Five minutes later, Reo got off the bus. After a short two-minute walk, he reached his home: Brindavanam Colony—a cluster of five identical apartment towers, each rising twenty-four floors into the night sky.
The buildings were old, their paint chipped and walls weathered by time. This was a middle-class neighborhood, functional but unremarkable. Reo entered the third apartment block and rode the lift to the 20th floor. Stepping out, he walked down the dimly lit hallway and pulled out his key.
The moment he unlocked the door and stepped inside, the contrast was jarring.
The interior of the apartment was nothing like its aging exterior. Sleek, modern furnishings, ambient lighting, and high-end tech filled the space. It was the kind of home one would expect from a wealthy elite, not a student living in a middle-tier district.
As Reo stepped in, motion sensors triggered the lights.
A soft chime echoed, and a holographic AI assistant materialized in front of him—its form shimmering with faint blue light.
"Welcome home, Master!"
This was Luci, his personal AI. Developed in the late 39th century, hologram AIs had become essential household companions—handling everything from chores to advanced security and cyber-defense. Luci, in particular, was a high-end model equipped with military-grade counter-surveillance and deep learning capabilities.
Reo gave her a quick nod.
"Luci, did anything happen while I was gone?"
"No, Master," Luci replied smoothly. "Everything remains secure."
"Can you bring me some snacks?"
"The Pepe Crunchy Snacks?"
He nodded.
"Yeah… and some cake too. I'll get changed while you prepare it."
As Luci floated toward the kitchen, Reo headed to his room. He changed into his nightwear and sat down at his sleek, custom-built computer terminal.
He browsed through news headlines while waiting for the incoming report on the ghost sightings.
A few minutes later, Luci reappeared, balancing a tray.
"Your Pepe Crunchy Snacks and chocolate cake, Master."
"Thanks, Luci."
He munched on the snacks absentmindedly, eyes still scanning across the flood of digital headlines. The minutes ticked by. Still no message.
And then, slowly, his body gave in. Exhaustion crept up without warning, and his eyelids grew heavy. In seconds, Reo drifted into sleep, slouched over his desk.
Luci watched him silently. With a gesture, she dimmed the lights, paused the news feed, and gently draped a blanket over his shoulders.
The apartment fell silent—save for the hum of distant traffic and the occasional flicker of holographic light.
-------#######-------------
[PAST]
26 December 3823 — Southern Town, 12:05:32 AM
Luther's heart pounded in his chest.
Vanessa gasped, her arms tightening protectively around Reo. The boy—once so full of laughter—now stared ahead in pure terror, his small hands trembling.
Their home, their street, their lives—everything had turned to chaos in the blink of an eye.
"Reo! Reo—wake up!"
Shaken from his daze, three-year-old Reo trembled in his mother's arms. His wide, tear-filled eyes were full of fear as he looked up at his father and whispered, "Papa… what's happening?"
Vanessa clutched him tightly, pressing his head into her chest to muffle his sobs. She gently rocked him, trying to hide her own trembling. Her heart broke with every whimper he made, but she couldn't afford to cry out. The slightest sound could give them away.
Luther, standing beside them, clenched his fists. Watching his wife and son like this pierced his soul. When he married Vanessa and held Reo for the first time, he had vowed to protect them—to give them a life filled with love, warmth, and peace.
And now, he was failing.
But this wasn't the time to give in to guilt or sorrow. Emotions could wait. Survival couldn't.
He forced himself to think clearly, shutting out the fear and despair. As a martial cultivator at the Peak Postnatal Realm, he had faced death before—but nothing like this. The overwhelming aura outside, the chilling cries of spirits in the distance, and the pressure of the unknown enemy—they made it clear.
They were being hunted.
He knew his cultivation wouldn't give him any real advantage against what was coming. At best, it might buy them a few minutes.
"Escape first. Hide, if needed. Sacrifice, if I must," he thought grimly.
His eyes sharpened, filled now with steely resolve. Whatever it took—he would get his wife and son out of this.
As Luther calmed himself, his mind began racing—desperately searching for a way to escape. The bakery was no longer safe. He needed to find a route out, and fast.
His thoughts flashed through fragments of memory—pieces of the past surfacing in this moment of crisis. He remembered his own childhood in Southern Town. His father was a governament official, rarely staying in one place for long. But sometimes, during rare family vacations, he would share stories—bits of wisdom mixed with warnings.
One particular memory stood out.
"Kid," his father had said, sitting by a campfire, "our generation is better off than the past. But when the Sword Emperor and other top powerhouses returned from beyond the Dead Zone… they brought more than just hope and knowledge."
"They also brought a tumor."
"The Nether Cult. At first, it was nothing—a scattered group. But like a tumor, it grew. Spread. Corrupted. The government acted too late, as always. Eventually, they hunted and executed the cult's upper ranks… but the damage was done."
