The Black Core
In the lowlands of the planet Akagi, young orphan Aldrich dreams of rising above his humble beginnings by passing the brutal Combatant Trial, his only ticket to the highlands, where he seeks answers and a different life. On the eve of his trial, while rummaging through his late father's belongings, Aldrich discovers a strange black core that mysteriously embeds itself into his body.
Shaking off the incident, Aldrich proceeds with the trial, but soon realizes the core has changed him, slowly enhancing his strength but also unlocking visions, fragments of memories, and a deep, strange power. As he navigates the trials and consequences of this newfound force, Aldrich begins to suspect that his father's death wasn't the accident it seemed.
Now, with secrets buried in blood and shadows, Aldrich must uncover the truth about his father, the mysterious black core, and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than he ever imagined.