"The City in Panic"
A sudden surge of panic rippled through the crowd, and people ran and screamed in every direction. Lily and Aria exchanged a glance, their faces etched with shock and concern. The chaos was unlike anything they had ever seen before, and their thoughts immediately turned to Ember.
"That's our way—the place where we live," Aria said calmly, her voice steady but urgent. "Let's go together and see what's happening. And we need to check on Ember. Is she okay?"
As they moved toward the commotion, Lily's eyes flicked to Aria, noticing something unusual. "Aria, are you okay? Why are you clutching your chest like that while running?"
Aria's expression remained calm and unreadable as she pressed her hand against her chest. "It's nothing. I just feel a little uneasy—like I'm breathing different air."
But inside, Aria's mind was a storm of confusion and pain.
Ahh, right now something strange is happening with my body. Suddenly, my heart is pumping faster, like it's going to blast out of my chest. My veins are growing on my back—it's so painful and strange. My back hurts too much; I don't know why. It feels like something is growing and cracking inside me. My eyes are burning. Why now? This is not a good situation. I don't want Lily to see this—she's already facing other problems. I don't want to add more burden. I need to control my brain, to resist.
They hurried toward the source of the chaos, the sounds of screaming and destruction growing louder with every step. Lily glanced at Aria, concern etched deeply on her face. She knew Aria wasn't well, but Aria hadn't said a word about it.
I know you're not okay, Lily thought, but you didn't tell me because of your own condition. Still, I'll take care of you and Ember once we find a safe place.
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" The Rift and the Creatures "
As they drew closer, the sight before them was beyond anything they had imagined. A massive crack had torn open the sky and stretched down to the ground, wide enough to span nearly half the city. The ground around it remained solid, but the enormous fissure was wide and deep, splitting the urban landscape like a jagged wound.
Inside the crack, enormous creatures roamed—resembling dinosaurs but unlike any they had ever seen. These beasts were massive and powerful, moving with heavy, deliberate steps. They did not crawl or slither; their movements were slow but unstoppable, their presence terrifying and surreal.
The city around the crack was devastated. Buildings lay in ruins, some reduced to skeletal frames blackened by intense heat. Walls were shattered, windows blown out, and scorch marks covered entire blocks. The temperature was suffocatingly high, the air thick with smoke and the acrid smell of burning. Dead bodies and unconscious people littered the streets—victims of the destruction and sudden, harsh environmental changes.
Lily's voice broke through the chaos as she looked at Aria's back. "Aria, your back… it's bleeding badly. What's going on?"
Aria clenched her teeth, fighting the sharp pain but kept her voice calm and steady. "It's nothing. Just a scratch from debris when we were running."
Despite her words, the burning pain in her back flared sharply—a cruel reminder of the transformation stirring within her.
They didn't waste a moment. "Let's find Ember—fast," Aria said firmly, her voice steady despite the growing pain gnawing at her back. Lily didn't ask any questions; she simply nodded, understanding the urgency.
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" Searching for Ember "
They moved toward the chaos, where crowds of people were running in panic, and strange creatures rampaged through the streets, tearing down everything in their path.
"Let's go there," Lily urged, eyes scanning the destruction. "Who knows if Ember is stuck somewhere between them?"
As they pushed forward, Aria noticed strange figures soaring above the chaos—flying humanoid beings unlike anything she had seen before.
"I don't know what they are," she murmured, her gaze fixed on the sky.
Aria nodded to Lily, signaling to keep moving despite the sharp, spreading pain in her back. I can't control this much longer. Why is this happening to me now? she thought, struggling to maintain her composure.
Suddenly, Lily's voice broke through, trembling and choked with tears. "Aria… come… I found Ember."
Aria's concern deepened at the sound of Lily's pained, stumbling voice. She quickened her pace toward her friend. Why does Lily sound so broken? I need to see for myself.
They reached Ember, who lay weak and fading on the ground. Aria's eyes widened with worry. "Ahhh, what's happening? What happened to you, Ember? Why are you in this condition?"
Ember's voice was barely a whisper, fading but filled with confusion. "Why… Lily? Aria? Why do you look so scared?"
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" Aria's Transformation and Memory "
As they talked, Aria's mind began to spiral. The pain in her back grew unbearable, and her resistance faltered.
A vivid memory surged through her mind—a desperate moment from long ago.
