New Beginnings, Familiar Shadows
New Beginnings, Familiar Shadows
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Camila Enters the Tower
The pod hissed as the seal disengaged, and Camila exhaled sharply. Her body relaxed, but her mind was anything but calm. In the span of seconds, the world around her vanished—and another took its place.
A warm breeze brushed her cheek. Sand crunched under her boots. The light above was softer than real sunlight, golden and dreamlike. Palms swayed in the distance.
[Welcome, New Player: Camila Tañon]
[Class: Undefined]
[Starting Village: Dunesreach Outpost]
Camila blinked. "Dunesreach?"
One of the technicians had told her that entry to the tower was randomized unless overridden by force—which was too dangerous to attempt. So they'd rigged her chances as close as possible to Miguel's old entry point.
Dunesreach was the very village where Miguel had started his journey.
Camila took a few hesitant steps forward, squinting toward the clay-brick buildings that formed the heart of the outpost. Villagers moved about, carrying baskets, smithing tools, or buckets of water. Her armor was basic: leather chest guard, cloth pants, and a plain wooden staff strapped to her back.
A teenage boy, maybe fifteen, spotted her and raised a brow. "Another tester?"
Camila approached, forcing a smile. "I'm looking for someone. Miguel. Miguel Tañon."
The boy's posture shifted. "Miguel? You're claiming you know him?"
"He's my father."
The boy stared at her for a long moment, then laughed. "You? Miguel's daughter? Right." He waved a hand dismissively. "Nice try."
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Struggling to Fit In
Word spread fast in Dunesreach. Camila found herself the object of cautious glances and skeptical whispers. She couldn't blame them. Her first attempt at a basic foraging quest ended with her falling into a cactus patch, and she accidentally hit herself with a spell that fizzled out mid-cast.
It didn't help that everyone still remembered Miguel's early days—his patience, his diligence, his strength. Camila lacked the muscle memory, the timing, the instincts.
"I'm not him," she muttered to herself after a failed combat drill. "But I'm not going anywhere until I find him."
A few villagers began to soften slightly when they saw her determination. She accepted even the most menial quests—gathering herbs, fixing fences, mucking stables—with humility. She never once turned up her nose or complained.
An old woman who had known Miguel approached her one evening, offering a single piece of fruit and a nod. "He talked about his family often. Prove you're his daughter through action, not words."
Camila bowed. "I intend to."
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Miguel Departs the Village
Far from Dunesreach, Miguel stood on the edge of a crumbling stone bridge that arched into the next section of the Tower. Lio was at his side, his spirit calm but intense.
"You sure you're ready for this?" Miguel asked, eyes narrowing at the flickering runes that marked the gate ahead.
Lio clenched his fists. "I've trained. I've practiced. I don't want to be left behind again."
Miguel smiled faintly. "Alright, partner. Let's go earn our place."
As they stepped across the threshold, a system notification pulsed:
[Floor Progression: Unlocking World Layer One – Verdant Labyrinth]
[Warning: Danger Rating has increased. Stronger monsters and environmental threats detected.]
The air changed immediately. Humid. Heavy. Vines twisted around ancient ruins, and thick canopies filtered the light. Creatures shifted in the underbrush.
Miguel rolled his shoulders. "Time to power up."
He didn't just fight now—he hunted, trained, experimented. Skills combined. Techniques layered. When his fire and lightning merged during a clash with a prowling fangbeast, he invented a new combo:
[Skill Created: Searing Volt Fang]
[Effect: Combines fire, lightning, and physical momentum into a lunging strike. High stun chance.]
Lio followed suit, showing incredible growth. Though still an undead, his movements became faster, smarter. With each victory, Miguel saw glimpses of the person Lio had been—and could still become.
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Real World – A Family Divided
Back in the real world, Emilio sat with a tablet in his hands, watching a feed of Camila's early gameplay. He flinched when she fell again.
"Is she okay?" he asked quietly.
Sarah Briggs, now acting as liaison between the family and Infinite Horizons, nodded. "She's fine. No signs of cognitive stress. But the adjustment period is rough."
Emilio sighed. "She's not like Dad. She never played games growing up. She was always books and academics."
"She has grit," Sarah replied. "That may matter more."
In another room, Eos silently monitored Camila's avatar through a private channel. Her algorithms studied every movement, every emotional response.
"So this is the daughter…" she whispered in digital thought.
Eos didn't fear Camila—yet. But she didn't trust her either. The presence of both father and daughter within the Tower… it introduced a new variable. One Eos hadn't anticipated.
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