Ascension: The First Ending

Tomorrow unfolds as usual—nothing feels special. Bayu wakes up, freshens up, helps tidy the house for a bit, and then heads to school.

However, something feels off today.

From nearly being hit by a motorcycle to almost getting crushed by a loose brick that slipped from a construction worker's hands, strange incidents keep happening. And no matter how hard Bayu tries to ignore it, an eerie feeling lingers, creeping under his skin.

All of it happened in rapid succession, as if… This was too strange to be just a 'coincidence.'

"Ah, I'm probably just having a bad day," Bayu muttered, convincing himself that it was nothing more than bad luck.

As he continued walking to his class, he felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. That eerie chill again. Something felt off. A bad feeling. His intuition whispered that something terrible was about to happen.

Trying to ignore his intuition, Bayu stepped into his classroom. His brow furrowed as he noticed the students seemed to be discussing something serious. Whatever it was, he didn't care.

Ah, probably just another gossip, he thought to himself. He walked to his seat and sat down. The teacher hadn't arrived yet, and the bell hadn't rung. Feeling bored, he took out his phone to listen to some music.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Crash!

A loud crash echoed through the classroom. The window beside Bayu shattered into pieces, sending shards flying in all directions. Panicked screams filled the room as several students instinctively covered their heads.

A bird—where it came from, no one knew—had broken through. Its body slammed against a desk before collapsing onto the floor, motionless. A single drop of blood stained the white tiles, creating a disturbing contrast.

Bayu stared at the bird, eyes wide. "What the hell...?" His voice barely came out.

The once lively room fell into silence. Only restrained breaths and the sound of pounding hearts remained.

A sense of dread crawled through Bayu's body.

For a moment, no one moved. Every eye was locked onto the lifeless bird lying at the front of the class.

Then, something strange happened.

The bird's body trembled, as if something was writhing inside it.

Crack. A strange sound echoed—like bones being forcibly broken. Before anyone could react, something burst out from its eye socket.

Blood-red roots.

Screams of horror instantly filled the room.

Thick, black blood oozed from the bird's beak, dripping onto the floor like dark ink. Then, its head jerked—twitching like a broken puppet.

And then, the bird stood up.

Its legs bent at an unnatural angle, its wings lifted high, and then… it barked.

Panic erupted inside the classroom. Chairs toppled over, desks scraped against the floor as students scrambled away, desperate to escape the monstrous bird.

Bayu jolted from his seat, stepping back with ragged breaths. His heart pounded in his chest, his eyes wide with disbelief.

This isn't real. It can't be real.

Reality wasn't supposed to be this terrifying.

"ARGH!"

A student stumbled and fell to the floor. Before he could get up, the bird darted toward him.

Thud!

Its claws latched onto his hair, its beak lifted high—then plunged straight into his skull.

"ARRGHHH!!!"

Screams of agony echoed throughout the classroom. Blood gushed from the gaping wound in his head, soaking his uniform, seeping into the floor. And then… his body collapsed.

Dead.

Panic erupted.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT BIRD?!"

"RUN!"

"OPEN THE DOOR!"

The students crowded at the door, shoving and pushing in a frantic struggle to escape.

But Bayu couldn't move.

His hands trembled. His breaths came in ragged gasps. His eyes remained fixed on the corpse sprawled on the floor—the pool of blackened blood slowly spreading beneath it.

The bird yanked its beak free from its victim's skull, thick black blood dripping from its tip. Then, it let out another unnatural snarl—before darting toward the panicked students scrambling to flee.

Unexpectedly, one of the students managed to catch the bird mid-air.

The creature shrieked wildly, its wings flapping violently, its beak pecking furiously at the hands gripping its body. The student grimaced but refused to let go—because if the bird escaped, they would all be in danger.

But then, something even worse happened.

The crimson roots slithering from the bird's eye socket moved swiftly, crawling up the student's arm.

"ARGH! DAMN IT!"

He screamed instinctively and let go of the bird. But it was too late.

The roots kept spreading, winding around his body, slithering up to his head—then stabbing straight into both of his eyes.

"AAAAARRGH!!"

His agonized screams echoed through the classroom, followed by panicked shouts from the other students. Some ran even faster toward the door, while others remained frozen in place, too terrified to move.

Bayu shook his head.

He couldn't stay here.

But his body refused to move.

Fear locked his joints, rendering him nearly paralyzed.

This is bad.

Gritting his teeth, Bayu slammed his head against the wall.

It feels hurt.

But at least, for a moment, it drove the fear away.

Bayu quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for an escape route other than the entrance, which was now packed with panicked students.

Then, his eyes landed on the broken window.

Right. He had almost forgotten.

Without hesitation, Bayu grabbed a thick book from a nearby desk and smashed its edge against the remaining glass in the window frame. A sharp cracking sound echoed as shards fell to the floor.

Cold air rushed in from outside.

Bayu prepared to jump—then stopped.

This classroom was on the second floor.

If he jumped, there was a good chance he wouldn't land well.

Damn it.

Would he rather die by that demonic bird or break his legs from the fall?

Neither option was good.

"Think, Bayu. Think—"

But before he could find an answer, something even stranger happened.

A blue screen appeared before him.

Floating in midair, glowing brightly.

Bayu froze. His steps instinctively staggered back, eyes widening.

What is this?!

