncover who I am... and I'll become unstoppable."
The faint sound of footsteps approached from the kitchen. Kaito clenched his fists, the glow of the screen reflecting in his determined gaze.
The journey had begun.
Kaito's trembling hands hovered over the glowing blue screen. His eyes, wide with awe and confusion, scanned the intricate details laid out before him. The text shifted, revealing a new section labeled "Current Powers."
Each word on the screen seemed to resonate deeply, as though speaking directly into his mind.
Current Powers:
Mind Control: Influence the actions of others by overriding their will.
Mind Reading: Access the thoughts of others with precision.
Memory Eater: Consume memories to weaken targets and gain knowledge.
Memory Alteration: Rewrite the memories of others as you see fit.
Kaito's heart pounded. "Mind control... mind reading... What kind of person am I?" he muttered, his voice barely audible.
The screen shimmered again, revealing another section labeled "Future Powers (Locked)." His eyes darted over the list, and his chest tightened as he read the descriptions.
Future Powers (Locked):
Cursed Power: Wield devastating curses to dominate enemies.
Powerful Energy: Unleash surges of raw energy to obliterate foes.
Energy Weapon: Manifest weapons of immense power fueled by energy.
The words "Level Up Required" glowed faintly beneath each power, mocking him. He clenched his fists.
"So, I'm... incomplete," he murmured. The realization was both humbling and terrifying. He glanced back at the photos on the wall, the smiling faces now feeling distant and hollow. "If I have these powers now, what kind of person was I before? And how did I end up like this?"
His fingers swiped across the screen instinctively, and a smaller window popped up, displaying his current stats:
Name: Kaito Asura
Level: 1
Health: Critical
Stamina: Low
Abilities: Limited
Kaito's brow furrowed. "Level 1... I'm nothing right now. Just someone with fractured memories and a broken body."
The screen flickered again, this time revealing an ominous message:
"To unlock your full potential, you must complete the trials and defeat the adversaries. Only then will you regain what was lost."
His breath caught. The cryptic message only deepened the pit of questions swirling in his mind. He leaned back against the wall, staring at the faint glow of the screen.
"I need to increase my level," he whispered, a spark of determination igniting within him. His eyes burned with newfound resolve. "If I can gain more powers, I'll find out who I am, why I'm here, and what happened to me."
A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it was tinged with bitterness. "Mind control, mind reading... memory manipulation... I'll make good use of these. But this is just the beginning."
The sound of approaching footsteps from the kitchen snapped him out of his thoughts. The screen vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving him alone in the dim room.
His legs still trembled, his wounds still ached, but Kaito stood tall, his piercing blue eyes locked onto the door.
"This world… or whatever this is… I'll conquer it."