<\/p>\n\n\n\n
June startled awake as a loud, booming sound echoed around him. It was so deafening that the vibrations shook his bones. Fluttering his eyes open, confusion clouded his mind because the scene before him was not the familiar cabin at all. Instead, an endless, dark abyss surrounded him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
His heart raced as he tried to clear the fog of confusion clouding his mind. Where was he? Then it hit him\u2014his family! He tried to push himself to stand, but couldn\u2019t. He wasn\u2019t on the hardwood floor in Elias\u2019 cabin anymore, that much was clear. Instead, he floated in a thick, liquid-like substance, similar to honey or sap. Yet it had the same texture as water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How was that even possible? Then again, everything that had happened was beyond the bounds of possibility. The meteor shower, the fiery sky, the voice in his head announcing, The System of Cultivation<\/em>. Then came agonizing pain followed by that light. It was all mind-boggling, to say the least. Not what he\u2019d expected on a normal weekend trip to the Appalachian Mountains in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n June grunted, his voice muffled by the water, as he tried to shake his head. But the thick liquid slowed his movements to a crawl, letting him only shift his head to the right. He didn\u2019t have time to think about what had happened. He just needed to figure out where he was and how to get back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That was easier said than done, though. June\u2019s body was numb. A biting cold seeped into him, sapping his strength. He needed to get out of the water before hypothermia set in, leaving him dead. He took a deep breath before coming up with a plan, but then froze. How had he taken a breath just now? In fact, he had been breathing the entire time, without ever realizing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Panic overwhelmed him before he managed to calm down. He had to be dreaming\u2014there was no other explanation. Gritting his teeth, he pinched himself hard, trying to wake up. After about thirty seconds of enduring the pain, he gave up, a welt forming on his forearm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What the hell! Why am I not waking up? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A low rumble pulled him from his thoughts. He stared into the void as the gnawing dread that had haunted him during the meteor shower crept back into his mind. Panic seized him as he froze, trying to stay hidden. The rumbling sounded again. This time, even louder. Fear clenched his heart, threatening to crush it under its weight. He wasn\u2019t alone in these waters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He tried to swim away, but before he could even try to, a sudden vibration reverberated through the water. A roaring voice erupted from the depths a moment later and slammed into him. The resulting shockwave sent him tumbling end over end, a disorienting experience that lasted what must have been an eternity before he finally stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n June struggled to straighten himself, his mind thoroughly rattled like a mixed drink. But before he could do anything else, the monstrous voice roared again. This time, along with several others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before this, he hadn\u2019t understood what the voice said, but this time it was loud and clear. \u201cJUNE-TAE MIKKELSON!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear\u2019s grip on his heart tightened, leaving him paralyzed. Had he only been hearing things, or was Sasha\u2019s voice mixed with the roaring below? That was impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, before another thought could cross his mind, the shadows in the corner of June\u2019s vision shifted. He instinctively turned, and his blood ran cold. A tear in the void appeared, and blood-red light radiated from it as the tear widened. It quickly became clear to him that it wasn\u2019t a tear at all, but rather an eye wreathed in blood-red flames. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once fully open, it gazed upon June, suffusing him with its unholy red glow that burned with hatred and malice. The eye was nearly twice June\u2019s height, and that was saying a lot considering his stature of six foot one. His mind blanked out as he tried to comprehend the size of this monstrosity before him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shadow tendrils shot out from the eldritch monster and ensnared June, leaving him no chance to react. Actually, that was false. It moved so fast that even if he wanted to, he couldn\u2019t react. The eldritch creature pulled him just a few inches from its face. Its gaze pierced him, examining his soul and judging it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The eye tilted to the side as if contemplating something before the voices echoed around June again. \u201cJUNE-TAE MIKKELSON! SUBMIT AND SERVE!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sasha\u2019s voice rang out clearly this time, joined by Natalie\u2019s and Zach\u2019s voices as well. Rage surged from June\u2019s core, eclipsing his fear. \u201cFuck you!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n He had no intention of becoming this monster\u2019s slave. He struggled against his restraints to free himself. It was a hopeless effort, but he kept fighting until his muscles finally gave out. The eye narrowed as more tendrils hovered before it. June let out a scream of pain as the tendrils shot forward and pierced his chest, abdomen, and head. His veins bulged and turned black as the tendrils slithered through him, worming their way deeper, trying to infect him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSUBMIT AND SERVE!\u201d it boomed again as the tendrils reached deep within June, invading a space he wasn\u2019t aware of until now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Shadows obscured his eyes in a sea of darkness as he dangled, suspended in a silent scream, his mind flooded with a jumble of emotions and visions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first was of Natalie. Grief and loneliness radiated from her as she huddled in the corner of their bedroom. The house rocked as a giant shadow swept across the window. She held a hand to her mouth, trying to stay as silent as possible. The thing lingered for a moment before its earth-shaking footsteps trailed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Natalie exhaled the breath she had been holding and hugged her knees to her chest, tears running down her cheeks. Fear quaked through her body, and she slowly rocked herself, trying to soothe her nerves. Her eyes shifted to June\u2019s 1911 handgun, held tightly in her hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, June,\u201d she said before raising the gun to