Kael Relan's life had been gray. Endless. Quiet. Forgettable.
And then—it broke.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Kael's consciousness drifted, untethered, weightless. The last thing he remembered was the monotonous drone of his professor's lecture, his eyes heavy with boredom.
Now, that world was gone, replaced by a void so vast it pressed against him, suffocating in its silence.
Then, a voice—deep, resonant, ancient—echoed through the void.
[ASCENSION SYSTEM ACTIVATING]New Ascendant Identified.Player detected… Processing Ascendant Condition…Rebirth process initiated... Soul recalibration in progress...Ascendant: Kael.Potential: Untapped.Compatibility: Unmeasured.Processing...
The words reverberated through the abyss, vast and omnipotent, as if spoken by a god.
Kael's thoughts were sluggish, his mind swimming through layers of fog. He tried to move—failed. A sharp chill spread through him, cold tendrils weaving into his very essence.
"What… what is this?" he whispered, his voice swallowed by the void.
No breath. No heartbeat. Just existence, suspended in the abyss.
Ascendant Player: Confirmed.Strong Desires for Second Life—Confirmed.Conditions Met—Ascension System UnlockedMatching Player with System Guide.
A realization clawed its way through Kael's confusion.
Death? Was he… dead?
Fragments of memory surfaced—the classroom, the professor's droning voice, dizziness, the pressure in his chest. Darkness swallowing the world. And now… this.
"What… Ascension System? The MMORPG?" His voice trembled, teetering between disbelief and desperate hope.
Match Found. Assigning Guide to ASCENDANT PLAYER.
Light ignited in the void, weaving intricate, pulsing patterns. Kael watched, entranced, as the luminous threads coalesced into a figure.
It had no face—just a smooth, featureless expanse where one should have been. Its body shimmered, pure light sculpted into humanoid form.
"Welcome, Ascendant Player Kael Relan."
Its voice was calm, melodic, yet carried an undeniable authority.
Kael's mind reeled. "Where am I? What is this?"
The entity tilted its head slightly, as if amused. "You stand at the precipice of rebirth. The life you knew is over. The Ascension System has chosen you, granting you a chance to rewrite your destiny."
Kael swallowed hard. "Rewrite… my destiny? But why me? I'm no one. I'm—"
"—weak?" The entity's tone was sharp, yet not unkind. "Your past may have been frail, but your will is strong. Strong enough to awaken the Rebirth Core."
Then—agony. White-hot pain lanced through him, as if his very soul was being unraveled and rewoven. He wanted to scream, but there was no mouth, no air. Only searing pain.
Rebirth Core detected.Classifying...Initializing Ascension Protocol.Rebirth Core Activated.
A surge of energy ripped through Kael, forcing him to his knees. Images flashed through his mind—moments from a life spent on the sidelines. Watching from behind a fence as children played. Endless hours trapped in a body that refused to cooperate. Quiet nights of despair, whispering wishes to a world that never answered.
But then—something new.
A vision of himself, cloaked in shadow and light, standing unyielding, power radiating from his form. His eyes, no longer dull, burned with determination. Deep crimson, like molten rubies.
The vision shattered, leaving Kael breathless.
"What… was that?" he rasped.
"Your destiny," 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, body trembling. "My destiny? What if I choose not to accept this? Can I go back?"
The entity leaned closer, voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Decline... Then you die. You will cease to exist forever."
Kael tilted his head, letting the silence hang for a moment. His fingers flexed absentmindedly, brushing the air as if testing it. The choice weighed on him, quiet but undeniable.
He drew a slow breath.
"…Alright. I'll accept."
A small, almost imperceptible spark stirred behind his calm—a thread of anticipation, sharp and careful, weaving through his resolve.
The void twisted, pulsing light expanding, forming something new. A landscape emerged—barren plains stretching beneath a sky of swirling violet and gold. Jagged mountains clawed at the heavens in the distance.
[NEW QUEST]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—breath caught in his throat. Emerging from the shadows was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.
Massive, its body covered in obsidian-like scales. Eyes burned malevolent red. Claws looked sharp enough to tear steel.
[Darkspawn—Level 2]Entering battle mode.
Kael's stomach dropped. "Level 2? What about me?!"
The Entity's voice echoed in his mind. "You are Level 1. No weapons. No skills. No experience. Your survival depends entirely on wits and determination."
A translucent system screen appeared in his peripheral vision, displaying his stats in stark clarity:
Player Level: 1No weaponsNo skillsNo experienceSTR: 5 | AGI: 5 | WIL: 5 | END: 5 | INT: 5 | CHA: 5 | LCK: 5
The Darkspawn roared, shaking the ground. It charged.
Panic clawed at his chest, but he forced it down.
No… stay calm. Analyze first. Then move.
His eyes scanned the plain, tracing every shadow, every ridge of earth. Then they settled on a jagged rock jutting from the dirt—rough, small, ordinary. Enough. A chance.
[Equipped Weapon: Jagged Rock (Lv1)]
Kael sprinted toward it, Darkspawn hot on his heels. Breath ragged, adrenaline slicing through fatigue, he dove to the side, gripping the rock as the beast barreled past.
He scrambled upright, hands trembling around the makeshift weapon.
The Darkspawn turned, eyes locking on him, fury born anew. Kael steadied himself.
"I'm not dying here," he muttered. "Not now."
The creature lunged. Kael waited until the last moment—then swung. The rock smashed into the beast's jaw with a sickening crack. It stumbled, dazed.
He didn't hesitate.
Another strike, another.
Black, viscous blood sprayed across his hands and clothes, sharp and metallic. Every swing fueled by fear, survival, and something stirring deep inside—raw determination.
Finally, the beast collapsed. Motionless.
[Darkspawn Defeated]All stats increase by 1Beginner's Luck Chest (Lv1)EXP +200 | SP +2 | Dark Essence x3 | Coins: 250
Kael dropped the rock, chest heaving. He stared at the lifeless form, disbelief mingling with exhilaration.
The Entity's voice returned, calm. "Well done, Kael. You have proven your worth."
Kael sank to his knees, fatigue weighing him down. But beneath the exhaustion, something stirred—power, potential… and awareness.
He waded to a nearby stream, plunging his hands into the cool water, scrubbing the blood away. His reflection stared back. Eyes red, glowing faintly. Dark hair tousled. Jaw sharp, defined. This… was him. Not the boy who had drifted into the void, but someone else. Someone dangerous.
[LEVEL UP]Level 2 AchievedAll stats increase by 1 | SP +2
STR: 8 | AGI: 8 | WIL: 8 | END: 8 | INT: 8 | CHA: 8 | LCK: 8
Power thrummed in his veins. He flexed fingers, feeling the strange thrill of potential stretching outward.
And then he felt it—the shadow of the world around him. Every rustle of grass, every whisper of wind could conceal predators far stronger than the one he had just fought. A cold realization seeped into his bones.
This world wasn't a game. Survival wasn't optional. Every encounter could be death. Every step could be watched.
Fear coursed through him—but beneath it, exhilaration sparked. The thrill of power. The knowledge that he had grown, even slightly, in this cruel, unpredictable world.
He clenched his fists, crimson eyes burning brighter. If he wanted to survive—or even thrive—he would have to gain strength. Power wasn't a choice; it was the only way to stay alive.
"…I see," Kael whispered, voice low but steady. "…I can be strong. I will be. But… if I don't…"
He shivered, thrill and terror mingling.
"No. I must survive this game world."