Lost In Chaos

The usual alarm blared in Kaz's ears, its piercing tone dragging him from the clutches of sleep. Groggily, he fumbled to silence it, slamming his hand down on the button before sinking back into his mattress. For a fleeting moment, he thought about closing his eyes again, letting sleep take him just a little longer.

But the door burst open.

A bright smile greeted him, accompanied by the wild, untamed hair of a boy who had clearly rolled out of bed with no intention of fixing it. Ban leaned against the doorframe, his chestnut-brown skin glowing in the morning light, his energy infectious. He wore a fresh purple hoodie adorned with sharp, intricate designs that screamed of the latest trends. His black-and-white sneakers completed the look, still spotless from careful attention.

"Wake up, Kaz!" Ban called out, his voice a mix of urgency and teasing. "Mom's gonna be mad if we miss the bus again."

Kaz groaned, dragging himself upright and throwing on the first hoodie and pair of sweatpants he could find. He trudged upstairs, muttering curses under his breath about how unfair mornings were. But as he reached the top step, he glanced at the clock.

5:15 a.m.

On a Saturday.

"What the hell, Ban?" Kaz exclaimed, irritation etched across his face. "I'm gonna kill you!"

Ban only laughed, his bright grin never faltering as he rushed forward to wrap his older brother in a warm hug. "Happy birthday, brother."

The warmth in Kaz's chest replaced his irritation as he allowed a smile to creep across his face. "Thanks, you little troublemaker." He ruffled Ban's hair, sending the boy scampering off.

Returning to his room, Kaz collapsed back onto the bed, letting the comfort pull him under once again.

When Kaz woke again, sunlight streamed through the window. The clock read 4:00 p.m. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he climbed upstairs, the sounds of quiet conversation drawing him toward the kitchen.

His mom and brothers sat at the table, dressed sharply for the occasion. His mom's bronze skin glowed in the golden light, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her dark eyes locked onto him with a look of playful irritation.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? Hurry up, or we'll miss our reservation," she chided.

Kaz muttered an apology, rushing downstairs to throw on something appropriate. As he passed the living room, the news caught his attention.

"...reports indicate a surge in Rift activity, with more people disappearing at random..."

The words echoed in his mind, but he didn't stop to listen. By the time he made it back upstairs, everyone was already in the car. His mom's sleek sedan was parked on the busy street, the three of them inside.

Kaz opened the door to step outside.

And then it happened.

A deafening crash tore through the street.

The world seemed to slow as Kaz's gaze snapped toward the car. Glass shattered, metal crumpled, and the chaos swallowed everything. His legs refused to move, his mind racing but unable to process the scene unfolding before him.

The aftermath was a blur.

The hospital room was sterile and cold, the air thick with tension. Kaz sat numbly as the doctor delivered the news.

One of the boys was dead.

Their mom was gone.

Ban lay unconscious in the next room, fighting to hold on.

The words replayed in Kaz's mind like a broken record, looping endlessly as he sat in silence. The memories of that day seared into his soul, a scar that refused to fade.

Kaz jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat, his heart pounding as though it were trying to escape his chest. The dream had felt so real, yet it vanished like smoke as consciousness took hold. He sat up, taking in the sight of the oasis that had become his temporary haven. The cool air hung heavy with moisture, and the distant drip of water from stalactites echoed around him.

The imp in his shirt stirred and squeaked in protest, scurrying out to glare at him with its beady eyes before curling into a ball a few feet away. Kaz sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he tried to shake off the lingering haze of the nightmare. The memory of the crash, his family, and the haunting uncertainty that followed clung to him like a second skin.

Looking around, Kaz noted the changes to the oasis. The once-pristine cavern now bore the marks of survival. Ryuma had proven to be as resourceful as he was strong, crafting ropes from the bark of the dead trees scattered along the cavern's edges. He'd even managed to construct a small raft out of salvaged wood, which they used to navigate the underground lake.

Kaz's gaze drifted to Ryuma, who was sleeping on the other side of the raft. His chest rose and fell steadily, his face uncharacteristically peaceful. Yet, something about him had changed ever since they'd killed the Riftspawn.

Kaz couldn't ignore the gnawing suspicion that had been festering in his mind. He knew the nature of this world, where strength was everything and flux shards were the key to survival. Killing a beast—or even a person—yielded flux energy, absorbed by the victor to strengthen their soul shard.

He glanced at his own status, the Sanctuary etched into his soul:

Name: Kazeem Steel

True Name: —

Soul Crystal: Shard

Rank: Novice

Flux Shard: 100/1000

Feature: [Prime] [Beyond] [Prosper]

Trait: Chaos Born

Kaz's eyes went wide, staring at the new trait and feature displayed before him. The once-empty space under "Lineage" was now filled, and the null feature had transformed. His heart raced as he summoned his scripts and read the descriptions:

Feature: Prime

Most gods and champions have claimed dominion over elements. You have no divinity or profane allegiance. You transcend both, requiring no mortal necessities to survive.

Trait: Chaos Born

You are imbued with the essence of chaos, thriving in tumultuous environments. Strength, speed, and perception increase with exposure to chaos. Prolonged exposure may alter thoughts toward creating more chaos. You radiate a bright violet glow as chaos intensifies.

The implications hit him like a tidal wave. That purple light—the force that had crushed the Riftspawn—had altered him. But was it a blessing or a curse?

Kaz clenched his fists, his mind racing. This world was unrelenting, but perhaps this newfound chaos could be his answer. Or his undoing.