her temple and pulling the trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The vision suddenly ended, replaced by another. Zach, a few years older than he was, stood at the front of an army made up of humans as a host of angels descended from the heavens above. Zach led the charge, shouting a war cry before the two armies collided. But the fight was hardly a battle\u2014more like a slaughter, as the angels tore through the human ranks like a knife cutting through butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zach stood alone, the only survivor. He fought bravely, but ultimately, the angels overwhelmed him. He dangled helplessly, with each limb gripped by an angel. Their shark-toothed smiles widened, and they released high-pitched laughter as they tore him limb from limb. Zach let out his last scream as the angels guzzled his flowing blood before feasting on his body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once again, the visions shifted, and Sasha appeared as an adult. She was on all fours on a bed stained with a mixture of fluids. The scent of sweat and sex was heavy in the air. A thick fog clouded her mind, yet a powerful desire for one thing and one thing only radiated like a beacon. Sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sasha moaned like a common whore as a stranger grunted from behind her, thrusting his cock deep into her cunt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFuck me! Cum in me! Please, cum in me!\u201d Sasha begged and moaned like a bitch in heat, her ecstasy clear. \u201cFill my womb!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n He obliged, chuckling darkly, gripping her hips tightly, and pumped vigorously. The wet sounds of his cock thrusting into her dripping pussy resounded as their skin smacked and her wild moans echoed through the room for another thirty seconds before the man drew near his release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just before he blew his load, he grabbed a handful of her sweat-slick hair, pulling her head back before roughly grabbing one of her breasts with the other and whispering in her ear. \u201cHere it comes, bitch. Take it like the little whore you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes! Give it to me!\u201d Sasha moaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He grunted in gratification as he thrust one last time, deep into her and came, overflowing her already cum-filled womb. A purple tattoo over her womb glowed when his seed painted her insides white, throwing Sasha into a shuddering orgasm as another helping of cum flooded into her. A twisted smile formed on her face as she stared up at June, the vacant look in her eyes a torturous reminder of what had occurred. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Horror filled June, just like the man had done to his Pumpkin, as he tried to look away but couldn\u2019t. It was only when the man released her and she slumped forward, head down and ass high in the air, that freed him from his torment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The man pulled his cock out of her with a wet plop as copious amounts of cum spilled from her. She continued to gyrate her hips, seeking to refill her now-empty, leaking hole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, don\u2019t stop. I need more,\u201d Sasha begged languidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man retrieved his clothes and smacked her ass, eliciting another moan, before leaving the room. However, the vision didn\u2019t end as another man, short and thin as a twig, entered. His pants fell to his ankles before the door even closed. His mottled shirt and underwear followed quickly as he hopped onto the bed, getting into position behind her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoly shit, he sure fucked you good, didn\u2019t he?\u201d he said in a squeaky, slimy voice, coating his dick with the cum still dripping from her pussy before lining it with her ass. \u201cI think I\u2019ll fuck this hole today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another tattoo, this one on her lower back, glowed purple as he thrust his entire cock into her all at once, groaning with rapturous bliss. \u201cFucking hell, that\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes! Fuck me!\u201d Sasha moaned in euphoria as the sounds of sex resumed before the vision faded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The image of what had become of his family burned into June\u2019s mind as wrath blossomed within him. He tried to scream, tried to do anything to stop this from continuing. But he couldn\u2019t. He was nothing more than a passenger on this ride as even more visions flooded his mind. These, however, he couldn\u2019t even understand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A woman\u2019s decapitated head lay in his lap. Her fox ears drooped, and her lifeless eyes gazed up at him as if to mock him. Confusion coursed through him. A mixture of emotions swirled within him for this woman. Love, devotion, anger, grief, and a sense of failure. They all emanated just as powerfully as if she were his <\/em>family. But how could that be? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before he could dwell on the thought, another vision flashed by. A lithe Elven woman with pink hair and bright yellow eyes stumbled to her knees, sweat drenching her face. Surrounded, she had fought tooth and nail against mutated shadow monsters, yet their numbers seemed endless. With nothing left to give, she could only scream for her father, begging for his help before they tore into her and dragged her into the same void he was currently in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, finally, a blue-skinned Elven woman hung limply, impaled from her navel to her mouth on a stone spike protruding from the ground. Her shriveled body suggested she had been like this for some time. June fell to his knees, tears blurring his vision. How could he let this happen? Why hadn\u2019t he been there for her? The same rage and anger he felt for the fox woman also roared within him for her. Who was she, and why was he feeling this way?