One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

The hooded figure didn't move, but the air around him shifted—as if the space itself bent under his presence. A chilling wind rushed through the jungle, carrying whispers that weren't there before. The trees, the sky, even the very earth beneath me felt… wrong.

shira's grip on my arm tightened. He could sense it too. "Ardan… we need to leave."

But I couldn't move.

My mind was still reeling from the visions, the fragmented memories that clawed at the edge of my consciousness. The burning city, the unfamiliar whispers, the symbol identical to the mark on my hand—what did it all mean?

And who was this figure standing before me?

Smoker took a step forward, his jaw clenched. "I don't know what your deal is, but if you're here to cause trouble—"

Before he could finish, the shadows at the hooded figure's feet stretched, writhing like living tendrils. They slithered across the ground, moving unnaturally, reaching toward us like unseen hands.

Instinct kicked in. I stepped back, gripping the hilt of my weapon, heart pounding in my chest.

And then, the figure spoke again.

"The past calls to you, Ardan," his voice echoed, distorted and layered. "You cannot run from it forever."

Something in his tone sent a shiver down my spine.

Before I could respond, the mark on my hand flared bright gold, illuminating the darkening jungle with a pulsating glow.

Then—

A surge of pain shot up my arm.

I staggered, gritting my teeth, my entire body trembling. My vision blurred as something deep inside me awakened. It was like a door had been forcefully kicked open, flooding my mind with memories I had no recollection of.

Flashes of a temple lost to time.

A man with piercing silver eyes, his voice commanding yet distant.

A promise made in the depths of the abyss.

And then—

"You will return… when the seal is broken."

I gasped, falling to one knee.

The jungle faded away.

I was somewhere else.

A vast black ocean stretched endlessly before me, its waters shifting like liquid shadows. The sky above was a swirling mass of dark clouds, streaked with veins of golden lightning.

And standing before me—

Was myself.

Or rather, a version of me… but different. His eyes glowed gold, his presence overwhelming, and when he spoke—his voice was mine, yet not.

"You are not ready," he said. "Not yet."

I couldn't speak. My throat felt like it had closed, my mind struggling to grasp what was happening.

The gold-eyed version of me raised a hand, and suddenly, the mark on my palm reacted, flaring even brighter. The pain returned, sharper this time, like something was trying to pull me apart.

"You must remember," he continued, his expression unreadable. "Before it's too late."

And just like that—

The vision shattered.

I gasped as I was pulled back into reality, the humid air of the jungle replacing the cold void of that strange place. My body trembled, my head pounding as I struggled to stand.

shira was already beside me, worry etched on his face. "Ardan! What the hell just happened?!"

Smoker was watching too, arms crossed, his usual relaxed expression replaced with something more serious.

The hooded figure, however, was gone.

As if he had never been there at all.

Only the echo of his words remained, lingering in my mind.

"You must remember… before it's too late."

I clenched my fists.

Whatever was happening to me…

It was only the beginning.