The Unveiling

As Kenzo's lifeless body slumped to the ground, the group's eyes widened in unison, their gazes frozen in a tableau of terror and surprise. Ryo's jaw clenched, his teeth gritted in a mixture of anguish and resignation. 

He closed his eyes, as if accepting the cruel fate that had been dealt. The harsh reality of their existence had already sunk in – their lives had become a precarious balancing act, teetering on the edge of disaster.

But what Ryo couldn't shake off was the nagging feeling that these terrible turn of events were not just random twists of fate. 

It was as if some malevolent force was orchestrating their downfall, deliberately crafting each catastrophe to chip away at their sanity, to shatter their spirits, and to crush their hearts. The thought sent a shiver down Ryo's spine, his mind reeling with the implications of this sinister design.

As the group struggled to comprehend the horror unfolding before them, Koki was the first to shatter the spell of paralyzing shock. His scream pierced the air, a raw, anguished cry that echoed through the desolate landscape. 

The scene before him was a tableau of unmitigated terror, one that seared itself into his mind like a branding iron.

Akari followed suit, her voice rising in a haunting wail that sent shivers down the spines of those around her. Her eyes, wide with horror, seemed to bore into the very soul of the group, as if searching for answers to the unanswerable questions that hung in the air like a miasma.

Hitomi, unable to bear the sight of Kenzo's lifeless body, painfully tore her gaze away, her eyes welling up with tears. The sound of her ragged breathing was the only testament to the turmoil brewing beneath her stoic exterior.

Tsukiko stood frozen, her fists clenched at her sides, her face contorted in a pained expression. Her eyes, brimming with unshed tears, seemed to hold a deep sadness, as if she was mourning not just Kenzo's loss, but the very innocence they had all lost in this desolate world.

Mei, however, was a study in contrasts. Her pale face, drained of all color, slowly regained its calm demeanor, like a mask slipping back into place. Her lips moved in a silent litany, the words "it couldn't be helped" repeating themselves like a macabre mantra. 

The words were a fragile bulwark against the horror that threatened to consume her, a desperate attempt to impose order on a world that seemed to have descended into chaos.

The group's reactions were a testament to the profound impact of Kenzo's sudden, shocking demise. The memory of his lifeless body, slumped on the ground like a discarded puppet, would haunt them for a long time to come, a grim reminder of the unforgiving world they now inhabited.

Aetherion's next words dripped with malice, his tone a cruel mockery that rubbed salt into their raw emotional wounds. "Don't worry about the small stuff," he said, his voice laced with sadistic amusement. 

The group's eyes flashed with anger, but their bodies remained frozen in despair, unable to muster the strength to react. They knew they were trapped, bound by unseen chains to this desolate world, with no escape in sight.

The weight of their powerlessness hung in the air like a challenge, a constant reminder that they were at the mercy of this capricious creature. 

Going further down this twisted path felt like a perilous leap into the unknown, a prospect that filled their hearts with dread.

Aetherion's expression shifted, his features rearranging into a mask of seriousness. "Focus on emitting your Kardia Magia," he instructed, his voice devoid of its previous cruelty. "You will see a notification in your Scenario Progress screen." 

The group complied, their movements mechanical, their eyes fixed on the traits that hovered before them like spectral apparitions.

As they gazed at their traits, a notification materialized beneath, its words glowing with an otherworldly light: 

「Aspirant is almost ready for succession」. 

Ryo's gaze drifted to the screen, his eyes narrowing as he pondered the enigmatic message. He had already caught a glimpse of it before their arrival, but its significance had eluded him. 

Now, as he tilted his head to one side, the words seemed to take on a new meaning. His mind began to whirl with possibilities, and he recalled Aetherion's earlier mention of the succession system.

"Each scenario has a succession of 0 to 5," Aetherion had explained, his voice dripping with an air of mystery. 

Ryo's thoughts clicked into place as he grasped the implication: each succession would bring them greater strength, a tantalizing prospect in this unforgiving world.

Aetherion's voice cut through Ryo's reverie, his words confirming the young man's deductions. "You have reached the point where your scenarios will advance to the next stage," he announced, his tone devoid of emotion. 

"The succession system will guide you through the trials ahead, and with each step, you will grow stronger... or succumb to the challenges that lie in wait."

Aetherion's instructions were cryptic, yet simple: "Envision what your Kardia Magia looks like." Mei's brow furrowed in confusion as she turned to Aetherion. "But how do we do that?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "We've never seen it before. How can we possibly envision it?"

Aetherion's expression remained impassive, his voice low and even. "Focus, and it should come naturally." His words were laced with an air of expectation, as if he knew that they would eventually grasp the concept.

The group nodded, their faces set with determination. Ryo closed his eyes, his mind reaching inward, searching for a spark of inspiration. As he focused, a strange sensation began to build in his chest, a gentle tingling that grew more persistent by the second. 

Curiosity getting the better of him, Ryo carefully opened the silk black zipper of his dark tactical outfit, revealing the chest area beneath.

What he saw made his heart skip a beat. A symbol, like a tattoo, was etching itself onto his skin, just above his heart. The design seemed to shift and writhe, as if alive. Ryo's eyes snapped open, his gaze locking onto the others, who were experiencing similar reactions.

