《Industrial Ascension》 Chapter 1: Awakening [Rowan] ** TW: Emetophobia, Dissociation Only one minute left. My foot tapped impatiently on the worn, wood floor as I gazed at the clock reading 23:59:00. Confetti and balloons surrounded me, their vibrant colors and delicate shapes reflected in the gleaming party decorations. The air was thick with anticipation, the scent of cake and roasted vegetables hanging heavy over the crowded room. I was transfixed by the numbers ticking towards the most important moment of my life. Birthdays are always exciting, but your 20th is something altogether different. "5... 4... 3..." The chorus of voices around me shouted, echoing off the walls of the crowded party room. My mind raced. What would my core ability be? Something amazing or mundane? "2..." Every second ticked by slower than the last. Panic crept in, my heart pounding in my chest. What if I don¡¯t get one at all? "1..." The room erupted in cheers and applause, the sound wave washing over me like a tidal wave. "Happy birthday, Rowan!" Suddenly, a soft blue glowing box appeared in my vision. ¡°Core Ability Unlocked: Mind Forge¡± ¡ª Mind Forge Tier 1 Unlock the boundaries of innovation with Mind Forge. This ability triggers spontaneous cognitive flashes, revealing revolutionary designs that defy current technological and scientific understanding. When this ability triggers, you''ll enter an ability-driven focus called your ¡°Synthesis State¡±, bringing your visionary concepts to life. ¡ª My mom''s warm smile and dad''s proud nod made my heart swell as I focused past the notification to their faces. The sound of champagne corks popping and laughter filled the room. "So, what is it?" mom asked, eyes sparkling. "It''s... amazing?" I said, then read off the description. "That sounds like a perfect fit," dad said, beaming. "You''ve always been so creative." I sighed, releasing tension that I hadn''t realized built up in my shoulders. As the name implied, Core abilities were based around who you are at your very core. Twenty years of life was enough for your core self to be truly cemented into reality. The problem was, it really embodied who you are as a person. There are, of course, horror stories of people who seem okay on the outside but get truly horrific core abilities at the end of their second decade, and I was relieved to not be a part of that statistic. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I looked across the room filled with my family and friends. The room was rather small, but even so, over a dozen people had shown up to fill the beige walls. My gaze landed on Kaida Reyes, who wore a bright smile and a "Happy Awakening!" tiara. Her dark hair was styled in a sleek bob, and her olive skin glowed in the vibrant party lights. As Kaida noticed my gaze, she confidently began navigating through the room towards me, her almond eyes sparkling with joy. Ly Patel towered behind her, his curly dark brown locks wild as ever. "Hey, genius! About time you joined the ranks!" Kaida exclaimed, her voice carrying over the din. A smile split my face as I embraced Ly and Kaida. "Took you long enough," Ly said, "only what, three months late?" "We can''t all be born in March, asshole," I said wryly. Kaida playfully elbowed Ly, coming to my defense. He grimaced and grabbed the area she had hit. "Oh shit, sorry Ly. Still getting a hang of my strength." Tiny, harmless sparks shot from Ly''s fingers, hitting Kaida in the stomach. Kaida laughed, and Ly''s face lit up with his signature smile, its brightness accentuated by the rich, dark tone of his skin. "Yeah, I probably deserved that." ¡°Kaida, could you go grab the tray with drinks I left in the kitchen?¡± my mom asked. "Of course, Ms. Pierce. I''ll be right back!" She blurred out of the room, reappearing with the requested refreshments. After handing out the drinks, Kaida set the thick plastic tray on a small workbench that I had set up in the corner of the room. The clinking of glasses and ice filled the air. My eyes sparkled. "You two are something else. I feel like my ability is cool and all, but I know I''ll never be able to match you guys in the awesomeness department." ¡°I don''t know, Rowan, depending on what you make, you definitely could beat us there,¡± Ly responded. As we chatted, my eyes landed back on my mom''s serving tray that Kaida had left on my bench. Something nagged at me about it. Without realizing it, I slowly began to wander over towards it. ¡°Hey Rowan, what''s up? You''ve just been staring at that tray for like 30 seconds.¡± Kaida said, concern evident in her tone. ¡°Do you want me to move it or something?