Kael stood near the entrance of the guild, still feeling the remnants of adrenaline coursing through him after his battle with the Darkspawns. Despite the exhaustion, he felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that he had reached Level 10 and unlocked Rebirth Core Mastery Level 2. But the victory felt less triumphant than he had expected. Instead of reveling in the achievement, he found himself thinking of how much farther he had to go.
There was still so much he didn't understand. So many challenges ahead.
"Kael! Kael!" a familiar, high-pitched voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts.
Limo, his ever-cheerful Ascension system guide, appeared in a flash of light, his furry face glowing with excitement. He floated in front of Kael, eyes wide and tail wagging with uncontainable joy. The small, round creature practically radiated happiness.
"You did it! You reached Level 10!" Limo bounced in the air. "I'm so proud of you!"
Kael chuckled at Limo's energy. "Thanks, Limo, but I've still got a long way to go. Reaching Level 10 is just a small step. There's more to learn, more to master."
Limo paused mid-bounce, looking at Kael with a mixture of surprise and admiration. "Wow! You're so humble, Kael! Most Ascenders would be throwing parties at this point, but here you are, thinking about how far you still need to go."
Kael smiled slightly, his gaze drifting off. "It's just the beginning, Limo. I'm not going to get ahead of myself. Varin always told me that the journey's what matters—not just the milestones."
Limo hovered closer, his ears perking up with renewed enthusiasm. "Yeah, yeah! That's a great way to look at it! But still, you've unlocked some seriously awesome stuff! Have you checked out your new skills yet?"
Kael nodded. He was already aware of the skills he'd unlocked, thanks to his Rebirth Core and the system guide that had shown him the way. But Limo, ever the excitable companion, wasn't one to skip over the details.
As if on cue, a translucent notification screen blinked into existence in front of him, displaying his stats and new abilities.
System Notification:
Congratulations! You have reached Level 10. Your Rebirth Core has evolved to Mastery Level 2. You have gained the following skills:
Active Skills:
Darkspawn Locator (Locked)
Unlock Condition: Defeat five Elite Darkspawns or higher.Skill Unification (Locked)
Unlock Condition: Reach Ascension Level 15.
Passive Skills:
Multi-class Wielder (Unlocked)
Allows you to wield and merge multiple class abilities.
Status Multiplier (Locked)
Unlock Condition: Reach Rebirth Core Level 2 (Completed), reach any class Level 10 (Completed), destroy five Rifts (2/5), and defeat five Commander-level enemies (2/5).
Eternal Class (Unlocked)
Evolves your Rebirth Core and main class into an additional Eternal Class, granting immense power and abilities.
Kael's eyes scanned the screen, taking in the information. Though he had already seen it before, it still felt surreal. "Yeah, I saw this after the last battle," he said, closing the notification with a wave of his hand. "The abilities look impressive, but there are still a lot of conditions to unlock some of them."
Limo nodded vigorously, his ears flopping as he bounced in place. "Yep, but you're making progress fast! And remember, because you've reached Level 10, your stats will now increase by ten with each level-up instead of five! That's huge!"
Kael raised an eyebrow at that, feeling the weight of the words sink in. "Ten points per level, huh? That's more than most players get."
Limo beamed. "Exactly! And it's all thanks to your Rebirth Core! You're gonna get so strong, Kael! And this will continue until you hit Level 19. Then when you reach Level 20, your stats will increase by twenty with each level-up!"
Kael absorbed that, feeling a quiet determination rising within him. It was a powerful advantage, but it also meant the challenges ahead would be tougher. He couldn't afford to become complacent.
"That's good to know," Kael said, his tone modest. "But even with that, I need to stay focused. There's always a bigger challenge ahead."
Limo's expression softened, and he floated closer, his voice lowering. "You're really taking this seriously, huh? Most people would be celebrating how awesome they are right now. But not you."
Kael looked at the sky, letting out a slow breath. "I know how easy it is to get swept up in power. But power means responsibility. And if I'm going to make a real difference, I need to stay grounded."
Limo nodded quietly, sensing the gravity of Kael's thoughts. "Yeah… And you're not just responsible for yourself anymore, huh? I mean, you've got allies, people you care about."
A shadow crossed Kael's face as he thought about Varin, his mentor. The man who had taught him everything and guided him through the darkest moments of his life. He owed Varin more than he could put into words. But something still weighed on his mind—the slip Limo had made earlier, about him not being the only one with a Rebirth Core.
"Speaking of responsibility," Kael said, his voice dropping, "you mentioned something earlier about me not being the only one with a Rebirth Core."
Limo visibly stiffened, his tail freezing mid-wag. "Uh… I… did I say that?"
"Yes, you did," Kael said calmly. "You were about to change the subject, but I need to know. Who else has a Rebirth Core, Limo?"
Limo's ears flattened as he fidgeted nervously. He looked around, as if hoping for a distraction, but there was no escape. "W-Well… okay, I'll tell you, but please don't get mad, okay?"
Kael's expression remained steady, but his curiosity burned. "Just tell me."
Limo sighed and floated closer, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Your mentor… Varin. He has a Rebirth Core too."
Kael froze, the words hitting him harder than he'd expected. "Varin? He has a Rebirth Core?"
Limo nodded slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah… but… his core is damaged. It's why he can't 'Ascend' anymore like you can. His Rebirth Core was fractured after all those battles he fought with the Rift High Lords. It's stuck, and he can't level it up or fully master it anymore. And…" Limo hesitated, glancing up at Kael with concern. "It also means that if Varin dies… he won't be reborn. Not unless he heals his core."
Kael felt a cold weight settle in his chest. His mentor, the man he had looked up to for so long, had been carrying a burden far greater than he'd ever realized. Varin had been guiding him through his Ascension, knowing full well that his own core was broken. And worse—if Varin fell in battle, there would be no coming back.
Limo shuffled his paws, trying to change the subject. "I probably shouldn't have told you that… but, um, hey! Did I mention you get to use Void and Shadow abilities at the same time now? That's really cool, right?"
But Kael wasn't angry or disappointed. He wasn't even upset about not being entirely unique. What mattered more was Varin's situation. His mentor had been carrying this secret all along, quietly bearing the weight of a fractured core.
"I see," Kael said quietly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "That's why Varin knows so much about my powers. He's been through this himself."
Limo nodded silently.
Kael clenched his fist, feeling a surge of determination well up within him. "I'm going to find a way to help him. There has to be a way to heal his core."
Limo's ears perked up in surprise. "You… want to help Varin?"
"I owe him that much," Kael said, his voice firm. "He's done everything for me, and if his Rebirth Core is broken, I'll do whatever it takes to fix it. I won't let him fall, Limo. Not like this."
Limo stared at him for a moment, his usual cheerfulness replaced with quiet admiration. "That's… really noble, Kael. But remember, you've got your own journey ahead too. Don't lose sight of that."
"I won't," Kael said, his voice steady. "But I'm not leaving Varin behind."
Limo smiled softly, floating closer. "You're going to be an amazing Ascender, Kael. I just know it."
As Limo faded away into the ether, Kael stood alone under the night sky, the stars twinkling above. The road ahead was long, but now, more than ever, he knew what he had to do. His journey wasn't just about his own strength—it was about the people who had guided him and the responsibilities he carried.
And he wouldn't stop until he'd done everything he could for them.