By the time the sun rose, the mist had thinned enough to show the horizon — a skyline that didn't belong to Earth anymore.
Stone towers stood in the distance, their rooftops lined with banners marked by glowing runes. Walls surrounded them, high and polished, with guards stationed along the ramparts.
Noah whistled low. "So that's… Haven-17."
Lucas nodded quietly. "Looks like something out of a medieval textbook."
They'd been walking for hours, following the faint golden trail projected by their systems. The path wound through fields of broken stone and silent statues — what might once have been people, frozen in ash.
When they finally reached the gates, the first thing they saw wasn't the city itself. It was the line.
Hundreds of survivors stood waiting to be scanned, their System marks glowing faintly at their wrists. A pair of armored soldiers — or maybe NPCs — checked each one. Their armor was white and gold, inscribed with the same patterns Lucas had seen on the angel's wings.
[Trial City – Haven-17]
[Population Limit: 150,000]
[Entry Tier: Based on Tutorial Ranking]
Noah leaned close. "So… they're sorting us?"
Lucas nodded. "By kill count, apparently."
A young man ahead of them tried to argue when his wrist projection flashed red. One of the soldiers didn't even raise his weapon — he just touched the man's chest. A ripple of light passed through, and the man dropped silently, body dissolving into particles of gold.
The line moved forward. No one spoke.
When it was their turn, a white-robed official stepped up to them. Her eyes glowed faintly with a mechanical hue — too precise to be human.
"State your names."
"Noah Turner," Noah said, his voice tight.
"Lucas Hayes," Lucas followed.
The woman's gaze flicked between their wrists as glowing text scrolled across the holographic screen before her.
[Lucas Hayes – Class: Systemless (Divine Variant) – Rarity: Divine]
[Kill Count: 3]
[Tier Assignment: Ascendant Candidate]
[Noah Turner – Class: Support Technician (Uncommon) – Rarity: Uncommon]
[Kill Count: 0]
[Tier Assignment: Disciplinary]
Her eyes paused on Lucas's data — for just a second too long.
"Divine…" she murmured, almost reverently. Then, "You will report to the upper quarter for registration. Escort to be provided."
"And him?" Lucas asked.
The official didn't look up. "Disciplinary Tiers are assigned to the lower quarters."
Noah frowned. "Lower? You mean—"
"Below ground level," she interrupted. "Until performance improves."
Lucas stepped forward. "He's with me."
Her gaze shifted back to him — calm, unreadable. "That is not how the System functions."
For a heartbeat, Lucas almost raised his weapon.
Then Noah caught his arm. "It's fine," he said quietly. "I'll figure it out. Just… don't get yourself deleted."
The soldier gestured toward the city gates. "Proceed."
Lucas hesitated, eyes locked on his friend, before finally stepping forward.
Inside, the city was eerily normal.
Stone streets wound between wooden houses, smoke drifted from chimneys, and vendors called out from stalls lined with bread and fruit that didn't smell quite real.
People moved about in organized silence. Each wore glowing marks near their collarbones — numbers denoting their Tier. Most were Common or Uncommon. Rare Tiers walked with soldiers.
Lucas's mark glowed gold. People stared as he passed.
[Notification: City Integration Complete.]
[Ascendant Candidate privileges active.]
He tried not to notice the eyes — half awe, half hatred.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
[Tutorial Data Processed.]
[Reward: 200 Credits.]
[Unlocked: Temporary Quarters – Ascendant District.]
He didn't care. He only cared about one thing.
He turned back toward the gate — but the doors were already closing. Noah was gone.
For the first time since the angel's voice filled the plaza, Lucas felt something heavier than fear.
He felt alone.
That night, as he stood on the balcony of his assigned room overlooking the city, a new message flickered into his vision.
[Private Transmission — Source: ???]
[Message: "The second Divine has arrived in Haven-01. You are not alone."]
Lucas froze, staring at the glowing words until they faded into the night.
"Another one…" he whispered.
The stars above Haven-17 pulsed faintly, like eyes watching.
And far away, in another city, someone else looked up at the same sky.