Chapter 1: The Ordinary Life of David

David sat at his desk, staring blankly at the computer screen in front of him. Rows of data blurred together as he tried to muster the energy to finish his work. It was another monotonous day at his mundane office job, where the hours crawled by with little excitement.

At 25, David's life had settled into a predictable routine. He woke up every morning in his small, cluttered apartment, commuted to work, and spent his days punching numbers into spreadsheets. Evenings were reserved for his true passions—gaming and reading fantasy novels. These hobbies provided an escape from the dullness of his everyday life.

"Hey, David, you coming out with us tonight?" one of his colleagues, Mark, asked as he passed by David's desk.

David shook his head. "Nah, I think I'll just head home and relax. Maybe next time."

Mark shrugged and walked away, leaving David to his thoughts. Socializing with colleagues was never high on his list of priorities. He preferred the company of fictional heroes and epic quests over the small talk and banter of office life.

Late that night, David sat in his dimly lit apartment, finishing up a long gaming session. The clock on his computer read 2:37 AM. He yawned and stretched, his muscles aching from hours of sitting.

"Time for bed," he muttered to himself, shutting down his computer and heading to his bedroom. He changed into his pajamas and lay down, ready to drift off to sleep.

As he closed his eyes, a strange, pulsing light began to fill the room. David's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, heart pounding. The light grew brighter, enveloping him in an almost tangible energy.

"What the hell?" David whispered, fear gripping him. The sensation was overwhelming, disorienting him completely. He felt as if he was being pulled into the light, his body weightless and unanchored. He lost consciousness.

David woke with a start, the cold ground beneath him a stark contrast to his warm bed. He sat up, blinking against the harsh daylight. The sky above was dark and stormy, casting an eerie glow over the landscape.

Ruins of once-great cities surrounded him. Buildings lay in crumbled heaps, overtaken by nature. Vines snaked up broken walls, and trees grew through shattered windows. The air was thick with dust and the scent of decay.

"Where am I?" David muttered, standing up and brushing himself off. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. This wasn't his apartment, nor any place he recognized.

As he explored the ruins, David heard strange, monstrous noises echoing through the desolation. His pulse quickened as he realized he was not alone. He looked around to see what was that noise.

He saw from behind a collapsed building, a monstrous creature emerged. It was unlike anything David had ever seen—towering, with leathery skin and glowing red eyes. It let out a guttural roar, locking its gaze on him.

Panic surged through David. He turned and ran, but the creature was fast, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. It closed the distance quickly, and David stumbled, falling to the ground.

"This can't be happening! I need to get out of here!" David's mind raced as he scrambled to his feet. The creature lunged, its claws poised to strike.

Just as the monstrous creature was about to attack, a blinding light erupted from behind it. The creature was knocked back, and David was thrown to the ground by the force of the blast.

The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was a figure emerging from the light, its silhouette framed by the glow.

"Am I going to die? What was that light?" David's thoughts swirled in confusion and fear as darkness overtook him.