As Kiox exits the room and closes the door, he notices someone in the distant crowd staring at him.
He ignores it and keeps walking.
Kiox (thinking): Bathroom.
Where I like to hide.
He walks in.
Kiox: Probably just gonna chill in a stall.
Five Minutes Later
Muffled voices echo through the bathroom.
Voice (inaudible): …problem? Exactly. That’s what’s gonna happen if you—
Kiox sighs.
Kiox: Time to leave. This is annoying.
Voice: Oh look. There was a witness in the stall.
Kiox: Witness? I couldn’t care less about whatever boyfriend time you two are having.
Voice: …He called us boyfriends?
Kiox: That’s what it looks like, to be fair.
Now let me through. I’m not telling anyone because I honestly don’t care.
So let me—
Kiox gets shoved.
Voice: Nah. You called us boyfriends.
What’s up with that?
Kiox: Damn, you’re right. Must’ve used the wrong word.
Voice: Yeah, you got it right—
Kiox: Husband-and-husband time.
A brief silence.
Voice: …You must’ve failed at being the class clown.
The guy squints at him.
Wait a minute… aren’t you the guy who—
Kiox: Shut up.
Voice: Mad now?
Haha—
Kiox: Say it.
Regret it.
Voice: What? You’re gonna say it was my fault and do the same thing that she did—
Kiox: I SAID SHUT THE HELL UP!
Kiox moves instantly.
His fist slams into the guy’s face before the sentence can finish.
Even in his normal form, Kiox’s body has been enhanced beyond a normal human.
The punch is so sudden the guy doesn’t even react.
He’s launched backward into the wall.
THUD
Guy: AUGHH—!
gasp
Wha—?!
gasp
Kiox slowly steps forward.
Kiox: If you ever mention even the first letters of her name again…
Only God will save you from not seeing tomorrow.
Guy: Understood! Please—don’t hurt me. I’ll leave—
cough
Damn… that hurts…
Screw that bastard.
Kiox glances back at him while walking toward the exit.
Then—
Guy: I’m fine now—
cough
Is that—
coughing
Blood?!
AGHH—
cough
Gade—shkgh—HIM!
Gade suddenly pulls out a gun and points it at Kiox.
But before his finger can reach the trigger—
Kiox is already in front of him.
He drops low, charges his punch, and drives it straight into Gade’s body.
BOOM
Gade is sent flying into a bathroom stall.
Silence.
Kiox stands still for a moment.
Kiox: …
Then he walks out of the bathroom.
Two people are left behind.
One unconscious.
The other bleeding.
As Kiox fully exits the bathroom, he looks to his left.
Tina is there.
Leaning against the wall.
*********************************
Kiox:
Tina, I—
Tina:
Let’s go outside.
They walk.
Kiox feels everything at once—
anger, shame, fear.
Tina:
What happened in there?
You didn’t use your power on humans… right?
Kiox:
I don’t know.
I lost control.
Tina:
Your face when you came out…
Your eyes—
There was something dark around you.
Kiox:
I see.
Tina:
Why?
Kiox sees flashes—
A severed arm.
A hand opening.
Kiox:
Nothing.
I’m going home early.
Tina:
You sure?
Kiox:
Yeah.
Tina:
Then I’m coming too.
Kiox:
Your classes?
Tina:
You’re more important.
Kiox:
Tina…?
Tina:
No—!
That’s not what I—
(She looks away, blushing.)
Kiox:
…Okay.
They leave together.
Nurse’s Office — Later
Nurse:
What happened?
Student:
I got punched into a wall. Started coughing blood.
Gade:
I got hit into a stall.
Nurse:
I see. Ice packs.
Moments later—
Both:
…We feel better.
Let’s go home.
Everything seems normal again.
But something remains unresolved.
Something dark.
Something awakening
********************************
Kiox’s Home
Kiox: My favorite place in the whole wide world.
Tina: Home? Lame. I knew you were boring, but this is impressive.
Kiox: And what exactly was I supposed to expect from you?
A loudmouth who opens conversations by trying to kill people?
Tina: Lies. I lost because I chose to.
Kiox: Sounds like an excuse.
Tina: It— is— NOT!
