Kael’s consciousness wavered as the void around him began to unravel. The oppressive darkness gave way to light, blinding and overwhelming, forcing him to shield his eyes. When his vision adjusted, he found himself standing in a vast, open field. The grass shimmered faintly, glowing with an unnatural silver hue, and the air was thick with an almost electric energy.
"What is this place?" Kael muttered, scanning his surroundings. His voice sounded small against the vastness of the landscape.
This can’t be real, he thought, clenching his fists. But it feels so vivid...
Before he could dwell on his confusion, the voice returned, calm and mechanical, cutting through his thoughts like a blade.
“The Eclipse Core has awakened within you. Accessing initial parameters.”
Kael flinched as the words echoed in his mind. He looked around, expecting to see someone—or something—but the field was empty. The voice seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once.
“Bearer: Kael Ardyn. Origin: Earth. Condition: Stable. Potential: Unmeasured.”
"Wait!" Kael shouted into the empty expanse. "Who are you? What do you mean by 'Eclipse Core'?"
The voice ignored his questions, continuing its cryptic analysis.
“Initializing system integration. Synchronization in progress...”
Kael groaned as a searing pain erupted in his chest, as though something was being carved into his very soul. He clutched at his shirt, gasping for air. A brilliant light engulfed him, and for a moment, he thought he might explode. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain subsided, leaving him trembling but whole.
“What... just happened?” he whispered, his voice shaking.
In response, a faint glow appeared in the air before him, forming a translucent screen. Words began to materialize on its surface, written in glowing, golden text:
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[Eclipse Core System Activated]
* Bearer: Kael Ardyn
* Core Energy Level: Dormant
* Abilities: Locked
Tasks:
1. Survive.
2. Awaken the first ability.
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Kael stared at the screen, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. Is this some kind of game system? The thought felt absurd, but he couldn’t deny the evidence in front of him. A system interface? Abilities? Tasks?
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"This... this can’t be real," he said aloud, shaking his head. "Am I supposed to just accept this?"
“The Eclipse Core has chosen you,” the voice said again, its tone devoid of emotion. “Your survival is paramount. Fail, and the Core will return to dormancy, awaiting a new bearer.”
Kael clenched his fists, frustration bubbling within him. “You keep talking about survival, but you haven’t told me how! What am I supposed to do?”
As if in response, the tranquil atmosphere of the field began to shift. The air grew colder, the silver grass darkening to a sickly gray. In the distance, shadows began to take shape—creatures with twisted forms and glowing red eyes that burned with malevolent intent.
Kael’s heart pounded as the creatures approached, their growls low and guttural. They moved with an eerie, predatory grace, their forms flickering like shadows against the dimming light.
“First Task: Survive.”
The words burned into his mind as the creatures charged.
Kael stumbled backward, his instincts screaming at him to run. But the beasts were fast—too fast. One leapt toward him, its clawed hand swiping through the air. He barely managed to dive out of the way, the claws grazing his shoulder and tearing his shirt. Pain flared, sharp and immediate.
“I don’t even have a weapon!” he shouted, panic rising in his chest.
“The Core responds to your will. Focus. Awaken its power.”
“Awaken its power?” Kael shouted. “How am I supposed to do that?!”
The creature lunged again, and this time Kael felt a surge of desperation. He threw his hands out instinctively, and something deep within him roared to life. A pulse of energy erupted from his body, throwing the creature back with a force that left it crumpled on the ground.
Kael stared at his hands, electricity crackling faintly along his fingertips. His breath came in ragged gasps as the realization hit him: he had tapped into the power of the Core.
The other creatures hesitated, circling him warily now, as if sensing the shift in the battle. Kael’s confidence wavered, but the voice spoke again, steady and guiding.
“Do not hesitate. The power is yours. Command it.”
Kael focused, his heart pounding. The energy within him surged again, and this time he let it flow freely. A brilliant wave of light erupted from his hands, engulfing the remaining creatures. They howled in agony as the light consumed them, their forms dissolving into nothingness.
When the last of them vanished, the field fell silent once more. Kael dropped to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion. The glowing screen reappeared before him, new text written across its surface.
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[Task Completed: Survive]
* Core Energy: Stable
* Abilities Unlocked: 1 (Energy Pulse)
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Kael stared at the screen, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. Relief. Confusion. Fear.
“So this is the power of the Eclipse Core,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.
The voice spoke again, its tone almost... approving. “You have taken your first step. The path ahead will be treacherous, but the Core will guide you. Remember, Kael: power alone is not enough. You must learn to wield it, or it will consume you.”
Kael closed his eyes, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The words lingered in his mind, heavy with meaning.
Learn to wield it... or be consumed.
As the field began to shift once more, Kael steeled himself. Whatever this world had in store for him, he knew one thing for certain: he could no longer look back.
This was his reality now. His fight. His destiny.