[ New year, New World ]

[ I yearn that this shall aid them even inadequately… *Cough* ]

In an oddly shaped room, a man-like being is coughing out blood-like fluids from his mouth.

[Thou shall not utter more words.] remarked the woman-like being next to him.

[We carried out everything within the limits of our authority.] She expressed worry as she helped the man get up out of his somewhat collapsed state on the floor.

[*Cough* From now on, the destiny of their planet rests in their hands.]

[This one hopes that our final endeavor to aid will bear fruit.]

[This one wishes the same...]

As the two figures followed the star-like route across dimensions, they pleaded ardently for humanity's triumph over the tribulations that lay ahead, as well as for their redemption.

• • •

A mysterious and wood-colored character panel floated in front of White Alyan, who now seemed unable to move from the shock due to the information he witnessed from it.

"Music...Hero?"

He was filled with unimaginable delight and ecstasy after reading the phrase 'hero' displayed in the so-called [Status Window] in front of him.

"I'm...a Hero? WoooOhh!!! Yess!!!!! " White screamed joyfully from the bottom of his heart, as if he suddenly transformed into an innocent child.

An old recollection passes across his mind, in which he fantasizes about becoming esteemed as a member of the heroes.

Strong, chivalric, valiant, and destined to defend the world from its end.

"Mwehehehehe... "

As his line of thinking was about to fall off to their own world, he suddenly got startled by the sound of the panel, which now displayed all of the information regarding his [Status Window].

[ •Name: White Alyan• ]

[ •Class: Music Hero• ]

[ •Title: The One who overcome His Fears• ]

[ •Unique Trait: Mahika ng Musika (Unknown)• ]

[ •Innate Traits• ]

• Versatile

• Cold-blooded

• Rational

[ •Level: 1 • ]

• HP: 77/100

• ÆP: 170/200

[ •Exp: 0/50 • ]

[ •Stats• ]

Strength • 15

Stamina • 14

Agility • 19

Intelligence • 20

Dexterity • 17

Resistance • 15

Points Unused • 0

[ •Skills• ]

• Beginner Skill: Stab [E] 1

[ •Passive Skills• ]

• Æ Absorption

"Uhm...wait... what?" White got perplexed after seeing the full content of his status. "A...Music Hero?" he added while still confused.

"How does that work? Anong klaseng hero yun? What kind of hero is that? And why do I only have one active skill?"

From this moment of realization, the euphoria he felt just now has now been replaced by disbelief and endless inquiries.

[ •Now you will be returned to your mortal body• ]

Just shortly after the floating panel informed him, the peculiar sensation that appeared to grasp his soul with an incomprehensible power reappeared to pull him back to his mortal flesh on earth.

After a minute or two, White gently opened his eyes; his spirit securely and peacefully returned, but his head ached from the out-of-the ordinary experience.

'Oh wow…I'm back..?' *vomits*

White then bent over from a sitting position and ran towards the window as his stomach felt like it was turning over from the inexplicable feeling and nausea.

As he felt himself recovering and wiped his mouth, he overheard the echo of his sibling's voice, who seemed to have now regained consciousness.

White then slowly walked towards her and said, "How are you feeling, Aya?" as he softly sits near her.

He noticed her pained expression and said, "Don't move around too much, okay?" as he helped her get up and sat next to her.

"Uggnn...W-what happened?" Zia's vision was still blurry and her mind still in disarray.

"Aren't we celebrating the new year's..Ouch... " Before she could finish her statement, a stinging ache struck both her legs and head.

White caught sight of this and swiftly aided his sister, who appeared like she was close to falling off the bed due to the extreme pain she was going through.

"I just told you not to move too much, Tsk tsk." said White, then helped her lean back against the wall.

"Just take a rest and relax, okay? I'll slowly explain everything that's happening now, if that's okay. "

He then inquired as to whatever she was feeling at that moment and supported Zia in accordance with her responses.

After a while, she felt better and more comfortable after her older brother took care of all of her needs.

After confirming that his sister's state had improved, White then slowly recounted all that had happened, from the ripping of the night's sky to the appearance of unknown creatures, where and how she was hurt and rescued, and where they are now residing.

"So you're saying..that it's all true? That..that wasn't a dream...? That.. that.." Zia, who's already very anxious and depressed after hearing the current situation and happenings, restrained herself from crying before adding "I almost died because of that duwende?... "

White sensed and understood her pain and was about to hug her, when Zia hurriedly asked, "What about M-Mom and Dad!!? Where are they!? Did you see them!? Are they safe!!??"

White has no idea how to respond to such a question.

