Within a dark expanse, faint flickers of light drifted aimlessly, drawn as though to an unseen center. Each moment was marked by the sound of water dripping, a steady rhythm that echoed like the toll of a countdown.
Amidst the silence, a voice rose—a weathered, trembling voice of an aged man, thick with grief.
"Oh Imperian, where art Thou?" the voice pleaded, carried through the void."We seek Thy grace once more… a blessing of eternal peace."
The words reverberated, swallowed by the darkness, unanswered.
"Art Thou not to fulfill the prophecy spoken ten thousand years ago?"
The lights fluttered downward like butterflies, shimmering in rhythm with the drops of water, yet still, no answer came.
"The world is drowned in death and curses," the man cried. "The soil itself is corrupted… Your children lie dormant in their silent castles, unseen, unheard."
His voice cracked, despair bleeding into every syllable. "The prophecy You spoke of is all we have left. Lord Imperian… O Lord Imperian!"
The prayer broke into sobs, fading into nothingness. Then—suddenly—the flickering lights convulsed, bursting with a muted spark. They drew together, coalescing into an orb that slowly unraveled, dissolving into form.
The faint glow stretched across the chamber, revealing a colossal withered tree rooted in a cavernous hall. Muddy pools clung to its roots, and the cavern walls glimmered faintly with runes etched deep into stone.
Beneath the tree lay a motionless body.
At first, it was still—lifeless. Then, a faint twitch of the eyes. A flicker. And slowly, red irises shone through the dim light.
It was the face of a youth, no older than his early teens. Naked and fragile, yet with features too striking to be overlooked. He stirred, rising shakily to his feet as the cold, damp breeze of the cavern brushed against his skin.
"W…where am I?" he whispered, his voice soft with confusion.
A sudden glow cut across the air.
[WELCOME TO SOLARIS]
A blue screen hovered before his eyes, translucent yet vivid. The boy stared, baffled, before reaching toward it. His fingers passed straight through.
"What… is this?"
The words upon the screen shifted, lines of text scrolling across its surface.
[You are the 10,000th Starlith to meet the requirements of the Solaris Prophecy.]
The boy's brow furrowed. None of it made sense—his memories were fragments, hollow and unreachable.
The screen flickered again.
[The world of Solaris has shattered. The realm is cursed. Your task: gather the fragments of the Shattered Key and reclaim the Lost Blessing.]
"…Shattered Key fragments? Lost blessing?" he murmured, trying to grasp the meaning.
Another shift.
[Your journey shall be guided by the Lost Embers—flickering lights that will serve as checkpoints upon your path.]
The message faded, leaving the boy only with questions.
Then came another line of text.
[A map, beginner's equipment set, and an Inheritance that serves as your identity have been placed into your inventory. Note: should you perish before registering an Ember, your soul shall be lost forever.]
The boy froze, tension creeping into his chest.
[To access your Inventory, simply speak the word aloud. The same applies to your Status.]
"…Status. Inventory?" he muttered.
At once, two new screens materialized before him—bright, waiting.
--------------------
STATUS
NAME: SNOW
AGE: 19
RACE: Human
CLASS: Swordsman
SEX: MALE
LVL: 1
MP: 50/50
HP: 100/100
STRENGTH: 1
INTELLIGENT: 1
FAITH: 1
ENDURANCE: 1
STAMINA: 1
DEXTERITY: 1
ARCANE: 1
Available point: 10
Inheritance: HOUSE INGRID Ring
-------------------
--------------------
INVENTORY
Beginner equipment set: 1
Equipment 1: Normal sword
Inventory space: 2/10
-------------------
The boy studied the glowing screen before him, and for the first time, a name appeared.
[Name: Snow]
He stared at it for a moment, surprised, yet without hesitation, he activated the beginner's equipment set. At once, a warm light enveloped his body. When it faded, his bare form had been replaced by simple gear— a crisp white shirt, brown trousers tucked neatly into sturdy boots, hand guards strapped across his wrists, and a short saber at his waist.
Upon his finger rested a golden ring. Unlike ordinary jewelry, its centerpiece was not a gem but a crest shaped like a radiant star.
Snow flexed his hands, blinking in surprise. The clothes fit naturally, the weight of the saber felt familiar, and for the first time since awakening, the chill of the cavern no longer bit at his skin.
[You have equipped the Beginner's Set.]
Another message blinked across the screen.
[The world of Solaris shall watch you, Starlith.]
"…Starlith?" Snow muttered under his breath, puzzled by the term.