Tina lunged forward, faster than before.
Not full strength—but returning.
Kiox tilted his head just enough to avoid her strike. Her fist stopped midair.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
She froze.
Her shoulders slumped.
Tina: …Ugh. When am I gonna feel normal again?
She dropped dramatically to the ground.
Tina: I want to cry and die.
Kiox stared.
Kiox: …There’s no way you’re actually like this.
Tina: This is your fault.
Kiox: I am not carrying you inside.
Tina: Please.
Kiox: No.
Tina: Please.
Kiox: No.
Tina: Then leave me here to rot.
Kiox sighed, grabbed her by the arm, and dragged her inside.
Tina: Freak.
Kiox: Fine. I’ll find a way to speed this up.
Tina: YAY!
Kiox looked away.
(How am I supposed to do that?)
****************************************************
Kiox lay back on his bed and let himself fall.
The world flipped.
He landed inside the Kionexics Palace, where time stood still.
Kiox: …Where is he?
Room after room. Silence.
Then—
Something moved.
Kiox turned sharply, fist already inches from Kayi’s face.
Kayi blinked.
Kayi: …Impressive.
Kiox: I’ve gotten better.
In the next instant, Kayi vanished—
and reappeared behind him, a sphere of energy hovering beside Kiox’s neck.
Kayi: Still reckless.
Kiox: Cheap move.
Kayi: You’d be dead.
Kiox exhaled.
Kiox: Let’s test that.
****************************************
Sparring
Kiox twisted, deflecting the energy sphere and forcing Kayi back.
Kayi leapt into the air—then disappeared.
He reappeared point-blank.
Kiox blocked.
The impact launched him through a pillar.
Before he could recover, six beams formed around him.
Kiox moved—
jumping, rebounding, redirecting attacks midair.
One beam followed.
Kiox: …Now!
He fired downward, shifting his trajectory just enough.
The redirected blast struck Kayi’s barrier.
Three absorbed.
Two redirected.
One—
Too late.
The final beam hit Kiox from behind.
Pain exploded.
Kayi crossed the distance instantly and struck.
Kiox crashed through multiple pillars before stopping—
still standing.
Bruised. Bleeding.
Not fallen.
Kiox: I’m hurt…
but I’m not down.
Kayi paused.
Then smiled.
The palace rewound itself.
Damage vanished. Kiox healed.
Kayi: You impressed me.
Why are you here?
Kiox: The girl. Her powers are unstable.
Is there a faster way?
Kayi shook his head.
Kayi: Not safely.
Kiox: Anything?
Kayi: There is a lab. Abandoned.
You’d need someone brilliant.
Kiox clenched his fist.
Kiox: …Truth hurts.
Kayi: Lies hurt worse.
************************************
Quiet Night
Back home, Tina was waiting.
Tina: Movie?
Kiox nodded.
Later—
she fell asleep on his shoulder.
Kiox stayed still.
(Since when did things get this complicated?)
Hours passed.
A red light flickered at the window—
Gone.
The Watcher
Morning came.
Tina left quickly.
Too quickly.
Kayi appeared beside Kiox.
Kayi: Someone was watching last night.
Kiox followed the lingering trace.
It led him to one place.
Hosu’s house.
********************************************************
Hosu
Kiox: What do you know about me?
Hosu hesitated.
Hosu: …More than I should.
Later—
Hosu: I saw the bathroom incident.
That wasn’t normal.
Kiox exhaled.
Then—
Kiox: If you had access to a lab…
could you figure out power restoration?
Hosu’s eyes lit up.
Hosu: If you tell me how you got yours.
The Lab
The palace lab roared to life.
Machines awakened.
Data streamed.
Hosu: …This is incredible.
Masked Tina stepped forward.
Tina: I’m the problem.
Tests began.
Hosu: Severe overload.
Recoverable—but slow.
Kiox turned to Kayi.
Kiox: Let them stay.
Kayi was silent.
Then—
Kayi: One condition.
The Warning
Kayi: In thirteen hours, downtown will be attacked.
Stop it.
Kiox nodded.
Before leaving, Tina caught his hand.
Tina: You’ll be okay?
Kiox: Do you trust me?
