"The choices you have made are… unusual."
The voice echoed calmly through the void.
"Yet they are valid. Accepted."
There was no judgment in its tone—only acknowledgment.
The space around them felt emptier now. The cards were gone. The paths had been chosen.
Only the three of them remained within the endless darkness.
Rio.
Filip.
And the small Soul Dragon resting quietly in Rio's arms.
Oathkeeper stirred.
Its wings fluttered faintly, and its small body shifted as if responding to unseen currents. The dragon's glowing eyes tracked movements no one else could perceive, reacting to subtle flows of magic and soul-energy drifting through the void.
"It's sensitive," Filip muttered. "Guess that makes sense."
"The bond between you is stable," the voice confirmed.
"Are you prepared to choose your Talents?"
Rio and Filip exchanged a glance.
They nodded.
Oathkeeper let out a soft chirp—and bobbed gently in the air, as if nodding along with them.
"…Did it just agree with us?" Filip asked.
The void answered.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of glowing cards materialized around them, drifting slowly like constellations. Each one radiated possibility: power, survival, consequence.
"These are Talents," the voice explained.
"They will define how you survive, grow, and endure."
Rio inhaled slowly.
"Filter out everything below Epic rank," he said firmly.
At once, the majority of the cards faded away, dissolving into nothingness.
What remained was still overwhelming—but manageable.
They studied the cards carefully, weighing survival against strength, certainty against risk. This wasn't about being impressive.
This was about staying alive.
"I'll go first," Filip said.
Rio glanced at him, surprised—but didn't object.
Filip reached out.
The first card responded instantly.
Danger Sense
A constant, passive warning when hostile intent or imminent danger approaches.
"…That's solid," Rio admitted.
"Exactly," Filip replied. "I don't fully understand my Class yet. I need to live long enough to figure it out."
The second card pulsed as Filip selected it.
Lightning Speed
Short bursts of extreme acceleration—draining, but decisive.
"Movement is everything," Filip continued. "Whether it's attacking or running."
Then came the third.
Battle Observer
The ability to analyze opponents, combat flow, and weaknesses in real time.
Rio blinked. "That's… not flashy at all."
Filip shrugged. "I'm not trying to look cool. I'm trying not to die."
Rio smiled faintly.
"…That's more mature than I expected."
Filip scratched his cheek. "Let's keep that between us."
Now it was Rio's turn.
He stepped forward, eyes steady.
Portal Storage
A secure, extradimensional space for equipment and supplies.
"Practical," Filip said approvingly.
The second card glowed with a gentle warmth.
Healing
Restoration magic capable of saving lives—limited, but reliable.
Filip exhaled. "Yeah. That one fits you."
The third card lingered.
Unfamiliar.
Vague.
Magic Arrow
No clear description. No defined limits.
"You sure?" Filip asked. "That one's risky."
Rio nodded slowly. "I know. But… it feels right."
He trusted his intuition.
The cards dissolved into light.
"The Talents are confirmed," the voice declared.
"Your development is now locked."
New items appeared before them—simple, but essential.
Fire-starting tools.
Rations.
Basic survival gear.
There was no argument. Food and warmth came first.
Weapons followed.
Filip chose a sword without hesitation—balanced and reliable.
Rio selected a bow, light and flexible, suited for distance and control.
"…What about clothes?" Rio asked, almost as an afterthought.
"They will be adjusted upon arrival in the new world," the voice replied.
Filip grinned. "Hey—can we get an emblem? Like… Oathkeeper's mark?"
The dragon perked up instantly.
"…I can make one," the voice said.
Oathkeeper chirped happily, wings fluttering in unmistakable excitement.
"The departure approaches," the voice announced.
The air grew tense.
"Any final questions?"
Rio hesitated—then spoke.
"…Give us more strength. Enough to survive."
There was a pause.
"…I will try," the voice replied, and added "Your path to civilization lies east. Remember this."
Silence followed.
"…Good luck."
Light erupted.
It wrapped around them—warm, blinding.
Their bodies grew heavy. Weak. As though gravity itself was tearing them apart.
Fear surged—not from pain, but from not understanding.
They were pulled forward—through the light, through something vast and unknowable.
Strength left them.
Thoughts scattered.
And finally—
Darkness.