the system

Erie sprinted down the trail, his breath ragged, his heart hammering in his chest. The boys' laughter still echoed behind him, taunting him. He didn't know where he was going—he just needed to get away.

His pendant pulsed in rhythm with his frantic heartbeat, but in his panic, he didn't notice. Each step sent another wave of energy through him, a faint warmth growing in his chest.

By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late.

A powerful thump reverberated through his body, followed by another. The pendant's golden glow intensified, shaking violently against his chest. Heat radiated from it, pressing down like an unseen force.

The forest reacted. Birds burst from the trees in a frantic escape. Beasts lurking in the underbrush bolted, vanishing into the distance.

Far behind, the three boys skidded to a stop, watching as a golden beam of light shot into the sky from where Erie had fled.

"What the hell is going on with that kid?" Charles muttered, his eyes narrowing.

Lenox swallowed hard. "Should we… check it out?"

Charles clenched his fists. "Yeah. Let's go."

The three took off, sprinting into the woods.

Meanwhile, Erie clawed at the pendant, desperately trying to tear it from his body. But the more he pulled, the more it latched onto him, its heat intensifying. A deep, vibrating hum filled the air—a sound like a laser drilling into the earth.

"Help!" Erie screamed. "What's happening?!"

The air around him twisted. A vortex of swirling black and white energy erupted, circling him like a raging storm. Each passing second, the density thickened, pressing against his skin, crackling like static. The air smelled of ozone, like he was trapped inside a thunderstorm.

Then—everything stopped.

The birds were frozen in midair. The wind ceased. The trees, the leaves, even the ants on the ground—motionless. A crushing silence filled the space, ringing in Erie's ears.

But the pendant still trembled violently.

And then, a hand reached out and touched his shoulder.

Erie looked up.

Before him stood a fit boy, his orange hair and sharp orange eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Confidence radiated from him—a presence so strong, Erie couldn't tell if he was supposed to be afraid or relieved. He looked like the kind of person women would chase after, effortlessly commanding attention.

The boy studied Erie with a calm, knowing gaze. "You don't know what's happening, do you?"

He turned away slightly, glancing toward the swirling energy. "Stay here for a second. You'll be fine—just do the best you can in everything you do, Erie Sunheart." His eyes flickered, a strange velvet-black-and-white glow swirling within them.

"After all… look how strong we've become."

Then, from the distance, another voice tore through the silence—fierce, desperate.

"You won't stop me from bringing them back!"

A massive wave of energy surged through the air.

"Time Pulse!"

The boy in front of Erie suddenly shouted, "You can't meddle with the past!"

Before Erie could react, the older boy's expression shifted—his awe-struck gaze fixed on something unseen.

"You'll understand everything soon, Erie." His voice was calm yet filled with something Erie couldn't place—certainty? Sadness?

He pressed a hand against the pendant, and instantly, its violent energy softened. The golden glow pulsed steadily, no longer erratic. A warm light swirled around Erie, wrapping him in a strange, soothing embrace.

Then, the boy turned back toward the battle. "Let's take this fight somewhere else."

With a single motion, he raised his hand, and in an instant, the two clashing figures vanished—erased from sight as if they had never been there.

The swirling light around Erie thickened, engulfing him entirely. He felt weightless, breathless—trapped in a void of blinding radiance.

Then, before his eyes, words began to materialize in the air, flickering like embers:

[SYSTEM ACTIVATION…]

A screen flashed before him. His pendant pulsed one final time—then sank into his chest.

THUMP.

Erie's body hit the ground, the world spinning into darkness.

The last thing he saw before losing consciousness were the glowing words floating in the void:

"Welcome to the Sun Warrior system."

"Look!" Lennox shouted. "There he is!"

Charles rushed forward, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Erie lying motionless on the ground. "Zain, grab him." His voice was firm, carrying an edge of urgency. "We're taking him to the Grand Master."

Charles, Lennox, and Zain were all part of a gang. Ever since the war began, crime in the city had skyrocketed. With fewer authorities to keep order, the people grew restless, tired of waiting for the conflict to end. In the chaos, gangs, clans, and underground organizations began to take over.

Charles and the others belonged to a group known as the Green Dragons—a gang always on the lookout for strong new recruits. And Charles was certain Erie was a special case.

"I believe the Grand Master will love this new addition to the family." A slow smirk crept onto his face as he glanced down at the unconscious boy.

This version improves readability, tightens the flow, and strengthens the impact. Let me know if you'd like any more refinements!

"Shouldn't he be starting school soon?" Lennox asked, glancing down at Erie. "He's still young, and none of us can really avoid the military."

Charles stepped over Erie, his boots crunching against the dirt. "Yeah, but we can still make use of him." He grabbed Erie, lifting him effortlessly over his shoulder. "He's fragile, but I think he has an ability."

Lennox hesitated, unease creeping into his voice. "But he's a Sun Warrior!" he shouted. "Those knights will come after us for messing with one of their own!"

Zain shook his head. "Yeah… this doesn't feel like a good idea."