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in the abyss, June sagged limply, shadows almost engulfing his entire body. The eye bobbed, a deep rumbling laughter resonating through the void. It had nearly broken June’s mind, but then something unbelievable happened. June lifted his head and looked at it. The blackness in his eyes receded, revealing a burning flame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFuck you,\u201d June whispered, his wrath overcoming the monster’s attempt to break his will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n None of what he had seen was real. He refused to believe that they were. He roared with everything he had as the world around him trembled. By sheer force of will alone, June forced the monster\u2019s tendrils back and expelled them from his body. His will manifested into a powerful wave of light that radiated from him, obliterating the eldritch monster and the void. <\/p>\n\n\n\n June\u2019s eyes snapped open, his heart pounding a million beats per minute. His vision blurred, barely able to perceive the blond hair cascading down onto him. His ears rang as if a grenade had gone off nearby. A muffled voice called out for him, and he immediately recognized it. Familiar, supple lips planted kisses across his forehead, cheeks, and lips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Natalie\u2019s muffled voice came between each kiss. \u201cThank god, you\u2019re okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His arms ached, but he ignored the pain and reached up, pulling her down onto him. His lips met hers, and they shared a passionate kiss. Their tongues engaged in a familiar dance, and the fog that clouded his mind lifted as he savored his wife\u2019s embrace. After enjoying the moment a bit longer, he released her, and they came up for air, both panting heavily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLooks like you\u2019re all better now,\u201d she said with a slight giggle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks to you,\u201d June said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She gave him a radiant smile before pushing herself up and helping him to his feet. June stumbled the moment he stood straight, his head feeling woozy. Natalie caught him before he could fall, and he gave her an appreciative smile. But when his eyes met hers, the vision from the nightmare reappeared, and he grimaced, holding his head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Natalie asked, steadying him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s nothing,\u201d he hissed through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He repeatedly told himself it wasn\u2019t real, that it was nothing more than a nightmare. He was awake now, and everyone was okay. Still, the image of Natalie\u2019s terrified face remained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJune!\u201d Natalie cried out, trying but failing to keep him upright as his legs buckled and he collapsed to his knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sasha\u2019s head whirled in his direction upon hearing his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDaddy!\u201d she exclaimed, hopping from her seat at the dining table and bounding over to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He struggled to maintain his composure but failed as a blinding rage exploded within him at the sight of his sweet baby girl. His Pumpkin. The floorboards groaned in protest as an invisible pressure radiated from him while the nightmare vision of what had happened to her played on repeat, tormenting him. Sasha froze in her tracks as the very air around June vibrated with energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDaddy?\u201d Sasha asked, cautiously stepping forward, only to be halted by Zach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJune!\u201d Natalie cried, falling to her hands and knees as the pressure descended on her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pressure he unknowingly released built up into a raging storm. It wasn\u2019t until the sound of wood snapping and Natalie’s cries of pain that jolted him out of his trance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWha\u2014\u201d June attempted to say, but couldn’t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He slumped forward and barely caught himself before face-planting on the floor. A sudden drain shocked his body, sapping him of his strength. Sweat trickled down his face as he fought to steady his breathing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cracks spider-webbed across the floorboards. The boards and subfloor beneath June\u2019s feet lay shattered, with splinters of wood scattered around, and dust slowly settling. The scent of mildew and mold crept up from the crawlspace beneath, causing him to sneeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the hell was that?\u201d Christine asked, her voice trembling with panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her question went unanswered as Natalie\u2019s pained groan from beside him caught his attention. She lay on her side, curled in the fetal position, and cradling her left arm. Any thought of exhaustion disappeared from his mind as he turned to his children. \u201cZach, grab the medical bag.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zach nodded, concern in his eyes, before he retrieved the item June had asked for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet me see,\u201d June said, helping Natalie up and onto the couch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She winced with every movement, and it pained his heart to see her like that. Sasha finally approached, giving June a wary look as she sat beside her mother. That look alone ate at his soul. What had he done to warrant that reaction? <\/p>\n\n\n\n He gave her a reassuring smile before gingerly examining Natalie\u2019s arm. Luckily, he found no broken bones. It must have been a fracture then. But how did it happen? One moment, he was on his knees, and the next, Natalie was beside him, injured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same feminine voice from earlier echoed in his mind, now sounding much more human than AI and very familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was because you released your Aura. However, I fail to understand how you released it. You are newly integrated, so you shouldn\u2019t have unlocked your Essence and Energy Cores yet.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June\u2019s eyes widened as he looked around frantically, searching for where the voice was coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m in your head. Actually, not just your head, but my point still stands.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello?\u201d June said aloud, drawing a confused glance from Natalie before recognition flashed in her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs it the voice?\u201d Natalie asked at the same time as the voice responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hi, June!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou hear it too?\u201d June asked with a frown, ignoring the voice for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Natalie nodded her head before wincing and clutching her left arm. \u201cI\u2019ve confirmed that everyone besides the girls hears a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA voice? As in, you all hear different voices?