The sharp pain of the crash lingered in the darkness, a feeling of weightlessness tugging at the edges of Eryx Vales' consciousness. The last thing he remembered was a blinding flash—an explosion in the lab, a freak accident, and then… nothing. A game developer by trade, he had spent his days immersed in codes, designing digital worlds, and perfecting the rules of artificial reality. But this? This wasn't code. This wasn't a game.
His eyes shot open.
A breath caught in his throat, and he instinctively reached for his head, finding no familiar surroundings, no desk, no computer. Instead, he was lying on cold, rough stone, with the scent of damp earth and fresh air surrounding him. Above, the sky stretched endlessly, filled with clouds and a pale, golden sun. His heart raced as he pushed himself up, confusion and panic flooding his mind.
"This… this is real?" Eryx muttered to himself.
Before him lay a sprawling landscape, a mix of forest and open plains. It looked like something from a medieval fantasy—a world far removed from the comfortable digital confines of his past life. The realization hit him in waves. He wasn't in his world anymore. He wasn't in his body, either.
A sharp ping echoed in his mind.
[Ascendant Sovereign System: Initialization Complete.]
Startled, Eryx's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened, trying to make sense of the words echoing in his mind. A system? What did that mean?
The words continued:
[Welcome, Eryx Vales. You have been chosen as the Ascendant Sovereign of the Infinite Realms. Your journey begins now.]
As the words resonated through him, an overwhelming wave of power surged in his chest. He could feel something inside him—something vast and powerful, like a well of energy ready to burst free. His gaze swept over the rolling hills and distant mountains, and a strange sense of control began to form within him, like he could shape the world with a thought.
[Initial Commands: View System Status, Review Abilities, Explore Environment.]
With no better idea of what to do, he focused on the first option. Immediately, an interface of glowing text appeared in front of him, projecting itself into his mind.
[System: Ascendant Sovereign]
Level: 1
Power: Unlocked: Realm Creation (1), Power Absorption (0), Summoning (0)
Fate Manipulation: Limited
Divine Authority: Unbound
[Rewards: +1,000 Sovereign Points for Successful Initialization.]
His mind reeled. "What… is all of this?"
The system was still speaking:
[You possess the Ascendant Sovereign System, a unique power that grants dominion over realms. You may conquer, create, and ascend.]
Eryx couldn't help but stare at the text, trying to grasp what it all meant. He had been reincarnated in a world that felt like a blend of medieval kingdoms and untapped magic, but with the power of the Ascendant Sovereign System? He was no longer a simple man. He was something more.
His head spun with questions. What was his purpose? Why had he been chosen? What were these realms, and why was he given dominion over them?
Before he could process further, another notification popped up:
[First Quest: Survive and Establish Sovereignty.]
It was then that he heard it—a rustling in the bushes nearby. His senses sharpened. Instinctively, his hand shot to the dagger sheathed at his side, though he had no memory of having it there.
From the underbrush emerged a group of wild creatures, their eyes gleaming with hunger. They were monstrous, wolf-like beasts, their fangs dripping with saliva.
Eryx's heart pounded, but his gaze shifted back to the system's interface.
[Summoning Available: 1 Unit. Confirm?]
The beasts were closing in, but Eryx had no time to hesitate. He'd been granted power. Now, he would test it.
He thought of the words on the screen—Summon—and immediately, a flash of light burst from his chest. From the swirling light, a large, ethereal wolf materialized before him. It was magnificent, with shimmering fur and glowing eyes. It growled menacingly at the creatures, immediately placing itself between Eryx and the beasts.
A fight for survival was about to begin.