¡± ¡°Nah, it''s just that it¡­¡± The nagging feeling wouldn''t go away. I sat at the bench and picked up the tray. Turning it over, I realized it was the perfect size. I couldn''t exactly articulate the feeling, but I could tell where it came from. Mind Forge. I let the feeling take over and guide me. I felt like I gradually got pushed back in my mind behind a pane of glass. As if I was simply an observer in my body. My hands moved with a life of their own, gliding across the tools on my table with precision, growing faster and faster. The scent of soldering wire and metal filled the air. My hands dipped into the box of scrap hardware over and over, and pulled wires from the spools hanging on the wall. The tray gradually became covered in intricate circuitry. I could hear voices talking near me, but they sounded distant, muffled, as if spoken in a foreign language through the fog I was trapped within. As I placed the final glass lens and saw a blue glow burst into being above it, I felt myself come back into control of my body. The mental fog lifted, only to be replaced by a splitting headache and a wave of nausea. I heaved the contents of my stomach onto the floor beside my bench, the bitter taste and acidic burn making my throat constrict. The rest of me quickly followed, collapsing as darkness took hold. Chapter 2: Aftermath [Kaida] **TW - Emetophobia ¡°Holy crap, Rowan, are you okay?¡± I exclaimed, panic rising in my voice. When they didn''t respond, I gently shook their shoulder. A faint groan was the only indication they''d heard me. Rowan''s normally vibrant, curly auburn hair now clung to their heart-shaped face, sticky and soggy from the aftermath of their sudden illness. Their athletic build, toned from years of digging through refuse piles for parts, seemed momentarily vulnerable. I turned to Ly, whose concerned expression deepened the creases between his eyebrows. Ly stepped forward, his hand glowing with a soft, pale green light. ¡°They should be fine,¡± he reassured us. ¡°It looks like that first ability activation just took a lot out of them.¡± Ms. Pierce nodded, eyes wide with worry. ¡°Thank you, Lysander. Kaida, can you carefully pick Rowan up and help bring them to their room? We need to get them cleaned up.¡± She quickly thanked the remaining guests for coming and ushered them out, eager to restore a sense of normalcy to the evening. I lifted Rowan with ease, their lean yet muscular frame feeling surprisingly light thanks to the physical enhancements granted by my own Awakening. My Adapt & Conquer ability had transformed physical challenges into opportunities for growth, making tasks like this almost effortless. As I navigated the hallway, I carefully avoided bumping Rowan''s head on the doorframe. Their dad followed closely, carrying a wet washcloth to clean up the remnants of their episode. Ly brought up the rear, cradling Rowan''s remarkable creation ¨C the intricate device born from their Mind Forge ability ¨C and placed it gently on Rowan''s desk. Once in the bedroom, I laid Rowan on their bed, trying to make them as comfortable as possible. Mr. Pierce began wiping away the residue from their hair and face, his touch gentle. Rowan''s eyes flickered, but they remained unresponsive. I stepped back, giving Rowan''s dad space to tend to them. Ly and I exchanged a concerned glance. ¡°Thank you for all your help you two, but I think we should let Rowan sleep this off for the night. We''ll make sure they''re taken care of and we''ll call you when they wake up or if anything changes.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Pierce. Please don''t let Rowan try out the device until we¡¯re here.¡± Ly said with a thin smile. He reluctantly stepped away from the desk with the glowing azure disk hovering above it. ¡°Yeah, I really want to see it in action. I''m sure it''s amazing¡± I said over my shoulder as we both walked out. Ly and I continued chatting with each other as we made our way through the narrow, crumbling streets. Flickering streetlights cast long shadows across the worn pavement, and the once-vibrant murals had faded to mere whispers of color. Weeds pushed through cracked sidewalks, and rusting hulks of antique vehicles lined the curb. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Do you think this is going to happen every time their ability triggers?¡± I whispered to Ly. He shrugged. ¡°I''ve never seen anyone pass out like that before, but Rowan''s ability seems pretty intense.¡± ¡°Me neither. I really hope they can come home tomorrow.¡± As we turned onto our street, the dilapidated buildings seemed to close in around us. But amidst the neglect, our small, three-bedroom home stood out ¨C a beacon of tidy resilience. Ivy crawled up the exterior walls, as if trying to reclaim the structure, but the windows sparkled, and the door creaked open to reveal a cozy interior. We stepped inside, and Ly shut the door behind us, enveloping us in the warm glow of table lamps and the comforting scent of simmering dinner. The aroma of slow-cooked stew wafted from the kitchen, where a small, solar-powered cooker Rowan had jury-rigged months ago hummed quietly. After shedding my shoes and coat near the door, I trudged upstairs, the weight of the evening''s events still lingering. Ly had already settled onto the couch, lost in thought. I smiled, knowing he''d be there for a while, processing everything. As I entered our small bathroom, the soft glow of the LED lights above the sink