\u201d June asked, unzipping the medical bag and taking out a roll of gauze, bandages, and a triangular bandage. Realizing he\u2019d need a splint, he asked Zach to retrieve a wooden spatula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Natalie said as June used the spatula as a makeshift splint for her arm. \u201cI hear my dad\u2019s voice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n June followed Natalie\u2019s gaze to Zach, who stood nearby, overhearing their conversation, prompting him to speak. \u201cI hear Anna Mikarie\u2019s voice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe actress?\u201d June asked, raising an eyebrow and flashing a cheeky grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShut up, Dad,\u201d Zach huffed, his face as red as a tomato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n June couldn\u2019t help but snicker as he placed Natalie\u2019s arm into the triangular bandage and tied it behind her neck to make a sling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about you, June? Who do you hear?\u201d Natalie asked with a teasing lilt in her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n June\u2019s face darkened as he leaned back before responding. \u201cEmilia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh,\u201d Natalie said, her smile instantly disappearing. She was speechless at that revelation. Silence settled heavily around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not wanting to leave them in a dour mood, June took Natalie\u2019s uninjured hand and kissed it. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. Apparently, I did this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His eyes fell to her injured arm, drawing her attention. \u201cYeah, the voice in my head told me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt did?\u201d June asked, his eyes darting back up to meet hers. \u201cWhat else did it tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of stuff. Just talk to it and you\u2019ll understand, although I barely understood half of what it said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n June narrowed his eyes in skepticism, but he had no real reason to doubt Natalie. In the end, he gave a half-hearted shrug and followed her instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hello?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s quite rude of you to ignore a lady like that. Although I’ll overlook it this time, since you were speaking with your wife.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Her haughty attitude grated on June\u2019s mind, dredging up distant memories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, shut the fuck up, Emili\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, he stopped himself before finishing the sentence. It wasn\u2019t Emilia. It wasn\u2019t his sister. It had been well over a decade since he had heard her voice outside of homemade videos. So hearing it now, and in his head, was really jarring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How are you doing that?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hmm? Doing what? You\u2019re going to have to specify what it is I\u2019m doing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June could already imagine her standing there, with an indifferent look on her face as she inspected her nails, just like Emilia used to do whenever she wanted to annoy him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That! How are you speaking with Emilia\u2019s voice and sounding like she did!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, that? Well then, let’s start from the beginning, shall we? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She paused for a moment as if preparing herself for a presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The great System of Cultivation has integrated your planet, saving it and you from annihilation. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She paused again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where you\u2019re supposed to clap.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, June simply ignored her and waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hmph, a little gratitude could really go a long way, you know. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June rolled his eyes before giving a single mental clap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019ll suffice. Now, if left alone, you wouldn’t be well-equipped to handle the Dwellers of the Abyss. Additionally, the great System of Cultivation has also granted you a significant boon for being a progenitor of this planet. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She paused again, creating suspense that June lacked the care for. In fact, it irritated him more than it did to build intrigue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Me, your System Appointed Representative and Assistant, or better known as S.A.R.A.!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The image he had of her changed. Emilia posed, showing a peace sign with one hand and forming a heart with her thumb and index finger. June shook his head to dismiss the image, telling himself it wasn\u2019t really Emilia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what? You\u2019re like an AI?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ding! Ding! Ding! Bingo! But more precisely, I am a system-created construct designed to guide you through the world of Cultivation so that you can better defend this world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So why do you sound like my dead sister, and how is it that you are acting exactly like her?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A brief silence passed before she spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was designed to adopt the voice and personality of someone my host was closest to or admired, to build a stronger bond. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And you chose my sister?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. When Emilia was still alive, you two were inseparable, even after you joined the military. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And how are you able to take on her personality if she\u2019s dead?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your memories, duh. You and I are bonded, so I have access to all your thoughts and memories. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June shuddered at her revelation. His sense of self and free will slowly withered at the thought of having such an invasive thing living inside him. If the System had the power to infect everyone with these constructs, then it wouldn\u2019t be too far-fetched to assume it could just take over everyone\u2019s minds, turning them into mindless husks working for a hive-mind overlord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the construct\u2019s words interrupted his thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not like that! You humans and your skepticism. Especially you! A military man of science.