《Lumina ascendancy I got a brain system》 Good morning master There''s a lot of light here. But why can''t I breathe? Am I going to die? No, I can''t die like this. I have to take care of Julie. I promised Mom. But why can''t I move my body? Am I drowning? The boy was sinking into deep water, on the verge of death. Bright light shone from the water, as if the sun was glowing at the bottom. But the water was freezing cold, making it hard for him to breathe. He wanted to break free from the tightness gripping his body. He could feel the pressure of the water now, as if he had reached the ocean floor. Slowly, his breaths grew weaker. His eyes closed. He was dead¡­ truly dead. When his dead body touched the bottom of the water source, which was glowing like the sun, the bright light began to enter his head, as if it had been waiting for this moment. With a flash and a loud sound, the light entered his mind. Now there was silence¡ªdark, heavy silence. "Yikes!" Aaron woke up with a jolt. His entire body was drenched, as if he had just taken a bath. "Was that a dream? No, it wasn''t a dream. I really died. I felt death. So how am I alive?" His breathing was still uneven. "Brother!! Are you okay?" A sweet voice reached Aaron''s ears. Hearing it, his expression changed instantly, as if nothing had happened. "Yes, Julie, I''m fine. Don''t worry," Aaron said, swallowing hard. "Then what''s this?" Julie pointed at the wall. Aaron looked where she was pointing. There was a big hole in the wall that hadn''t been there before. Aaron was shocked. When he had gone to sleep, the wall was intact. "That¡­" Aaron grabbed his head. A sharp pain shot through his skull, as if a strange sound was echoing in his mind. "Brother!! Are you okay? I''ll call the doctor," Julie said, running toward the door. "No, Julie!! I''m fine. I just woke up, so I feel a little weird," Aaron said, gesturing for her to stop. Hearing her brother''s words, Julie stopped. "Brother, you should rest." "No, I''m fine. I have to go. What about Houston''s shop?" Aaron said, putting on his jacket. "No, brother, you can''t go to work today. You need to rest." "No, Julie. You know how Houston gets if I take a day off. I have to go. Don''t worry about me. I''ll come back early today," Aaron said, patting Julie''s head before stepping out of the bunker-like room into the city streets. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Aaron felt different today. All the way, he kept thinking about what had happened. How did that hole appear in the wall? And had he really died? "Sigh¡­ these dreams are going to drive me crazy," he muttered. He had dreams like this every night. But this was the first time he''d experienced something so terrifying in his sleep. Aaron worked at Houston''s shop, building and modifying weapons. He was the only one at the shop who could do the job well. Without him, Houston''s shop was nothing. "You''re late again," Houston said, glaring at Aaron over his small glasses as soon as he stepped into the shop. "I¡­ I wasn''t feeling well today," Aaron said. It was the first time he''d given a real reason for being late. "Don''t you think your daily excuses are getting old?" Houston glared at him. Aaron didn''t say anything. Even the truth was seen as an excuse. "A new customer came today. Check their weapon and fix it as soon as possible. It''s very important. Finish the job quickly. They need their product by tonight," Houston said, adjusting his glasses before walking away. Aaron took a deep breath and looked at the weapon Houston had pointed out. "This is a plasma gun," Aaron muttered. Aaron examined the gun carefully. It was a highly advanced weapon. Such advanced technology wasn''t usually found outside the Wall, so how did it end up in their shop? Aaron was stunned. He''d never seen a gun like this in the shop before, nor had he ever worked on such advanced technology. "What do I do now? If I can''t fix this, Houston will be furious. He said it''s very important," Aaron thought, wiping sweat from his forehead. It wasn''t that he couldn''t do it. He could understand any weapon in the world¡ªif given enough time. "Trrrr¡­" Suddenly, the gun in his hand started vibrating on its own. Aaron was scared. Before he could think, his hands moved uncontrollably, disassembling the gun. He had no idea what was happening. In just a few seconds, all the parts of the gun were laid out in front of him. Aaron''s hands were shaking. He had disassembled such an advanced weapon. But the next moment, his hands moved again, and within seconds, the gun was fully reassembled. "What the hell!" Aaron was sweating. He