⊙---Silver Masked Duo

When Kael heard his sister mention the System guide, his expression twisted into helplessness.

Limo—his supposed guide—was nowhere to be found, having mysteriously vanished after dropping the bombshell about Kael's identity. The more he thought about it, the clearer it became: his existence in this world carried a weight far beyond what he had initially assumed.

But something felt off.

This world… Erendath. It was supposed to be a game world—a fictional setting. Yet every sensation—the crisp air, the earth firm beneath his feet, the warmth of his sister's touch—felt undeniably real.

Was this really still just a game?

Or had fiction somehow become reality because he had been reborn here?

A deep unease settled in his chest.

"Kael? Is something wrong?"

Lira's voice, soft with concern, pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. She reached out, cupping his face in her hands, her ruby-red eyes searching his with quiet worry.

"It's nothing, sis. I was just… thinking." He forced a small smile, though it felt brittle even to him.

Ever since he arrived in this world, he had accepted—at least outwardly—that this was some kind of afterlife shaped by the game Ascension. But the more time he spent here, the more doubts crept in.

The Ascendants—the ones who couldn't die, who returned even after death, just like players. And then there was him. The System had called him an Ascendant Player.

If this world was just a fictional game, then why did the players exist here too?

It didn't make sense.

Kael frowned, his thoughts tangled in a web of contradictions. The line between fiction and reality blurred with every passing moment, and a creeping suspicion took root—Erendath wasn't just a game world anymore.

He still remembered the first time he heard about Ascension.

It had been everywhere. Advertisements flooded the streets, plastered across billboards, blasted through every screen.

The game's creator, Ethan Soren, was a phenomenon—a self-made genius who built an empire before turning twenty-five. He had soared higher than any seasoned entrepreneur, becoming both an idol and an enigma to an entire generation.

Including Kael.

Back then, Kael had been nothing more than a struggling college freshman. He had wanted to play Ascension more than anything, but reality had been cruel.

Too poor. Too sick. Too insignificant.

While his classmates raved about the game's groundbreaking immersion, about how it had changed lives overnight, Kael could only listen from the sidelines.

He had been envious. But there had been nothing he could do.

"Is it really that fun?" Kael had once asked a classmate, unable to hide his curiosity.

The guy had turned, giving him a look of barely concealed disdain.

"Yeah, it is. But you wouldn't know, right? You don't even have a VR rig. Hell, you wear the same clothes to class every day."

Kael had heard the murmurs from the others.

"He's one of the scholarship kids, isn't he? The ones who get a grant to study here."

"I heard he's an orphan. Got kicked out when he was too old to stay. My cousin swears he saw him sleeping on a park bench once."

Kael had pretended not to hear them.

Because what they said was true.

Now, back in the present, nothing had changed. He was still a nobody. Still an orphan.

But this time, he wasn't alone.

He had a sister—Lira—who, despite everything, seemed to care about his life more than her own.

Yet some things remained the same. Their family—if two people even counted as one—was still poor. Lira had fought tooth and nail to survive, pushing herself beyond her limits just to scrape by.

And now that the missing brother had returned?

Kael would bet his second life that she'd push herself even harder. Not just for herself, but for him.

To provide. To protect.

But this time… he wouldn't let her shoulder it alone.

His fists clenched.

Game or not, this world was his second chance—and he wasn't going to waste it.

He would get stronger. No matter what it took.

His gaze shifted to Lira, who offered him a soft, reassuring smile.

To protect my only family… and myself.

This time, he wouldn't just survive—he would seize every opportunity to carve out a better life.

A sudden clash of metal rang through the air.

Then came the unmistakable sounds of battle—swords slicing, boots skidding over dirt, and the sharp hum of magic.

Kael and Lira locked eyes. No words were needed. In an instant, they rushed toward the sound.

Bursting through the thicket, they stumbled upon a fierce skirmish. Two opposing forces clashed in the clearing.

One group, clad in black attire and concealing masks, fought with ruthless precision. Shadows flickered unnaturally around them, writhing like living entities.

Their opponents stood out—a man and a woman, both adorned in elegantly designed silver masks that shimmered under the dimming light.

The masked woman wielded a flute, but it was no mere instrument. With every note, the air shuddered. Sonic ripples pulsed outward, striking her enemies like unseen daggers. Some clutched their heads in agony; others collapsed, blood seeping from their noses.

Beside her, the masked man's longsword moved like lightning, slashing through their foes with lethal efficiency. He fought with flawless precision, seamlessly parrying, sidestepping, and countering every incoming blow. Whenever an enemy closed in on the woman, he was there—intercepting, cutting, and pushing them back.

They fought in perfect sync, their movements so coordinated it was like watching a deadly choreographed dance.

Kael stood frozen for a moment, captivated. He had never seen a battle so fluid before.

Then Lira suddenly gasped beside him.

"The Ascension Auction Exchange…!"

Kael's heart lurched. The Auction Exchange? These two were from the auction house—and they were here for the monster cores he had put up for sale.

His fists clenched. He was about to charge in when Lira grabbed his arm, stopping him.

Then—a shift in the air.

One of the masked attackers, taller and more imposing than the rest, suddenly rose into the air, his body wreathed in swirling black mist. The sky darkened, the sun choked out as if a great void had swallowed the light.

A pulse of energy erupted outward.

A translucent barrier snapped into place, enclosing everyone inside.

Kael stiffened.

Lira's grip tightened.

The masked woman's silver eyes widened behind her mask as she gasped, "A domain…! You're an R4 Awakener!?"