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She harrumphed as if she had just crossed her arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always so cautious of the unknown, looking for enemies where there are none. It’s not the System you should worry about, but the Abyss. Based on your recent memories, you\u2019ve already faced The Abyss firsthand, so you should understand how dangerous it is.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Abyss? You’ve mentioned that before. What is it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Then it hit him\u2014the nightmare he had. Her following words confirmed his realization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That wasn\u2019t a nightmare. Instead, your soul was pulled into the realm of the Abyss, a place that exists within every sentient being where your deepest, darkest thoughts and desires reside. Great job fending off that Dweller, by the way\u2014a feat that few can accomplish, and even fewer among those still in the Mortal Realm. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June frowned, staring into space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So that thing was real?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yup. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And what it showed me. Was it real, too?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe, maybe not. Abyss Dwellers are incomprehensible and unknowable. Who can say for sure? Just be aware that they breed through corruption and will use any means necessary to achieve their goal. If you come across someone acting off or not themselves, you\u2019d best end them before they open a fissure, allowing the Dwellers to spread their corruption through our universe.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A shiver ran down June\u2019s spine. Were those visions meant to happen? Or was it just the Dweller\u2019s ploy to corrupt him? He didn\u2019t know and didn\u2019t want to face the idea that it could be real. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He sighed and looked at Natalie. She met his gaze and smiled, the same smile she always used to reassure him that everything would be okay. He scolded himself. He was supposed to be the one comforting her, yet here she was, being the one who held him together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t keep referring to you as Emilia since you aren\u2019t her, so\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He paused for a moment, considering names before it clicked. It was sitting right there in the open; he\u2019d be a fool not to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll call you Sarah from now on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah? Seriously? Hmph. That\u2019s so unoriginal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June could clearly see her lift her chin toward the sky, as if she thought she was better than him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks! Anyway, I still have many questions, but they\u2019ll have to wait. For now, I need to take care of my family and friends.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, yes. Go be the father and husband you\u2019re meant to be. Oh, and June?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June paused midway through rising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I like her, Natalie. Don\u2019t do anything to lose her, you hear me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June chuckled, fully rising to his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Natalie asked with an intrigued smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing,\u201d June said before pointing to his head. \u201cJust something Sarah said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSarah?\u201d Natalie queried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, she\u2019s not Emilia, so I\u2019m not going to refer to her as such.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Natalie gave him a quizzical look but didn\u2019t question his reasons. At some point, Kia had joined them on the couch, sitting beside Sasha. He followed her gaze and saw Christine hunched over Elias\u2019s unconscious form a few feet away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEverything\u2019s going to be okay, honey,\u201d June said, patting Kia\u2019s head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She turned to him and offered a faint smile, but her terror-filled eyes betrayed the truth. June could only sigh inwardly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n June turned to Sasha and knelt, giving her a big hug. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pumpkin. Daddy didn\u2019t mean to scare you back there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She trembled slightly within his grasp, whether from him or their circumstances, he didn\u2019t know. Her tremors only grew worse until she couldn\u2019t hold back anymore and burst into tears, holding onto him as tightly as she could.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEverything\u2019s going to be okay,\u201d June whispered, rubbing her back while Natalie stroked her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow do you know that?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause Daddy\u2019s here now,\u201d he said before kissing her forehead. \u201cAnd Daddy needs you to be brave. For your Mommy and big brother Zach. Can you do that, Pumpkin?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBe brave?\u201d she asked, her tears slowing and sobs becoming sniffles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, like a cowgirl,\u201d June said, pulling her toy revolver from her hip. \u201cBe brave like Cassie the Cowgirl. Fearless as she is when taking on the bad guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He flipped the toy revolver around and handed it to her. A small smile formed on Sasha\u2019s lips as she looked at the toy in her hand. \u201cI can be like Cassie?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, Pumpkin,\u201d June said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sasha\u2019s little smile grew into a big grin as she looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, I need you to stay with Mommy. Daddy has to go check on Uncle Elias, okay?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n She nodded her head vigorously, brandishing her toy revolver. He kissed her on the head before standing up and walking over to Christine and Elias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs he okay?\u201d June asked, standing beside Christine. As a nurse, her medical knowledge would surpass his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christine gasped as she looked up at him, having not heard his approach. \u201cOh, June! You nearly scared me half to death!