flickered to life. I gazed at my reflection, noticing the faint smudges of exhaustion under my eyes. A warm shower would help wash away the stress. I turned on the water, letting it heat up as I quickly checked my core interface. A gold display blinked to life in my vision. ¡ª Adapt & Conquer Tier 1 Unlock the art of resilience with Adapt & Conquer. After combat, you may enter an ''Adaptive State'' ¨C a meditative period of accelerated recovery and physiological adaptation. In this state, your body analyzes the obstacles you overcame, optimizing your physical potential for future challenges. Every fight becomes an opportunity for growth, enhancing your resilience and combat potential. ¡ª Combat Log: Last Engagement: 3 days ago Adaptive State Duration: 2h 15m Physiological Adaptations: +12.3% Strength, +6.4% Agility, +2.4% Endurance I scanned the log, satisfied with the progress I''d made. The shower''s temperature had reached perfection. I stepped in, letting the warm water wash away the evening''s tension. As I began to unwind, my thoughts drifted back to Rowan. What would tomorrow bring for them? Would their ability continue to take such a toll? I made a mental note to check in on them first thing in the morning. The water''s soothing heat helped clear my mind, and I lost myself in the even rhythm as the droplets pattered against my face. After drying off, I slipped on pajamas and crawled into my warm bed. Rowan had repaired heated blankets for all of us years ago, making the bed all the more comfortable. Their ability truly was perfect for them, except for that nasty side effect. At that moment, even knowing they were going to be okay, I hated not being able to help them. Rowan was always there for us, and this wasn''t a problem that I could punch away. Despite my racing mind, as I turned over, I felt myself beginning to drift to sleep, soothed by the warm hug of the blanket gifted by my best friend. The darkness closed in, and I let out a deep breath, letting go of the worries for now. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, I just slept. Chapter 3: Nexus [Rowan] I awoke to the faint scent of dust and the soft hum of the refurbished air purifier. My head throbbed, feeling as if it had been pounded with a metal pipe. As I slowly opened my eyes, the dim pink light peeking through the large window illuminated the room, stabbing at my retinas and forcing me to squint. The soft creak of the old wooden bed frame beneath me echoed through my foggy mind. My mom and dad slowly came into focus, seated in small folding chairs next to my bed. My mom''s head remained slumped, her gentle snores a soothing melody, while my dad''s worried eyes locked onto mine. The faint tang of last night''s botched celebration ¨C cake and the remnants of my stomach''s acidic smell ¨C lingered in the air, mingling with the musty smell of our old home. I showed a small smile to let him know I was okay, despite the splitting headache. My gaze drifted towards the desk, where the Core Nexus sprawled in chaotic glory. Chunks of circuit boards clung to its circular frame, about the size of a serving platter, like barnacles on a shipwreck. A rat''s nest of wiring snaked across its surface, held together by twists of electrical tape and hope. Amidst the chaos, an azure hologram floated serenely 15 cm above the device''s body, radiating an otherworldly glow. The image displayed the Nexus itself, its intricate circuits pulsing with connections through the tangle of wiring. I felt a faint mental pull, beckoning me to check my interface, and found two new notifications waiting. ¡ª Mind Forge Invention Log ¡ª Device Name: Neural Bridge Description: The Neural Bridge is a wearable neural interface device that establishes a secure connection between your mind and compatible technologies, enabling seamless interaction, real-time data exchange, and intuitive control for enhanced productivity and innovation. Synthesis State duration: 23 minutes Warning: Initial binding may cause temporary cognitive strain. ¡ª Device Name: Core Nexus Description: The Core Nexus is a device that captures and stores your Synthesis State creations via its connection to your Neural Bridge. It enables design modification, advanced assemblies, simulation testing, and serves as a potent computational platform for manufacturing control. Synthesis State duration: 23 minutes ¡°Cognitive strain¡± seemed like an understatement, I snickered to myself sardonically as I rubbed the back of my neck. I froze, noticing a small, warm, metal band secured to the base of my skull. I lightly probed the rectangular device with my fingers ¨C 6 cm wide, 2 cm tall, and the thickness of cardstock. My fingers found the edge, and I tried to lightly pry it off. Pain shot into my head, and I groaned. It wasn¡¯t coming off. Mom stirred, opening sleepy eyes. "Rowan, honey, how are you feeling?" "Head hurts," I admitted, wincing. "I think installing this messed me up a bit," pointing to the band on my neck. ¡°I noticed that while you were sleeping, but didn¡¯t want to mess with anything and make things worse for you,¡± my mom replied, her concern mixing with fascination. ¡°Is that a neural-interface or something?