Zion sat cross-legged on the worn carpet of his childhood room, the familiar walls closing in around him. He leafed through his father's notes, feeling a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty swirling within him. Today marked his first attempt at transforming his Strings into Threads, a task that still eluded him.

Within the pages, he found a tangle of possibilities, reflections of his father's resilience and his own sense of purpose. He saw himself as a protector, like his father, bearing the burden of others' troubles while facing adversity head-on. At the same time, he envisioned himself as a weapon, ready to confront any challenge with quiet determination. Yet, amidst these images, he also felt a sense of expansiveness, as if he were connected to everything around him in a way he couldn't fully comprehend.

With a sigh, Zion broke away from his thoughts, realizing he had been lost in meditation for hours. Frustration gnawed at him as he struggled to focus on a single aspect of himself. Each time he tried, another aspect of his identity clamored for attention, leaving him feeling scattered and uncentered.

Turning back to his father's notes on creating Threads, Zion sought guidance in the sparse passages. They emphasized the importance of choosing a mantra that resonated with one's inner truth, something that would inspire a sense of strength and purpose when spoken aloud.

Zion sat amidst the scattered remnants of his failed attempts, five discarded phrases representing hours of fruitless effort. Each had been crafted with care, rooted in his deepest beliefs, and yet, none had sparked the desired transformation. Frustration gnawed at him as he reflected on his past trials, from the adrenaline-fueled rush of his first battle to the crushing defeat at Randan's hands. Searching for patterns, for hints of what lay ahead, he delved into his memories.

Then, as if from the depths of his subconscious, a voice pierced through the haze of his thoughts. It began as a whisper, soft and distant, but grew louder until it reverberated through his being, transporting him once more to the Null Zone. The pristine white walls quivered, a sign of instability, yet in the center of the room sat Ki, her form slumped in an opulent chair, exhaustion etched upon her features.

"Zion, it's a relief to see you unharmed," Ki's voice, usually melodic, emerged hoarse with fatigue. "I couldn't sense you until recently; my powers were depleted. I feared the worst."

Zion reached out, urging her to conserve her energy. "You saved me from the Nil. I owe you my life. Rest, please."

Her smile, though faint, held a glimmer of warmth. "I took pleasure in putting Hatri in his place," she confessed, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"Why do you struggle with your ascension?" she asked, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

Surprised by her knowledge, Zion questioned how she knew despite their severed connection.

"You fueled my recovery with your words and blessings," Ki explained hastily, time slipping away. "Deities draw strength from their followers. But I have little time. Why do you struggle?"

“That's a loaded question, Ki,” Zion explained, his voice heavy with uncertainty, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his doubts. “I don't know what I am. I possess the ability to tread so many paths. How do I choose where to focus?” His plea hung in the air, desperate for guidance.

“Why must you choose? Why not embrace them all?” Ki’s response sounded like nonsense to Zion.

“No one can be everything, Ki, not even you. So how could I, when I'm just a normal man?” Zion retorted, finally surrendering to the floor, his legs unable to bear his uncertainty any longer.

Ki regarded him with gentle eyes, a hint of her former strength returning to her posture. “People often fixate on following a straight path, but life isn't like that. It's a winding journey filled with twists and turns, dead ends, and unexpected opportunities.”

“Zion, you are no ordinary man. You aren't even a man at all. You are a Manaborn, and I wish I had more time to explain,” she interjected before Zion could press her further on that revelation. “You are meant to serve as a conduit to all that is possible with mana. You are a driving force, an unstoppable entity.”

The room trembled more violently now, the vibrations coursing through the floor. Ki's discomfort was evident, and her breaths were labored as she fought to maintain her composure. Yet, she lifted her head once more, meeting Zion's gaze with a flicker of the fiery determination that defined her.

“Zion, you know who you are. You've known since you agreed to be my Herald. You reaffirmed it when you withstood the power of a God,” her words sparked a sudden realization within Zion, his heart quickening with newfound clarity.

“I will see you soon, Zion. For now, heed the will of Yon and that pompous Nova. Good luck, my young Herald,” with those parting words, the Null Zone collapsed, and Zion was thrust back into real-time.

Zion wasted no time dwelling on Ki's shaken visit. With determination etched on his features, he settled back into his meditative stance, diving deep into the recesses of his being. He sought out that elusive phrase, the one that had ignited a flicker of light within him during Ki's cryptic words. As he found it, he felt a surge of anticipation welling up within him, like breaking the surface of water after a deep dive.

"I embody the relentless momentum of progress. Like the unyielding surge of mana, I transcend all barriers. I am perpetual and infinitely evolving," he declared, his voice resonating with newfound conviction.

The words acted as a catalyst, igniting a torrent of energy within him. His mana surged with excitement, coursing through his veins like a wildfire, urging his muscles into action. He felt an overwhelming urge to move, to push beyond limits previously thought insurmountable. It was as if he could charge headlong into the Void itself and emerge victorious.

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Harnessing this newfound momentum, he allowed his consciousness to meld with the flow of mana, surrendering to its power. He became acutely aware of his stats and how they shaped and molded his physical form. Delving deeper, he observed the intricate workings of his body, witnessing the ceaseless cycle of repair and enhancement.

