JustABoy

Fifty years ago, the gods issued a warning—the Underworld will be unbound in two centuries, unleashing an apocalyptic catastrophe upon both Earth and Elysium. To prepare, humanity was granted access to Elysium, a realm of magic, monsters, and ancient power. Through the Soulweave System, humans could grow stronger, their abilities transferring between worlds. But death in Elysium was absolute, and the struggle for survival was merciless.

Now, with only 150 years remaining, Earth has fractured into a dystopia ruled by factions that control access to Elysium’s resources. The Nightspires lead brutal expeditions, the Dawnbuilders refine Aether to sustain Earth, and the Bridgers maintain a delicate balance between the two realms. Meanwhile, the rogue faction known as The Unbound seeks to force the apocalypse forward, wielding forbidden magic to accelerate the collapse of reality itself.

Elias Varian, a chemist and alchemist, has spent his life studying Aether, bridging the logic of science with the chaos of magic. But when an experiment with Void energy mutates him, he loses the ability to return to Earth through sleep—physically stranded in Elysium with a body unraveling under an unknown affliction. Hunted by those who fear what he is becoming, Elias must navigate a world that no longer sees him as human.

As the countdown to the Unbinding continues, forgotten truths resurface, ancient forces stir, and the gods remain silent. But something else is watching—waiting.

When the Underworld breaks free, will humanity rise… or shatter?

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I am writing this novel purely for fun and a curiousity of wanting to try something new. I will not be asking you guys to donate to or motivate me by anything that costs real money as that is not my aim or goal. I will do my best to make as many readers satisfied with my work but i need your support and honest reviews about my book. If you believe there is anything lacking in this novel please coment it as I am doing this without any prior experience. I sincerely thank you for spending your time on my work.
-JustABoy

Dual Eternity: Fractured Dawn

Elias stumbled as he reached for the edge of his workbench, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body felt wrong—his skin burned with unnatural heat, and his Aether reserves pulsed erratically, like a current disrupted by interference. The moment the Void-infused serum entered his veins, he knew something had gone terribly wrong.

He had taken precautions—measured dosages, controlled exposure—but the Void Orb's essence was unlike any Aether Core he had ever worked with. It didn't enhance or refine his magic. It devoured it. Aether rejected Void energy, and his body was caught between the two forces, unraveling from within.

The lab around him spun as nausea took hold, his limbs trembling with weakness. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He needed data—results—before the effects overwhelmed him completely. Staggering toward his monitoring equipment, he grabbed a small crystal scanner and pressed it against his forearm. The device flickered and went dark instantly. The moment it made contact, the Void-tainted Aether within him shorted it out.

He exhaled sharply. This wasn't just a failed experiment. This was a disaster.

A sharp knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. His pulse spiked. No one came to his lab unannounced.

The voice belonged to Cassian, his Nightspire contact—the same man who had given him the Void Orb. Elias hesitated. If anyone found out what had happened, the Guild Syndicate Bank or worse, the Nightspire elites themselves, could brand him a danger. He forced himself to stand, smoothing his lab coat to conceal his shaking hands, and unlocked the door.

Cassian stepped inside, his sharp gaze immediately scanning the room. The scent of burned-out Aether still lingered in the air, and Elias knew he looked as bad as he felt. Cassian's expression darkened.

"You look like death," he said flatly. "Tell me you didn't do something reckless."

Elias let out a short, humorless laugh. "That depends on your definition of reckless."

Cassian's eyes narrowed as he crossed the room, noting the shattered glass and dimmed equipment. "The Void Orb," he muttered. "You experimented on yourself."

Elias didn't answer, but the silence was enough of a confirmation.

Cassian swore under his breath. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"I was careful," Elias insisted, though even he didn't believe it anymore. "I needed to understand how Void energy interacts with Aether."

"And now?" Cassian's tone was grim.

Elias swallowed hard. "Now… I don't think my Aether works the same way anymore."

Cassian studied him for a long moment, then exhaled sharply. "This is bad, Elias. The Guild Syndicate cracks down hard on unstable Aether users. If they find out your magic is corrupted—"

"I know," Elias cut in. The Guild Syndicate Bank didn't tolerate anomalies. Anyone who posed a risk to the Aether economy was silenced, one way or another. If word spread, Elias wouldn't just be marked as an outcast—he'd be hunted.

Cassian ran a hand through his hair. "You need to lay low. Figure out exactly what's happening to you before anyone else does."

Elias clenched his jaw. He didn't have a choice. His mutation was a ticking bomb, and if he didn't control it soon, someone else would do it for him.

And he doubted they'd be as merciful as he hoped.

Chapter 4 - Unraveling from Within