Karl's knees hit the shimmering surface of the Nexus, and for a heartbeat, the world tilted. The ruins of New York, the burning trails, the obliterated Erebions—all of it dissolved into nothing, replaced by a vast, twisting expanse of radiant energy and swirling light. He staggered back, only to find… he wasn't injured. Not a scratch. Not even a burn that lingered. Every fracture, every muscle strain, every internal torque overload had been rewritten at the molecular level by the Nexus.
His chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, cerulean eyes scanning the luminous void. Panic surged like Vythra in his veins.
Karl (voice sharp, tense): "Wait… wait… did I… did I die just now?!"
Agnes's voice cut through the chaos, sultry and teasing, wrapping around him like silk:
Agnes (purring): "Ohh… don't be so dramatic, Karl… you didn't die… at least, not yet~"
Karl's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Karl: "Not yet? Agnes… that doesn't sound very reassuring."
Agnes (playful, stretching each word): "Mm~ you really want reassurance when you were… ohhh… pushing me like that? Careful~ Karl, you've got me all… stirred up again~"
She sounded impossibly alive in his headset, every word dripping with teasing intent. Karl's face flushed under his visor, but he refused to admit it—his ego demanded control.
Karl (gritting his teeth, smirk forming): "Control? I'm in full control, Agnes… unlike someone else I know~"
Agnes's laugh, low and teasing, was almost a caress.
Agnes: "Ohhh Karl… don't flatter yourself… but… I do like it when you're eager~ Yes… keep that fire alive~"
Her voice drew him in, the teasing tone blending with the heat of their previous synchronicity. And yet, underneath it all, there was a playful softness—a reminder that even when she flustered him, she was his guide, his partner in this Hazard state, and now, in this Nexus.
Karl shook his head, trying to focus, but the adrenaline, the tease, the intensity of the moment—it all combined into a dizzying high. He gripped the Drive Regulator, revving it experimentally, letting the familiar hum ground him.
Agnes (voice sultry, a hint of fluster under the teasing): "Ahhh… that's it, Karl~ feel every pulse… every spin… yes~ you're… magnificent~"
Karl's heart raced. For the first time since the Requiem Ignition, he allowed himself a small, victorious grin. He was alive, untouchable, and—with Agnes teasing him like this—unstoppable.
Agnes (final whisper, teasingly breathless): "Are… y-you… Re…ady~!!"
The Nexus stretched before him, infinite possibilities and threats awaiting—but Karl was no longer just a Rider. He was a storm of Royal Azure, a perfect fusion of soul and machine, and with Agnes by his side, there was no limit to what he could unleash next.
Karl's chest still heaving from the intensity of the Requiem Ignition, the Nexus stretching infinitely before him, a familiar voice suddenly cut through the luminous void. It was deep, resonant, impossibly calm—and unmistakably divine.
Hephaestus: "Well… well… I'll be damned. Phase One… completed in record time."
Karl's eyes widened. "Hephaestus?! What… how are you—why am I… here?"
Hephaestus (chuckling): "Ah… patience, Karl. You've proven more resilient than I anticipated. Most would have shattered—or perished entirely—by now."
Karl tightened his grip on the Drive Regulator, his voice wary. "Survived? I did survive… barely. But why me? What's the point of all this?"
Hephaestus: "Ah, this is more than mere survival. Listen closely. Every Chosen… every one of them… experiences what we call Near Death Ascensions, NDA for short."
Karl (frowning): "Near Death… Ascensions?"
Hephaestus: "Correct. Every time a Chosen experiences a near-death moment—like you just did with the Requiem Ignition—they gain a portion of latent potential. Growth beyond their normal limits, abilities that the soul alone could not achieve. These are not handed out lightly."
Karl's gaze sharpened. "So… every time I almost die, I… get stronger?"
Hephaestus: "Precisely. But there's a structure. NDA occurs in milestones—numbers you must reach to unlock a new tier of power. Listen carefully, Karl. Five deaths… ten deaths… fifty… one hundred… five hundred… and finally… one thousand."
Karl's eyes widened, disbelief and awe mingling. "A thousand? You're saying I could… die a thousand times? And each… time I'd gain something?"
Hephaestus (tone almost proud): "Exactly. Each near-death moment chisels the soul, fusing experience with potential. Each milestone grants a tangible reward—a new ability, enhancement, or mastery over forces beyond your comprehension. When the proper number is reached… the Chosen is returned to the Cradle, to claim their reward."
Karl muttered under his breath, a mix of incredulity and grim determination. "Five… ten… fifty… one thousand… That's insane. But if that's what it takes…"
Hephaestus (voice echoing like molten metal): "You are far from done, Karl. The NDA is not punishment—it is evolution. Embrace it… and continue forward. Many Chosen falter long before their first milestone. But you… you have survived the first test."
The Nexus shimmered, and Karl felt a subtle shift in his soul—resonance from the NDA already beginning to ripple through him. He looked down at his glowing hands, the Drive Regulator humming gently, and felt… ready.
Karl (quietly, with a hint of resolve): "Then let's see how far this goes."