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry,\u201d June said with an apologetic smile before gesturing to Elias. \u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight,\u201d Christine said, steadying her breathing before continuing. \u201cEverything seems to be fine on the surface, with no obvious sign of trauma\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before she could finish, Elias suddenly shot upright, startling everyone. A wave of relief swept over June, only to be replaced with pure shock as he lunged forward, blocking Elias\u2019s leg. If he had been a second slower, Elias would have hit Christine\u2019s face with a powerful roundhouse kick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElias!\u201d June shouted, but he couldn\u2019t get another word in as Elias\u2019s crazed eyes locked onto him, and a heavy haymaker flew toward him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n June was in a precarious position. Still on one knee, he guarded like a boxer, blocking Elias\u2019s punch, nullifying most of the attack. However, the power behind that single hit left a sharp bruise on his arm. Acting on instinct, June lunged forward, elbowing Elias right in the stomach and knocking him off balance before sweeping his leg. Elias fell hard, and his head crashed against the hardwood floor with a loud thud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n June stood up and positioned himself between Elias and the others, forming a solid barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElias!\u201d Christine yelled, rushing to him, only to be stopped by June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait!\u201d June said, eliciting a glare from her. \u201cLet me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She held her glare a moment longer before giving in. June stepped forward as Elias groaned in pain, slowly forcing himself upright. The wild look in his eyes faded with each blink. He rubbed the back of his head as his eyes locked with June\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJune? What the\u2026\u201d He looked around the room, confused. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you okay?\u201d June asked, approaching cautiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think so. Besides the fucking throbbing on my head I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was all Christine needed to hear as she hurried past June and hugged Elias. Only then did June notice the blood on Elias\u2019s hand, the same hand he used to rub his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShit,\u201d June whispered, then grabbed the medical bag and an oil lamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He set the items beside Elias, catching Christine\u2019s attention. When she saw the blood, she quickly moved around Elias as June tore open the flap of the bag. After inspecting his head, she found a cut on the back of his head. She reached for the bag, but June was already handing her gauze and disinfectant wipes. She nodded in gratitude before cleaning the wound with the gauze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elias hissed when she wiped his cut with a disinfectant wipe before looking at June. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou seriously don\u2019t remember?\u201d June asked, placing a suture kit in Christine\u2019s palm as she reached for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d Elias said, flinching as Christine stitched his wound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHold still, babe,\u201d Christine said, a little exasperated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Elias said, then looked back at June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight,\u201d June said before explaining everything he had learned, from his time in The Abyss to the information he gleaned from Sarah. \u201cSo that\u2019s the gist of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n June wanted to speak with Elias some more, but it could wait. Standing, he returned to his family, giving them space to adjust to their current reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo on, Kia. Your dad\u2019s awake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kia hopped off the couch and almost tripped, rushing to her parents. June turned back to his family, and it finally clicked that Zach had his MR-35. His hand instinctively reached for his holster, even after seeing the gun in Zach\u2019s hand, but found nothing. Seeing this, Zach handed the gun back to him. He checked the weapon and found it in perfect condition. He was definitely glad he had taken steps to protect against EMP-based attacks that could render his weapon useless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, what are we going to do, Dad?\u201d Zach asked after June had holstered his gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can\u2019t go anywhere right now. Not with our cars dead. We\u2019ll have to walk, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s not a feasible plan if you want to survive, given your current location.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June frowned, hearing Sarah\u2019s words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are you talking about?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah sighed lightly before replying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re in a Dungeon right now. It’s filled with dangerous monsters, and you won\u2019t be able to leave until you either defeat the Dungeon Boss or destroy the Dungeon Core.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June\u2019s mind struggled to comprehend her words. Dungeon? What, were they in some kind of video game or something?<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, you’re not in a video game, but some of your games drew inspiration from the System, so it’s not too different. Just look outside and you\u2019ll see what I mean.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June\u2019s frown deepened as he approached the drawn curtain and peeked through it. His mind went blank at what he saw. Beyond the cabin, a massive stone archway loomed. It must have been ten feet tall and wide, and instead of a door, a bright blue light filled the empty space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n June\u2019s jaw clenched at what he saw beyond that. Gone were the coniferous woods and open plains, replaced by a river flowing where the trees once stood. Past it were trees he\u2019d only seen in rainforests. If he had only taken a quick glance, he might have thought someone had uprooted them from the Appalachian Mountains in New York and dropped them right into the middle of the Amazon rainforest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So a Dungeon?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah\u2019s voice resounded, short and straight to the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And we have to either kill the Dungeon Boss or destroy the Dungeon Core in order to leave through that gate?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, the Dungeon Gate.