The storm raged outside Ethan's small office, rain beating against the window like the drums of some distant, unseen army. Thunder cracked, rolling through the night sky as though the heavens themselves were at war. But inside, bathed in the faint glow of his computer screens and the soft hum of the Ascension system, Ethan felt something resembling peace.
It had been a year since the launch of Ascension, and the game had exceeded every expectation. Players from all walks of life had found themselves immersed in the world of Erendath. Merchandise bearing the names of characters, guilds, and kingdoms from the game lined store shelves, and TV shows, comics, and even board games were based on it.
But as the world celebrated, Ethan had grown weaker. His illness had advanced, faster than any of the doctors predicted. His body felt like it was being pulled apart, piece by piece. But there was no room in him for despair. Not anymore. Ascension had become more than a game—it was his purpose, his legacy. And as long as he could still move his fingers, he would continue building, improving, expanding the game he had poured his soul into.
Tonight, Ethan was working on final adjustments to the Ascension Tower, the latest expansion of the game. This tower was different, not just a place for challenges or loot, but a place of transformation. It offered players the chance to ascend to a higher class once they reached level 40, the trials within its walls forcing them to confront their own limitations and emerge stronger. It was the perfect metaphor, Ethan thought. To ascend was to defy fate, to refuse to accept limitations. In many ways, it was what he had always wanted for himself, and for the world.
His team had successfully ported the game to a cutting-edge VR console, and he was now deep into testing it himself. The console, set to debut alongside the game's highly anticipated expansion, promised an entirely immersive experience unlike anything before.
The rain outside grew heavier, and as Ethan adjusted a line of code, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his head. He gasped, dropping the VR helmet he'd been testing. His hands flew to his face, and when he pulled them away, blood trickled from his nose and ears, staining his fingers.
"No," he whispered, panic tightening his chest. His vision blurred. The room spun.
He reached for his phone, but his hand barely grazed it before he doubled over in pain. His head throbbed, the pressure building until it felt like his skull might crack open. With trembling hands, he tried to remove the VR helmet still resting on his head, but his body betrayed him. His vision flickered as the game interface glowed around him. He was still in the game.
"No…not yet," Ethan choked out, trying to hold on, trying to finish his work. He could feel his body slipping away from him, but his mind...his mind was still tethered to Erendath.
And then, with one final, rattling breath, he let go. His body slumped forward, lifeless. But something else happened in that moment. As his eyes closed for the last time in the real world, they opened again elsewhere—somewhere impossible.
He stood in a vast, rolling plain under a purple sky, stars twinkling far closer than they had any right to be. The air hummed with power. Ethan knew this place. It was the fields outside Wylerion, one of the great cities in Erendath from the Ascension game. But the grass beneath his feet, the scent of the wind, the crackle of energy in the air—it all felt too real.
He turned and there, not ten paces away, stood Aethlar—the Aethlar. The legendary Immortal Guardian of Erendath, a figure steeped in myth and lore. Clad in dark leather armor that blended seamlessly with the shadows around him, Aethlar wielded a magnificent bow, its limbs shimmering with void energy. He was a master manipulator of darkness, bending shadows to his will as he stood poised against an unseen threat.
Ethan felt a rush of familiarity. He had encountered Aethlar in his dreams, a hero of great power, feared by the Darkspawn and revered by the people of Erendath. The legends spoke of his unmatched skill, of how he fought tirelessly to protect the realm from the forces of chaos. But this was different. This was real.
The ground trembled as Aethlar released an arrow, its tip glowing with a brilliant light as it sliced through the air. It struck a massive, writhing creature emerging from the shadows—the Darkspawn Abyssal Lord. A being of pure chaos, the Abyssal Lord lashed out with tendrils of void energy, but Aethlar stood firm, dancing around its strikes, his bow a blur of motion.
Ethan could feel the energy of their clash resonating in the air, the power crackling like electricity around him. Each arrow Aethlar fired resonated with a force that shook the very fabric of reality. The battle unfolded before him with an intensity he had only ever experienced through the screen, and now he was a witness to something far greater than he could have imagined.
As Aethlar loosed another arrow, it exploded upon impact, sending shockwaves of energy through the air. The creature howled in agony, its form fracturing and collapsing in on itself, dissipating like smoke into the air.
But even legends could falter. The Abyssal Lord launched a wave of darkness toward Aethlar, engulfing him momentarily. Ethan's heart raced as the shadows seemed to consume the warrior, and for a terrifying moment, it looked as though hope had been extinguished.
Yet Aethlar emerged, not unscathed, but fueled by a determination that shone brighter than the void itself. He drew back his bowstring, focusing on the energy coalescing around him. The air crackled with power as he unleashed a final, devastating arrow, infused with the very essence of light and shadow.
The projectile soared, piercing the darkness and striking the Abyssal Lord with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. The creature howled in agony, its form fracturing and collapsing in on itself, dissipating like smoke into the air.
As silence fell, Aethlar staggered, dropping to one knee. The legends had said he was invincible, an immortal protector, but here he was, breathing heavily, clearly exhausted.
Ethan felt a pang of sadness as he watched Aethlar struggle to remain standing. This was not the triumphant return he had imagined for the hero he admired. The shadows around him faded, revealing the emptiness of the battlefield.
And then it happened. As Aethlar drew his last breath, a brilliant light erupted from his being, spreading across the landscape like wildfire. Ethan felt the energy wash over him, engulfing him in warmth and light. In that instant, everything changed.
