The soul flickered faintly as it hovered in a place caught between the realms of life and death. This dimension was quiet, eerily still, as if the very air around it refused to move. Nothing existed here except a strange light that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
In front of the soul, a translucent screen floated in the air, gently pulsing with a soft glow. On it, glowing text appeared in large, clear letters.
(Please Enter Your Desired Name Here:_______)
A voice came from the soul itself. It was deep, masculine, but empty, like it had been hollowed out and left behind by whatever life once filled it.
"So I did die…" the soul said quietly, almost like it was still trying to believe the words even as they left its mouth.
He remembered the moment now. He had been walking across the street when it happened. A truck had come out of nowhere, barreling down the road faster than it should have been. There had been no time to react, no time to think. Just a blinding flash, a sharp impact, and then this.
Below him, the soul could see a landscape consumed by fire. The ground was cracked and glowing like magma. Humanoid figures with twisted horns marched across the scorched terrain, chains wrapped around their ankles and wrists. They toiled endlessly, their bodies hunched, their expressions vacant, like they had already forgotten what freedom ever felt like. The air down there seemed thick with despair.
Above him, far in the sky, a gleaming staircase stretched into the clouds. At the top stood a massive gate made of white marble, with golden symbols etched deep into its surface. Two towering beings stood guard at either side of the gate, their presence radiating power. Their wings, folded behind them, shimmered like starlight. Their faces were stern, watching everything below with eyes that missed nothing.
Despite the weight of what he had just seen, the soul turned its attention back to the screen floating before him. It hovered there patiently, still waiting for input. After a moment of silence, he reached toward the panel and entered a name he had just made up on the spot. There was no meaning behind it, no thought. It simply came to him.
"Vince Murrad," he typed in.
As soon as the name was confirmed, he felt something strange stir inside him. A force began to build, not pulling him upward or downward, but instead tugging from within. It was like something had grabbed the center of his being and was collapsing it inward. His soul began to fold in on itself, compressing, shrinking, twisting until it disappeared completely from the space between life and death.
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Far away, across countless galaxies and hidden dimensions, in a completely different universe, there was a planet unlike anything in his old world. It was massive, a colossal sphere that dwarfed Earth in size and scale. Its surface was wild and ancient, filled with monstrous creatures, uncharted lands, and cities of advanced design and unknown origin.
On one of the many continents of this world, a continent covered entirely by an endless forest, life moved as usual. The trees here grew taller than skyscrapers, their trunks as wide as city blocks. The canopy stretched so high into the sky that sunlight only trickled down in soft patches. Somewhere near the center of this forested land was a city unlike any other. Built into the wilderness, it balanced natural beauty and advanced technology. Towers of glass and metal rose beside living trees. A glowing energy dome surrounded the city, protecting it from whatever threats lurked beyond the forest's edge.
Inside that city, within a tall and well kept school, a student sat quietly at his desk. His face was calm, almost emotionless, as if he did not belong there. His eyes, a pale shade of blue, stared straight ahead with no signs of life or focus.
But then, in an instant, something shifted. Color returned to those eyes, slowly at first, like ink spreading through water. His expression changed as awareness returned to him.
'Where am I?' Vince thought, his mind still foggy. He looked around. The classroom was empty except for him. Other students were still making their way inside, chatting and laughing in the hallway, but he had somehow arrived before them.
After sitting quietly for a few moments, his eyes still fixed on the desk, Vince tried to gather his thoughts. Everything felt foggy, like waking up from a deep, dreamless sleep. But then it all started to come back to him. He remembered what had happened. He had died. That strange screen in the space between life and death, the name he entered, and then being pulled into something unknown. Now he was here, in this world, wherever here actually was.
As his mind began to settle, fragments of memory that didn't belong to him began surfacing. He realized he wasn't completely blind in this new life. Through the remnants of this body's past, he was able to absorb some basic information. Enough to get by, for now.