couldn''t understand what had just happened. Had he really fixed the gun that quickly? Aaron quickly put the gun down and rushed out of the shop. He was genuinely scared. The dream from the morning, and now this¡ªhe had no answers. The hole in the wall. What did all this have to do with his dreams? He had fixed the gun without even touching it. Did he have some kind of power? Such powers were terrifying for someone living outside the Wall¡ªfor Aaron and for Julie. The thought terrified Aaron. He couldn''t put his sister in danger. But what if it wasn''t a power? What else could it be? Only those who were Awakened could live inside the Wall¡ªthose with special abilities, who could protect the Western Region and go on missions. Aaron went back into the shop and pretended to work on the gun, which was already fixed, so no one would suspect anything. "Houston! I''m leaving early today. I''ve fixed the gun. If there''s any other work, let me know," Aaron said to Houston, who was cleaning an old gun. "Alright, if you''ve fixed the weapon, you can go. It''s almost evening, and our special guest is coming. You can leave," Houston said hurriedly, as if he wanted Aaron gone before the guest arrived. Aaron shrugged and left the shop. The city streets were quiet today. The sound of dogs barking could be heard from a distance. Aaron was walking quickly toward home. He wanted to get back early today. Something didn''t feel right. As he passed through a dark alley, his eyes fell on a trash bin nearby. "What''s this?" Curious, Aaron walked over to the bin. He was shocked by what he saw inside. It was definitely some kind of device. Aaron stared at it in amazement. Before he knew it, he was standing very close to the machine. As he got closer, the scattered device suddenly began to move. Aaron quickly realized what was happening. The next moment, the device floated into the air, and a bluish aura formed around Aaron''s hands. In just a few seconds, Aaron was holding an orb-like device, which he had created from the trash. He wasn''t as surprised this time. Aaron pocketed the device and headed home. "Brother, are you feeling sick again? I told you, you don''t need to work so much," Julie said in a complaining tone as soon as he got home. Julie knew that if her older brother was in trouble, he would never tell her. "I''m fine, Julie. I''m going to my room. And I''ve already eaten," Aaron said, walking to his room without waiting for a response. He was exhausted. Lying on his bed, Aaron looked at the hole in the wall, which had now been patched up. He raised his hands and stared at them. He couldn''t understand what had been happening to him since morning. Soon, exhaustion turned into sleep. He was sinking again, into that deep water. But this time, it was different. The water was dark. The sun that usually glowed beneath the surface was gone. And the tightness he had felt before was gone too. For the first time in his dream, he could hear the ticking of a clock. The usual silence was still there, but something felt off. His dreams were always the same, but today was different. It felt strange yet familiar. How could dreams change so subtly? "Good morning, Master." "Gasp!" Aaron woke up with a start when he heard the voice. "What was that? Who''s there? Who''s speaking?" Aaron clenched his teeth, looking around. He saw no one, but he had definitely heard a voice. "Good morning, Master! You should drink some water," the voice said again. Cipher "Who are you? Show yourself!" Aaron shouted, his voice echoing in the dimly lit room. A cold voice replied, "If I step out, you won''t survive." Aaron clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "Are you threatening me? I''m not scared of you. I''ll face you head-on!" As he spoke, an image of Julie flashed in his mind. Silence. Aaron stayed alert, his senses on edge. The enemy could attack from anywhere. But minutes passed, and nothing happened. He couldn''t feel anyone in the room. "But I heard that voice. Who was it?" Aaron wondered. "It was me," the voice said again. Aaron''s body tensed. "Stop playing games with me!" he yelled. "I''m your mind, Master. How can I appear before you?" the voice replied calmly. "What? Do you think I''m crazy? Enough! You''ve had your fun," Aaron snapped, his frustration boiling over. The room fell silent again. Just then, Julie walked in, pushing the door open. Seeing her, Aaron froze. He quickly moved forward, standing protectively in front of her. His eyes darted around the room, searching for any threat. "What''s wrong, bro? Everything okay? Why do you look so panicked?" Julie asked, her voice filled with