Koki, his face pale, hastily removed his leather armor, opening his shirt to reveal an identical symbol emblazoned on his chest.

Akari's face flushed a deep crimson as she hastily looked away, her eyes darting towards the ground. Koki and Ryo, sensing the girls' discomfort, instinctively turned their gazes away, affording the females a measure of privacy. The four girls - Akari, Hitomi, Mei, and Tsukiko - hesitantly began to open their clothing, revealing the symbols etched onto their chests.

Hitomi's eyes flashed with indignation as she shot Aetherion a withering glare. "Why are you still staring at us?" she demanded, her voice low and even, but laced with a hint of accusation.

Aetherion's expression remained impassive, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. "Oh, I see," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I understand the reason behind your twisted expression, Hitomi. Fear not, for I am not assigned a specific gender. I don't take pleasure in ogling females."

Hitomi's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a disdainful sneer. "Tch," she spat, her voice venomous. "You're still a pervert."

Aetherion's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with mirth. "Perhaps," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "but that's a matter of perspective."

Aetherion gestured to the symbols etched onto their chests. "These markings serve as proof of your succession," he explained. "Each symbol is unique to your respective scenario, reflecting the distinct paths you've chosen."

Ryo, Koki, Akari, Hitomi, Mei, and Tsukiko exchanged curious glances. Aetherion continued, "More will be revealed once we reach the Isles. For now, take a moment to review your scenario's progression."

The six individuals lifted their left wrists, where hovering holographic screens displayed their scenario's status. Ryo's eyes widened as he scanned the screen, his expression hinting a mix of surprise and intrigue.

Aetherion's gaze swept across the group, his eyes lingering on each of them. "your scenarios are yours alone. Do not share your progress with one another."

Ryo's eyes remained fixed on his screen, his mind racing with the implications of the changes he saw. The others similarly studied their own screens, each lost in their own thoughts.

『Scenerio of the Demilich』

Title:- undead imperator

"The Sovereign of the Undead Realm,

Where shadows dance and darkness unfurls.

Eternal king of the silent land,

Feared by all, with power to command.

His throne is built on bones of old,

His kingdom ruled by death's cold hold.

The living tremble at his name,

And dread the darkness that he claims".

Race:- Human

Source:- otherworlder

Status:- half fallen

Traits:-

Dark magic - stage 21

Necromancy - stage 20

Resurrection - stage 20

Threat preception - stage 22

Apex:- 

Mortal requiem (requires higher succession):

*Description*

Manipulates the life force of living beings. With a mere thought, the lich can drain the life energy from their enemies, while simultaneously healing their own undead body.

*Effects* - Deals damage to all living enemies within a certain radius, Drains life force from enemies, converting it into healing energy for the lich, The lich's body regenerates health and stability, Enemies affected by Mortal Requiem may also experience a temporary decrease in strength and speed

Disadvantage: The ability comes with a terrible cost: each time the lich uses Mortal Requiem, they lose a fragment of their own memories. The more they use the ability, the more they forget about their past life, their loved ones, and their own identity.

Apex:- Soul bind 

Description: Soulbind is a dark and sinister ability that allows the lich to bind the souls of their enemies, temporarily enslaving them to the lich's will.

Effect: Binds the souls of enemies within a certain radius, making them vulnerable to the lich's control

Enemies affected by Soulbind become slower and more disoriented, making them easier to attack

The lich can issue commands to the bound enemies, forcing them to attack each other or themselves

Soulbind can also be used to interrogate enemies, extracting valuable information from their minds

Disadvantage: Each time the lich uses Soulbind, they risk becoming increasingly corrupted by the darkness within themselves. If the lich becomes too corrupted, they may lose control of their own actions, becoming a servant to their own dark impulses.

Ryo's eyes scanned the holographic screen on his wrist, his mind reeling in bewilderment. A creeping sense of fear seeped into his veins as he struggled to comprehend the implications of the data unfolding before him. 

The words "Half-Fallen" echoed in his thoughts, a label he had never seen displayed before. But now, as he gazed upon the screen, he wondered if that designation was about to become a haunting prophecy.

The memory of Kenzo's downfall flashed before his eyes, a grim reminder of the corrupting influence that had consumed kenzo after the fateful encounter with the Kalindra. 

Ryo's heart sank as he pondered the terrible possibility: had he, too, been tainted by some insidious force? Was he succumbing to the same darkness that had claimed Kenzo?

Ryo's lips parted in a soft, incredulous exhalation, the faintest whisper of a sigh. His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the data on his screen as if searching for a hidden catch. 

He wondered, with a flicker of curiosity, if this sudden revelation was unique to him alone. Was he the only one who had been thrust into this bewildering new reality?

But as he pondered this, his neutral expression wavered, ever so slightly. A hint of furrowed brow, a whisper of tension in his jawline. 

He realized, with a dawning sense of clarity, that Aetherion's instruction to review their scenario's progression implied a more general transformation. This was not a solo aberration; the others must be experiencing similar shifts.

And yet, as Ryo's gaze drifted toward his companions, he couldn't shake off the nagging uncertainty. The fact that all of them could bear the designation "Half-Fallen" seemed a bit too coincidental, too deliberate. What did it signify? was this merely a fleeting anomaly?