The enhanced sensation was immediate and profound.
Axel Marble wasn't just feeling better; he was moving better. His new DEX 12 made him feel like his body was suddenly obeying commands a fraction of a second faster. His steps were lighter, his balance flawless as he navigated the treacherous, rubble-strewn alleys of Sector 7.
The pervasive fatigue that usually settled in after an hour of scavenging was muted, a small victory attributed to his VIT 12 and Enhanced Endurance skill.
He kept the blue status screen minimized to the corner of his vision, a persistent, comforting icon that represented his secret—and his future.
The [NEW QUEST: FIRST STEPS] glowed softly: Successfully exit Sector 7 without detection. The objective kept his focus sharp.
He used the network of drainage pipes and collapsed lower tunnels, paths too narrow or unstable for Xylos patrols.
He moved faster than ever, covering ground that would have taken him an hour in fifteen minutes. Just as he saw the faint, shimmering line that marked the outer barricade of the Sector—a broken energy fence—he paused.
A small fire flickered in the shell of an abandoned gas station a hundred meters ahead. A human fire.
This was dangerous. Only scavengers or desperate refugees used open flame, making them easy targets for Xylos aerial scouts.
He crouched low, using the crumbled wall of a pharmacy for cover, and activated the Scavenging (Passive) skill, hoping it included some low-level perception enhancement.
His eyes scanned the area around the fire. He detected two figures huddled together. They weren't refugees; they moved with a wary competence Axel recognized.
They were geared up, wearing better, custom-made tactical vests that spoke of resources Axel could only dream of.
As he watched, one figure, a tall, powerfully built young man, stirred the embers with a long piece of metal. The other, a petite woman, stood watch, her gaze sweeping the skyline with unnerving regularity.
They were Aether-Born. He knew it instinctively. Normal humans didn't venture this far out, and they certainly didn't look that composed under the threat of immediate Xylos discovery.
Axel knew he should steer clear. His System was a secret, and he was low-level. But the Quest objective was to exit Sector 7, and these two were positioned right at the bottleneck. He had to risk a closer approach.
He crept closer, his enhanced Dexterity allowing him to move like smoke over the loose gravel and rebar. He got close enough to hear them talking, their voices low and sharp.
"—it's the fastest route," the male voice said, rough and impatient. "The resistance patrols sweep the perimeter, but they avoid the old rail line. We have to reach the Academy by dawn, Zaya. No excuses."
"I know the deadline, Kael," the woman, Zaya, replied, her voice smooth but edged with tension.
"But my gut says the Xylos set up a listening post near the old train depot. If we hit the rail line too early, we walk into an ambush. We wait another hour, travel under the lowest visibility."
The Academy, Axel thought, his mind racing. He'd heard the rumors—a secret haven for the 'gifted,' a place the resistance was funding to train the few remaining Aether-Born.
It was practically myth, a beacon of hope in a collapsing world. Could they be heading there? And if they were, could he use them to complete his quest?
He needed information. He needed to be bold.
Taking a deep breath, Axel stepped out from behind the wall, his hands held up, palms open, the one where the Marble resided tingling slightly.
"Hold fire," he called out, his voice slightly louder than he intended.
The response was instantaneous and brutal.
Zaya spun, her movement a blur. Before Axel could even flinch, a surge of white energy erupted from her hand, coalescing into a shimmering, razor-sharp shard of ice, which stopped inches from Axel's throat. The temperature around it plummeted, making his breath mist.
"Who are you?" Zaya demanded, her eyes, the color of stormy grey, boring into him. Her posture was coiled, ready to strike.
The larger man, Kael, was slower but no less menacing. He hadn't drawn a weapon; instead, his thick forearms were encased in a faint, rippling yellow aura, like liquid stone. Shielding.
Axel, despite the fear hammering at his chest, forced himself to remain still, acutely aware that the ice shard could liquefy his throat in an instant.
"My name is Axel Marble," he said, keeping his voice even. "I'm a scavenger. I just want to exit the Sector. I heard you talking about an Academy."
Zaya's eyes narrowed. "Scavengers don't move like that, Marble. Your shadow work is too clean. You're Awakened."
