Lucius also known as Lucky(he changed his name cause of demonic reasons) stood outside the school gates, squinting against the bright afternoon sun. His uniform was slightly disheveled, his tie hanging loosely around his neck, and his once-white shirt now a faded gray after hours of wear. The other students passed by him, their voices loud and carefree as they discussed the weekend plans and the newest trends they'd picked up from social media.
But Lucius wasn't like them. He never had been.
He had always been an outsider, one of those faces in the crowd that people would occasionally glance at but never really acknowledge. At 17, Lucius had become quite good at blending into the background, his existence nothing more than a forgotten detail in a world that never seemed to stop moving.
As he walked slowly away from the gates, his eyes lingering on the bustling crowd, Lucius couldn't help but feel disconnected. The hum of the city seemed to echo inside his mind, a constant reminder of the life he didn't belong to. The life he didn't want.
Lucius had no family—well, nothing real anyway. He'd been living in the city's orphanage ever since his parents had died in a car accident when he was just six years old. Most of the other kids had been adopted long ago, but Lucius never had the luck. It didn't help that he wasn't exactly a "model" child. He didn't play sports, didn't have friends, and definitely didn't excel in school. In fact, Lucius didn't even care about most things.
He had learned early on that no one expected anything from him. And that was fine with him. Expectations meant disappointment. If he stayed out of the way, kept to himself, there would be less room for people to notice how empty his life really was.
The streets of the city were crowded as usual, the mix of people hustling to and from their jobs, running errands, or simply going about their lives. Lucius didn't mind the noise; it was just part of the background that filled the gaps of his life. The loud laughter of the group of teenagers nearby didn't reach him; their conversations bounced off his mind like raindrops off glass.
He didn't even notice when he passed by a café where the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries filled the air. He was too used to ignoring it all, just trying to make it to the end of each day without having to face the painful reminders of his loneliness.
Lucius had gotten used to it. The quiet, hollow feeling inside of him had become so familiar, he almost didn't notice it anymore.
He kept his head down as he walked, making his way through the park that connected to the alley near his apartment. He wasn't sure why he even came here. Maybe it was because the park was one of the few places where the noise of the city seemed to fade away, where it felt like he could exist without anyone caring enough to ask about his life.
A quick glance at the ice cream cart caught his eye. He hadn't eaten in hours, and the thought of something cold and sweet seemed comforting. The cart was always there, parked on the corner near the small park bench where Lucius often sat to gather his thoughts. It had become a ritual for him, a brief moment of indulgence that made the emptiness feel just a little more bearable.
Lucius didn't hesitate. He walked over, exchanging a few coins for his usual cone. Vanilla. Always vanilla. He didn't know why—maybe it was because it reminded him of the simplicity of his life, of the way things had always been. Vanilla was easy. Safe. Uncomplicated.
The vendor handed him the cone with a warm smile, but Lucius simply nodded in return, not bothering with the usual small talk. He wasn't here for conversation. He was here for the brief respite from his routine, the comfort of something simple, something that could ease the ache in his chest, if only for a moment.
The first bite was always the best. Cool, creamy sweetness melting against his tongue. He felt the tension in his shoulders loosen as he continued walking, slowly making his way to the bench by the fountain. As he sat down, he sighed, watching the stream of water trickle into the stone basin. It was almost peaceful here, the sound of the water soothing his nerves.
A soft breeze ruffled his dark hair, and Lucius tilted his head back to stare at the clear blue sky. For once, he allowed himself to relax, if only for a few minutes. The world around him could wait. He didn't have to pretend to be a part of it right now.
It was then that he noticed something strange.
His ice cream—once solid and cold in his hand—was melting faster than it should have been.
Lucius furrowed his brow. The temperature hadn't suddenly spiked, and it wasn't especially warm. Yet, the ice cream was running down the sides of the cone, pooling into sticky puddles in his hand.
He glanced up at the sky again, half-expecting the sun to be scorching down with some intense, unexplainable heat. But no. It was just a regular afternoon.
Weird, he thought. But then again, when had his life ever made sense?
He glanced down at the ice cream. It was dripping all over his fingers now, and he had no choice but to eat the last of it quickly before it made an even bigger mess. He raised the cone to his lips, biting into it one last time before it completely melted.
But that was when he felt it.
The temperature. It wasn't right. ( HELLO? GLOBAL WARMING ?)
The air had become thick and oppressive, as if something had shifted in the atmosphere. Lucius paused, lowering the ice cream cone from his lips. His eyes scanned the park, trying to figure out what had changed. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
It was then that he heard it.
A low growl.
He froze.
At first, he thought it was just a dog—a stray, maybe—but when he turned his head toward the source of the noise, he saw nothing. The park was empty, the benches abandoned, the fountain still gurgling quietly.
