Kael Relan's existence had been a series of still moments, captured in a haze of monotony and discontent. But today, that stillness shattered.
The dull hum of the classroom was gone, replaced by silence so profound it seemed to vibrate in his bones. Kael was no longer seated at his desk, surrounded by bored classmates.
Instead, he floated in darkness—a vast, endless void.
There was no ground, no sky, just him and the emptiness.
Yet the void was not silent.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
New PLAYER Detected…
PLAYER matched ASCENDANT condition
The words reverberated through the space, deep and resonant, like the voice of a god speaking directly to him.
Kael blinked, his thoughts sluggish as if waking from a deep sleep.
"What… what is this?" he whispered, his voice echoing faintly.
[Ascendant Player: Confirmed]
[Strong Desires for Second Life—Confirmed]
The words made no sense, but Kael could feel their weight pressing down on him. Death? Second life? A faint spark of understanding flickered in his chest.
Was he… dead?
He tried to recall what had happened. The classroom, the professor's droning voice, the overwhelming dizziness—it all came back in fragments. He remembered the suffocating pressure in his chest, the world spinning out of focus, and the darkness swallowing him whole.
But now, there was this.
[Conditions Met—Ascension System Unlocked]
[Matching Player with System Guide. Accessing Database]
"What… Ascension System? The MMORPG?" Kael's voice trembled, teetering between disbelief and hope.
[Match Found. Assigning Guide to ASCENDANT PLAYER.]
The darkness around him shifted. Lines of light began to weave through the void, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with energy. Kael watched in awe as the patterns coalesced into something tangible—a glowing, humanoid figure.
The figure had no face, just a smooth, featureless surface where one should have been. Its body was composed of pure light, its edges shimmering like starlight.
"Welcome, Ascendant Player Kael Relan," it said, its voice calm and melodic, yet carrying an undeniable authority.
Kael stared, his mind racing. "What… what's going on? Where am I?"
The figure tilted its head slightly, as if amused by his confusion. "You stand at the precipice of rebirth. The life you knew is over. The Ascension System has chosen you as its newest player, granting you a chance to rewrite your destiny."
"Rewrite… my destiny?" Kael's heart pounded. The words seemed too good to be true. "I don't understand. Why me? I'm no one. I'm—"
"—weak?" the Entity interrupted, its tone sharp but not unkind. "Your life may have been defined by frailty, but your will is strong. Strong enough to awaken the Rebirth Core."
[REBIRTH CORE ACTIVATED]
A surge of energy coursed through Kael's body, forcing him to his knees. It was overwhelming—both pain and ecstasy rolled into one. He gasped as his vision exploded with light, fragments of memories flashing before his eyes.
He saw himself as a child, watching other kids play from behind a fence. He saw the countless hours spent alone, trapped by a body that refused to cooperate. He saw the quiet moments of despair, the nights spent wishing for a different life.
And then he saw something new.
A version of himself standing tall and unyielding, wielding power that defied imagination. His figure was cloaked in shadow and light, his eyes burning with determination. Eyes color of red rubies set with determination.This was not the Kael he had known—this was someone stronger, someone unstoppable.
The vision faded, leaving Kael breathless.
"What… what was that?" he managed to choke out.
"Your potential," the Entity said simply. "The Rebirth Core has granted you a chance to become what you've always desired—a being of strength, capable of shaping your own fate."
Kael staggered to his feet, his mind spinning. "And what if I fail?"
The entity's glowing form leaned closer, its voice dropping to a near whisper. "Then you die. Permanently."
The words sent a chill down Kael's spine, but there was no time to rest. The void around him began to shift again, the patterns of light expanding to form a new landscape.
He found himself standing on a vast, barren plain under a sky filled with swirling clouds of violet and gold. In the distance, jagged mountains loomed, their peaks piercing the heavens. The air was thick with the hum of power, and Kael could feel it thrumming through his veins.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Welcome to Erendath]
[Tutorial Quest: Prove Your Worth]
[Objective: Survive]
A low growl echoed across the plain, sending a shiver down Kael's spine. He turned, his breath catching in his throat. Emerging from the shadows was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.
