I suddenly felt an insane amount of Vertigo. I then shot forward through the darkness. Soon, I noticed I was heading towards a bright light that got bigger and bigger until I was enveloped by it as the darkness disappeared.
As the bright light faded, I was looking up at a woman in a white button up uniform and an old school nurse's cap. As I looked around, I realised two things. One, I was in a hospital that looked very outdated and two, I was being held by the nurse in front of me. So I was witnessing my birth huh. But why was everything so outdated around me.
As I was thinking about this the woman holding me handed me over to a woman in a bed. Her silky black hair was stuck to her face due to sweat but that didn't take anything away from her beauty. She had brown eyes that held love and adoration reserved only for me. She was definitely of Indian heritage, the country not the Native Americans, and her skin was a light, almost caramel brown. She had a bright white smile on her face and I felt an instant bond to her that only a son can have with their mother. I could tell right away that she would do anything for me and loved me with all her heart, as I did her.
I tried to reach out to her with my small pudgy hands but realised I couldn't move them. Then I noticed that I wasn't even the one who was looking around, it was more like I was seeing what someone else saw with no control over my eyes yet feeling everything they do. Damn, so I'm gonna be watching my own prologue like a film through a VR headset. Alright, better get tucked in.
After that, things went by pretty fast as I seemed to watch my life in fast forward. As expected, I was nicknamed Nick by my mother after finding out I was a guy and I lived in a small apartment with just my Mum, Priya Dhana, most of the year. However, Pluto seemed to show up every few days and spend time with us during the spring and summer months, much to my surprise. At least he did for the first 9 years. Just after my ninth birthday, he seemed to have a long conversation with my mother, which ended up with my Mum crying. Pluto then came over to me and I could see the worry in his black onyx eyes, the only physical part of him I apparently inherited, although mine held a fire within them that my dads didn't unless he was angry. I had my mothers skin and they both had black hair so I could have got mine from either of them. Pluto told me to be safe and look after my Mum before handing me a black bracelet as a gift. It was a beautiful black band that had two golden lines intertwining each other around it. He told me to always keep it on me, then kissed me on the forehead and walked out the front door. That was the last time I saw him.
Although the person who controlled my body didn't seem to understand what happened, I did. World War 2 was starting, and Pluto's/Hades' children were the Nazis. Not too long after that, Mum started working more as a Nurse in the hospital and our food became rationed. The whole city we lived in, London, seemed to be walking on a knife's edge as World War 2 began. Pluto's sons were going to war against Zeus and Poseidon's sons. We lived in an Allied nation and as such Pluto wouldn't be able to visit us anymore. I understood and Pheonix seemed to get over it after awhile and he and Mum seemed to enjoy their lives and company despite the stress and the threat of war hanging over their heads. That was, until the Blitz a year later.
The Germans started bombing London everyday and night, leaving me to worry about Mum and the hospital everyday. But when we were both home I never felt safer and so did she. Of course, we still hid under the table when the sirens started but we always seemed to stay safe. A week in to the bombings though, my Mum came home one day and I knew something was wrong. She had a fake smile on but her eyes held a sadness and fear that I had never seen on her before. She told me she had to send me away to keep me safe from harm, that all the children were being evacuated and I would have to eave tomorrow. I tried to argue but to no avail. It wasn't my Mums decision but the Governments and I had no say in the matter. So the next day I was loaded onto a train heading for the countryside after a tearful goodbye to my mother and a lot of promises were made to each other to stay safe.
I ended up staying with an old couple in a small cottage in a nice, quiet village. It wasn't too bad and I can't say I wasn't more comfortable without the constant threat of bombs dropping on me. But I worried for my Mum and only a month after I left did I learn that the worry was well founded. I had just walked home from school when I saw a man in military uniform at my door talking to the couple who took me in, the Hopkins. I couldn't see the mans face but the Hopkins had worry plastered over theirs and Mrs Hopkins was crying whilst Mr Hopkins was taking a letter of some sort from the man in military uniform.
I froze from where I was looking at them from slightly down the road. I knew that the Hopkins had no other living family and the military only ever came to your door to deliver certain news. It wasn't hard to figure out what that news was.
My mother was dead.