He turned toward the narrow path leading outward from the cavern. Each step he took was heavy with questions.
(The screen called me Starlith… but what does that even mean?) he wondered. (Are there others like me in this world? And if there are… will they be hostile?)
As he walked, fragments of memory stirred faintly in his mind.
(If I remember correctly… I was a renowned hunter back on Earth. My last battle was against the final boss… and I… died. After that, only darkness. Then—I woke up here.)
The thought brought a hollow chuckle to his lips. "That doesn't even make sense." He shook his head, pushing away the unease.
His eyes dropped to the golden ring on his finger. (This ring… the system said it's my only identity here. And my purpose is tied to that prophecy— to gather the fragments of the Shattered Key and reclaim the Lost Blessing…)
Snow pressed forward through shallow pools of muddy water, the path lit only by faintly glowing herbs and flowers clinging to the cavern walls. Instinctively, he plucked a few and slipped them into his inventory.
(They're beautiful…) he thought, smiling faintly at the small achievement.
[Stamina +1][Dexterity +1]
Snow blinked as the screen flashed again. A grin tugged at his lips. "So even small actions can raise my stats…" The idea ignited a spark of curiosity. "If that's the case, then maybe—just maybe—I can grow stronger in ways I don't expect."
Ahead, a faint glow pierced the darkness.
(Light… the exit?) He quickened his pace, stepping into it.
The cavern's mouth opened into ruins. Snow found himself at the bottom of what seemed to be a collapsed castle chamber. Rubble littered the ground, and shattered stone told the tale of destruction long past.
"…Did a war happen here?" he murmured, tilting his head back. Above, sunlight filtered faintly through gaping cracks, half-shielded by vines, grass, and flowers that had claimed the ruins as their own.
His eyes scanned the walls until he spotted a thick vine trailing downward. Without hesitation, he began climbing.
Minutes later, Snow pulled himself over the edge and stood within what remained of a grand hallway. The cracked floor led straight toward an enormous door—broken, yet still imposing—standing at the far end.
"That must be the exit," he muttered, beginning his walk.
Despite the ruin, Snow's gaze lingered on the intricate carvings that remained. Pillars adorned with ancient symbols stretched upward, their emblems faint but not erased by time.
(These structures… they're unlike anything I've seen before. More ancient, more refined. Even their scale is strange—these doors, these halls… they're far too large for humans.)
Though his memories of Earth remained fragmented, the contrast was undeniable. This world was different—profoundly so.
And as Snow pushed aside the wreckage blocking the doorway, stepping into the light of Solaris for the first time, he knew one thing with certainty:
This was no ordinary world.
-
-------------------LOST CITY OF INGRID-------------------
The system's words flashed before Snow's eyes, hanging in the air like a declaration.
(Lost City of Ingrid?) Snow froze at the palace gates. His breath hitched as he took in the devastation before him. Once, this place must have been a city of grandeur—his city. But now, all that remained were crumbling walls, collapsed towers, and the ruined husk of a once-proud castle.
Nature had reclaimed it all. Grass and flowers blanketed the earth, vines strangled fallen pillars, and shallow ponds reflected the fractured sky above. It was beautiful, yet mournful.
But before Snow could take even a single step forward—
BOOOOM!
The ground quaked. Something slammed into the earth like a meteor strike, shaking the ruins. Dust and debris billowed upward. When it cleared, a figure emerged—an armored giant. Its frame was towering, knightly in form, but entirely forged of shadow.
The instant it appeared, the lively green of nature shriveled. Grass blackened, flowers withered, and the very ground turned cold as darkness bled outward.
-------------------FALLEN IMPERIAN GUARDIAN – INGRIDLVL: ???CLASS: Knight
Description: An Imperian Guardian once gifted to the House of Ingrid. A knight that symbolized loyalty to the Imperian throne, now fallen from grace. Still bound by its oath, it seeks a worthy master to serve.-------------------
Snow's eyes widened. "Woah…"
Before he could blink, a blur flashed past. Something sharp sliced through the air—close enough to shear a lock of his hair.
/THOU… W… WHO… ART THOU… TO INVADE… THE HOLY CITY OF INGRID…?/
The knight's voice echoed like broken metal, glitching between words.
"..." Snow froze. His instincts screamed, his body moving before his mind. His hand shot to the saber at his waist, drawing it just in time—
CLANG!
The force of the blow was overwhelming. The shadow knight's upward slash sent him hurtling into the air. Pain shot through his arms, his teeth clenched tight as he watched his HP plummet.
