Kael's feet moved soundlessly as he exited the towering stone structure, the faint hum of the Ascension Tower fading behind him. He had completed the Void Step trials and acquired the legendary Void Daggers, their sleek, shadowy forms now nestled securely in his belt. The sense of satisfaction swirled in him, mixing with the excitement of testing his new skills in real combat. The quiet atmosphere outside the tower didn't last long.
A rumble echoed through the clearing. Kael's senses flared. He spun around to find a figure emerging from the shadows of a nearby forest—hulking and draped in dark, bone-like armor. This wasn't just any Darkspawn. Its eyes glowed a malevolent red, and a low, guttural voice slithered through the air.
"You... you carry the scent of the void. How amusing..." the creature rasped. It stepped into the light, revealing its full form—an Elite Darkspawn. Taller than Kael, it bore scars of previous battles etched into its dark armor. It grinned, showcasing razor-sharp teeth, and raised a massive, jagged blade, dripping with shadowy energy. This was no mindless creature. This Darkspawn had intelligence.
Kael's grip tightened around the hilts of his Void Daggers. His breath steadied as he mentally prepared himself for the battle ahead. The air between them grew heavier, tension rising.
The Darkspawn chuckled darkly. "Void-walker, let us dance."
With a burst of speed unnatural for its size, the Darkspawn lunged forward, swinging its blade in a wide arc. Kael reacted instinctively, activating Void Step, vanishing from sight just before the blade could connect. He reappeared behind the Darkspawn, his body a blur of shadow and motion, his Void Daggers slashing toward its exposed back.
The creature roared in surprise but whirled quickly, blocking Kael's attack with its jagged blade. Sparks flew as the weapons clashed. Kael gritted his teeth and leapt back, analyzing his opponent. This wouldn't be an easy fight.
"You cannot hide from me in the shadows," the Darkspawn growled, raising its arm. A pulse of dark energy erupted from its body, rippling outward. Kael felt the void magic around him destabilize, preventing him from using Void Step again so soon.
The Darkspawn charged, swinging relentlessly. Kael parried and dodged, using Shadow Dash to reposition himself just out of the creature's reach. His movements were fluid, weaving in and out of the Darkspawn's attacks like water slipping through cracks. The Void Daggers, infused with shadow energy, hummed in his grip, feeling like extensions of his own body. He darted forward with blinding speed, his blades finding weak spots in the Darkspawn's defenses.
With a sharp twist of his wrist, Kael activated Echoing Strike, his first blow sending a surge of void energy through the Darkspawn. The impact rippled outward, leaving a lingering dark aura that clung to the creature, slowly eating away at its strength.
The Elite Darkspawn snarled in pain, staggering back. "Curse you, Void-walker!"
Kael didn't stop. He pressed his advantage, summoning a Spectral Presence—a decoy that danced around the battlefield, drawing the Darkspawn's attention. While it lunged at the decoy, Kael shifted into the shadows, using the confusion to slice into the creature's side, his Void Daggers cutting deep into the corrupted flesh.
Blood—thick and black—spurted from the wound. The Darkspawn roared in agony, spinning with blind rage, but Kael had already moved, weaving through the shadows with deadly precision. He could feel the new power flowing through him, a perfect harmony between his Voidblade class and the newly acquired weapons.
With a final burst of speed, Kael unleashed Dark Fusion, his daggers glowing with void energy as he drove them into the Darkspawn's chest. The creature let out a guttural cry, its body convulsing as the void energy ripped through it. With a shuddering gasp, the Elite Darkspawn collapsed to the ground, its form dissipating into shadowy mist.
System Alert: Level Up!
Congratulations!
You have gained enough experience to advance to the next level.
New Level: 12
Skill Points Earned: +10 SP
New Experience: 2,300 / 16,000 EXP
Kael exhaled, the adrenaline fading as he watched the mist swirl around the remains of the creature. His daggers gleamed darkly in the dim light, the perfect instruments for his Voidblade skills. As he sheathed them, his system pinged softly again, reminding him of how far he'd come.
By the time Kael reached the Ascendant Guild's headquarters, dusk had fallen. The grand building stood tall against the night sky, illuminated by soft, magical lights that lined the pathways leading to the entrance. Lira stood waiting for him by the gates, arms crossed and a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
"You're late," she teased, though her tone carried no real edge.
Kael shrugged, giving her a half-smile. "Ran into an Elite Darkspawn on the way back. Took care of it."
Lira's eyes widened slightly, impressed. "An Elite, huh? Nice. Sounds like you're ready for what's coming next."
Kael tilted his head, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Lira's smirk deepened as she uncrossed her arms. "There's a big mission on the horizon. We're teaming up with some Ascendants. We're heading into a rift, and I saved a spot for you. It's a team of ten: five Ascendants, five Awakeners."
At the mention of Ascendants, Kael felt a familiar jolt of excitement mixed with a subtle nervousness. Rift missions were dangerous but offered significant rewards and experience. His excitement stemmed from the chance to fight more Darkspawns, potentially leveling up even faster.
However, the prospect of being around Ascendants—the players from his own world—made him uneasy. "How should I act around them?" They might notice something off about him. Lira had already hinted that his behavior wasn't typical for a normal NPC.
"When do we start?" Kael asked, pushing his doubts aside.
"Tomorrow," Lira replied. "We meet at the Rift Gate. You in?"
Kael nodded. "I'm in."
The next day, Kael arrived at the meeting point. The Rift Gate was an imposing structure, a swirling vortex of energy encased in ancient stone pillars. The air around it crackled with raw power. As he approached, Kael spotted the team already gathered—a mix of Ascendants and Awakeners, all clad in various levels of combat gear.
One of the Ascendants, a tall man with silver hair and intricate armor, turned to Kael as he approached. "Kael Valen. VoidBlade" he said outloud. "A Level 12. Will it be okay?"
"Yeah," Kael responded, keeping his tone neutral but engaged. "I'm looking forward to this. When can we start?"
The silver-haired Ascendant raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the response. "Whoa," he muttered, glancing at one of his companions. "This must be the new AI character the system was talking about with the latest expansion."
Kael's heart skipped a beat, though outwardly he remained calm. He overheard another Ascendant, a woman with bright red hair, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, I heard we're beta-testing some new AI interactions. It's crazy how lifelike these NPCs are now. They even respond to feedback without the chat system. It's like we're conversing together! This is cool!"
The realization struck Kael hard. They thought he was an AI—a sophisticated NPC created for the game's new expansion. He stifled a bitter laugh. Varin was right. To them, he was just another part of their world's mechanics, something to test and experiment with.
But for Kael, the stakes were far higher. He was no mere AI. He was an anomaly in this world, an outlier, and the more he grew, the harder it would be to maintain the facade.
Lira, sensing the subtle shift in Kael's demeanor, walked over and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Ready to take on the rift?" she asked quietly.
Kael nodded, pushing the thoughts aside. "More than ready."
As the group prepared to enter the swirling vortex, Kael couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. This mission could be the key to unlocking even more of his potential—and he'd need every ounce of it to survive what lay ahead.
The Rift awaited, and Kael was ready to face it, even if it meant hiding his true nature a little longer.