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
Alone
Night.
Kiox sat on his bed.
The silence pressed in.
Kiox (thought):
Will I really be okay?
…
I have to be.
*********************************
The Next Day
Morning passed quietly.
Kiox woke up, got ready, and went to school like any other day—but his mind was elsewhere. He waited. Watched. Listened.
All day, a tight feeling sat in his chest.
Something was coming.
Breaking News
The classroom TV flickered to life.
News Reporter:
“Breaking news—reports of a supernatural attack downtown. Multiple buildings destroyed. Civilians evacuated—”
Kiox stood up.
Kiox:
“…Finally.”
He walked out of the classroom.
*****************************************************
Downtown City
Kiox sprinted across rooftops, hoodie pulled tight, sweatpants flapping in the wind.
He landed on top of a tall building and looked down at the chaos below.
Shattered streets. Collapsed cars. A figure floating in midair—ripping through concrete like paper.
Kiox exhaled.
Kiox (thinking):
I wish I had a suit… whatever. This isn’t for fun.
He jumped.
First Clash
Kiox came down from above—
BOOM.
His punch slammed the enemy into the street, carving a massive crater into the ground.
Kiox grabbed onto a light pole, swung down, and landed near the impact zone.
He stared into the dust.
Kiox:
“…Was it really that easy?”
A voice echoed from below.
???:
“So there you are… the one who took us down.”
The figure leapt out of the crater and landed smoothly.
???:
“It’s been a while… Kayiusoma.”
Kiox blinked.
Kiox (thinking):
That’s his full name? Thank god I call him Kayi.
The man frowned.
???:
“…No. You’re not him.”
A pause.
???:
“Who are you, impostor?”
Kiox:
“I’m Kiox. That’s all you get.”
Redil:
“Redil. One of Gluuvas’ best in hand-to-hand.”
He smirked.
Redil:
“Your power’s higher than his. Just a bit.”
Kiox froze.
Kiox (thinking):
Then why did I lose to Kayi…?
*******************************************************
Redil vanished.
At the last second, Kiox dodged—Redil’s fist grazing his face.
Kiox (thinking):
Dirty.
Kiox swept Redil’s legs, kicked him through four parked cars, and skidded him across the asphalt.
Redil laughed as he recovered.
Redil:
“Impressive. A little.”
Then he disappeared again.
This time, Kiox didn’t see it.
CRACK.
Uppercut.
Spin kick.
Kiox slammed into a building, cracking its structure.
Redil laughed.
Redil:
“That easy? Move aside. I’ll kill everyone until Kayi shows.”
Something snapped.
************************************************************************
For some reason… Kiox felt a surge of annoyance, a flash of rage that demanded release. Without thinking, he impulsed from the wrecked building and charged straight at Redil.
Redil: “SLO—”
Time seemed to stretch. Kiox landed beside Redil, pivoted, and struck with a flurry of punches. He was thrown into the air, colliding with trash bins, trees, and the surrounding debris, before finally crashing to the ground, unable to recover instantly.
Redil: “What… THE HELL!? You lucky bastard! Just because I couldn’t turn in the air—”
Kiox’s eyes bore into Redil with an intense, threatening stare. Goosebumps ran down Redil’s spine.
Kiox: “I do not care. Are you going to keep up… or cry?”
Those words hit Redil harder than any strike.
Redil: “Cry… that’s… funny!!”
Redil glowed pink, accelerating faster than before, and charged at Kiox. Kiox managed to guard, but the strike tore through the tarmac, dragging him along. He fired a beam to push himself up, breaking Redil’s momentum and creating distance.
Redil: “UGH! You’re annoying!!”
Kiox took to the air, firing beams to pursue and redirect himself. Redil leapt, Kiox followed, weaving midair. A collision midair sent them tumbling into the ground. Kiox quickly rose, aiming a precise beam at Redil’s shoulder. The strike pierced, debilitating him.
Redil: “AHHHHHHHGGHH! That hurts!”
Kiox landed with a cold, serious gaze.
Kiox: “It can be worse… let’s finish this. All you have to do is leave.”
Redil: “Leave…? Hahaha… why should I—”
Kiox suddenly gets struck from behind with a force he has never felt before.
