Sixty years ago, the Earth changed forever. A plague swept across the world, twisting the natural order beyond recognition. Creatures once thought to be mere legends now roamed freely—giant, bloodthirsty mammoths the size of mountains, ice wolves capable of freezing entire villages with a single breath. Humanity, once the apex predator, was now a fading echo in a world overrun by monstrous evolution.

To survive, mankind retreated behind towering walls, cutting themselves off from the vast wilderness that had become a graveyard of civilizations. But even inside these walls, safety was an illusion. Humanity was no longer the master of the planet. They had become prey.

Fortunately, the discovery of the original stone—a rare stone of special power—gave some humans the ability to tap into the Force that drifted through the universe. Awakeners, as they were called, emerged, their powers enough to hold their own against the legendary beasts and keep humanity's fragile flame burning. But even the strongest awakeners couldn’t protect the entire world. They could only defend the land within the walls.

And that was enough to keep the human race alive—for now.

....

Axel sat in the back of the classroom, his eyes unfocused as the teacher droned on about the past. The students around him scribbled notes, their pens moving in sync with the rhythm of history lessons. They dreamed of becoming awakeners, of stepping into the world of the powerful, the elite.

But Axel wasn’t like them. He wasn’t dreaming about the awakening test. He wasn’t imagining himself as some hero, standing tall against the beasts in the wild. He just wanted to survive. 

He wanted to keep himself and his sister safe from the chaos of the slums.

The teacher’s voice cut through his daydreams.

“If our class can produce two awakeners, I’ll wake up with a smile in my dreams," the teacher said, his voice full of an enthusiasm Axel could barely muster. "But remember, it’s not as glamorous as it sounds. You’ll fight the creatures of the wilderness, and you’ll need to be careful not to become infected.”

Axel snapped out of his trance and glanced up. The teacher asked, "Who can tell me what an infected person is?"

A student raised their hand.

“Everyone, survived the plague, were changed by it. When an awakener lose control of their power, the mutation spreads, and they would turn into monstrous creatures, feeding on human flesh.”

"If you are scratched or bitten by them, even if you don't die, you will turn into a zombie-like monster in a short time."

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

The teacher nodded, pleased with the answer, and continued lecturing. Axel’s gaze wandered again, out the window. His mind drifted to the streets outside, the world he truly knew. 

A month from now, all the children who were about to turn eighteen would be tested for their potential to awaken. The lucky ones would be selected. The ones who failed? They’d be forgotten.

Axel knew he had no chance. His family had never been wealthy, and without the resources to get the right education or support, his future was already decided. He could barely afford to keep his sister alive, let alone aspire to a life behind the walls.

His thoughts were interrupted as the bell rang. The classroom emptied quickly, leaving Axel alone to pack his things. As he gathered his worn books, his eyes wandered to the trash can in the corner. There, among discarded paper and lunch wrappers, were small, broken fragments of original stone. 

Axel hesitated for a moment, then walked over, his movements cautious. He picked up the remnants—leftovers from the other students who could afford more—and wrapped them carefully in a scrap of paper. Only when you have a higher Force in your body can you reach the critical point of breakthrough and have a higher probability of becoming an awakener. Therefore, students with good family conditions will carry it with them for absorption.

These fragments, though small, still contained some of the Force to help someone like Axel. He wasn’t like the others, with their fancy supplies and polished dreams. He had to take what he could get.

Once his bag was packed, Axel made his way out of the school. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the crumbling city. 

Although there are awakened humans, their overall strength is not at the same level as the monsters in the wilderness. Therefore, nowadays, major cities have built huge walls, to resist mutant beasts.

However, the land inside the city wall is very expensive, and not everyone can afford a house.

Axel’s eyes flicked toward the city wall, where a small, hidden door allowed those who couldn’t afford housing to slip out into the wilderness. It was a quiet exit, the gateway to the forgotten world beyond the barriers. 

Life outside the walls was never kind. The slums were dangerous, a lawless place where survival meant taking risks every single day. 

As he walked past, his eyes fell upon a crumbling courtyard. It had once been home. Three years ago, his father—an awakener—had vanished without a trace. His team, too, had been wiped out. 

When the investigation turned up nothing, his father was labeled a traitor to humanity, and Axel and Annabelle were also cast out into the streets. 

That year, Axel had been fifteen, and Annabelle had been ten.

.....

Axel continued down the road until the sound of raised voices caught his attention. People were gathered outside the slums, their faces anxious, filled with fear. Axel pushed through the crowd, his heart pounding.

“Closure zone?” Axel asked, overhearing the murmurs around him.

The sign in front of the gate confirmed it: “Closure Zone: No One May Enter or Exit.”

The guards stood firm, their armored forms blocking the entrance, and the crowd pressed forward, desperate to be heard.

"There are infected people inside! You can't leave us here!" someone cried.

"Please, I can stay, let my child go out!"

There are at least thousands of people in the c-zone slums. At this moment, they are holding the iron gate and crying desperately.

Everyone knows how terrible the infected are. Infected people have appeared in other slums before, and hundreds of civilians have been devoured.

Axel's eyes swept through the crowd, but saw a thin little girl wearing a thin linen dress and a long braid, also holding the iron gate, looking out blankly.

The moment he saw her, Axel felt relieved.

.....