[Death: Megalodon
Tier: Awakened]
[Respawning at south island 1]
Looking around Niko Coughed everything burned. It felt like he was dipped into hot oil and left to sit on the sandy beach he was now on .
Niko, you're alive again, he reminded himself, even though the concept felt absurd. He had to survive, but how?
The island around him seemed untouched by human hands, ancient and wild. In the distance, the sound of waves crashing against jagged rocks was the only other noise, something on his wrist grabbed his attention. It was a white implant that was pulsing faintly with a soft, eerie glow. It was embedded just below the skin, smooth and sleek, as if it had always been a part of him. Niko raised his wrist, squinting as the light pulsed in sync with his heartbeat. With each pulse, symbols he didn't quite understand flickered to life, shifting between strange icons and lines of data he couldn't yet decipher. The implant felt cold, unnatural, like a foreign object tied to something beyond his control.
Curiosity and dread mingled in his chest as he tapped it, and a holographic display sprung to life before his eyes. A dim, blue light painted the air in front of him, he could see his blond wavy hair blue eyes and freckles. Flickering between menus labeled "Vitals," "Inventory," and "Objectives." He swallowed hard, his throat raw from the memory of saltwater filling his lungs during his last moments.
Under "Vitals," it read: "Subject Status: Alive (Respawn: 2)" followed by a list of injuries and a fatigue meter that was perilously close to empty. He blinked, watching the screen for any clue, any hint that would help him make sense of this twisted game of life and death.
Two respawns... does that mean I have a limit? The thought made his stomach tighten, the brief sense of relief he'd felt at being alive again turning to a new kind of fear.
Niko moved to the "Objectives" menu. The screen flashed as it displayed his task: "Meet with the other six divine visionary's and escape from deadcross island"
"Divine visionary's? What the…" Niko's mind felt like he was walking through a field of sludge but he was slowly able to put the pieces together.
"Ohhhh I understand now! The catalyst told me that I had unlocked Divine primideal essence or whatever. Given that divine is used to describe something outworldly you could assume that means I'm a very rare being!" Niko smiled to himself "Of course i'd be selected as the only few who would have such a gift. So on this island I need to find the other six people and convince them to join a party with me?"
Niko's fingers hovered over the screen, as he processed the new information. "Other divine visionaries..." he murmured, trying to visualize who or what these other beings might be like. Each step in this twisted "game" seemed more convoluted than the last, but now he had a direction. He wasn't alone on Deadcross Island—at least, not entirely. Somewhere out there were six others, gifted and cursed with powers like his own.
The "Objectives" screen flickered slightly, and new text appeared beneath his main task:
Secondary Objectives:Survive until the next cycle (Time remaining: 23:42)Gather materials for shelter and suppliesAvoid "Specters" (Warning: High threat level)
The reminder of danger brought him back to the here and now, grounding him in the reality of his situation. A half-buried instinct told him he couldn't rely solely on his new "divine" title to protect him. If he had limited respawns, death wasn't just a setback—it was a countdown.
Niko closed the objectives menu and looked out at the dense forest in the distance. The world around him felt alive with hidden threats and mysteries, each sound and shadow seeming to breathe with something unseen. Gathering his courage, he muttered to himself, "Alright, Niko. First things first—survive the night. Then, find these visionaries and get off this cursed island."
He began to move forward, his mind still racing. What kind of powers would these other "divine visionaries" have? Would they be allies or enemies? He clenched his fists, his determination hardening. He would find out soon enough.
________________________________________________________________________
Secondary Objectives: [Last ten minutes]
[Incoming wave]
A fog rolled into the clearing covering the ground floor. Turning anything below his knee invisible a brisk cold came over Niko as he shivered in the cold.
"Holy fuck i should summon my armor this is… alot to handle." Niko focused his mind and called upon his Soul Cave where his equipment was stored. Players of the catalyst were able to see their souls and enter. Inside their soul they are able to check all their stats,quests,achievements but most important is that it can serve as a mobile arsenal keeping your weapons and armor to summon when you need it.
With an ethereal spark of white his whole body glowed as clothing formed from nothing to a perfectly styled suit of armor that fit him perfectly. It was full black armor set with a moon engraving on the chestplate. The eternal night armor set belonged to a cult member that Niko killed in his trial. The catalyst turned his possession into actual loot. The armor set gave him protection against fire and gave a minor buff to health and stamina while in the moon.
Rolling his shoulders he stretched.
"Okay, okay I think I could do this? I subjugated a god. I should be able to do this!"
The darkness churned around him, flicking his wrist the darkness that was below his feet raised like ink surrounding his body. Spinning below his feet slowly like a whirlpool it awaited his command.
"And now we wait.
Oh wait I forgot about the Wyrmwood Bo Staff".
The wormwood bo staff was a long brown staff no more interesting than a regular staff. This branch in question could extend and shorten either horizontal or vertical. This staff was an essential tool in his survival.
Grinning he ran into the woods towards the noises towards the danger. Speaking to himself he laughed " Always remember to face death with a smile".
Jumping into a clearing he saw them. Tall skeletal figures shrouded in a misty purple fog standing over six feet tall.