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June closed the blinds and walked to the dining table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what can I do with the System?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah perked up at his question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The System of Cultivation allows you to ascend past your natural limitations, enabling you to use magic through Soul Essence or enhancing your body to rival that of a god with your Soul Energy. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June disliked the sound of that. If anyone could reach godhood through the System, Earth was about to be thrown into chaos. In a world where might makes right, he had to rise above them all in order to protect his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Killing monsters or each other\u2014doesn\u2019t matter. As long as you collect Soul Crystals dropped by everything within the System’s purview and absorb the Soul Remnants inside to Cultivate. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n June sighed, running his hand through his hair as he stood beside the dining table. On the table were his and Elias\u2019s gun cases and the large gear bag. June unzipped the gear bag first, pulled out plate carriers\u2014one for each of them\u2014and the accompanying plates. With practiced ease, he inserted the plates into the carriers before calling Zach over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs everything okay, Dad?\u201d Zach asked when he arrived beside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d June said. He always had a firm stance on telling the truth, even when it wasn\u2019t easy. \u201cBut it will be.\u201d He then handed Zach the carriers and had him distribute them to the others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While Zach was busy doing that, June moved to his gun case. He entered the code before placing his thumb on the biometric scanner and unlocking it. Inside were two black rifles that resembled M4s, two ACOG scopes, and 10 Ion Capacitors. They were his latest prototypes: the MR-17A Ion Pulse Rifle. Like his MR-35, these rifles fired plasma bolts, except in a highly concentrated form, increasing their penetrative capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He attached the scopes to the rifles, placed four capacitors into his carrier and four into another, then slung a rifle over his shoulder. He slid the remaining two capacitors into the rifles, and they hummed to life, with blue lights glowing along their rails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere,\u201d June said, handing the other MR-17A to Zach as he returned. \u201cIt\u2019s just like any other rifle you\u2019ve handled before. Just be very careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zach nodded, accepting the weapon. They returned to the couch, and June motioned for Natalie to stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUp, up,\u201d June said to his wife as he picked up her carrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She rolled her eyes at him before standing. He helped her into the last carrier, avoiding her injured arm, then secured it. After finishing, he unclipped his MR-35, holster and all, and attached it to her belt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs everything okay?\u201d she asked with a pensive look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf by okay you mean will everything remain the same after a world-shattering, life-altering event has happened, then the answer would be no,\u201d June said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Natalie didn’t find his joke funny at all as she smacked his arm. \u201cThis is no time for jokes, June.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n June feigned injury as he rubbed his arm. \u201cSorry.\u201d He sighed before going on. \u201cI don\u2019t know, but I\u2019ll do everything I can to keep you all safe. I promise.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n His charming smile eased her anger, and she leaned in for a hug. He held her tightly, being careful of her injured arm, and leaned down to give her a lingering kiss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEww!\u201d Sasha exclaimed as Zach made gagging noises, mimicking vomiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their lips parted before they broke into genuine smiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you,\u201d June said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you, too,\u201d Natalie responded before they separated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElias,\u201d June said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He interrupted the conversation between Elias and Christine as Elias looked at him. With a tilt of his head, June signaled for Elias to follow him to the dining table. Elias whispered a few words of comfort to his family before standing up and joining June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry about what happened,\u201d Elias said, scratching the back of his head and wincing slightly as he touched his wound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s all good, Elias,\u201d June said, patting his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A relieved smile spread across Elias\u2019s face before he unlocked his gun case on the table. \u201cSo, what\u2019s the sit rep?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The inside of Elias\u2019s case contained the same items as June\u2019s. Elias packed his gear while June explained where everything was and what they needed to do to leave. Elias almost fell backward from the shock of learning about their situation, but caught himself and hid his reaction by relying on his military training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, it\u2019s either kill this Dungeon Boss or destroy the Dungeon Core to leave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n June nodded. Elias scoffed and leaned forward on the table, his head hanging low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn a scale of one to ten, how fucked are we?\u201d Elias asked, tugging his rifle sling tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUs specifically, or humanity as a whole?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoth, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be fine. But overall, I think humanity is screwed,\u201d June said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, aren\u2019t you a ray of sunshine?