Zane leaned against the rocky cliff, his gaze tracing the scattered constellations above. The night air was cool against his skin, the gentle breeze carrying the earthy scent of the forest below. This was his place—a secluded haven where he could escape the suffocating weight of his reality.
The rocky edge under him was uneven but familiar, just like the scars that marred his body. His fingers absentmindedly traced the jagged marks on his side, relics of an explosion that had stolen his parents when he was only one. The blast hadn't just taken them; it had almost taken him too. Despite his uncle's best efforts, the injuries had refused to heal, leaving Zane with a body that constantly reminded him of his fragility.
At sixteen, he was still weak, still far from the life he'd imagined for himself. The world expected strength and resilience, but his body had always betrayed him. While his peers awakened their affinities, bonded with beasts, and began their paths to greatness, Zane was stuck—a failure, as far as he was concerned.
The faint hum of his system window jolted him from his thoughts. With a flick of his wrist, the translucent display blinked to life before him, casting a faint blue glow on his face.
[System Window]
System Tier: 1
Name: Zane
Age: 16
Skills:
Fire Embrace (Basic Fire Manipulation) Basic Combat Training (Novice) Language Proficiency (Common, Galactic Standard)
Affinity: None (Untapped)
Items: None
Stats:
Strength: 2 Agility: 3 Intelligence: 5 Vitality: 3 (Injured) Spirit: 0.5 (Injured)
The numbers were the same as always—low, unchanging, mocking him. His vitality and spirit remained listed as "Injured," the system's cold acknowledgment of his broken state. Zane dismissed the window with a sigh. He didn't need another reminder of what he already knew.
His uncle always reassured him, "One day, you'll awaken, Zane. One day, your potential will shine brighter than you can imagine." But Zane's patience had worn thin. Each passing year without progress felt like another nail in the coffin of his dreams.
He tightened his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Why am I even trying? The thought lingered for a moment before he shook it off. Deep down, he couldn't give up. Not entirely.
The wind shifted suddenly, breaking the stillness of the night. It wasn't the usual gentle breeze; it was sharper, colder, almost electric. Zane shivered, pulling his thin cloak tighter around his shoulders. He looked up at the sky again.
The stars seemed brighter than before, their light pulsing faintly as if responding to some unseen rhythm. A chill ran down his spine. The air felt alive, charged with an energy he couldn't explain.
Then, he saw it.
A streak of brilliant light cut through the darkness, blazing across the sky like a comet. But this was no ordinary celestial event. The object burned with a brightness that dwarfed the stars, its tail trailing behind like molten fire. Zane's breath hitched. The light grew larger, closer, hurtling toward the earth with a speed that defied logic.
The ground beneath him trembled as the object slammed into the forest below, the impact sending a shockwave through the air. Zane stumbled, barely managing to keep his balance. Smoke and dust billowed into the night, illuminated by the eerie glow emanating from the crash site.
His heart pounded as he stared at the crater below. The forest was silent, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Compelled by an inexplicable force, Zane descended the rocky path toward the crash site. The glow grew brighter as he approached, casting long shadows across the trees. At the center of the crater lay a shard—a jagged fragment of pure energy, pulsing with an otherworldly light.
Zane's instincts screamed at him to turn back, but he couldn't. The shard called to him, its presence tugging at something deep within his soul. His hand trembled as he reached out.
The moment his fingers brushed the shard's surface, his world exploded into light.
Pain and power surged through him, raw and unrelenting. It wasn't just heat—it was a searing force that burned through every nerve in his body, yet he couldn't pull away. The shard's energy coursed through him, tearing apart his limitations and rebuilding him from the inside out.
Zane cried out as the scars on his body burned, their edges glowing like molten steel. The pain was overwhelming, but beneath it, he felt something else—something awakening.
The light dimmed suddenly, leaving Zane gasping for air. He collapsed to the ground, his hand still clutching the shard. The cool earth against his cheek was a welcome relief after the intensity of the experience.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, followed by a notification.
[System Notification]
Eclipse Core has merged with the host. System is upgrading.
The familiar system window reappeared, but it was different now. The text shimmered with golden light, and new information filled the screen.
[System Window]
System Tier: Unique (Upgraded from Tier 1)
Name: Zane
Age: 16
Skills:
Valor's Fire Embrace Art (Novice) Infernal Dominion (Novice) Language Proficiency (Common, Galactic Standard)
Affinity: Light, Fire, Void (Unlocked)
Items: Eclipse Core (Active)
Stats:
Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Intelligence: 10 Vitality: 5 (Healed) Spirit: 3 (Healed)
Zane blinked at the new status, his mind racing. His vitality and spirit were no longer injured. The constant ache that had been his companion for years was gone. His body felt different—stronger, lighter, more alive than ever before.
His eyes lingered on the new skills and affinities. Light, Fire, Void. These weren't ordinary affinities. They were rare, powerful, and completely unexpected.
The shard—no, the Eclipse Core—had done something to him, something he couldn't fully comprehend. His uncle's words echoed in his mind again. One day, Zane. One day, you'll understand.
He chuckled weakly, his body trembling from exhaustion. Well, Uncle, I think today might be that day.
As the adrenaline faded, fatigue took its place, pulling him toward unconsciousness. Zane's grip on the shard loosened, and his eyes fluttered shut.
The last thing he heard before darkness claimed him was the faint hum of the core, resonating with the newfound strength within him.