Ascension

'I knew I would be weaker without the genetic enhancements, but this… this is worse than I expected,' Vlad thought as he looked at his performance test results.

Points: 81

Performance: Excellent

'Though, It should be enough to make my family happy,' Vlad mused, knowing with time he would grow to reach and surpass his past peak.

"I did it," From the far corner, a voice rose above the rising noise, a young man barely able to contain his glee. "I got chosen."

Some celebrated, while the majority either lay in their open pods in stunned silence, unable to accept reality, or cursed and cried their eyes out.

"Greeting everyone," Lucid's familiar voice sounded, coming from all directions.

"Congratulations to those who have been chosen."

"Now, you are among the few who could play the great game. You have means to greatly benefit society, so use this gift for the purposes it is meant for, and it will make you a respected and valuable member of the Great Empire of Zenith Hegemony,"

"May your journey in Ascension be one of courage and purpose, " he said, and before he could say anything further, he was rudely cut off.

"FUCK YOU LUCID"

"A B-grade trait… Low quality," A young man spat, his voice laced with bitterness. His frustration spilled over as he grumbled louder. 

"Why do we even have to receive these damn traits to play the game? The Empire talks about equality, but all your stupid gifts do is only push us deeper into a hierarchy of power." 

"Some bastard gets lucky and becomes a king overnight, while I get stuck with this worthless trash. How is that fair?" He roared, his gaze darted around, searching for someone, anyone, to share his anger. 

"You are free to not become a part of my world," Lucid replied calmly. 

Before the man could throw another tantrum, he felt a jolt of current run through his body, and in an instant, his unconscious body fell to the floor.

The man was not wrong. The traits were not really needed since the world of Ascension already had magical powers, but just like the game, they served a hidden purpose.

It wasn't publicly known yet, but Lucid had the ability to modify genes and introduce biological enhancements, altering a person so much that they developed entirely new properties, which were known as traits.

The traits were given so the players could become accustomed to them, so when the time came for war, every faction would have super soldiers ready for a war of new age.

"To those who did not succeed, just remember, this is not the end, but merely the beginning of your growth."

"You are the young generation of our Empire. Do not let this small setback define your path. There is an entire galaxy filled with infinite possibilities, so search for what you want and strive for greatness with your work, and success will be yours to enjoy,"

"May you all discover your passion and reach the pinnacle of your potential," Lucid said before his voice faded away.

The normal AI quickly took over and began to tell everyone to leave using the exit door within three minutes or else they would be forcefully removed.

Vlad left the room, his face devoid of emotion. Outside, Yelena was waiting, her anxious expression hardening the moment she saw him. Without wasting a moment, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him.

"Vlad, don't worry. You're meant for greater things," Yelena said, her voice heavy with emotion.

She thought he had either failed to receive a trait or gotten one of very low grades.

"You are right," Vlad replied calmly, his tone steady. "It will be a challenge to rise to the top quickly… with just a half-decent A-grade trait."

"Yeah, that's the spirit... Wait, what?" Yelena's voice went from calm to shock, her grip on him loosening as she pulled back to look at his face. 

"Did you just say... A-grade?" She questioned loudly, attracting many gazes. 

Vlad's lips curled into a faint smirk as he answered. "Yeah. Half-decent, but it will do."

"Half-decent? Do you have any idea how rare A-grade traits are?" Yelena hissed, jaw clenched, as she shook him by the shoulders, her earlier worry replaced by a mix of delight and anger.

The people around them shot them looks of anger, but none wanted to say anything, especially after knowing the man was chosen with an A-grade trait.

While everyone was equal in the eyes of the empire, there were many ways to make one's life hard, and that is why none wanted to be on the bad side of one of the chosen.

Yelena and Vlad took a hoverboard and left for the exit, all excited to reach home and give the good news in person.

As they descended from the facility, they were quickly approached by a crowd of individuals, representatives from various guilds, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. 

Few rushed, eager to secure fresh talent, their smiles practiced and persuasive, while others stood in their domed stations, their faces calm and proud.

Banners and holographic displays flickered above each station, showcasing the power and prestige of their guilds.

Voices began to overlap as they called out, each trying to outdo the other with promises of wealth, status, and opportunity.

"Join us, and you'll rise to the top in no time." one recruiter declared, his enthusiasm almost overwhelming.

"With your talent, you will be leading raids within weeks." another chimed in, her eyes fixed on Vlad with calculated interest.