\u201d Elias said, pushing himself up. He grabbed his spare MR-17A and its Capacitors before they headed back to the living area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They explained the situation to their families, and Natalie and Christine had concerns, but there was nothing they could do. They said their brief goodbyes before heading to the front door with their rifles in hand. Each took a position on either side of the door, guns shouldered. Being closest to the door handle, June unlocked it and pulled it open. It swung inward, silent as a ghost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Elias trained his rifle through the doorway, ready to fire at anything that approached. The storm door latch clicked as June pressed it and pushed it open. Its hinges screeched like a banshee, swinging outward to bang loudly against the wall. The racket echoed through the air, the only sound in the otherwise silent night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They held their positions for a breath before June signaled with his hand for Elias to move forward. Elias breached the entrance and swerved to the left. His muzzle swept the area, searching for any threats. June followed quickly, closing the door behind him and moving to cover their right flank. Finding nothing, June slowly closed the storm door, its hinges squeaking the entire way. They held their breaths, waiting for something, anything, to come slithering out of the water or charging from the jungle. But nothing did. <\/p>\n\n\n\n June and Elias looked at each other and nodded in unison before moving off the porch, their rifles sweeping the area continuously. They quickly checked the cabin’s perimeter and found they were on an island connected to the mainland by a five-foot-wide path. After clearing the area, they cautiously made their way to the Dungeon Gate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as June saw from inside the cabin, the Dungeon Gate was a large stone archway. But that was all. No extra walls or frames supported it in any way. How it still stood remained a mystery to him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They circled the gate and noticed it was identical on both sides\u2014a simple stone archway with a glowing blue portal. Returning to their original spot, June raised a hand and reached out toward the portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you doing, man?\u201d Elias asked, grabbing June\u2019s arm and yanking it away from the portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to verify if we are truly trapped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat if we aren\u2019t really in a Dungeon?\u201d Elias asked. \u201cWhat if we were somehow teleported to a random rainforest on Earth, and that,\u201d he pointed at the Dungeon Gate, \u201cis actually the Dungeon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n June considered Elias\u2019s words before shrugging. \u201cOnly one way to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elias shook his head, reluctant but giving in. June reached out again, but his hand hit something solid and invisible before he could touch the portal. He let go of his rifle, letting it dangle from its sling, and tried to push past the invisible barrier with both hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Elias asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s something here,\u201d June said as he strained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sweat beaded down his forehead as he pushed with all his might. But whatever force stood between him and the portal remained firm. Curious, Elias moved up beside him, placing a palm against the barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is this?\u201d Elias asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s got to be a barrier of some kind,\u201d June said, giving up on trying to force his way through. \u201cThe System must have placed it here to prevent us from leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow?\u201d Elias asked, pushing against the barrier but gaining no ground, just like June had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMagic, I\u2019d presume.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMagic?\u201d Elias asked, only to get a nod in response. His shoulders shook as he laughed before he doubled over. After his laughing fit, he straightened up to face June, whose face was devoid of mirth. \u201cYou weren\u2019t kidding?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d June said, unfazed. \u201cIt could also be some form of advanced alien tech, but I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silence lingered between them until fury surged across Elias\u2019s face, and he punched the barrier. \u201cSon of a bitch.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n A hollow thud sounded when his fist struck, but his attack didn\u2019t leave a dent. He roared and raised his rifle, but June stopped him by placing a hand on the barrel and pushing it down before he could shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you mad? Do you want to attract everything out there to our position?\u201d June asked, looking beyond the waters at the obscured jungle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elias followed his gaze, then clicked his tongue in frustration. He lowered his gun and spat on the ground. \u201cI guess this proves we\u2019re in a Dungeon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019d be an apt conclusion,\u201d June said, checking the other side of the Gate only to find another barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLooks like the only way out is by killing the Dungeon Boss,\u201d June said, circling back to Elias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOr destroying the Dungeon Core,\u201d Elias said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYup,\u201d June said, shouldering his rifle. \u201cLet\u2019s move out.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" June startled awake as a loud, booming sound echoed around him. It was so deafening that the vibrations shook his bones. Fluttering his eyes open, confusion clouded his mind because the scene before him was not the familiar cabin at all. Instead, an endless, dark abyss surrounded him. His heart raced as he tried to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-uncategorized","pmpro-has-access"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_hostinger_reach_plugin_has_subscription_block":false,"_hostinger_reach_plugin_is_elementor":false,"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/author\/authorderekyanggmail-com\/","display_name":"authorderekyang@gmail.com"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 6 mois il y a","modified":"Mis \u00e0 jour 6 mois il y a"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le novembre 27, 2025","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le novembre 29, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le novembre 27, 2025 4:13 am","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le novembre 29, 2025 7:08 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":null,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-08 17:54:22","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69,"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68\/revisions\/69"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekyangauthor.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}