Chapter 1 - 0
The alarm suddenly rang as Lumberling opened his eyes. He looked at his white ceiling, turned off the alarm, and went back to sleep—there was no office work for him today.
Hours later, he stirred from his slumber, sluggishly rising to prepare for the day. Something tugged at his memory—he had plans today. Lumberling, a 42-year-old civil engineer, lived a comfortable yet unsatisfying life. With no wife or children, a decent career, and a family he supported, he was what many would consider successful. But deep down, he felt hollow.
To fill the void, he buried himself in fantasy novels about reincarnation, powers, and magic. Games and fiction thrilled him in ways reality never could, but he knew they were just illusions. His life felt like a loop. Work, pay, responsibilities, temporary pleasure—then repeat. He followed society’s script obediently, but never chose his own path.
Then he saw a video. It showed a man hiking alone through the wilderness, free and at peace. Inspired, Lumberling decided to follow that example.
On the third day of trekking through a dense jungle, he came upon a moss-covered pyramid hidden by thick foliage. His curiosity stirred, he stepped inside. The narrow passage reeked of age. Dust clung to every surface, and vines crept along the cracked stone. He pressed on until he hit a dead-end wall.
Disappointed, he turned to leave—but something pulsed behind him.
A red light flared from the wall.
He turned too slowly. The light surged forward, striking his back. Heat and pain consumed him. He gasped, trying to scream, but his lungs barely worked. His flesh writhed, his body cracked as if devoured from within. In his head, a voice echoed:
’Devour. Devour. Devour.’
Memories of his life flashed in bursts. Then—nothing.
He floated.