She saw herself standing in a strange, otherworldly place bathed in a deep red hue. The trees around them were crimson, their leaves a natural scarlet that shimmered softly in the dim light. The sky above was alive with people flying effortlessly, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
In that moment, Aria was holding the hand of a man with silver hair and piercing red eyes—Jaks. Around them, a strange language flowed—sounds and symbols utterly alien, impossible to understand fully. Yet somehow, Aria could grasp the basic meaning, as if the words were simple and clear beneath the strange noise.
I don't know what kind of language this is, she thought, but somehow I understand it—like it's basic, like a faint echo of meaning.
Her voice trembled as she pleaded, "I know I am the one who wants revenge on my parents because of the way they treated me, and I am the one who asked you to do this. But now I really don't want this anymore. I'm good with you, so please calm down, stop. I don't want this anymore."
Tears welled in her eyes as she clung to his hand, her heart heavy with regret.
Then, without warning, the entire planet exploded in a blinding flash. The ground shattered, the sky tore apart, and a wave of destruction swept through everything. No one survived.
Back in reality, Aria slowly removed her hands from her eyes, revealing a terrifying sight—her eyes were bleeding like a tsunami, the color shifting from black to a fierce, glowing red. On her back, the natural wings' structure was visible, a reminder of her origin and the power she carried.
She found herself unable to concentrate, her mind slipping away from the struggle to resist the transformation. As her mental defenses crumbled, the transformation accelerated, progressing smoothly and uncontrollably without any resistance
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" Sean and Collie Head to Elysium Subway "
The scene shifted sharply to Collie and Sean, caught in the heart of devastation. Collie's face was ashen, sweat streaming down his forehead as he gripped Sean's shoulder, shaking him with desperate urgency. His eyes, wide and frantic, scanned the ruined landscape around them—buildings reduced to skeletal frames, smoke curling into the darkening sky, and the distant roars of monstrous creatures echoing through the air.
"Sean, what's happening? Don't sleep now! Wake up!" Collie's voice cracked, raw with panic. "There's so much chaos. We need to find our family."
But Sean's body was limp, his skin pale and slick with sweat. The overwhelming environmental changes had taken their toll, and like so many others, he slipped into unconsciousness.
Collie's breath caught in his throat, tears threatening to spill as he frantically looked around. His voice trembled as he pleaded, "Sean, please wake up! Look—Marco's half body is already eaten by that huge lizard!" He pointed with shaking hands toward a massive, dinosaur-like creature—a terrifying beast from another dimension, its scales glinting ominously in the fading light.
Collie struggled to lift Sean, his arms trembling under the weight. His legs wobbled as he fought to steady himself, exhaustion and fear pressing down like a crushing weight. "Sean, please wake up fast! Walk on your own feet—I can't carry you for long."
Sean's face was drenched in sweat, but he remained motionless, trapped in the grip of unconsciousness.
Collie's chest heaved with ragged breaths, his body tense and trembling. His eyes flickered with a fierce mix of desperation and determination, refusing to surrender despite the overwhelming odds.
The camera slowly zoomed out, revealing the full scope of the devastation around them. Lifeless bodies littered the ground—some unconscious, others brutally destroyed by monstrous creatures. The air was thick with despair, fear, and the acrid scent of smoke and burning.
Beneath the shattered cityscape, the subway station had been torn open by the disaster. Through the cracked ground, the dark depths of the station were visible, revealing a horrifying scene—countless people trapped and crushed in the chaos below, their desperate struggles frozen in time.
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" Lonia International Airport and Family Concern "
At Lonia International Airport,
the constant hum of travelers and rolling suitcases created a familiar backdrop, yet Lia barely noticed. Her small feet pattered quickly on the polished floor as she ran alongside her sister, Lusia. Her voice was soft, tinged with a mix of sadness and curiosity.
"Lusia, where's brother? I can't see him anywhere. You said he's waiting for us here at the airport," Lia asked, her big eyes searching the crowd anxiously.
Lusia slowed her pace, a gentle smile softening her worried eyes. She reached out and tucked a stray lock of Lia's hair behind her ear, her voice calm and soothing. "Don't worry, Lia. Brother told me on the phone that he's in the hotel area. Our parents are already there too. We haven't seen them yet, but they're safe for now. We can't go home just yet with everything happening, so try not to be sad." She bent down slightly and opened her arms. "Here, let me carry you for a bit. If you keep running on your own feet, you'll get tired and hurt."