My heart dropped as the realisation hit other me at the same time. The woman who loved us and looked after us was gone. I started to well up as my bag dropped off my back. I felt lost without her, she was my whole world. I took off back the way I came before they could see me with nowhere in mind, determined to just get away from my problems. I couldn't handle the looks of sympathy and the talks of 'everythings going to be ok' that they were preparing to say to me, because it wasn't.
I ran and I ran until suddenly I was in a forest. I didn't stop though, not until I saw someone in front of me not 10 feet away as I skidded to a halt. A woman wearing a green floral print dress was looking straight back at me. She had emerald green eyes, silky brown hair and unblemished rosy skin. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I know I should have been afraid of a random woman in the woods but her eyes seemed to hold no evil within them.
"Hello child," She said in a melodic voice. I didn't reply as I just stared at her so she decided to continue. "I am sorry about what happened recently to your mother, you must be suffering greatly."
To myself watching, that pissed me off. 'Gee thanks for stating the obvious' but I am pretty sure I have the mental maturity of close to an adult. Other me, however, was a 10-year-old kid who just lost his mother. So of course I ran up to her and hugged her tightly whilst beginning to cry. I didn't even know who this woman was but I knew she didn't wish me harm somehow. She seemed to radiate life out to the forest around us and I felt safe near her. Of course, I had figured out this must be a goddess, other me hadn't though.
The woman stiffened up at me hugging her before relaxing and reciprocating the embrace. After a few minutes my sniffling stopped and she let go, holding me at arms length.
"I am sorry about what happened but I am here to help you. I am… a friend of your fathers and he sent me here when he found out your mother was dead." She said softly, whilst looking into my eyes.
"Why didn't he come himself, he just disappeared over a year ago with no warning." I asked through choked sobs.
"He had to leave to keep dangerous people away from you that wish you harm. If he came back now then they would find out that you're his son and would stop at nothing to get to you. Your Father sent me instead to take you away from any danger." She replied with a smile gracing her lips at the end.
"Your taking me to him?" I asked hopefully.
The woman frowned at that. "No child, I'm sorry but keeping you near your father might be more dangerous than your current situation because of the war. He asked me to take you someplace safe to stay for now and that he would come pick you up after the war is over to take care of you himself."
Other me thought about it for a moment. I believed the lady in front of me and staying here meant being in danger according to her. I didn't really have anyone other than my Father now so the chance to eventually see him again was not one I could pass up.
"Ok I'll come with you." I said nervously. She smiled at that before keeping one hand on my shoulder and one hand over my eyes. A bright flash and a feeling of vertigo later, I was stood outside the Lotus Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
"Woah. how did we get here miss?" I wondered as I looked around.
"Magic," She replied with a wink, "Oh and just call me Proserpina."
Life in the Lotus Casino was fun for other me once Proserpina checked me in and promised my father would return to get me eventually. There were fair ground games and rides as well as board games to keep other me occupied. Meanwhile, I retreated into my own thoughts for quite awhile, thinking about what happened. I had a lot of questions. Why would Proserpina, Pluto's wife, help me when I am a reminder of her husband's infidelity. After all, she seemed to hold no love for Nico in the books. Also, was I to stay here until when Nico and Bianca leave? Was I going to leave before and become the child of the prophecy? Was I even following canon at this point?
I got what I could assume was an answer a year into being there. At about a yaer in the casino. By the look of the new arcade games and rollercoasters that surrounded me, I knew I needed to take control of my body and leave soon because it was definitely late 1990's or the 2000's. I was walking past a shop within the indoor mall when I heard a little kid say something.
"Oooh Bianca look there's a new Mythomagic expansion pack. Can I get it ple-"
Of course the me who was in control had no idea who the kid was and didn't even look in the direction of the voice, instead continuing to walk towards an elevator to go back to my room. I heard it though and was internally screaming for myself to turn back around and find those kids. But I knew it wouldn't help, Pheonix had no knowledge of Nico and Bianca so why would he/I care about a couple of random kids. I just accepted defeat, wondering when this life of being a passenger of someone else's life would end as other me reached my hotel room and went to sleep.
I woke up under the usual silk sheets in my bed, ready for another day of being trapped in another's body.
You slept in your own bed. 100% of HP and MP restored. All negative status effects and ailments removed.
