Chapter 2:First Breath of Power

Chapter 2:First Breath of Power

Peter woke up in the shade of a tree, in a forest that seemed ancient and certainly more populated with poisonous creatures. After quickly assessing his surroundings, he had some ideas about where he might be in the Ether, as there were only three large forests in the areas discovered by humans.

After ensuring multiple times that the area was safe and that nothing was attacking him, he immediately focused his thoughts on discovering what powers his entry into the Path of Awakening had granted him.

A moment later, runes in a language unknown to him appeared in the center of his vision. Soon after, one of the most revolutionary inventions—an implant that allowed basic translation of Ether runes and communication via the internet—translated the text before his eyes:

"Hello adventurer. Your story begins now. Find the nearest human citadel to return home."

Moments later, another message followed:

"You have started writing your story."

After reading these messages, Peter attempted to summon his status window.

After several failed attempts, new runes appeared:

[Name: Peter]

[Age: 28]

[Rank: Awakened]

[Aspect: Eye of the ?Dead(?) God]

[Role: - ]

[Attributes]:

- [Death Walker]

[Elements]:

- Darkness

- Shadows

After carefully inspecting the runes, Peter noticed that the translator was having trouble interpreting some lines. However, he confirmed that his elements were Shadows and Darkness.

What intrigued him the most was his attribute, "Death Walker," as the runes had called it. He focused on it, and its description appeared:

[Death Walker]

Allows communication with the dead and movement between the world of the living and the dead. The user can hear the voices of the deceased, sense their presence, and draw power from the afterlife, making them an intermediary between life and death.

[Attribute Skills]:

[Specterbound] – Grants the ability to see and recognize intangible beings, including ghosts, specters, and echoes of the past. This ability allows the user to perceive things hidden from ordinary people and trace the lingering imprints of creatures that dwell in the shadows.

[Soulbearer] – Enables the user to send souls to the afterlife or bind them to the material world. The user can hasten spirits' passage to the other side or, in exceptional cases, temporarily halt them—either by granting them peace or using them as guides.

[Wraithbinder] – Provides the ability to combat demons, ghosts, and malevolent entities. The user can neutralize their influence, repel attacks from immaterial beings, and harness their energy in battle.

After studying the description, Peter realized that it detailed the abilities he had acquired through training under his master—though now explained in much greater depth.

However, the second mystery remained: his Aspect. The translator struggled with its full translation.

After a moment, another description appeared:

[Eye of the ?Dead(?) God]

This aspect grants extraordinary perception, especially in darkness. The user's senses are heightened to a near-divine level, allowing them to perceive details invisible to others. Their night vision extends beyond simple clarity, revealing hidden, otherworldly dimensions. The user can detect things lurking in the shadows and sense unseen threats or approaching dangers that would otherwise go unnoticed.

An additional effect of this aspect is an enhanced reaction time. The user perceives time at a level beyond ordinary comprehension, allowing them to process details that others would only notice in fleeting moments—such as a single raindrop falling to the ground. This ability provides near-instantaneous reflexes and grants an unparalleled capacity to predict and react, making the user's responses almost impossible for the average person to match.

Aspect Abilities:

[Proximity Awareness]

[Hidden Presence]

[Enhanced Eyesight]

[Concentration]

Peter's breath hitched. He blinked, reading the description again. And again.

"What... the hell?!" he exclaimed, his voice breaking the silence of the forest. His heartbeat quickened, a wave of disbelief washing over him.

"Reaction time close to divine?! Enhanced perception and senses?! This—this isn't normal... How rare is this kind of aspect? Is there anyone else with something similar?"

His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the runes. The ability to detect danger and perceive environmental details invisible to the naked eye sounded like one of the most useful skills in combat—right after enhanced reflexes. But this... This was on an entirely different level.

The implications raced through his mind. This wasn't just a useful ability—it was borderline supernatural. Overpowered, even.

Peter would have pondered this fact longer, but he was still in an unfamiliar and dangerous area. He needed to find human habitation—or at the very least, shelter for the night.

"If I'm lucky, maybe I'll leave the Ether today," he thought.leaving a deeper analysis of the aspect for later.

Spotting a nearby path, he headed toward it. After reaching the trail, he turned south and cautiously followed it—until he heard a sound that did not belong in the forest.

Shouts.

The clash of weapons.