Earth-178, Year 2046
Five years.
Five years of pain, blood, and darkness. Five years since Kiara Hughes had disappeared without a trace.
And today, she was finally going home.
The helicopter shook as it climbed into the night sky. Far below, the island burned. Explosions tore through the compound, buildings collapsed, and thick black smoke covered the stars. The ocean surrounded the island, slowly swallowing the remains of a place that should never have existed.
Kiara sat against the cold metal wall, wrapped in an oversized jacket. Fresh bandages covered her arms, while old scars remained visible beneath her torn sleeves. Her entire body ached, but she barely noticed. After five years of confinement, blinding lights, locked doors, and endless screams, physical pain was something she had learned to endure.
A medic crouched beside her and checked the bandage around her forearm.
"Does it hurt?"
Kiara glanced at him and shook her head. "No."
It was a lie. But she had learned long ago that pain was easier to bear when nobody asked about it.
The medic nodded and moved toward another wounded soldier. Kiara turned toward the open helicopter door, watching the burning island disappear into the darkness.
A faint smile appeared on her cracked lips.
"It's finally over..."
For the first time in five years, she could see the sky without bars blocking her view. She could breathe without waiting for someone's permission. She could close her eyes without fearing what would happen when she opened them again.
She was free.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Kiara raised her head.
Captain Adrian stood before her, his uniform covered in blood and soot. He was the man who had fought his way through the burning compound to reach her, risking his life to rescue the prisoners. Without him, she would still be trapped on that island.
Her smile grew warmer.
"Thank you, Cap."
Adrian looked down at her. "You don't have to thank me."
"I do." She tightened her fingers around the blanket on her lap. "I thought... I thought nobody was coming for me."
Something flickered in his eyes. Regret, perhaps. Or guilt. But it disappeared before she could understand it.
Then his hand moved toward his waist.
Kiara barely noticed the movement until the cold metal of a handgun caught the cabin lights.
Its barrel pointed directly between her eyes.
Her smile froze.
"Cap?"
Nobody moved.
The medic lowered his head. The soldiers sitting along the cabin walls avoided her gaze, suddenly finding their boots and the darkness outside more interesting. Even the young soldier who had given her water earlier clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
Kiara's smile slowly faded.
"What are you doing?"
A sharp click rang through the helicopter.
Adrian had switched off the safety.
Kiara stared at him, waiting for him to lower the gun. Surely, someone would laugh and explain that this was some terrible joke.
She forced out a nervous chuckle.
"Come on. This isn't funny."
Nobody laughed.
The captain's voice remained calm.
"There's only one reason we came for you, Kiara. Project Nexus."
Her eyebrows drew together.
"What? That project was terminated years ago. And it's not like I'm against it. What are you..."
"Our orders are clear," Adrian interrupted. "All personnel connected to Project Nexus are to be eliminated. Except for you, everyone else is already gone."
Kiara stared at him.
Then she let out a short, confused laugh. Surely, he was joking. He had to be.
"You're joking. Right?"
Silence.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
"You're serious."
She looked around the cabin, searching for someone who would meet her eyes. Nobody did.
They had known all along.
Every soldier aboard this helicopter knew what was going to happen. They had come prepared to kill her. The rescue had simply been their way of bringing her within reach.
The realization hurt more than anything she had suffered during those five years.
"Why?" Her voice cracked. "What did I do?"
Bang!
The gunshot drowned out her question.
Pain exploded through her shoulder. The impact threw her sideways, sending her crashing onto the metal floor. Blood spread beneath her torn jacket, and a sharp ringing filled her ears.
"Argh!"
She tried to push herself up, but her left arm refused to move. Blood dripped onto the floor as she struggled to breathe through the pain.
Adrian's gun remained pointed at her.
Steady.
Cold.
Unmoving.
Beyond the open door, the ocean stretched beneath the dark sky.
Kiara looked at the black water below. Something inside her finally went still.