concern. "Master, I won''t harm Julie," the voice said. "Why should I trust you?" Aaron shot back. "Bro, who are you talking to?" Julie asked, confused. "That voice. Someone''s hiding in my room, watching us. You need to leave," Aaron said, still scanning the room. "What voice? I didn''t hear anything. And I don''t think anyone''s here. Are you feeling sick again?" Julie asked, her brow furrowing. "Master, you''re about to feel unwell. I suggest you rest," the voice advised. "I don''t need your advice," Aaron snapped, turning to Julie. "Can she really not hear it?" Aaron thought. "No one can see me. Not even you," the voice said. "Can you¡­ read my thoughts?" Aaron wondered silently. "Yes, because I am your mind. I can read your thoughts," the voice said "What?!" Aaron stumbled back, collapsing onto the bed. "Bro, it seems like you hit your head last night. You''ve been acting strange since yesterday," Julie said, squinting at him. "Julie, it''s nothing. Go ahead, I am coming," Aaron said, trying to reassure her. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Julie hesitated but decided not to push further. She left the room, leaving Aaron alone with his thoughts. Had he really just spoken to his own mind? How was that even possible? But the voice had known his thoughts. It had to be real. "Master, I''ll explain everything later. But I am your mind now. Stop overthinking," the voice said. Aaron was not as shocked this time. "Alright, let''s say you are my mind. But minds don''t talk like this," Aaron argued. "Yours is different, Master. It can communicate. It can do much more. Like fixing that plasma gun yesterday," the voice explained. "What? That was you? Can you really do all that?" Aaron''s eyes lit up with curiosity. "I can do much more," the voice replied. Aaron fell silent, lost in thought. "I need to get to work. I have to collect my payment for yesterday''s job," Aaron thought, heading back into the narrow alleys. When he reached Houston''s shop, something felt off. Despite being late, Houston didn''t scold him as usual. In fact, Houston seemed almost¡­ nervous. "Ah, Aaron. I''ve been waiting for you," Houston said, rubbing his hands together as he approached. Aaron frowned. "Yeah¡­ what do you need, Mr. Houston?" "Aaron, you do excellent work. I truly value your talent. That''s why I keep you around. The special guest was very impressed with how you fixed that weapon yesterday. They praised you highly. And¡­" Houston paused, studying Aaron''s expression. Aaron didn''t react much. He already knew where this was going. "What is it, Uncle? You were saying something," Aaron pressed. "Well¡­" Houston avoided eye contact, his voice faltering. "Our special guest made a request yesterday. They need someone with your talent for their team. And¡­" Houston trailed off again. Aaron understood now. Houston had made a deal. "I struck a deal with them. They paid me 10k dollars to let you go. And honestly, Aaron, it''s for your own good. Inside the Wall, you''ll have a better life. Working with their team, you''ll earn a fortune," Houston said, his eyes gleaming. Aaron''s expression darkened. Houston had sold him out. To the people inside the Wall. Aaron had never wanted to go there. Not because he didn''t want a better life, but because going there meant leaving Julie behind. Only the Awakened or those with special talents were allowed inside. And now, Houston had traded him like a commodity. Aaron was furious. His freedom, his life¡ªit was all being taken away. Before Aaron could respond, a girl walked into the shop. She had jet-black hair, piercing eyes, and stood as tall as Aaron. A sleek, ornate sword hung at her waist, and she wore a royal military uniform. She was stunning, but Aaron had never seen her in the city before. "Ah, Miss Ermina," Houston said, bowing slightly. Aaron realized this was the "special guest" Houston had mentioned. The girl ignored Houston, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Aaron. "Miss Ermina, this is the one you''ve been looking for," Houston said with an odd smile. Ermina''s gaze locked onto Aaron, studying him from head to toe. --- Aaron felt a little awkward. A girl as stunning as Ermina was staring him down like that¡ªit was hard not to feel self-conscious. "So, you''re Aaron," Ermina said, her voice smooth but commanding. "The one who fixed that gun yesterday. Our team leader was impressed. They want you on our team. We''ve been looking for someone like you¡ªa Weapon Master." Aaron stayed silent. What could he even say? "Pack your stuff and come with us," Ermina continued, a playful smirk on her lips. "The team