Back to the Start
When Elliot's senses finally return, they slam into him with force. He feels cold, damp stone beneath him, and the familiar smell of the alley clings to his nostrils. Slowly, he opens his eyes, confusion and panic washing over him as he stares up at the night sky. It's the same alley, the same lamppost flickering nearby, the same silence hanging in the air.
His body is trembling, weakened. He's back in his pajamas and slippers, the very same ones he wore when he first came to this world. His heart skips a beat, his pulse quickening as the realization dawns on him. No, no, this can't be right—he's dead! He felt it. He died.
In an overwhelming surge, he feels his stomach twist. The taste of bile rises in his throat, and he vomits onto the ground, the memories of his death flooding him with brutal clarity. The horror of Amon's attack. The sense of his mind breaking under the strain. The final moments when his powers shattered, when everything came crashing down.
It wasn't a dream, Elliot thinks desperately. I died. I felt it…
He struggles to catch his breath, trying to fight the overwhelming sense of unreality that grips him. This... this isn't supposed to happen. Why is he back here?
And then, he remembers the previous system notifications.
Required conditions? Reset? Penalties?
The last notification flickers in his mind:
◎┍ﺂგﺂ𝟆ล/ ᥫ┍ലลꞎ⚉┍ has noticed your presence.
The cryptic symbols twist in his thoughts, ungraspable, yet undeniably ominous. His pulse quickens at the realization that something—someone—has taken note of him. Who, or what, could this be? The implications send a cold shiver down his spine, but he can't focus long enough to draw any conclusions.
Elliot's head spins. The sheer impossibility of being back here, in this alley again, sends a surge of panic through him. His heart pounds in his chest, each beat louder than the last, a frantic rhythm that matches the terror coursing through his veins.
But then, beneath the fear, something darker begins to stir. It starts as a flicker—small, hot, and sharp—and quickly grows into a consuming flame. Rage.
Amon. That twisted bastard.
The name pulses in Elliot's mind like a brand. He can still see his face, that smug, calculating smile that never reached his eyes. The satisfaction in Amon's gaze as he tore through Elliot's [Mental Barrier] skill with a single, effortless thought. The twisted trickster who found joy in manipulation, in shattering those who dared to stand against him. Elliot's pulse quickens as he remembers how Amon had laughed—mocking, cold, like Elliot was nothing more than a fleeting amusement.
He can still feel it—the crushing weight of his own helplessness as his defenses crumbled like fragile paper.
That's how easily he broke me.
But it wasn't just the defeat that torments him—it was the way he was defeated. His mind spirals, replaying every agonizing detail, each moment burned into his consciousness. Amon's unsettling calm, the cold precision with which he struck, like a predator savoring the slow destruction of its prey. And the worst part? It wasn't just a loss. He hadn't merely been outmatched—he had died. Slowly, brutally, he had been dismantled, piece by piece, his mind unraveling under the weight of Amon's merciless will, his very soul torn apart like fragile paper.
But no more. The rage that bubbles within him is different now. This time, there's something more, something deeper than the fleeting anger of the past. He won't let this go. He won't allow himself to be so powerless again.
I'll make him pay for this.
But then, a familiar presence stirs within him—the creeping sensation that has haunted him since the moment he arrived in this world. The corruption.
Elliot's heart races as he feels the weight of unseen eyes upon him—gaze after gaze, relentless and unblinking. The air around him thickens, pressing down like a vice, and the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. It's the same feeling he's experienced before—the prying eyes of angels, gods, and the unfathomable Outer Deities, searching for him, reaching into his very soul. Their attention is like a cold, suffocating hand around his mind, tearing through his thoughts with brutal force. His mind, no longer shielded, begins to crack under the pressure, the painful bloom of corruption spreading within him like a disease. He remembers the last time this happened—the pull of forbidden knowledge, the dangerous curiosity that had made him a target. And now, once again, he can feel their presence closing in. Just as the pressure becomes unbearable, a cold, mechanical voice cuts through the chaos.
___________________________
[You have been granted a gift.] [Do you accept?]
___________________________
Without hesitation, Elliot recognized the weight of the decision. He knew what this was—the familiar, unknown offer. Without thinking twice, he accepted.
