Prologue . . .
! Prologue …
“.. It all started with guilt . And evil disguised as beauty .”
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… Soren ran as fast as his legs could .. his speed unmatched for the familiar starving zombies chasing behind him . He swerved through different corners but the scent on him was too strong , there was really nothing he could do … The world’s second to the largest Colossal type Dungeon . It was beautiful at first when stepping into its portal .. A lot of Wisteria and eucalyptus , it was an ethereal fairytale at first glance but the more he and his guild travelled into it , it wasn’t as beautiful as it proclaimed to be– technically a metaphorical sense it could be called “beautiful on the outside , ugly on the inside” . The Dungeon wasn’t even supposed to be a Colossal type , why would Soren’s B-tier guild even risk their lives for something even S-rankers have difficulty defeating …? It was all the universe’s trap .. the Prodigy System’s work of art .“Ngh .. — !” Soren grunted , beads of sweat falling like rain .
He was losing physical stamina , he needed to lose these monsters on his trail as he made one more swerve , hoping for the best but the best had yet again to show up after Soren realized he was cornered into a dead end .. he was trembling from mana exhaustion , low physical stamina and most of all .. the monsters finally caught up to him … With what’s left of his mana , he casted a mid-tier barrier , trying to figure out what to do .. When one of the possessed corpses approached the barrier , the light revealed who it was and Soren knew well who he had lost .. His guild , his friends , his family .. his only family .. Reduced to a rotting corpse with no conscience and a thirst for hunger and blood . Looking at one of his dearest friends , he winced with pure heartache as his eyes watered up when they couldn’t earlier from how shocked he was .. At first , everything was fine , they were all having fun , making jokes in their strategy planning and just overall laughing , not realizing what was to come … Until the sky turned bright red and the trees withered into rotting shadows with a distinct scent of danger and corruption . In a blink of his eyes , his cheerful , supportive childhood friends became something he couldn’t recognize from all that decaying flesh and inhuman wails …
“... Si-woo . Si-woo , please ..” Soren’s voice shook as he tried and attempted to snap his dearest friend out of whatever state he was in … Soren looked into the decaying eyes of his friend , Si-woo , his closest and his first childhood friend .“.. Si-woo , god damn it !! it’s not funny anymore— please !!” Soren cried out , denying that this was reality , his reality .. The reality where maybe he had lost everyone he had loved and cared so much for , people who were there when he needed it , family who didn’t abandon him like his own did … It wasn’t supposed to be like this , it wasn’t supposed to happen . The guild association tricked them , they tricked him into thinking it was just a normal day of supporting what needed to be supported … Where did it all go wrong ?Prodigy System (Sirius) : “Attention , #12 A-rank Support Soren Montoya ! Your system is here to warn you that the Colossal-Type Dungeon : Fever Nightmare is about to detonate and destroy the whole of East Asia in less than 45 minutes !! Please hurry and defeat your last levels of the Dungeon or say bye bye !”Soren’s eyes widened into horror , another bead of sweat falling and sliding down his cheek as he stilled for a moment before screaming– . . . “no– no ! NO ! — please ..! I-i can’t .. I-i’m only a support , what was I supposed to do ..?! I lost everyone !!” Soren’s voice broke into pants in between words , he was hyperventilating . It was known to everyone that supports , even A-rankers , cannot inflict good damage to monsters , let alone the damned ones from a Colossal-Type Dungeon ..Prodigy System (Sirius) : “Hm .. You aren’t wrong ! That’s some problem you have there but don’t fret ! :D .. I’ve long updated a new feature into my system !”Prodigy System (Sirius) : “The question is … Are you willing to take your friend’s “lives” in exchange for your own survival ? :)”Soren was utterly frozen , in between his love for his friends— his family— people who sacrificed so much for him … and his need for survival , not selfishly .. but he had a world that depended on the choice on his hands . He weighed his choices and couldn’t choose between his friends or the world . What was he supposed to do ..? Was it all up to him now ? Couldn’t this just be a nightmare he could wake up from ..?
