The Gates of Ascension

Rose tumbled through the doorway, landing hard on the cold floor. Scrambling to her feet, she looked up, her breath catching in her throat. The sky, once a familiar canvas of twilight blues, was now a horrifying tableau of grotesque creatures. Monstrosities she'd never seen before, a symphony of razor-sharp teeth, leathery wings, and glowing eyes, swarmed the city.

Below them, the symphony turned deadly. Humans, once bustling neighbors, strangers, were now crumpled figures on the blood-slicked pavement. Yet, amidst the carnage, a flicker of defiance. Warriors, a motley crew of men and women wielding strange weapons, fought a desperate battle, their faces etched with grim determination. Panic gnawed at Rose, a cold, icy fist squeezing her heart.

A rough hand grabbed hers. A young man, no more than twenty, stood beside her. His black hair was plastered to his forehead, and his black eyes, though filled with a desperate urgency, held a chilling glint. A network of fresh scars, some barely healed, crisscrossed his face, adding a chilling counterpoint to the blood trickling down his temple.

'We don't have time!' he barked, his voice hoarse but laced with urgency.

Rose's mind was a whirlwind of questions, but instinct kicked in. She followed his gaze and saw the tide of monsters surging towards them. Ignoring the tremor in her legs, she sprinted alongside him.

The young man held onto her hand, his grip strong and steady despite the ragged breaths escaping his lips. They weaved through the chaotic streets, dodging snapping jaws and razor-sharp claws. Fear threatened to paralyze Rose, but his determined focus steadied her.

A monstrous creature, towering above them with glowing red eyes, screeched and lunged. A human warrior, her face etched with a desperate scream, threw herself between them and the beast. The scene unfolded in slow motion – the clash of steel against flesh, the warrior's agonizing cry, the monstrous roar. Then, silence, broken only by the young man's grunt as he pulled Rose away from the gruesome sight.

They stumbled into a deserted alleyway, their lungs burning, legs screaming in protest. He pushed open a creaking basement door, shoving Rose down the steps before scrambling down after her. He slammed the door shut and fumbled with a rusty lock, his hands shaking with both terror and exertion.

'Who are you?' Rose gasped, her voice barely a whisper. The urgency of his earlier words echoed in her mind, but the sheer terror of the situation had finally given way to a desperate need for answers.

The young man straightened, his gaze flickering to the locked door, his eyes shadowed with secrets. He met Rose's gaze for a fleeting moment, and she saw a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within them – fear for her, fear for himself, and a flicker of something more…determination, maybe even…protectiveness?

He opened his mouth to speak, but the pounding on the door above them cut him off. A monstrous growl resonated through the wood, sending shivers down Rose's spine. The young man silenced her unspoken question with a firm shake of his head.

'There will be time for answers later,' he said, his voice low but steady. 'Right now, we need to stay quiet.'

Rose, however, couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that there was something off about him. His eyes, though filled with urgency, held a chilling glint, a predatory gleam that sent a shiver down her spine. He had saved her, yes, but his actions, his very presence, exuded an aura of danger. Was he truly a savior, or was he simply another predator in this terrifying new world?

But as for now rose had no time to dwell on the unsettling feeling that clung to the young man. She had other things to worry about.

The basement was small, cramped, and dimly lit, but not completely dark. A single, flickering lantern cast long, dancing shadows across the rough-hewn walls. It was clear that the man who had brought her here had anticipated this situation. Stacks of non-perishable food lined one wall, and a pile of clothes lay neatly folded in a corner. It was almost as if he had been expecting this… this apocalypse.

Suspicion gnawed at her. This man, with his chillingly calm demeanor and those unsettling eyes, was an enigma.

She sat down in a corner, keeping a wary distance from the man who was now sitting by the side of the door, his gaze fixed on the entrance, alert to any sound.

"Status screen," she muttered, her voice barely a whisper.

A translucent panel materialized before her eyes, displaying neatly organized information:

---

[STATUS SCREEN]

[Name: Seo mu-rea]

[Health: 100%]

[Stamina: 90%]

[Coins: 50]

[Abilities:

End Time Oracle Deck (Active)]

[??? (Locked - 40 Coins Required to Unlock)]

[Fears: Reincarnophobia]

[True form: Locked]

---

She looked at her coin count: 50. Rose stared at the number, her eyes wide with shock. She had assumed completing the quest would grant her 5 coins, not killing a single creature. So, was there truly a hundred of those monstrous things? The thought sent shivers down her spine.