But then the growl came again.
This time, it was louder. Closer. A deep, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate the ground beneath him.
Lucius's heart skipped a beat. His hand tightened around the cone, his eyes searching the shadows of the trees and the alleyway leading out of the park. It sounded like a dog... but it was too low, too deep to be normal.
He pushed to his feet, his pulse quickening. It was getting closer.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. A sick feeling rose in his stomach. What was this? What kind of animal made a noise like that?
And then, just as he turned toward the alley, something stepped out from behind the trees.
Lucius's heart hammered against his chest, his breath ragged as he turned toward the alley. The growl grew louder—deeper, vibrating through the air like some terrifying warning. He didn't wait to see what it was. He turned and bolted, ice cream cone forgotten, his legs pumping faster than they ever had before.
The sound of claws scraping against the pavement echoed behind him. They were chasing him. He could feel their hot breath on his neck, a stench of sulfur and death creeping closer with every step.
What the hell is happening?! His thoughts raced as he pushed himself harder, zig-zagging between the trees and benches, praying to outrun whatever nightmare was behind him.
Snap.
Suddenly, a strange chill ran up his spine, and his whole body seemed to freeze in place. In the middle of his panic, a sound filled his ears—a soft, almost melodic chime.
"Welcome, Lucius, to the Hellbound System."
Lucius skidded to a halt, his chest heaving. A system? The words echoed in his mind, but he had no time to process them.
His eyes darted around the park. The hellhounds were closing in fast, their fiery eyes glowing as they snarled, ready to pounce.
"To open the Hellbound System, please snap your fingers."
What was this? Some kind of sick joke?
Lucius didn't have time to argue with whatever this "system" was. Instinct took over. He snapped his fingers once, and instantly, a sword materialized in his hands—glowing with fiery orange light, crackling with power. The blade felt light but solid, the warmth of the fire spreading through his veins as if it had been waiting for him to summon it.
Before he could even think, he swung the sword in a desperate arc toward the nearest hellhound.
A violent wave of fire erupted from the sword's edge. The hound yelped in surprise, the flames engulfing its body, and with a single, terrified whimper, it vanished, leaving nothing but a faint trail of smoke in its wake.
The other hellhounds hesitated, growling and circling, their eyes wide with fear as they watched the sword crackle with more heat.
"What the hell are these things?" Lucius muttered to himself, still panting. But his hands gripped the hilt tighter, and he swung the blade again—this time in a wide arc, sending a spray of flame toward the remaining creatures. One by one, they vanished, retreating into the shadows as their fear became tangible.
Lucius didn't wait to see if they would return. He turned on his heels and ran, feeling the weight of his new weapon in his hands, but something else was weighing on him—something heavier. His mind was racing with thoughts he couldn't fully grasp.
"What is this system? What is happening to me?"
His feet pounded against the pavement as he dashed toward his apartment. The streets seemed like a blur, the buildings looming like silent giants around him. He had to get back. He had to be somewhere safe—anywhere but here.
His apartment was just up ahead, the shabby, worn-down building standing like a beacon in the distance. He could see the cracked windows, the chipped paint, but it was his home, the only place that felt like it might offer him some semblance of safety from this insane world.
Snap.
He snapped his fingers again without thinking, just as he reached the door of his apartment.
And just like that, the system popped up again in front of him, the interface glowing brightly, almost blindingly.
"Welcome back, Lucius. The Hellbound System is now fully activated. You have unlocked your first weapon: Hellfire Blade. Additional upgrades available. To proceed, please follow the prompts."
Lucius stood there in stunned silence, his hand still gripping the sword. He barely registered the glowing interface before him, his mind still reeling from the recent chase. His fingers tightened on the hilt of the sword as he stared at the flames licking the edges of the blade. It was all too much.
Was this really happening? Was he dreaming?
But there was no time for answers. The apartment door was open, and he stepped inside, closing it behind him with a shaky hand. His breath still came in ragged gasps as he leaned against the door, staring out into the hallway, half-expecting the hellhounds to come crashing through at any moment.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady himself. The chaos that had just unfolded felt unreal—like something straight out of a nightmare.
"What the hell is going on?" he whispered to himself.
The sword in his hand hummed with an energy he couldn't explain, and the system interface continued to float in front of him, the messages flashing like an invitation to something far beyond his comprehension.
"You have gained access to the Hellbound System. Please confirm your status by selecting your next upgrade."
Lucius's eyes flicked between the sword and the system's interface. He didn't know what to think, but one thing was for sure—he wasn't going to be the same person after this.
And whatever this "Hellbound System" was, it was about to change his life forever.