leader wants you in ASAP. Talents like you don''t stay hidden for long." Aaron couldn''t help but notice how confident she was. He''d never met anyone like her before. "Miss Ermina¡­ there''s one thing¡­" Aaron hesitated, his words stumbling. "Spit it out," she said, crossing her arms. "I''ll join your team¡­ but I have¡­ conditions¡­" Aaron finally managed to say, avoiding her gaze. He couldn''t bring himself to look her in the eye. Ermina''s expression shifted. Her eyes narrowed, sharp and calculating, like a predator sizing up its prey. Her aura was intense, almost overwhelming. But then, she suddenly laughed, clapping a hand on Aaron''s shoulder. "That''s it? Conditions? Let''s hear them," she said, her tone light but firm. "I have to take care of my sister. Can I bring her with me?" Aaron asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Ermina''s expression softened. "That''s all? Consider it done. Your sister''s my responsibility now. She''ll stay with me. So, are you in?" Ermina raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. Aaron felt a wave of relief wash over him. What more could he ask for? He''d do anything for his sister, and now joining their team didn''t seem so bad. Ermina noticed the faint smile on Aaron''s face and knew he''d made up his mind. "Alright, here''s your access card," she said, handing him a sleek, futuristic card. "Come inside whenever you''re ready. Just ping me when you get there." She winked, flashed him a dazzling smile, and walked away. Aaron stood there, staring at the card in his hand, watching Ermina disappear into the distance. His face felt warm, and he quickly shoved the card into his pocket. When he turned around, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Houston was standing way too close, his face inches from Aaron''s. Houston''s eyes were sharp, his gaze piercing. Aaron knew exactly why he was looking at him like that. Aaron quickly looked away and got back to work. By evening, Houston handed Aaron his payment for the day. Aaron walked home through the same narrow, shadowy alleys, his mind racing. "Master, are you sure going there is the right move?" the voice in his head asked. Aaron ignored it, but a frown stayed etched on his face. "How powerful are you, really?" Aaron finally asked. "As powerful as you need me to be," the voice replied. "I''m your mind now, so you can use me however you want. You can even block me from reading your thoughts. But my abilities depend on your body''s strength. Right now, your body isn''t strong enough. The connection between your Mind Core and Soul Core is unstable. It limits what I can do. You''ll understand more in time." Aaron stayed quiet, lost in thought. He didn''t know much about this stuff. Maybe the people inside the Wall could help him figure it out. "If I can talk to you, shouldn''t I give you a name?" Aaron asked. "Sure, Master. What do you want to call me?" the voice replied. "How about Cipher?" Aaron suggested. "Cipher it is. What can I do for you, Master?" the voice said, a hint of amusement in its tone. Aaron didn''t respond but chuckled softly. After a moment, Aaron remembered something. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the orb he''d found in the trash bin the day before. He needed to know what it was. "Cipher, what''s this?" Aaron asked, holding the orb up to the light. "Master, that''s a teleportation device," Cipher replied. Amberfort city "What? Is this really a teleportation device?" Aaron was genuinely stunned. As far as he knew, no such device had been invented yet. "Yes, Master! It''s a teleporting device. It was someone''s failed experiment, but I fixed it. Now it can be used as a teleportation device. But its range is only 10 miles," Cipher explained. Aaron was amazed by his own mind''s capabilities. He kept thinking about what Cipher had told him earlier. He needed to strengthen his soul core to fully utilize his brain''s potential. With it, he could solve countless problems. "So, can I use this device to go home?" "Yes, Master! You can," Cipher replied. In the next moment, a bright light burst from the orb, and Aaron vanished. He found himself back in his room almost instantly. "Whoa! This is incredible!" Aaron couldn''t believe he was using such a device. But suddenly, his room door creaked open. Aaron panicked and tried to hide the orb, but it had already disappeared from his hand. "Brother? When did you get here?" Julie was shocked to see Aaron in her room. She hadn''t seen him come in, so how had he appeared out of nowhere? "Julie! I¡­ I got here a little while ago. You were probably in your room. I didn''t want