And then, she remembered how she had ignited

the pool of alcohol, the flames engulfing the corridor. "Burning them with my hand also gave me coin..." she murmured.

She glanced at the man, his profile etched in the dim light. He was watching her, his eyes narrowed, a flicker of something akin to amusement playing on his lips.

He knew.

He knew what she had done.

Rose shivered, not just from the cold. This was a world where survival was not a game, but a brutal, unforgiving reality. And she, a reluctant participant, was just beginning to understand the true cost of victory.And if that meant taking a life, even a monstrous one, she would do it.

"Why the fuck do I have to be so fucking weak?"

She clenched her fists, her anger a fleeting spark of defiance in the face of overwhelming odds. She would survive. She would find a way to get stronger, to fight back, to reclaim some semblance of control in this chaotic world.

But then, she noticed something else on the status screen. Stamina – 90%. Yet, she hadn't felt worn down after the escape. Come to think of it, she wasn't even wearing her glasses, yet she saw everything with perfect clarity. Even the throbbing headache that had plagued her all morning was gone. Now, as she looked at her health bar – 100% – a smirk tugged at her lips."Maybe this power isn't so useless after all," she thought, a glimmer of hope replacing the initial despair. This power, despite its strangeness, might not be all bad.

Rose's voice echoed in the dim basement, "End Time Oracle Deck." A faint glow emanated from the symbol etched on the back of her hand, and the status screen flickered to life before her eyes, displaying five cards.

[End Time Oracle Deck]

[The Beast]

[The Sword]

[The Shroud]

[The Curse]

[The Serpent]

The first depicted a colossal beast shrouded in shadows, its eyes burning with an ominous red glow.The next card showcased a gleaming sword, mysteriously embedded in a weathered stone.

A veiled figure holding a lantern, traversing a misty landscape, graced another card, titled "The Shroud." A gnarled tree, its branches twisted and barren, stood at the center of a card labeled "The Curse," a swirling dark fog obscuring its base. The final card displayed a serpent, its body coiled tightly, glowing eyes piercing through the darkness – "The Serpent."

A wave of confusion washed over Rose. She vaguely recalled the cards whispering to her during her escape, directing her towards a specific path. But now, faced with this baffling selection, she had no knowledge of their true purpose. Yet, an undeniable pull emanated from one of the cards, drawing her hand towards it.

"It even told me about what kind of creature would come and their weaknesses."

As her finger brushed against the symbol of a gleaming sword embedded in stone, the status screen flashed, revealing a message:

[You must pay 5 coins to acquire information about this card.]

Rose scoffed, "Tsk! How utterly useless! I need to pay to learn about my own abilities?"

Frustration gnawed at her. Her gaze shifted to a sixth card, its face locked behind a shimmering barrier.

The message displayed: [Unlock this card for 40 coins.]

The price tag sent a jolt through her. "Expensive for something I didn't even ask for!" she thought bitterly.

The measly 50 coins she had accumulated after nearly losing her life seemed woefully inadequate in this bizarre situation.

Her eyes drifted downwards, landing on a peculiar inscription on the status screen:

[Fear: Reincarnophobia.]

Curiosity piqued, she tapped the inscription. Another prompt materialized:

[Pay 10 coins to access information.]

Her frustration curdled into a simmering anger. "What the f*ck! I'm broke and powerless!" she muttered under her breath.

Despite her frustration, a flicker of desperation fueled her decision. She tapped the buy button, sacrificing 10 coins from her meager stash. The inscription changed, revealing:

[Fear: Reincarnophobia. Meaning:You think you can't remember things about your past life, but you can't remember them because you're afraid to find out the truth.]

Rose's heart hammered against her ribs. Her eyes widened in shock.

Rose's breath hitched.

"Past lives?"

She had memories, didn't she? A clear history, a defined sense of self. Yet, doubt crept in, gnawing at the edges of her certainty.

Was this a cruel joke? Was she deluding herself?

What truth was she afraid to uncover?

The question hung heavy in the air, a chilling reminder of the unsettling truths that lay hidden beneath the surface of this terrifying new reality.