Aurora battlefront: Era of Salvation

Boredom hung over me like a thick, oppressive fog as I lay sprawled on the bed, staring at the ceiling. My body felt still, almost frozen. But the remnants of my earlier meltdown clung to me like static, an echo of a scream lost in some far-off void. The storm inside had passed twenty minutes ago, yet the silence left behind was worse. It felt suffocating. Each second dragged like quicksand, pulling me deeper into an abyss of nothing.

"Screw it." The words slipped out, sharp and sudden, before I realized I had spoken. I needed to get out—move, do anything to escape this stifling cage. I pushed myself up, muscles stiff with tension, and stormed toward the door. Each step landed heavier than the last. Impatience crackled in my veins like electricity. The doorknob’s cold metal grounded me for a heartbeat. I twisted it and stepped into the hallway without hesitation. Would Nurse Rena care if I left without permission? The thought flickered for a brief moment, but I shoved it aside. "Not my problem," I muttered, seeking comfort in the sound of my voice. I just needed to move.

The hallway stretched out before me, a gaping maw of unsettling emptiness. Dim lights flickered. Shadows moved along the floor, resembling ghostly fingers. My footsteps echoed in the stillness, each thud amplifying the whirlwind in my head. The day's madness churned in my mind like a storm. I woke up in a twisted mirror at school. I battled a nightmarish creature from a horror show. And I felt an inexplicable surge of power coursing through me.

"Dammit." I rubbed my temples, fighting off the dull throb settling in behind my eyes. The weight of everything pressed down, each bizarre event compounding the pressure. It felt almost unbearable. But I kept walking, as if moving forward might somehow unravel the chaos swirling in my mind.

BOOM-!

The ground jolted beneath me. I lurched, grabbing the concrete railing as the world trembled. The rumble echoed through the hallway, fading into a low groan. My heart pounded in my ears, each beat drowning out reason. An explosion? An earthquake? Panic seized me. "No way…" I breathed, a cold realization creeping in. Was the dream trying to warn me? I sprinted down the hall, my feet pounding the floor. The air was electric with fear. I darted past fleeing students, their faces twisted in terror. Each one reflected the dread clawing at my insides. My gut clenched. I knew what I would find.

I skidded to a stop. Something blocked my path. It was a beast, a quadruped. Its black fur, like midnight, rippled over its hungry, taut muscles. Claws gleamed like knives under the flickering lights. Its head was just a skull, empty eye sockets that should have seen nothing, yet I knew it saw me. A darkness deeper than anything I could comprehend loomed before me.

"Shit…" I breathed, staring at the creature—a Hellhound. The name slipped from my lips like an old curse. Common enough in this twisted world, but that didn’t make it any less terrifying. The thing was huge, its bony jaw snapping at the air, tasting the fear that dripped like sweat from my brow. My hands trembled as I realized I had no plan, no backup, just me standing in the path of this monster.

The hound growled a low, guttural sound that shook my bones. Its skeletal maw opened wide. I tried to back up. But my feet felt glued to the ground. A familiar paralysis crept in. I needed to move. I needed to fight. Latent energy pulsed beneath my skin, a dormant force ready to awaken. The peculiar grace I had felt before lingered, a whisper away from resurfacing. But would it come when I called? The Death Hound growled again, a warning, and then it charged, claws and jaws poised for my flesh. "Crap, already!?" I cursed myself, scrambling to find something to defend myself.

Tick—tick—

The clock in my mind twitched, and my vision flared. A ghostly trail marked the path of death. Instinct kicked in. I swerved just in time. "What...?" Thoughts scrambled as I processed what had happened. Had I glimpsed its strike? There was no time to ponder. It lunged again. Once more, the phantom trace revealed its deadly intent. My newfound sight guided me, a dance with danger unfolding before me. "So this is my grace power: foresight!" A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, even as the hellhound glared back at me, frustrated.

I glanced behind me and spotted a broom propped against the wall. It might not be much, but it was better than nothing. "Alright, let’s dance, dog," I taunted, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my insides. It rushed forward once more, and this time, I was ready. My eyes glowed again, the phantom trace of the hellhound blazing in my vision. I swung the broom with all my might, connecting with its skull.

CRACK!

Its body smashed against a glass display case. The sharp shards pierced its flesh. A dark liquid spilled from its wounds like a spilled ink pot. "Huh, that was quite easy," I remarked, shaking my head. "No, don’t get too cocky, Rei. Last time, you came close to dying." I turned to walk away, adrenaline still coursing through me. A voice interrupted my thoughts. "That was quite impressive of you." I spun around, shock pinching my features as I faced a figure emerging from the shadows.

[End of Chapter]