Wait what? The message just popped up at the top of my vision. Wait, but the only time I recognised seeing a message like that was in a game. Which meant…
I tried to lift my left arm up… and it did. I WAS IN CONTROL. OVER 10 YEARS LATER AND I WAS FINALLY FREE. I jumped out of my bed and skipped around the suite I was currently living in, whooping and hollerining.
Once I had settled down and slid onto the sofa, I started to think about what's next. I was currently in a universe where I think I know what will take place and it would be as good a guess as any to believe that I was living life as a game right?
For analysing past events currectly and coming to a logical conclusion, you have been rewarded with +1 INT and +1 WIS. This is not including the natural boost of +6 to all stats due to picking the 'Random' option when choosing your Godly parent.
Woah. That was pretty easy. So that means I have stats that I can improve upon. But how do I go about checking them. Well lets assume this works like any other RPG so… "Status."
Phoenix 'Nick' Dhana, Son of Pluto
Race- Demigod
Gender- Male
Age- 11
Titles- Son of Pluto, Universe Trekker
Level- 4
Exp- 0/500 ( your Exp/Total Exp needed to level up)
Health- 650/650 HP (+100HP per level, 8% HP/min regen)
Mana- 500/500 MP (+50MP per level, 7% MP/min regen)
Str- 8 (+5) = 13 (Strength and melee damage)
End- 7 (+5) = 12 (Physical Endurance, damage reduction= 6%, +0.5% per point)
Vit- 8 (+5) = 13 (Health and natural speed/ reaction time, +50 HP per level every 10 Vit)
Dex- 8(+5) = 13 (agility and hand eye skills, +1% HP regen/ minute every 10 Dex)
Int- 8 (Memory and knowledge. +50 Mp per level every 10 Int)
Wis- 7 (Puzzle solving and application of knowledge. +1% MP regen/min every 10 Wis)
Luc- 12 (Your chances of Higher tier/quantity drops)
Money- $100 / 0 D / 0 d
Sta- 4 (Stat points used to improve stats, +4 per level)
PP- 2 (Perk points used on perk tree, +2 per level)
Phoenix Dhana is the demigod son of Pluto and Priya Dhana. Originally born in 1931, Nick was born and raised in London, England until his mother was killed during a German bombing run. Once Pluto felt her enter his domain, he immediately sent his wife Proserpina out to collect his son and hide him in the Lotus Casino until after the war. However, due to the Great Prophecy being issued Nick never left the casino for his own safety but is currently ready to finally face the world.
Titles
Son of Pluto- As the Son of Pluto, You automatically receive a +5 boost in Str, End, Vit and Dex. You also have a natural affinity for the shadows, Raising and controlling the Dead, precious metals, fear itself and Hellfire. This also gives you a light connection to the Earth so you have a bit of control over underground tunnels and Geokinesis. Unfortunately, you also have a stronger scent than most half-bloods and will attract more monsters.
Universe Trekker- As an entity from another universe, you see more than even the gods and are not controlled by The Moirai or any other Fate controlling deity. As such, prophecies and the future are malleable and can be changed due to your interference. Don't worry though, I told all the deities of Fate to mind their own Gods damned business lest they feel my wrath.
Gamers mind- Lvl MAX
Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through, keeping them in a calm state of mind. Immune to mental intrusions.
Gamers body- Lvl MAX
Allows the user to live real life like a game. Although you feel pain, it wont be at the same intensity and you will be able to perform at peak condition no matter your HP if no negative status effects are in place. Plus, you have nearly ridiculous stamina, don't have to sleep and only have to eat for pleasure or for their status effects.
Holy Shit. Have you seen the number of powers it says I naturally have? I'm gonna be a fucking tank by the time the Great prophecy rolls around. Wait. Am I even the child of the Great Prophecy?
Ping
A note has been left by the Creator of the system:
Hey kiddo. Hope your enjoying the gaming system I had made for you. Just wanted to let you know that since your technically free of Fate, I had to make it so you specifically can't be the child of the Great Prophecy. Can't have you stealing the lime light off Percy now can we. It would cause all sorts of complaints if suddenly the protagonist of the books isn't the star of the Prophecy. I don't need those crazy fans breathing down my neck and I don't wanna do Rick dirty like that. As such, I'll have the Moirai cover for you by saying you're technically 72 years old. It's bullcrap but I can technically make it so you aren't the child of the Great Prophecy since you were put into this world by yours truly. Unfortunately, I cannot do the same for the two children of Hades. So please leave them in the hotel until Percy is at least 13 so he's older than Bianca.
