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Ethereal Ascension Chapter 1
~ System Unlocked ~Dark clouds gathered and bloated the sky, rumbling and threatening to unleash a downpour.But it was at the peak of the dry season. Heavy rain or any kind of rain by this time seemed amiss. Something was odd with the weather.“Oh, come on. Of all days,” Nathan White clicked his tongue, gazing at the dark sky from the window in his room. Shutting the window blind, he turned and ruffled his black hair, “Mr. Humphrey is going to kill me if I don’t make it in time.”He moved away from the window, shuffling his legs through the few trash bags scattered around the small room. Aside from the small mattress at one corner and the few clothes in the open wardrobe, the room was more or less empty.As he began to take off his clothes for a quick bath, a sudden streak of lightning flashed outside, inundating the room with its luminous intensity for a second or two. It was immediately accosted with a thunderous boom that dotted Nathan’s skin with goosebumps.Shuddering to the th
Ethereal Ascension Chapter 2
Chapter 2~ The System ~Glitch...[Wake up.][Alan, wake up!]A synthetic voice kept probing Nathan, who was fast asleep on a moderately-sized bed. He turned and turned, relishing in the comfort of the bed. It felt so soft, unlike the thin mattress he was used to.[Wake up!]The synthetic voice hollered once more.“Ugh... Just five more minutes,” Nathan mumbled under his breath, throwing the blanket over his face. But after a second or two of trying to get back to sleep, he paused, “Wait...”Tossing the blanket aside, he sat up immediately, his eyes wide open. He gazed down at his body and felt his torso. His ribs were still intact. There was no sign of bleeding. He couldn’t even feel the slightest pain.“The hell..?” he lifted his head and scanned the room he found himself in. It was two times bigger than the single room he was accustomed to. The walls were even painted, and the floor was tiled. He could see a wardrobe, a standing mirror, and other essential furniture needed in a ro
Ethereal Ascension Chapter 3
~ Imminent Danger ~ “Huh? What do you mean?” Alan asked with a perturbed face. [Did I stutter?] Alan’s brows twitched, “You sly... Ugh! What’s the point getting transmigrated or reincarnated, only to wake up as the weakest Mage in the realm?” [Fret not. There are other Myriad 5 Mages in Oratoa.] “For real?” a glimmer of hope shone in Alan’s eyes. The System didn’t respond until a few seconds later... [No.] “What?!” Alan pinched his nose bridge in frustration. What kind of system are you? Why would you put my hopes up like that?” [I couldn’t watch my host getting depressed.] “Well, you only made me more depressed. Thanks a lot,” he shook his head. [You’re welcome.] Silence. [No Hunter is awoken as a Myriad 5. The least is Myriad 4. And that’s how it has been until you were born.] “Wow. I broke the record. Classic,” Alan muttered in sarcasm. He lowered his head, “Why does the rank exist anyway, if no one had been awoken into it?” [The rank came with your exis
Ethereal Ascension Chapter 4
~ Calvary ~Even with his eyes closed, he could see the hellish intensity of the ocular blasts, their heat threatening to peel off his skin. His clothes shrunk on him in response to the heat.But then came a sharp swish, immediately followed by darkness. Yes, that was all Alan could see with his closed eyes. The red light that shone bright just a second ago, was now shielded by something... Or rather, someone?He felt himself falling with the Armoured Tusk’s hand still gripping him.However, before he could make a full descent, another swish sound came and the hand crumbled around him. Someone now carried him in their hands and they descended slowly.This prompted him to gradually open his eyes. Under his blurry vision, he could see the figure of a man standing before the sun, his hair swaying behind him as though they were riding the air currents.‘An Angel? Is this how spirits are carried to the afterlife?’ Alan couldn’t help but ask himself. He f
Ethereal Ascension Chapter 5
