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Eliard Grey stood at the base of the Tower of Ascension, his breath caught in his throat as he stared at the ancient structure. The Tower loomed above him like a black spear piercing the clouds, its surface smooth and seamless, with strange symbols glowing faintly in the fading twilight. It had always been there, a monument to the unknown, closed to all but the highest-ranking Ascendants.
Today, something was different.
The air around the Tower crackled with energy, and the ground trembled beneath Eliard's feet. The symbols on the Tower's surface blazed with light, shifting and rearranging as if alive.
He took a cautious step back, clutching his satchel. His instincts screamed at him to leave, but his curiosity refused to release its grip. The Tower had been dormant for centuries—what could have changed now?
Eliard was a librarian, not an adventurer. He lived for books, manuscripts, and forgotten knowledge—not danger. But this… this was the kind of mystery that could fill volumes.
And Eliard loved mysteries.
He glanced around. The plaza at the base of the Tower was eerily empty. Most of the city's residents had fled when the first tremors hit, fearing the ancient power that stirred within. Only fools or the truly desperate remained behind.
"I shouldn't be here," Eliard muttered, adjusting his satchel. His hand brushed against the worn leather cover of a journal he always carried—notes on ancient magic, obscure runes, and, of course, the Tower.
Before he could convince himself to turn back, the ground split open with a deafening crack. A surge of energy shot from the Tower's entrance, and a glowing portal formed in mid-air—a swirling vortex of light and shadow.
Eliard froze. His heart pounded in his chest as the portal expanded, its pull growing stronger. Papers and loose debris were sucked into its depths, vanishing without a trace.
And then it pulled him.
"No, no, no—!" Eliard's feet left the ground. The world spun around him as the portal swallowed him whole. Darkness wrapped around him like a shroud, and his senses overloaded—light, sound, and pure energy bombarding him from every direction.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then, the world reassembled itself.
Eliard landed hard on cold stone, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. He gasped, his vision swimming as he struggled to his feet.
He was no longer at the base of the Tower. He stood in a vast chamber, its walls made of black stone that seemed to absorb the light. Strange runes glowed softly, etched into every surface. The air was thick with the scent of ancient magic and something… darker.
A voice echoed in his mind, deep and commanding.
[System Initialization… Complete.]
Welcome, User. You have been chosen by the Codex of Possibility. Bonding process initiating…
"What?" Eliard whispered, his pulse racing.
Before he could react, searing pain shot through his body. He dropped to his knees, clutching his head as the voice continued.
Bonding Complete. You are now linked to the Codex. Accessing system permissions…
A glowing interface appeared in front of him, translucent and filled with text and symbols. It looked like something out of a storybook—except it was real.
User: Eliard Grey
Class: Undefined
Level: 1
Skills: None
Warning: No class detected. Custom class creation enabled.
Eliard blinked, struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. The interface floated before him, waiting. His fingers hovered over the glowing symbols.
"A system interface? Like the ones the Ascendants use?" he muttered. "But how…?"
The voice returned, more insistent.
Choose your class. Customization options available.
A menu unfolded before him, filled with dozens of potential classes—Warrior, Mage, Rogue, Priest, and many others. Each had detailed descriptions, skill trees, and progression paths.
But something at the bottom of the list caught his eye:
[Reality Shaper: A class without limits. Create and manipulate reality through will and experience. Warning: High-risk, high-reward. Not recommended for novice users.]
Eliard's breath caught. His instincts told him to play it safe. He could choose Mage or Scholar, something familiar. Something manageable.
But Reality Shaper…
He tapped the option before he could second-guess himself.
Class Selected: Reality Shaper.
Initializing class abilities…
A surge of power coursed through him. It wasn't like the searing pain from before—this was something different. It was as if a door inside him had opened, revealing endless possibilities.
New Ability Acquired: Reality Surge – Manipulate the physical world for a brief moment, altering its properties. Cost: High Mana.
New Ability Acquired: Essence Conversion – Convert raw mana into experience or physical enhancements.
The interface flickered, and a new notification appeared:
[First Trial Initiating… Survive.]
A deep rumble shook the chamber. The runes on the walls blazed with crimson light, and a portal opened at the far end of the room. From its depths, a creature emerged—a towering beast with eyes like burning coals and claws that glowed with molten energy.
Eliard stumbled back, his heart hammering. He had read about Trial Beasts before, but seeing one in person was something else entirely.
It snarled, its eyes locking onto him.
"Oh, come on!" Eliard shouted, raising his hands. "I don't even know how to use these abilities yet!"
The beast charged.
Instinct took over. Eliard extended his hand, focusing on the power within him. The air around him shimmered as Reality Surge activated. For a brief moment, the world bent to his will—gravity twisted, and the beast's charge slowed as if moving through water.
Eliard darted to the side, barely avoiding its swipe. His pulse raced as the surge ended, reality snapping back to normal.
"I can work with this," he muttered.
The beast turned, snarling in frustration. Its eyes flared, and flames erupted from its mouth, filling the chamber with searing heat.
Eliard ducked behind a pillar, sweat pouring down his face. His mind raced. Essence Conversion… Maybe that could help. He focused again, drawing on the raw energy in the air. It felt like trying to catch a river with his bare hands, but slowly, he directed it into himself.
His body surged with strength, his senses sharpening. He felt faster, more focused.
The beast roared, lunging again. This time, Eliard was ready.
He activated Reality Surge once more, this time focusing on the floor beneath the beast. The stone warped and cracked, forming jagged spikes that pierced its legs. The beast howled in pain, thrashing wildly.
Eliard seized the moment. He ran toward it, channeling every ounce of power he had left into a final surge. The air rippled, and the beast's body froze mid-motion. With a shout, Eliard released the energy, and the creature shattered into a thousand shards of light.
[Trial Complete. Experience Gained: 1,500.]
Level Up! Level 2 Reached.
New Skill Unlocked: Mana Threading – Manipulate and weave mana into physical objects.]
Eliard collapsed onto the cold stone, gasping for breath. The interface flickered, displaying his updated stats and abilities.
"Well," he said between breaths, "that was… something."
The chamber dimmed, the runes fading back to their soft glow. The portal at the far end of the room remained open, beckoning him forward.
Eliard pushed himself to his feet, wiping sweat from his brow. His heart still pounded, but a slow grin spread across his face.
The Codex hummed softly in his mind, almost like it was pleased.
"Guess there's no turning back now," Eliard said.
With a determined step, he walked toward the portal, ready to face whatever lay beyond.
The Infinite Ascent had begun.
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