Kyle’s consciousness floated in the void, weightless and disoriented. A low hum reverberated around him—no, through him—vibrating his very essence.

“Synchronization complete. Analyzing mana resonance levels…”

The voice was dispassionate, mechanical yet strangely soothing, and seemed to come from everywhere at once. Kyle tried to speak, but his thoughts felt muted, trapped beneath the weight of this strange, oppressive darkness.

“Designation confirmed: [User-Class: Initiate]. Mana channels unblocked. Core capacity: 0.04%. Accessing latent potential…”

A jolt surged through Kyle’s body. No longer weightless, he suddenly felt tethered, as though invisible threads were pulling at every fiber of his being. He gasped for air and opened his eyes, but he wasn’t in his apartment anymore. He stood in an endless void, dotted with shimmering points of light. Stars? No… Something else. Each light felt alive, pulsing faintly like tiny, distant heartbeats.

“Welcome to the System,” the voice continued. “You are now connected to the Lattice of the Unseen. This network links all sentient beings capable of interacting with the universal framework. You have been assigned a sector for initialization. [Sector Redacted]. For your safety, critical information remains classified until you achieve a higher clearance level.”

Kyle blinked, trying to process the words. “System? What are you talking about? Where am I? What the hell is going on?”

The voice paused, as though calibrating its response. “The System governs the flow and regulation of mana, the invisible force you call ‘dark matter.’ This energy sustains existence, binds reality, and fuels the capabilities of Users. You have been selected to interact with this force and shape the balance of Sector [Redacted].”

“Dark matter?” Kyle muttered. He remembered reading about it once—some science article about how most of the universe was made of stuff no one could see or measure, only guess at. Now this… thing was telling him it was real, and he could use it?

“Your current level of understanding is insufficient,” the voice interrupted his thoughts. “Mana is the foundation of all things—seen and unseen. As a User, your abilities will depend on your alignment with the Lattice and your capacity to manipulate mana flows. To proceed, you must accept the initiation.”

Kyle narrowed his eyes, a mixture of fear and intrigue sparking in his chest. “What happens if I don’t?”

“Non-compliance will result in immediate termination of this instance. Return to baseline reality will not be possible.”

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. “So, I die if I don’t play along?”

“Affirmative.”

Kyle let out a bitter laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Figures. Okay, fine. What’s next?”

A glowing interface appeared before him, faint lines and symbols materializing out of thin air. The words “Initiation Menu” hovered at the top, with several options listed below:

1. Core Configuration – Establish mana affinity and primary attributes.

2. Sector Alignment – Assign faction and localized mission parameters.

3. User Skills – Select initial abilities based on Core and Alignment.

4. Universal Access – Unlock limited access to the Lattice network.

“Select an option to begin,” the voice prompted.

Kyle reached out instinctively, his hand moving through the glowing display. As he touched Core Configuration, the world around him shifted. Colors and shapes swirled into focus, and he was standing in a glowing nexus, threads of energy crisscrossing like highways of light.

“Select your mana affinity,” the voice commanded. A set of symbols appeared, each radiating a unique energy:

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• Void: Manipulation of space and gravity, stealth, and disruption.

• Flame: Power, aggression, and rapid destruction.

• Aether: Knowledge, precision, and the ability to weave complex systems.

• Life: Healing, growth, and resilience.

Kyle hesitated, his mind racing. “So, this is like picking a class in a video game?” he asked aloud, his voice echoing in the space.

“No,” the System responded bluntly. “Your choice determines your core essence. It cannot be undone.”

Kyle swallowed hard. His eyes drifted to the glowing symbols, and he reached toward the one that pulsed brightest to him—Aether. The moment his hand touched it, a surge of warmth flooded his chest, and he felt… different. His mind sharpened, and he instinctively understood patterns and connections he’d never seen before.

“Affinity locked: Aether.”

Before Kyle could ask what that meant, the next menu appeared, glowing with choices that would shape his role in this strange, new reality. The voice returned, its tone ever so slightly softer now:

“Welcome to the Awakening, Kyle Trudo. Your journey begins now.”

The glowing nexus around Kyle shifted as the System continued its explanation.

“Core affinity determines your primary interaction with the Lattice of the Unseen. As an Aether-aligned User, you have chosen to master the intricacies of mana flows, knowledge manipulation, and precision energy control. This affinity grants unparalleled access to patterns and connections hidden from lesser beings. Your path will be one of understanding, creation, and influence, rather than brute force or direct confrontation.”

Kyle furrowed his brow. “So… what, I’m a glorified nerd with magic?”

“Incorrect. Aether Users are the architects of the unseen world. You will shape, repair, and unravel the very threads of reality. However, this power requires significant insight and discipline. Raw potential without understanding leads to ruin.”

The System menu expanded, revealing a detailed Mechanics Interface.