His name was Vince Murrad, 18 years old, the same exact name he had typed into the screen in that other place. The world he now lived in was called Vireth, and it was nothing like Earth. For starters, it was enormous, far larger than the world he used to know. And it was dangerous. Vireth was home to mysterious structures known as gates, and people who had powers were called awakened.
On this world, most humans survived by living in highly advanced and fortified cities. The wilderness between them was rarely traveled, and most of the other continents had already been overrun by creatures known as beasties, which had come from what were called gate breaks. These events had reshaped the balance of power and survival across Vireth.
The cities were ranked by tiers, with each higher tier offering more safety, more resources, and better infrastructure. There were seven tiers in total. Vince currently lived in a tier four city. From what he understood, that was considered a decent rank, especially if you lived far from the borders of the beast-infested continents.
Everything beyond that was still hazy, but one thing stood out in his mind. Today was the day his school was going to take the students into a low danger gate. That would be their chance to awaken, to kill a monster and unlock their potential.
Vince sat up a little straighter in his chair just as the teacher walked into the room. Mr. Smith entered with a strong, steady pace. He was a muscular man with broad shoulders, standing at about six feet tall. His presence commanded attention without needing to say much. From the memories Vince had inherited, he knew Mr. Smith was an awakened himself. A long scar ran from the corner of his lip, across his eye, and up to his forehead. It gave him a menacing appearance, but his voice betrayed something calmer beneath the surface.
"Alright everyone, settle down," Mr. Smith said, raising a hand slightly. His tone was rough but not unfriendly, like someone used to barking orders but not without reason. "As all of you know, today's the day you'll get your chance to awaken. But before we get to that, I want to explain a few things about gates. Stuff that most civilians have no idea about."
The students began to quiet down. Conversations faded, and everyone turned their attention to the front. Vince leaned back slightly and listened, curious to hear what was coming next.
"First of all," Mr. Smith began, walking slowly in front of the board, "to awaken, you need to enter a gate and kill a monster. That first kill is what unlocks your system. Once it's triggered, you'll be able to pull up your status panel. It'll show you your stats, abilities, and progress. No one else can see your panel unless you choose to show them. So it's private, unless you make it public."
He paused to let that sink in, then continued.
"Second, once you awaken, you'll get something called a prime trait. This trait becomes your main ability. It can be incredibly powerful, like pyrokinesis or teleportation, or it can be… a bit more underwhelming."
Mr. Smith let out a small laugh as he said that, and a few students chuckled along with him.
"I'm not joking either," he added with a smirk. "I once met a guy whose prime trait was manipulating leather. Just leather. Nothing else. And somehow, he still managed to become one of the top ranked awakened in his zone. Don't ask me how he did it, I still have no idea. But he pulled it off."
He scratched his chin and shook his head as if trying to recall the details, but then moved on.
"Now, third," he said, raising three fingers, "gate permission. This is where things get really interesting. If you're the first person to clear a gate that has never been cleared before, you get full access to it. That means you control the entire gate. You decide when the boss spawns. You set how many monsters appear. You control who gets to enter and who gets kicked out. You can even assign someone to manage the gate for you if you don't want to handle it yourself."
He stopped walking and faced the class directly, making sure he had everyone's attention.
"It goes beyond that, too. You can alter the gate's structure. For example, you could command all the mana crystals inside to come directly to you. You could make a castle appear in the middle of the gate and fill it with gate beasts. There are so many possibilities that people are still figuring it all out."
A few students whispered among themselves, their curiosity piqued. Mr. Smith looked around the room and nodded knowingly.
"Of course, there's a catch," he said. "People can break into your gates if they're strong enough. That's why awakened individuals who own gates usually hire guards or build alliances to protect them. Owning a gate is power. And the more gates you control, the more influence you have. That's why most awakened aim to become gate masters. It's one of the most respected and dangerous paths you can take."
