As we walked through the dense forest, Atlas broke the silence with a question that had clearly been on his mind. "So, Retro, what exactly are you? What are your powers?" His tone was filled with curiosity.
I glanced at him and shrugged. "I'm just a human, though one with high levels of power and abilities."
Atlas raised an eyebrow. "And your powers?"
I shook my head, a bit frustrated by the gaps in my memory. "I don't remember all of them. I only know what my body is capable of, and that's all I can rely on right now. I'm just human, after all."
We soon came upon a massive redwood tree that had fallen, forming a natural bridge across a small river. The scene was breathtaking—a serene river flowing gently beneath us, birds chirping in the canopy above. We paused for a moment, taking in the beauty of the surroundings, enjoying a brief respite before continuing our journey.
Hours passed as we walked in a single direction, the forest eventually giving way to an open area with no trees in sight. In the middle of this clearing was a small, broken-down house, its structure mostly destroyed by time and the elements. I turned to Atlas with a grin. "What do you say we rebuild it? Make a new house?"
Atlas tilted his head, one ear drooping while the other stood semi-upright, clearly puzzled by the idea. I couldn't help but laugh at his expression.
"Well, let's get started," I said, dropping my bag to the ground and unsheathing my sword. Atlas eyed the blade curiously.
"What kind of sword is that? I've never seen anything like it," he asked.
"I have no clue," I admitted. "I woke up with it in my hand just like I told you earlier."
As I drew the sword, it began to emit an ominous aura, causing Atlas to instinctively take a step back. The aura seemed to intensify as I waved the blade gently through the air, its glow becoming stronger the closer we got to the old house. Intrigued, we moved toward the house and found a single gem lying on the floor. Atlas knelt to examine it while my sword's glow grew even brighter in response to the gem's presence.
I reached down to pick it up, but before I could grasp it, Atlas had already pulled out his book, jotting down notes. The sight made me chuckle—he was like a true recorder of the world. Maybe I'd ask him about that book later, but for now, my focus was on the gem.
As I brought the gem and the sword closer together, the gem was suddenly ripped from my hand and fused with the blade. Pain surged through me as memories flooded my mind, my hand slowly turning black as if it were being consumed by darkness. The agony forced me to release the sword, and it clattered to the ground, its glow fading. Atlas rushed to my side as I knelt, trying to process what had just happened, a small, sinister smile curling on my lips despite the pain.
Atlas noticed the change in my demeanor, his concern growing. He saw the brief flicker of malevolence in my expression before it faded. "What do you want, phantom?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry.
I looked up to see Atlas staring intently at the front door of the dilapidated house. Following his gaze, I saw him—a man shrouded in shadows, with a white halo crown and pure white eyes that carried a hint of sadness.
"What do you want, Phantom? Why are you here now of all times?" Atlas demanded, anger simmering in his voice.
The Phantom ignored Atlas and directed his attention to me. "What is your name, old one?" he asked, his tone cold and detached.
Atlas glanced at me, then back at the Phantom.
"Retro," I replied, my voice steady. "Or do you want my real name?"
"There's no need, Retro," Phantom responded. "I want you to be this world's protector."
I scoffed, still kneeling on the ground. "I have no need to protect a world that doesn't need it. Besides, aren't you already here?"
The pain in my hand intensified as I tried to stand. "Atlas, help me up," I requested, my voice strained. As Atlas moved to assist me, the Phantom released an overwhelming aura, attempting to dominate the space. But before he could, I matched his aura with my own, the force of our powers clashing violently. Atlas staggered back, caught off guard by the sheer intensity.
The Phantom tried to assert his will over me, but I took a step forward, defying him. "Release me from this prison, and the world will revere me as the one who stands above."
Time seemed to slow as I uttered those words. The strain of exerting so much power took its toll, and I collapsed, unconscious, the last of my energy spent. The world faded to black as I fell, leaving Atlas and the Phantom alone in the eerie stillness.