The morning sun had barely crested the horizon when a thunderous banging jolted me awake. My heart hammered against my ribs, the echoes of frantic screams from outside ricocheting through my half-conscious mind. My apartment, usually so quiet, was suddenly a cacophony of panic, the air thick with fear and confusion. Each sound blurred into the next: the thudding of feet, the shattering of glass, the desperate, gasping breaths of my neighbors as they ran for their lives.
"What the—?" I muttered, stumbling out of bed and yanking open my door. The hallway was alive with chaos: neighbors in pajamas fleeing, a mother clutching her child to her chest, her eyes wild with terror, and in the center of it all—a swirling, shimmering portal hung in midair. It pulsed with iridescent colors, like the aurora borealis had been bottled and unleashed right here in my apartment building. The very walls seemed to vibrate in resonance with the portal's energy, casting strange, shifting shadows.
But nothing prepared me for what came next. Small, twisted figures began pouring from the portal—goblins, their greenish skin gleaming with a viscous, oily slime, sharp teeth bared in gleeful malice. Their eyes glowed with a sickly yellow light. Their guttural shrieks filled the air as they swarmed the corridor, attacking anything in sight. The first to reach a fleeing man leaped onto his back, teeth sinking into the flesh of his shoulder. Blood sprayed the wall in a violent arc, painting it crimson. The man's scream was abruptly cut off as a second goblin tore open his throat, a wet, gurgling noise echoing down the hallway.
I froze, memories from the simulation flooding my mind. I had thought that world—a place of monsters and magic—was just a game, a strange dream I'd been forced into. But now, seeing those same creatures here, I finally understood. The simulation was a test. And now, it was my reality. My hands trembled, but deep inside, something old and fierce stirred, as if all the training I'd endured in that other world had been waiting for this moment to awaken.
As the first goblin lunged at me, instinct took over. I reached deep within, searching for the magic I'd wielded so effortlessly in that other world. For months, since my return, I'd felt hollow, powerless. But the portal's energy hummed through the air, awakening something inside me. A tingling sensation surged through my veins, hot and electric, pooling at my fingertips until it threatened to spill over.
Sparks danced along my fingertips. "Come on… just like before!" I hissed, focusing all my willpower into that single, desperate plea for power.
With a fierce yell, I unleashed a blast of energy. Light exploded from my palm, the force so intense it left afterimages dancing across my vision. The goblin was caught mid-leap, its body flung against the wall with a sickening crunch. Bones shattered audibly, and the creature slid to the floor, leaving a smear of blood and brain matter in its wake. It didn't get up.
A second and third goblin charged, their claws gleaming wetly in the half-light. I ducked, grabbing a wooden chair and smashing it across one's head. The skull gave way with a grotesque pop, spraying fragments of bone and gray matter that spattered the ceiling. The other leapt, claws outstretched, its mouth wide in a feral grin. I caught it midair, fingers digging into its flesh, and slammed it to the ground so hard that its ribcage collapsed with a series of muffled cracks. Its organs ruptured inside its body, blood foaming from its mouth as it convulsed and lay still.
"Is this… my power?" I whispered, awe coloring my voice. Around me, the hallway was carnage—goblin bodies strewn about, pink and red fluids pooling on the linoleum and mixing with the blood of the fallen. A severed goblin arm twitched, its jagged bone exposed. My neighbors stared at me, eyes wide with terror and hope, their faces streaked with tears and flecks of gore.
"Go!" I barked, voice cutting through the chaos. "Get to safety. I'll hold them off!"
The last goblin leapt from the shadows, its claws aimed for my throat. I sidestepped, grabbing it by the neck and squeezing until its windpipe collapsed beneath my fingers. Its eyes bulged, tongue lolling out, and I hurled the corpse aside.
When the carnage ended, I stood over the wreckage, chest heaving, body trembling from the adrenaline. The building was a disaster—walls pockmarked with scorch marks, doors hanging from their hinges, the acrid stench of blood and burnt flesh thick in the air. I knew I couldn't stay. Authorities would come. Questions would be asked, and I had no answers to give.
But more than that, a sense of destiny thrummed in my veins. If this world was merging with the simulation, I needed to be ready. I needed allies. I needed to become something more than just a survivor—I needed to become a leader.
I gathered what little cash I had, stuffed essentials into a backpack, and slipped out before the sirens arrived. Outside, the city was in uproar—other portals shimmered in the distance, monsters spilling into the streets. I saw a car overturned, its driver's body half-hanging from the window, entrails glistening in the morning light. Children wept on the sidewalks, their parents dragging them toward perceived safety. The world was changing, and I couldn't face it alone.
Days passed in a blur. I scoured the city, searching for a place to set up base. My feet ached, and the horrors I witnessed haunted my dreams: giant ogres tearing through crowds, their clubs flattening people like insects; serpentine beasts coiling around city buses, crushing metal and bone with equal ease. The air reeked of fear, smoke, and death.
Finally, I found it: a rundown, but sturdy, office building on the edge of downtown. It was for sale, and I spent nearly all my savings to buy it. As I stared at my new headquarters, a thrill ran through me—a sense of hope blooming amidst despair.
"This… this will be the birthplace of a new era," I declared, the words echoing in the empty lobby. "The Black Sigil Guild."
