Asher groaned in pain as the sudden headache subsided, allowing him to finally take in his surroundings. The roots that had ensnared him were still wrapped tightly around his body, coiling like serpents as if trying to drain the life out of him.
But his attention quickly shifted from the roots to the realization that had just hit him like a thunderbolt.
He had awakened!
Awakeners were beings who had unlocked their latent potential, gaining supernatural abilities by tapping into a mysterious energy called Origin—the very force that created everything. This was his first step toward becoming something more than human, but right now, survival was his only priority.
'Grandpa was also in this room. Where did he go?' Asher's heart raced as he scanned the area, but William was nowhere to be seen. The situation was already terrifying, and the absence of his grandfather only added to his fear.
With his newfound awakening, Asher knew he had a chance to escape—not just for himself, but for his family as well. He was certain he wasn't the only one trapped by these roots.
It had already been six hours since he'd fallen asleep, and the roots had likely spread throughout the village.
'Wait, how do I know so much time has passed?' The thought flickered briefly in his mind, but he pushed it aside. The immediate concern was freeing himself and finding William.
The roots were sapping his energy, weakening him with every passing second.
Struggling against the bindings, Asher tried to move his limbs, but the roots were too tight. They weren't overly thick, but their grip was unyielding. His eyes darted around the room, searching for anything that could help.
Then he spotted it—a knife that had fallen from the table during the chaos.
Focusing all his strength on his right arm, he managed to break free just enough to grab the knife. It took a minute of frantic cutting, but he finally freed himself from the roots.
As he stood, he noticed the roots twitching, moving up and down as if they were alive. He kicked them aside, and they retreated into the ground with a hiss.
'Tsk. The knife took too long to cut through those damn roots.' He cursed under his breath, knowing he needed something better if he was going to survive this.
He rushed to the window, careful not to open the main door. Peering outside, his heart sank. The roots were everywhere, sprouting from the ground like invasive weeds and snaking their way into every house.
If his guess was correct, the entire village was in the same predicament he had just escaped.
"A weapon. I need a proper weapon," he muttered, sprinting to the second floor. If anyone in the village had something useful, it would be Grandpa Will. The man had an adventurous spirit, and even if he didn't own a sword or gun, a dagger was a possibility.
After a quick search, Asher found a dagger safely stored in a drawer. He sheathed it at his belt and took a moment to assess his awakening. Every Awakener instinctively knew their source element and the abilities they gained with each step forward.
Concentrating, he felt a surge of information floods his mind, coalescing into a single word: 'Eternity.' This was his source element. It wasn't a physical element like fire or water, nor was it a straightforward concept like speed or healing. It was something deeper, more abstract.
It was not that this word magically appeared out of nowhere, Asher himself has decided after gaining information from his self-awareness that this specific word describes the sensation he felt from within the best.
"But why 'Eternity' ? Shouldn't it be something more tangible?" he wondered aloud. He knew there were cases where Awakeners gained abilities tied to abstract concepts, but this felt different—more profound.
For now, he pushed the thought aside. The skill he'd gained was still unnamed, but its function was clear. He had gained awareness of—stopping objects or even living beings for a short duration, though it strained him.
"Let's call it *Static* for now," he decided. "If I learn more about it, I'll refine the name later."
The skill had potential, but he didn't know who or what he was up against. The area of effect was smaller than he'd hoped, and he had no idea how many enemies there were. He'd have to test its limits in the field.
*I'll figure it out as I go,* he thought, heading back downstairs. Instead of using the door, he climbed out the back window and dropped to the ground. He knew his awakening was tied to the woman he'd seen in that strange white world.
The sensations he'd felt there were already fading, but one thing was clear: she had helped him wake up and escape the roots. Maybe she'd even triggered his awakening.
*I should check the neighboring houses first. Grandpa might be there.* He moved cautiously, staying close to the walls to avoid the roots. The dagger at his belt was a small comfort as he approached the house next door.
Peering through the window, his worst fears were confirmed. Mr. and Mrs. Neil, along with their two children, lay motionless on the floor, entangled in the same roots that had nearly claimed him. The sight was chilling—a grotesque blend of nature and death.
The window was unlocked, and Asher slipped inside silently. Kneeling beside Mr. Neil, he checked for a pulse. Nothing. The man was dead, his body eerily intact, just like Frank's had been.
But now Asher understood the truth: the roots were draining their Origin, slowly killing them.
He checked the others, but the result was the same. His blood ran cold as the weight of the situation crashed down on him. If he hadn't awakened, he would have shared their fate.
*If I hadn't awakened...* The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
He considered freeing the bodies from the roots but decided against it. If the enemy was powerful enough to ensnare the entire village, they might notice if the roots were damaged. It was too risky.
As he turned to leave, the front door of Neil's house burst open with a deafening crash. A man stumbled inside, his body twisted unnaturally, roots growing out of his back like grotesque appendages.
His face was pale, his eyes a ghastly white with no pupils—like marbles reflecting pure malice.
Asher froze, his heart pounding. This wasn't a villager seeking help. This was something far worse—a predator, cold and bloodthirsty.