Chapter 1 – Awakening in the Nightmare Realm

Darkness.

A suffocating void engulfed Adrian, pulling him into its endless abyss. His mind was sluggish, thoughts tangled in a fog of confusion. Then—pain. A jagged, searing pain tore through his skull, sending violent tremors through his body.

His eyes snapped open.

The world around him was wrong.

A dense fog slithered across the cracked earth, swallowing the faint outlines of withered trees and jagged ruins. The air was thick—damp with decay, rusted iron, and something far worse. The scent of rot.

Adrian staggered forward, his boots sinking slightly into the damp soil. His breath came in slow, steady exhales, forcing control over his rising unease.

He was tall, his lean yet powerful frame shaped by years of rigorous training. Long, jet-black hair, streaked with silver, cascaded down his back like flowing silk, catching faint traces of eerie light. His eyes—mesmerizing, deep blue like the vast ocean—held an unsettling calm, as if concealing a storm beneath their depths. His chiseled features—sharp jawline, high cheekbones—were marred by a thin trail of blood seeping from his temple.

He wiped it away. No time to panic.

The last thing he remembered—the coming-of-age ceremony. The celestial monolith. The moment of inscription. And then—nothing. No recollection of how he ended up in this nightmarish world.

A creeping unease curled in his chest.

Then—movement.

A shift in the mist. The sound of something dragging across the ground.

Adrian's muscles tensed. Years of combat training had refined his instincts to near-perfection. He wasn't alone.

His fingers twitched, craving the weight of a blade. But he was unarmed.

Then, through the swirling mist, a faint glow.

A sword, half-buried in the cracked ground.

A whisper—no, a pull—drew him forward. Midnight-black metal, intricate silver runes pulsating faintly as if breathing. The hilt, wrapped in dark silk, was made for his grip. It felt… destined.

He stepped closer, drawn in by an unseen force. His hand reached out—

[System Notification: Awakening Detected]

A sudden jolt shot through his arm. His vision blurred as memories not his own flooded his mind—shattered worlds, celestial titans clashing against abyssal horrors, a blade splitting reality itself. A searing force surged through his veins, setting his entire body ablaze.

Adrian staggered, gripping his head as his breath turned ragged. What the hell was this?!

[Eclipse System Activated]

His heart pounded. His body burned. He could feel something inside him awakening. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened. The whispers in the back of his mind grew louder, filling his thoughts with knowledge both foreign and familiar.

Then—a growl.

Low. Guttural. Hunger-filled.

The mist thickened. A shadow moved at the edge of his vision. Claws scraped against stone.

Adrian's grip tightened on the sword. His deep-blue eyes flickered—no hesitation, no fear.

He wasn't alone.

And whatever was watching him… was coming.