Kaelix traversed the new layer with a confident stride, the eerie grey expanse sprawling before him like a desolate dreamscape. The ground beneath his boots had the same smooth, unyielding texture as the roof he had slid down from—a material so unnaturally durable it defied even the sharpest weapons. The formations scattered across the area added an uncanny touch, as though the realm itself had attempted to mimic architecture but abandoned the effort halfway through.


    Tall, jagged pillars pierced upward like ancient sentinels, their edges smooth yet irregular, as though carved by unseen hands. Smaller structures dotted the expanse, resembling fragments of houses—arched doorways leading nowhere, fragmented walls, and slanted roofs, all hewn from the same uniform grey. Some formations looked almost organic, twisting and curling like petrified vines, while others hinted at deliberate design, such as staircases that climbed into empty air. Kaelix had to marvel at the strangeness, the realm seeming alive in its own alien way.


    As he leapt over a small outcropping shaped like a half-finished bridge, Kaelix glanced down at the bloodstained map in his hands. "Eight layers, huh?" he mused aloud, his tone light. "And according to this mess, there''s a hideout on the fourth layer."


    The XenoArch''s voice echoed in his mind. "If the map is accurate, that hideout could be a strategic advantage—or a dangerous trap."


    "Or a treasure trove," Kaelix countered with a smirk. He traced a finger along the faded marking that indicated the hideout''s location. "Gotta admit, I''m already planning what I''m going to loot. Though this thing''s practically useless beyond the fourth layer. Blood''s covering everything below that." He folded the map and stuffed it into his makeshift carrier. "First order of business when I get there—find a better map."


    For now, the journey seemed uneventful. Despite the XenoArch''s warning about denser creatures in this layer, Kaelix hadn''t encountered a single one yet. His stomach growled in protest, and he rubbed his abdomen with a sigh. "Really regretting not taking some of that orc meat now. Even insect guy might''ve been worth it if I''d had the time to cook him."


    "Your obsession with consuming sapient creatures is disconcerting," the XenoArch remarked.


    "It''s not an obsession," Kaelix replied with mock indignation. "It''s practicality. If it keeps me alive and not starved, I''m not picky."


    As he vaulted over another outcropping, an idle thought surfaced in his mind. He decided to voice it, though he doubted it would lead anywhere. "Hey, XenoArch, you know anything about the Runic Sheet?"


    The artifact''s response was tinged with curiosity. "Runic Sheet? Elaborate."


    Kaelix adjusted the straps on his makeshift pack as he walked. "It''s a special power only a small percentage of Ascendars get access to. Less than ten percent, actually. You have to awaken a Nexus Spark to even see it." He paused, eyeing a spiraled rock formation that looked suspiciously like a coiled snake. "From what I''ve heard, it''s like a cheat sheet for reality. Not that anyone talks about it openly. Ascendars with Nexus Sparks keep their secrets locked up tighter than the king''s treasury."


    The XenoArch processed his explanation in silence, prompting Kaelix to continue. "I only ever met one guy with a Nexus Spark, and let me tell you, he made the rest of them look like absolute wastes of space. I figured since you''re all ancient and mysterious, you might know something."


    The silence stretched a beat too long, and Kaelix raised an eyebrow. "What, nothing? Don''t tell me you''re as clueless as the rest of us mortals."


    "You''re... peculiar," the XenoArch finally said, its tone oddly flat.


    Kaelix rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks for the insight."


    "I know what you''re describing," the XenoArch continued. "But the terminology is unfamiliar. In my era, these were not rare. All Ascendars of that era possessed these ''Nexus Sparks'' and ''Runic Sheets.'' They were distinguishing traits that set them apart from other Empowered."


    Kaelix stopped mid-step, his eyebrows furrowing. "Wait, seriously? Every single Ascendar?"


    "Without exception," the XenoArch confirmed. "Why it would become so rare in your era is... troubling."


    "Yeah, no kidding." Kaelix shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the revelation. "What did you guys even call it back then?"


    The XenoArch began to explain, but as the names left its ethereal voice, Kaelix staggered. A sharp, splitting pain lanced through his head, and he clutched his temples as blood trickled from his nose and ears. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto a nearby rock, gasping for breath.


    "Stop! Stop!" he shouted hoarsely. "What the hell was that? Trying to kill me?"


    "You are not adapted to handle those terms," the XenoArch replied matter-of-factly. "Your reaction was unintended."Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Kaelix glared at the empty air, dabbing at the blood with his sleeve. "Sure it was, you piece of junk. Next time, try not to scramble my brain, huh?"


    He sat on the rock for a while, letting the pounding in his head subside. As the pain ebbed, his mind churned with questions. What kind of era had the XenoArch come from, where such extraordinary abilities were commonplace? And what had changed so drastically to make them a rarity now?


    Whatever the answers, Kaelix resolved to dig deeper. But first, he needed to survive long enough to reach that hideout. With a groan, he pushed himself to his feet and resumed his trek, the strange grey formations casting long, distorted shadows around him.


    The XenoArch''s voice broke the silence.


    "Don''t dwell on it. Even back in my era, while all Ascendars had a so-called Runic Sheet, it wasn''t the ultimate cheat you seem to think it is."


