NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 2: System Guide
Kael Relan's existence had been a series of still moments, captured in a haze of monotony and discontent. But today, that stillness shattered.
The dull hum of the classroom was gone, replaced by silence so profound it seemed to vibrate in his bones. Kael was no longer seated at his desk, surrounded by bored classmates.
Instead, he floated in darkness—a vast, endless void.
There was no ground, no sky, just him and the emptiness.
Yet the void was not silent.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
New PLAYER Detected…
PLAYER matched ASCENDANT condition
The words reverberated through the space, deep and resonant, like the voice of a god speaking directly to him.
Kael blinked, his thoughts sluggish as if waking from a deep sleep.
"What… what is this?" he whispered, his voice echoing faintly.
[Ascendant Player: Confirmed]
[Strong Desires for Second Life—Confirmed]
The words made no sense, but Kael could feel their weight pressing down on him. Death? Second life? A faint spark of understanding flickered in his chest.
Was he… dead?
He tried to recall what had happened. The classroom, the professor's droning voice, the overwhelming dizziness—it all came back in fragments. He remembered the suffocating pressure in his chest, the world spinning out of focus, and the darkness swallowing him whole.
But now, there was this.
[Conditions Met—Ascension System Unlocked]
[Matching Player with System Guide. Accessing Database]
"What… Ascension System? The MMORPG?" Kael's voice trembled, teetering between disbelief and hope.
[Match Found. Assigning Guide to ASCENDANT PLAYER.]
The darkness around him shifted. Lines of light began to weave through the void, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with energy. Kael watched in awe as the patterns coalesced into something tangible—a glowing, humanoid figure.
The figure had no face, just a smooth, featureless surface where one should have been. Its body was composed of pure light, its edges shimmering like starlight.
"Welcome, Ascendant Player Kael Relan," it said, its voice calm and melodic, yet carrying an undeniable authority.
Kael stared, his mind racing. "What… what's going on? Where am I?"
The figure tilted its head slightly, as if amused by his confusion. "You stand at the precipice of rebirth. The life you knew is over. The Ascension System has chosen you as its newest player, granting you a chance to rewrite your destiny."
"Rewrite… my destiny?" Kael's heart pounded. The words seemed too good to be true. "I don't understand. Why me? I'm no one. I'm—"
"—weak?" the Entity interrupted, its tone sharp but not unkind. "Your life may have been defined by frailty, but your will is strong. Strong enough to awaken the Rebirth Core."
[REBIRTH CORE ACTIVATED]
A surge of energy coursed through Kael's body, forcing him to his knees. It was overwhelming—both pain and ecstasy rolled into one. He gasped as his vision exploded with light, fragments of memories flashing before his eyes.
He saw himself as a child, watching other kids play from behind a fence. He saw the countless hours spent alone, trapped by a body that refused to cooperate. He saw the quiet moments of despair, the nights spent wishing for a different life.
And then, he saw something new.
A version of himself standing tall and unyielding, wielding power that defied imagination. His figure was cloaked in shadow and light, his eyes burning with determination. Eyes color of red rubies set with determination.This was not the Kael he had known—this was someone stronger, someone unstoppable.
The vision faded, leaving Kael breathless.
"What… what was that?" he managed to choke out.
"Your potential," 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, his mind spinning. "And what if I fail?"
The Entity's glowing form leaned closer, its voice dropping to a near whisper. "Then you die. Permanently."
The words sent a chill down Kael's spine, but there was no time to rest. The void around him began to shift again, the patterns of light expanding to form a new landscape.
He found himself standing on a vast, barren plain under a sky filled with swirling clouds of violet and gold. In the distance, jagged mountains loomed, their peaks piercing the heavens. The air was thick with the hum of power, and Kael could feel it thrumming through his veins.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[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, his breath catching in his throat. Emerging from the shadows was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.
It was massive, its body covered in scales that glistened like obsidian. Its eyes burned with a malevolent red light, and its claws looked sharp enough to rend steel.
[Darkspawn—Level 2]
Entering battle mode.
Kael's stomach dropped. "Level 2? I don't even know what level I am!"
The Entity's voice echoed in his mind. "You are Level 1. You have no weapons, no skills, and no experience. Your survival depends entirely on your wits and determination."
The Darkspawn roared, the sound shaking the ground beneath Kael's feet. It charged, its massive form barreling toward him with terrifying speed.
Panic surged through Kael, but he forced it down.
Think, Kael. Think!
He scanned the plain, searching for anything he could use. His eyes landed on a jagged rock jutting out of the ground a few feet away.
[Equipped Weapon: Jagged Rock (Lv1)]
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward it, the beast hot on his heels. He could feel its breath on his back, its claws grazing the air just behind him.
At the last second, Kael dove to the side, grabbing the rock as he rolled. The beast slammed into the ground where he had been standing, its momentum carrying it past him.
Kael scrambled to his feet, gripping the rock tightly. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
The Darkspawn turned, its eyes locking onto him with renewed fury. Kael's heart pounded as he raised the rock, his hands trembling.
"I'm not dying here," he muttered, more to himself than the beast. "Not now. Not ever."
The Darkspawn roared again, charging once more. Kael stood his ground, waiting until the last possible moment. Then, with all the strength he could muster, he swung the rock.
The makeshift weapon connected with the beast's jaw, a sickening crack echoing through the air. The creature stumbled, dazed but not defeated.
Kael didn't wait for it to recover. He darted forward, slamming the rock into its head again and again, each strike fueled by desperation and rage.
Finally, the beast collapsed, its body motionless.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Darkspawn Defeated]
[Level Up: Level 2 Achieved]
[Beginner's Luck Chest (Lv1)]
[EXP +200]
[SP +1]
[Dark Essence x 3]
[Coins: 250]
Kael dropped the rock, his chest heaving. He stared at the beast's lifeless form, a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration washing over him.
The Entity's voice returned, calm and measured. "Well done, Player Kael. You have proven your worth."
Kael sank to his knees, exhaustion overtaking him. But beneath the fatigue, a spark of something new had taken root—hope.
For the first time in his life, Kael Relan felt powerful.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Next Tutorial Quest: Begin Your Journey]
Destination: Evergrove
Objective: Meet the town elder and assist him in collecting herbs.
You have yet to complete the tutorial quest.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Main Quest Now Available]
You have five incomplete main quests.
Kael's gaze lingered on the notification, curiosity sparking within him. Main quests? he thought, intrigued by the possibilities. Eager to investigate further, he reached out to open the menu—but was promptly met with an error message.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
You have not reached the required level or fulfilled the necessary conditions to access Main Quests.
Conditions:
Meet your System Guide – IncompleteReach Level 5 – IncompleteComplete the Tutorial Quest – Incomplete
Kael frowned, the sharp sting of disappointment settling in. Looks like I've got some work to do, he thought, determination taking hold as he prepared to tackle the road ahead.
But then, his eyes narrowed in confusion. One of the listed conditions didn't make sense. Meet your System Guide? he thought. I've already done that, haven't I?
The question gnawed at him, leaving him puzzled and uneasy. What's going on here?
"System guide? Aren't you the system guide?" Kael asked, his voice tinged with confusion. His words were directed toward the mysterious entity that had long since settled deep in his subconscious.
A faint chuckle echoed in his mind, followed by a calm, resonant voice. "No, I'm not," the entity replied, its tone carrying an air of detached amusement.
Kael frowned, the lines of confusion deepening on his face. "Then… what are you?" he asked, his voice firm, yet laced with curiosity.
The silence that followed felt heavier than it should have, as though the entity was carefully weighing its response.