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The silence in Ren's small apartment felt louder than ever before. The kind of silence that creeps under your skin and presses down on your chest until you feel like screaming just to break it.
It had only been two days since Elara walked away.
Two days since his world cracked in places he didn't know could break.
But this morning… something was different.
There it was again—floating faintly in the corner of his vision like a lingering shadow:
[SYSTEM INSTALLED: Emotion Conversion Protocol Initialized.]
[Processing emotional state... Detected: Abandonment, Betrayal, Despair.]
Ren blinked rapidly, thinking maybe he was just hallucinating from the pain and lack of sleep. He rubbed his eyes, but the blue text didn't fade.
[Would you like to convert these emotions into: Strength? Power? Charisma? Choose wisely.]
"…What the hell?"
He reached out as if he could touch the holographic screen. Nothing. It was just... there. Waiting.
Then came the voice. Calm. Mechanical. Almost soothing.
> "Welcome, Ren Carter. You have been chosen by the Emotion Conversion System — a prototype created by the Realm of Lost Souls to balance the pain in the heart with the power of the soul."
He should have laughed. He really should have.
Instead, he whispered, "Convert it to strength."
[Emotion: Despair → Strength +3]
[Emotion: Betrayal → Defense +1]
[Emotion: Loneliness → Intelligence +2]
[Current Power Rating: Level 1 – Wounded Initiate]
A small ripple moved through his body. Not painful, not electric — but awakening. As if something inside had snapped awake after years of being numb.
Ren stumbled to the mirror. He didn't look different. Still the same sunken eyes. The same unshaven face. But his posture… straighter. His gaze… sharper.
There was no time to process it before the next notification appeared:
[Mission 01: Step Into the World Again]
Task: Leave the apartment. Interact with at least one person. Choose to trust or remain isolated.]
Reward: Unlock First Skill – Emotional Resonance.]
He stared at it.
Leave? Now?
The city outside felt like a battlefield of memories—each street corner still haunted by Elara's smile, her laugh, her presence.
But… something inside pushed him to move. Not out of courage. Out of need. Maybe the system was right. Maybe wallowing would kill him before heartbreak did.
He showered. Got dressed. Put on a clean shirt for the first time in days.
When he stepped outside, the sunlight hit different.
The world hadn't changed. But he had.
He wandered through the bustling streets of Astralis City, still partially detached from everything. People passed him by, wrapped up in their own lives, unaware of the war happening in his chest.
Then—
He bumped into someone.
A girl. Probably around his age. Tall. Silver hair tied back into a messy braid. Her eyes were ice blue, and she didn't stumble when they collided. In fact, he took a step back.
"I know that look," she said flatly, not even waiting for an apology. "First heartbreak?"
He blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You reek of emotional residue. Must be fresh. Two days, maybe three."
Ren narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
She pulled out a card and handed it to him.
> Nova Eiris
Emotional Contractor – Division Seven, Chaos Realm Monitor Unit
He stared blankly. "This is a prank, right?"
She gave a tired sigh. "No, newbie. You're not the only one with a system. But you are rare. Your system is evolving based on raw emotion—unfiltered, uncontrolled. That makes you dangerous."
Dangerous?
Before he could ask more, another blue screen popped up:
[Warning: Presence of Secondary System Detected – "Emotion Leech"]
[System Interference in effect. Advisable: Distance yourself from Nova Eiris immediately.]
Ren stepped back instinctively. Nova's expression didn't change.
"You're just starting, Carter. You have no idea what this world really is. But you will. Soon."
Then she vanished.
Not walked away — vanished. Like smoke sucked into wind.
Ren was left standing on the sidewalk, heart pounding, questions multiplying.
Was this some elaborate dream?
Or had heartbreak... truly awakened something buried deep inside him?
[New Mission Unlocked: Uncover the Truth Behind the Chaos Realm.]
[System Reminder: Emotional Power is not infinite. Control is survival.]
He looked up at the blue sky above Astralis City.
For the first time in days…
He felt something other than sorrow.