Sylvie

Alex's body trembled as his consciousness slowly returned. A foreign sensation coursed through his veins, something powerful, something... unnatural. His mind reeled from the information flooding his senses. Just moments ago, he had stepped into the pod, but now, as he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by dim lights reflecting off metallic walls. He had changed. Something inside him had awakened.

A single notification lingered in his vision, standing stark against the background of his thoughts.

(System Activated.)

Before he could react, time around him halted. The very air stilled, particles suspended mid-motion. An eerie silence consumed the entire chamber, and then, from the flickering lights above, a figure began to materialize before him. A translucent, ethereal being with an elegant form floated gracefully, its presence both serene and imposing. Its voice echoed in his mind, yet it carried no weight in the air.

"I am Sylvie, the spirit of the Sovereign System. Created by a god, I exist solely to guide you, host."

Alex's breath hitched as he took a step back. His eyes darted around the room, but no one else moved. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to stay calm.

"You are the only one who can see and hear me. Worry not, host, for this conversation remains hidden from prying eyes."

His mind screamed at him, demanding answers. Why was this happening? What was this system? But before he could voice his thoughts, Sylvie continued.

"Your existence is unique, host. In your past life, you were a Pioneer, a being who tread uncharted paths, pushing the boundaries of existence. However, your life was unjustly cut short due to an accident caused by a god during one of your trials."

Alex's heart pounded in his chest. A Pioneer? A god's mistake? The weight of these revelations pressed upon him like an anchor, yet Sylvie was not finished.

"As compensation, the god granted you another chance—a new life in this world. You were given the option to retain your memories or exchange them for power. You chose the latter, sacrificing your past recollections to obtain the Sovereign System."

A storm of emotions whirled within him. He had chosen this? He had willingly erased his past?

"This system serves to assist you in your growth. It allows you to level up by defeating monsters found in dimensional gates. These gates, though hidden from the public, are a crucial secret known only to select government factions. The creatures that dwell within pose significant threats, yet they also serve as a path for evolution."

Alex clenched his fists. Monsters? Dimensional gates? The government was hiding all of this? His world was far more complex than he had ever imagined.

"There is much more to uncover, host, but your current authority is insufficient to access deeper knowledge. For now, focus on growth. The path ahead is yours to forge."

Before he could press for more, Sylvie's form flickered, and with a final glance, she faded into nothingness. The silence shattered as time resumed its flow. The mechanical hum of the laboratory returned, and Alex found himself gasping as if resurfacing from deep waters.

The chamber came back into focus, its metallic walls gleaming faintly under the dim, recessed lights. The pod's lid hissed open, the translucent liquid draining away with a soft gurgle, leaving Alex's skin tingling as the cold air hit it. His body felt unsteady, legs wobbling as he gripped the pod's edge to steady himself. The sensation coursing through him was undeniable—powerful, electric, like a current humming beneath his skin. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out the faint hum of machinery around him, and his vision sharpened, catching details he hadn't noticed before—the faint scratches on the pod's surface, the subtle flicker of a technician's screen across the room.

His father, William Ironhart, stood before him, his imposing figure framed by the chamber's sterile light. A satisfied look flashed briefly across his otherwise unreadable face, gone so quickly Alex might've missed it if he hadn't been staring. William's dark coat hung loosely over his shoulders, the sling on his right arm a stark reminder of the attack that had brought Alex here. His graying hair caught the light, and his piercing green eyes—mirrors of Alex's own—studied him with an intensity that made the air feel heavier.

"You're awake," William said, his voice a low rumble that cut through the lingering echo of Sylvie's words in Alex's mind.

Alex took a moment to compose himself, his chest rising and falling as he steadied his breathing. He nodded, running a hand through his damp hair, and quickly assessed his body. He felt… different. Stronger. His physique had undergone a subtle but significant transformation—his muscles felt leaner yet denser, coiled with a power he hadn't possessed before. His senses were sharper too, the hum of the lab's machinery now a distinct rhythm, the faint scent of ozone and metal crisp in his nose. If he wished, he could crush solid steel with ease—he was sure of it, though the thought sent a shiver down his spine.

William observed his son's reaction, his head tilting slightly as if measuring the change. "It seems the procedure was successful," he said, his tone carrying a note of approval. "How do you feel?"

Alex hesitated, his mind still reeling from Sylvie's revelations. A god's mistake? A past life as a Pioneer? The Sovereign System? He couldn't tell his father—not yet, not when he didn't fully understand it himself, and certainly not when Sylvie had made it clear this was his secret alone. He settled on a truth he could share, keeping his voice steady. "Better. Stronger."

A smirk ghosted across William's lips, faint but genuine, a rare crack in his stoic facade. "Good. There's still much to be done."

He motioned for Alex to follow, turning with a fluid grace despite his injuries, and Alex stepped out of the pod, the cold floor grounding him as he trailed behind. The chamber's sterile walls gave way to a corridor lined with cutting-edge technology—screens embedded in the metal pulsed with data, holographic displays flickered with maps and schematics, and the air buzzed with the faint static of active systems. Technicians in white coats moved silently along the edges, their heads bowed as they monitored equipment, their presence a quiet hum beneath the lab's energy.

William led him through the winding passages, each turn revealing more of the underground complex's vastness. The corridors stretched like arteries beneath the ice, their surfaces smooth and unyielding, reflecting the blue glow of overhead lights. Guards in tactical gear stood at key points, their rifles held at ease but ready, their visors obscuring their faces as they saluted William with crisp precision. Alex's newfound senses picked up the faint click of their boots, the subtle shift of their weight—a clarity that both thrilled and unnerved him.

