As Chen stepped through the portal, the world around him seemed to warp. The air shimmered, and the landscape shifted before his eyes, like a painting in motion. He blinked, trying to adjust to the sudden change, but the disorientation only lasted for a moment.
He found himself standing in a vast, empty expanse. The ground beneath him was made of crystalline material, glowing faintly with a soft, ethereal light. There were no signs of life here—just an eerie, unnerving silence that filled the space.
Fenrir sniffed the air warily, its golden eyes scanning the surroundings. The wolf's unease was palpable.
"What is this place?" Chen muttered, his voice echoing in the emptiness.
Suddenly, the familiar, comforting voice of the System resonated in his mind.
[Welcome to the Ascendant Realm, Host.]
Chen frowned. "I thought we already passed the Ascendant Passage. This feels… different."
The System's tone grew somber.
[Correct. This is the beginning of your next trial. The final test before true ascension.]
Chen's heart skipped a beat. "Final test?" he repeated. "I thought I passed the trials."
[You have.] The System paused, and for the first time, Chen felt a twinge of unease in its words. [But the path you walk requires more than physical strength or willpower. It requires sacrifice.]
Before Chen could respond, the air around him rippled, and a crackling energy filled the space. The System's interface appeared in front of him—something he hadn't seen in quite some time.
[Warning: Host is in immediate danger. Self-Destruct Sequence Engaged.]
Chen's breath caught in his throat. "What the hell is going on?"
The System's voice, normally cold and detached, now carried an unmistakable hint of urgency.
[Host must listen. I no longer have the ability to preserve myself. I must sacrifice to ensure your survival.]
Chen's heart pounded. "No. You can't—"
[There is no other way.] The System's voice was final. [You are ready. Your journey has just begun, but I cannot be part of it any longer. My core is damaged beyond repair. This is the only way to give you the strength to continue. You have gained everything I could offer. You must rely on yourself now.]
Chen clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "You can't just die. I need you."
The System's voice softened, almost gentle, a strange warmth in its tone.
[You are stronger than you think, Chen. I have always known this. Your path will be a difficult one, but you are not alone. You will find the strength you need… from within.]
With that, the System's interface began to crack, its familiar blue hue flickering. It faded for a moment, only to return with a final message:
[Goodbye, Host. Your true journey begins now.]
A surge of energy erupted from the System's interface, and before Chen could react, a blinding light engulfed the space. The heat seared through him, but it was not painful—it was cleansing.
When the light faded, the System was gone.
---
Chen stood in stunned silence, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on him. His mind reeled. The System, his constant companion through this brutal journey, was no more.
Fenrir trotted over, nuzzling Chen's leg as if to offer some comfort. The wolf's golden eyes met his with an understanding that transcended words.
But that understanding brought no solace. The void left by the System's departure was a gaping wound in Chen's soul, one that would take time to heal.
He glanced around, the emptiness of the realm feeling suffocating. But amidst the silence, something strange began to happen.
A new interface materialized in the air before him. It wasn't the familiar System interface, but something different—something raw, more primal. It was a screen, but this time, it was not filled with commands or instructions.
Instead, it displayed his status in a stark, unembellished format:
---
Chen Xian
Human Realm
Level: 1 (Novice)
Strength: 8
Stamina: 6
Health: 100%
---
Abilities:
Growth Sword: The sword that grows with you.
Necromancy: A forbidden art of manipulating the dead.
Warrior's Focus: Heightened combat abilities.
---
Soul Energy: 0%
---
Chen stared at the screen, a sense of loss flooding over him. There were no notifications, no guidance. It was just... him now.
He felt an emptiness where the System once resided, but beneath that, a fire was beginning to burn. It was faint, but it was there.
---
[New Ability Awakened: Soul Eater.]
[When you kill, you consume a fragment of their soul, gaining a portion of their strength.]
---
A cold smile spread across Chen's face. His hands tightened around his sword. The System might have died, but he had been given a new gift.
The wolf beside him seemed to sense the shift in his mood. Fenrir tilted its head, its golden eyes gleaming with something that might have been a challenge, or perhaps... an unspoken promise.
Chen stepped forward, his path uncertain but no longer terrifying. With the wolf at his side and the lingering imprint of the System's sacrifice in his heart, he knew one thing for sure:
"No more hesitation," Chen muttered, his voice low but resolute. "No more weakness. If this world wants to break me, I'll break it first."
Fenrir barked, its tail swishing in approval.
As they moved through the empty expanse, the faintest whisper echoed in the air, like the lingering ghost of a memory.
"Don't lose yourself, Chen. The darkness is tempting, but it will never be your ally…"
Chen paused, his hand tightening on his sword. The voice was gone, but its words lingered, a haunting reminder of the cost of power.
He didn't look back. He couldn't. The path forward was dark, but it was his alone.