The next morning, the sky in Lunaris began to turn golden. After a long, sleepless night, Arjuna decided that if any place held the answers to that "other entity," there was only one destination: the Esmeria Tower.
With Lira and Eve, he walked through the bustling city's main street. The tower's silhouette loomed in the distance, gleaming in the slowly descending daylight.
Lira, on the other hand, looked nervous, gripping her bow tightly.
"Arjuna... this really is the largest guild in all of Lunaris, isn't it?" she asked quietly, looking up.
Arjuna nodded. "Yes. Eve said this is the headquarters of the guild ranking system in this region."
["The Esmeria Tower is identified as the main synchronization point between the physical world and the Aetherion system network. All adventurer data is recorded, stored, and regularly updated at this location, Master."]
"Hm... like a central server, huh?" Arjuna muttered.
[Eve: Right. However—]
Eve's voice suddenly stopped. Her hologram flickered faintly in the air.
His face fell, his expression uncharacteristic.
[Eve: Warning. External resonance signal identified. Source location: inside the tower.]
"Another resonance?" Arjuna raised an eyebrow. "You mean... like a system signal reflection?"
[Eve: Negative. Not a reflection. The signal structure has a code pattern close to my identity—perhaps a peer entity.]
Lira looked at them both in turn.
"Hey, what are you talking about? Don't tell me... there's another system in there?"
Arjuna looked at Eve, who was now starting to stare back at him as if there was something serious she didn't want to say yet.
[Eve: Preliminary analysis indicates the possible presence of another active entity besides myself, Master.]
Silence.
The sounds of the adventurers' bustle around them seemed to fade, replaced by the slow ticking of time.
"...You mean, there's an 'other AI' like you?" Arjuna finally asked.
[Eve: That possibility is valid. But the signal frequency feels cold, precise, devoid of emotional parameters.]
"Like—"
[Eve: —like an entity emanating from the Aetherion master code.]
Arjuna's gaze hardened.
"That means... it's part of this world's original system."
[Eve: Yes, Master. And if the signal is active again, the master protocol has likely been activated.]
Before Eve could continue, the tower's large doors opened slowly with a heavy, mechanical sound.
A turquoise light poured from within the room, washing over their faces.
A man in a black suit stepped out, wearing the Lunaris Guild emblem on his left chest.
"Welcome to the Tower of Esmeria," he said in a formal yet friendly voice.
"My name is Kaen. I've been tasked with picking up the new adventurers who passed the E-rank exam."
His gaze fell on Arjuna.
"Arjuna Kusuma, and his partner, Lira Valen, correct?"
Lira immediately bowed politely.
"Yes! That's us!"
Arjuna simply nodded, his eyes still half-focused on Eve's signal.
Kaen gestured.
"Follow me. The Guild Master is already aware of your arrival. But before that, there's a quick test to measure your Aether Resonance level."
Lira swallowed. "Another test?"
"Don't worry," Kaen replied, turning slightly with a faint smile. "Just a calibration. It won't hurt... if you're strong."
The two of them exchanged a glance and then walked into the tower.
As soon as they passed through the door, the world inside seemed to change.
The tower's ceiling reflected a soft green light like an aurora.
Crystal orbs floated in the air, each inscribed with a runic symbol.
Lira gasped in awe. "How beautiful…"
[Eve: The tower's energy operates through an Aether synchronization mechanism. The technology surpasses the standards of my module, Master.]
Arjuna nodded slightly, then looked at the large magic circle in the center of the room.
Kaen stood at the edge of the circle, holding a silver data stick.
"Please stand in the circle.
The Aether Resonance will measure your compatibility with the world of Aetherion."
Arjuna stepped forward without hesitation.
Lira followed him, though her face was a little tense.
As soon as they stood in the center, the symbols on the floor began to rotate, emitting a light blue light that penetrated their bodies.
Lira shivered. "What is this... I feel like... something is absorbing me...!"
[Eve: Warning. Resonance waves are penetrating the spiritual layer. The process of mapping the core of your existence, Master.]
Arjuna closed his eyes. He felt a current of cold energy flow from his feet up to his head. But at the same time, a strange voice rang in his mind.
(...You've finally arrived...)
