Chapitre 1: Chapter 1
Chapter One: The Awakening
Ethan Cross was just a regular guy, living a pretty ordinary life. He worked as a bank teller, handling money and chatting with customers, then spent his evenings with friends, having a few drinks before returning to his quiet apartment. It wasn't a bad life, but it was the same thing every day. Lately, Ethan felt like something was missing, as if life was passing him by. He craved change, though he wasn't sure what form that "more" would take.
"Is this it? Day after day, the same faces, the same routine. I keep thinking something will change, something big will happen, but... maybe it's just me. Maybe this is all life is meant to be—a loop that never breaks. God, I need something, anything to happen. But what? What would that even look like?"
It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon. The steady drizzle tapped rhythmically against the bank's large glass windows, casting the room in a dull, gray light. The scent of wet pavement filled the air each time the door opened. As Ethan handed cash to a customer, he glanced outside, wondering if anything exciting would ever happen.
Probably not, he thought bitterly. Just another day like all the rest.
The door chime rang, pulling him back to the present. But this time, it wasn't a customer walking in. Five men rushed into the bank, their faces hidden by masks and their guns raised. The leader, a big man, stepped forward and shouted, "Everyone on the ground!"
The leader shouted again, his voice booming like thunder. "This is a robbery!"
Everything changed in an instant. The usual quiet hum of the bank was replaced by gasps and whispers of fear. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, his hands shaking as he crouched behind the counter.
This can't be real. Not today, not now.
He could hear his coworkers pleading with the robbers, the scent of fear filling the air, and his mind raced with panic.
I always thought I'd be the hero in a moment like this, that I'd do something. But now, I'm just... frozen. Come on, Ethan, get up! Do something!
The leader's eyes scanned the room, and for a second, they landed on Ethan. His breath caught, but he didn't move, hoping he'd go unnoticed. One of the robbers wasn't fooled, though. He stomped over to Ethan's hiding spot.
"Hey! You!" The man grabbed Ethan by the shirt and yanked him to his feet. The man's masked face leaned in close, his breath hot and foul against Ethan's skin.
"Scared to move, huh?" he sneered.
Before Ethan could respond, the robber's fist connected with his face. Pain exploded in his head, and he tasted blood in his mouth as he staggered backward.
Pain. That's all I feel. This can't be happening. Someone, anyone, make it stop. Is this how it ends? No... no, I can't die here... not like this...
"Please, just take the money!" Sarah, a coworker, cried out from behind the counter. Her voice was shaky, thick with fear.
Her plea went unanswered. Another blow struck Ethan, harder this time, sending him sprawling to the cold, tiled floor. His vision blurred, and dark spots clouded his sight. In his final moments of consciousness, as the darkness closed in, one desperate thought echoed in his mind: I need to escape. Anywhere but here.
When Ethan opened his eyes to a strange sky, he immediately knew something was wrong. His eyes fluttered open, and instead of the bank's ceiling, he saw a sky swirling with dark, ominous clouds. He sat up slowly, groaning as pain pulsed in his skull.
What… where am I? he muttered, looking around in confusion.
He wasn't in the bank anymore. The air smelled metallic, heavy with the scent of scorched earth. Tall, metallic buildings loomed over him, their sharp edges reflecting the unnatural sky.
This isn't real. I must still be out cold on the bank floor, dreaming all this. But it feels so real. The air, the cold... everything's too real to be a dream. No. This is wrong. So wrong. I have to wake up. I need to wake up.
Shivering, Ethan struggled to stand up to his feet, his legs weak and unsteady. That's when he noticed his clothes had changed. He wasn't wearing his bank uniform anymore. Instead, he had on dark jeans, heavy boots, and a weathered leather jacket that looked old and worn. His heart pounded. Nothing made sense.
How had I ended up here? And why the change in attire? It feels like I've stepped into someone else's life.
A sound interrupted his thoughts—footsteps, slow and deliberate, echoing from somewhere in the distance. Fear shot through him as he looked around, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from.
"Hello?" Ethan called out, his voice trembling.
Please let this be a dream. Please, I need to wake up.
There was no answer, only the sound of the footsteps, slow and steady, growing nearer. Suddenly, a voice spoke—not from nearby, but from everywhere at once. It was calm and cold, cutting through the silence.
"Welcome, Ethan Cross. You have been chosen."
Ethan spun around, but there was no one there.
Chosen? For what?
"Chosen for what?" he shouted, fear gripping him. The streets remained empty.
"To have the Anime Villain Summoning System."
The words made no sense.
Anime? Villains? A system? What kind of nightmare is this?
"You now possess the power to summon anime villains from other worlds," the voice continued, emotionless. "But each summon comes at a price. The first price has already been paid."
"What price?" Ethan whispered, his throat dry with dread. "Your family."
Ethan's world came crashing down. His family—his mother, father, sister. Instinctively, he tried to recall their faces, but his mind was blank. The memories were gone, as though they had never existed.
No... no, no, no! My family... gone? They can't be gone. I'd remember them! I must! How can I not remember their faces? I can't even picture my mom's voice... it's slipping. How? How could I have let this happen? I didn't even want this... why did this happen to me?!
Panic seized him, his breath quickening in ragged gasps.
"No!" he screamed. "Bring them back!"
"The price has been paid," the voice repeated, unmoved. "It cannot be undone."
Ethan collapsed to his knees, his hands gripping his head as his mind reeled.
This isn't the change I wanted. I craved something more, but not this. Never this.
"You have been selected to summon and control anime villains from other worlds," the voice continued. "Your role is to wield their power, but every summon comes at a cost."
Ethan's chest tightened. "A cost… like memories of my family?"
"Yes," the voice replied, cold and indifferent. "The first price has been paid. With each new summon, the cost will increase."
Desperation clawed at Ethan's mind.
This can't be happening. This can't be real. I don't want this. I never asked for this.
"That is irrelevant," the system responded, unyielding. "You are bound to the system. You cannot escape."
Ethan clenched his fists, anger rising in him. "And if I refuse? What if I don't summon anyone else?"
"Refusal is not an option," the voice stated. "The system will impose tasks. Failure will result in the loss of everything you hold dear—your identity, your very existence."
Ethan felt his world close in around him. He had no choice.
This isn't a game. It's a prison.
His hands shook as he looked back at Johan, who watched him with unnerving calm.
The voice spoke again, its tone devoid of emotion. "Your first summon will now commence."
The air around him grew colder. Shadows gathered at his feet, swirling and twisting until they coalesced into a dark figure. Slowly, the shape took form—a man, tall and thin, with an unsettling calmness about him. His sharp eyes gleamed with intelligence, but there was something cold and sinister behind them.
"I am Johan Liebert," the man said, his voice smooth and measured.
Ethan stared, unable to form words.
This man... this isn't just some villain. His eyes... he's calm, too calm. Like none of this matters to him. What did I summon? What kind of monster is this?
He had wished for excitement, for something to break the monotony of his life. But now, standing before Johan, he realized he had summoned something far darker and more dangerous than he could ever have imagined.
Ethan stood frozen, the weight of his situation crashing down on him. His family was gone, his memories erased, and now he was facing Johan Liebert—a man whose mere presence sent chills down his spine.
Before Ethan could speak, the system's voice returned, cutting through his spiraling thoughts.
"Primary Mission: make Johan Liebert gain the attention of Nick Fury.
Reward- Random.
Failure- losing your empathy."
Ethan felt his world close in around him. He had no choice. This wasn't a game, but a prison—a twisted trial where every step forward demanded a piece of him. His hands shook as he looked back at Johan, who watched him with unnerving calm.