Leo jolted awake, a jagged scream tearing from his throat. "No!"
< System Initialization Underway >
A cold, mechanical voice echoed within the confines of his mind, but Leo didn't notice. His senses were a blurred mess. "Wh—where am I?"
The rhythmic click of footsteps approached. "The patient who's been comatose for a year is finally awake," a voice announced, clinical and detached. "Do we have any record of his relatives?"
"No," a soft, feminine voice replied with a hint of pity. "We haven't been able to trace anyone."
At those words, Leo's heart didn't just beat; it thrashed against his ribs like a trapped bird. What? No one? My mother? My father? My sister? Even the cat? Anything?
It was impossible. It defied logic. It was a nightmare he couldn't wake up from. He wanted to scream it—to roar that he had a family, a father, a mother, a sister. He had a life. But his throat felt like it was filled with glass; not a single syllable escaped his lips.
Please, this can't be happening.
"Leo Carmos. Patient 9-18182. National ID 422491910. Awake," the mechanical voice in the room droned. "Emergency examination in ten minutes. Mr. Leo, do not move from your position until further notice."
In the heavy silence of the room, the internal voice returned:
< System Loading... System Activated >
< Host in State of Panic >
< Host in State of Panic >
Leo heard nothing. The world was shrinking into a dark spiral of guilt. It's me. I'm the reason. It's all because of this cursed body of mine. I'm the one to blame. If I didn't exist, they wouldn't have had to protect me. If I hadn't spoken to that girl, they'd still be alive. If I had only awakened my abilities... I could have saved them.
***
*Tala, what do you think happened to Leo?*, Maya asked for the millionth time.
*I don't know. No one has told us anything for a year*, replied Tala, the beautiful girl with the red hair, her voice heavy with sadness.
*But aren't you registered as his family?*, Maya pressed.
*I don't know. I still haven't understood that yet*, Tala answered, her expression remaining unchanged despite the turmoil within.
***
"Search harder! It's impossible for him to have no relatives, even if he was adopted!" a middle-aged man barked at the medical staff, his voice echoing through the sterile hallway.
"Director! Sir!" A nurse sprinted toward him, breathless. "We found a sister. Her name is Tala Carmos, seventeen years old. She's a Peak Red-Rank Wind Art user. Should we contact her?"
The Director paused, his eyes narrowing. "Yes. Call her. Only her." He turned on his heel and vanished down the corridor.
***
"No... it can't be..." Leo's internal monologue was breaking into a sob. Why am I the one who gets to live? Why couldn't I have died instead? Why didn't my Art awaken? Why is everyone else gifted while I am left hollow? Why is the world this cruel? Why did they have to sacrifice themselves for me?
< System Initialized, Host >
< Host... >
< Initiating Electric Shock >
BZZZZZT!
"Gah! What—what was that?!" Leo convulsed, the phantom sting snapping him out of his spiral.
< Host, listen to what this System has to say >
"Who the hell are you?" Leo demanded, his mind racing as he strained to hear any sign of life in the room—a breath, a movement, anything.
< I am the Absolute Dragon System. I am your guide to strength. I am your path to dominance. I am a power that no being in this world has dared to dream of >
"Power? Dominance? A system?" Leo's thoughts turned hysterical. "What do I need those for? Give me back my parents! I don't want anything else!"
< The past cannot be changed. The future can. The world is unequal, and life is not fair >
< Accept your life as it is, and live it without regret >
< Look to the future with resolve, and walk with your head held high >
Leo fell silent for a moment, the weight of the words sinking into the void of his grief.
< Host state: Calming. Awakening final memory... >