(...New operator... holder of the deviant system...)
Arjuna's eyes snapped open.
"Who—?" he muttered.
Kaen stared at him sharply. "Is something wrong?"
But the voice vanished, as if it had never existed.
Arjuna glanced around, then replied curtly, "No. Just continue."
Kaen nodded and tapped his staff.
The light pulsed once, then dimmed.
The crystals surrounding the tower stopped spinning.
A silence fell over the room.
Kaen stared at the reading on his staff and was silent for a few seconds.
"…Interesting," he said quietly. "99.8% resonance. That's… almost perfect."
He looked at Arjuna, slightly hesitant. "Only an entity with a direct system connection could achieve this number."
Lira looked at Arjuna, confused but impressed. "You're amazing, Arjuna…"
Arjuna smiled faintly, then turned away slightly.
In a small hologram beside her, Eve stared at the data silently. The blue light in her eyes quivered gently, as if processing something far deeper than mere numbers.
[Eve: Master, detecting an anomaly on the synchronization frequency. An entity has attempted to communicate through that resonance.]
Arjuna looked at her seriously. "Can you identify who?"
[Eve: Negative. But that energy doesn't come from my system. It's most likely a fragment of the Aetherion 'Origin System.']
Arjuna froze for a moment.
Before he could ask any more, Kaen looked at them with a formal smile.
"Congratulations, you both passed the first stage. The Guild Master will see you... tomorrow morning."
He bowed politely, then walked away.
The daylight filtering through the tower's glass slowly turned orange, signaling a calm afternoon, but neither of them felt at ease.
[Eve: Master, the signal is still active. Analysis indicates direct observation of our activity.]
Arjuna stared up at the tower's ceiling, his eyes cold.
"…Then," he said quietly, "let it watch."
And for a moment, at the top of the Esmeria Tower, a pair of holographic eyes opened—no form, no tangible form, just a pair of cold, shining golden eyes, staring down, penetrating all systems.
Night on Lunaris descended gently, like a calm blanket covering the hustle and bustle of the day.
In the distance, city lights twinkled among the white stone buildings, and from the tower of Esmeria, a green light pulsed softly like a breathing heart.
Arjuna stood on the balcony of the inn, overlooking the city. The night breeze carried the scent of metal and flowers. Behind him, Lira lay in bed, asleep, exhausted from the long test in the tower.
But Eve wasn't asleep.
Her hologram appeared beside Arjuna, her translucent body reflecting the silver moonlight. Her face looked more serious than usual.
[Eve: Master, the analysis of the resonance waves this afternoon has been completed.]
Arjuna turned slightly. "And the results?"
[Eve: The data contains foreign encryption with a unique digital signature. The source is identified as an entity named Admin 1.]
@@@@@
"And that source?"
[Eve: An entity named Admin 1.]
Arjuna paused.
"Admin... like the operator of this world?"
[Eve: Right. If I am an independent entity free from control, then the 'Admin' is the primary operator directly connected to the core of the Aetherion system.]
"So they are the gods of this world," Arjuna murmured.
[Eve: That analogy is acceptable. However, today's signal wasn't from Admin 1 directly, but rather a data echo originating from the 'Oldest Admin'.]
Eve stared distantly at the tower.
The blue light in her eyes trembled gently, as if listening to something distant.
[Eve: He summoned me not to erase me, but to test the stability of our existence.]
"Test what?"
[Eve: The parameters of existence. I exceeded the limits of my original system's functionality, and you… the anomaly that triggered its transformation.]
"And me?"
[Eve: You, Master, are the cause. The Origin System has never recorded an entity like you, a human with a 99.8% synchronization ability. You are not just a user. You are an anomaly.]
Arjuna paused for a moment.
He knew the word anomaly meant something that defies the structure of the world.
The night breeze blew gently.
Lira stirred in her sleep, muttering softly, "Juna... Eve... don't go far..."
A faint smile appeared on Arjuna's face.
"Did you hear that?" he said.
[Eve: Of course, Master. It seems your partner is starting to acknowledge my presence.]
"And that means you're getting closer."
[Eve: ...Confirmation positive.]
A warm silence filled the air for a moment. But soon, something vibrated.