"I just got… gifted," Axel admitted, figuring honesty might be his only shield. "A new System. I barely know what it is. I need to get to safety, and I heard the Academy is where the others are going."
Kael scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. "A System? Sounds like a fantasy novel, kid. We deal in flesh and Aether, not digital fairy dust. And if you're just 'gifted,' you're low-level cannon fodder. We don't need the dead weight."
Axel felt a rush of anger. He took a calculated risk and touched his status icon, bringing up his level for a split second, then minimizing it again.
> [LEVEL: 3]
>
He saw Zaya's eyes briefly flick downward, catching the subtle blue light reflection in the puddle near his feet. Her pupils dilated slightly. She caught the level, perhaps. Or maybe just the fact that he had any measurable stat.
The ice shard retracted instantly, dissolving into vapor.
"Fine," Zaya said, relaxing her stance slightly, though her vigilance remained. "The Academy exists.
It's a testing facility disguised as a military training camp, deep underground in Sector Gamma. We are Awakened, yes. My name is Zaya Volkov, and this is Kael Stone."
She pointed a hand toward Kael, who grunted in acknowledgement.
"We're on a schedule. If you know how to keep up, you can follow. But you say you have a System? Prove it. We're not slowing down for a liability."
Axel knew this was his entrance exam. His current quest was still active, and these two were his ticket. He had to show them he was worth the risk. He looked at the rusted gas pump nearby, a solid, metal object.
He clenched his fist, focusing the newfound energy. Kinetic Punch.
"I can pull my weight," Axel said, and he lashed out at the old gas pump.
WHUMP!
The sound was heavy, concussive, and contained. The metal casing of the pump dented inward significantly, a testament to his STR 17 (+2). A low-level blue energy fizzled around his fist before dissipating.
Zaya and Kael exchanged a look. Kael, the man of raw strength, actually looked impressed.
"Not bad, for a low level," Kael admitted, the yellow aura around his arms brightening momentarily. "Raw force. Simple, but effective. Fine, Axel Marble. We have thirty minutes before we move. If you cause us trouble, I'll leave you pinned to the fence for the drone patrols. Understood?"
"Understood," Axel breathed, relief washing over him.
> [NEW COMPANIONS ACQUIRED: ZAYA VOLKOV (ICE SHARD), KAEL STONE (STONE SHIELD)]
> [NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: ARRIVE AT THE ACADEMY!]
> Description: Travel with Zaya and Kael to the Awakened Academy in Sector Gamma.
> Objective 1: Maintain Pace.
> Objective 2: Do not reveal the full extent of the Marble System.
> Reward: 500 EXP, 5 Stat Points, Unlocks [INVENTORY] tab.
> Failure: Loss of Companions/Death.
>
The System was adapting. It had changed his previous objective to a larger, more complex one, confirming this was the right path. He now had the massive goal of reaching the Academy.
Zaya leaned against the wall, her ice power now totally dormant. "So, tell us about this 'System,' Axel. What does it do? Quests? Like a training regimen?"
Axel kept his answer brief, truthful, but vague. "It gave me my abilities, Kinetic Punch and some better endurance. It gives me objectives, yes, mostly just 'survive' and 'get stronger.' It was an inheritance from my grandfather. A Marble. It's what awakened me when I was about to die."
Kael snorted. "An old family magic trick. So, you're not an Aether-Born, you're… a System-Born."
"It doesn't matter what you call it," Zaya cut in, her tone practical. "If it works, it works. The Academy accepts all those with gifts—Aether, System, or Mutation. They need every edge they can get."
She pulled out a map, a high-quality, pre-war topographical sheet. "Our route is risky. We follow the abandoned rail line that runs beneath the main Xylos highway.
It's dark, narrow, and filled with old tunnels. We need stealth, speed, and endurance. Kael has the shielding to protect us if we are ambushed; I have the kinetic force to hit them fast.
You, Axel, will be our flank. Use your speed and that surprisingly powerful punch to deal with any small patrols that slip past us."
Axel nodded, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. He had a role. He had a path. He had a purpose beyond scrounging for scraps.
He had to get ready. The journey to the Academy was about to begin.