… And before he lost another minute and added one more regret , he had made his decision .“Guys .. I-i’m so sorry ..” The shield’s durability started to hit the lowest durability left . Soren slowly helped himself up , he wobbled a bit but not too much , his knees bucking from the strain and exhaustion .. He took a shaky deep breath .Prodigy System (Sirius) : *music* “Ready ?? :3”Soren took one last of his old friends , gnawing and trying to rip their way into the barrier .. The said barrer started to crack from the low durability level it was on . A screen popped up ! It was aesthetically unusual from his usual . It was pink with a gradient of crimson red , Orchids fading into red spiderlilies as the frame. The action message was read as .. “Are you sure you want to proceed into #1 S-Ranking Offensive Support ? This choice cannot be undone and you will receive the achievement “First and Only S-Ranking Support + Hunter !” . . . . . “Yes !” or “No .” . The “No” button had some eeriness to it ; As if .. If Soren clicked on it , he wouldn’t just end up getting eaten by his own possessed friends , something even worse was waiting for him on the other side ..
Soren hesitated for one second before looking back up at his corrupted friends filled with decaying flesh , his tears welling up one more time and before he could change his mind— Soren quickly and shakily clicked “Yes !” . As his barrier was about to crack and shatter into dust , before the monstrous figures of what once gave him comfort , attack him brutally . Some kind of golden light cracked , shining out through the cracks it had created on the zombified humanoids . Without a second to waste , they all exploded into gruesome pieces and rain … Pieces of decayed flesh flew everywhere , blood splattered into painting whatever surfaces can be seen or unseen . Soren was there , stood and frozen , completely horrified and repulsed .. His friends picked pieces of him when he needed it the most and Soren ? Soren obliterated them into their own kind of pieces . The revolting kind , The painfully guilt-wrecking kind .Soren couldn’t break his eyes away from the scene before him , what he had done and what he had made . Guts with mold hanging around and spoiled fluids mixed with its expired red juices continued to drip and puddle around .. The mess was far too corrupted to go back . So all Soren had to do was to move forward . No matter how much remorse he had swallowed up , no matter how much self-hatred he had harbored and grew in that very moment . He chose his option , he has to be left to deal with his consequences .
… After that whole moment of shock , another system window popped up !
Prodigy System (Sirius) : “Time’s ticking , S-R OS Artair . Please proceed to the next level !! <3”
Soren winced at the message , his heart was completely unfixable and his mind was scattered and resetted into a different setting and the system had the audacity to pester Soren into action .. And even if it wasn’t annoying enough , Soren still took a step– his whole body chilled when he realized he stepped on something .. Yet he didn’t dare to look at what it could’ve been . He took another antagonizing step , it gave him some kind of fatigue but the third step , everything felt unusually lighter and he knew it was selfish and insane but could he do anything ? Was there ever a third option ? There will never be another chance to change it all , he will never feel free again— not from the shackles of guilt that pulls him back to the darkest place in himself . Another step , then another , then another …Until the trail behind him are only the winces of the dead and the slaughtered , a river of spoiled blood and corrupted juices he leaves behind .. Like his identity along with his happy memories .
And after all this , he won’t come back . Not again ..
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. . . 2 Years after the Second Colossal-Type Dungeon .
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“And that’s my story . . . my origin story if that’s what you prefer .” Soren spoke deadpan , mixing some kind of mushy unappetizing meal in a bowl , carefully adding a little more hot water and mixing into even more mush as he turned around and looked down at his single audience … “What do you think ? Traumatizing ? Angsty ? Horrible ? Depressing ?” Soren said with a raised brow and an emphasized question in his tone , looking towards the single audience with nothing but seriousness despite how ridiculous and insane the situation would be to others . “.. wah !” The toddler gave out some kind of vocal burp as response to Soren’s origin story . Soren paused for a moment with a chilly glare before exhaling some breath and nodding , as if understanding the baby’s response and interpreting it as a response and not something like the toddler wants her meal already . “You’re right .. It’s a story full of mistakes and lessons learned .” Soren spoke back before grabbing a small spoonful of the baby food and started to bring it up to the toddler’s lips . Of course , The toddler was starved after listening to a bunch of words she didn’t fully quite understand yet , accepting the spoonful like it was some kind of offering from her own pediatric nurse .