Vince sat up slightly in his chair, suddenly more alert. The idea of owning and controlling an entire gate sparked something inside him. The thought of shaping his own world inside a gate, commanding it however he wanted, felt unreal. It was one of the coolest things he had ever heard.
Mr. Smith clapped his hands together and looked around the classroom. "Alright, all of you should have a knife in your desk. Strap it to your side. We leave in about three minutes for the gate," he said casually as he reached down to the side of his desk and pulled out a massive greatsword. With practiced ease, he strapped it across his back.
Without wasting time, Vince leaned forward and opened the desk in front of him. Inside was a knife that, to be honest, looked more like a short sword than any regular blade. It was thick, long, and had the heft of a large machete. He drew it from its sheath, feeling the cold metal in his grip. As the blade caught the light, he caught a glimpse of his reflection.
Red hair. Blue eyes. Pale skin that was almost the color of vanilla ice cream. It didn't even feel like he was looking at himself.
(Picture Here If You Want To See)
Mr. Smith's voice cut through the moment. "Mr. Murrad, you want some advice from a vet, yeah?" He stood nearby with his arms crossed, looking down at Vince like he had seen this a hundred times before.
Vince straightened up a little and gave a nervous reply. "Uh… yeah, sure, Mr. Smith."
The older man gave a small nod. "Don't ever pull your blade out unless you're ready to use it. A drawn blade is a promise. Now sheath the knife and strap it to your waist."
His voice wasn't scolding. If anything, it had a steady, fatherly tone to it. Firm, but not harsh.
"Yes sir," Vince replied quickly. He slid the blade back into its sheath and buckled it to his side just as he had been told.
Mr. Smith turned toward the front of the classroom. "Alright, everyone ready?"
A collective round of "yes" answered him, and the class filed out, following him down the hallway and out the front doors. Waiting outside was a large, sleek bus that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie more than a school parking lot. Its surface shimmered faintly with energy, and the windows were tinted so dark you could barely see inside.
Vince was one of the first to get on. He walked all the way to the back of the bus and took the window seat. He liked the quiet. Being alone helped him think. But his brief moment of peace didn't last long. A girl stepped onto the bus and walked straight toward him, sitting down in the seat beside him without hesitation.
She was beautiful in a sort of effortless way. Her hair was brown and flowed like waves down her shoulders. Her eyes were a bright orange that almost seemed to glow. Piercings decorated both her ears, giving her a kind of cool, rebellious vibe that most girls tried too hard to fake.
(Picture Here If You Want To See)
Vince remembered her name from the memories in his head. Isle Bennett. Though spelled with an "s," it was pronounced "Ile." Kind of a weird name, but he wasn't about to judge.
"Umm, hi?" he said, trying to spark some kind of conversation. It was awkward, but it was better than sitting in silence.
Isle turned to him and smiled. "You know, Vince, you seem a little different today. I mean, I know we've never really talked before, but I've seen you around. Your eyes used to look… kind of dead, honestly. Like, empty. But today they're vibrant. That blue is bright. I just wanted to say I like your eye color. Is it natural?"
Vince let out a short laugh. "Yeah, my eyes have always been blue. I was just… going through rough times, you could say."
She nodded slightly, as if that explained enough for her.
"I like your eyes too," Vince added, trying to keep the conversation going. "Orange is one of my favorite colors."
"Really? Thank you," she said, twirling a strand of her hair around one finger. There was a light smile on her face now, relaxed and easy.
Vince leaned back into the seat and let himself enjoy the comfort. "So what do you think your prime trait will be?"
Isle looked up for a moment, thinking. "Hmm, I'm not sure. My dad's trait is earth based, and my mom's is fire. So I'm guessing I'll get something in that range. Maybe earth, fire, or if I'm really lucky, something like lava."
"That'd be badass," Vince said with a nod. "I have no clue what mine's gonna be though."