Thanks,
Me
Damn. I was kinda hoping to take the two kids with me but I guess not for now. I know I was born in 1931 so technically that means it is currently 2003 according to the note, 2 years before the events of The Lightning Thief if we go by when it was published. Ok, so I know what year it is, that's a start. But now I also know that someone created this system and sent me here. I need to figure out who that is.
Ping
New Quest Available!
Quest: Meet Your Maker
Find out who or what created you and why you were thrown into this universe. Good luck with that by the way, it just isn't going to happen unless they want it to.
Requirements:
Meet and talk to ?
Rewards:
100,000,000 Exp
Ability to taunt that dick Zeus about it (Jupiter aint that bad)
?
?
Failure:
Continual taunting by the creator of the system after failing in 10 years time.
Crying yourself to sleep at night due to taunts
Do you wish to accept?
[YES/NO]
Okay then, clearly the system doesn't think I stand a chance and apparently it's a bit of a bitch with a Zeus problem. The second parts understandable, Zeus is a dick. Even though it seems like I wont be able to complete this for awhile, eventually crying myself to sleep at night isn't on my to do list so I accepted. Now that was out the was out the way, the next step was getting out of this damned hotel.
Ping
New Quest Available!
Quest: Boy meets World
Escape the Lotus Hotel and Casino and find a new place to call home.
Requirements:
Leave the Lotus Hotel and Casino
Meet a God
Have a permanent residence
Rewards:
1,000 Exp
$250
?
Failure:
Death
Do you wish to accept?
[YES/NO]
I immediately accepted the quest. Ever since I had awoken, I felt a slight push on my mind, trying to enter it but not being able to. I assumed that it was the magic that keeps everyone inside the place and that Gamer's Mind was blocking it out, which should make escape a lot easier.
Now, for where I was going to go, two obvious options came up. Both of which fill both requirements in order to complete the quest. First option is joining the Legion in New Rome. I would have to go to the Wolf House in Sonoma Valley first to meet Lupa, the wolf goddess, and then be sent to join the Legion as a probatio. But there come problems with that as well. The Legion is strict and isn't very flexible. From what I've read, quests aren't that common an occurrence and are usually led by a high ranking officer unless the gods come down themselves to request a specific legionnaire to lead. This would mean I would be stuck there for what I would assume would be a few years. Not only would that mean that I possibly wont be able to join in Percy's journey but it also means that I wouldn't be able to go on quests, my only known source of Exp at the moment. In turn that means I wouldn't level up, inhibiting my potential. So it just isn't an option. With the Titans on their way, I need to get stronger.
The second option looks a lot more interesting, the Underworld. My father seemed to care for me when he was around and the only reason he didn't come for me was out of fear of Jupiter trying to have me killed due to the Great prophecy I assume. I think he would be accepting of me and help me grow stronger, I'm sure there's lots to do down there. After all Percy washed away a Titans memory and recovered a divine weapon the second time he visited. It seems like Proserpina wouldn't mind me staying either considering our last interaction together. I think my father would also want to help me grow stronger and more capable as a warrior so it really is the best option. The Underworld it is. If I die I will end up there anyway so no harm no foul, right?
A quick shower and dress change later and I was ready to leave. Thankfully I had bought a pair of straight black jeans, black t shirt as well as black combat boots recently from one of the retail stores using a Lotus cash card because I wasn't wearing shirts and pants from the 1940s in 2002. Also, if I wasn't sure I was a child of Pluto before, my dress sense confirmed it now, including the black and gold bracelet still adorning my left wrist. I quickly raided the mini bar and stuffed its contents into a backpack before putting it on and walking out the front door and into the elevator.
Upon the elevator doors reopening, I walked out and headed for the front door, not even stopping to look at a buffet table I passed. I had a credit card with infinite money on it, food wasn't going to be a problem. The minibar snacks and drinks in my backpack were enough in case I ever got in a pinch. As I walked towards the revolving doors at the front of the hotel and casino, the whole place seemed to react to my actions by trying to increase the allure. The smell of brownies from the buffet table became infinitely stronger, the arcade games were so much more attractive and tempting to play. 'Stay focused' I thought to myself, clamping down on Gamer's Mind. I had a goal and this place wasn't holding me back. Ignoring the concerns and offers of a top floor penthouse from the staff trying to stop me leaving, I strode confidently outside into the daylight, a wave of relief hitting me as I did so. I took in fresh air for the first time in around a year for me, based on my age on my status screen, even if it was desert air.
