IMPRINT: The Edge of Collapse
World setting (Guideverse)
Humanity's last stronghold
A massive, enclosed megacity build after the world collapse. Surrounded by reinforced walls and energy barriers.
sky tinted red or grey, air thick, metallic, dungeons appear unpredictably...
monsters range from mindless to highly intelligent, some mimic human behavior..
To protect humanity from these monsters, humans with awakened abilities are created...
ESPERS...
physically strong, protects the world from monsters and are highly regarded and respected by the locals.. powerful enough to destroy it's own habitat... scary right? ik..
But using their powers does come at a price..
When they use their powers, their body reacts to the monsters and dungeons, absorbing the dark essence of the underworld...
The power overload damages their body and mind... causing severe pain effecting in different stages.
1. irritation, stress
2. Migraines, body pain
3. Breathing difficulties, collapsing
4. aggression, loss of control
5. Corrupt (in most cases, it's a state which is impossible to get through and results in death)
This state is called : CORRUPTION.
And to stabilize Espers from their corruption state, humans gained a different type of power which has the ability to stabilize Espers.
These humans are called GUIDES.
It's said that their powers are close to heavens, bright and heavenly, removing every bit of darkness left in Espers.
The process which they use for this is called guiding. It requires close physical contact for efficient guiding.
But this is not the end, is it?? NAH
Both Espers and Guides and classified into different categories based on their powers.
S-class being at the top while F-class being at the lowest.
SS-class is an abnormality in Guides but their are three Espers whose powers goes beyond S-class category. Making them SS-class.
Something more... hmm... yes
Compatibility rate is something that determines the effectiveness between an Esper and a Guide.
More the rate, more the effect of guiding.
Imprinting is a process which maximizes the effect of guiding.
It benefits by stronger guiding, shared emotional awareness, and faster stabilization.
BUT OFC THEIR ARE SIDE EFFECTS..
When an esper and a guide have imprinted...
they share their emotions and pain.
Esper becomes protective, almost possessive of his/her guide.Guide becomes dependent, seeks closeness unconsciously.
severe mental breakdown if one of them is heavily harmed.
It's done mostly to prevent an Esper from running into his/her corruption state.
ig that's it then... *sigh * finally it's over. Guideverse is definitely one of a lengthy system to explain. 😮💨
Your not-so-disciplined Author 🥀✨
Hey their besties!!!
Your not-so-disciplined Author 🥀✨
Welcome to my new chat story ✨
Your not-so-disciplined Author 🥀✨
hope you like it..
Your not-so-disciplined Author 🥀✨
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Chapter 1: The One He Can't Stabilize
The observation deck was built like a glass cage.
Not the pretty kind. Not the "panoramic city view" kind people romanticized in brochures.
No - this one looked like it was designed by someone who thought comfort was a weakness.
Steel beams. Reinforced glass thick enough to survive a small explosion.
Han Seojin leaned against the railing, fingers loosely curled over the cold metal.
Below him, the training field streched wide. The air shimmered faintly, distorted by residual energy.
𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴..
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭 Another day of watching people with too much power and not enough self-control...
His gaze moved lazily across the field.
A group of A class Espers were currently being put through combat drills. Sparks flared. Something exploded - not dramatically, just enough to suggest someone has miscalculated and would be yelled at later.
A trainer barked orders from above, voice sharp and relentless.
Seojin tilted his head slightly, testing his cheek against his knuckles.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭Why are they always yelling?
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭Does shouting makes them stronger?
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭is that a part of training?
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭Should i start yelling when i guide too?
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭"calm down " but louder? revolutionary.
His lips pressed together faintly
From the outside, he looked exactly as he always did, calm, detached, uninterested.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭If he screams one more time, i might jump down their and guide him into silence...
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭 mmm... maybe death would do. right?
A faint sigh slipped out of him, barely audible.
Seojin didn't liked being on the field.
Too many people who thought "personal space" was a suggestion.
Up here, no one expected anything from him.
No one tried to grab his wrist without warning.
No one leaned too close under the excuse of "guiding efficiency" .
Hsi fingers tightened slightly around the railing.
A guide nearby laughed softly, leaning toward another.
Seojin's eyes flicked sideways.
They were whispering - clearly about someone below.
One of them nudged the other, smirking.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭 not my business.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭... definitely judging them thought.
his gaze dropped back to the field.
he straightened just a little, barely noticeable.
Not obvious. Not dramatic.
Like the air had tightened by half the degree.
He exhaled quietly, slow AMD controlled.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭Maybe I'm imagining things.
Wouldn't be the first time the training centre felt strange. Too much energy, too many overlapping abilities. It messed with perception sometimes.
His fingers tapped lightly against the railing.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭 So why does it feel like something is about to go wrong?
His gaze shifted again. this time more focused
The door behind the observation deck opened with a low mechanical hiss.
Seojin didn't turned immediately.
These steps were... heavier.
The kind of steps that didn't need to hurry because something else would adjust instead.
Seojin's fingers stilled against the railings.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭That kind of entrance...
He slowly turned his head.
There was no dramatic reaction.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭Why does he look like he could personally ruin my entire week just by standing there?
Kang Tae-hyun stood near the entrance.
The one of the rare three SS-class Esper.
Known for not getting guiding from male guides. Reason - He HATES male guides
Your not-so-disciplined Author 🥀✨
Yup! Obsessing over one probably counts as hating... right? 😏
That was the first thing.
Not just tall in height, but in presence.
The kind that made the space around him feel smaller without him doing anything.
Broad shoulders. Straight posture. Dark uniform sitting perfectly against his frame.
Not angry. Not irritated. Just empty... in a way that felt deliberate.
His eyes moved across the room briefly.
People shifted. Subtly. Instinctively.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭Fascinating...
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭 He didn't even do anything yet they're already reorganizing their life choices.
Seojin turned back towards the field., resting his chin lightly on his hand again.
Exactly how he preferred it.
Behind him, footsteps resumed.
Heading towards the stairs that led towards the training ground.
Seojin didn't look that way. Didn't need to.
The subtle shift in the air tightening again.
Like pressure building before something cracking.
His fingers curled slightly against the railing again.
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭 Yeah...
Han Seo-jin (MC)
💭 Something's definitely going to go wrong.
It didn't feel like a guess.
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