Chapter 1 : Lost, Pain

The sun was rising gently over a tranquil beach, bathing the horizon in a golden glow. The waves caressed the shore with a gentle touch as a young boy slowly woke up on the sand. His eyes opened, filled with a mix of confusion and wonder. He appeared to be about six years old, with ebony hair and deep blue eyes. But what was most surprising were the two small horns protruding from his head.

The boy stood up cautiously, not remembering anything. He wondered who he was and how he had ended up here. He didn't know why he found himself in this place. His head was pounding, tears threatening to well up in his eyes.

As he searched for answers, a strange phenomenon occurred. The space around him distorted, enveloping him in a bright shimmer. He suddenly found himself in a white space, floating in uncertainty. Mysterious fruits appeared before him, suspended in the air.

"Why are there fruits ? Where am I ?" he spoke, incredulous about his situation.

He finally focused his attention on these three fruits. The boy observed them, instinctively sensing that he had to make a choice.

The first fruit was a fiery red, exuding a warm aura. The second fruit was an ethereal blue, evoking a sense of tranquility. But it was the third fruit that captivated the boy's attention. It was azure in color, adorned with patterns reminiscent of dragon scales. There was something familiar and enticing about this fruit.

Without fully understanding why, the boy reached out and grabbed the azure fruit. The next moment, the white space dissipated, and he was thrust into another unknown space, losing consciousness.

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(First POV)

Consciousness slowly returned, engulfed by darkness. My eyelids opened slowly, revealing a cold and sterile room. Blinding light dazzled me, intensifying the pain coursing through my body. Then I looked around to see that I was strapped down on a cold table.

Struggling to hold back tears as I felt the pain, my gaze fell upon the scars that adorned my battered skin, the marks of the abominable procedures I had been subjected to. Around me, strange machines and shelves filled with mysterious vials confronted me with the horror of my situation. There were unsettling murmurs from people clad in white echoing in the room, amplifying the oppressive atmosphere that surrounded me.

"It hurts ! Please, help me ! Can't you free me from these things ?" I cried out in distress. I didn't want to be treated like this. It hurts, but I'm so hungry...

I struggled against my restraints, desperately trying to break free, but weakness and pain bound me further. I was trapped in this living nightmare, a macabre experiment in the hands of these heartless beings.

Memories of pain and terror assaulted me violently. The repeated experiments, the unknown substances forcefully injected into my body, the muffled screams that still echoed in my ears... It all transformed into unbearable torment.

All of this happened in just one week... Why are they doing this to me ? I don't even know what I did... I don't even know who I am.

As I fought against the straps holding me, one of the men approached, holding a handkerchief stained with a green substance. He moved it towards my mouth. I tried to scream, but my voice was muffled by the cloth. I cried while shaking my head, struggling to breathe. I needed air. Someone, please help me...

My vision blurred, and I tried to breathe. Only to finally pass out again.

The man had sedated me with some kind of sleep-inducing substance...

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(Third POV)

The young boy, still unconscious, abruptly woke up in a dark and sinister place. He blinked, adjusting to the dim light that illuminated the room. He realized he was locked in a narrow cell, surrounded by cold and inhospitable steel walls.

He felt a throbbing pain coursing through his body. Metallic noises and murmurs could be heard beyond the bars of his cell.

The boy, still disoriented, tried to stand up but was immobilized by chains that hindered his movements. He didn't know it, but his incredibly tough and resilient skin had caught the attention of scientists seeking to unravel its mystery.

He eventually curled up, looking at the small bowl in front of him, like those given to pets. His limbs were sore, and he still didn't know why he was there.

But a faint memory came to him, his name. He was called Ryota, that's all he knew. Then he was brought to this strange place where he had eaten a fruit... He didn't even know where he was.

Finally, a man appeared, looking at him with disdain and disgust. Opening the cell and removing the chains from the child, he grabbed him roughly by the arm and half-dragged him along.

He was once again brought to an experimental room. Ryota stood there, vertically restrained against the cold, metallic wall of the experimental chamber. He was surrounded by scientists in white lab coats, who observed him with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. The unsettling murmurs of their conversations filled the room.

The young boy, still confused and frightened, desperately sought answers. His eyes scanned every corner of the room, searching for a clue about why he was here. He noticed an electronic tablet placed on a nearby table. It might be his chance to understand why he had become a subject of experimentation.

"What are you doing ? Why am I here?" he asked in a trembling voice, trying to maintain his composure despite the fear that overwhelmed him.

The scientists exchanged glances, seeming hesitant to respond. Finally, one of them spoke, his voice clinically cold.

"You are here because you are a special child. Your skin possesses an extraordinary resistance and hardness, but more importantly, you lack magic, which has piqued our scientific interest. We seek to understand this uniqueness and exploit its potential."

Ryota shuddered upon hearing the scientist's words. He realized he was regarded as a subject of experimentation, an object to be studied. Sadness and anger intertwined in his heart.

"But I am more than just a guinea pig for your experiments ! I have the right to know who I am, where I come from !"

The scientists exchanged glances again, seeming to take Ryota's words into consideration. Finally, one of them stepped forward, adopting a more compassionate expression.

"We understand your distress, Ryota. We apologize for not being able to provide you with all the answers at the moment. But know that our research aims to help you, to understand and assist you in discovering yourself."

Even the child that he was, he wasn't foolish enough to believe that. Help him? He had been mistreated and subjected to painful trials. He couldn't take it anymore.

(First POV)

Suddenly, a man of rather imposing stature approached me. He wasn't wearing a lab coat like the other scientists, just a regular guy.

I watched him stop in front of me. His face scared me, he looked at me like some kind of toy he could use to alleviate his boredom. Then suddenly, without warning, I saw his right arm swing directly into my stomach.

I spat blood, the pain inside my body was unbearable. He had crushed my intestines, a pain like nothing

I had ever felt before, causing me to instinctively cry out in a mixture of pain and tears.

He didn't stop there, his fist struck my face this time. I felt my bones shatter upon impact, blood flowing from my nose and mouth, tears streaming down uncontrollably. Is this what the guy calls helping ?

"Alright, you can stop for now," declared one of the scientists, approaching me as the man who had hit me stepped aside. "Subject N-317 can withstand two blows from an average physical mage without dying. Moderate internal damage, broken facial bones, no life-threatening danger. Fantastic ! Master Brain will be thrilled to know these results !" he exclaimed with a mad smile, looking at me like an object.

Brain ? Mage ? When will I be able to get out of here ? Isn't there anyone to help me ? Please... I felt my consciousness fade as I looked at the man smiling in front of me for the last time.