“... I kinda hate that half of my shifts are spent in the dirty hospitals full of crying kids and the other half babysitting you .” Soren muttered in a slightly raspy low voice , deadpanning once more before noticing the toddler finished the spoonful , scooping some more for the baby . Soren also wiped some of her messy mouth and the poor dirtied bib from how uncoordinated the baby’s movements were especially at her first stages .A few hours later , Soren stretched and yawned as he finally put the baby toddler to sleep . It was a nightmare at his job , putting children to sleep and changing diapers but what else could hire supports— especially healers? There were maybe a hundred thousand estimates of awakened healing supports but only one of the offensive kind . After his eyes dulled and he stared into the ceiling , his body slacking onto the couch. He should probably clean up before his employers come home. He walked to the mirror and almost dropped his jaw from how disheveled and wrecked he looked from taking care of a baby . He literally defeated a whole Colossal-Type Dungeon all by himself and he’s been reduced into … this by a baby ? That will never do . He ran to take a shower … appreciating his employers and their superior generosity and warm kindness , even despite Soren not wanting to take the offer— if he didn’t take it , he would have looked like a homeless man and gotten kicked out only out of the unrecognizable mess he was looking like .After a quick and nice warm shower , he was fully clothed and back in some kind of nice image he improvised as the employers finally came home and smiled at Soren’s delicately ironic and definitely washed look as Soren dried his hair with his own towel he brought just in case . The mother , a beautiful yet tired-looking brunette with a youth of a definite 25 year old , was the first one to speak when she noticed Soren acknowledging their presence back home and was starting to prepare his stuff to clock out … “Sir Montoya , Why don’t you eat with us ? We would like to show our appreciation through a good delicious meal since you must’ve been starving after taking care of our little miscreant ~..” Her name was Suzuki Hina , When she first met Soren she was 6 months pregnant and ever since meeting Soren , she only asked and requested the hospital , no matter the costs , warnings and risks , that Soren will only be her primary caretaker , pediatric nurse , her Doula and even her personal male midwife . Even after birth , she wanted Soren to be her baby’s caretaker due to the fact she and her husband were busy with work even despite their finances being far from concerning .. Soren couldn’t say no since Mrs. Suzuki had shown nothing but kindness , like a mother figure he wished to have . The Father , quite good-looking with a great form despite him being in his middle ages , was the breadwinner of the family . Even if his wife was independently earning her own money , they were in such a healthy green relationship that many people Soren passed by in the park had reported that they didn’t want a relationship if it wasn’t like the Suzuki Family .. The man in his suit , spoke up with his deep voice .. “We would really appreciate it if you stuff your belly first before you leave .. We are only fulfilling our deepest gratitude towards your diligence .” He smiled with an equal amount of warmth Mrs. Suzuki had . His name was Suzuki Soma . He was like a father figure to Soren .. Ever since Mrs. Suzuki gave birth , Mr. Suzuki was confined in a hospital room , due to instances Soren wasn’t told about yet .Soren knew it would be rude to turn down some food but he really didn’t like home cooked meals .. The last time he had one was from his father , it tastes like cuisine , it was cuisine . His biological father was a renowned retired chef who claimed he had given up his passions prematurely because his wife delivered a child to him .. Which wife was it ? even Soren didn’t know and he didn’t want to . The food served to him in a silver platter sickened him to his stomach , it should have a heavenly taste but what was heaven without sincerity and love ..?
Soren was about to reject before Mrs. Suzuki interrupted with a sincere smile , knowing Soren’s past was definitely no joke .. “We’re having pizza and some butter chicken and some paneers ..” Soren hesitated before Mr. Suzuki added with a grin .. “We’re getting take out . Don’t worry , son .” And just like that , Soren was completely won over by this sweet couple .A moment into dinner , Soren was just enjoying his favorite veggie overload pizza with mozzarella stuffed crust and tasting the delicious new taste of Butter chicken and paneer . He had to admit , if he said no to this , he must be insane and must be locked away in a high security mental facility just for that .. He noticed he hasn’t been listening into the Suzuki couple’s conversations and decided to just listen in .. It can’t be eavesdropping if they know he’s right there . Mrs. Suzuki started the conversation with a sensitive topic that Soren knew all too well .. “Do you remember the Second largest Colossal-Type Dungeon sometime ago ?” Soren stilled but kept nibbling on his pizza slice , listening closely— maybe not just from interest but from the frozen trauma he thought he had left so long ago . Mr. Suzuki responded after chewing his food properly as for proper etiquette .. “Oh right .. that horrible disaster . Heard there was a potential Colossal-Type Dungeon soon but they’re not sure .” Soren choked while swallowing his pizza , coughing and whacking whatever is in his system in an uncomfortable way , he gasped and choked while Mrs. Suzuki noticed and unusually reacted calmly as she helped pat Soren’s back … “You alright , Sweetie ..?” Mrs. Suzuki and her eyes softened with light concern and sincere care . When Soren was back and not in some embarrassing choking hazard danger , he composed himself and nodded .. hoping that could get her off his case . In a caring way .Mr. Suzuki wanted to ask Soren something , something that made his brows furrowed when Mrs. Suzuki shook her head gently at him , like a secret marriage code Soren doesn’t know about but he just continued eating more , feeling tense from the topic .. although , he wanted to know more . He’ll have to research it later but why does he feel like he’s going to regret it ..?After dinner .. and potentially helping wash dishes . Soren finally started to walk home about greeting his employers goodbye . The Suzuki couple had always been the sweetest , he wishes he had a family like them .. That toddler is just way too lucky . Soren walked through the slightly empty dark streets , the street lights giving it some kind of safety but not too much , the city lights illuminated some things but not too much ; Either way , this was the perfect scene where a person may get killed or kidnapped . Though , Soren thought to save the anxiety for never . If what Mr. Suzuki said that the upcoming Dungeon was true , then it should be expected that people should be more worried about keeping themselves safe , earn some money to get out of near East Asia , avoid prison for no inconveniences just in case this whole Colossal-Type Dungeon comes even earlier than … Soren stilled .. his expression didn’t change , it was just more unreadable , dull , colorless … his breath hitched and slowly flowed out before shaking the thoughts away . No matter what , he will never come back even if everyone needs him, It’s just too much to handle .. It was something other S-rankers should handle .. but of course there were only 2 in this whole world unless some governments were hiding theirs . Impossible due to the Prodigy System’s leaderboard .. Soren slightly perked before going on the Prodigy System’s Leaderboard to check who the other potential S-ranker was and kept walking down the streets. It was dark and clearly , he was stupid for that .. Unfortunately , he had no mother to teach him those lessons . When Soren was about to filter the leaderboard into S-rankers , he suddenly bumped hard into someone— Someone maybe twice his size who grabbed him by the arm firmly , preventing Soren from falling completely over .. “Ngh !” Soren grunted before steadying himself with the help of whoever grabbed his arm .. When Soren opened his eyes .. He found no one . He looked around but no sign but he knew he was being watched from somewhere . He could use his buffs to have his X-ray vision but that would mean revealing himself to be a support and for him to use his abilities , he had to take off his eye contacts and his eyes … they weren’t of a normal A-rank and below no more and that could get him exposed . With a heavy huff , he made the difficult decision to just move on and hope he didn’t give away his true identity ..Soren finally arrived at his small cozy apartment as he sighed with relief . Ever since that weird encounter , he had been watched until he reached his apartment complex . Most probably , trying to avoid the security cameras with mana sensors .. If that were to be the case , then whoever was following Soren must be someone with an important rank .. A-ranking supports , A-ranking hunters , A-ranking officials ..
Then it hit . Soren fumbled and started to pop the Prodigy System Leaderboard into view , scrolling and filtering into S-ranking awakeners … There it was , The other S-rank . It was an awakened hunter , This man only goes by the alias , Sotarios . Soren knew each and every guild alias had a meaning whether it’d be a star , a paradox , a metaphor or .. a virtue . A virtue one holds dear or one was reinforced into .. Sotarios , huh . Loyalty .. Soren’s eyes dulled into deep thought before remembering to check the news about the upcoming Dungeon .. “The Second Largest Colossal-Type Dungeon and its rumours …”
“What happened to the Fever Nightmare Dungeon of Japan …”
“Heroes fallen in the unforgettable Second Colossal Dungeon …”
“Two of the world’s S-rankers and who are they …”
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Soren paused at one article . It was quite popular yet still somewhat isolated especially since The Second Colossal Dungeon’s mysteries were too intriguing and attractive to many . The mystery of what happened , who saved them , who became the first offensive support and the first S-ranker and many more questions that will never be answered and solved .. Soren was about to click on the Article with the magnetizing title , “Sotarios’s confession to building a whole empire for …” but Soren finally found the article about the incoming Dungeon right below the one he almost clicked on . He completely disregarded every curious thought about the article about Sotarios and clicked on the Dungeon article … His heart felt like it stopped and time felt like it froze when he realized …Mr. Suzuki wasn’t wrong . It really was going to be something Colossal . Of course , the article only meant its potential but the signs were there , the theme was similar … Everything about it brings Soren back to his darkest memories .… Nothing is ever going to be changed even when it can and ironically , Soren suddenly feels .. scared ..
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(End of Prologue)