The impact launches him forward—straight toward Redil.
Redil plants one hand on the ground, lowering his stance.
Then he springs upward.
BAM
His kick slams into Kiox’s side with crushing force, sending him crashing into a nearby building.
Concrete cracks as Kiox’s body tears through it.
He barely manages to catch himself—hanging from the edge with one hand.
Kiox coughs.
Blood spills from his mouth.
Kiox: (coughing) Ughh…
Blood drips from his nose as well.
He pulls himself up onto the ledge.
When he looks forward, he sees Redil…
…and someone else standing beside him.
Kiox: Two versus one…
So brave.
(coughs)
???: Remain quiet.
The unknown figure walks toward Kiox.
Without effort—
THUD
He kicks Kiox.
The force launches him across the sky like a missile at terrifying speed
Kiox crashes into a wide, barren area far away—nothing but rocks and distant mountains.
Dust erupts across the ground.
Kiox struggles to rise.
He drops to one knee, clutching his stomach.
Suddenly—
Redil and the other figure appear in front of him.
Kiox (thinking): Shit…
Redil: So?
(laughs)
You see it now? You stand no chance.
You’re nothing but a weakling.
Let’s go, Zamk.
The second man was Zamk—another member of the Gluuvas.
Zamk: Let’s go.
They turn to leave.
But then—
In the distance, a girl stands silently.
Black jacket.
Mask covering her face.
Redil: Look at that.
Someone’s wearing their Halloween costume.
(laughs loudly)
Hahaha—
He suddenly stops.
Huh?
Where—
Mysterious Girl: Behind you.
Redil spins and throws a punch.
But the girl moves.
Too fast.
All Redil sees is a glowing afterimage in slow motion.
Then she’s already in front of them.
Same stance.
Same posture.
She repeats this movement again…
And again…
And again.
Nearly twenty times.
All within seven seconds.
Finally, she stops in front of Kiox.
Kiox looks at her…
And smiles.
Kiox: Hahaha…
So you got your ability back.
Good.
Tina: Yeah.
Hosu seemed to know what he was doing.
Gotta say… he’s smart.
Redil: WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!
GAHH— I’M DONE!
Redil explodes with power and charges forward.
Zamk follows.
Kiox powers up again and meets them head-on.
He blocks Redil’s attacks several times before shifting toward Zamk.
But Zamk is tougher.
His body is covered in solid iron armor.
In the chaos, Tina intercepts Redil, trying to hold him off.
But—
BOOM
Tina is struck.
She collapses to the ground.
Kiox: TINA!
Kiox takes a punch himself as he rushes toward her.
He lands beside her.
Tina is badly injured… from just one hit.
Tina: I forgot…
I didn’t fully finish recovering…
But I’m glad I came…
At least I distracted them…
I did good…
Right…?
She smiles.
Her eyes slowly close.
Then her body collapses.
Something inside Kiox snaps.
His anger takes hold.
His face darkens.
Redil: WEAK! WEAK!
HAHA!
YOU SHOULD’VE NEVER INTERF—
BOOM
Kiox appears in front of him.
His punch lands directly on Redil’s face.
A shockwave bursts outward from the impact.
Not massive.
But powerful.
Redil’s body freezes.
Then… cracks begin forming across his skin.
Redil: …What…
Are you…?
Redil and Zamk rush him together.
Kiox moves through their attacks.
Parrying.
Dodging.
Slipping past the ones he cannot block.
Then—
Kiox charges them.
He strikes Redil.
Then leaps toward Zamk.
Mid-air, he jumps between them—delivering punches back and forth.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Then one final moment.
Zamk is airborne.
Arms hanging.
Legs limp.
Kiox rises from below him.
One punch.
CRACK
Zamk’s iron armor shatters instantly.
Kiox’s hand begins bleeding heavily from the impact.
Zamk crashes into the ground far away.
A massive cloud of dirt erupts into the air.
Redil stands frozen.
Watching Kiox walk toward him.
Fear fills his eyes.
Redil: No…
Stay back!
STAY BACK!
If you kill me…
ZAMUZENU will kill you!
Kiox stops.
