Boundead

Days ago, before the departure

The rain fell steadily outside, soft and relentless, weighing down the vibrant roadside flowers until their delicate stems bent toward the earth. Beyond the rain-soaked streets, a bustling city pulsed with life—vehicles honking, engines roaring, and voices blending into an urban symphony. Towering skyscrapers, their glass facades streaked with rivulets of water, stood as silent witnesses to the chaos below.

Inside a dimly lit room, far from the city's noise, Nur sat hunched over a cluttered desk. A flickering table lamp cast uneven light across blueprints and scribbled notes strewn before him. The designs were intricate, each sketch detailing spacecraft engineered to endure unimaginable forces. The professor Herold at ISRO had insisted the project only required a crew-capable craft.

But Nur had ignored those instructions. His designs weren't for them—they were for him. A desperate plan fueled by grief and a sliver of hope.

He leaned back, rubbing his tired eyes. Beside him, a weathered scroll rested, the strange symbols on its surface faintly glowing in the dim light. The scroll's purpose had become painfully clear in the weeks after Miel's death. It was a contract, a silent promise: to go back and save her, he'd have to give something in return. But its terms remained elusive, shrouded in the same mystery as the dreams that had delivered it into his hands.

"Such a weird dream…" he muttered, resting his chin on his folded arms.

In his dream, he'd stumbled upon a realm unlike his own—a world of swords and magic, where darkness threatened to consume everything. It felt absurdly fantastical, like a scene ripped from comics or games. Yet, it had been disturbingly real.

he couldn't shake the feeling that it was his one chance to make things right. But its power terrified him. What if opening a portal in this world unleashed something unimaginable?

He sat back, staring up at the ceiling, his mind swirling with exhaustion. He wanted something to drink—anything to break the monotony of hours spent working. His throat felt dry, his body weary.

As the silence pressed in, he called out, almost instinctively. "Taliah... Oy, Taliah... You there?"

But the only answer he got was silence.

"..."

The rain began to ease, sunlight breaking through the clouds. Nur glanced at the clock. The professor had messaged him earlier, asking to meet at ISRO's base. 

The International Space and Resource Organisation or ISRO, the world's leading organization, is responsible for space missions and resource exploration in response to the rapidly changing world.

As he rose, sighing, he grabbed his coat and stepped outside his residence, now bathed in a golden glow after the rain. The flowers swayed gently, their colors much more vibrant, The rain hues still weighing them.

"The base of operations buzzed with activity, The workers and scientists are in a hurry trying to finish there works, The professor, a gray-haired man with sharp eyes and a wry smile, greeted him with a firm handshake.

"Nur, how's the work coming along?" he asked, his tone cheerful despite his obvious exhaustion.

Nur glanced past the professor at the spacecraft under construction. Engineers were fine-tuning its engines while others worked on the interior.

"It's finished," Nur replied with a faint smirk. "Everything's ready except for the exterior. Once that's done, we can move forward."

The professor chuckled knowingly. "You've done more than enough. You're not just finishing the work—you're making it better than I ever imagined."

"This sly old fart," Nur thought, stifling a grin. "It was hard for me to somehow plant this projects idea to his mind and seemingly for others he's the one who came up with this entire project, but he makes me do all the grunt work. Still… it's better for me this way. I can't refuse."

The professor's expression darkened slightly. "You know, we might face another outbreak soon. Even with everyone awakened, survival isn't guaranteed in this changed world."

Nur tensed but didn't reply immediately. The world had changed drastically, yet he felt like an outsider.

As Nur left the base, the city stretched before him, glistening under the clearing skies. Rain droplets clung to the leaves, the streets reflecting the soft glow of the emerging sun.

As he looked to his right, His gaze lifted.

There, piercing the heavens, stood the tower. Its immense form seemed to scrape the clouds, casting a shadow over the city. It hadn't always been there. No one knew where it came from, only that it had appeared one day, uninvited, changing the world forever.

He muttered under his breath, "Awakened, huh!"

As he stares at the sky piercing tower, his—back that was seemingly wide, was holding so much weight of responsibility

"…"

Sound of ocean, waves clashing, seaguls flying around singing the song of the seas in there own language

Nur opened his eyes. floated on his back, the water cold and unyielding.

"What… happened?" he whispered,"haha did i fail in doing such a simple task as he added he remeber the gliker of light he show when he was under the water

As he turned to his right, he saw it—a flicker of light in the distance. Weak but persistent, it cut through the waves, drawing his gaze.

Nur turned his head toward the light, his mind racing. Could it be? He began swimming toward it, each stroke a battle against the ocean's pull. His limbs ached, his body weak, but the light kept him moving.

When he finally reached it, his breath hitched. Floating just beneath the surface was a black pen, engraved with silver, a small diamond-like stone embedded in its clip.

Nur's fingers closed around it, trembling. Memories surged through him as he clutched the pen. He could still feel the weight of his past mistakes, the promises he couldn't keep.

But his relief was short-lived.

He heard it then—the shrill cries of seagulls overhead. The water rippled unnaturally, shadows stirring below. Panic tightened his chest as his mind raced.

The blood I left behind… did it draw them in..?

The previously lifeless place has become much more lively, as if it has suddenly given birth to lives that belong to it, just for him.

Shadows rose from the depths, dark shapes circling beneath him. The apex predators of the ocean had arrived.

Nur's heart pounded in his chest, each beat a frantic drum of terror. He couldn't die here—not like this, torn apart by the monsters lurking below. The pen in his hand trembled as he gripped it tighter, bracing himself

Before he could fully process his fear, his body acted on its own. Without realizing it, the pen plunged into his thigh. The sharp, searing pain snapped through him, but his mind felt detached, as if his instincts had taken over, bypassing his will entirely.

He grunted, his voice strained as the pain grew unbearable. The blood seeped out in slow tendrils, clouding the water. It was almost absurd—a cruel joke.

I just want to pass out before they rip me apart…

Resignation settled over him like the cold grip of the ocean. Deep down, he knew—there was no escaping this. Whether it was by his own hand or the jaws of the creatures circling below, he was doomed. And yet, a sliver of desperate hope flickered. Maybe, just maybe, he'd wake up somewhere else—back in reality—if he gave in to the void.

"…"

The water stirred ominously.

They surfaced then, breaking through the waves like nightmares made flesh. Sharks—no, they were far worse, dripping with malice and hunger.

Nur's breath caught. He could feel the pull of the current growing stronger around him, as if the ocean itself had become a living thing, conspiring against him.

Great. I'm bleeding in shark-infested area. This might be my smartest moment yet.

He felt like an idiot, helpless and utterly out of his depth. His mind screamed at him to fight, to run, but his limbs refused to obey.

Below him, the shadows closed in.

The first shark lunged, its jagged teeth grazing his arm. Nur twisted away, but the second struck faster, tearing into his side.

Pain exploded through him. He screamed, the sound almost lost in the crashing waves and storm brewing above.

The ocean churned violently, waves rising and falling as though nature itself was at war. His lungs burned as seawater filled them, each cough more desperate than the last.

"…"

Amidst the chaos, he caught a glimpse on the ocean's surface, sunlight pierced through the clouds, creating a platform. A figure stood there.

The presence felt heavy, as if it resented him for something, though Nur couldn't fathom why.

His body began to fail. Blood loss and exhaustion dragged him downward, the ocean swallowing him.

He was drawing towers, the fear he had forgotten, the fear of the depths. 

clutching his pen tightly in his hand to prevent it from getting lost once again.

"Taliah…, he was calling out to her, as his last thoughts, as he fell

…