I'm at peace…
But why is it so dark?
Nothing.
No sound. No feeling. No pain.
Just… nothing.
Did I die?
The thought comes slowly, like it's crawling through fog.
Killed by those bastards?
The last thing I remember—
Chains.
Screams.
Blood.
Exposed. Broken. Tortured… for being the illegitimate son of the king.
The king's bastard.
That's what they called me.
But… how did I end up here?
I try to move.
Nothing responds.
My body feels like it doesn't exist.
Panic flickers in my chest.
Am I alive… or trapped somewhere worse than death?
A punishment?
A trick?
Did the king's council finally erase me?
Then—
Light.
Faint at first.
Weak.
Like a dying ember flickering in the void.
Shapes begin to form.
Stone.
Cold. Wet.
A floor.
"Ghh—!"
Pain slams into my skull like a hammer.
I collapse, gasping, clutching my head.
"…I'm still alive," I mutter hoarsely. "But how…? And why are all my wounds… gone?"
The light grows stronger.
I force my eyes open.
A cave.
Small. Damp.
Rot clings to the air like a curse.
Mold. Decay. Silence.
I push myself up, using the wall for support. My legs tremble violently. My vision sways.
My stomach growls.
Loud. Painful.
How long was I out?
What happened to me?
And—
Why does it feel like something is watching me?
I stagger forward.
Toward the exit.
Moonlight crashes into my eyes.
"—Tch!"
I raise my arm, shielding my face.
Slowly… my vision adjusts.
And then—
I freeze.
This… isn't home.
Towering trees stretch into the sky like giants carved from wood and stone.
Their trunks are wider than houses.
Their branches twist like ancient fingers reaching down from the heavens.
The forest… breathes.
Leaves whisper.
Insects hum.
And somewhere far away—
A waterfall roars like thunder trapped in stone.
I inhale deeply.
The air—
It's different.
Clean. Rich. Alive.
Earth. Water. Flowers.
Beautiful.
Unfamiliar.
I follow the sound.
Each step pulls me deeper.
The roar grows louder.
Mist wraps around my body.
The forest feels… aware now.
Like it's watching me.
Judging me.
Then—
I see it.
A waterfall crashes down from a towering cliff into a crystal-clear pool below.
Mist rises like wandering spirits.
Moonlight dances across the surface.
I step forward.
Slow.
Cautious.
I kneel.
My hand dips into the water.
Cold.
Real.
I drink.
Greedy.
Desperate.
Again.
Again.
Then I plunge my head under.
A sharp gasp tears from my lungs as clarity floods back into my body.
I rise.
Breathing steady now.
Alert.
Aware.
Watching.
That's when I hear it.
Voices.
Close.
My body locks instantly.
Behind a tree—
A figure.
Tall.
Unmoving.
Clouds shift.
Moonlight reveals him.
A giant.
At least seven feet tall.
His body is covered in carved scars—like history etched into flesh.
Three deep claw marks slash across his face.
He steps forward.
I speak first.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
He speaks.
"###$$#$$$$###**"
My blood runs cold.
"What…?"
I don't understand a single word.
He steps closer.
Another.
Branches shift behind me.
My instincts scream.
I turn—
Too late.
Four more emerge.
From the shadows.
Like predators born from the forest itself.
Tall. Muscular. Wild.
Leaves wrapped around their waists.
Bone-tipped spears in their hands.
I'm surrounded.
The scarred giant speaks again.
"###$$$##—"
Still nothing.
But I understand enough.
Hunt.
The largest one grins.
He leans in close.
I feel his breath.
Rot.
Blood.
Hunger.
Then—
A voice.
Clear.
Understandable.
"###$$$##… You'll make a fine meal."
My heart drops.
Run.
I move—
Too slow.
Too weak.
A spear presses against my throat.
Cold.
Sharp.
Final warning.
I freeze.
Another behind me.
Another at my side.
The leader watches.
Amused.
Something in me snaps.
I swing.
Kick.
Drive forward—
Pain explodes.
A spear shaft slams into my gut.
"Gah—!"
I stagger.
Another strike cracks across my face.
Blood floods my mouth.
I spit—
Snarl—
Lunge again—
Then—
Impact.
Heavy.
Brutal.
The back of my skull erupts in pain.
Darkness consumes everything.
Again.
But this time…
It isn't dark.
It's blinding.
White.
Endless white.
No sky.
No ground.
Just… light.
Am I dead?
Is this… Valhalla?
No.
It doesn't feel like it.
No war.
No feast.
No voices.
Only silence.
Then—
Laughter.
"Hahaha…"
Warm.
Familiar.
Gentle.
"No, my son. This is not Valhalla."
My breath stops.
"I don't have much time. Listen carefully."
The voice sharpens.
"You are no longer in the land of Sparta."
My eyes widen.
"Sparta… was destroyed."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
"Along with the king… your father."
My chest tightens.
"You are the last of the S. Sparta bloodline."
The voice softens.
"…my son. Demos S. Sparta."
My lips tremble.
"What…?"
"Who are you?!" I shout. "Where am I?! What is this place?! Why is Sparta destroyed?!"
"I am your mother."
Silence.
My mind fractures.
"That's impossible…" I whisper. "My mother died giving birth to me."
"And that man… the king… gave me nothing but a name. A lie. Until the council exposed me."
My fists tighten.
"Is that why I'm here?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"But this is not your homeland."
Panic rises.
"Then where am I?!"
No answer.
Instead—
"I cannot tell you everything yet. You are too weak."
A pause.
"But your people… are here."
My eyes widen.
"My people?"
"Yes. Spartans. In this world."
My breath shakes.
"How am I supposed to find them if I don't even know where I am?!"
"That is not important right now."
Her voice sharpens.
"I am giving you something."
"To help you survive."
"To grow."
"To become what you were meant to be."
My voice drops.
"…What is it?"
"A System."
The word echoes.
Strange.
Heavy.
"It will guide you."
"It will push you."
"And when the time comes…"
"You will return."
A pause.
"…not as a lost son…"
"…but as the King of Sparta."
My heart pounds.
"You will build them."
"A nation."
"Strong."
"Unbroken."
"You will lead them all."
My fists tremble.
"Why should I believe you?! I don't even know if you're real!"
A soft laugh.
Warm.
Loving.
"Oh… my stubborn son."
"In time… you will understand."
Then—
The light shifts.
Something forms.
A figure.
Radiant.
Ethereal.
A woman.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
Terrifyingly gentle.
She walks toward me.
Slow.
Silent.
My breath catches.
"…Mother?"
She says nothing.
She reaches out—
And gently kisses my forehead.
The moment her lips touch—
My body erupts in light.
My soul screams—
And everything disappears.
END