The hospital room was quiet, save for the soft hum of machines that monitored the last threads of Varin's life. His body had long given up the fight, muscles weak, lungs barely functioning. But his mind? His mind was still sharp, still alive with the thrill of adventure—though not in the real world. No, here, he had one last journey to finish.
Varin's fingers moved carefully over the keyboard of his laptop, the screen glowing softly in the dim room. His focus was entirely on Ascension, the virtual MMORPG that had been his escape from the prison of his failing body. As one of the top rankers in the game, he was everything his illness had taken from him—strong, fearless, a hero. And tonight, he had completed a quest he had been working toward for weeks, a quest that would bring him one step closer to mastering the game.
"Just… one more click," he whispered to himself, his breath weak and raspy. The victory screen flashed before his eyes. His character stood triumphantly over the defeated boss, the quest completed. A sense of accomplishment flooded through him, and he smiled, his tired eyes reflecting the joy he felt.
"Yes! Finally!" he exclaimed, a flicker of excitement lighting up his gaze. "I can't believe I did it!"
He was just about to claim his reward, his heart fluttering with anticipation, when he felt it—his final breath, shallow and painful. The room spun, and suddenly, his hands went still on the keyboard.
"No… not now," he thought, panic rising. "I can't leave yet. I have to finish!"
Losing the battle against his body, Varin knew this was it. The moment he had feared and prepared for. His chest tightened, his vision blurring. A deep, cold sensation crept through his body, and the familiar hum of the machines seemed to fade away, drowned out by the sound of his slowing heartbeat.
"I'm not… ready…" he thought desperately. The screen blurred in front of him, the reward he had worked so hard for just out of reach. He tried to hold on, to fight it, but his body had already made its decision.
Darkness consumed him.
When Varin opened his eyes again, it wasn't to the sterile white of the hospital room or the cold embrace of death. Instead, he was standing—standing, he realized with a jolt—in an endless expanse of glowing white light. It was a void, stretching in all directions, yet it wasn't cold or frightening. It felt peaceful, calm… almost serene.
"Is this… heaven?" he murmured, glancing around. "Or… something else?"
Suddenly, a soft glow appeared before him, and from that glow emerged a figure—an ethereal being with radiant wings that shimmered like starlight. It had no discernible gender, its features serene and kind, its presence soothing.
"Varin Vale," the being said, its voice calm and melodic, like a song carried on the wind. "You have passed from your mortal life."
Varin's breath—or what would have been his breath—caught in his throat. "So… I'm really dead?"
The being nodded gently. "Your physical body has perished, but your soul has not moved on. You were playing Ascension at the moment of your death, and your connection to the game has drawn your spirit into its universe. Now, you are faced with a choice."
With a wave of the being's hand, a screen appeared before Varin—like the game interface he knew so well, but with only one message:
CHOOSE YOUR FATE:
Rebirth in Ascension (Begin Again in Erendath)
Eternal Rest (Pass Beyond the Veil)
Varin stared at the options, his heart racing with the weight of the decision before him. Rebirth in Ascension? His mind whirled with disbelief. Was this real? Could he actually live in the world of Ascension, not as a player behind a screen but truly, physically there? His dream, the one thing that had kept him going for so long, was suddenly within reach.
He glanced at the second option, his heart sinking at the thought of eternal rest. It was tempting—after years of pain, suffering, and endless hospital stays, the idea of peace, of letting go, sounded so… simple.
But as his eyes moved back to the first option, the excitement he had felt playing the game surged through him once again. Ascension had been his world for so long, his escape from the reality of his illness. Now, he had a chance to truly live it. To explore the vast plains of Erendath, to feel the thrill of battle and adventure, and this time, his body would not betray him.
"I'm not done yet," Varin whispered, his eyes narrowing with determination. He looked up at the angelic figure. "I want to be reborn. I want to live in Ascension."
The being smiled softly, as if it had known his answer all along. "So it shall be. You will begin again in the world of Erendath. But know this, Varin: Ascension is not as you remember. The Darkspawn have grown stronger, and the challenges you face will be far more dangerous than in the game. Your journey will be long, and the road treacherous."
Varin nodded, his heart pounding with anticipation. "I'm ready."
The being raised its hand, and the white void around him began to dissolve into a swirl of colors. He felt himself being pulled forward, through the light, through the unknown. His last thought, as the world shifted and changed around him, was of excitement. He was about to experience everything he had dreamed of—truly and fully.
Varin awoke in a world that was both familiar and foreign. He stood on the plains of Erendath, the rolling hills and distant mountains stretching before him like a painting come to life. But this time, he wasn't just a player behind a screen. This time, he was here, in the flesh.
A soft breeze brushed against his face, and he felt the warmth of the sun on his skin. He looked down at his hands, marveling at the strength he now possessed. He was alive—truly alive.
Grinning, he reached for his dual blades, the weight of it grounding him in this new reality. "I'm really here," he whispered, his voice full of wonder. "I'm actually here."
Varin check his status and the familiar system notification rings in his mind and status window appears.
System Notification:
Name: Kael Relan
Class: Assassin
Trait: Rebirth Core (Unique - Unlocked)
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
Mana: 50/50
EXP: 0/100
SP: 0
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Defense: 5
Stamina: 5
Mental: 5
Luck: 5
Skills: None (Yet!)
[Assigning Ascension System guide...]
[Matching with Ascension database...]
[Success.]
Assigning System Guide ... Sion to player.
Player is now an Ascendant.
Welcome to Ascension Ascendant!
The horizon called to him, and without hesitation, Varin set off toward it, ready for the adventure of a lifetime. His new life had just begun, and he couldn't wait to see what the world of Ascension had in store for him.