They had never intended to take her home.
The rescue was nothing more than a convenient way to eliminate the last remaining trace of Project Nexus.
How fucking ironic.
Five years in hell, only to be killed by the very people she had believed would save her.
A faint smile returned to her bloodstained lips.
"You know..." She looked at Adrian one last time. "I really believed you."
His jaw tightened.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
Kiara didn't wait for another word. Gathering what little strength remained, she twisted away from him and threw herself through the open helicopter door.
For a brief moment, the freezing air rushed past her. Then the ocean swallowed her whole.
Icy water closed around her body. The helicopter's roar faded as she sank beneath the surface, leaving a trail of blood behind her.
Her limbs grew heavy. Her thoughts slowed, and darkness surrounded her.
So this... is how it ends.
Her heartbeat weakened.
Slower.
Slower.
Until everything went black.
An unknown amount of time later...
[The Lost Soul has been found.]
[Synchronization in progress...]
[Synchronization complete.]
[Soul Merge complete.]
[Weapon Seller System successfully activated.]
One Year LaterEarth-43, Year 1785, Age of Ether
Southern Continent, Imperial Capital of the Phoenix Empire
A narrow alley lay hidden between the busy streets of the imperial capital. It was far from the grand avenues where noble carriages passed and wealthy merchants displayed their finest goods. Sunlight barely reached its damp stone paths, and most people walked past without giving it a second glance.
At the end of the alley stood a small weapon shop.
Its wooden sign hung crookedly above the entrance, its paint faded and peeling. The old door creaked whenever someone opened it, while dust covered the windows and neglected weapon racks.
Every morning, the elderly owner dragged a chair outside and sat near the entrance to escape the damp air inside. Sometimes, the neighboring shopkeepers joined him. They spent their time complaining about rising prices, aching joints, and grandchildren who rarely wrote home.
Their laughter still filled the alley from time to time, but business had been getting worse.
Running a forgotten weapon shop was not easy, especially for an old man with few customers.
Then, one morning, a young woman appeared at the entrance of the alley.
She looked around before unfolding a scroll in her hand. After checking the address against the faded sign above the shop, she nodded.
"So this is the place."
She looked barely old enough to have reached adulthood. Her figure was slim, and she wore simple but well-made clothes. A pair of gloves covered her hands despite the mild weather. At the back of her neck, partly hidden beneath her hair, was a faint birthmark shaped like an eye.
Her boots made soft sounds against the stone as she approached the elderly shopkeepers.
Several men looked up in surprise. Young, well-dressed customers rarely came this far into the alley, especially when the only shop here had so little to offer.
The woman stopped in front of the elderly owner.
"Excuse me. Is the owner inside?"
The old man straightened so quickly that his chair nearly fell backward. A spark of hope appeared in his tired eyes.
"I'm the owner, Miss. Please, come in."
She followed him inside.
Sunlight entered through the dusty windows, falling across the weapons hanging on the walls. Spears, sabers, and swords filled the racks. Some were polished, while others had clearly been neglected for years. A few carried weak enchantments, but most were ordinary weapons that could be found in any modest shop.
The young woman examined them without rushing.
The old man watched her closely. Most customers barely looked at the weapons before asking about prices, but this woman seemed interested in their details.
Eventually, she stopped.
Behind the counter, mounted on a dark oak panel, was a single staff. It looked rather ordinary at first, but a faint shine beneath its wooden surface suggested otherwise.
She stepped closer without touching it.
"Rosewood and hazelwood. Three parts to two. Not bad."
The old man's expression changed.
She continued, "Midnight Wolf blood was mixed into its forging. It increases the weapon's power after sunset. Gold tier, with a sealed aura. The seal is incomplete, though, so its power is still dormant."
The old man stared at her.
"How do you know that?"
She turned toward him, her expression calm.
"Because it's your family's heirloom. You've hidden its true quality from everyone, but age leaves marks on everything, even secrets."
