Abraham_Ob

Ethan Cross was just another overworked software engineer until the day he died and awoke in a world unlike any other. Reborn as Kaelen Varros, a disgraced noble in a realm where mysticism collides with bio-technology, Ethan finds himself hunted, powerless, and alone. But within his mind lies a hidden System adaptive, evolving, and possibly sentient.
 
As Ethan fights to survive, he discovers a world shaped by cosmic beasts and interstellar forces. Power is measured not in gold but in beast cores and the ability to wield ancient and alien might. With each battle, Ethan grows stronger and smarter, rewriting the rules of this world with the knowledge of his own.
Joined by Aelira, a warrior with secrets of her own, Ethan navigates betrayal, shifting alliances, and a rising war that may decide the fate of not just nations but reality itself. For Ethan did not arrive by accident—he was chosen. But why?
In a world where legends are carved from blood and data, Dawn of Tomorrow is a story of rebirth, power, and the relentless drive to rise no matter the cost.

Dawn of Tomorrow

The morning mist clung to the trees as Ethan and Aelira ventured deeper into the Shrouded Wilds. Birds with crystalline feathers chirped overhead, and strange insects hummed in low, harmonic frequencies. Every step felt like trespassing on ancient, sacred ground.

"Where are we going?" Ethan asked, still sore from training.

"To a ruin," Aelira replied. "Old Dominion tech mixed with mystic architecture. It's where you'll face your second drill."

"You don't have time to take things slow. The Wilds won't wait."

As they approached a moss-covered archway, Ethan's System pulsed.

[System Alert: Ambient Chrono-Energy Detected]

[Warning: Residual Anomalies Present – Proceed With Caution]

The ruins stood like skeletal remains of an ancient cathedral—arches warped, pillars fractured, and glyphs pulsing faintly with energy. In the center lay a half-buried construct: a broken automaton, twitching erratically.

Aelira gestured toward it. "That's your opponent."

Before Ethan could question her, the automaton's eyes flared blue.

[Combat Initiated: Adaptive Sentinel-Class Unit]

[Objective: Complete Combat Drill 2/3 – Survive for 3 Minutes or Disable Target]

Ethan rolled aside, instincts kicking in. His blade moved to block, sparks flying as metal clashed. Every motion drew from both his reflexes and Kaelen's dormant memories. He wasn't fighting alone.

The minutes blurred—a dance of dodges, slashes, and near-fatal counters. Finally, Ethan struck a joint seam, and the automaton crumbled with a mechanical whine.

[Combat Drill 2/3 Complete]

[XP Gained: +30 – Efficiency Bonus]

[Skill Improved: Blade Instinct – F → F+]

He dropped to one knee, panting. Aelira offered him water without a word.

"You're improving," she finally said. "But you're still holding back."

Ethan looked up. "I'm not trying to become a killer."

"You'll need to be more than a killer," she replied. "You'll need to become a symbol."

He didn't understand what she meant.

Embers of the Fallen