Lia's face lit up with determination, her small hands clenched into tiny fists at her sides. "I'm not scared, Lusia. I'm grown now. I can run on my own." She took a few quick steps forward, then glanced back with a curious tilt of her head. "But… why can't I see anyone else awake? It feels like we're the only ones here."
Lusia's eyes flickered around the quiet terminal, the usual chatter and footsteps strangely absent. The air itself felt heavy, stagnant. She pulled Lia gently into a protective embrace, feeling the warmth of her sister's small body against her own. "I don't know, Lia. But we have to stay close and keep moving."
The soft echo of their footsteps was the only sound as they continued toward the hotel, the weight of uncertainty hanging in the air.
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The camera pulled back, revealing a wide, sweeping view of Lonia International Airport. Compared to the chaos ravaging the city, the airport was mostly untouched—its vast terminals and runways standing firm with only minor scratches and damage. Pools of blood stained the polished floors, and scattered corpses lay motionless, silent witnesses to the disaster that had unfolded nearby.
The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid smell of burnt debris. An eerie stillness settled over everything, broken only by the distant, unsettling hum of strange, flying humanoid creatures. These beings moved with unnatural grace, their forms flickering like shadows as they examined the airport and its human occupants. They seemed detached, as if studying Earth's inhabitants before preparing to leave, their presence a chilling reminder of the unknown forces unleashed by the crack in the sky.
Despite the grim evidence of destruction, the airport remained a fragile sanctuary amid the devastation—a place where survivors gathered, shaken but alive.
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Inside a spacious hotel room overlooking the airport ,
the von Falkenhayn family gathered in tense silence. The scent of antiseptic and stale air hung heavy. Adrian stood by the window, phone in hand, his sharp gaze fixed on the scene outside. Nearby, their mother sat on a plush armchair, her face etched with worry but composed. Around them, other family members—an uncle and a cousin—sat quietly, their expressions grim.
The mother's voice broke the silence, soft but firm, filled with deep concern. "Adrian, you've done well keeping everyone informed. But now, you must go out and find Lusia and Lia. It's not enough to just know where they are. You need to be with them. This imbalance outside… it's dangerous."
She glanced toward the window, her eyes reflecting the worry she felt for her daughters. "If you don't go soon, I'm afraid Lia might try to find you herself. She's too young to be out there alone, but she's brave and stubborn—like her sister."
Adrian's jaw tightened as he turned from the window, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on him. He could feel the urgency in his mother's gaze. "I will find them," he said quietly but resolutely.
Their mother reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm—a silent gesture of love and encouragement before he stepped toward the door, ready to face the uncertainty beyond.
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Adrian closed the hotel door behind him, the weight of his mother's words pressing on his shoulders. He pulled out Lusia's phone and dialed her number, his eyes scanning the quiet airport terminal cautiously. Every step was careful, measured, as he moved toward the entry area, alert to any sign of danger.
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" Elysium and the Winged Struggle "
The scene shifted to Elysium, where Aria, Lily, and Ember found themselves surrounded by the strange creatures. The massive beasts drew closer, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground beneath them.
As the creatures advanced, Aria's back muscles began to twitch and writhe. Then, something shifted—a subtle tearing sound, barely audible above the rising wind. From her back, the faint outline of wings began to emerge.
Ember, weak and trembling, held back, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can help you, Aria. But… what's happening to your body?"
Lily's sobs filled the air, her tears falling freely as she struggled to hold herself together amid the chaos. The situation was dire, and the pain etched on Ember's face told a story of suffering beyond words.
Ember's skin was pale and clammy, almost translucent in places—a stark contrast to the healthy glow she once had. The hole in her stomach had caused massive blood loss, and the effects were evident. Her lips were dry and cracked, her eyes sunken and glassy. The loss of nearly half her blood volume had pushed her body into a state resembling hypovolemic shock, where the skin becomes cold, clammy, and pale due to inadequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues. Her breathing was shallow, rapid, and her pulse was weak and thready.
Despite the miracle of her survival, Ember's body was fragile, and every breath seemed to bring new pain. Her muscles twitched involuntarily, and her breathing was shallow and uneven.
"Is this a curse or a miracle?" Lily whispered, her voice trembling. "She's still alive… but barely."
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Lily sat on the cold ground, cradling Ember's fragile body close, tears streaming down her cheeks. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the chilling presence of the approaching creatures. Her eyes kept drifting to Aria, who remained mostly still, but subtle movements betrayed the intense struggle within.
