In a time before the world was torn asunder by the Nexus event, Earth thrived as a vibrant collage of civilizations, each with its own heartbeat, its own dreams. But the Nexus, a cosmic maelstrom, devoured that ancient order, splicing the very threads of time and space. Amidst the chaos, New Stone City emerged from the ruins, a testament to humanity's unyielding spirit on the fractured continent once known as Asia.
The city—a juxtaposition of past and future—stood as a sanctuary for those who survived the upheaval. Its highest spires reached for the heavens, while its deepest slums, like the one I called home, clung to the shadows, pulsing with life and a gritty resolve.
The Nexus, once an anomaly in the sky, had become a fixture, its influence seeping into the earth, into the people. It gave rise to the Gifted, individuals with powers that defied explanation, that could shape the fate of our broken world.
---
The slums of New Stone City are a maze of desperation and makeshift homes, a place where the forgotten fight to carve out an existence. I'm running through these narrow alleys, my heart pounding, my mind racing. I'm not running from anything in particular—just the stifling reality that has always been my life.
Above, the sound of engines rips through the air, and I pause to look up. A flagship soars effortlessly overhead, a symbol of authority and a life far removed from the squalor below. It's a glimpse of something more, something beyond the reach of the slums.
I can't help but feel that pull—the pull to escape, to rise above. My hands and feet move instinctively, scrambling up the side of a crumbling building, the broken bricks a ladder to the sky. The ascent is my rebellion against the fate I've been dealt.
Reaching the top, I'm greeted by the sprawling vista of New Stone City. The contrast is stark—the gleaming structures that house the elite, the neon glow of the mid-level markets, and the dark, dense patchwork of the slums. And there, in the distance, the Nexus hovers, a swirling, enigmatic force.
I'm Kai, a son of the slums, a survivor in the underbelly of a city that never looks down. But as I stand here, I know this won't always be my reality. I am more than this place, more than the hand I've been dealt.
The chapter of my life that unfolds in these alleys is coming to a close. I'll return, yes, but not the same. With the city beneath me and the Nexus above, I'm ready to chase the promise of a new chapter, one that might bridge the gap between the world I know and the one I dare to dream.
Hello, lemme know what you think about the book this is my first time writing. I might not be consistent with the uploads, but depending on the support , I'll increase the schedule. Do know I plan on finishing this book wether you like it or not.