Jaehwan slowly opened his eyes, groggily taking in his surroundings. He was lying on the cold, damp earth, surrounded by towering trees that seemed to stretch up to the sky.
The crisp mountain air filled his lungs as he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He was at the campsite, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of nature.
As he looked down at his hand, he realized he was still holding the small vial of liquid he had found earlier.
The same liquid that had seemed so mysterious and intriguing when he picked it up. Now, as he stared at it, a prompt materialized before him:
System:- "System Activated. Welcome, Jaehwan."
Jaehwan's eyes widened in confusion. What system? What was going on? The prompt seemed to be connected to the vial, but he had no idea how or why.
The prompt changed, displaying a new message:
System:- "Consume the Liquid of Awakening to unlock your true potential."
Jaehwan's gaze lingered on the vial, his mind racing with questions and doubts. What would happen if he drank it?
Jaehwan:- "Is it safe? Should I drink it?" Jaehwan wondered aloud, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Drinking the Liquid of Awakening is optional, but it is the fastest way to unlock your true potential," the system replied, its voice clear and detached.
Jaehwan's eyes snapped up, searching for the source of the voice. "Who are you? What do you mean by 'true potential'?"
"Your questions will be answered in due time, Jaehwan. For now, the choice is yours. Drink the Liquid of Awakening, and you will begin your journey.
Refuse, and...the consequences will be dire," the system said, its tone unwavering.
Jaehwan's grip on the vial tightened, his heart racing with anticipation and fear. What consequences? What journey? He stared at the vial, weighing his options...
System:- "You have been granted the chance to awaken the bloodline of the High Humans," the system replied, its voice filled with an otherworldly grandeur.
"Drinking the Liquid of Awakening will unlock your latent potential, allowing you to transcend mortality and become immortal.
If you choose to drink it, a portal will appear, leading you to the World of Immortals, where you will embark on a journey of discovery and growth."
Jaehwan's eyes widened in awe, his mind reeling with the implications.
Jaehwan :- "Immortal? World of Immortals?" he repeated, his voice trembling with excitement and trepidation.
System :- "The Liquid of Awakening holds the key to your ascension," the system said, its tone unwavering.
"The choice is yours, Jaehwan. Will you seize this opportunity, or will you remain bound to the mortal realm?"
"Nothing is free in this world," Jaehwan said, his tone turning cautious.
"If something is free, that means you're expecting something huge from me. What's the catch? What do you want from me in return?"
The system's response was immediate.
"Your skepticism is...understandable, Jaehwan. Indeed, there is a price to pay for immortality.
But it is not a simple transaction. The World of Immortals is fraught with danger, and those who seek to ascend must be prepared to face challenges and make sacrifices.
The true question is: are you willing to pay the price for eternal life?"
Jaehwan's expression turned wistful, his eyes gazing into the distance.
"I don't have any lingering attachments to this world,"
he said, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and resolve.
"It was a world where I was born, where I had some happy moments with my parents...but that was all taken away from me.
If you're giving me a chance to leave this world, I'll gladly accept it. I'm ready to move on."
The system's response was silence, as if processing Jaehwan's words. Then, it spoke again:
"Very well, Jaehwan. If you are willing to take the risk, drink the Liquid of Awakening. The portal will appear, and your journey will begin."
Jaehwan nodded, a mix of emotions swirling within him.
"I'm ready to go," he said, his voice firm. "But give me some time to say goodbye to my parents' grave. It's nearby."
The system hesitated for a moment before responding,
"You have one minute, Jaehwan. Make it quick."
Jaehwan nodded and stood up, walking towards the grave. He stood before the weathered headstones, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Mom, Dad...I'm leaving," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I'll make sure to live a life worth living...in a world beyond this one."
With a bittersweet smile on his face, Jaehwan turned back to the system.
"I'm ready," he said, holding up the vial.
The system's prompt flashed once more:
"Drink the Liquid of Awakening to begin your journey."
Jaehwan tilted his head back, and with a swift motion, drank the liquid in one gulp. The world around him began to blur, and a shimmering portal materialized before him.
As the portal's energy enveloped him, Jaehwan's smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with a mix of sadness and anticipation.
With a final glance at the grave, he stepped into the portal, leaving the mortal world behind. The portal closed, and Jaehwan vanished into the unknown, embarking on a journey that would change his life forever.