Vlad's expression remained calm, his eyes scanning the crowd as the gravity lift slowly descended.

They all stopped a few feet away, maintaining just enough distance to appear respectful, yet their eagerness was palpable.

"An A-grade trait, and with an excellent score of 81," one representative said, his smile polished and confident. 

"Sir Vlad, you are an exceptional talent and deserve the best place, and we, the Silver Raven, would be honored to have you on our team." He said before the Silver raven perched on his shoulder cawed sharply.

The record of his Trait Rank and his performance score were publicly available, and even though no details were available, because of their exceptional combination, everyone knew Vlad was not ordinary, or at least his trait was something special.

"Our guild, Imperial Wardens, is ranked within the top one hundred guilds and can offer the best resources to you for rapid growth. With your potential, the sky's the limit." Another spoke up, her voice smooth and persuasive. 

"Mr. Vlad," A flat voice with an icy tone rang, cutting through the noise of the gathered crowd. 

The person who spoke stood all they in the back, dressed in all black, his bony face a shade of blue, two pointed horns on his forehead. He was a starborn, a rare sight in their D Rank city, and seeing him, everyone quickly parted away, giving him a clear view of Vlad.

"I am Gace Blankley from the forty-sixth Ranked Spectral Blades, and we are willing to accept you as our member," He said as he closed the distance, stopping an arm's length away.

"Sir Gace, I appreciate your and everyone else offer, but I wish to play Ascension solo," Vlad said with a calm smile. 

A flicker of surprise crossed Gace's face, quickly replaced by a flash of annoyance. His lips pressed into a thin line, the annoyance barely concealed as his eyes narrowed.

"I have sent the contract to you, so read it and sign it if you want," He said before turning around to leave. "You have forty-eight hours,"

Vlad and Yelena left the area, using a Maglev pod, and reached their home within a few minutes.

As they stepped through the door, their mother greeted them with a warm smile, her eyes lighting up as she took in their faces. "Welcome back. How did it go?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

Yelena grinned, glancing at Vlad with barely contained excitement. "Mother. Vlad got an A-grade trait."

Their mother's eyes widened in delight, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. "An A-grade…? Oh, Vlad." She rushed forward, pulling him into a tight embrace, her joy evident in every trembling breath. "I knew my Son would succeed."

"It's just the beginning, Mother," Vlad hugged her back, his expression softening as he felt the warmth and pride radiating from her. 

"I was losing patience waiting for you to come back," Victor chimed in as he rushed down the stairs, a bright smile stretched across his face.

"Brother, tell me all about your trait," Vlad asked eagerly before adding, "It must be very special for you to get such a great result in the performance test,"

They all took their seat. Their mother quickly brought the sweet dish she had created to celebrate, and before long, they had their father on a live call.

Their chatter and laughter filled the living room. Victor was the loudest talker, while their father stayed silent, nodding and smiling like his usual self.

No one brought up the topic of his trait being difficult to use and only sang praises of it, telling Vlad that he had great ability with it to achieve such great results on the test.

They sat and talked for nearly an hour, discussing Vlad's dream for the future before he received the notification of VR pod delivery. Minutes later, he was in his room with a three-by-three-foot cube placed at the base of the bed.

"If I get lucky, I will also have a VR pod of my own in just a few months," Victor stated, his fingers tracing the cold surface of the box.

"Step Back," Vlad said as he stepped closer and placed his right hand on the box.

{Player Recognized}

A calm voice echoed softly, followed by a faint blue light pulsing at the cube's center. The light swiftly expanded, sweeping over the room in a seamless scan before retracting just as quickly.

A heartbeat later, the surface of the cube began to shift, rippling like liquid. The nanobots that made it rearranged themselves with flawless precision, flowing and connecting with a fluidity, taking the form of a virtual reality pod.

Its form was reshaped into a sleek, oval pod, and within minutes, its transformation was complete. Its roof stayed open, inviting Vlad to enter the world of Ascension.

"This is awesome," Victor said, his child-like excitement at the display of such rare tech evident.

"Let's give your brother some space to enjoy his gift," their mother said, her voice gentle and warm. She placed a hand on Victor's shoulder, gently pulling him toward the door. "Come on, let's not spoil his fun."

A moment later, only Vlad was left in his room. His eyes scanned the open VR pod, and with a deep exhale, he stepped into the pod. The canopy closed, and darkness engulfed him. His senses blurred, and within seconds, reality faded away.