Kiox: Then let him be foolish enough… to try.*
The situation escalated dangerously. Kayi appeared, trapping Kiox in an Andromeda Barrier.
Kayi: “Kiox! That’s enough! You’ve done too much!”
Kiox: “Let… me… out!”
Kiox powered through, breaking the barrier partially, drawing blood from Kayi.
Kayi: “KIOX! Calm down NOW!”
Kiox, unknowingly manipulating the barrier as if it were his own attack, weakened it further.
Kayi: “…what?! How…?”
Exhausted, Kiox powered down to human form.
Kiox: breathing heavily “Why… did you stop me, Kayi?”
Kayi: “Because he is right. If you kill him, Zamuzenu will come. He is a god… and this could spark a war.”
Kiox struggled emotionally, rushing to Tina’s side.
Kiox: “TINA!”
He held her as Kayi teleported them to the palace, leaving Redil and the defeated Zamku behind.
*****************************************************
Three days later…
Ridel opened a massive door in a vast chamber, speaking to a shadowed figure.
Ridel: “Listen… I got—”
White crystal knives, over 36, shot past him, exploding against the wall and obliterating it.
???: “Zamku is dead… how?”
Ridel: “H-he just… did…”
A giant white circle formed on the floor, pulling Ridel with immense force.
???: “His armor… it was no ordinary iron—it represented Gluuvas…”
Ridel screamed.
Ridel: “AHH! We tried, but this human overpowered us!”
??? (sharp teeth gleaming in shadow): “A human… I must see this for myself.”
Ridel: “Absolutely! I’ll lead the way!”
Everything fell silent.
********************************************************
Four Days After the Fight
Kiox sat on the living room couch, staring forward, unmoving.
Silence.
His thoughts replayed the battle again and again—every mistake, every hit, every moment he lost control.
Kiox:
(…)
A sudden blur—
Tina appeared beside him at high speed and casually sat down.
Tina: “Hey, Kiox. You look bothered.”
Kiox: “No… not really. Just thinking about it.”
(pauses)
“And you? I haven’t seen you in days. How’s your injury? Your speed?”
Tina: “It can be faster. But whenever I move too fast… I still feel sick.”
Kayi walked in from the kitchen.
Kayi: “That’s because you’re not fully healed. If you take the Fruit of Amoboa, you’ll recover quickly.”
Kiox and Tina stared at him.
Kayi: (sighs)
He opens a portal.
“Go in. Find it.”
Kiox: “Dude, find wh—”
Kayi shoved both of them inside and stepped through as well.
***************************************************************
The Trial
Pink skies. A massive lake. Grass and towering trees.
Kiox: “Where are we, Kayi? I just wanted to—”
Kayi: (points at Kiox)
“You caused this mess. You’ll take responsibility. And be a man—treat the lady with respect.”
Kiox: “Okay… what now?”
Kayi: “Get the fruit from those trees.”
Kiox: “That’s it? Then why didn’t you—”
Kayi stared at him.
Kiox: “Fine. Damn it.”
Kiox walked toward the trees.
(Why couldn’t he do it himself? Lazy—)
A massive serpent erupted from the ground—forty feet tall.
Kiox: “Like I said… too easy—”
The serpent launched him into a massive house, obliterating it.
Kiox: (groans) “Damn it.”
**********************************************
Later…
Kiox walked toward Kayi and Tina, holding the strange fruit in his hand. He turned it over slowly, still examining it.
“Kayi,” he said, raising it slightly, “what exactly was this for?”
Kayi didn’t even look up at first. He simply shrugged from where he stood.
“Eh. I just wanted to test you.”
Kiox frowned.
Kiox: "Test what exactly? You make no sense.”
He sighed.
“Can we go back now?”
Without answering properly, Kayi casually opened a portal behind him. The dark oval formed in the air like a tear in space.
Then he leaned back and fell straight through it.
A moment later he landed on the couch inside the house with a soft thud, sitting up like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Kiox and Tina followed through the portal a second later.
Kiox stepped out first, looking mildly annoyed.
“You know,” he said, “maybe one day you should teach me how to open portals.”
Kayi had already grabbed a can of soda from the table. He cracked it open and took a long drink.