I quickly called over a cab and asked for a ride to Los Angeles, swiping my card through the card reader before the driver could question me. This certain 11-year-old meant business. A 4-hour drive later and I had reached the City of Angels. Valleys and mountain ranges surrounded it whilst beautiful beaches were on the other side of the city, waves gliding and mellowing out to shore. The lights of high rises in the city lit up the night sky, beckoning me towards them from my car window. It simply took my breath away.
I asked the taxi driver if he could take me to DOA studios but he nor his sat nav had an address to offer. He offered to ask around but I knew he wouldn't find an address so I just asked him to drop me off near the city centre and told him I would make my own way from there. The taxi driver wasn't that fond of leaving a 11-year-old in the middle of LA at night surprisingly enough. But a death glare from a literal son of the God of the Dead works wonders at getting people to leave you alone.
As I walked through the city, queues to get into clubs as well as strange looks I was getting off adults told me it was at least 11 pm at night. As I saw groups of friends chatting and couples walking home from a date and drunks trying to find their way home, I wondered what I used to do for fun in my old life, if I had one that is. I definitely had the mental maturity above that of a child. Was I an adult? Did I enjoy drinking and clubbing with friends during the night? Did I have a partner I shared my life with?
It was through these contemplations that I got distracted and turned into a one-way alley, trash bins pushed up against the walls. 20 meters down I realised my mistake as I caught a couple in their early twenties making out passionately. The girl seemed to notice me first and let out a small "EEP", drawing the guys attention to me as well. They were both extremely attractive. The girl was a brunette with a deep tan and hazel brown eyes that could take any guys breath away. Look, I'm straight but even I can't deny that the guy took my attention away from the girl as soon as he turned to look at me. He seemed like the peak of male perfection. Blonde cropped hair, sparkling blue eyes, high cheekbones and a perfect tan. Not to mention his Megawatt smile as he went to speak to me.
"Hey little dude. What you doing out in an alley this time of night?" He asked.
"Not important. Sorry for disturbing you two, I'll just be on my way." I replied, unable to stop a blush from appearing on my face from catching the two in such a compromising position. I turned to leave when I came across a big problem.
Or to be more accurate, two big problems. Two 8 foot tall Cyclops blocked off the alley's only exit, showing off their crooked yellow teeth with evil grins, holding a club each.
"I told you I smelled half-blood Eddie." The one on the left said
"Haha, guess you were right. This one's a bit small but we can eat the mortals afterwards." The one named Eddie replied.
Yeah, I wasn't going to let that happen. These two mortals had just been enjoying their youths and because of me they were about to die. I couldn't let that happen, I wouldn't. I turned back to the couple. I don't know what they saw but the woman was cowering in fear whilst the man was looking at me curiously, as if waiting to see what I would do. That confused me but I didn't have time to ask questions of the man.
"You two. If you see an opening, get as far away as possible. I will try to distract them as long as I can. Until there's an opening stay behind me." I ordered, not waiting for a reply as I turned back towards the Cyclops. They hadn't moved at all, probably knowing I was already dead and had no weapon. I had no way of harming the monsters and they were bigger and stronger than me.
I prayed for any sort of help as I took a step forward towards the Cyclops, subconsciously using my body to try and shield the mortals behind me. I prayed for Godly intervention, a weapon, a means to protect myself.
Suddenly, my bracelet on my left arm started to glow gold before a 1 and a half foot long circular shield sprang from it, a leather strap encompassing my forearm and a metal hand hold appearing to keep it locked and sturdy. It was made of a midnight black metal and was slightly concaved. On the outside, The edge of the shield was trimmed gold with a gold skull and crossbones adorning the middle of it. It was beautiful. A gift from Pluto. As I analysed the surprisingly light shield, I got a sudden notification on my 'screen'.
Ping
New Skill Acquired!
Observe- Lvl 1 (25%)
Activating this skill will show you information on the person/object you wish to use the skill on. Observing people of higher levels than you will lead to less information being available to you. As you level up Observe, more information about the target will become available to see.