From Aria's back, the wings grew. She was approximately 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall, and for her to achieve flight, her wingspan would need to be at least 20 feet (6 meters) or more. The process was agonizing. The wings began as skeletal extensions growing from her shoulder blades, each bone lengthening and thickening with agonizing pressure. Muscles and tendons formed alongside, causing spasms and tension that rippled through her back and shoulders. The skin stretched taut, painfully accommodating the expanding structure.
Feathers sprouted gradually, starting as soft down before thickening into strong, flight-ready plumes. The wingspan dwarfed her body, extending far beyond her height on either side, casting a large shadow over the ground. Compared to the smaller, more compact wings of the flying humanoids from the crack, Aria's wings were enormous and still growing, emphasizing her unique and extraordinary nature.
Despite the obvious pain, Aria did not cry out. Her muscles twitched as they adjusted to the new weight and form, and her breathing grew more labored, but she remained silent, enduring the transformation with fierce resolve. Lily could see the strain in her face, the clenching of her jaw, the way her knuckles were white as she clenched her fists.
Lily's heart ached watching her friend suffer in silence. How can she bear this? she thought. The pain must be unbearable, yet she won't show it.
The wings continued to grow, feathers spreading wide, casting a shadow over the devastated ground. The sheer scale of the transformation was both breathtaking and terrifying.
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" Aria's Forgotten Memory "
Suddenly, the world around Aria dissolved into a swirl of white, leaf-like patterns glowing softly in endless waves. Her consciousness drifted into a forgotten memory—an echo from a distant past. I watched from afar, like a ghostly observer, as the scene unfolded before me.
Where am I? This place is unlike any planet or space I've known. The white patterns shift gently, and though I cannot smell, the silence is profound.
A voice calls softly, "Aria, are you awake?" It's familiar—Luna. But why is she here? And why does she have six massive black and gold wings on her back? Her expression is filled with concern.
"Aria, you are awake," Luna repeats gently.
I try to respond, but another voice cuts in sharply.
"Luna, I just woke up. I don't want you to waste your health healing me."
I saw myself—or rather, the reflection of myself—half of my body destroyed, only about seventy percent remains. Yet, I felt no physical pain. My wings were different now. When I saw Jaks in past dreams, I couldn't see myself clearly—only what Aria saw. But now, I saw myself fully, my eyes glowing red.
Luna's voice is calm, almost saintly. "Aria, today I will help you learn how to use your regeneration ability as healing."
I shook my head, frustration creasing my brow. "No, I can't use healing. I don't have that ability."
Luna smiled softly, eyes warm with patience. "You can control your cells with your brain and use fast regeneration at specific points. That's how you gain healing ability."
I frowned, crossing my arms tightly. "No, it's impossible. I can't control it."
"Don't make that face," Luna said kindly, gently touching my shoulder. "You can do everything. It just takes too much brain power now. Every time you use it, you lose consciousness because your brain can't handle it yet. But when you learn it as a basic skill, it will feel as natural as breathing or blinking."
I watched Luna carefully, feeling a strange calm in her presence.
Suddenly, a voice called out, breaking the moment. "Hey, you two! What are you still doing on top of the Lovihes tree? Let's go."
I saw Jaks again, but this time he was different—his expression unreadable, almost hollow, as if trying to mimic emotions but failing. I saw through it—it's just nothing.
"Aria, I revived all of them," Jaks said quietly, voice flat. "The whole planet is revived."
I narrowed my eyes, lips curling into a bitter sneer. "I don't need anything from you. You only know how to torturing people."
Jaks' face tightened, a flicker of hurt crossing his features. "What are you saying? I didn't do that. I revived them all because you didn't want anyone to die. Then you say you don't feel good, so I destroy again. Why are you angry with me?"
Their words confused me. What were they really talking about?
Suddenly, everything shifted again. The place changed, but it's good—it's the same place, and I have Luna with me.
I saw hope for Ember. "Aria, you're finally able to control one cell completely," Luna said softly. "I see I can use something that will save Ember. Just wait—I can save you. I just don't want to be helpless when monsters eat my body or Ember passes."
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Throughout this memory, I observed Aria and the others—not as Aria herself, but like a ghost watching a distant past. In my first dream, I was inside Aria, experiencing everything firsthand. Now, I am only watching, like a memory replaying through a ghostly perspective.
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