to disturb you. Forget about that. I''ve got some good news for you," Aaron said, a faint smile spreading across his face. "Really?" Julie asked, her eyes wide with surprise. She had always dreamed of seeing the world beyond the wall, though she knew the reality of their situation. But now, she could actually experience it. "Yes, Julie! We''re leaving tomorrow," Aaron said, watching her face light up with joy. Seeing her happiness made him happy too. After all, he had done all this for his sister. Otherwise, he would never have accepted Ermina''s offer. Once Julie left, Aaron let out a sigh of relief. He reached into his pocket, searching for the teleportation device, but it was gone. Then, in the next moment, it reappeared in his hand. He had no idea how it happened. "Master, when Julie came in, I created a pocket dimension and stored the device there," Cipher explained. "What? A pocket dimension? You can really do that?" Aaron''s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Yes, Master, but I can''t maintain it for long. For that, I''d need to be at a higher level, which depends on your soul core," Cipher said. Aaron didn''t respond. He just lay down on his bed and quickly fell asleep. The next day , Aaron and Julie stood before the massive gate of the towering wall. Aaron carried only a small bag with their essentials. Ermina had warned them not to bring too much. When Aaron saw the enormous gate up close, he was awestruck. He had never been this close to it before and had never dared to approach it. Aaron wasn''t sure how to get inside. With Cipher''s help, he had analyzed the gate''s technology. It wasn''t particularly advanced, but opening it still wasn''t easy. "What do you want, kid? You know you''re not supposed to be near this gate. Get out of here," a deep voice boomed, snapping Aaron out of his thoughts. Aaron looked up to see a tall, burly man standing in front of him. He had seen this guard at the gate many times before. The man''s face was scarred, a testament to his strength. "We need to get inside. Can you open the gate for us?" Aaron asked respectfully. "Ha ha ha¡­ Kid, you can''t go in there. This place isn''t for people like you. Go back, or else¡­" The guard was about to finish his sentence when Aaron held up the card Ermina had given him. The guard''s words caught in his throat as he stared at the card. He couldn''t believe Aaron had a military card¡ªsomething only given to those who joined the military teams inside the wall. "Sorry, sir! I didn''t recognize you. I haven''t seen you around before. I''ll open the gate right away," the guard stammered nervously. Aaron noticed the guard''s unease. He hadn''t realized how much influence Ermina''s card carried. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. A moment later, a small door opened beneath the massive gate. It seemed to be the entrance for foot traffic. Aaron stepped through the door and entered the wall. Amberfort, the capital of the West Region¡ªa city surrounded by towering walls on all sides. When Aaron saw the city, he was speechless. He couldn''t believe a place like this existed on the other side of the wall. It was far more advanced than he had imagined. Skyscrapers loomed overhead, advanced cars zipped by, and he even spotted flying vehicles. A straight, long road stretched ahead, leading to a massive skyscraper in the distance. Aaron''s mind raced as he processed the technology around him, giving him a headache. Aaron began looking around, unsure of where to go. He needed to meet Ermina as soon as possible. In a city this vast, he felt completely lost. He pulled out the card and read the address written on it. Wait a minute. I can find my way to this address on my own. Why would I need anyone''s help? Aaron thought. "Cipher, show me the best route to this address," Aaron said silently in his mind. "Okay, Master!" Cipher replied, and in the next moment, Aaron could see the path ahead of him. Though he could have teleported directly to the destination, he decided against using the device in front of Julie. Following the path, Aaron soon found himself in a deserted area. He couldn''t believe a place like this existed in such an advanced city. It felt more like a jungle than part of a bustling metropolis. Aaron noticed a signboard ahead. It read: "Motel." His eyes widened in disbelief. Had he really come all this way just to end up at a motel? "Seriously?" Aaron muttered to himself. It was such a bad idea Just then, the motel door creaked open. Standing in front of him was a familiar face. It was ermina "Aaron? Is that really you?" Ermina looked genuinely surprised to