When White noticed Zia's eyes, which appeared like she was going to break down at any second, he quickly came up with something to say to prevent his younger sister from having an emotional breakdown.

"Uhh.. I had not noticed them while I was looking for everyone earlier." White answered in a low voice.

"But you know them right? They're strong, and for sure they are just hiding somewhere. " he immediately added as if saving his earlier statement.

Even if he was unaware and was unsure regarding their parents' current predicament, he was conscious not to mention anything inconsequential that could potentially cause his sister even more upset.

"Or" White says as he raises his pointing finger in the air. "Perhaps the cops had already saved and protected them." and puts his hands above her head.

"For now, let's just pray that they are safe and that they will come here tomorrow."

Before Zia asked again, he held her firmly, reassured her to help alleviate her distress, and ushered her to get enough sleep while her eyes remained swollen.

In the deep, peaceful environment of this eventful night, siblings who sought refuge in the cabin in an isolated area are now resting comfortably while the catastrophic night and events unfold in a distance beyond their gazes.

• • •

The very first day of the New Year is expected to be highlighted by people cheerfully dining with their loved ones, children frolicking in the streets, elderly people greeting one another on sidewalks, and families exchanging their meals among their neighbors.

This was the norm when it came to New Year's here in the Philippines.

But this disaster altered everything in ways that cannot be conveyed with words alone.

What were once flourishing cities and villages are now transformed into roaring flames that gradually burned down wooden dwellings.

The once-life-filled air has now been overtaken by the stench of gasoline from exploded machines, and the bizarrely potent odor of odd creatures seems to be ravaging the entire town.

People who were once full of joy and vitality are now dead and unrecognizable due to bites and rips on their entire body.

On the other hand, the sight of buildings splitting and crumbling on top of one another, residences crumbling as if resembling sandcastles, and people that are still alive, are now being followed by obscure monsters.

They're either getting crushed by falling debris, unconsciously ramming themselves into sharp obstacles or getting sliced by the monsters at a speed that is not visible to the naked eye, while the streets are now full of monsters and creatures landed from the torn sky that came from who knows where.

White Alyan's body trembled as he watched the turmoil unfold from the highest point of a large tree beside the cabin where he was currently residing.

His emotions also sank when he realized that this bizarre, illogical, and terrifying scenario would end up being their newfound reality from now on.

"So...everything that happened...wasn't a dream... " The sound that came out of his lips was hoarse as tears rolled down his cheeks.

He prayed that everything that occurred last night was simply a bad dream and hoped that he would have woken up finding everything alright, yet in the end, it turned out to be nothing more than wishful thinking.

He jumped down, trembling, brushing aside his tears, which were constantly flowing.

*Sniff*

"I should go outside to acquire some food before Aya wakes up."

After leaving a note next to his sister's bed, the young man sets off towards town.

{I'll go ahead to the town first to pick up some food. Rest while you wait for me to get home.}

• • •

White cautiously traveled around the town while gathering some supplies, such as fresh clothing, food, and various other necessities.

He also plans to better familiarize himself with the single ability he acquired from his awakening.

Initially, he has little to no intention of confronting or killing those creatures and simply moves away as quietly as possible in order to avoid attracting their attention; however, he understands that running and hiding from them are meaningless.

If he wishes to defend his family, he must be tough and powerful, particularly in this new reality.

*Huff*

After reinforcing his courage, the young man swiftly searched out for an easy-to-kill monster, similar to what he faced when seeking for his family, who now triggered the beginning of his current awakening as a hero.

In a corner of a nearby sari-sari store, White caught a glimpse of the same type of monster he was looking for.

It was eating 'something' that he dared not to imagine.

He approached 'it' with caution, tightening his grasp on the bolo knife in his right hand, which he had taken with him from their hut before departing.

There was a five-meter space between White's current position and where the evil creature was bending, blissfully devouring that 'something'.

'This distance should be enough.' He thought. White's heart was pounding like crazy but soon calmed down.

Focusing on his current stance, White Alyan then shouted with all his might the name of the [Skill]

"Beginner Skill: Stab!" and a bright light shone brightly around the Bolo Knife.

Despite his initial fears that the skill trigger would fail, it surprisingly worked.

The thing that he immediately noticed as the skill was being activated was that, for some reason, he wasn't able to control his body, and his body automatically moved forward after the weapon emitted a bright light.

The monster was unable to respond in time, and its skull exploded as the skill's fatal impact reached it.

The monster's writhing body lay on the floor as the lone remnant.

After double-checking the monster's body to make sure it was truly dead, White wiped his sweating brow and shook his palms.

"Phew. I guess that is it."