Silhouetted monsters emerged from the portals. It didn’t take long for a few to turn into an army. They marched through the busy thoroughfare, crushing cars under their clawed hooves. Some were as tall as humans. A select few towered above skyscrapers.
"They killed millions. Destroyed nations. Drove us to escape to the deepest ends of the Earth. For the first time in a million years, humans were hunted to near extinction.
That is the moment we learned the devastating forces of the Phantoms.
They couldn’t be killed. Our bullets bounced off their skin. Our strongest and sharpest blades shattered upon contact. And using nuclear bombs devastated our forces more than theirs.
We were on the brink of extinction... until our Awakeners joined the fray."
A small group of men and women, faceless yet distinct, stood against the horde. The bright aura coming from these heroic figures broke the bleakness of the scene. Their powerful weapons and runic armors shimmered as blood dripped through them.
These magnificent few cleaved their way through the horde until none were left.
"Their sacrifice paved the way for humanity to retake our lands. Rebuild our society. Forge it anew, mold it into something with Psions at its center."
Blobs of red light swirled through a ruined city. Ræzoň. Or Psions, as they called it here.
Imbued by the power of the universe itself, broken rubble from a skyscraper floated and rejoined its original structure. Trees grew from buds. Flowers bloomed. Animals flourished. All sorts of living and non-living things returned to normal.
Now, the scene showed a bustling city, reminiscent of the world Eren left ten years ago.
It painted an inspiring story. Humanity, saving itself from the brink of extinction. Using the power of Psions to take back the control they lost over their own lives.
"But our battle for survival is not over," continued Mr. Saurus. "Each day is dangerous. Portals emerge at random. And until those Phantoms are defeated, they remain open, allowing more of them to come through.
It’s only through the continued efforts of our superheroes that we get to sleep soundly at night.
That is why we need more Awakeners. People like you who have the talent to save our race from suffering another defeat.
You, yes you! You can save our world!
So, what are you waiting for? Dial 990-055–Awakeners to become—"
The dinosaur’s voice still lingered in the room as Dr. Reid turned the TV off.
Eren kept silent as he digested this information.
Their reluctance in telling him the truth finally made sense. Outside these four walls, those Phantoms still walked the Earthen lands.
"I wish that we didn’t have to show that to you, to children, to the world itself. But it can’t be helped. To survive this apocalypse, we need all hands on deck."
Eren nodded, sympathizing with her worries. But if he were going to be honest, he thought it’d be worse.
He was used to monster invasions. He’d seen a sea of monsters trudge through cities, destroying entire civilizations. It was tragic, but normal. As normal as grass fires and diseases and deaths.
But cultivators kept it in check. Compared to their power, these citadel-destroying creatures were as harmless as animals. And they treated them as such. They were a pest, but not enough to eradicate them from the face of the world.
It was just the same as how humans treated lions and tigers and bears.
Those predators wouldn’t hesitate to kill a human in cold blood. But humans still preserved them in their own habitat. They don’t hunt them to extinction. After all, they were part of the natural ecosystem of life.
Cultivators treated their monsters the same.
At least, that’s what they told themselves. Eren thought it an excuse. They just kept monsters as a way to pass the time. Let those creatures challenge them lest they challenge each other.
Eren shook his head. Mentions of monsters made him nostalgic.
"Do you understand our situation now?" she asked him.
Her gaze flickered to his heart monitor, judging his body’s reaction. Making sure she didn’t make the wrong decision in telling a 10 year coma patient the truth just hours after his awakening.
Eren wanted more answers, but judging from that look on her face, she won’t tell him anything straight up.
He had to take advantage of her perception of him as a 10-year old boy stuck in a 20 year old’s body.
"I can become like those superheroes?" He feigned excitement. His heart rate backed that up.
Next, a pointed question in the form of childish curiosity. "They must be so cool! How did they learn how to use those cool weapons and powers?"
Dr. Reid’s face lightened. She realized she was dealing with a kid with fantasies. He made a situation in which it was better to give away a secret rather than let a boy’s positivity fizzle out.
"They have Ascension Arts that teach them how to use their Psions," she revealed. "As for those weapons, as long as you work hard, you can get one for yourself in the future."
Eren’s heart seized for a moment. Ascension Arts!
Were they the same ones he had in his mind? If so, how did they obtain them? How did they learn how to use Ræzoň?
"How can I get one of those Ascension Arts, doctor?"
She pursed her lips. Debating.
"I’ll do good in my rehabilitation," he promised.
A reaction. Her eyebrow raised, considering his words as a good option to motivate his recovery.
"There is a way for you to obtain an Ascension Art for free," she said. "The United Governments provides a complimentary Art to those who had been proven talented in Psions."
United Governments. Eren itched to learn how that came about. How did world leaders agree to a single governing body?
But he didn’t let his curiosity get the better of him. He focused on the Ascension Arts. That’s what mattered.
"How can I do that?" he asked Dr. Reid.
"Simple. I’m going to test your talent."