I remembered the guilds from the simulation—ragtag bands of adventurers, each with their own symbol and creed. The Black Sigil would be different. We would protect this world from the chaos spilling through the portals. I pictured a new family, a community brought together not by blood, but by choice and resolve.
But first, I needed members.
I printed flyers, created a website, and even posted on social media: "Seeking brave souls to join The Black Sigil Guild. Protect our world. Unlock your hidden potential."
Days went by, and the silence was deafening. People were too scared to act, too paralyzed by the new reality. The only messages I received were spam or panicked inquiries about relocation. I spent my nights staring at the empty chairs in my new office, the moonlight casting shadows that looked like old friends, or perhaps ghosts.
"Is this what the heroes in anime feel like before their journey truly begins?" I laughed, bitter and alone, the sound echoing in the hollow space.
But then, determination sparked. If people wouldn't come to me, I'd show them why they should.
I designed a uniform—black jacket emblazoned with a silver sigil, dramatic lines inspired by my favorite manhua protagonists. Mask on, I strode out, ready to face the next portal. The fabric felt heavy on my shoulders, a physical manifestation of the burden I had chosen to carry.
As I approached the latest breach, police had already cordoned off the area. Beyond the yellow tape, goblins ran amok, terrorizing anyone in their path. Officers shouted, guns drawn, but their bullets barely slowed the creatures. One goblin tore a policeman's throat open with a single swipe, spraying hot blood across the pavement. Another ripped open a civilian's abdomen, intestines spilling like a grotesque garland onto the concrete. The smell was overwhelming.
"Hey!" I called, vaulting over the tape. "Let me through. I'm with The Black Sigil Guild."
A grizzled officer scowled. "This isn't some cosplay convention, kid. Get back!"
I met his gaze, eyes steely. "Do I look like I'm joking?" I raised my palm, letting a spark of energy dance across my skin. The officer's jaw dropped, his bravado evaporating as reality set in.
"Magic…?" he whispered, voice trembling.
Before he could protest further, a goblin barreled toward us. I stepped forward, swinging my fist with precise force. The creature's skull caved in beneath the blow, fragments of bone slicing through its brain. Blood sprayed in a fine mist, warm and metallic, as the goblin's body twitched and collapsed, painting the ground in a fresh wash of red.
"See?" I grinned, wiping gore from my hands. "Let me handle this."
Word spread quickly. Videos of my battle went viral—The Black Sigil Guild's first real demonstration. Soon, messages flooded my inbox. Some begged for help. Others, emboldened by my example, asked to join. Hope flickered in the darkness, fragile but real.
Within days, a trickle of recruits arrived at the office. First was Aya, a sharp-eyed college student who'd awakened telekinetic powers. I watched her levitate a coffee mug with a flick of her fingers, her eyes burning with nervous excitement. Then came Jin, a former boxer with the ability to harden his skin like steel. He grinned as bullets bounced harmlessly off his chest, the sound ringing like a bell.
We trained together, forging bonds through shared struggle. Our banter echoed through the halls:
Aya smirked, "You know, you should really pick a cooler catchphrase."
I shrugged, "What's wrong with 'Black Sigil, protect!'?"
Jin laughed, "Sounds like a brand of laundry detergent."
I couldn't help but laugh too. This was what I'd been missing—a family, a purpose.
But peace was fleeting. One night, alarms blared throughout the city. Multiple portals erupted at once, spewing not just goblins, but hulking ogres and serpentine beasts. The streets became battlegrounds. I watched an ogre stomp a man flat, blood and viscera bursting from his body in a gruesome display. A serpent wrapped around a fleeing woman, squeezing until her bones snapped and her screams were cut off. The horrors were unending.
Our guild rushed into action. Aya levitated cars to shield civilians, her power straining as debris rained down. Jin punched through monsters with unstoppable force, his fists leaving craters in flesh and bone. I unleashed torrents of magic, weaving through the chaos, each spell leaving a trail of burnt meat and shattered limbs.
At the center of it all, a new figure emerged—a masked villain, wreathed in dark energy, leading the monsters with chilling precision. His eyes glowed with crimson malice as he surveyed the destruction.
He pointed at me. "So, you're the so-called guild master? Let's see if you're worthy of that title."
I squared my shoulders, adrenaline surging. "Black Sigil, assemble!"
We charged, magic and muscle united, our teamwork a dazzling dance of light, shadow, and gore. Blades clashed, blood sprayed, and the screams of the dying mixed with the roaring energy of our powers. The villain's shadow tendrils lashed out, severing limbs and tearing through monsters and men alike. I countered with a shield of light, the energies colliding in a blinding explosion.
After a harrowing battle, the portals closed, the monsters vanquished. News outlets hailed The Black Sigil Guild as heroes. Our numbers swelled, new recruits drawn by our example, their eyes shining with newfound hope and determination.
But I knew this was only the beginning. The boundary between worlds was thin. More threats would come. The scent of blood still hung heavy in the air, a reminder that this peace was fragile.
Standing atop the guild headquarters, city lights sprawling below, I vowed aloud, voice steady and resolute:
"No matter what comes through those portals, we'll stand together. We are The Black Sigil. This is our world—and we'll protect it."