"Mhm," she hummed in agreement. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
They kept chatting, going back and forth about small things. The nervous energy that had filled the bus when they first got on slowly faded as the ride went on. Vince wasn't used to this kind of casual talk, but with Isle, it felt easy.
About ten minutes later, the bus pulled up to a massive compound. Towering walls surrounded the entire facility, and guards patrolled the tops, weapons at the ready. Most of them carried swords, though a few had what looked like high grade firearms. From what Vince could tell, those were mostly used by people whose prime traits didn't do much in combat.
The bus slowed as it approached a heavily guarded checkpoint. Four figures dressed entirely in black tactical gear walked up to the windows, peering inside. They looked sharp, serious, and clearly well trained. Mr. Smith stood near the front and held up a card. As soon as the guards saw it, they stepped back and waved the bus through without a word.
The bus rolled through the open gate and came to a smooth stop inside the compound. In the center of the large, open yard stood a massive structure. It looked like a gate, just like the ones Vince had heard about. Green doors marked its entrance, and tall white pillars framed either side. Energy pulsed faintly around it like it was alive, waiting.
The students stood up and began filing out. Vince followed behind the others, stepping down onto the solid ground outside. Mr. Smith stayed behind for a moment to make sure no one had been left on the bus, then stepped off after them, his sword gleaming faintly in the morning light.
"Alright, that's twenty out of twenty students," Mr. Smith said, giving a satisfied nod as he looked over the group. "Good. Now listen up. When we enter the gate, I don't want anyone straying from me. Stay within a ten meter radius at all times. We'll be awakening you all in alphabetical order, so keep your heads straight."
As they walked toward the massive green doors of the gate, Mr. Smith went over the rules and procedures again. His voice was steady, commanding, but not rushed. The gate loomed in front of them, its bright green color contrasting with the white stone pillars that framed it. Vince glanced around to see if anything else was changing, but everything outside the gate remained the same. Yet, when he looked through the doorway, the world beyond was completely different. A dry, sun scorched desert stretched endlessly inside.
Mr. Smith stepped through the threshold without hesitation. "Alright, everyone, inside with me."
One by one, the students followed, and the moment Vince crossed the threshold, he felt a wave of heat crash against his face. The air was dry and thick, the sand beneath their feet already starting to seep into their shoes. The gate closed behind them with a loud, final sound that echoed faintly through the desert wind.
A student in the back raised his hand, clearly uncomfortable in the heat. Sweat was already beading on his forehead.
"What's your question?" Mr. Smith asked, folding his arms as he turned toward the boy.
"How are we getting out of here?" the student asked, his voice cracking slightly as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"Once you all awaken, I'll take out the boss. That'll open the exit and we'll be able to leave," Mr. Smith answered, his voice calm but firm.
With no further questions, the group began walking. Sand shifted underfoot with every step as they moved across the blistering terrain. After several minutes, they came across a crumbling set of ruins. The broken stone walls were partially buried in the sand, and old, tattered tents were still staked around the area, hinting that someone or something had once made camp there.
Before anyone could speak, a sharp screech echoed through the ruins. Then another. From the shadows between the ruins, a group of creatures burst forward. They were small and hunched, their bodies leathery and covered in patches of dry, cracked skin. In their hands, they clutched broken iron swords. Sand goblins.
The group flinched, some students backing away instinctively, but before the creatures could reach them, Mr. Smith raised his hand and cast a powerful wall of flame across the front line. The fire roared to life in an instant, forcing the goblins to stop in their tracks.
"Adam, come forward," Mr. Smith called out.
The student who had asked about the exit stepped toward him, clearly nervous but trying not to show it.
"Take your knife out and get ready," Mr. Smith said. His tone was steady, offering guidance but expecting results.
Adam nodded and drew his knife, holding it up in a defensive stance.