~ Vanquishing the Beast ~ [† Name: Alan Monolith.] [Alias: The One.] [Race: Human.] [Level: 1.] [Title: Nil.] [Class: Awakened.] [Health Points (HP): 100] [Mana Points (MP): 55] [Experience (XP): 10 / 100] [† Attributes: - Strength: 10 - Agility: 10 - Intelligence: 10 - Endurance: 10 - Dexterity: 10 - Luck: 5 - Wisdom: 5 - Charisma: 5] [† Skills: - Combat Skills: - Basic Swordsmanship: Level 1 - Magic Skills: - Basic Fireball: Level 1 - Miscellaneous Skills: - Basic Cooking: Level 1] [† Abilities: - Active Abilities: - Quick Strike: Level 1 - Passive Abilities: - Enhanced Senses: Level 1] [† Equipment: - Weapon: Wooden Sword - Armour: Locked. - Accessories: None.] [† Inventory: - Health Potion: 1 - Mana Potion: 1 - Enhancement Potion: 1] [Quests unlocked] [† Secret Advancement Quest: Courage of the Weak >>> Completed.] [† Active Quests: - Complete Daily Basic Training: To be completed before noon.] ... “I still don’t get how
Ethereal Ascension Chapter 6
~ Scepticism ~Alan couldn’t help but frown a bit, “The forbidden artefact? Am I supposed to know what that is?”[Actually... Yes.]‘Huh? Tell me,’ Alan replied internally, while maintaining his confused expression on the outside. He saw Captain Beaumont move and he panicked, ‘Spill it!’[Artefacts are found in random dungeons and possess very unique abilities. From stain removal to rewriting reality itself. The artefacts are graded based on their level of power. A forbidden artefact is at the crux of the hierarchy.]‘Okay, but what does that have to do with me?’ Alan’s gaze remained on the squad, who, for some odd reason, had stopped moving.He raised a brow, ‘Are my eyes playing tricks on me?’[No. It’s my doing. It helps relay information faster.][Now, listen. You went on a raid yesterday with this particular squad... Well, the former you. You discovered a forbidden artefact after clearing the dungeon and beating the final boss. Everyone was told to leave, so that higher ranked Hu
Ethereal Ascension Chapter 7
~ Gaining Information ~ A subtle tremor shook the street as every other part of Alan’s house came crashing down. The quake startled him a bit, but he quickly found his bearing and turned to trace the source of the sudden impact. His house was nothing more than a heap of rubble at that moment. He simply sighed and turned to continue his stroll, ‘I really hope you’re right about that damage insurance.’ [They should arrive soon.] He took a sharp detour and approached a small restaurant, puffs of steam escaping its chimneys. He didn’t know why, but he felt familiar with the restaurant, as though he had been here a couple of times. ‘Maybe the former me used to come here,’ he surmised internally, pushing the metal door open. He walked in to see some men gathered behind the counter, laughing at intervals. There was a young man in the middle, his hands hovering over the counter. Beneath his waving palms was a somewhat holographic construct of a dungeon. In that small construct, th
Ethereal Ascension Chapter 8
~ Basic Training ~ Alan took the last bite and drank up his milkshake. His right fist reflexively went to his mouth as he let out a burp. He pushed himself up and cracked his neck. He took a glance at the homeless man still munching on the half burrito that he had given him, “I have to go now.” The homeless man lifted his gaze and simply nodded, chewing gently on the burrito. “Yeah,” Alan nodded back and left the alley. ‘Yo, system,’ he called, feeling quite pumped up. It was as though the little he had just eaten was some kind of energy booster. [Less than two hours before the time limit expires.] Alan smiled, ‘Heh. It’s like you can read my mind. Well... You literally can...’ he quickly moved sideways when a car honked behind him. He watched the car drive past him, its exhaust casually coughing out black smoke, ‘So... this basic training, what am I to do? A few push ups or what?’ A green tab flickered to reality before him. [† Active Quests: - Complete Daily Bas
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- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 23
~ Countering Vibrations ~Inside the room of a duplex within the dome, the young lady on the bed sat up and yawned, her lush white hair scattered over her face.“Ugh... That noise again,” she grumbled softly as she smoothed her hair and packed it behind her.She remained seated on the bed for minutes, staring listlessly at the window, as though enjoying the recurrent booms and subtle quakes occurring outside.Her eyes were squinted as she focused on the source of the disturbances. She could feel two auras. The first one felt dark and raw, like that of a dungeon monster. The other felt restrained, as though the host had placed a limiter from letting the rest of their aura lose. The latter’s aura also felt familiar... Very familiar.“I thought we took care of all the monsters that escaped the Gateway Break,” she muttered half-heartedly, contemplating on whether to go back to sleep.She could handle the tremors, but other civilians were at risk. It was also certain that the limite