___________________________
[Gift Accepted.]
[System Notification: You have received the following skills:]
[Mental Barrier]: Creates an unyielding barrier around the user's consciousness, protecting them from corruption, mental intrusion, or manipulation. The user's mind is safe from the influence of powerful beings and the dangers of forbidden knowledge. Passive (Growth).
[Translate]: Effortlessly interpret, speak, and write in any known language without requiring learning or practice. Passive.
[???]: Explanation Pending.
___________________________
As the feeling of prying eyes and dark corruption fades, Elliot's eyes linger on the unfamiliar notification. The first two skills are expected, but the third—[???]—is something entirely new. His mind swirls with questions. What is this? Why the mystery?
A cold shiver creeps down his spine, his heartbeat quickening as unease settles in. Why is the system's gift different this time? What does this unknown skill mean, and what does it imply about his situation?
The looming threat of Amon presses down on him, yet his thoughts are consumed with the deeper, unanswered mysteries in front of him.
Did I earn this because of my death? Or has the system changed its rules entirely?
Elliot shakes his head, frustration gnawing at him as questions swirl in his mind. Desperate for answers, he pulls up his status window, hoping it will provide some semblance of clarity.
A translucent screen flickers into view in front of him, its contents glowing with an eerie blue light:
___________________________
STATUS
Name: Elliot Graham
Level: 1 (Penalty Reduction)
Sequence: 9 (Arcanist)
Health: 100/100
Stamina: 100/100 (Penalty Reduction)
Energy: 0/0 (Penalty Reduction)
Attributes:
Strength: 1 (Penalty Reduction)
Agility: 1 (Penalty Reduction)
Endurance: 1 (Penalty Reduction)
Intelligence: 1 (Penalty Reduction)
Perception: 1 (Penalty Reduction)
Luck: 0 (Penalty Reduction)
Skills:
[Mental Barrier]: Creates an unyielding barrier around the user's consciousness, protecting them from corruption, mental intrusion, or manipulation. The user's mind is safe from the influence of powerful beings and the dangers of forbidden knowledge. Passive (Growth).
[Translate]: Effortlessly interpret, speak, and write in any known language without requiring learning or practice. Passive.
[???]: Explanation Pending.
(Penalty Reduction)
Sequence Skills:
[Arcane Sight]: The user gains the ability to see the flow of Energy around them, similar to Spirit Vision. They can perceive not only the presence of magic but also trace Energy pathways, detect magical disturbances, and spot hidden magical constructs or entities. This ability allows the user to navigate areas filled with concealed magic or traps. Active.
[Static Charge]: The user gains a limited connection to lightning energy. They can summon small electrical charges from the atmosphere, using them for tasks like igniting objects or delivering a small shocking jolt. The jolt causes discomfort, disorientation, or brief paralysis and can enhance physical strikes with a "shocking" effect to momentarily stun enemies. Active.
[Arcane Resonance]: The user can attune to the Energy surrounding magical items or areas, resonating with their arcane essence. This grants the ability to identify properties, uncover hidden effects, or unravel enchantments. Energy can also be siphoned from objects to replenish reserves, though this risks damaging the item. Active.
[Energy Overload]: The user can channel an intense burst of Energy to drastically enhance their skills or physical abilities. Overuse may lead to exhaustion or injury due to strain. Timing and control are essential to mitigate risks. Active.
Inventory:
Empty (Penalty Reduction)
Quests:
None
___________________________
Elliot's eyes widen as he processes the status window, his breath hitching in his throat. The weight of the penalty presses down on him like a physical force. He's lost everything—his skills, the items he had carefully collected, the abilities that had made him feel secure in a world rife with danger. The loss of his [Observation] skill hits hardest, a jagged wound that leaves him feeling exposed and vulnerable, peering into the unknown, helpless. His heart pounds as he scrolls further, his eyes landing on the unexpected: his sequence remains intact. The powerful abilities tied to his very being still linger. A wave of disbelief crashes over him. Why had he lost everything but his sequence? What does this mean for him now, and how can he move forward in this new, terrifying reality?