The shattered remnants of the floating island drifted slowly beneath a crimson sky, blood clouds swirling in slow chaos above. Zhen stood at the edge of the broken platform, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the faint silhouette of the ancient palace emerged, bathed in a holy light that seemed to pulse with the heartbeat of the multiverse itself.
Around him, the air crackled with residual energy—fragments of battle magic and shattered runes still suspended in the atmosphere like restless spirits. The weight of what had transpired pressed down on Zhen's shoulders, but his expression was unreadable, composed yet burning with a quiet intensity.
The runes etched into his gauntlet glowed softly, syncing with the rhythm of his heartbeat. His fingers twitched involuntarily, as if the very essence of the multiverse was calling him to step forward.
Beside him, Lira's violet eyes watched him carefully, her staff resting against her shoulder. "That was… more than I expected," she murmured. "The forces guarding the palace are ancient beyond reckoning."
Zhen nodded without looking away. "We've only just scratched the surface. The Ascension Trials… they're far more brutal than any system quest I've ever faced."
Kaleid adjusted the strap of his pack, rubbing the back of his neck. "And the palace itself isn't just a place—it's a living fragment of the multiverse's sacred core. To enter is to challenge the very essence of creation."
Zhen's thoughts flickered back to the battle just moments ago, when the glowing spectral beasts had surged from the shadows, their howls like broken music. He had wielded Oathsplitter with a precision that surprised even himself, slicing through the ephemeral foes as if cutting through darkness itself.
But it hadn't been enough. Some had slipped past, retreating into hidden crevices of the palace, whispering in tongues older than time.
"We can't afford to let them regroup," Zhen said sharply. "If these shadows awaken what's sleeping inside, the entire multiverse could be at risk."
Lira stepped forward, her voice low but firm. "Then we move at dawn. We take the palace."
A silence settled, heavy with anticipation.
Zhen allowed himself a brief moment of rest before nodding. "Agreed. But we prepare carefully. The trials ahead will test not just strength, but the very limits of our souls."
As the crimson sky dimmed into twilight, the group set about readying themselves. Zhen knelt by the small shrine etched into the stone—a relic of light and ancient faith—and whispered a quiet prayer.
The soft glow from the shrine pulsed in harmony with the runes on his gauntlet, and for a fleeting instant, he glimpsed a vision: shards of floating worlds, rivers of light flowing through broken realms, and above all, the piercing eyes of a figure cloaked in radiant energy.
Then the vision faded, replaced by the firm grip of reality.
The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with shadows and the echoes of forgotten power.
But Zhen's resolve burned brighter than ever.
He would rise.
He must.
For the Ascension was not merely a journey—it was destiny.
The fractured platform beneath Zhen's feet trembled with a faint pulse, resonating with the fading energy of the recent battle. Around them, the floating fragments of the shattered realm drifted slowly, each shard a miniature world suspended in a sea of crimson mist. The sky above was painted with swirling blood-red clouds, the sun long swallowed by the horizon's shadow.
Zhen stood still, his breath steady despite the chaos. The gauntlet on his right hand gleamed faintly, the intricate runes etched deep into the metal now pulsing with a synchronized rhythm alongside his heartbeat. He could feel the living system inside responding, feeding off the latent energies that saturated this ancient battleground.
"Zhen," Lira's voice was low, her violet eyes filled with a mixture of awe and concern as she stepped closer, her silver staff resting lightly against the cracked stone beside him. "That trial... the Ascension Trials inside the palace aren't just challenges. They're tests of will, spirit, and essence. Every step forward will carve something from you."
Zhen nodded, his eyes never leaving the distant outline of the palace, its walls glowing with a soft, sacred light. "I can feel it. The palace itself is alive, more than just stone and magic—it's a fragment of the multiverse's own heart, beating beneath this realm. And whatever guards it will not let us pass easily."
Kaleid, adjusting the leather strap of his pack, frowned. "The spectral beasts we fought… they were mere echoes of a power far greater. If we fail to stop them, they will awaken what lies deep inside the palace. That power… it could unravel everything."
