The sky split apart.
Not with thunder.
Not with lightning.
It simply…
opened.
A jagged scar stretched from one end of the heavens to the other, revealing an endless ocean of golden light beyond the blue sky.
Every sound disappeared.
The roaring wolves.
The terrified screams.
The crackling flames.
Everything fell silent.
Even the wind had stopped.
The Alpha Shadow Fang Wolf remained frozen in midair, its claws only inches from my face.
Its crimson eyes, once filled with bloodlust, now trembled with unmistakable fear.
Fear?
A beast capable of wiping out our entire village…
Was afraid.
The ancient monument at the center of Ashwood Village continued to shine, its weathered stone shedding centuries of dust as glowing runes emerged one after another.
Thump.
The Origin Core pulsed within my chest.
The rhythm matched the monument perfectly.
Each heartbeat sent waves of golden light across the square.
The villagers stared in stunned silence.
“What…
what is happening?”
Elder Rowan lowered his spear.
“I’ve lived for seventy-three years…”
“…and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Grandma Mira fell to her knees, whispering prayers under her breath.
The younger hunters looked between the sky and the monument, unsure whether to flee or bow.
Then the voice returned.
It was neither male nor female.
Young nor old.
It sounded as though countless souls were speaking in perfect harmony.
“The First Heir has awakened.”
The words echoed through the village.
Then through the mountains.
Then through the world itself.
My knees weakened.
“Heir?”
The title made no sense.
“I’m just…”
Before I could finish the sentence, another wave of pain exploded inside my chest.
It wasn’t physical.
It felt as though countless locked memories were trying to force themselves into my mind.
Fragments flashed before my eyes.
A throne carved from living stars.
An endless sea of darkness swallowing entire galaxies.
A child reaching toward a tree whose roots stretched across the universe.
Then…
Nothing.
The visions disappeared as quickly as they had come.
I stumbled backward, gasping for breath.
A translucent screen materialized before me.
ORIGIN CORE
Synchronization: 10%
New Ability Acquired:
Origin Sense (Passive)
Description:
“The eyes may be deceived.
The Origin never lies.”
Golden threads spread across my vision.
For the first time, I could truly see the world.
The hunters glowed with faint white light.
Grandma Mira’s body carried a warm emerald aura.
Even the Alpha Shadow Fang Wolf radiated streams of crimson energy.
Everything possessed an Origin.
Everything…
Except me.
I looked down at my own body.
There was no aura.
No color.
Only a bottomless darkness surrounding my soul.
“What…
am I?”
It wasn’t looking at me anymore.
Its eyes were fixed on the monument.
Slowly, a figure began to emerge from the pillar of golden light.
Not a human.
Not a spirit.
Something far older.
Its body was translucent, formed entirely of flowing runes and starlight.
Long silver hair drifted as though underwater.
Its face remained hidden beneath a veil of shimmering light.
The villagers instinctively bowed.
Even the wolves lowered their heads.
The mysterious being looked directly at me.
Then, in a voice so quiet that only I could hear, it spoke.
“You woke up far too early…”
The words echoed inside my mind.
I instinctively stepped back.
“…Who are you?”
The figure remained silent.
Its body shimmered like a reflection on water, as if it struggled to remain in this world.
For a brief moment, I thought it hadn’t heard me.
Then it raised its hand.
The world stopped.
Not metaphorically.
Everything…
Stopped.
The smoke rising from burning houses froze in the air.
The Alpha Wolf remained suspended mid-leap.
Even the falling leaves hung motionless around us.
Only the mysterious figure and I could move.
Cold air brushed against my face.
“What…
did you do?”
“It is not I.”
The voice carried an ancient sadness.
“It is your Origin.”
My Origin?
The figure slowly descended from the monument until it stood only a few steps away.
Although I still couldn’t see its face clearly, I could feel an overwhelming sense of familiarity.
As if…
I had met this being long ago.
Impossible.
This was my first day in this world.
Wasn’t it?
The figure extended a hand toward my chest.
The Origin Core responded instantly.
Golden light burst from the mark above my heart.
The figure trembled.
“…It truly chose you.”
“Chose me for what?”
No answer.
Instead, the figure looked toward the torn sky above Ashwood Village.
Its voice became urgent.
“Listen carefully.”
“I cannot remain here for long.”
“You are being hunted.”
“I know,” I replied.
“The system told me.”
“It is not a system.”
“It is a prison.”
My breath caught.
“…What?”
The figure continued.
“The Origin Core is speaking to you in a form your mind can understand.”
“It has never been a system.”
“It is the last fragment of the First Origin.”
Before I could ask another question, the air rippled violently.
A deep crack spread across the frozen sky.
The figure looked upward.
“They found us.”
Fear.
For the first time, I heard fear in its voice.
Something enormous pressed against the crack from the other side.
I couldn’t see its full form.
Only a single eye.
Pitch black.
Without a pupil.
Without emotion.
Every instinct screamed at me to run.
The figure stepped between us.
“No…”
“It cannot see him.”
“It must not.”
The eye blinked once.
The entire world shook.
Tiny fractures spread across the golden barrier surrounding Ashwood Village.
The figure sighed softly.
“There isn’t enough time.”
With a swift motion, it touched my forehead.
Agony exploded through my mind.
Fragments of unfamiliar memories flashed before my eyes.
A city built upon floating islands.
An endless battlefield where stars fell like rain.
Nine towering gates chained shut by rivers of light.
A lone warrior standing before them.
His face…
Was my own.
“No…”
I gasped.
“That’s impossible.”
The vision shattered.
The figure staggered, its body becoming increasingly transparent.
“You must grow stronger.”
“Find the remaining Origin Monuments.”
“There are nine.”
“When the ninth awakens…”
The figure paused.
“…The truth will return.”
Its body began dissolving into golden particles.
“Wait!”
“Who are you?”
For the first time…
The figure smiled.
A warm, gentle smile filled with both hope and regret.
“I…”
“…am the last Keeper.”
The final words faded with the wind.
The golden light vanished.
Time resumed.
Smoke rose once more.
The Alpha Wolf crashed to the ground with a startled yelp.
The villagers blinked in confusion, as though no time had passed at all.
No one reacted to the conversation.
No one seemed to remember the figure.
Had they never seen it?
Or had the Origin hidden it from everyone except me?
A sharp notification interrupted my thoughts.
Main Quest Updated
The Nine Origin Monuments
Progress: 1/9
Objective:
Find and awaken the remaining monuments.
Reward:
Unknown
Failure:
The world will forget you.
Another notification appeared immediately after.
Synchronization Increased
Origin Core: 15%
New Passive Skill Unlocked:
Echo Memory
Rare traces of the past may reveal themselves to you.
I stared at the final line.
“The world…
will forget me?”
Before I could think further, the Alpha Shadow Fang Wolf released a furious roar.
Its fear was gone.
Its instincts had returned.
With bloodshot eyes fixed on me, it lowered its body and prepared to charge once more.
Around us, the other wolves followed their leader.
The battle…
Had only just begun.