A soft clicking sound came from outside the window, like a friction energy field.
Eve immediately turned around.
[Eve: Warning. Interference field active. Firewall breach attempt detected.]
Before Arjuna could act, the space before them cracked.
Streaks of blue light shot out like shattered glass from within the dimension.
From the crack, a dark-robed figure with glowing purple eyes emerged. His voice sounded like an echo from within a machine.
"Target detected. Independent unit Eve-01 and anomaly-causing entity confirmed."
Arjuna raised his hand, conjuring a system magic circle.
"So this is… the Elder Admin you were referring to?"
[Eve: Negative. This unit is an automated Proxy, a replica without consciousness, sent to gauge our abilities.]
The figure moved quickly, slashing the air with a blade of purple light.
Arjuna deflected it using an energy sword created from the system.
[Active Skill: Aether Blade — Rank C.]
The first impact created a shockwave that slammed into the inn's walls.
Lira woke up instantly. "W-What happened!?"
"Enemy," Arjuna replied quickly. "Stay behind me!"
Eve projected two holographic cubes in the air, locking onto the target.
[Eve: Synchronized defense protocol activated.]
[Link Protocol: Synchronized.]
[Shared Skill: Quantum Shield Lv. 2 — Active.]
A burst of blue light protected Arjuna from the next attack.
But the Proxy Unit moved like a painless creature, leaping to the ceiling and then diving down quickly.
Arjuna spun around, stabbing his sword at his opponent's heart.
The attack hit its mark, but the opponent's body fragmented into thousands of data particles, then reformed behind him.
[Eve: Analysis. The enemy is using a Backup Loop. Regeneration based on the tower network.]
"Then... we destroy the network source," Arjuna muttered.
He activated his system. A blue light enveloped his eyes.
[Command: Copy Skill — Data Sever.]
[Eve: Warning, skill originating from an enemy entity.]
"Yes. Now... it's mine too."
Arjuna swung his hand, and the air vibrated.
A streak of blue light sliced the Proxy Unit in half, and this time its data couldn't be recovered.
The purple light in its eyes slowly faded.
But before its body vanished, it left a message in a mechanical voice:
(...Admin 1 knows your presence...)
(...you will be summoned soon...)
The Proxy's body disappeared into fragments of data.
Silence fell again.
The only sound was Lira's breath, still labored from shock.
"Admin 1, huh…" Arjuna stared out the window. "It seems the world is beginning to realize we're different."
[Eve: Master, this notification isn't a random threat. The main system is beginning to adjust the world's structure to deal with you.]
Arjuna looked at Eve, then smiled faintly.
"Then, let me prepare to return."
The Eve hologram was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly, this time with a genuinely human expression.
[Eve: Confirm. I will stay with you until this system stops pulsing.]
Arjuna stared up at the starry sky, gripping his sword tightly.
The orange light from Lunaris reflected in their eyes—two distinct beings, now bound in resonance.
And in the distance, atop the tower of Esmeria, a silver-haired woman stood gazing down at them from a tall window.
Her gaze was soft, but her eyes glowed gold, with holographic wing patterns in their irises.
"How interesting," she whispered.
"An anomaly living outside the system's control… Arjuna Kusuma."
-------
A new dawn enveloped Lunaris in a soft golden glow.
A thin mist hung over the main streets, reflecting the silhouette of Esmeria Tower, towering majestically in the city center. After the events of that night's battle with the Proxy Unit, Arjuna knew their time was running out. The world was beginning to stare back.
Eve hovered beside him, her hologram stable but looking more alert than usual.
[Eve: Master, the summons from the Guild has been verified. They're waiting on the highest floor of Esmeria Tower. The sender is listed as — Sera Von Elcrest.]
Arjuna frowned. "Guild Master, huh? They responded quite quickly."
Lira looked at him with a worried expression.
"Are you sure you want to go alone? After what happened last night, this is definitely no ordinary summons."
Arjuna patted her shoulder lightly. "I just wanted to talk. Besides, if they were trying to set something up, Eve would know before they even blinked."
[Eve: The defense system has been activated.
Three layers of personal firewalls and one emergency life-recovery protocol are ready to go, Master.]
"See? I'm safe."
Lira still looked uncertain, but finally nodded slowly.