Pulling on the darkness a hand rose out and formed a fist and grabbed onto the leg of one of the spectors. Running past the Spector He swung the Bo staff and vertically extended it by five ft. Knocking the other spector back grunting his muscled strained to keep the bo staff in his hands. Returning the staff to six ft he closed the distance and snapped his fingers.
Spears flew out and bounced off their armor."Alright, alright, think, Niko," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. He took a defensive stance, extending the Wyrmwood Bo Staff. With a wide swing, he struck one Specter across its bony face, but the creature barely staggered. Instead, it retaliated with a heavy swipe that Niko couldn't fully avoid. The Specter's claws caught his arm, ripping through his armor and drawing blood.
Gritting his teeth, he stumbled back, adrenaline surging as pain flared in his arm. The shadowy hands that had been his allies felt sluggish, unresponsive. The Specters were more than just fast—they seemed to absorb and weaken his darkness each time they touched it. He clenched his staff, willing himself to push through the pain, but his grip was shaky, and he could feel his strength waning.
One of the Specters lunged again, this time catching him off guard. He raised his Bo Staff, but it wasn't fast enough. The creature's clawed hand wrapped around his neck, lifting him off the ground. Stars burst in his vision as he struggled, kicking out with all his might, but the Specter's grip was iron-strong. His Darkness faltered, the tendrils dissipating as his focus wavered.
No! He wasn't about to die again. He forced his mind to focus through the pain and panic, grasping at the last reserves of his power. Summoning his will, he conjured a weak shadow barrier around himself, just enough to create a moment's separation. The Specter holding him flinched, its grip loosening as the shadows wove between its skeletal fingers. With all the strength he had left, Niko tore free, collapsing onto the ground and gasping for air.
He was on the edge, barely holding on. His vision flickered as he looked up at the advancing Specters, towering over him with relentless, hollow gazes. His body ached, blood dripping from his wounds, his armor had a dent in it. The fog rolled in thicker around his legs, the cold seeping into his bones as he struggled to rise, knowing this fight was slipping beyond his control.
His mind raced, trying to find a way out. Maybe he couldn't overpower them—but if he could slow them down, create enough of a gap to retreat and regroup...
"Alright…one last push," he whispered, steadying himself. With a trembling hand, he extended the Bo Staff one last time, aiming not to strike but to distract. He swung wide, hoping to keep them at bay for just a few more seconds. The Specters dodged and closed in, relentless and unforgiving, and he knew he had only one option left: survive long enough to escape and find a way to fight another day.
When it got close enough he could smell its breath. Opening Its mouth jagged teeth is what lied behind it. Grabbing onto Niko it tried to take a bite out of his neck.
Then a Naginata it's blade made out of pure light slammed into its skull, evaporating the skull and vapor leaving nothing in its wake. Moving quicker then Niko's eyes can track the other Spector just vanished.
"Yo behind you kid." The voice was mature, mid twenties was NIko's guess. His body slowly turned around. This man was able to move so fast that his eyes couldn't even track it. How…
He took a smack to the face for his slow reaction "First rule is never let an unknown being be behind you kid". Niko staggered back, rubbing his cheek where the blow had landed. His eyes narrowed, taking in the stranger towering above him. The man was imposing, standing at six foot five with an air of seasoned confidence, muscles subtly defined under his dark, layered clothing. His face was obscured by shadows, but his eyes glinted with an unnerving mix of intensity and amusement.
"Why the hell did you hit me?" Niko demanded, frustration bubbling beneath his exhaustion.
The man chuckled, a low, gravelly sound. "Lesson two, kid. This island won't go easy on you, and neither will I. You look like you need some pointers, anyway." He reached out a hand to help Niko up.
Reluctantly, Niko accepted, still a bit dazed from the blow. "Thanks… I think?"
The stranger grinned, holding his radiant Naginata—a weapon of light that contrasted sharply with the dark, eerie landscape around them. He held it with a confidence that suggested he'd wielded it countless times.
"Show me your wrist, kid"
"What my wrist why?"
"I need to check your implant".
"Okay…?"
Showing him the implant he saw the man smile. He couldn't tell if it was creepy or comforting. Clearly the dimples on the man's cheek showed he was happy.
He inspected Niko's wrist, eyes narrowing as he studied the faintly glowing implant embedded just below the skin; it was a smooth white that glowed. "Good," he muttered, half to himself. "Glad you're the person I'm looking for."
"Uh… thanks?" Niko said, more confused than ever.
"You don't know this but your wristband tells others what rank you are. Mortal is shown as a dark brown, Awakened is blue while Ascendant is red and finally we got Divine which is white of course ." He took a breath and he seemed bored?
"Okay but what do they represent?"
"That's an odd question. I personally think it's obvious but if you need me to explain it then i guess" He shrugged his broad shoulders. " Each one represents how powerful your Essence is. An example is that a fire based power brown would be ember related, not that good right? While divine would be the sun or something like that."
"That's what i thought" Niko nodded his head.
"So what's your name kid?"
"Niko niko's my name".
"Ahh Niko so i have a deal for you can either die repeatedly out here or join my squad in recruiting the other five divine visionary?"