"In fear, people built hidden tunnels beneath their homes, shops—everywhere. In those days, everyone had an escape plan. But as peace returned… people forgot. They sealed the tunnels, buried the memories, and moved on."
Luther's eyes widened. The tunnels!
Southern Town is one of the oldest towns… then... then the secert underground should also be present, the underground should be filled with escape routes. Even this bakery… it might still have one!
He turned to Vanessa, signaling her silently to stay hidden and quiet. The haunting screams from outside continued, but he forced himself to remain calm—for her sake, for Reo's.
He slipped into the back area—the cake preparation room—and began to search. Nothing.
Then, something caught his eye.
A faint semi-circular outline beneath the refrigerator.
Holding his breath, Luther gripped the appliance and slowly, carefully shifted it aside, avoiding any loud noises. Dust flew up, but there it was—a hatch, old and rusty, but unmistakably real.
He sighed in relief. It's still here.
He returned to Vanessa and Reo and whispered, "Follow me. Quietly."
Leading them back, he knelt beside the heavy metal hatch. Time and rust had sealed it tight, but with the strength of a Peak Postnatal cultivator, he pried it open with a low grunt.
The tunnel yawned beneath them—dark, musty, and silent.
Before his wife and son descended into the tunnel, Luther quickly scanned the bakery's dining area. Spotting a wooden chair, he snapped off one of its arms. Using a cloth from the kitchen shelf, he wrapped it tightly around the wood and soaked it in cooking oil.
Striking a match, he lit the cloth—creating a makeshift torch.
Only then did he help Vanessa climb down. Gently, he passed Reo into her arms, his son trembling but silent.
Finally, Luther followed and closed the hatch above them, sealing away the nightmare that raged above.
"They're safe… for now," he thought, though the weight of that word—now—pressed heavily on his chest.
The tunnel was pitch-black, the air thick with the stench of rot and mold. Foulness clung to every breath.
The torch crackled weakly, casting flickering light over the narrow passage. Slimy moss clung to the damp walls. The floor crunched beneath their feet—scattered with rat skeletons and damp debris.
Vanessa quickly pulled out a handkerchief and tied it around Reo's nose and mouth. Then she tore a piece of her skirt and handed half to Luther.
They covered their faces and pressed forward, each step slow and cautious.
Only the dim fire guided them—and the hope that somewhere at the end of this tunnel… was safety.
Vanessa carried Reo in her right arm, his small body pressed against her chest. Her left hand clutched Luther's tightly as they walked deeper into the tunnel.
The tension on her face was unmistakable. Everything that had happened—ghosts, screaming, death—was beyond her comprehension. She was just a mortal. Unlike her husband.
Luther felt her trembling through their clasped hands. Without saying a word, he squeezed back—firm and steady. A silent promise of protection. A reminder that she wasn't alone.
They walked in silence for what felt like hours, unsure of where they were heading. The flickering torch cast long, shifting shadows along the damp walls, and the stink of decay clung to their lungs.
But for now… they were safe.
Eventually, the narrow tunnel began to widen. It felt like an endpoint.
Just as they neared what looked like the end, Luther's ears picked up something.
"Sccrrrch…"
"Skkkktch…"
"Scraaape…"
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
He halted. With a low hand signal, he instructed Vanessa to stay put and shield Reo. Then he crept forward silently, torch in hand.
The tunnel opened into a larger underground chamber. On the far side were stone stairs leading upward—possibly to the surface.
But beneath the staircase… sat a woman.
She was hunched over in filthy, tattered white robes. Her back was turned, but her fingers were dragging across the wall in slow, grinding motions.
"Sccrrrch…"
"Skkkktch…"
"Scraaape…"
Luther narrowed his eyes and stepped slightly closer.
Snap.
A dry twig cracked beneath his foot.
Instantly, the woman jerked her head around.
Her face was twisted. Wooden-black skin. Hollowed cheeks. Sunken red eyes that glowed faintly in the dark.
She stared toward the sound.
Luther ducked behind a pillar just in time—heart pounding in his chest.
"A zombie?!"
"What the hell is that…?!"
He clenched his jaw and forced himself to breathe slowly. He needed to think—quickly.
[PRESENT TIME – 3834, Karakura]
Reo stirred, woken by Luci's voice.
"Master. Please wake up."
His eyes fluttered open, and he sat up groggily. "What is it, Luci?"
"You've received an encrypted high-priority call," Luci replied. "From Shadow."
The sleep vanished instantly from Reo's eyes. He threw off the blanket and stood up.
"Send it to the secure room."
"Yes, Master."
Reo stepped into a hidden panel beside his wardrobe. It slid open, revealing a concealed chamber lit by blue holographic lights. He entered and sat in the command chair.
The call was waiting.
He accepted.
A hologram flared to life—flickering slightly.
"Captain," said a deep, young voice.