“Nah,” he said lazily between sips. “Learn it yourself.”
Slurp.
Kiox rolled his eyes.
(Lazy ass.)
He turned toward Tina and held the fruit out to her.
“Here. Eat it.”
He shrugged slightly.
“I hope it actually does something. And if it doesn’t… well, hopefully it at least tastes good.”
Tina looked down at it skeptically.
“Yeah… I don’t know either.”
She poked the fruit with her finger.
“It looks kinda sad.”
She sighed.
“But I guess I should just eat it, right?”
Kiox raised both hands in agreement.
Tina shrugged and took a bite.
The moment she swallowed, her expression changed.
Her body stiffened.
“Uh… wait…”
She began trembling slightly.
Then a quick puff of soft pink smoke burst outward from her body, swirling around her for less than a second before vanishing completely.
Silence.
Kiox stared.
“So… was it at least good?”
Tina tilted her head.
“Hm…”
Suddenly she vanished.
A blur of movement circled around Kiox repeatedly—ten full laps around him in barely three seconds before she stopped where she started.
“It was great.”
She stretched her arms slightly.
“I still feel kinda slow… but at the same time it feels like I can do more.”
Kiox shook his head immediately.
“Don’t try to test that right now. If you ever need it, then use it.”
He stretched his arms.
“Tina, I’m bored. I’m going to the store to buy something. You wanna come?”
“Pass.”
She walked away lazily.
“I’m too lazy.”
“Kinda figured,” Kiox muttered.
“But Tina—”
She was already gone, disappearing into another room.
He sighed.
“Great. Fine. I’ll go.”
He grabbed his keys and stepped outside.
The humid air hit him immediately.
“Damn… it’s hot.”
He wiped the back of his neck.
“And humid. Ugh.”
**************************************************************
At the store, everything seemed normal.
Fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead as Kiox stood in the aisle looking at gum.
He stared at two nearly identical packages.
“…What the hell.”
He compared them again.
“It’s literally the same thing but with a different name.”
He shrugged.
“Spearmint it is.”
A few minutes later he stood in line to pay.
That’s when something extremely strange happened.
For less than a fraction of a second—
Everything stopped.
The store.
The people.
The air.
All of it turned dark.
And in the darkness—
A figure.
A smiling yellow shape in the distance.
Then everything returned instantly.
Movement resumed like nothing happened.
The cashier continued scanning items.
No one reacted.
But Kiox had noticed.
His eyes shifted slightly.
(I saw that…)
(What the hell was that?)
He grabbed his receipt calmly.
(I’m just going to pretend I didn’t.)
He walked out of the store.
The moment he stepped outside—
It happened again.
Another pause.
The world flickered gray and black for a split second.
Then normal again.
Kiox stopped walking.
(This isn’t normal…)
(Who’s causing—)
The world froze again.
But this time it didn’t return.
Everything was still.
The sky turned dark.
Buildings lost their color.
Cars were gone.
People were gone.
The street was empty.
Silent.
At the end of the road—
Someone stood there.
Kiox’s body tensed in shock.
Suddenly a figure walked past him.
Redil.
Moving slowly through the frozen world.
As he passed Kiox, he spoke calmly.
“You’re in my world now.”
Redil placed his hand on Kiox’s head.
Instantly—
Kiox shut down.
His body remained standing, but his consciousness disappeared like a switch had been flipped off.
Redil opened a portal beside him.
A dark one.
A portal leading to the Inversed Dark Realm.
Without hesitation, he dragged Kiox through it.
And they disappeared.
***************************************
Meanwhile…
At the house.
Thirty minutes later.
Tina walked into the living room.
Kayi was still sitting on the couch reading a book.
“Kayi?”
He jumped slightly.
“Huh?!”
He looked up.
“Oh. Hey Tina. What’s up?”
Tina rubbed her arm and looked to the side uneasily.
“It’s just that…”
She hesitated.
“The store isn’t that far.”
Kayi frowned.
“Who?”
Then he smirked.
“Your boyfriend?”
Tina slowly turned toward him with a completely flat expression.
“...What?”
“No.”
“Kiox hasn’t come back yet.”
Kayi shrugged.
“Let him be.”