    Kaelix snorted, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "And how would you know? You''re just an old chest piece that seems to have forgotten most things anyway."


    The XenoArch''s response was calm and measured. "Because I have yours right here for you to see."


    Kaelix froze, his irritation giving way to wide-eyed astonishment. "You WHAT?! You''ve had it this whole time and didn''t tell me?"


    "It''s not that significant," the XenoArch replied nonchalantly. "In my opinion, it''s just a glorified training tool. Hardly worth mentioning."


    Kaelix glared at his chest. "Training tool or not, I want to see it. Now."


    Reluctantly, the XenoArch obliged, and Kaelix watched in amazement as a glowing sheet of ethereal paper materialized in front of him. Mystical patterns shimmered across its surface, and his hands shot out to snatch it eagerly.


    "Strange boy," the XenoArch remarked as Kaelix clutched the glowing paper like a long-lost treasure.


    Kaelix ignored the comment and looked down at the blank sheet. His initial excitement quickly soured. "Uh…why is it empty? What''s this supposed to be, a prank?"


    "It''s not blank," the XenoArch said with an edge of smugness. "You''re not focusing. Think of your name and concentrate."


    He scowled but followed the instruction, focusing on his name. Memories flashed briefly—unpleasant ones he tried to suppress—and then the sheet responded. Strange, runic letters began forming across the surface, glowing softly with a faint, otherworldly light. Though the language was foreign, he understood it instinctively.


    [Ascendar Name]: Kaelix*


    [Ascendar Rank]: Mortal


    [Ascendar Traits]: [Wanderer] [All You Can Eat] [Underdog] [Hateful]


    [Flaw]


    [XenoArch]:


    [Etherion Rank]: Pawn


    [Etherion Limit]: —


    [Nexus Spark]: —


    [Wills]: —


    [Dreams]: —


    Kaelix stared at the sheet, the glowing runes reflecting in his wide eyes. Something about the format and presentation tickled a distant memory—something he had seen in the Ion cities during his travels, though he couldn''t quite place it.


    "This is… not as impressive as I thought," Kaelix muttered, disappointment creeping into his tone. He glanced at the XenoArch, expecting some kind of explanation.


    "It reflects who you are," the XenoArch said plainly.


    Kaelix grimaced. "Yeah, I get that part. But how is this supposed to be helpful?"


    The XenoArch paused for a moment as if considering whether it was worth answering. Its silence was filled with a palpable sense of disappointment.


    The XenoArch''s voice carried a rare hint of patience as it began explaining. "The Runic Sheet is more than just a novelty, Kaelix. Most Empowered cannot introspect their true nature. They lack the ability to see attributes, understand their potential, or even recognize the true essence of things they obtain unless it''s physically represented in some tangible way. But Ascendars—and a select few special Empowered—are different."


    Kaelix frowned, glancing down at the glowing paper. "What makes us different?"


    "It''s an advantage," the XenoArch continued. "Every Empowered can carry Wills and Dreams. But only those like you or the Ascendars of my time can see what they do, discern their origins, and maybe even uncover extra secrets. That level of awareness can define victory or doom in the trials ahead."


    The mention of secrets piqued Kaelix''s interest. He turned his attention back to the Runic Sheet, running his eyes over its glowing runes. Starting at the top, his gaze landed on his name. The asterisk beside it caught his attention, sparking a twinge of unease.


    "Huh. What''s that star thing doing there?" he muttered, leaning closer.


    Deep down, though, he felt an instinctual understanding that it was meant to be there. Something about it screamed familiarity—a feeling he didn''t want to explore. Shaking his head, he moved on.


    His focus fell to the [Ascendar Rank]: Mortal line. He frowned again, noticing the matching [Etherion Rank]: Pawn under the XenoArch section.


    "Why does it say ''Mortal'' for me and ''Pawn'' for you? Shouldn''t I be at least a little more impressive than that?" he asked, his irritation palpable.


    "That''s because our bond isn''t fully assimilated yet," the XenoArch replied matter-of-factly. "My power is incomplete. I''m missing several components, which means the strength I possess isn''t fully yours to wield. When I run out of energy, I become useless until recharged. Technically speaking, you''re still mortal because none of it has permanently transformed your body yet."


    Kaelix groaned and tossed his head back. "Great. So you''re basically just a glorified power battery with a fancy voice."


    "For now," the XenoArch conceded. "But don''t dismiss it so quickly. One of the benefits of our bond is the ability to absorb Etherion from Empowered you defeat. Over time, that Etherion will reshape your body, permanently enhancing your strength. And the best part? Those enhancements stack with the temporary strength I lend you during battle."


    Kaelix perked up, his mind racing. "Wait—you''re saying I could get twice the strength? Permanent upgrades and your boosts on top of that?"


    "Precisely. And when you''ve absorbed enough Etherion to achieve a proper Liberation, we''ll synchronize our energy completely, allowing us to ascend to the next rank simultaneously for the continuing future."


    Kaelix rubbed his chin, absorbing the information. The mention of a "next rank" intrigued him, but he sensed the explanation would be lengthy. For now, he set the thought aside and refocused on the glowing sheet in his hands.


    He muttered under his breath, "Alright, let''s see what else this thing has to say about me…"