-------------------HP: 30/100MP: 100/100-------------------
"Tch—! What a monster!" Snow growled, twisting midair. He descended with a counter slash, putting everything into his swing.
CRACK!
His blade met the knight's weapon—then shattered like fragile glass.
His eyes went wide. "What—?!"
Before he could comprehend what happened, a searing pain tore through his chest. The dark blade had already pierced him, running him through.
Blood burst from his mouth in a heavy spray. His body trembled violently as he hammered his fists against the knight's helmet in desperation, painting it with his own blood.
The knight's frame shuddered. Its shadowy chestplate hissed as blood splashed across it, steam rising as if his very essence burned it. The knight staggered back, letting out a distorted cry.
The dark blade dissolved into nothing, and Snow's body fell, crashing into the ground.
/A… AARGH! W-WHAT… HAST THOU DONE… TO ME?!/
The voice warped into a screech, the knight writhing in agony as it dropped to its knees. The sound of grinding steel echoed across the ruins.
Snow's vision blurred. His HP drained rapidly, but something was wrong—his MP plummeted even faster.
-------------------HP: 20… 10… 8… 5… 3… 1/100MP: 99… 80… 45… 20… 10… 2… 0/100-------------------
(Why…? Why's my mana draining…?) His thoughts grew faint, drowned by exhaustion. Darkness consumed his senses.
And then—
BOOOOOOM!
A violent outburst of energy erupted, flinging Snow's body clear across the ruins. By the time the dust settled, he lay unconscious at the city's entrance.
When he opened his eyes again, hours had passed. His wounds were gone—healed completely. Only the bloodstains on his torn shirt remained as proof of what had happened.
Snow exhaled shakily, relief flooding him. But then… he noticed it.
In his grasp was a sword. A black blade, sleek and ominous, its darkness swallowing the light. At its crossguard shimmered a blood-red gem, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.
The system spoke once more.
-------------------CONGRATULATIONS, STARLITH.YOU HAVE GAINED AN EGO.-------------------
-------------------ALL STATS permanently increased by +30.-------------------
Snow stared, stunned, as the message faded. He tightened his grip on the blade.
-------------------EGO BLADE – INGRIDRANK: ImperianGRADE: UnknownDurability: —
Description: Recognizing your Imperian blood, the Fallen Guardian Ingrid has sworn loyalty to you. It shall heed your call when its unique skill is activated.
Requirements:
Dexterity: 20
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 24
Faith: 10
(Note: The blade can take any form the master wishes. When its unique skill is activated, Ingrid shall manifest in its full form and fight in your stead.)-------------------
Snow's jaw dropped. "What the—? This… this blade…" He turned the weapon in his hand, its weight perfect, its aura terrifying. Compared to anything he had ever wielded in his past life, this was beyond extraordinary.
"Status Window!" he commanded at once.
--------------------
STATUS
NAME: SNOW
AGE: 19
RACE: Human
CLASS: Swordsman
SEX: MALE
LVL: 1
MP: 500/500
HP: 200/200
STRENGTH: 31
INTELLIGENCE: 31
FAITH: 31
ENDURANCE: 31
STAMINA: 31
DEXTERITY: 31
ARCANE: 31
Available point: 10
Inheritance: HOUSE INGRID Ring
-------------------
"Allocate my points into STRENGTH, DEXTERITY, ENDURANCE, STAMINA and INTELLIGENCE" snow said and soon after he glowed
--------------------
STATUS
NAME: SNOW
AGE: 19
RACE: Human
CLASS: Swordsman
SEX: MALE
LVL: 1
MP: 500/500
HP: 200/200
STRENGTH: 31 + 2 (33)
INTELLIGENCE: 31 + 2 (33)
FAITH: 31
ENDURANCE: 31 + 2 (33)
STAMINA: 31 + 2 (33)
DEXTERITY: 31 + 2 (33)
ARCANE: 31
Available point: 0
Inheritance: HOUSE INGRID Ring
-------------------
Snow's lips curled into a satisfied grin as he closed his status window. With a single breath, he raised the black blade.
Whoosh!
He gave it a casual swing—nothing more than a test of weight. Yet the result was catastrophic.
A dark arc tore through the air, splitting the ground beneath him with a thunderous crack. The shockwave rippled outward, erupting into a devastating explosion that shook the ruins themselves.
And all of it… came from a single, effortless swing.
---------------------------------------
To be continued...