Awakening The Gods: System's Ascension

Something Breathing Behind Me

“No.”

The word left Levi’s mouth without hesitation. He didn't bother taking a pause to consider what Lyra had to say.

Violet turned her head quickly toward him, eyes wide with disbelief. On the other hand, Kyle was blinking continuously, surprised by Levi's sharp retort.

They’d both never seen Levi like this before. Not angry—he wasn’t shouting or flailing his arms—but serious. Cold, decisive. They knew he was one with a passive stubbornness, but they'd never seen it in play.

And this wasn't just hard headedness, there was something else. It was as if Levi was scared, but not of the woman before him.

Most likely, afraid of what her words might mean.

Lyra tilted her head slightly, brow rising as though mildly amused, or maybe impressed. After all, who would interrupt, or reject whatever words come out of the Supreme leader's mouth.

“You didn’t even hear what I was going to say.”

“I told you,” Levi replied flatly, “I already know.”

He didn’t shout. Didn’t raise his tone. But the firmness in his voice was enough to project his resolve.

“No, thank you.”

Violet frowned, taking a small step forward. “Levi, come on… let’s at least hear them out. This might—”

“I said no!” Levi snapped, his voice filling the room

He struck the bed with the flat of his palm. Not hard enough to break it, but enough to send a short thud echoing in the tense silence.

Kyle flinched.

Violet froze mid-sentence, unsure whether to speak again or not. Levi had never raised his voice at her before. She knew this wasn't a topic he wanted to continue with.

Levi’s hand remained pressed to the bed as he took a deep breath, holding it for a second, then exhaled slowly. His shoulders dropped just a little.

“Just… no,” he muttered, voice softer now, eyes averted. “Please. Can you take us back home?”

He didn’t look at Lyra. Didn’t look at Zenon or Emilia either. He didn’t want to see their reactions. Or hear any more words he didn't understand.

He just wanted to go back to his small, quiet life—the one that made sense.

Even if the world didn’t.

Lyra sighed heavily. Then, calmly, she asked, “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.” Levi responded without hesitation.

He turned his gaze to Kyle and Violet, silently asking for their support. Kyle looked at Violet, then back at Levi with a shrug.

“Well…” Kyle said, nudging Violet lightly with his elbow, “whatever our leader says, I guess.”

“Oh please,” Levi muttered, brushing his fingers through his hair “Can you guys cut it out with the ‘leader’ thing already?”

A soft snap echoed through the room. Like the sound of fingers meeting to snap

Then everything shifted.

The atmosphere bent inwards like air collapsing in on itself, and before they could even react, the three of them were standing somewhere else entirely.

“What the hell?!” Levi exclaimed, stumbling back half a step as he instinctively scanned his surroundings.

They were no longer in a strange fancy room. There was no longer a mixture of different heavy presences.

All he could see now was just a familiar mess of half-dried laundry, tangled bedsheets, and an overflowing pile of clothes slumped in the corner like it had given up on life.

He narrowed his eyes, recognizing the faded poster on the wall, and the unmistakable scent of top dried food on plates that had been left out for too long. 

“…Are we back at our place?” he asked, though the answer was already obvious.

He stepped over a sock—definitely Kyle’s—then glanced toward the dented desk by the wall.

He sighed.

“Yeah. Definitely our place.”

Levi turned to face the others, raising a brow at the mess scattered across the room. “I thought you guys said you packed your stuff before we left to hunt?”

Violet immediately raised her hands, backing away like she wanted no part in the blame. “Don’t look at me... All of that belongs to this dumbass,” she said, jerking a thumb toward Kyle.

Kyle placed a hand dramatically on his chest. “Wow. For a girl with such a pretty face, your mouth can be quite vile sometimes.”

“Look who’s talking,” Violet shot back, rolling her eyes. “The guy who acts like he was raised by wolves.”

Kyle grinned. “Would’ve been cleaner than living with you.” he stuck his tongue out.

Violet ignored that. Instead, she dropped herself onto the couch with a long exhale, rubbing her head. “Well... that was a rollercoaster of... unexpected events.”

Kyle flopped down beside her, stretching his legs. “True, but I still don’t get why you didn’t even try to listen,” he said, glancing over at Levi. “You know? Just hear her out a bit.”

