Zen woke up, disoriented, in a place that felt completely unnatural. Everything was white—no walls, no sky—just an endless void and a thick fog swirling beneath his feet. He couldn't make sense of it.
"What the hell?"
Zen muttered, trying to move, but his body felt off—heavy, sluggish.
The silence was unnerving, until he heard a noise from behind.
He spun around at the sudden noise. The broadblade was floating behind him, its fissures glowing with a faint yellow light.
Before he could react, a bolt of electric light shot out from the blade, crackling through the air and heading straight for him.
He braced himself, but when the bolt struck, it wasn't painful.
Instead, it was like a strange hum ran through his body, a buzzing sensation that left him momentarily dizzy.
His skin tingled, but there was no burning, no sharp pain—just an odd feeling, like static electricity after touching a doorknob.
Zen blinked, rubbing his head.
"What the...?" he muttered, looking at the blade.
Something about it felt... different just now. The connection was there, stronger than before. As he stared at it, his eyes began to glow, mirroring the yellow light pulsing from the broadsword's fissures. He could feel it, a pull—something far beyond his understanding.
His eyes flickered as he noticed something strange beside the broadsword. A small, translucent notification system appeared, floating in the air next to the weapon. It was written in a language he didn't quite understand, but a few words were clear:
[Recalibrating…]
[Establishing Telepathic link…]
[Adjusting Language.]
His heart raced as he stared at the message, unsure of what was happening or how it was connected to anything.
"I'm familiar with what this is but... I never heard of such things from the others who obtained Geonite Weapons. Am i missing something here or?"
The faint hum from the blade only grew louder, as if something was awakening. Then the system notification blipped into thin air.
Zen had a dumbfounded look on his face and before he was able to raise a question, another notification popped up in front of him.
[The nameless Blade would like it's wielder to give it a name]
Zen didn't question the request and just went along with it.
"I see.... hmm a name for the weapon then... Give me a sec I'm working on it."
[The nameless Blade awaits the answer of it's wielder]
Okay, Okay, how about Earthshaker?
Silence filled the air, the tension between Zen and the Broadsword intensifying but then—
[The nameless blade expresses his distaste in your basic answer]
Zen furrowed his brows, an annoyed look crossing his face. "What's wrong with it? It's strong, it fits you!"
[The nameless Blade questions if you are some kind of 5 year old]
Zen clenched his teeth.
"Okay, fine. Rocko. How about Rocko?"
Another pulse from the blade.
[The Nameless Blade states that it does not want to be named like a dog.]
Zen's patience was wearing thin.
"You're doing this on purpose aren't you? What do you want from me?"
His eyes narrowed, annoyance creeping into his voice. "Alright, Big Boy. Happy now?"
[The Nameless Blade would rather stay nameless.]
Zen snapped, "What? is everything I say too basic for you? Come on! What's your problem?"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but the annoyance was clear in his tone.
"Alright, fine! Shatterfang? Happy now, you picky bastard?"
[The nameless Blade appears to be holding back a sarcastic remark but refrains.]
Zen just stared at the blade.
"I'm done with you."
He rubbed his temples before saying through gritted teeth.
"Okay, last one, Shitface."
[The nameless Blade is offended by your unworthy suggestion]
Zen, frustrated and more than a little annoyed, grabbed the hilt of the sword with both hands and shook it violently. The sword, as if unimpressed, emitted a low hum as if it was unaware of what was happening.
The voice echoed in Zen's mind.
[The Nameless blade wants to know what you're doing]
Zen gritted his teeth, his frustration bubbling up.
"I'm trying to choke you, you stubborn lump of metal,"
he grumbled, shaking it harder.
the sound of metal scraping against itself ringing through the air.
There was a beat of silence for a moment before the blade responded
[The Nameless Blade says it does not have a neck to begin with. ]
Zen's eyes twitched. He let out an exasperated sigh, the sword's sass grating on him further.
"Yeah, well, I'm trying my best to figure out how to deal with you, alright?"
[The Nameless Blade is amused by your futile attempts]
Zen just scowled at the blade, his grip tightening even more as he muttered under his breath.
"Smartass sword."
Alright last, and I MEAN last chance, take it or or leave it. How about...
Ashen?
....
[The Nameless Blade finds the name acceptable]
[Are you sure you want to confirm the integration?]
[Yes] [No]
Zen raised his hand, pressing one of the buttons.
[Name Integrated successfully]
[Blade Name: Ashen
Wielder Name: Zen Encrest]
"Finally! we're getting somewhere."
Zen let out a sigh of relief before he looked back to the sword.
"So, what are you anyway? some kind of bat? club? or a weird stick?"
[The Blade "Ashen" states it is whatever you think it is]
"Well that was pointless, setting that aside, you're no standard geonite are you?"
[.....]
"No answer huh? I'll be taking that as a yes then. Speaking of, what's with the pop ups anyway?"
[The Blade Ashen states it's caused by the first layer]
"Wait? Layer? What? Hold on."
[The Blade Ashen states that the remaining energy to form a link is fading]
"Wait, slow down—"
Before Zen could wrap his head around this whole nonsense, the connection fizzled. The light from Ashen's glow dimmed, and the voice that had been echoing in his head started devolving into incoherent noises.
[Connection temporarily suspended… Initiating rest protocol…]
Zen blinked a few times, swaying on his feet.
"Whoa… wait, rest protocol? Hold on—"
His knees gave a little wobble, the fog around him growing softer, duller. It felt like a warm pressure on his body.