Then, he stumbled upon them: the fundamental building blocks of his being. Floating at his core, the strings formed a perfect circle, each bolstering the other with its unique power. Some glowed with a vibrant intensity; among them, the one representing Arcane Harmony stood out. With a gentle touch of his mind, Zion reached out to caress the string, only to be met with resistance. It squirmed within his grasp, resisting his attempts to control it, until suddenly, it shattered into countless fragments, each one fighting to break free.

He held firm, recalling his father's teachings from the worn pages of the book: stay true to your mantra, let it shape your Threads. With a gentle release, he allowed the strands to weave and intertwine, guiding their movements in a graceful dance of energy. Each thread represented a facet of his being, a reflection of his race, his essence.

They looped and spun around the other Strings until you couldn't see any gaps between them. He led all the remaining strings in this manner, over and over. When he was done, a soft azure glow radiated from every one of his abilities, his skills, reinforcing them with his ideals. The room seemed to pulsate with the vibrant energy he had infused into the Threads.

Then, with a steady hand, he grabbed a single strand from every String and began to turn them in a perfect spiral. Up and up they went, ascending to a crescendo of power. As they reached their zenith, they began to move downwards, repeating the spiral once again. Each rotation added depth and complexity to the weave, enhancing the resonance of his being with every turn.

As the Threads pulsed with energy around him, Zion felt a presence burgeoning within his soul, akin to the sparks of a fire waiting to ignite. With gentle encouragement, he nurtured the sensation, willing it to expand and envelop him. And then, in a burst of brilliance, it erupted like one of his aether storms.

Bright blue mana surged through him, flooding every fiber of his being with newfound power. Muscles thickened, bones hardened, and a surge of vitality coursed through his veins. With the infusion of energy, his organs became more efficient, his body requiring less external assistance to function.

And just like that, his consciousness was drawn from its center, pulled into the ever-shifting currents of the Weave, where infinite possibilities awaited.

Zion opened his eyes with a deep breath, relishing the newfound sensations coursing through his enhanced body. It was a pleasant feeling as if every aspect of his being had been refined and sharpened. His vision was sharper, his hearing more acute, and even his sense of smell seemed heightened.

With no time to waste, he activated a port stone and materialized in front of the government building. People quickly made way for him as he sprinted up the stairs and burst into Ludwig's office without so much as a knock.

Ludwig's face lit up with excitement as Zion entered in a rush. "I can sense that you tiered up, Zion. Congratulations!" Ludwig practically hummed with enthusiasm, abandoning his meeting table to focus entirely on Zion.

"It took me a while, but I finally grasped what I was aiming for, thanks to Ki. She appeared—" Zion began, matching Ludwig's excitement, but was cut off by Ludwig's tight embrace.

"There's no time, Zion. You must proceed to the pillars and exit before your time runs out," Ludwig interjected firmly, though his eyes sparkled with a childlike joy. "I'll leave correspondence at the mail hub in Valor. Your father would be so proud!"

Zion returned the embrace, nodding in agreement. "Thank you, Ludwig, for everything. This will forever be my home, even if I may not be able to return." With quick steps, he rushed out of the building; his increased speed eliciting surprised squeaks from those nearby. Once outside, he activated another port stone and appeared in front of the travel pillars.

Taking one last glance around, Zion soaked in the quaint atmosphere, memories flooding his mind—both cherished moments and burdensome sorrows. Placing his hand on the pillar, he imagined Valor. "Thank you, Mom and Dad. I will make you proud." And with that, he disappeared into the shimmering light, his next adventure awaiting him.

(Ahead is Zion's current Status screen and Inventory. Please skip ahead if you do not wish to read it. Thank you)

Status:

Name: Zion

Title: Herald

Race: Manaborn

Class: Magus

Level: 10

Tier: Thread

Faction: None

Health: 0

Mana: 1275/1275

Power: 0

Speed: 0

Fortitude: 0

Vitality: 0

Affinity: 28 (+2 from item)

Acuity: 31

Resolve: 29 (4 from item)

Spirit: 31

Skills: 5/5

Short blades (Journeyman)

Shields (Journeyman)

Jewel Crafting (Apprentice)

Mining (Apprentice)

Speech (Apprentice)

Abilities: 10/10

Arcane Harmony (Racial)

Surge (Active)

Kinetic Movement (Active)

Sundering Slash (Active)

Burst Bolt (Channel)

Arcane Barrier (Channel)

Arcane Blade (Active)

Aether Storm (Active, AOE)

Avatar of Aether (Active)

Elemental Blitz (Active)

Inventory:

Mom’s Letter

Dad’s Tier Notes

Coin Pouch: 1029G, 203S, 306C

Port Stone Pouch: Port stones x 10

Cleaning Crystals x 4

Rations x 14

Advance rations x 5

Canteen x 14

Stew x 6

Mining Kit x 1

Jewel Crafting Kit x 1

Basic Comm Bracelet (Common)

Distress Ring (Common)

Ring of Continuance (Uncommon)

Clasp of the Goddess (Uncommon)

Belt of the Alchemist (Rare)

Ki's Embrace (Artifact)

Mana Spike Shield (Uncommon)

Chestpiece of the Rocky Tortoise (Uncommon)

Onyx Bane (Rare)

Spinneret Mantle (Uncommon)