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°My core interface gave me an Invention Log that said as much, so it must be,¡± I replied, shrugging. ¡°It also told me that thing is called the ¡®Core Nexus¡¯,¡± I said pointing at my device sitting on the table. ¡°Does it just display your inventions?¡± she asked. ¡°Partly,¡± I said, slowly pulling the thick blue blanket off and shuffling towards the desk, my dad taking my arm to keep me steady. "The log said it lets me modify designs and do testing." ¡°Really?¡± my mom asked, her eyes sparkling. ¡°That sounds like old-world computer modeling software. You know I used to be a design engineer before the collapse, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, mom,¡± I said, lowering my voice as I sat down. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking through your textbooks in the basement for years.¡± Her eyes went wide, but she simply nodded and joined me at the table. ¡°Show me how it works,¡± she requested. ¡°Aidan, can you let Kaida and Lysander know Rowan is awake, please?¡± ¡°Of course, Elara,¡± he said, walking over to my nightstand to pick up the radio. ¡°K and L, do you copy?¡± ¡°I copy, Mr. P,¡± Ly¡¯s voice responded over the radio. ¡°Let me go wake up K.¡± After nearly a minute of silence, his voice returned, ¡°Alright, we¡¯re both here. How is R?¡± ¡°R is awake and doing okay. I think you¡¯re both good to head over if you¡¯d like,¡± my dad replied. ¡°We¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Ly said. Dad set down the radio and returned to our side to watch as we began experimenting. ¡°So, how does it work?¡± mom asked. I wasn¡¯t sure, but had a lingering feeling that I just needed to think about what I wanted to happen. I willed the cerulean image to rotate. It responded instantly. I began playing with the design, rotating it in all directions, moving parts individually, and adding new components. "I think you can also do things by touching the hologram," I said. Her hand eagerly reached out, grabbing the translucent object as if it were real. "Wow, I can feel it. It doesn''t have weight, but I''m gripping it and my fingers aren''t going through." She pinched the edges of it and pulled apart, causing the model to grow until it reached about a meter and a half in diameter and grew fuzzy at the edges before they disappeared completely. Shrinking the model back down to a more manageable size, she began delicately plucking wires from the design. "This is amazing," she said. "I have a feeling this is just a prototype, though. As much as I don''t fully understand how this works, I think you can definitely improve on this design." "I think so too," I said. "I don''t think I could ever explain how the device works exactly, but I can feel exactly how it works. If I had better materials and manufacturing tools, I could definitely improve on this design." Another niggling feeling akin to last night began to bubble up, but I forcefully shoved it down. There was no way I could let my ability take over right now. I could barely walk without help, and I was in no shape to go into an inventing frenzy. Luckily, that was the moment Kaida and Ly knocked at the front door. Our modest home was small enough that we had no trouble hearing the knock through my open bedroom door. "I''ll get it," mom said, throwing a glance at my dad as she got up. "Let me grab you some meds for your head," dad said, following her. I heard the sound of the front door opening and Ly saying, "Hey, Ms. Pierce. Rowan is still in their room?" "Yeah, Ly, can we have a second with you two first, though?" she responded, her voice lowering as she reached the end of the sentence. They all continued talking for half a minute, quieter than I could make out, before the sound of footsteps came down the hall. "What were y''all talking about out there?" I asked, slightly irritated. They never hid things from me. "We''re going to need to go into Selah''s Haven today to do paperwork with the Core Ascendency," my mom replied with a grim look. "We were asking your friends to accompany us, since they''ve been through the process recently." I felt my blood run cold at her words. "I hate going into Selah. Why do I have to do paperwork on my birthday?" "You know the Ascendency has a registry of everyone and whether or not they have a core ability?" Ly explained. "This is how they do that. They have a registrar on the clergy''s staff whose core ability can detect if you''re powered or not. Everyone is obligated to go in on their birthday." Kaida added, her expression dark. "You got your ability, you have nothing to worry about," she said, clenching her fist. Her older brother hadn''t been as lucky. ¡°We can deal with that in a bit.¡±, mom said, putting an arm around Kaida and lightly squeezing. Kaida relaxed slightly at my moms gesture. ¡°For now though, why don''t you continue resting and show your friends the Nexus?¡±