The tear in reality that took Eryn's father fifteen years ago was a global event.
Different parts of the world witnessed the same phenomenon—the same shimmering gashes in the fabric of reality. Those tears led to the discovery of a new dimension: the Astral Realm.
The major issue wasn't just the tears themselves, but what walked out of them.
Monsters.
They were unaffected by the world's conventional weapons, shrugging off artillery and airstrikes as if they were nothing. For six months, humanity believed it was witnessing its own end.
Cities were counted by the number still standing.
Until they appeared.
The Awakened.
Some humans began to manifest supernatural abilities called Gifts, fueled by the new energy that bled into the world from the Astral Realm—a force they called Linq.
Humanity had a chance again. They pushed the monsters back, sealed some of the tears, and established safe zones.
But the monsters never stopped coming.
…
…
[Compatibility Confirmed.]
[Syncing with Host…]
"Eh?"
Eryn blinked, his breath catching in his throat. A translucent screen hovered in the air before his eyes. He pushed himself upright on the bed, staring.
"What in the world… is this?"
The screen didn't drift. No matter how he turned his head, it remained fixed in the center of his vision—close enough to read, far enough not to touch.
His heart hammered against his ribs. Slowly, hesitantly, he reached out.
His fingers passed through empty air. The screen vanished.
Eryn pulled his hand back as if burned. "Tch—okay… okay. I'm just tired. That's it." He exhaled sharply and lay back down, closing his eyes. "Didn't sleep enough. My brain's glitching."
He was halfway to convincing himself when—
The screen reappeared.
[Synergy Complete.]
[Congratulations. You have successfully synchronized with a King Artifact.]
His body stiffened.
"…What?"
Eryn shot upright again. "Are—are you… talking to me?"
[…]
[Of course.]
[You are among the select few capable of synchronizing with a King Artifact.]
His shock slowly turned into wary focus. He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"Alright. Then answer me properly." His voice was low, steady. "What is a King Artifact? And what are you? Some kind of AI? Where did you come from?"
The screen seemed to pause.
[Most of your questions will be answered in time.]
[For now, proceed.]
A cold chill went down Eryn's spine.
[Understand this: your life will not return to what it was.]
[The peace you cling to is fragile. It will break.]
[And when it does—they will come for you.]
His breath hitched. The museum. The sigil. The way it crumbled to dust in his palm.
Maybe he was thinking of the right thing, maybe he wasn't. But that had to be what it's talking about, right?
"…So that thing," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "That artifact… that was a King Artifact?"
[This is a System.]
[A guide to evolution. A pathway to power. Your means of survival in a world that is corrupting.]
[As for my origin… You will either discover it yourself… or you will die trying.]
A sudden, immense pressure settled over Eryn, as if his life had been placed on an invisible scale. He swallowed hard, his eyes locked on the glowing text.
"…Let me get this straight." His voice was thin. "Evolution and power. You're saying… I can… awaken?"
The screen flickered, once.
[Inquiry acknowledged.]
Then the pressure lifted. The light faded.
[The Presence has left.]
"The what…? Wait, what do you mean 'The Presence' has left?" Eryn asked, more puzzled than before.
[I am The System, granted to you by The Presence with whom you were conversing.]
[Do you wish to continue with this path?]
Eryn rubbed his forehead and let out a confused exhale. "…Not really—I just need to think about—"
[Ha! You act like you have a choice.]
[You don't.]
Eryn blinked. "Eh? Then why ask?"
[You have one path, but two options:]
[• Option I: Walk Under The Shadow]
[• Option II: Stand Beneath The Light.]
"Huh?"
On top of the confusion from "The Presence," now he had to choose between two completely vague options for a path he knew nothing about.
He felt a headache beginning to form behind his eyes.
"I really do need to sleep," he muttered, about to lie back down when a second translucent screen flashed beside the first, blinking red.
[Choose an option in ten seconds or one will be selected for you at random, including an extremely unbearable penalty!]
[• Timer: 10]
Eryn watched the numbers tick down, desperately trying to believe this was all a hallucination, but the adrenaline felt all too real.
[• Timer: 4]
Argh, tch! If I'm not wrong, the shadow would be in hiding and light would be taking the spotlight? What's all this even about?
"Damnit!" Eryn cursed under his breath. "Option one."
The timer stopped and vanished.
[You have chosen to "Walk Under The Shadow." Very well.]
[Welcome to Evolution, Eryn Malek.]
…
…
Downtown.
DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts)
A figure stood before the loading dock where Eryn had helped move crates. They wore a long black coat and a hat, their face hidden behind a black mask etched with a simple smiley face.
All they had to do was glance at the smart lock. A soft click sounded, and it gave way.
The figure pushed the door open with a gloved hand.
They seemed to know exactly what they'd come for, and where to find it, walking directly to a specific crate and prying it open.
"Ash?" they muttered, staring at the small pile of grey dust inside. "Is that so?"
Their voice was distorted, crackling like a faulty radio.
CLICK!
"Your hands in the damn air!"
The figure glanced over their shoulder. One of the museum's security guards stood behind them, gun leveled.
"Aye, you deaf? Hands up!" the guard yelled.
The figure raised their hands slowly and turned. "Please, don't shoot," they said.
"Down on your knees," the guard ordered, advancing cautiously, his aim unwavering.
The figure tilted its head. "Hm? Null kneels to no one, officer. I'm surprised you found me."
"Shut up and get down or I shoot."
"I hate to repeat myself, but I will, as I never came to make a scene. So, I say again… Null kneels to no one."
"Bullshit," the guard cursed, and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
Null didn't move. The bullet didn't reach them. It halted in the air just before the smiling mask, hovered for a moment, and then clattered to the floor.
The guard's eyes widened, but his jaw set. He spoke into his walkie-talkie, voice tight. "Got an intruder in the warehouse. Well… Awakened, to be precise."
Null lowered their hands and flexed their fingers. "Mind if I leave, officer? I mean no harm. Not yet, at least—"
The guard fired again. This time the bullet tore through the shoulder of Null's coat as it whizzed past.
"Ah, I see now," Null said, their static-laced voice almost thoughtful. "That's why you found me. Because—"
In a blink, they vanished, reappearing directly behind the guard. They held the man's collar and flung him effortlessly into a nearby wall with a sickening crunch.
"—You're an Awakened as well. You sensed my Linq," Null finished.
As the dust settled, the guard pushed himself up, his eyes now glowing with a faint, ethereal light. Then his eyes shot wide—he couldn't move. His body was locked, stiff.
"Too bad I won't be knowing what your Gift is, officer," Null said with a slight tilt of the head.