They passed a massive window overlooking a cavernous chamber, and Alex paused, his breath catching as he took in the sight. Below, enormous machines hummed with power, their articulated limbs moving in synchronized patterns as they assembled weapons—sleek rifles, glowing blades, devices that pulsed with energy he couldn't name. Scientists scurried between them, adjusting dials and inputting commands, their movements a ballet of precision. The scale of it all—the technology, the manpower—dwarfed anything he'd imagined, even after seeing Castle Iron. This was Ironhart's true heart, a hidden empire thriving beneath the world's surface.

William stopped beside him, his gaze following Alex's. "This is our strength," he said, his voice low and steady. "A legacy built over centuries, refined in shadows. You'll understand its scope soon enough."

Alex nodded, swallowing the questions that burned in his throat. Gates? Monsters? The Sovereign System? He wanted to ask, to probe his father's knowledge, but Sylvie's warning held him back—this was his burden, his secret. Instead, he focused on the present, the tangible. "How long has this place been here?"

"Longer than I've been alive," William replied, his good hand resting lightly on the window's edge. "It began as a refuge, a fallback during the wars that shaped us. Now it's our nerve center—research, weapons, strategy. Everything we need to maintain our dominion."

The word dominion echoed in Alex's mind, a reminder of the maps he'd seen in his restored memories, nations bending under Ironhart's will. He turned to his father, studying the lines of his face—the scar, the graying hair, the unyielding resolve. "And the attack on you and Mother—did it come from here?"

William's expression hardened, his jaw tightening briefly before he answered. "No. That was external—a miscalculation by fools who thought they could strike us down. They learned their lesson."

Alex's fists clenched at his sides, the fire from his memories flaring anew. "They're gone now?"

"Replaced," William said simply, his tone cold and final. "Their nations run under our proxies. The world moves on, none the wiser."

The weight of that power settled over Alex, both awe-inspiring and chilling. He followed as William resumed walking, the corridor narrowing as they approached a smaller chamber. The doors hissed open, revealing a room less sterile than the last—its walls lined with dark metal, a single table at the center illuminated by a focused beam of light. Dr. James awaited them, standing beside the table with a posture that blended professionalism and deference.

"These are for you," the doctor said, gesturing to several items laid out on the table's surface.

Alex stepped closer, his eyes scanning the objects—a sleek mobile phone, a wristwatch, and a small, compact knife. Each item gleamed faintly, their designs deceptively simple yet radiating a purpose he couldn't yet grasp.

Dr. James picked up the mobile and presented it to him. "This device is linked directly to your family. Only you can use it. It contains various features designed specifically for your security and communication."

Alex took the phone, feeling its weight in his hand. The sleek design betrayed its complexity—its surface smooth and cool, a faint glow pulsing along its edges as it synced to his touch. He turned it over, noting the absence of buttons, the screen activating with a flicker of holographic light at his fingertip's proximity. It felt alive, an extension of the technology he'd seen throughout the lab.

Next was the wristwatch. At first glance, it appeared ordinary—a minimalist black band, a simple face—until Dr. James pressed a small button on its side. A tiny drone emerged from within, no larger than a coin, its wings unfolding with a soft whir as it hovered above the table.

"This is a hidden reconnaissance bot," Dr. James explained, his voice tinged with pride. "It can discreetly gather information and transmit real-time data back to you. Audio, video, thermal—whatever you need."

Alex nodded, impressed by the sophistication packed into such a small device. The drone buzzed faintly, its tiny lights blinking as it awaited commands, then returned to the watch with a seamless click. He slipped it onto his wrist, the band adjusting automatically to fit, its weight a subtle reassurance against his skin.

Finally, Dr. James handed him the small knife. The moment it touched his palm, a faint glow flickered in his vision, words materializing like a whisper from Sylvie:

(Mythril Knife – A weapon forged from minerals commonly found in gates. Durable, lightweight, and capable of channeling mana.)

Alex stiffened, his breath catching as the notification hovered before his eyes. His heart thudded, and he darted a glance at his father, searching for any sign of recognition. Did he know about this? Could he see what Alex saw? The knife's blade gleamed faintly, its edge razor-sharp yet impossibly light, as if it weighed nothing at all. The glow faded from his vision, leaving only the physical object in his hand, but the words lingered in his mind—gates, mana. Sylvie's voice echoed faintly, a secret thread weaving through his thoughts.

He carefully chose his words, keeping his tone neutral as he turned to his father. "Father, do you know about gates?"

William's expression remained unreadable, the fleeting smirk from earlier gone as if it had never existed. His face turned to stone, his green eyes deepening into something piercing and inscrutable, like the depths of the ocean hiding untold secrets. The air between them thickened, the silence stretching into a heavy, palpable weight that pressed against Alex's chest.

After what felt like an eternity, William finally responded, his voice low and measured. "…We will talk about that another time."

Alex knew better than to press further. The shift in his father's demeanor—the sudden wall of silence—told him everything he needed to know for now. This was significant, a topic buried beneath layers of secrecy even within Ironhart's vast dominion. The implications swirled in his mind, tangling with Sylvie's revelations—gates, monsters, a hidden world the Ironharts clearly knew of, yet kept shrouded from him still. His father's reaction wasn't denial; it was deferral, a promise of answers held just out of reach.

He slipped the knife into his pocket, its weight a quiet reminder of the mysteries he'd yet to unravel. For now, he would wait. He had much to process already—his past as a Pioneer, the god's gift of a new life, the Sovereign System whispering in his mind, the gates that tied it all together. The world he'd known had been shattered, replaced by a reality far vaster, far darker, and far more exhilarating than he'd ever imagined.

But if there was one thing he was certain of—it was that his journey had only just begun.