Current info- Race, Health, Mana and stats as well as a description.
I quickly read the description of the skill before looking back at my shield and using the skill on it.
Phoenix Dhana's Shield
A shield made in the Underworld by the best dead craftsmen and blessed by Pluto and Odin himself, this shield is fit for a God. Made from a mix of Stygian Iron and Imperial Gold, it is as almost unbreakable and its edges have been sharpened to that equal to a divine blade. Calling in a favour from the All-Father, Pluto also had it enchanted to return to it's rightful owner on command, Phoenix Dhana, just like Mjolnir does with Thor. The leather strap will automatically release when Phoenix is about to throw the shield.
Damage= (Str + Dex) x 50
+20% Dex when unsheathed
When blocking an attack, the shield will absorb half the damage such an attack would inflict, releasing it upon the enemy during the users next attack with the shield.
Holy shit. This thing was ridiculous. I'm basically Captain America with it's enchantments except more deadly. I looked back at the Cyclops with slightly more confidence and used Observe on Eddie, the bigger of the two.
Eddie, Cyclops
Lvl 10
Health- 6,000/6,000 HP
Mana- 1,000/1,000 MP
Str- 47
End- 20
Vit- 16
Dex- 9
Int- 2
Wis- 1
Luc- 3
His strength was going to cause problems and I could only assume that his friend was similar in stats. I was going to have to play to my strengths, which was that I was faster and smaller than them. But that would become negated if both were fighting me at the same time. I knew I didn't have the skill to dodge them both at the same time. They seemed to hesitate when my shield was unsheathed but they were slowly growing more confident, noticing I didn't have a weapon still. Or so they thought.
Before they could make the first move, I hoped my increased dexterity would do me justice and did a 360 degree spin whilst holding my left arm out horizontally to build up momentum, before chucking it straight at Eddie's friend. It flew surprisingly fast and true, aiming straight for his chest. The Cyclops didn't see the threat and simply stuck out a hand to block or catch the shield. To his and Eddie's surprise, it cut straight through his hand and embedded itself halfway into the monster's chest.
Critical Strike! Deadly Strike!
Ping
Ping
+250 Exp
2 New skills!
"Uh oh." Was all the monster got out before bursting into golden dust as my shield clattered to the floor.
"TORQ!" Eddie yelled before turning to me and looking at me with hatred in his eyes. "His mothers going to kill me for letting Torq die." Eddie then charged at me with his club raised.
Fear grasped my heart for but a moment before Gamer's Mind took over and pushed it away, my senses heightening and muscles tensing. Adrenaline shot through my veins as I waited for him to reach me. I was born for this. I was born to kill monsters like Eddie. I wanted to kill Eddie. I had a slight sick fascination from seeing my shield cut through Torqs hand and chest, one only children of the underworld can have. And I was ready to feed that thirst for blood again.
As Eddie reached me, he swung his wooden club straight down at me but his slow movements made it easy to read. I sidestepped the attack whilst calling for my shield with my left hand, causing it to fly straight into it as Eddie's club hit the floor. I stepped into his guard as he tried to recover and stabbed the shield as high as I could reach, straight into the left side of his chest. The strike didn't have the power that my earlier throw did, but it still sunk a few inches deep and caused Eddie to roar in pain.
Shield Attack!
(13 + 13x1.5) x 50= 1,625 damage
Eddie's Health- 4,375/6,000 HP
As I read the damage box that popped up I realised I might be a bit outmatched considering I was untrained. However, the distraction of seeing the damage box for the first time gave Eddie the opportunity to recover and swing his club across his body at me.
Too late, I realised my mistake as I barely pulled my shield out of him and placed it in front of the clubs path as I didn't have time to get out the way of the strike. The contact between shield and club rattled my bones as I went flying straight into a trash bin ten feet away head first, crumpling to the floor from the impact.
Ping
Due to taking a hit of such immense force, you have received +1 End
Cheers game, because that was what I was worrying about right now. I ended up with my back on the floor, vision swimming as I saw a towering mass walk towards me. I felt myself losing consciousness as I hoped that the two mortals had enough time to get away. All I could think about is whether I respawned at my last save point and whether my life auto-saved when I slept in a bed. The last thing I remember is a golden light suddenly enveloping the alleyway as everything went black.