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 22
~ Energy ~Aside from the noise coming from everyone that ran for shelter, and those that tried to break through the dome, the street was oddly quiet.Alan and Banshee remained in a fierce staring contest, standing completely still. Alan’s azure eyes were glowing red, while Banshee’s white spiralling eyes had gotten dimmer.[MP: 360][MP:358]Alan’s mana points kept dropping by 2 every passing second.‘What am I supposed to do now?’ Alan began to skim through his inventory. Maybe he had something strong enough to puncture Banshee’s vibrational field.But other than the Blood-red Helmet, Bane’s Fang was the only weapon made of a metal stronger than steel. The vibrational force field had repulsed it like it was nothing .[Can’t you think for yourself?]Alan clicked his tongue, ‘I wasn’t talking to you! It was a rhetorical question. Just get out of my head.’[That’s impossible. We are one.]Banshee’s fingers twitched as he fought hard against the Gaze of Terror. He could see h
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 21
~ Noise ~‘Of all rooms to crash into... Tch!’Alan turned his face away when his eyelids refused to close. He stood up almost immediately and dusted the rubble off his body.With his face still turned away, he addressed the naked couple, “Um... I’m really sorry about this. I’ll be leaving now. Carry on.”He walked closer to the gaping hole in the wall and stared down at the street.Banshee was standing at the centre of the land that was once his house. All the rubble and whatnot had been cleared. The creature had his hands behind him, his white spiralling eyes fixated on the hole where Alan stood.‘Tch. What’s this guy’s problem? I just need a place to sleep,’ Alan brandished Bane’s Fang and cracked his neck. ‘I’m tired.’He took a leap off the edge and dove at Banshee with Bane’s Fang raised before him.Banshee let out a sonic scream as Alan got in proximity, but the latter wasn’t planning on facing him head on in the first place.[Ability: Quick Strike >>> Activated!][MP
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 20
~ Distortion ~Alan yawned and tilted his neck back, fixing his gaze on the crescent moon.He had given up on looking for a place to sleep. He had no one he could confide in, and vice versa.His lips parted as he muttered, “Ahh... So peaceful.”He regretted his statement almost immediately as a distorted guttural voice boomed into his head.“So it is true, huh? You have returned!”Alan turned on his heels immediately and jumped back in reflex. His body acted before he could even bring his mind to order.“What the...? Who was that?” he asked the thin air and the few cars that drove to and fro.He felt something, like a warm liquid drooling out of his ears, prompting him to touch them with his index fingers. He brought his fingers down to his eye and streetlamp range.They were smeared with a not-so-thick reddish liquid.He creased his brows, “Huh? Blood?”How his ears started bleeding was a complete mystery. Was it because of the voice he heard? But he didn’t even feel any p
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 19
~ Night Dilemma ~“8:01 already?” Alan rushed down the sidewalk whilst taking a glance at the big analogue clock situated at the centre of the city. He straightened his neck and focused his gaze on the path before him, ‘Maya must be worried sick. I hope those damage control guys have come to fix the house.’[Actually...] The System stressed as Alan took a sharp turn by a bend.He came to a momentary stop, his eyes gradually opening wide as he stared at the heap of concrete and metal, on the piece of land that his house once stood upon.[... With the Gateway Break that happened earlier today, it would seem that the damage insurance staff are a little short-handed] The System completed.‘Of all things... Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?’ Alan ruffled his hair with a slight frown.Just then, a familiar feline voice jolted him back to reality, “Alan?”Dropping his right hand, his gaze immediately shifted to the small car ahead, parked diagonally across him. He noticed two g
