The rain poured relentlessly over the streets of Moscow. Max stood under a battered shelter, arms crossed, staring into the gray void of the storm. His mind churned with thoughts of his miserable existence.
He and his best friend, Sunny, had clawed their way into an elite school through sheer academic excellence, but their scholarship did nothing to shield them from the cruelty of the privileged. The rich students despised them. They tormented Sunny more than anyone—he was weak, timid, an easy target.
But Max had never been one to stand by. He had fought for his friend, taking the brunt of the war against their oppressors. And in the end, the privileged won. Power wasn't just fists—it was influence. Their accusations had led to Max being labeled guilty. His mother, fearing for his future, had pleaded with him to stop fighting. He had obeyed.
Now, Sunny was safe, but Max was the new victim.
Max sighed and turned his gaze to the rain. It wouldn't stop. Would it ever?
"Idiot," a voice called.
Max looked up to see a boy approaching, an umbrella held awkwardly in his grip.
Sunny.
"You live in the opposite direction," Sunny scolded, shaking his head. "You're going to be late because of me."
"Shut up and let's go," Max muttered.
As they walked, they talked—about exams, studies, the constant harassment. Sunny apologized again for being the reason Max had suffered. Max brushed it off. It didn't matter.
Then, suddenly, a sharp pain tore through Max's chest.
His body burned. His skin seared with an agonizing heat. He gasped, stumbling backward.
"Max?!"
The world tilted. His knees buckled.
And then—
Darkness.
---
He opened his eyes.
The suffocating heat enveloped him. It wasn't just warmth—it was fire. His clothes disintegrated into ash. His skin boiled, searing pain unlike anything he'd ever imagined.
He screamed.
The agony lasted forever. Or maybe just moments. Then, suddenly, the flames vanished.
A glowing panel flickered before his eyes.
[LEVEL 1 COMPLETE]
Welcome to Hell.
Max trembled, his mind struggling to grasp the words before him. What was happening?
A deep growl vibrated through the air.
Slowly, Max turned.
Towering over him was a monstrous figure—its crimson eyes locked onto his own.
And for the first time in his life, Max uttered words drenched in pure terror.
"Mom... save me."