Zephyrion woke before dawn. The faint glow of the Eternal Mark pulsed against his chest, as if calling him to rise. The night had been restless. Dreams of shifting worlds, strange battles, and endless voices had chased him through the dark.
When he opened his eyes, the sky outside the small cottage window was painted with hues of violet and silver. The mist rolled over the forest beyond, curling through the trees like living shadows.
He sat up, running his hand through his long, dark hair. The events of yesterday, the awakening of the system, the voice, and the glowing symbol still felt unreal. And yet, the mark throbbed with warmth, a reminder that everything had truly happened.
Zephyrion's gaze turned to the wooden table, where an old dagger lay. His father's dagger. Plain, unsharpened, and almost broken at the hilt. He picked it up slowly, his fingers tracing the worn grooves.
A memory surfaced, his father's voice, years ago: "Power is not in the weapon, son. It is in the will to wield it."
His father was gone now, lost in a war that never ended. But the words lingered.
"Will, huh…" Zephyrion muttered. "If I have the will… then maybe this system can make me strong enough to change everything."
The glowing interface of the Eternal System appeared before him once again, translucent and hovering.
[Eternal System Activated]
User: Zephyrion Vale
Stage: Mortal (Unawakened)
Stats:
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Vitality: 6
Wisdom: 3
Willpower: 8
Special Trait: Eternal Mark (Dormant)
Quests Available: [Trial of Awakening]
Zephyrion's eyes narrowed. The trial still lingered.
"Trial of Awakening…" he whispered. "What does it mean?"
As if responding to his question, the system flickered, and the cottage was filled with a low hum. Then, a voice spoke, calm, powerful, and echoing as though it came from the depths of time itself.
"Bearer of the Mark… your journey begins not with ease but with fire. The Trial of Awakening awaits within the Whispering Woods. Survive… and the first chain of eternity shall be broken."
The voice faded, leaving silence in its wake.
Zephyrion exhaled slowly. It wasn't just an illusion. It was real.
"The Whispering Woods…" he murmured. "Of course, it had to be the most cursed place nearby."
The forest beyond his village was known in every tale. Travelers entered but rarely returned. Some said the trees whispered secrets that drove men mad. Others claimed beasts of shadow roamed under its canopy. For as long as Zephyrion could remember, it was forbidden to venture deep inside.
Yet now, that was exactly where he needed to go.
The village stirred to life as Zephyrion stepped outside. Smoke curled from chimneys, children ran through the dirt paths, and merchants prepared their stalls.
But something was different today. People seemed tense, whispering among themselves. Eyes followed him as he passed, some filled with curiosity, others with suspicion.
"Did you hear? He's marked," a voice hissed.
"They say the light appeared in his chest."
"Marked by the gods… or cursed by them."
Zephyrion ignored them, though their words dug into him like thorns. The mark wasn't a gift he had chosen. Still, he couldn't waste time with their doubts.
At the village gate, an old man blocked his path. His name was Elder Kaelen, the keeper of lore, his face etched with countless wrinkles. His cloudy eyes fixed sharply on Zephyrion.
"You carry it," the elder said softly.
"…The Eternal Mark," Zephyrion replied.
Kaelen nodded, his expression unreadable. "Long has it been since one bore the symbol. Know this, boy your path will not be yours alone. The mark binds you to fate greater than yourself."
Zephyrion hesitated. "Then tell me what it means."
The elder's lips tightened. For a moment, Zephyrion thought he saw fear flicker in those ancient eyes. "The Mark chooses only those who will stand at the edge of worlds. You are both blessed and condemned. Do not fail the trial, Zephyrion Vale… or your story will end before it begins."
The warning lingered in the air.
Zephyrion gave a small bow of respect. "I don't plan to fail."
Without another word, he stepped beyond the gate. The path stretched ahead, winding into the dark embrace of the Whispering Woods.
The forest was alive with whispers.
Every step Zephyrion took seemed to awaken the trees. Their branches swayed though no wind blew, their leaves rustled with voices just beyond hearing. Shadows shifted in ways that defied reason, stretching long and curling back like claws.
Zephyrion gripped his dagger tighter. The forest pressed in on him, suffocating. But the mark on his chest pulsed warmly, as though guiding him forward.
A few hours in, he reached a clearing. The silence here was unnatural, no birds, no rustle of leaves, no sound at all. In the center stood a massive stone, carved with strange runes that glowed faintly.
The system's voice rang in his mind.
[Trial of Awakening Begins]
Objective: Defeat the Guardian of Shadows.
The ground trembled. From the stone's base, shadows bled like liquid, forming into a monstrous shape. Its body was smoke and darkness, its eyes burning red embers.
The Guardian of Shadows.
It roared, a sound that shook the clearing.
Zephyrion's heart pounded, but he stood firm. "So this is it…"
The beast lunged.
The fight was unlike anything Zephyrion had ever faced.
The creature moved like a storm of blades, its claws slicing through the air. Zephyrion dodged, his dagger flashing as he struck back. But each cut against the shadow only dispersed it, reforming moments later.
"Too strong…" he muttered, panting. His body screamed with pain, his strength waning.
Then, the mark on his chest blazed. Energy surged through him, filling his limbs with power. The system's voice echoed:
[Eternal Will Unlocked]
Temporary Ability: Manifest Lightblade.
In his hand, the dull dagger transformed. A blade of radiant light extended from the hilt, humming with power.
Zephyrion's eyes widened. "This… this is my chance."
The Guardian lunged again, but this time Zephyrion met it head-on. His Lightblade cut through the shadow, burning it away like fire to smoke. The creature howled, thrashing violently.
Again and again, Zephyrion struck, his movements fueled by desperation and the strange energy within him. At last, with one final cry, he drove the blade through the creature's core.
The Guardian shrieked, then exploded into fragments of shadow that dissolved into the air.
Silence fell.
Zephyrion dropped to his knees, chest heaving. The blade of light faded, leaving only the broken dagger once more.
The system chimed:
[Trial Completed]
Reward: Awakening Achieved]
Stage Advanced: Mortal Awakened Initiate
New Skill Unlocked: Lightblade Manifestation (Basic)
Zephyrion stared at the glowing notifications, a weak smile forming. "I did it…"
The mark pulsed warmly, brighter than never.
But deep in the forest, a pair of unseen eyes watched. A whisper slithered through the trees:
"The Mark has returned… the cycle begins again."