CHAPTER 3: ECHOES OF THE PAST
Sincere crouched near a cluster of tall trees, his serpent fang knife glinting faintly in the morning light. He moved silently, eyes scanning the ground for usable wood and stones. The lake’s tranquil beauty belied the dangers he knew lurked within the world of Aeros. Every sound, every shadow in the trees set his nerves on edge.
As he worked, his thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the past—a past that felt like a distant dream. Six thousand years. The number was incomprehensible, a vast stretch of time that had reduced everything he once knew to dust.
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He remembered the day the world fell apart. Earth had been a fragile planet, burdened by humanity’s unrelenting hunger for progress. The air was thick with pollution, the oceans bloated with waste, and the soil barren from centuries of overuse. Then came the sickness—a plague that swept across the globe, sparing none. It started with fevers and coughing, but soon it became clear that the sickness was not just physical. It tore at the mind, driving people into madness before the end.
Sincere had been one of the lucky ones, or so he had thought at the time. As a military strategist, his skills were deemed invaluable to the Eos Project, a last-ditch effort to preserve humanity. Thousands of pods were built, each containing a carefully chosen individual: scientists, engineers, leaders, and strategists like him. They were humanity’s best hope for survival, their mission to seek out new worlds and rebuild what had been lost.
He could still recall the sterile glow of the laboratory as he said his goodbyes. His parents, faces lined with worry and grief, had held him tightly. His younger sister, tears streaming down her cheeks, had begged him not to go. His aunts and uncles, his cousins—they had all been there, their faces a mosaic of hope and despair.
“I’ll find a way,” he had promised, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his heart. “I’ll come back for you. For all of you.”
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But he hadn’t come back. He had awoken to a world that bore no resemblance to Earth, a world where six thousand years had erased everything he had known. His family, his friends, his planet—they were gone, reduced to memories and dust. The weight of that realization pressed down on him, a hollow ache that no amount of survival could fill.
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Sincere shook himself from his thoughts, forcing his focus back to the task at hand. He picked up a smooth stone, its cool surface grounding him. The System chimed softly in his peripheral vision, acknowledging his efforts.
+3 Basic Wood.
+2 Stone.
As he tucked the materials into his inventory, a faint noise reached his ears—a low, guttural growl carried on the wind. He froze, his grip tightening on the knife. The sound was unlike anything he had heard before, a blend of animalistic hunger and something far more sinister.
The underbrush rustled nearby, and the growling grew louder. Slowly, Sincere backed away, his eyes darting to the surrounding trees. The peaceful lake suddenly felt oppressive, its beauty masking an imminent threat. The System’s interface flashed red.
Warning: Hostiles Approaching.
Threat Level: Moderate.
Sincere’s pulse quickened as shadows moved in the distance. Emerging from the trees were creatures that defied logic—wolf-like beasts with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes. Their bodies were covered in dark, matted fur, and their jagged teeth glistened with saliva.
Enemies Detected: Night Stalkers (x3)
Level: 2-3
Health: 75/75 each.
He cursed under his breath, crouching low as he assessed his options. The creatures hadn’t spotted him yet, their noses sniffing the air as they stalked closer. The knife in his hand felt woefully inadequate against three predators, but running wasn’t an option. Not with how fast they looked.
“Stay calm,” he whispered to himself, his mind racing. He had faced impossible odds before, crafted strategies to outwit entire armies. This was no different—except that his life now hung directly in the balance.
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The creatures drew nearer, their growls deepening. Sincere’s grip on the knife tightened as he prepared to make his move. If he was going to survive, he needed to think like the strategist he had been, not the scared man he felt like now.