Zhen clenched his jaw. The memory of the battle was fresh—the way the ghostly creatures had surged forward like living shadows, their howls resonating like broken chords. Oathsplitter had sung through the air, slicing down the ephemeral enemies with precision. Yet some had vanished into cracks and shadows, their whispers lingering in the air like curses.
"We can't let that happen," he said firmly. "We move at first light. We take the palace before the shadows can regroup."
Lira stepped forward, determination hardening her features. "Agreed. But it won't be easy. The Ascension Trials will push us beyond limits—not just physical, but spiritual."
A tense silence fell among them, the weight of their mission pressing like a shroud.
Zhen knelt before a small shrine carved into the stone platform—a relic of glowing light etched with ancient symbols. As he whispered a prayer, the runes on his gauntlet brightened, their glow casting dancing shadows on the surrounding shards.
In the flickering light, a vision flashed before his eyes—a panorama of broken worlds floating in fractured space, rivers of shimmering light weaving between them like veins. At the center stood a figure cloaked in radiant energy, eyes blazing with ancient power. The vision was both beautiful and terrifying, promising salvation or destruction.
Then the vision vanished.
Reality snapped back with a sudden chill. The wind whispered through the floating shards, carrying with it the faint sound of distant voices—echoes of the forgotten realm.
Zhen rose, determination steeling his spine.
The path forward was uncertain and perilous, but he would not falter.
---
As the first rays of dawn pierced the crimson mist, the group approached the palace gates—massive doors wrought from luminous crystal and etched with swirling runes that shimmered with sacred power.
"Ready?" Lira asked, gripping her staff tightly.
Zhen took a deep breath, tightening his gauntlet straps. "Let's finish this."
With a powerful surge of energy, he touched the runes on the gate. The symbols flared in response, and the massive doors slowly parted, revealing a vast hall flooded with radiant light and humming with the power of countless runes.
The air inside was thick with ancient magic, and every step they took echoed through the vast chamber like the heartbeat of the multiverse itself.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in black robes, his face hidden beneath a bone-white mask carved with cryptic runes. He raised his hand, and dark fire spiraled toward them.
Zhen was already moving, summoning a blade of pure light from Oathsplitter. The blade clashed with the dark fire, creating a shockwave that shook the palace walls.
"You are not welcome here," the masked figure hissed. "The balance must be preserved."
A fierce battle erupted, light against darkness, runes singing against curses. Zhen fought with every ounce of strength and skill, his blade cutting through shadows and striking true.
Kaleid and Lira supported him with spells of warding and healing, their voices chanting in harmony with the ancient runes etched into the palace.
Despite their efforts, the masked figure was relentless, his power growing with each strike.
In a desperate move, Zhen called upon the full might of his system, channeling the energies of the multiverse through his gauntlet. A blinding surge of light erupted from Oathsplitter, forcing the figure back.
With a final cry, Zhen drove his blade forward, shattering the dark aura and sending the figure collapsing into the shadows.
Silence fell once more.
Breathing heavily, Zhen lowered his blade. "This is only the beginning."
---
They pressed deeper into the palace, each chamber a puzzle of runes and traps, each corridor echoing with whispers of forgotten legends.
At the heart of the palace, they found an enormous chamber, where a great crystal pulsed with a living light—the source of the palace's power.
As Zhen approached, the crystal responded, its light intensifying and merging with the runes on his gauntlet.
A voice echoed through the chamber—a voice ancient and eternal.
"Bearer of the Oathsplitter, you have awakened the ancient pact. Will you accept the burden and rise beyond?"
Zhen clenched his fists, feeling the weight of destiny pressing down on him.
"I accept."
The crystal flared, engulfing him in light.
As the light faded, Zhen felt his power expand, his understanding deepening. He was no longer just a warrior—he was a guardian of the multiverse's sacred order.
And the true Ascension was just beginning.