Resurgence: eternal evolution

Kael lay back against the stiff hospital bed, the soft hum of the fluorescent lights above offering a strange comfort amidst his racing thoughts. The earlier conversation with the association team replayed in his mind like a haunting melody.

No status window. low mana.

He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling within him. His gaze drifted to the faint scars on his arms, remnants of countless battles he'd barely survived. "What the hell am I supposed to do now?" he muttered under his breath.

Suddenly, the room darkened—or rather, it seemed as though the light in the room was being consumed. Before Kael could react, black text materialized in front of him, floating in the air.

[System Activation]

Initializing…

Kael's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest. The letters were unnervingly vivid, as if carved into the very fabric of space.

"What the—?!" he yelped, scrambling back in his bed. The sudden movement caused him to lose balance, and he fell off the bed with a loud thud.

As he groaned in pain, clutching his side, the door swung open. A nurse rushed in, alarmed by the noise.

"Mr. Kael! Are you okay?" she asked, hurrying to help him up.

Kael waved her off, still staring at the ominous black text hovering in the air. He pointed at it, his voice shaky. "Can… can you see that? Or hear it?"

The nurse frowned, following the direction of his finger. Her eyes scanned the air, but there was nothing there. "See what?"

Kael looked at her, panic creeping into his voice. "That black… thing. Right there!