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Echoes of Mastery
Chapter 1: Troubled Past (UPDATED)

Chapter 1: Troubled Past (UPDATED)

The sky above is a bright, clear blue, with a few fluffy clouds drifting lazily. The overall atmosphere is one of tranquility and harmony, where the beauty of nature and the warmth of a friendly neighborhood come together in perfect balance. Beyond the homes, rolling hills rise softly, covered in a tapestry of forests and open fields. The trees are a mix of evergreen and deciduous species, showcasing a blend of deep greens and the warm hues of autumn if it’s the right season. The fields are often dotted with wildflowers adding a touch of rural charm. In the distance, you can see the majestic peaks of the nearby Shawangunk Ridge, their rugged outlines creating a dramatic backdrop against the sky. The ridge is partially shrouded in a light mist or haze, adding to the sense of peaceful seclusion.

Jayce is in the backyard of his family home, a classic, two-story colonial-style home with a welcoming light beige paint. Jayce can hear the revving of his father's red sports motorcycle arriving home. Jayce sitting outside, quietly reading an action comic book. Both his mother and father come outside, his father still wearing his hunter gear, he puts his sword right by the door the second he comes out to greet his son. Has his father’s mouth moves their seems to be no words being said. The moment they hug each other a thin fog is seen to be creeping onto them and in second it covers the entire neighborhood. As Jayce’s father looks up, it seems he gets a gut feeling and picks up Jayce handing him to his Wife. As he goes for his sword, three demonic creatures appear from the fog as if they were a part of the fog. Jayce’s mother immediately starts running away and starts entering the forest, while carrying Jayce with tears in her eyes. These creatures had long arms with claw-like hands and they looked like they appeared to be smokey. As Jayce is still watching his father one of the creature’s grab his fathers arm before he can grab his sword and another creature can be seen completely slicing that arm off with its claws.

A blood curdling scream can be heard from his father as the last thing Jayce can see is his father being torn limb from limb. As the creature’s are finishing up dealing with the father, the mother can be seen running for her life with her child in her hands. She is dodging all incoming rocks and trees, trying to make it to the bunker. Behind her wind can be heard closing the gap between them and the creatures. As she jumps one of the creatures tries to slash at her but she dodges but uses a tree as a way to boost herself and is able to distance herself from the creatures. As she almost makes it to the bunker the fog slowly starts to thicken making it more difficult to see. While being slightly blinded by the fog, she feels a sharp sting on her back, then feels a warm liquid going down her back and she now knows she has been cut but by something unknown. As she finally makes it to the bunker she enters a code putting Jayce in it immediately, however before she can enter herself, heavy breathing can be felt behind her.

A very large muscular demon can be seen behind her smiling with extremely sharp teeth. Jayce enters the bunker the lights immediately turn on and inside is pools of blood and bodies of all the previous people that made it. As Jayce’s mother realizes what is happening, she immediately tries to push the demon back but failing miserably due to size difference, she presses a button on the panel of the bunker and breaks it. As the door slowly begins to close the demon tries to enter the bunker but Jayce’s mother is fighting him back using everything in her power to stop him until the door can close. As Jayce runs backwards tripping on a body part he is watching his mother fight off the demon with every last breath. Inch by inch the gap shortens and in a last ditch effort to try and get into the bunker the demon uses Jayce’s mother as a door stop putting her in between the door and the frame but instead all it does it cut her in two. As a part of her upper torso is inside the bunker, Jayce sees the last moments of his mother as he stares into her eyes and watches her go lifeless.

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As the face of his mother stares at him, Jayce wakes up sweating, breathing heavily and gripping onto the bed tightly. He gets up from the bed while still sweating and goes to grab a towel. On Jayce’s desk there was a paper of the incident “Unknown dungeon break causes the death of 300,000, and leaving 50,000 extremely injured.” Another paper next to it shows all of the hunters that also perished and only 2 names were highlighted “Ethan Cato and Olivia Cato.” Jayce leaves the room to go take a shower, all the things in his room are things of his mother and father. Pictures of the incident are pinned on his wall, and one noticeable picture is one of a very large demonic creature that touches the clouds.

4 years earlier, Jayce is still in the bunker crying and is clearly panicking begging for someone to help. Loud banging and growling are coming from outside the bunker, the large demon is trying to break in. As the relentless hitting on the door dents slowly start to appear and time seems to have slowed and minutes feel like hours and Jayce still panicking can’t do anything and is afraid to move. A hand penetrates the door, and the hand reaches out trying to grab something but at that second it goes limp and voices can be heard. Jayce, exhausted from crying and feeling extremely sick, gives out one more yell for help. The voices hearing the yell for help, rush to open the door but cant due to the control panel being destroyed. The door slowly starts bending and the door gets broken open by one armored individual, as the light enters the bunker the hunters are shocked and disgusted to see all of the massacred people’s bodies and the gallons of blood on the floor. One of the hunters with a bow begins to puke outside, the armored hunter notices the top half of Olivia Cato, and his eyes widen looking at Jayce who is crying and is soaked in blood he knows who Jayce is.

As the armored hunter walks closer to Jayce he removes his helmet and carries Jayce. “Hey Jayce, you remember me, it's me Matteo, I am really good friends with your father.” Jayce's nods in agreement “Where is your father at? Is he ok?” with a weakened voice he responds with “He is Home, and he is with mom.”

Matteo is clearly upset and is seen crying a bit, puts on a smile and leaves the bunker. Before Jayce passes out the last thing he sees is the body of the demon that was trying to break in and the other half of his mom’s body.

Before Jayce passes out the last thing he sees is the body of the demon that was trying to break in and the other half of his mom’s body.

He reawakens in a room with a warm blanket over him and he hears a large gathering of people talking and running quickly. Someone opens the door Jayce is staying in, that someone happens to be his older sister, she runs to him crying and hugging him. The people behind her are all of our father’s and mother’s former team members, each grieving in their own way.

Returning to the present, Jayce enters his room after getting out of the shower, sits down and picks up a family photo of everyone. Jayce clutching onto his head as he gets a massive headache out of nowhere, and feels different but doesn't know what it is.