As Moonlit neared the end of the bridge, the runes flared brighter, and the air grew heavy. A low hum filled his ears, and the abyss seemed to ripple with unseen energy.
"You have done well," the voice intoned. "Now claim your Aspect."
Moonlit froze as shadows coiled around him, sinking into his skin. A surge of energy coursed through his body, and his consciousness was pulled inward.
[Aspect: Rulebreaker]
Allows the user to bypass or alter minor restrictions imposed by the trial system or physical rules of the worlds.
Moonlit grinned as he tested his power, stepping onto a platform that should have collapsed. The path held steady. "This…" this is perfect," he whispered.
But as he stepped closer to the end of the bridge, the runes burned brighter, and a chill ran down his spine.
"You have chosen a path not meant for you," the voice said, its tone harsher. "Your fate has been rewritten."
The air shimmered around him, and Moonlit felt a searing pain in his chest. A second mark appeared beside the first, glowing with an ominous light.
[Aspect: Fated]
The user's path is bound to pivotal moments in the world's fate. Their destiny can not be severed from the threads of greater events.
"What does that mean?" Moonlit muttered, his stomach twisting.
Then he remembered, "Nooooooo!" He screamed. He still had hope, he was going to put this aside for a little bit.
Before he could process the revelation, the voice spoke again:
"A bond has been formed. Your fate is intertwined with another."
Moonlit screamed as the mark burned brighter, and a third aspect was branded into him.
[Aspect: Tied Fate]
The user's destiny is linked to Sunny, the Shadow Slave.
The bridge trembled violently, and Moonlit sprinted for the exit, his body aching with every step. He reached the other side just as the Nightmare dissolved, leaving him gasping on the floor.
---
Moonlit collapsed onto the floor, his chest heaving. The trial was over, but the weight of his new Aspects crushed any relief he might have felt.
"Fated," he murmured. "Tied Fate… with Sunny."
He knew what that meant. Sunny, the protagonist of the story, was destined for chaos, destruction, and greatness. And now, Moonlit was tied to him.
"I can't avoid him," Moonlit said, his voice trembling. "No matter what I do, I'm part of his story now."
He clenched his fists. "Fine. If I'm stuck with him, I'll use it. I'll grow stronger, outwit the system, and carve my own path in this world."
The silver moon hung high, casting its pale light over the Forgotten Shore. Moonlit stood, his eyes filled with determination.
This world was cruel, but he would defy its rules. And this time, he wouldn't just survive—he would thrive.