System Mechanics Overview

1. Mana Capacity

• Every User has a Mana Core, which determines how much mana they can draw from the Lattice at any given time.

• Kyle’s Current Mana Capacity: 100 units (Base Tier).

• As Kyle grows stronger, his capacity will expand, allowing him to perform more complex and energy-intensive actions.

2. Mana Flow and Resonance

• Mana flows like a river through the Lattice. Aether affinity Users can sense and manipulate these flows with precision.

• Resonance refers to how harmonized Kyle is with the Lattice. The higher his resonance, the more efficiently he can draw and use mana.

• Tip: High resonance allows Kyle to manipulate environmental mana in addition to his own reserves.

3. Skills and Techniques

• Skills are categorized into Passive Enhancements and Active Abilities.

• As an Aether User, Kyle has access to unique skills like:

• Threadweaving: Detect, manipulate, and repair mana flows in objects or people.

• Fractal Casting: Cast multiple spells simultaneously by dividing and focusing mana.

• Mana Constructs: Create tools, barriers, or objects entirely from mana.

4. System Leveling

• Growth is tied to System Levels, gained through experience in using mana effectively or completing tasks dictated by the System.

• Leveling unlocks higher tiers of abilities and access to restricted Lattice knowledge.

• Current Level: Initiate (Level 0).

5. Lattice Network Access

• The Lattice functions as a universal information grid, storing knowledge of all Users and mana flows.

• Aether Users can extract detailed data from the network, such as:

• Weak points in structures.

• The emotional or physical state of others (if mana is present in their aura).

• Historical echoes of mana events, such as battles or rituals.

As the information scrolled across the glowing menu, Kyle rubbed his temples. “So I’ve got a mana pool, resonance levels, and I can basically hack reality if I get good enough? That’s… a lot to take in.”

“Processing is subjective,” the System said flatly, ignoring his sarcasm. “Shall I provide an Aether-specific tutorial?”

Kyle exhaled. “Might as well. I don’t think skipping the manual is an option here.”

“Aether Tutorial: Core Abilities

1. Threadweaving (Passive and Active)”

The System summoned a glowing thread of light before Kyle. It vibrated faintly, like a plucked guitar string, and moved with subtle shifts in the air.

“Aether Users perceive the world in patterns,” the voice explained. “Threadweaving is the foundational skill for manipulating these patterns. Observe.”

The thread flickered, split, and reconnected itself in a seamless loop. As Kyle focused, he saw faint currents of energy radiating outward, connecting to other unseen threads in the distance.

“Touch it,” the System instructed.

Tentatively, Kyle reached out. The moment his fingers brushed the thread, his vision shifted. The nexus exploded into intricate, interwoven lines, each pulsating with faint energy. He could feel the connections—not just see them.“Threadweaving allows you to interact with the fundamental structure of mana flows. You can repair disruptions, redirect energy, or unravel hostile constructs.”

Kyle tried pulling on the thread. It resisted at first, then bent to his will, redirecting its flow toward another glowing point in the distance. The shift felt… natural, as if he’d done it a thousand times before.

“2. Fractal Casting (Active)”

“Now observe mana efficiency,” the System continued. It summoned a set of glowing spheres, each floating equidistant from Kyle.

“In standard casting, Users focus on one spell or action at a time. Aether Users can divide their mana flows, performing simultaneous tasks with reduced efficiency loss. Fractal Casting allows complex multi-spell manipulation.”

Kyle hesitated, then extended his hands toward the spheres. Concentrating, he split his focus between two points, willing mana to flow into both. The first sphere responded immediately, glowing brighter, but the second flickered weakly.

“Dividing focus requires practice. Begin with simpler tasks and expand as your resonance improves.”

“3. Mana Constructs (Active)”

The System summoned a translucent barrier of mana between Kyle and the glowing thread. “Aether Users excel in creating temporary constructs—barriers, tools, or even short-lived weapons. Try to replicate this barrier.”

Kyle stared at the construct, narrowing his eyes. The energy shimmered faintly, rippling like liquid glass. He extended his hand, imagining a barrier in front of him. At first, nothing happened. Then, as he focused on the flow of mana around him, a faint outline began to form.

“Mana Constructs require visualization and precision. Failure results in dissipation or instability.”

With effort, Kyle shaped the barrier into a solid wall, feeling the mana stabilize. It was weaker than the System’s construct, but it held.

“Not bad,” he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Next Steps: Missions and Sector Initialization”

The glowing interface returned, the tutorials fading into the background. “Your initialization is complete,” the System intoned. “Sector Alignment will now begin. Missions will be assigned based on local mana disturbances, ecological balance, and your growth objectives. Do you wish to proceed?”

Kyle hesitated, staring at the swirling threads around him. He felt the weight of the System pressing down—not just a tool, but a responsibility he didn’t ask for.

“Yeah,” he finally said, a grim determination settling in his chest. “Let’s do this.”