Mr. Smith swiped his hand again, lowering a small section of the flame wall. One goblin darted through the gap, snarling and swinging its jagged weapon. It didn't bother with Mr. Smith. Instead, it locked onto Adam and charged straight for him.
Adam didn't panic. As soon as the goblin was close, he swung his blade horizontally at its neck. The goblin's throat was its weak point, and the blade sliced clean through it. A spray of yellow blood hit the sand as the goblin's head hit the ground.
"Huff… that was easier than I thought," Adam said, breathing hard but clearly relieved. A moment later, he heard a soft ding in his head and saw a glowing panel appear before him.
(Name: Adam Vinri)
(Level: 1)
(Strength: 11)
(Speed: 7)
(Agility: 6)
(Durability: 12)
(Prime Trait: Ferrikinesis – Manipulate Iron)
(Secondary Skills: None)
Mr. Smith raised an eyebrow, noting Adam's grin.
"So, what'd you get?" he asked, curious but not overly excited.
"Ferrikinesis," Adam said proudly.
"So you can control fairies?" one of the students in the back asked while fanning himself with his hand.
A few students laughed at the joke, and Adam flushed.
"No, I can manipulate iron, dickhead," he snapped back, though there was a bit of a smile on his face too.
The class let out a few more chuckles. It was clear to everyone that Ferrikinesis sounded pretty damn useful.
"Alright, good. Get back with the group," Mr. Smith said with a nod. "Next!"
One by one, students were called forward. Eventually, Mr. Smith looked up and called, "Isle, come forward."
Isle stepped out of the group, her knife already in hand. Her expression shifted focused, intense, confident. Mr. Smith lowered another section of flame, and a sand goblin burst through. It screeched as it lunged at her, slashing with a broken blade.
Isle dodged at the last second, just narrowly avoiding the attack. She spun around quickly, and in one clean motion, stabbed the goblin in the back of the neck. It choked violently, stumbling forward before collapsing face first into the sand.
A familiar chime echoed in her mind, and her panel appeared before her.
(Name: Isle Bennett)
(Level: 1)
(Strength: 8)
(Speed: 10)
(Agility: 13)
(Durability: 6)
(Prime Trait: Igniklingenesis – Manipulate Physical Flame Swords)
(Secondary Skills: None)
Mr. Smith caught the look of confusion on her face as she stared at the word.
She glanced at him and said, "I can't pronounce it, but it says I can manipulate physical flame swords."
Mr. Smith gave a thoughtful nod. "Pretty powerful if you use it right. Then again, anything's powerful if you use it right. Anyway, next!"
More names were called, one after the other, until Mr. Smith finally said, "Alright, Vince. Come over here."
Vince stepped forward, his knife already out and ready. Mr. Smith lowered the fire wall again, and another goblin came racing through the gap.
But Vince didn't wait for it to strike. He moved first, dashing forward with sharp intent. As the goblin raised its claws to attack, Vince turned the edge of his blade toward the creature's hand. When the goblin swiped, the knife met it with precision, using its own momentum against it. Sparks flew from the impact, and the goblin recoiled from the pain. Vince didn't hesitate. He stepped in and slashed across its neck, watching as it collapsed into the sand, twitching slightly before it died.
A chime rang in his ears, and then the system panel appeared in front of him.
(Name: Vince Murrad)
(Level: 1)
(Strength: 10)
(Speed: 10)
(Agility: 9)
(Durability: 9)
(Prime Trait: Zephyrixkinesis – Manipulate Air and Set Air on Fire/Explode)
(Secondary Skills: None)
Vince stared at the screen, his mouth slightly open.
Mr. Smith tilted his head. "What is it?"
"Zephyrixkinesis," Vince said slowly. "I can manipulate air… and set it on fire… and make it explode…"
The air around them went completely still.
Every student along with Mr. Smith just stared at him. Most of the others had gotten decent traits, some more useful than others. But this? Vince basically got three abilities in one.
"Holy shit," someone finally muttered from the group.