Darkness. Not the poetic kind, but the real thing—silent, suffocating, endless. Then came a whisper. Faint, mechanical. Gentle. Curious.
> "Guardian?"
Kael Solas gasped like a drowning man breaking the surface. His lungs filled with chilled air as he jolted upright on cracked concrete surrounded by rusted hulls of derelict ships. The sky above was dim, blanketed in ash-gray clouds. A shadow loomed over the land—bleak, lifeless.
And hovering inches from his face was a tiny machine, a metal-and-glass orb shifting and rotating in silence.
> "You're alive!" the Ghost said, its tone brightening. "Thank the Light. I was beginning to think I'd picked the wrong corpse again."
Kael blinked. His body trembled—his muscles raw, skin tingling. But that wasn't what shocked him. It was the vivid memory that screamed in his mind:
He died. On Earth. Alone in his gaming room. Destiny's end screen still frozen on the monitor. His fingers clenched a controller. His heart had just… stopped.
> "This can't be real," he muttered.
> "Oh, it's very real. Welcome to the Sol System. You've been… reborn, Kael Solas."
"Kael Solas?" he said with a hollow laugh. "That's not my name."
> "It is now. The system assigned it during your rebirth. It said you'd 'prefer something cool and easy to say.'"
Kael frowned. "System?"
> "You'll understand soon. There's a lot to unpack. But we need to move. This place isn't safe."
Before Kael could respond, the HUD blinked into existence in the air before him.
---
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
Welcome, Kael Solas. You have been chosen by the Traveler's Light and reincarnated as a Guardian. You are bound to the System. Your legacy begins here.
> Would you like a full breakdown of system functions, current quests, options, perks, and penalties?
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Yes. Show me everything. All options. All quests. I want to know what I've gotten myself into."
---
[SYSTEM OVERVIEW – DESTINY: GUARDIAN REBORN]
System Type: Integrated Reality Interface (Mode: Game-Like)
Primary Affiliation: Lightbearer, Class: Hunter
Race: Human (Reborn, Enhanced Physique, Lewd Variant Active)
Perks: CYOA Destiny Beta Build 1.00 Activated
Outside Power Integration: Chakra (Naruto), Magecraft (Fate), Magic (Harry Potter) – Locked for now
Lewd Features: Active (Unlocked Traits: Divine Physique, Aphrodisiac Cum, Seduction Passive, Selective Fertility)
Harem Protocol: On (Max Companions: Unlimited)
---
[QUEST LOG – MANDATORY MISSIONS]
1. Reclaim the Spark
Objective: Survive your first day and reconnect with the Light.
Time Limit: 24 hours
Reward: Access to subclass selection
Penalty: Permanent Lightlock (unable to use powers)
2. Echoes of the Collapse
Objective: Reach a safe zone and access the Vanguard's hidden database
Time Limit: 7 days
Reward: Base System Functions (Inventory, Skills, Upgrades)
Penalty: Permanent Debuff: Wandering Amnesiac
3. Awaken the Power Within
Objective: Choose and master your first subclass path
Time Limit: 3 days
Reward: Subclass skills, abilities, and exotic loot
Penalty: System Lock (Stripped of all combat perks)
---
[SIDE QUESTS – ADAPTIVE]
Additional quests will evolve based on decisions, actions, and relationships. Expect new quests after combat, encounters, or unique discoveries.
Kael skimmed the list, nodding. "Not just a system… a full RPG framework. Stats. Timers. Penalties. This is serious."
---
> "You're catching on quickly," his Ghost said, hovering close. "You always were clever. That's probably why the system chose you."
Kael stood. His muscles burned but his balance returned quickly. Already, he felt stronger than he had on Earth. Taller. Leaner. The air smelled sharp, filled with static and decay.
He looked down at his body—bare, save for rough fabric and gauntlets of unknown material. A flick of his fingers brought up a small system interface:
[STATUS]
Name: Kael Solas
Class: Hunter
Subclass: Locked
Light Alignment: 4.8% Reconnected
Perks: [Hunter Basics], [Born to Explore], [Skills of a Hunter]
Lewd Status: Prime Compatibility (Passive Aura: +25% Allure to Females)
Inventory: Empty
Current Weapon: None
Health: 100%
Stamina: 75%
Libido: Active
---
> "You'll need weapons. Let's head for the old shipyard ruins. There may still be gear left behind."
"Lead the way, partner," Kael said with a crooked grin. "And call me something cool."
> "Like what?"
He thought for a second. "Let's go with… Ghost. Fits you."
> "…Original."
They moved through the wreckage—rusting walkers, crushed hulls, and vines tangled with bone. Kael could feel the weight of the world, heavy and dangerous, coiled like a predator just out of sight.
> "Scanners picking up movement. Fallen. Small scouting group. Four targets, armed."
"Time to test something," Kael muttered. "System. Grant me temporary weapons. Anything to defend myself."
[Temporary Weapon Loadout Available – Prototype Kit Alpha]
Auto-Rifle: Striker Mk.I (Rare)
Sidearm: Spine Needle (Common)
Knife: Razor Fang (Exotic – Thrown, Bleeds Void Energy)
> "Weapons summoned. You've got Light-compatible gear, Kael. Don't get cocky."
The Fallen didn't hesitate when they saw him. Kael rolled, raised his rifle, and fired. His arms moved faster than thought—raw instincts flooded his body. The first Fallen dropped in a gurgle of static.
> "I remember this feeling," Kael whispered. "This… is what it means to be alive again."
---
[Quest Updated: Reclaim the Spark]
Progress: 85% Complete
Bonus Objective Unlocked: Kill All Hostiles Without Taking Damage
Bonus Reward: Exotic Upgrade Token
Kael didn't hesitate. He flicked his knife, ducked low, and moved like liquid across the battlefield. Every shot landed with unnatural precision—headshots, critical blows, perfect reload timing.
When it ended, the four Fallen lay scattered, disarmed, twitching. His body ached, but he was smiling. A slow, predatory grin.
---
> "You've got talent," Ghost murmured. "That was… impressive."
Kael turned to the wreckage. "Let's keep moving. I want that database. And I want to know what else this system is hiding."
---
[QUEST COMPLETE: RECLAIM THE SPARK]
Reward: Subclass Selection Unlocked
Bonus Complete: Exotic Upgrade Token Gained
Next Quest Activated: Awaken the Power Within
---
> "Before you choose your subclass, the system recommends a small gift. Call it… a gacha draw."
Kael raised a brow. "You've got to be kidding me."
> "You've played enough gacha to know how this works. One free pull. Try your luck."
[FATEWEAVER GACHA – 1x Pull Remaining]
Rolling…
Rarity: Black-Gold (Legendary Supreme)
Item: Hunter Cloak – "Shade of the Starborn"
Effect: Invisibility duration +150%, enhanced Strand resonance, 15% seduction boost while cloaked
Kael blinked. "Okay. Now I know this system's got a sense of humor."
---
To Be Continued in Chapter 2: "The Forgotten Path"
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