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 18
~ Rewards ~“You know what? No, thank you. I do not want my rewards,” Alan snapped, frowning ever so slightly. He couldn’t get mad at the System, no matter how hard he tried, but the frustration was there.[They are YOUR rewards. You’ve been granted them already.]“Then why ask if I want them?” Alan creased his brows.[Don’t you at least want to know what they are?]He sighed, rubbing his forehead with two fingers, “Ahh... I do. I’m just so confused right now. I have a lot of questions, and you just want to ignore all of them.”[I figured it was best you went home to rest for now, and you’ll be debriefed later. More so, the dungeon will crumble and the bakery will take its previous form in an hour.]“That’s a lot of time...” he raised his head and stared at the opposite wall. It was still a little odd talking to someone or something he couldn’t see. He pictured the holographic form of a robot sitting across the hallway as they conversed. “One hour is enough time for any explana
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 17
~ Counterpart II ~‘How--’A dense punch to the gut shattered his train of thoughts.The next thing he could remember was getting slammed against a wall, the fist that punched him sinking deeper. He wheezed dryly to catch his breath.But then, the hair behind his neck went taut like needles, alerting him of imminent danger. For that brief moment, Alan wondered why his ‘danger sense’ hadn’t warned him of the punch. Or was it because his mind was experiencing shock?His eyes rolled down and he tilted his neck to the side, his head swaying along with it. Another fist punctured the wall beside his head. It would have hit him instead if he hadn’t dodged in time.Mustering some strength, Alan grabbed both hands by the wrists and stared intently at The Final Boss, just to confirm what he had seen earlier. Maybe it was just some hallucination? His head had been bashed in a couple of times... So there’s that.But no. His brows twitched as he stared at The Final Boss. It was like looki
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 16
~ Counterpart ~ Thooms and thuds resonated across the hallway as The Final Boss bolted forward in a blur, bouncing off the two walls repeatedly, creating this zigzag pattern. Alan wasn’t sure if the former was doing that to disorient him or something, but if he was, well he was in for a big surprise. Alan’s azure eyes rolled quickly around his sockets, trailing each path that The Final Boss took. His perception of things was heightened enough to follow a Level 1 Quick Strike movement. He grinned. For one, his hunch about The Final Boss being able to copy abilities and skills, was confirmed. Also, the level of the copied ability/skill remained the same. This was why Alan could follow his movements. Though Quick Strike only enhanced his body’s speed, it also came with the perks of enhancing his senses, so that he could keep up. One last bound off the left wall and The Final Boss threw his knees forward at Alan’s head. Holding his breath, Alan sidestepped, missing the flyi
- Ethereal Ascension
Chapter 15
~ Copy? ~As soon as the wooden sword shattered, the final boss reached for Alan with his right hand, grabbing his collar and sinking two knee jabs into his torso.Alan’s body jerked back in response to the jabs, his lungs momentarily contracting, causing him to gasp dryly for air.In quick succession, the final boss pulled him closer, whilst pulling his own head back. His neck moved as he threw his head forward, striking Alan right on his glabella.Bang!Metal met flesh and bone, the latter tearing and cracking.A flux of pain condensed at the impact point, dazzling Alan for a moment there, so much so that he almost fell asleep.His body getting lifted jolted him awake, and, before he could tell what was going on, the final boss spun on his heels, reeling Alan to the air as though he was some weightless mannequin.In a single 360° turn, the final boss flung Alan across the hallway, the latter’s flight momentum blowing out a few torches. They reignited back almost immediately
