"Zara, have you found anything? Why was it so hard to kill those creatures?"
Harry stood near the laboratory table, watching Zara analyze the remains of the strange monsters they had killed earlier.
Zara didn't look up immediately. Her eyes were fixed on the holographic screen in front of her.
"Yes, Harry… I found something."
Her voice was calm, but there was tension hidden inside it.
Harry stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Zara slowly turned toward him.
"After performing multiple experiments, I discovered something unusual. Every creature present on Alpha-1 has one common feature."
She paused.
"There is no thermal radiation in their bodies."
Harry frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"They are alive… but their bodies are cold. Completely cold. No heat, no biological thermal activity — yet they function normally."
Harry crossed his arms.
"Maybe they mutated because of environmental changes. We already know this planet is different."
Zara shook her head.
"No… it's more than mutation."
She adjusted the machine and continued scanning another creature.
"I have a theory."
Harry looked at her seriously.
"What theory?"
Zara hesitated for a moment.
"It may sound strange… but I believe these creatures are not acting on their own."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Zara looked straight into his eyes.
"I think… they are following someone's commands."
Silence filled the room.
Harry tried to process her words.
"That sounds impossible."
Zara continued,
"As I told you, all creatures have cold physiques. No thermal radiation. But we humans have warm bodies. We emit heat."
Harry slowly understood what she was implying.
"You're saying…"
Zara nodded.
"Maybe our thermal radiation is attracting something… or someone."
Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Zara, I think you're overthinking this. We've been under pressure for years. Stress can affect judgment."
"You don't believe me," Zara interrupted.
"No, I'm not saying that," Harry replied calmly. "I just think we need more evidence."
Before Zara could respond, the lab door burst open.
"Sorry to disturb you, sir!" a soldier shouted. "We are in trouble!"
Harry immediately turned.
"What happened?"
A young soldier stepped forward, panting heavily.
"Sir… me and my team were patrolling near the forest. We went too far without realizing it. Suddenly, two huge monsters appeared."
"What kind of monsters?" Harry asked.
"They looked like sea creatures… but much larger and more dangerous. We opened fire, but bullets didn't work. We had to use missiles to kill the weaker one."
Harry's expression hardened.
"And the larger one?"
The soldier swallowed.
"It's still alive, sir. The rest of the team is fighting it. They sent me to call for backup."
Harry grabbed his rifle.
"Soldiers, move out!"
Within minutes, Harry and a group of armed soldiers rushed toward the battlefield.
The forest was eerily silent.
Then they saw it.
A massive black creature was devouring one of the soldiers' bodies. Corpses were scattered everywhere.
The remaining soldiers were already dead.
A terrifying aura surrounded the monster.
Harry felt a strange sensation in his chest.
Run…
Run and save yourself.
But he suppressed his fear.
"Take position! Aim and fire!"
Before the soldiers could shoot, the creature released a thick black mist.
The mist spread across the ground and covered the dead bodies.
Suddenly…
The dead soldiers started moving.
Their lifeless eyes opened.
They stood up.
And attacked.
"Fire!" Harry shouted.
Bullets tore through their bodies, but they kept moving.
Like zombies.
Like puppets.
The real monster stood still, watching them with a twisted smile.
Harry realized something.
"This is bad… very bad."
He turned toward his soldiers.
"Everyone retreat! Move back to the base! I will hold it here!"
"But sir—"
"That's an order!"
The soldiers ran.
Harry started firing continuously.
The monster suddenly attacked.
Its massive tail struck Harry's arm.
Blood splashed across the ground.
But Harry didn't stop.
He kept firing and slowly retreated into the forest.
The monster followed him in rage.
Harry's vision was getting blurry.
Then he saw something.
A cave.
With his last strength, he ran inside.
The monster roared behind him.
Harry stumbled and touched the cave wall.
Suddenly—
Click.
The entire cave lit up.
Golden light filled the area.
In front of him stood a strange stone structure with a carved hand on it.
Harry's blood dropped onto the stone.
The stone began to glow.
Suddenly, intense pain spread across his body.
He screamed.
"Human detected… weak life signals… awakening process started."
A mechanical voice echoed.
Harry felt something entering his body.
His bones felt like they were breaking.
Golden energy burst out from his chest.
He screamed in agony.
Then suddenly—
Silence.
The pain disappeared.
His wounds were gone.
His arm was healed.
A holographic figure appeared in front of him.
A dangerous-looking entity.
Harry stepped back.
"What… are you?"
The figure transformed into a girl.
"So finally… you are here. I was waiting for your kind."
Harry was shocked.
It was reading his thoughts.
"I am Snow, the AI of this rune."
Monster roars echoed outside.
Snow pointed toward the cave entrance.
"Go and kill it."
Harry shook his head.
"I can't. That creature almost killed me."
Snow threw a huge stone at him.
Harry instinctively raised his hands.
The stone shattered into pieces.
He froze.
Snow smiled.
"You see? You are no longer weak."
She handed him a sword and implanted a chip in his head.
Suddenly, Harry could see information everywhere.
Names.
Levels.
Stats.
"You are now an Awakener."
Harry walked toward the cave entrance.
The monster was waiting outside.
But it wasn't entering.
"C-rank monster," Snow's voice echoed in his head.
Harry's body suddenly moved on its own.
Golden energy surrounded him.
He charged forward.
He grabbed the monster's tail and slammed it into a tree.
Then with one swift strike—
He cut its head.
The monster collapsed.
"Collect the crystal," Snow said.
Harry tore open the monster's body and found a red crystal.
He returned to the cave.
"What is all this? What are awakeners?"
Snow looked at him seriously.
"I am here to assist humanity. And with your arrival… he is also awakening."
"Who?"
Snow's voice became cold.
"Absolute Destruction."
She continued,
"This planet contains a powerful energy. Every living being absorbs it and evolves. Some become hunters, some mages, some healers. Monsters also evolve."
She looked at Harry.
"Humans are too weak right now."
"You must awaken others."
Harry clenched his fists.
"What crisis are you talking about?"
Snow smiled slightly.
"We don't have much time."
They talked for a long time.
Snow explained everything.
Harry stood silently.
"I understand now."
He turned toward the exit.
"I will bring my soldiers."
Snow nodded.
"Humanity must become strong… to face its greatest enemy."
Harry walked out of the cave.
His eyes were filled with determination.
"We will awaken humanity."
— End of Chapter 3 —
© 2026 Void. All Rights Reserved.