see him there. Aaron scratched his head, feeling a little awkward. "Who told you how to get here? Even our team leader forgets the way to this place sometimes," Ermina asked, her tone laced with curiosity. "Uh¡­ I used the card you gave me. A cab driver dropped me off here. He seemed to know the way," Aaron said, chuckling nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. Ermina gave him a sideways glance but didn''t press further. "So, Miss Ermina, what are you doing here? I mean, why did you give me this address? Shouldn''t you have given me the team office address instead?" Aaron asked, raising an eyebrow. "This *is* our office. Don''t like it?" "What??" was all Aaron could manage to say. Was this really their office? Was he seriously supposed to work here? His heart sank. Even their old home was better than this. Ermina seemed to read his thoughts. "I''m warning you. If you say anything negative about our office without even seeing it properly, then¡­" Ermina''s voice trailed off as she shot him a sharp look. Aaron could tell she wasn''t joking. He decided it was best to keep his mouth shut. "Hello, Miss! I''ve been watching you for a while now. I don''t care who you are, but if you try to intimidate my brother, you''ll have to deal with me," Julie suddenly stepped forward, her voice sweet but laced with a warning. Ermina was taken aback by Julie''s unexpected threat. She tilted her head slightly, narrowing her eyes as she studied Julie. Julie, "Ha ha ha¡­ Aaron, I was just joking. I won''t do anything. Please come inside, Mr. Aaron," Ermina said, her tone softening as she tried to normalise the tension. Aaron was baffled by Ermina''s sudden change in demeanor. He couldn''t figure her out. "Your sister is something else . Keeping her around might cost you extra," Ermina whispered into Aaron''s ear as she leaned in closer. Aaron''s heart raced as he caught a whiff of her perfume. Her proximity sent a shiver down his spine. Ermina glanced at him and smiled. Aaron didn''t quite understand her comment about the "extra charge," but he nodded anyway. Ermina burst into laughter. When Aaron stepped inside the motel , it was the third time that day he was left speechless. The motel looked nothing like its shabby exterior. Inside, the atmosphere was intense. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls, making the place feel more like a military base than an office. Aaron began scanning the weapons. They weren''t particularly advanced¡ªjust a few sniper rifles, machine guns, and a bunch of handguns. He was surprised to see such basic equipment in a place like this. In today''s world, they were practically obsolete. "This is why we called you. We need you to improve these weapons.Our missions require better firepower, but our budget is tight. We can''t afford new or advanced weapons, so we have to manage with these," Ermina explained, her gaze fixed on the wall. "Why don''t you ask for a bigger budget? If your job is to protect the West Region, they should at least provide you with the necessary resources," Aaron pointed out. "You''re right, but there are rules here. Teams are given resources based on their rank. The higher the rank, the better the resources. And rank depends on performance. It''s not like we don''t have skilled soldiers, but our team rarely gets missions that could boost our rank. And even when we do get a good mission, we struggle without proper weapons," Ermina explained. Now Aaron understood why their office was in a motel. He finally realized why he had been hired. Aaron knew he had a lot of work to do. He wanted to understand the full potential of his mind. To do that, he needed to strengthen his soul core. He had to become stronger¡ªnot just for himself, but for Julie. Who knew what challenges lay ahead? Aaron let out a deep sigh. He had made up his mind. This was where he would start. He picked up a small revolver hanging on the wall and examined it closely. Nearby, he noticed a large box filled with what looked like scrap parts from broken guns. He grabbed a few pieces in one hand and held the revolver in the other. "Cipher, use these parts to create the most powerful weapon you can," Aaron commanded. "Yes, Master," came the reply. A faint blue aura appeard from Aaron''s hands, and the gun parts began to move on their own. Within seconds, a revolver of the same size appeared in his hand. Its grip shimmered with a sky-blue, glowing material. "Here you go, Ermina. A little gift from me," Aaron said, turning to her with a smile. Ermina was utterly stunned. In just one second, Aaron had created an advanced weapon right before her eyes.