Centuries from now, scholars would argue over the importance of this day. Some would say it was when the world first realized mistakes could be dangerous. Others would whisper that it was when reality itself made a miscalculation, one so profound that even the gods paused to watch. But for Kael Ardyn, nineteen, broke, and painfully ordinary, it began like any other Tuesday: power out, phone dead, and a spider crawling across his ceiling like it had student loans to pay. "I swear," he muttered, "if the apocalypse starts today, I better get compensation." He rolled over, trying to ignore the ominous silence, and promptly realized something was off. The air felt heavier, as if reality itself were holding its breath. The spider froze mid-step. The fan hung still. Even the faint hum of the city outside had vanished. Kael sat up slowly, rubbing his temples. "Nope. Absolutely not dealing with supernatural nonsense before breakfast."
The wall in front of him SPLIT OPEN. Not explosively, just… peeled like paper, revealing a void filled with drifting, alien symbols that didn't glow but seemed to watch him, measuring him, evaluating. A presence descended, immense and cold. [OBSERVATION COMPLETE.] Kael blinked. "Let me guess. I'm chosen?" [SUBJECT: KAEL ARDYN. EVALUATION: INADEQUATE.] "…Okay, wow. At least buy me dinner first." The symbols twisted, sharper now. [CORRECTION: SUBJECT PREVIOUSLY INADEQUATE.]
A pain slammed into his skull, visions of collapsed cities, monstrous beasts, and battles from forgotten eras flashing in his mind. He saw the [FIRST GUARDIANS] fighting creatures erased from human memory, sacrificing themselves to seal dangers no one was supposed to know about. Entire continents fell in minutes, mountains crumbled as if reality itself were coughing up ruins, and yet these warriors moved with calm precision. Kael groaned, clutching his head. *"Wow, my morning just got… weird. I mean, really weird."
When he stumbled out into the street, rain poured, sirens screamed, people ran, and the sky above Aryavarta City cracked with crimson veins like shattered glass. "…Yeah," Kael muttered, "this feels illegal." A massive creature emerged from the mist, four stories tall, bone-armored, glaring with an expression that perfectly matched boredom. Soldiers fired, bullets bounced, screams echoed, and somewhere someone fainted. The creature's gaze locked onto Kael, and the pressure hit immediately—fear designed to crush the will of any ordinary human. Kneel. Tremble. Accept inferiority. Kael blinked. "…Is it weird that I'm more annoyed than scared?"
Something inside him SHIFTED. Not rage. Understanding. [EVENT: BREACH. SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 0.03%] His fingers twitched. The air around them shimmered faintly, almost imperceptibly, the first trace of aura.
Before he could blink, a gust of wind slammed into the creature's side, sending it stumbling. Lyra Ventis floated down gracefully, hair whipping around her face, smirking. "Finally," she said, "you look like you might be competent." Kael blinked. "Lyra, if I had to rely on you, we'd be lunch for that thing." She rolled her eyes, clearly enjoying herself.
From the shadows, a flicker of motion landed on the monster's shoulder: Selene "Shadowfox" Veyra, eyes glowing faintly with aura, shadows flowing around her like liquid smoke. "Actually," she said smoothly, "you all seem like you might die without me." Kael muttered, "Of course. You arrive fashionably late, as always." Selene tilted her head. "I prefer dramatic timing."
Rook Kerran barreled through next, soaked, mud streaked across his face, fists clenched, ready to punch first and ask questions never. "I almost hit it first!" he shouted. Kael groaned. "Yes, congratulations. Your ego survived. Barely." Mira Solen appeared last, calm as ever, leaning against a shard of floating rubble, shadows flickering around her. She raised an eyebrow. "Amateurs. Next time, maybe touch the door before yelling?" Kael muttered, "Mira, you could literally crush it yourself and ruin my moment." Mira smirked. "Exactly."
Kael crouched next to a puddle glowing faintly with residual aura energy, muttering, "Maybe I can farm some from this…" Lyra groaned. "Kael, that's a puddle. Not a mana spring." Rook leaned over and slipped, landing face-first in the mud. "It's wet!" he yelled. Kael facepalmed. Selene lightly tapped his shoulder, shadowy fingers tracing a pattern in the puddle. "You're doing it wrong. Here, let me show you." A faint shimmer rose, and Kael's fingers tingled as aura subtly flowed into him. "Thanks… I guess," he muttered. Selene smirked. "Don't thank me yet. You'll either explode or be mildly competent. Same difference."
"Explode?" Kael muttered. "I hate this already." He flexed his aura-charged fingers experimentally, accidentally sending a small shockwave that toppled a street lamp and narrowly missed Rook. "Oops," Kael said. Rook wiped mud off his face. "It's fine! Totally fine!" Lyra groaned. "Your definition of fine is disturbing." Mira leaned against a wall, raising an eyebrow. "Are you even trying to control it, or just letting the universe gamble?" Kael shrugged. "A little of both."
The team moved cautiously down the street. The monster had regenerated partially and now moved with terrifying speed. Kael's aura flared automatically, responding to threat and instinct. "So… aura just likes me?" he muttered. Selene gave a small nod. "Your body recognizes potential. Treat it like a partner, not a toy." Kael laughed nervously. "Partner, right. Like the puddle."
A side alley led them to the first real "mini-dungeon" of the day: a collapsed shopping complex, corridors half-submerged in water and debris. Kael stepped forward, aura faintly glowing, illuminating graffiti and cracked tiles. "Great… first dungeon. I hope there's a snack bar." Lyra rolled her eyes. "Focus on survival, please."
Inside, a dozen smaller creatures lurked. Rook charged immediately. "I got this!" he yelled, punching the first monster, bouncing backward with mud splattered all over him. Kael muttered, "At least the ground counts as a hit." Selene and Mira moved silently, their shadows blending, eliminating enemies with precision while teasing Kael about his "dramatic aura show."
Kael focused, feeling aura energy flow through him. Every nerve tingled; every breath felt heavier and sharper. He flicked his fingers, and a small aura shockwave sent three monsters flying backward. "Not bad," he muttered. "I might actually survive this Tuesday." Lyra clapped sarcastically. Rook growled, offended. Selene smirked. Mira tilted her head. "Beginner's luck, or reality simply hates them." Kael shrugged. "Why not both?"
Hours passed in this chaotic tutorial, fighting monsters, dodging traps, and accidentally breaking street signs. By the time they exited the collapsed mall, Kael was glowing faintly, aura pulsing, stronger than he had ever been and completely aware that the world just started noticing him.
Standing outside in the rain, the city flickering with emergency lights, Kael looked at his friends. "Alright… squad. Let's see how long before reality complains about me." Lyra rolled her eyes, Selene smirked, Mira was unamused, and Rook muttered, "It's wet!" Kael groaned. And somewhere deep in hidden ruins, the echoes of the First Guardians stirred, whispering: "The Error of Existence has arrived."