It was massive, its body covered in scales that glistened like obsidian. Its eyes burned with a malevolent red light, and its claws looked sharp enough to rend steel.
[Darkspawn—Level 2]
Entering battle mode.
Kael's stomach dropped. "Level 2? I don't even know what level I am!"
The Entity's voice echoed in his mind. "You are Level 1. You have no weapons, no skills, and no experience. Your survival depends entirely on your wits and determination."
A translucent system screen appeared in his peripheral vision, displaying his dismal stats in stark clarity.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
STR: 5 | AGI: 5 | WIL: 5 | END: 5 | INT: 5 | CHA: 5 | LCK: 5
The Darkspawn roared, the sound shaking the ground beneath Kael's feet. It charged, its massive form barreling toward him with terrifying speed.
Panic surged through Kael, but he forced it down.
Think, Kael. Think!
He scanned the plain, searching for anything he could use. His eyes landed on a pointed broken rock jutting out of the ground a few feet away.
[Equipped Weapon: Jagged Rock (Lv1)]
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward it, the Darkspawn creature hot on his heels. He could feel its breath on his back, its claws grazing the air just behind him.
At the last second, Kael dove to the side, grabbing the rock as he rolled. The beast slammed into the ground where he had been standing, its momentum carrying it past him.
Kael scrambled to his feet, gripping the rock tightly. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
The Darkspawn turned, its eyes locking onto him with newborn fury. Kael's heart pounded as he raised the pointed rock, his hands trembling.
"I'm not dying here," he muttered, more to himself than the beast. "Not now. Not ever."
The Darkspawn roared again, charging once more. Kael stood his ground, waiting until the last possible moment. Then, with all the strength he could muster, he swung the rock.
The makeshift weapon connected with the beast's jaw, a sickening crack sounding through the air. The creature stumbled, dazed but not defeated.
Kael didn't give it a chance to recover. He lunged forward, gripping the rock tightly as he brought it down on its head again and again.
Black, viscous blood splattered across his face and clothes, the stench sharp and metallic. Each strike landed with a sickening thud, driven by a volatile mix of fear, fury, and survival instinct.
Finally, the beast collapsed, its body motionless.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Darkspawn Defeated]
[All stats increase by 1]
[Beginner's Luck Chest (Lv1)]
[EXP +200]
[SP +2]
[Dark Essence x 3]
[Coins: 250]
Kael dropped the bloody rock, his chest heaving. He stared at the beast's deformed and lifeless form, a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration washing over him.
The Entity's voice returned, calm and measured. "Well done, Player Kael. You have proven your worth."
Kael sank to his knees, exhaustion overtaking him. But beneath the fatigue, a spark of something new had taken root—hope.
A stream bubbled nearby, its clear waters glinting in the soft light. Kael stumbled toward it, his body heavy with exhaustion.
Kneeling at the edge, he plunged his hands into the cool current, scrubbing away the dark blood and foul stench clinging to his skin.
As he leaned closer, the rippling water stilled, revealing his reflection. He froze. Is this… me? The thought whispered in his mind, laced with disbelief.
The face staring back was unfamiliar. A striking youth gazed at him—shoulder-length dark hair cascading in soft, wavy ends, a jawline so sharp and defined it seemed sculpted by divine hands. But what shocked him most were his eyes.
They glowed a deep, vivid red, gleaming like twin rubies beneath the surface of the stream.
Just as he felt the weight of exhaustion bear down on him, a new notification chimed, signaling a breakthrough. He had leveled up.
A surge of energy coursed through him, revitalizing his body and mind, leaving him feeling refreshed and renewed. The weariness that had clung to him vanished, replaced by a newfound vitality.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Level Up: Level 2 Achieved]
[All stats increase by 1]
[SP +2]
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
STR: 8 | AGI: 8 | WIL: 8 | END: 8 | INT: 8 | CHA: 8 | LCK: 8
For the first time in his life, Kael Relan felt powerful.