Ascension Online: Forsken Path

The wind howled through the Forsaken Ruins, carrying the scent of damp stone and decay. Reed ran, his breath ragged, muscles burning, but he didn't stop. The armored man had let him go—but why?

His mind raced. What was this place? Who were The Broken Ones? And why did the system treat him like an anomaly?

The mist curled around him, thick and suffocating. Shadows flickered in the distance—tall, distorted figures watching from the edges of the ruins.

They didn't move.

They just… watched.

Reed swallowed hard, gripping his dagger tighter. They weren't human. They weren't animals. And worst of all—they weren't attacking.

System Update: Trial of Existence Initiated.

Objective: Survive.

A dull chime echoed through the air.

Reed's heart pounded. No quest marker. No direction. Just survive?

He slowed his pace, taking in his surroundings. Broken pillars jutted from the cracked earth like the remains of an ancient temple. Faded symbols were etched into the stone, whispering of something long forgotten.

Then—the sound of metal scraping against rock.

He turned sharply, dagger raised.

A second figure emerged from the mist. Unlike the first, this one wasn't clad in armor. Its form was warped, incomplete—like a man who had been half-formed and abandoned.

Its eyes flickered with dim light, its mouth twisting into an expression that wasn't quite a smile.

Reed took a step back. This wasn't a player. This wasn't a person.

Unidentified Entity Detected.

Designation: Fragmented One.

The thing moved. Fast.

Reed barely had time to react as it lunged, its elongated fingers like jagged blades, swiping toward his throat. He ducked—narrowly avoiding the strike—but the force of the attack sent him staggering back.

The creature didn't slow.

Reed's instincts screamed—he had to counter.

He gritted his teeth and lashed out with his dagger, aiming for its exposed torso. The blade connected—but instead of sinking into flesh, it barely scraped against its distorted form.

Damage Inflicted: 0.2%

His stomach dropped. Barely anything.

The creature swung again. This time, Reed wasn't fast enough.

A searing pain tore across his shoulder as the jagged claws raked through him. He cried out, stumbling back. Blood dripped from the wound—real blood, real pain.

HP: 87%

Reed's vision blurred. He could feel it. The pain, the exhaustion.

This wasn't a game. Not in the way he understood.

He needed a plan—now.

The Fragmented One circled him, its flickering eyes scanning, calculating.

Reed's grip on his dagger tightened. He couldn't rely on stats. He couldn't rely on the system. That meant… he had to fight like this was real.

His mind sharpened. No hesitation. No second-guessing.

The creature lunged again—this time, Reed didn't dodge completely. Instead, he pivoted, letting the attack graze past while driving his dagger toward the creature's neck.

The blade connected.

The Fragmented One recoiled, its form distorting, glitching.

Damage Inflicted: 8.1% (Critical Hit!)

Reed's eyes widened. The neck. That was a weak point.

But he didn't get time to celebrate.

The creature shrieked, the sound splitting through the air like tearing metal. The watching shadows stirred.

Warning: More Fragmented Ones Approaching.

Reed exhaled sharply. He couldn't handle more than one of these.

He had to end this—now.

The creature lunged again, claws flashing. This time, Reed moved first.

He dodged low, rolled past its reach, and drove his dagger straight into its throat.

Damage Inflicted: 28.7%

Fatal Strike Detected.

The Fragmented One convulsed, its form flickering violently. For a split second, its face—or what was left of it—contorted into something almost human.

Then, it shattered into nothing.

Enemy Defeated.

No Exp Gained.

Reed froze. No EXP? No loot?

His breath came in sharp gasps. He wasn't sure what was worse—the fact that he had barely won, or the fact that the system wasn't rewarding him for it.

That wasn't how MMORPGs worked. Unless…

His fingers clenched. Unless this wasn't an MMORPG at all.

But before he could process it, a new sound echoed through the ruins.

Clapping.

Slow. Deliberate.

Reed turned, muscles tensed.

The armored man from before stood atop a broken pillar, watching with something resembling amusement.

"You're not entirely useless," the man mused. "That's rare for an outsider."

Reed wiped the blood from his shoulder. "Glad I could entertain you."

The man tilted his head. "Most who arrive here don't last a minute. But you?" A pause. "You might actually survive."

Trial of Existence: Phase One Complete.

New Path Unlocked: The Forsaken's Road.

Reed's breath steadied.

Whatever game this was, it wasn't about leveling up.

It was about survival.