In the desolate streets of what was once Hiro City, the echoes of screams and shouts reverberated through the ruins. Lostlyne, a stranger in this dystopian reality, found himself surrounded by the remnants of a world consumed by chaos. The air hung heavy with despair, and the once familiar landmarks were now reduced to rubble, a testament to the relentless onslaught of time and the horrors that had befallen humanity.
A sudden voice shattered the eerie silence, demanding attention and drawing Lostlyne's gaze. A figure in the distance, shadowed by the remnants of a crumbling building, questioned his presence with an urgency that hinted at the constant threat that loomed over this world.
"Hey, who are you? What are you doing here?!" The words cut through the air like a blade, and Lostlyne, overcome by fear, turned around to face the source. His hand instinctively reached for the dagger at his side, but the paralyzing grip of fear prevented him from drawing it.
"Answer me before I put a hole in your head!" The voice grew louder, and a figure approached, revealing itself to be a weathered soldier. His face showed no scars, but bore the experience of countless battles. The soldier's eyes fixed on Lostlyne, demanding explanations.
In the grip of fear, Lostlyne managed to muster the courage to draw his dagger, pointing it hesitantly at the approaching soldier. His voice, tinged with desperation, pierced the tension in the air, "Where am I?"
The soldier's aggression did not wane. "What's wrong with you, idiot? Did you hit your head and forget what they've done to us in these hellish years? Answer! Are you one of them?" The soldier's words were laced with a bitterness that hinted at the traumas of a past that Lostlyne struggled to comprehend.
"One of them? I just found myself here all of a sudden! Until a moment ago, it was dark, and I was at the park!" Lostlyne stammered, his words a feeble attempt to make sense of the inexplicable. The soldier's response was a harsh reminder of the terrible reality that now enveloped them.
"It hasn't been dark here for years because of the Knights!" The soldier yelled, approaching with a rifle in hand. "Where are you from? Are you telling me there's still a safe place?" The soldier's skepticism mirrored the weariness of a man who had faced too much loss.
"I'm from Hiro City!" Lostlyne's confident declaration was met with disbelief. He reached into his pocket and retrieved his train pass, adorned with the emblems of the hunter guilds he admired.
"This is Hiro City, you moron. Did you drug yourself or something? Besides, that card expired decades ago." The soldier's words shattered Lostlyne's illusion of familiarity. He attempted to reason, to explain the inexplicable, but the soldier's sarcasm underscored the harsh reality that now enveloped him.
Undeterred, Lostlyne, with a mix of desperation and determination, questioned the soldier's judgment. "Sir, you were wrong earlier. My train pass is still valid. I renewed it just a few weeks ago. At least there's a positive side to all this."
The soldier, still skeptical, violently took the card from Lostlyne and scrutinized it. "That card says 2028, right? This is 2050, and it seemFs to me that these two dates are different," he remarked sarcastically, his hand still firmly gripping the wheel.
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"Kid, is this you in the photo? Something's wrong; they stopped making these passes ten years before the End. Moreover, you look the same as in the picture." The soldier's words, laced with a growing suspicion, hung in the air. Lostlyne, bewildered and still grappling with the enormity of his situation, could only offer a feeble defense.
"It seems normal, sir. I repeat, I renewed it a few days ago." Lostlyne's words, though filled with conviction, were met with a lingering doubt from the soldier.
"Do you have a Gift? I don't know, like eternal youth?" The soldier's question, though seemingly absurd, opened a door to the mysterious world that Lostlyne had unknowingly stepped into—a world defined by extraordinary abilities known as Gifts.
The Gift, an enigmatic power that had emerged in some individuals around the 2000s, coincided with the appearance of the mysterious portals known as Dungeons. These portals, scattered across the world, transported people to dimensions filled with bizarre creatures and environments, marking a turning point in human history.
Lostlyne, with a burning desire to become a hunter, had immersed himself in the dangerous world of dungeons. Determined to compensate for the lack of a Gift with hard work and tactical skills, he earned respect among his fellow hunters. His journey, however, took an unexpected turn as he faced the perilous edge of mortality.
One day, crossing a familiar street towards another portal, a speeding truck threatened to end his ambitions and dreams. In the face of impending doom, time seemed to slow down, and a blinding light enveloped Lostlyne—a familiar flash that marked the acquisition of the Gift. The screen that materialized before him bore a message, an acknowledgment that he was chosen: [In the face of death, you still crave success; you are my Champion.] The Gift bestowed upon him was titled "Last Hope," a responsibility to restore balance in a world teetering on the brink.
Suddenly, Lostlyne found himself standing in the same place but catapulted years into the future—a world ravaged by dungeon creatures and dominated by four humanoid beings known as the Knights. These Knights, with superhuman strength, had connected all dungeons, leaving the portals continuously open and plunging humanity into a struggle for survival.
The destruction, the monsters roaming the streets, and the perpetual daylight hinted at a reality beyond Lostlyne's understanding. Was it time travel, an alternate dimension, or a dream? The sun, frozen in its relentless glow, symbolized a world that had forsaken the solace of night.
"you look like a strange guy but you seem to be ok, I will take you to my group leader to make sure you are a harmless person" : After this statement, the soldier grabbed Lostlyne's arm and led him to the car they were traveling in.
During the journey with General Wallace, Lostlyne sought answers to the countless questions that filled his mind. The car rumbled through the ruined city, and the general explained the Knights' cruel tactic—enormous fireballs in the sky to deny humanity the respite of darkness, a tactic meant to drive rebels to madness. As the car's engine was finally silenced, they arrived at their destination—a shelter hidden amidst the remnants of what was once a thriving city. In front of the shelter stood a figure, the Paladin, a renowned hunter possessing exceptional abilities and a strong sense of justice. The Paladin, having established a police force working in conjunction with the government, safeguarded the remnants of humanity. Recognized as an S-rank Hunter, the Paladin's exceptional talent, combat skills, integrity, and dedication made him a beacon of hope in a world overshadowed by despair. General Wallace, having contacted the Paladin through his long-range transmitter, ushered Lostlyne towards the waiting figure.ThePaladin watched with a curious look Lostlyne, a person with whom he would have had very interesting and very important discussions for humanity.