Levi walked to the door, one hand slipping into his pocket as the other found the doorknob.

“I’m a really big fan of fantasy games and all,” he said without looking back. “I’ve seen too many stories start like that... and all that comes after is nothing but a complete lack of peace.”

He opened the door, pausing for a second as if listening to his own words.

“I need some air,” he muttered, and shut the door quietly behind him.

A few seconds of silence passed, as Kyle and Violet started at the door.

Kyle blinked. “Uhm… does he even know his way around this place? Cause last I checked, he barely goes out...”

“Nope,” Violet said flatly. “He does not. He’s definitely going to get lost.”

**"

Levi wandered aimlessly down the main road, hands tucked into his pockets, his mind racing with thoughts too loud for the world around him to quiet. 

The city was filled with the noise from different transports zipping across the skies. 

A translucent billboard floated mid-air ahead, cycling through languages, one of which read: Welcome to Metreona – Jewel of Astrovia.

Levi squinted up at it. “A year now and I still haven’t gotten used to this sight...” he muttered under his breath.

He rubbed his forehead, sighing. “What was the name of this city again...?”

“Metreona,” a small, clear voice chirped from his right. “It’s called Metreona.”

Levi glanced down, blinking in surprise.

Standing beside him was a little girl, probably no older than six. Her hair was silvery white, tied up in twin buns with glowing star-shaped clips, and she wore a short, puffy dress that glowed faintly like moonlight. 

She pointed her half-eaten lollipop at him, her expression curious.

“Are you one of those Earth humans that joined us last year?” she asked, tilting her head.

Levi looked around, half-expecting someone else to be nearby, then back at her. “Where’s your mum—”

“I got separated from Mummy,” she interrupted, as if it wasn’t a big deal. “But I can find my way back home. I do it all the time.”

Levi’s brows furrowed. “Yeah... I think you should do that,” he said, kneeling slightly to meet her eyes. “Your mum’s probably really worried right now.”

Levi gave the girl a tired glance, then started to walk past her, muttering, “Well then… be careful on your way—”

“You’re not going to follow me home?” she asked softly.

He paused in his tracks, mid-step. Her voice had changed—less chirpy to more fragile.

When he turned slowly, he saw it: her big, watery eyes starting to brim with tears, her bottom lip trembling as she clutched her lollipop like it was the only stable thing in her world.

Levi exhaled heavily, dragging a hand down his face. "How the fuck did I get myself into this..." He mumbled to himself.

“Alright,” he said, placing a hand gently on her small shoulder. “Lead the way, tiny trouble.”

She beamed instantly like the sun, sniffing as she nodded.

But just as Levi took his next step, something flickered in front of him. Like the air itself glitched like a television with bad signal.

He blinked, squinted, and It vanished.

“…Did I imagine that?” he muttered.

[Warning]

[Scene change detected]

[User is forcefully being transferred to another dimension]

A pulse of invisible force slammed into him from all directions. The ground vanished beneath his feet. He stumbled, almost falling—his vision switching in and out like a glitching screen. 

A moment ago, he was in the brightly lit streets of Metreona. Now all he saw was darkness.

The air was now filled with a thick, humid scent whichpressed in around him as tall, dead trees stretched toward a sky with no stars. 

The silence was unnerving—no wind, no rustle, just a low hum. Something was wrong. The mere change in environment was already a lot wrong, but this silence made it worse.

Levi staggered backwards, boots crunching against a forest floor damp with decayed leaves.

“What the hell…” he whispered, spinning around. “Where—?”

The little girl was still there, standing several feet away now, though her demeanor had shifted. She no longer looked playful or lost. 

She tilted her head again, slowly, unnervingly.

“You shouldn’t have touched me,” she said. Her voice was still soft—but now it echoed, like something straight out of a horror movie. It wasn't the same girl that was with him earlier.

Levi’s stomach turned. An icy dread crawled up his spine like fingers dragging along his bones.

He took a step back, slowly, eyes fixed on the thing in front of him.

Then he felt it. A warm breath, almost hot. And it was right behind him.

He could feel a massive figure's presence behind him, exhaling against his neck with slow, predatory patience.

Levi froze, too scared to turn.

The forest seemed to breathe with it. And whatever it was… it was waiting.