Kael's mind drifted into a weightless void as he slipped into a deep trance. The familiar hum of the Rebirth Core echoed in the distance, its pulse beating in time with his own. He floated, suspended in a vast, shimmering expanse where stars flickered in the endless darkness like tiny sparks of potential. It was an illusion space, a pocket dimension nestled within his Rebirth Core, where few ever dared venture. Yet here, Kael found himself time and again.
Unbeknownst to him, two figures observed the most recent battle against the Void Reaver, each concealed in the shadows of the shimmering realm.
The first figure, a mysterious entity without a name, shifted within the core's depths, its form a swirl of shadows and indistinct shapes. It watched Kael with ancient, unknowable eyes, radiating a quiet intensity. The entity was old—far older than Kael could ever imagine—and its role in his ascension remained cryptic.
The second was a stark contrast: a small, chubby creature with large, bright eyes and a tuft of fur atop its head, floating aimlessly. This being, though much more cheerful and tangible, was just as enigmatic. It was Kael's first guide, a part of Ascension's system, responsible for assisting new players. It now floated alongside the dark figure, nervously twiddling its small paws.
"So, he's done well, don't you think?" chirped the chubby guide, his voice high-pitched and friendly, as he hovered closer to the shadowy entity. "That Void Reaver didn't stand a chance! Kael's improving, but…well, he could use a little more help, you know?"
The shadow shifted, its presence both oppressive and calming. It didn't respond immediately, allowing a long pause to hang in the air before it finally spoke, its voice a low, reverberating whisper. "He grows, but too slowly. He doesn't yet understand the full potential of the Rebirth Core… nor does he grasp the danger."
The guide tilted its head, floating in lazy circles around the entity. "Yeah, well, these things take time! You know, time! Progress is slow and steady. We can't just drop all the secrets on him at once, or he'll get overloaded! Besides, I like Kael—he's spunky. But maybe we can give him a little more guidance?"
A deep hum emanated from the entity, its form rippling like a dark ocean. "He will learn when he must. However, the rifts… they grow. The Darkspawn are adapting faster than anticipated."
"That's true," the chubby guide agreed, tapping his furry chin with one tiny paw. "Those Darkspawn are nasty business! Speaking of which, we, the system guides, had to make some major upgrades after Kael arrived. Had to lock ourselves away for a bit, reworking system defenses. It's been hectic. But I'm ready to reintroduce myself properly to him! Oh, he's gonna be so surprised!"
The entity remained silent, watching Kael with an inscrutable gaze. It seemed to contemplate something, though its swirling shadows betrayed no emotion.
The small guide clapped his paws together with a bright smile. "Alright, time to do my thing again! I'll explain all the updates to Kael and make sure he doesn't confuse me with you. It's been tricky, especially with all those rifts popping up." He paused, winking at the entity. "By the way, I'm calling myself Limo now. Lucky name, don't you think?"
The entity gave no indication of its thoughts on the matter. Its presence simply faded, leaving Limo floating alone in the vast expanse.
Back in the waking world, Kael stirred from his trance. His eyes fluttered open, and he sat up, stretching his stiff limbs. The aftermath of the Void Reaver battle still lingered in his mind, but something felt… different. As if sensing his thoughts, the air before him shimmered, and a small, familiar figure materialized.
Kael blinked in surprise. "Guide?!" he exclaimed, his confusion evident. The creature before him had the same bright eyes and tuft of fur as the guide he'd seen upon first entering Ascension. "Wait… why is your appearance different this time??"
The small creature waved its paws dismissively. "No, no, no! I'm not that mysterious guide," it said with a grin. "I'm Limo, your system guide! You know, from Ascension's help system? The one who was supposed to assist you, but…well, I had to disappear for a while because of those nasty rifts popping up all over the place."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Rifts? What rifts?"
Limo floated closer, his eyes wide with excitement. "Oh, you didn't notice? Ever since you arrived, these rifts have been appearing—tears in the system. They're from the Darkspawn's dark entity trying to corrupt everything. We, system guides, had to hunker down, reinforce the defenses, and sync with your Rebirth Core to keep things from going haywire. That's why I vanished! But I'm back now, better than ever, with a shiny new defense system for you!"
Kael scratched his head. "System defense?"
"Yup! We call it the Aegis Protocol." Limo puffed out his chest, clearly proud of the name. "It's designed to protect your interface from external corruption. Darkspawn entities are sneaky—they'll try to break into your system if you're not careful. But with the Aegis Protocol, you'll have an extra layer of security. Any time you gain new skills, unlock abilities, or rank up, I'll materialize to help explain everything and make sure the system's working perfectly."
Kael absorbed the information, nodding slowly. "So… you're basically here to make sure I don't screw up the system?"
Limo chuckled, twirling in the air. "Exactly! Think of me as your friendly system administrator. I'll pop in whenever there's an update, and together we'll make sure everything's running smoothly. You focus on getting stronger, and I'll handle the techy stuff."
"Well, that explains why you vanished so suddenly," Kael muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, what now?"
"Now," Limo said with a wink, "you keep fighting, keep leveling, and keep growing stronger! I'll be here, watching over things. And next time you unlock something new, I'll pop in for a little chat. Oh! And don't forget—lucky name, lucky guide!"
Kael couldn't help but smile. Despite the chaos, there was something oddly reassuring about Limo's presence. "Alright, Limo. Let's keep things running smoothly."
"That's the spirit!" Limo beamed, disappearing into a shimmer of light. "See you at the next upgrade!"
As the guide vanished, Kael felt the weight of the Aegis Protocol settling into place, like a protective blanket over his system. The journey ahead was still full of unknowns, but with allies—both seen and unseen—he knew he wouldn't be facing it alone.
SYSTEM UPDATE
Aegis Protocol: Activated.
• Protects the system from external corruption attempts.
• Automatically activates upon skill unlocks, rank-ups, and major milestones.