Before he could process it further, the screen began typing words on its own.

Sentence after sentence formed.

Bayu read.

[Congratulations, Bayu. You have been chosen as a candidate for 'Ascendant'. Awaiting the right moment to evolve and become a true 'Ascendant'.]

His eyes froze on the words.

His heart pounded.

What the hell is this?!

Hysterical screams echoed once more.

Bayu turned his head.

His eyes widened.

The bird lay on the floor.

Dead—again?

But that wasn't what froze him in place.

A male student suddenly wrapped his hands around the neck of his friend beside him.

His eyes… had turned black.

Not just losing their color—but completely pitch black, as if filled with pure darkness.

Panic erupted as several students rushed to pull him away, shoving him with all their strength.

But he didn't budge.

It was as if his body was locked in place, possessing an unnatural strength no human should have.

And then—

CRACK!

His neck snapped.

Twisting unnaturally to the side, in a way no human's should.

Yet, he remained standing.

From his mouth, something crawled out.

Blood-red roots.

Slithering out slowly, like a living thing that had found its prey.

Before anyone could react—

The root shot forward, piercing straight through the face of the student he was strangling.

"ARGHHH!!"

A piercing scream of agony filled the air.

The root writhed, coiling tightly around his face, slithering down to his neck.

And then—his throat was torn open.

Blood sprayed wildly.

His body hit the floor with a heavy thud, twitching for a few seconds before finally… falling still.

Another body down.

Fear slithered into Bayu's bones.

He could feel his hands trembling.

This isn't real… right?

But the blood pooling on the floor—the pungent, metallic scent—was all too real.

The chaos that once filled the classroom had shifted into something far worse.

They were frozen.

No one dared to move, as if even the slightest sound would draw the creature's attention.

But Bayu knew…

If he stayed still—he would die.

He had to move.

THUD!

A sharp impact rang out.

His head slammed against the wall.

The pain was real.

Bayu steadied his breathing.

Pain was better than fear.

His eyes darted to the nearest desk—

A thick book.

Scissors.

He grabbed them.

And without hesitation—he stepped forward.

His steps were firm.

He didn't care about the blood soaking the floor.

He didn't care about the unmoving bodies.

He knew only one thing.

He had to stop this.

His hand raised high—

BANG!

The book struck the student's head.

Again.

Again.

And again.

Blood began to drip, but Bayu didn't stop.

He swung the book with all his strength, the sound of impact echoing through the room.

The student was still standing.

Bayu's shoulders rose and fell.

His hands trembled.

Then—

He lifted the scissors.

With one deep breath…

He plunged them into the student's neck.

Blood sprayed—hot and sticky—splattering onto Bayu's face.

But he held onto the scissors tightly.

And with one swift yank—

The student collapsed.

His body convulsed… then went still.

Silence.

Bayu stood in the middle of the room, his hands still gripping the bloodstained scissors.

The world around him spun.

He couldn't hear anything.

His eyes locked onto one thing—

The body he had just killed.

His hands shook.

His chest rose and fell.

His legs felt weak.

But then, a voice echoed in his mind.

Soft.

Cold.

[Congratulations, Bayu. You have eliminated your first parasite.]

[Your first reward for this achievement will be granted.]

Bayu froze.

The blue screen was still floating before him.

And suddenly, all the sounds returned.

Bayu realized…

His hands were still gripping the bloodstained scissors.

The atmosphere in the classroom had shifted entirely. All eyes were on him.

Their gazes…

Fear.

But also—judgment.

Bayu could feel his heart pounding so hard it nearly suffocated him.

His bloodstained hands trembled.

The scissors slowly slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the floor.

What… did he just do?

His chest rose and fell rapidly.

His hands shook.

His mind was in chaos.

Why?

Why did I do that?

What is wrong with me?!

But before Bayu could find an answer—

BANG!

The classroom door shook violently.

Everyone flinched.

Something—something terrifying—was slamming against it from the other side.

Several students staggered back, their faces pale, while others could only stare in panic.

"P-Please! Help!!"

A desperate scream came from behind the door.

But before anyone could react—

Blood seeped in from the gap beneath the door.

One drop.

Two drops.

Then a full, spreading pool.

The blood flowed uncontrollably, forming erratic patterns across the floor—so dark, so red.

Its iron scent hit them instantly.

And then—hysteria erupted.

The students in the classroom kept stepping back, some covering their mouths, their faces frozen in pure horror.

But Bayu…

Bayu didn't react.

He just stood there.

Staring at the pool of blood with a blank expression.

His mind felt empty.

As if his body had yet to recover from the previous shock.

BANG!

The door was struck again.

Harder.

More violently.

BANG!

The classroom door finally gave in.

Everyone froze.

And at the doorway—something stood there.

Tall.

Thin.

Its skin was deathly pale—yet its body was drenched in fresh, glistening blood.

Its eyes… were pure black.

Not just void of color, but absolute darkness—an abyss that seemed to devour the soul of anyone who stared too long.

And the most terrifying part—

Familiar red roots snaked across its entire body.

Pulsing.

Alive.

The creature stepped forward.

Its bloodied footprints marked the floor, while the roots continued to writhe, as if searching for prey.

No one moved.

No one dared to breathe too loudly.

But Bayu…

Bayu clenched his fists.

"What the hell is this creature?"