Rejected by the World

When he opened his eyes, the room returned to its original state and silence shrouded the surroundings. No echoes of voices. No weight in the air. Just the distant creak of the building settling. 

As if nothing had happened at all.

Hyde was standing in front of the bar table. His stretched hand had the crystalline cube subdued in his palm. More importantly, the heavy pressure and the coldness had disappeared.

However, he could not shake his confusion.

Hyde exhaled slowly, his fingers tracing the surface of the Resonance Crystal. He muttered, "What just happened...?"

It was the first time Hyde felt like questioning everything, especially about the Resonance Crystal.

What was the true nature of the item in his hand? Why did it suddenly 'accept' him when previously, it determinedly 'rejected' him. 

What actually happened when Hyde was approaching it? Hyde had a feeling it was not his mind playing a trick on him, but something was actually happening in reality. Was that also an attempt to 'reject' him? But why? Why was he rejected? Because he was not from this world?

A bitter chuckle left his throat.

"Ah... so that's how it is. The world itself says no."

If that was the case, then no matter what he did, Hyde would never be able to survive. He might, but he would be a normal human. He couldn't wield a supernatural ability until he died. 

"Not that it matters."

Hyde would be satisfied with just that. He had no grand ambition like changing the fate of the world—it was doomed from the start. There was no good ending for this world. Why try saving it? Not only would it cost him everything, but it wouldn't gain him anything.

Survival was enough.

However, the disappointment he felt was imminent.

He turned at the Resonance Crystal in his palm. Its color wasn't grey, but rainbow; it was different from what he had seen earlier but similar to what it looked like in the game.

Knowing its characteristics now wasn't important, but its functional lore was.

Although Hyde did not know everything about the Resonance Crystal, he knew at least a few things that mattered... other than being used to 'level up' a Resonant, it was also used for opening a path to awakening ordinary humans earlier or later.

Every year, a 'Melody of Nightingale' or simply 'Nightingale' would appear at midnight on New Year's Eve. Only the chosen individuals and those who had become a Resonant could hear it. 

No significant effect occurred to the latter other than it soothed their minds as if they were sung a lullaby.

The former, however. A chance was given to them in the form of a trial; either they became the owner of a miraculous ability or stayed as a normal human.

Those who passed celebrated their rebirth, while those who failed faced the harsh reality of living as ordinary people for the rest of their lives.

However, with Resonance Crystal, they could deny their missed destiny or shape their own without being chosen.

In other words, a proactive method. Think of it like trying to get a job. Rather than passively waiting for an opportunity and job offer from a company, you were actively seeking and offering your service to them. 

Of course, simply using the Resonance Crystal would not make you possess a Resonant's power.

In this case, you auditioned yourself to be tested in the hope of getting what you want—becoming a Resonant.

Assuming the timeline was at the beginning of the game, no one but Hyde was aware of this method.

But unfortunately for Hyde, even if he knew about the method, he still could not awaken. Not because he failed the trial given by the Nightingale, but because the world rejected his existence, forbidding him to even be granted a test.

No matter how Hyde released and grabbed the Resonance Crystal, the Nightingale didn't answer him.

In one of the cutscenes in the game, he had watched how a non-awakened person entered a void space. There, he found a door that took him to a place within a scenario created by the Nightingale as his trial.

Similarly, Hyde had entered the void space earlier. But instead of finding the door, he was immediately returned to reality.

He was grieving his situation for a moment before pushing all the worries aside. 

The Resonance Crystal in his palm had been drained from its colorful shade, becoming almost transparent. It was dying. No. It was dead. Inactive. It was no longer a treasure but a piece of junk.

This happened because all the essence from the crystal had been used up for the so-called 'offering.'

Hyde gritted his teeth, his fingers tightened around the useless crystal. The world had rejected him. Denied him. The last path to sweet survival was crushed before he could even step forward.

"Haha... ha... of course it wouldn't be that easy."

A dry laugh escaped his lips. 

"Did I really think I had a chance?"

Then, with a sharp exhale, he threw the crystal to the floor.

What previously seemed solid and impossible to break was easily shattered into pieces on impact. A moment later, the crystal fragments turned into dust and evaporated into the air as if mocking him.

Frustration and anger painted his face. But it quickly disappeared, replaced by his usual composed and calm expression. His gaze, however. It was sharp like a blade.

"Of course, I have a chance!"

His voice cut through the silence. He refused to accept this ridiculous fate. Not when he was brought to that world involuntarily—no matter if it was someone or something that kidnapped him here. 

"Sorry to whoever or whatever you are that called me to this world hoping I could save this world. But as you can see, this world of yours is the one who refused help. Even if that's not the case, you've called for the wrong guy. I am no hero."

Hyde turned his heel, striding toward the exit. His steps were steady. The weight of rejection clung to his shoulders, but he shook it off like dust.

As he reached the door, Hyde cast one last glance at the empty space where the crystal had been. His lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes remained void of amusement.

"When the time comes you need help, I wish to see you beg for it," Hyde muttered. 

"And good luck."

He bid good luck. More to himself than the doomed world.

And with that, Hyde stepped out.

The building's wall groaned as the cold morning air seeped through the cracks and broken windows. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.

Hyde marched down the stairs, his mind buzzing with triumph.

But with each step, the confidence diminished. The anger in his chest cooled and his mind became clearer. But exactly because those happened the weight of reality sank in. He started regretting it.

Stopping his descent, Hyde buried his face in his hands, muffling a groan.

'Aghh!! Why did I say that?!' 

Panic swelled his chest.

'What if I was really banned from becoming a Resonant?!'

His fingers curled against his face as realization dawned.

'There's no scarier place than the city! What can someone like me do to get a job? All I can do is play games and fighting! Ugh!'

As suddenly as the regret and realization hit, these emotions also disappeared instantly.

Hyde was no longer panicked. No longer angry. His usual composed self returned as if nothing had happened. He shook his head to forget prior events, trying to hide them in the deepest part of his memory.

Sighing, he continued descending the stairs and muttered, "Whatever."

Then, Hyde reached the first floor, taking a few steps before halting because he caught a few noises ahead.

Slowly lifting his face, Hyde saw them... a clear form of three small figures roaming outside, on the streets.