He flipped a page of his book.
“Who knows what he’s doing.”
He leaned back into the couch.
“Think about it. He’s not a regular human anymore. And two non-human people moved into his house.”
He gestured vaguely.
“Guy probably just wanted a break.”
Tina thought about it.
“Hm…”
She nodded slowly.
“Yeah… you’re probably right.”
She walked away.
“He’ll come back eventually.”
********************************
A dull pressure begins to form in Kiox’s mind.
Slowly—very slowly—something like awareness returns.
Not sight at first.
Not sound.
Just the sensation of existing again.
Then thoughts begin to form.
Kiox: (Ugh… what the hell…)
A faint ache spreads through his head, dull but persistent.
(…What’s this?)
He opens his eyes.
Darkness.
Not ordinary darkness like a room with the lights off.
This darkness feels deeper. Endless. As if light itself has forgotten how to exist here.
Kiox slowly lifts his head, squinting as he tries to understand where he is.
There is something beneath his feet.
A platform.
It floats alone in the void, glowing faintly with a dim white light that barely pushes back the surrounding black. The glow extends only a short distance—maybe twelve feet at most—before everything dissolves back into darkness.
He looks up.
Nothing.
No ceiling.
No sky.
Just a vast, immeasurable emptiness stretching forever.
Kiox exhales slowly.
The sound carries strangely.
Kiox: “It’s dark…”
His voice echoes outward.
“…dark… dark…”
He frowns.
Kiox: “Goddamn it… my head still hurts.”
The echo repeats again, drifting away into the unseen.
“…hurts… hurts…”
He blinks.
Kiox: “So everything I say echoes now?”
“…echoes now… echoes now…”
He rubs the side of his head, wincing slightly.
Kiox: “Great. Perfect.”
The echo answers him again.
He turns slowly in place.
“Okay… where the hell am I?”
Silence.
Only his breathing and the faint echo of his own words returning to him.
Carefully, he takes a step forward.
Then another.
The dim light from the platform barely reveals its edges.
As he walks, the glow reveals the boundary of the surface—
And suddenly the ground disappears.
His foot slips halfway over the edge.
Kiox jerks backward immediately.
“WOAH—”
He stumbles and catches himself.
“OH SH—”
His heart races as he regains his balance.
He crouches slightly and peers over the edge.
There is nothing below.
No ground.
No walls.
No distance he can measure.
Just pure black emptiness swallowing everything beyond the light.
“Damn…”
He leans back carefully.
“I can’t see anything down there.”
He looks around again.
The platform he stands on is the only source of light.
But as his eyes adjust—
Something appears in the distance.
A faint shape.
Another platform.
This one shaped like a small pyramid that is upside down.
It floats several feet away in the darkness.
Kiox stares at it.
“Well…”
He sighs.
“Here’s another reason I almost die again.”
Without overthinking it, he takes a few steps back.
Then runs forward and jumps.
For a moment he is suspended in darkness.
Then—
THUD.
He lands on the pyramid platform and stumbles slightly before regaining balance.
Kiox exhales.
“Made it.”
His breathing echoes around him again.
He looks ahead.
Another platform waits further out.
Then another.
A faint path through the void.
He shakes his head.
“No hesitation again, huh…”
He steps back and jumps toward the next one.
Mid-air—
Something feels wrong.
The distance looks shorter than it actually is.
His foot reaches forward—
But there is no platform beneath him.
His stomach drops.
“Ah—”
His body falls straight through empty space.
“AHHHHH—DAAAAMN—”
His voice fades as he plummets deeper into the darkness.
The pyramid platform above him flickers and disappears, dissolving like it was never there.
Now there is nothing.
Just falling.
Endless falling.
Wind rushes past him though he cannot see it.
After a moment, he exhales slowly and crosses his arms.
“Well…”
His voice echoes faintly upward.
“…I guess that’s it.”
He closes his eyes.
But suddenly—
THUD.
Pain shoots through his back as he hits something solid.
Kiox groans and rolls slightly before sitting up.
“…damn.”
He looks around.
He is back on the original glowing platform.
The same one he started on.
He rubs the back of his head again.
“At least I’m not dead.”
Chapter End