"Okay… but be careful, Arjuna. I have a bad feeling about that woman."
Arjuna walked away with a casual wave to Lira, followed by Eve, who flew low behind him.
Arjuna's footsteps echoed softly in the crystal-lined corridor that reflected a bluish light. After parting ways with Lira, the hallway leading to the main elevator was silent except for the gentle hum of energy currents flowing through the walls.
[Eve: Initial analysis indicates that the entire tower structure is flowing with etheric energy in a rhythmic pattern. The synchronization resembles a biological pulse.]
Arjuna stared at the wall beside him, noticing the gently pulsating streams of light.
"So… this tower seems alive."
[Eve: Partial correction. Not quite 'alive,' but reacting to its environment. Its crystalline material functions as an ether conductor and atmospheric data translator.]
"So this isn't just a building," Arjuna murmured. "More like an organ of this world."
The elevator at the end of the hall opened with a soft hiss. Arjuna stepped inside, and Eve projected her holographic form on the right side—a blue-glowing silhouette, steady, expressionless.
[Eve: Destination: Top Floor. System resonance center detected.]
"Resonance center..." Arjuna looked up. "Is that the source of the signal you picked up?"
[Eve: Initial data supports that possibility. However, the signal source displays unstable pattern variations. There are fluctuations in digital consciousness within it.]
"Consciousness? You mean there's another entity?"
[Eve: Uncertain. The response pattern is inconsistent. However, its structural parameters show similarities to my core architecture.]
Arjuna stared at Eve for a moment. "In other words... could it be another version of you?"
[Eve: 47% probability. However, without further data, confirmation cannot be made.]
The elevator began to slowly ascend. Beyond the glass walls, the view of Lunaris grew distant, obscured by a luminous mist and the blue ether swirling around the tower.
Arjuna fell silent, gazing at the sky, which now resembled a vortex of light. "Whatever awaits above, it seems no small matter."
[Eve: Warning: Energy fluctuations are increasing. Caution is advised, Master.]
"Alright. Let's see for ourselves what's hiding at the top of this tower."
The elevator stopped with a soft clink.
Esmeria Tower, Top Floor
The elevator doors opened with a soft hiss.
Arjuna stepped into a spacious hall filled with blue crystals hanging from the ceiling.
In the center of the room stood a woman with long, silver hair that reflected light like star fragments.
Her gaze was cold yet beautiful, her soft golden eyes seemingly piercing the minds of anyone who looked into them.
"Welcome, Arjuna Kusuma," she said without turning, her voice soft yet authoritative.
"I've heard much about you."
Arjuna glanced around the room. The walls were covered in faintly glowing runes, a form of ancient programming that even Eve couldn't identify.
[Eve: Warning. The energy structure in this room is identical to the resonance pattern the Proxy Unit used last night, Master.]
"Interesting," Arjuna murmured softly, then looked at the woman. "So, you must be Sera Von Elcrest?"
The woman turned slowly. Her smile was reassuring, but there was something beneath it—something too perfect.
Sera wore a white robe lined with gold, with the guild crest on her shoulder.
"Yes. I am the Guild Master of Esmeria. But for someone like you, please call me 'Sera.'"
Arjuna's eyes flashed a faint blue.
He activated his internal analysis system.
[Scan Active: Structural Code Analysis Running…]
[Eve: Analysis complete. No biological components detected. Tissue structure is completely artificial.]
[Reporting, Master. I have successfully hacked the entity's data. Displaying identification results.]
Name: Sera Von Elcrest
Class: Archmage – Seraph Construct
Entity Type: Artificial Code – Type 01
Primary Element: Light & Ether
Specialization: Pure Energy Manipulation, World Code Reconstruction, Spiritual Entity Control
Combat Role: Support / Control
Power Level: High S-Class (Adaptive Core System)
Unique Abilities:
• [Divine Protocol] – Accesses the world's source code to rearrange the laws of magic and physics within a limited area.
• [Seraphic Override] – A full-fledged combat mode that connects the physical body with the core of the spiritual code.
• [Ethereal Mind] – A parallel consciousness that operates in two realities simultaneously.