His eyes narrowed.
"It's not for sale."
"I know," she replied. "And I don't need it. I can't channel Ether anyway."
Her words caught his attention.
In this world, Ether was everything. It strengthened the body, powered skills, extended lifespans, and awakened ancient relics. Without Ether, a person couldn't use high-grade equipment, activate spatial rings, or become a warrior or mage.
The old man studied her face, looking for signs of deception. She met his gaze without hesitation.
After a moment, he pointed toward the weapon racks.
"You can look at the ungraded weapons if you wish."
The woman shook her head.
"I didn't come here to browse, Master Rowan."
She handed him the scroll.
"I came to buy your shop. The Merchant Guild listed it for sale."
The old man blinked.
"You... want to buy it?"
"The listed price is one thousand gold coins. I don't negotiate. The building and all the weapons are included. You can keep your staff. I have no interest in it."
Master Rowan stared at her.
Someone willing to buy a failing weapon shop without bargaining was unusual enough. But someone who could identify his family's heirloom and still had no interest in taking it was even more unusual.
He looked down at the document. His shoulders seemed to grow heavier as he considered the offer.
Perhaps he thought of his son and the quiet village far from the worries of the capital. Perhaps he had finally accepted that it was time to leave the business behind.
At last, he released a long breath and nodded.
He unlocked a drawer, took out the property deeds, and handed them to the young woman.
She extended one hand.
A leather pouch suddenly appeared in her palm.
There was no flash of light or fluctuation of Ether. One moment her hand was empty. The next, the pouch was simply there.
Master Rowan instinctively stepped back, his eyes widening.
The woman said nothing. She simply handed him the pouch.
He opened it and carefully counted the coins. Every single one was genuine.
Exactly one thousand gold coins.
The transaction was completed within minutes.
Master Rowan gathered his few belongings and carefully lifted the staff from behind the counter. Holding it against his chest like an old friend, he walked toward the door.
He stopped for a moment and looked around the shop one last time.
Then he stepped outside without looking back.
Whispers quickly spread among the neighboring shopkeepers. They watched the old man leave before turning their attention toward the young woman inside the newly purchased shop.
However, nobody dared approach her.
Once she was alone, she began closing the shutters.
The noisy alley gradually disappeared from view. The morning sunlight faded, and the sounds of the imperial capital became distant.
The warmth in her expression slowly vanished.
Her gentle smile disappeared, replaced by a cold and controlled gaze.
"System," she said quietly. "Open character interface."
A translucent blue screen appeared before her, casting a faint glow across the dim room.
Name: Kiara (Kyra Phoenix)
Bloodline: N/A
Attribute: N/A
Spirit Path: N/A
Ether Quality: N/A
Ether Energy: N/A
Rank: Unawakened
Skills: None
Lifespan Limit: 80 years
Remaining: 60 years
Kiara silently examined the screen.
Zero Ether. No spirit path. No bloodline. No rank.
She was weaker than even the lowest apprentice in the imperial capital. Most ordinary people walking through the streets probably had brighter futures than she did.
Yet the longer she stared at those pathetic statistics, the wider her faint smile became.
Good. When you're already at the bottom, there's nowhere left to fall.
Another screen appeared.
[Main Quest: Acquire a Weapon Store]
Status: Completed
Reward: Weapon Creation (Select to receive)
[Side Quest: Earn 100 Gold Coins Through Weapon Sales]
Status: In Progress
Reward: System Store
Kiara looked at the completed quest.
The dusty shop around her was nothing special, but she knew she had taken the first real step.
No powerful family stood behind her. No Ether flowed through her veins. Nobody was waiting to help her if she failed.
She had nothing but a neglected weapon shop in a forgotten alley.
But every empire started with one brick. Every forest began with a single seed. And revenge began with one quiet step that nobody else noticed.
Kiara raised her hand and placed her finger over the reward.
Her lips curved into a cold smile.
"Let's begin."