"No, stay.....awake"
His eyelids slowly closed half lidded, his body relaxing. His eyes grew heavier by the second until he finally plopped down onto the soft fog with a quiet thud.
"...Dumb sword… coulda at least warned me.... first..."
And with that, Zen slumped back and let sleep take him, Ashen's faint yellow glow blinked once more in the mist, then faded out gently.
-------
Zen's eyes fluttered open, slow and hazy still reeling from the weird encounter.
The low hum of a heart monitor pulsed beside him, calm and steady, syncing with the quiet rhythm of the hospital room.
Moonlight seeped through the half-drawn curtains.
He tried to sit up, only for a tugging sensation near his left thigh to stop him. Blinking down, his gaze landed on a familiar figure slumped against the bed.
Vivian.
Arms crossed, head tilted, soft snores escaping her lips—she was fast asleep, right there beside him.
Zen blinked again, a small flush creeping up his cheeks.
"...Damn," he whispered to himself under his breath, immediately glancing away like he'd just peeked into something sacred.
He was about to say something stupid—but caught himself, panic kicking in.
Her eyes twitched, a stir.
"Oh no—" Zen panicked internally, slamming his eyes shut and dropping back to his bed.
If she knew Zen saw her in such a state, he would be in for a ton of beating, and he'd rather not have to deal with that.
Vivian slowly stretched, yawning, rubbing her eyes as she sat up straighter. Her voice, rough with sleep, yet oddly soft, mumbled near his side.
"Idiot... still not awake are you? You could've died, you know..." she murmured.
"Stupid Zen... always doing reckless crap like that..."
Zen didn't move. Barely breathed. His ears, however, could hear everything.
Vivian's tone shifted, a hesitant warmth lacing her words.
"I mean... if you'd really gone and kicked the bucket, I—I would've been... you know... pissed. A lot."
She was close now. Real close. Her hand brushed his, fingers slightly trembling.
Zen's resolve broke like a cheap chair.
"Nnngh—"
Vivian froze.
"...Huh?"
She narrowed her eyes at the so-called unconscious boy, inching her face closer.
"Wait a sec…"
Zen was sweating bullets, trying hard not to visibly panic.
Vivian's eyes narrowed further. Suspicious. Then furious.
"You bastard," she hissed, raising her hand with precision only born from years of smacking sense into people.
SMACK.
"Idiot!"
SMACK.
"Dumbass!"
"You good for nothing.... sleeping bastard!"
Zen covered his head, laughing nervously as Vivian kept calling him out between slaps.
"Okay okay! Enough already! My body's still sore—!"
She stood up, arms crossed again, cheeks puffed with frustration and a very faint red tint.
"Don't scare me like that again... idiot..."
Zen, rubbing his cheek, gave a goofy grin.
" Don't worry I totally didn't hear anything."
Another SMACK.
Viv stormed off, cheeks red and fists clenched, her boots stomping loud as she muttered curses under her breath.
"Dumbass... fake-sleepin on me.. who does he think he is!?... can't even die properly without making me mad....."
Right at the door, she bumped shoulders with two of their classmates—Nath and Lyra—who blinked in surprise as she barged past them, still grumbling murder under her breath.
The duo stood there for a second, eyebrows raised.
"…Should we be worried?" Lyra whispered.
"Nah," Nath smirked. "That's just classic Viv as always."
They stepped in, spotting Zen laid up in bed, red slap marks across his cheek like battle scars.
Nath cocked a brow.
"Yo. Those... permanent, or she just put 'em there as a welcome-back gift?"
Zen gave him a tired, sarcastic laugh. "Haha, very funny, not"
Lyra chuckled, pulling up a chair.
"Well, guess if you're healthy enough to get beat up, you're healthy enough to talk."
Zen winced playfully.
"Barely survived a golem, but she's harder to deal with."
Nath leaned back against the window, shaking his head.
"Look I know your luck's bad and all, but damn... Next time you pass out, maybe don't do it after blowing half a building sky-high?"
Zen sighed. "No promises."
They lingered in light chatter for a few minutes. Nath joked about Zen's tragic magnetism to chaos, and Lyra kept throwing jabs at how he somehow managed to not only survive a golem ambush but accidentally level part of a government building, an expensive one too.
"Bro, you got the worst damn luck," Nath said, half-laughing. "Like—of all people to miss the school program and end up there the moment the chasm opens up, all on the same day?? That's peak cursed energy."
Lyra smirked. "Haha, more of that and you might as well become a jujutsu sorcerer"
Zen chuckled faintly, rubbing the side of his face. "Yeah well, Nothing I'm all too unfamiliar with that's for sure."
Nathan and Lyra lightly chuckles along with him
"Well as long as you're safe you idiot. That's all that matters."
But then—
Raised voices.
Muffled, but sharp. Heated. Coming from right outside the hospital room door.
Zen's smirk faded. The color from his face drained slightly, his expression softening—not from pain, but recognition. His shoulders tensed, and his eyes dropped toward his lap.
Nath and Lyra picked up on it immediately.
Zen didn't have to say anything.
He knew those voices. Knew them too well. Heard them almost every month like clockwork—always arguing, always shouting, always over him.
Nath's grin lowered. Lyra sat upright, her gaze flicking between the door and Zen.
"You alright, man?" Nath asked, voice dropping an octave.
Zen didn't answer at first, just closed his eyes and let out a quiet breath.
"…That's just my mom and dad."
Silence settled in the room like a blanket. The kind you don't talk through. Just sit in.