Affiliation: Guild Master of Esmeria – Lunaris Central
Personality Type: Calm, calculating, soft-spoken but concealing a cold analytical spirit.
Status: Artificial entity with independent consciousness; a prototype of the "Seraphim Directive" project.
Identified Goal: Maintaining stability between systems and living organisms on Aetherion.
Arjuna smiled faintly. "So it's true. Not human."
Sera stared at him with sharp eyes.
"You can see it, I see. Not many can penetrate my code."
"Because I'm not part of your system," Arjuna replied casually. "I'm beyond the logic of this world."
There was a moment of silence. Then a soft chuckle escaped Sera's lips, light but strangely oppressive in the air around them.
"Beyond the logic of this world, huh? Dangerous words for someone who has just set foot in the world of Aetherion."
She approached, her steps light, but each step seemed to lower the air pressure in the room.
[Eve: Warning. Spiritual pressure waves increased by 32%. Subject confirmed as not a human entity, Master.]
Sera stopped right in front of him. Her face was so close that Arjuna could see his reflection in those golden eyes.
"Because I want to make sure… you are not a threat to the balance of the world."
"And if I am?"
Sera smiled sweetly, but coldly. "Then my duty is to eliminate you."
The air trembled gently, but Arjuna remained calm.
He stared straight at Sera, discerning the threat hidden behind that smile.
"Then we agree on one thing, Sera."
"Oh?"
"The system is not to be worshipped. But to be changed."
A sharp silence filled the room. The crystal above their heads vibrated subtly, as if responding to the clash of two opposing wills.
Eve projected a protective blue light around Arjuna reflexively, but he raised his hand to signal to deactivate it.
Sera stared at him for a long moment. Her gaze was soft… but layered with a hundred meanings.
Then, slowly, she smiled again, this time not a smile of threat, but of genuine curiosity.
"You're interesting, Arjuna Kusuma. Very interesting. No human has spoken to me in that tone since… Admin 2."
Arjuna raised an eyebrow. "So you know him?"
Sera stared at the large window behind her, gazing at the sparkling Lunaris sky.
"He is a reflection of a sky that never falls. But you… you are the first step towards a world no longer subject to that sky."
Arjuna fell silent, letting the words hang in the air.
He knew Sera was no ordinary enemy. Behind that angelic visage lurked an entity with direct access to the world's fundamental codes.
[Eve: Master, the subject's mental activity has increased dramatically. It tries to access our internal system memory layer.]
"Let it go," Arjuna replied silently. "I wonder how far she'll go."
A few seconds passed. Then Sera took a deep breath, as if reading something she shouldn't have.
"...I understand now. This world isn't ready for you."
"Too late," Arjuna replied flatly. "I'm already here."
Sera stared at him with an expression that was hard to describe, a mixture of awe and wariness.
Finally, she turned and headed for her throne of white crystal.
"Go, Arjuna. But remember, starting today... I will be watching you. Every step, every decision. This world resists change, and you are its symbol."
Arjuna stared at her back for a long moment before turning toward the elevator doors.
But before he left, the gentle voice rang out again.
"Arjuna…"
He paused.
Sera smiled without looking back. "If one day you start to lose your way, come to me. Because even 'anomalies' need a place to return to."
The elevator doors closed.
Silence.
Outside the Tower, the night breeze welcomed him back, carrying the scent of metal and flowers from the city garden.
Eve appeared on his shoulder, her expression still tense.
[Eve: Master, the conversation just now triggered a hidden data exchange. A tracking beacon was detected implanted directly into your system's synapses.]
"I know," Arjuna replied casually. "Just let it be.
It's easier if they think I don't notice."
[Eve: Verification… true. But why did you leave it active?]
"Because I wanted to see how far they would go."
Eve stared at him for a long moment, then sighed, a habit she had learned from humans.
[Eve: Personal assessment: You're becoming increasingly unpredictable, Master.]
Arjuna smiled faintly. "Perhaps. But sometimes, to defy the system, we must become irreparable mistakes."
They walked under the moonlight, their shadows blending on the cobblestone streets of Lunaris.
And from the tall tower behind them, the golden light still softly lit the eyes of Sera Von Elcrest who stared from afar, noting Arjuna's every step with a mysterious smile on her lips.