The morning was cold and breezy, the bed warm and inviting. Beneath the thick blanket, Blaze lay curled up like a kitten, unwilling to face the day.
Soft footsteps echoed along the staircase leading to the second floor of the Connery mansion. Helen Connery ascended gracefully, her heels tapping lightly against the polished wood. She stopped in front of her son's room, pushed the door open with a faint squeak, and walked in.
Without a word, she moved to the windows and drew the curtains apart. Golden rays of sunlight spilled into the room, chasing away the shadows. Then, with a swift motion, she yanked the blanket off the bed.
Blaze groaned, squinting against the sudden brightness. He looked up, only to meet his mother's sharp, unyielding gaze.
"You're late," Mrs. Connery said firmly.
"Sorry, Mum. I was working all night on a school project," Blaze replied, his face perfectly innocent.
It was a lie.
He had spent the entire night gaming online with his two best friends—Richard and Peter. The three of them attended City High School and were inseparable. Coming from wealthy families, they shared one dream: to become professional gamers. School, to them, was nothing more than an obligation—a place to avoid disappointing their parents and to spend time together.
"Clean yourself up. Samantha will fix you breakfast," Mrs. Connery said as she adjusted her sleeve. "I'm heading to the office. When I return, your father and I will have a talk with you about your choice of university."
Blaze's heart skipped.
His test scores were terrible. He doubted any reputable university would even consider him. Until now, he had never really worried—his parents rarely monitored his academics. But this… this was different.
How was he supposed to tell them?
He was a master behind the screen, not in the classroom.
He watched silently as his mother walked out, his mind clouded with worry. The distant roar of her BMW starting up downstairs snapped him back to reality.
With a sigh, he dragged himself out of bed and hurried to the bathroom.
Downstairs, Samantha was already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the young master while packing his lunch.
She paused for a moment, frowning slightly. Weren't her employers supposed to be on leave today?
Mr. and Mrs. Connery were both mathematicians working at a highly secured U.S. government facility. Samantha had always found it strange—what about mathematics required that level of secrecy?
She shook her head, dismissing the thought as she heard footsteps approaching.
Blaze entered the dining area, his face unusually drawn.
"Are you alright, young master?" she asked gently.
"It's nothing, Aunty. I've just got a lot on my mind," Blaze replied, forcing a weak smile.
Samantha set a plate of bread and eggs before him and poured a glass of warm milk. She studied him for a brief moment, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
What could possibly trouble a boy like him?
Still, she chose to mind her business.
Blaze picked at the edge of the bread, his appetite nowhere to be found. The eggs sat untouched, steam slowly fading into the air.
"You should eat, young master," Samantha said gently. "You have a long day ahead."
Blaze forced a nod. "Yeah… I know."
But his mind wasn't on school.
It was on tonight.
University talk.
His grip tightened slightly around the fork.
"Do you… think I'll get into a good university?" he asked suddenly.
Samantha paused.
That question caught her off guard.
She turned to him with a small, reassuring smile. "You're a Connery. Doors will open for you."
Blaze gave a dry chuckle. "Even if I don't deserve it?"
Samantha didn't answer immediately.
Before she could speak—
A sharp buzz cut through the air.
Blaze froze.
His eyes flicked toward the living room.
"…Did you hear that?" he asked.
"Hear what?" Samantha replied, confused.
That same sound came again.
A low, almost mechanical hum.
Bzzzz—
Blaze slowly stood up.
Something about it felt… wrong.
Not loud.
Not alarming.
But it felt like it was inside his head.
"I'll be right back," he muttered.
"Blaze—your food—"
But he was already walking away.
The living room was empty.
Silent.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the marble floor.
Blaze stepped forward cautiously.
The sound grew louder.
Bzzzz—
His gaze shifted.
There.
On the glass table.
His laptop.
He was sure he had shut it down before coming downstairs.
Yet now—
The screen was on.
Flickering.
"…What the hell?"
He approached slowly, heart beginning to pound.
The screen wasn't showing his game.
It wasn't showing anything normal.
Just a black background…
And a single line of text.
[Initializing…]
Blaze frowned.
"Did Richard send me something weird again…?"
He reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the keyboard—
[User Detected][Compatibility: 100%]
A sharp pain exploded in his head.
"—Ah!"
He staggered back, nearly falling.
His vision blurred.
The room spun.
Voices—no, not voices—something like whispers flooded his mind.
Fragments.
Numbers.
Symbols.
Equations he couldn't understand—
Yet somehow felt familiar.
Upstairs—
A glass of water on the bedside table trembled slightly.
Miles away…
Inside a heavily secured underground facility—
A red light began to blink.
Back in the mansion—
Blaze dropped to one knee, clutching his head.
"What… is… this…?"
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Then—
Silence.
Everything stopped.
The pain vanished.
The whispers disappeared.
Even the strange hum was gone.
Blaze stayed still for a moment, breathing heavily.
"…What just happened?"
Slowly, he looked up.
The laptop screen had changed.
[System Bound Successfully][Welcome, Blaze Connery]
His pupils shrank.
"…No way."
Behind him—
Samantha stood frozen at the kitchen entrance.
She hadn't heard the sound.
She hadn't seen the screen clearly.
But for a split second…
She felt something.
A chill.
Something heavy in the air.
Something… dangerous.
"…Young master?" she called softly.
Blaze didn't respond.
His eyes were locked on the screen.
And deep beneath the illusion of an ordinary world…
Something ancient had just awakened.