The light enveloped him, pulling him away from the battlefield, away from the world of Erendath. He could feel the boundaries of reality blurring, the essence of the hero intermingling with his own. He was being transported to a different plane of existence.
When the light faded, Ethan found himself in an empty space—vague and formless, where time and reality had no meaning. And there, before him, stood Arthur.
Arthur. The name reverberated through Ethan's mind like a soothing balm. Arthur had been the young executive Ethan hired years ago, the one who had initially helped him birth the idea for Ascension, nurturing it into existence. They had spent countless hours together brainstorming, weaving the rich lore of Erendath that would captivate players and draw them into its depths. Arthur had become more than just an employee; he had grown into a close confidant, someone Ethan had trusted with his deepest fears and ambitions.
The man stood before him now, calm as always, though his expression was tinged with sadness. "You've finally come," Arthur said softly, his voice echoing in the void.
"Arthur?" Ethan breathed, astonishment flooding through him. "Is that really you?"
"Yes," Arthur replied, his eyes reflecting the infinite expanse around them. "I'm here to guide you through this transition."
"Where am I?" Ethan asked, still reeling from the surreal turn of events.
"This is the space between worlds," Arthur explained. "A place where time and reality have no meaning. You are here because your journey in the world of the living has ended."
Ethan's chest tightened. He knew it was true. He had died. But if he was dead, why was he still here? Why had he been pulled into this place?
"I don't understand," Ethan said, his voice barely a whisper. "I died, didn't I?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes. But your journey is not over."
Ethan frowned, confusion and disbelief swirling in his mind. "What do you mean? I'm dead. How can my journey continue?"
Arthur stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "You created something extraordinary, Ethan. Ascension is more than a game. It is a bridge between worlds—between Earth and Erendath. What you have built has become a part of the very fabric of reality, and the Eternals have taken notice."
"The Eternals?" Ethan echoed, though deep down, he had always known there was something more to Ascension than just lines of code and pixels on a screen. The world of Erendath had always felt too real, too alive.
"Yes," Arthur said, his voice steady. "They are the immortal guardians born from the will of Erendath, created to defend the realm from external threats, particularly the Darkspawn—monstrous beings that sought to consume and corrupt. They exist to maintain balance, ensuring that chaos does not overwhelm this world. And they have chosen you for a mission."
Ethan's heart raced. "A mission? What kind of mission?"
Arthur paused, gathering his thoughts. "You will have the chance to be reborn. You can return to Erendath as one of the Eternals—the guardians who protect the realm from darkness."
Ethan felt a flicker of hope but also trepidation. "But…why would I want to be an Eternal? I've lived my life, made my mistakes. I don't want to rule or be a god."
Arthur's eyebrows knitted together in surprise. "Why not?"
Ethan took a breath, feeling the weight of his decision. "I've lived my life, and I've made mistakes. I've created something beautiful, and I want to ensure that it continues. But I don't need to be an Eternal to do that. I want to be part of the Ascension system, to guide those who have lost hope and give them a second chance."
Arthur looked at him, a mixture of sadness and understanding in his eyes. "Ethan, what you're asking is unprecedented. You want to merge your essence with the Ascension system, to become its core."
"Yes," Ethan replied, determination filling his voice. "I want to help others. I want to give those who have lost their lives on Earth the chance to be reborn, to find purpose again. I want to be a bridge for them, just as Ascension was a bridge for me."
Arthur studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. The Eternal of Creation and Rebirth will grant you your wish."
Ethan felt a rush of relief, but it was fleeting. He knew this would not be easy. But he was ready.
Arthur raised a hand, and in an instant, the void around them transformed. A magnificent landscape unfolded, filled with brilliant colors and surreal shapes. Before them stood a majestic figure, glowing with ethereal light.
The Eternal of Creation and Rebirth regarded Ethan with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of countless ages. "You seek to become part of the Ascension system, to be a guide for the lost and the fallen," the Eternal said, their voice resonating like the chime of distant bells.
Ethan stepped forward, feeling the weight of his decision pressing against him. "Yes, I wish to give others a second chance. I want to help them."
The Eternal smiled, and for a moment, Ethan could feel their immense power radiating around him. "Your wish is noble, and I shall grant it. But know that you will lost your memories and with it only left your will. Yo will sleep, waiting for those who truly need you to awaken."
Ethan nodded, feeling a profound sense of purpose. "I understand."
As the Eternal extended their hand, a brilliant light enveloped Ethan once more. He felt himself dissolving, merging with the Ascension system, becoming part of something much larger than himself.
When the light faded, Arthur stood beside him, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "Goodbye, Ethan. Your legacy will live on. I will use Aethlar's last energy to fully integrate Ascension system into Erendath. May the new awakened heroes and the Ascendants of earth protect Erendath together."
In that moment, Ethan felt a warmth envelop him, a feeling of belonging, of purpose. He was no longer just Ethan, the creator of Ascension. He was now the Rebirth Core, a guide for those who sought to rise from the ashes of their own despair.
And in the world of Erendath, something profound began to change. The people started to notice strange occurrences in the world. People started awakened powers and was granted with Ascension system. Legends spoke of the mysterious force guiding them, a whisper of hope echoing through the realm.
As the awakeners embraced their newfound potential, a flicker of light danced in the shadows—a promise of a chance to ascend.