Avalon Prime was a world apart.
Kaelen had known it intellectually—had seen the floating city from below countless times. But experiencing it firsthand was different.
The air was clean. So clean it almost hurt to breathe after years of inhaling The Undercroft's toxic smog. Natural sunlight—real, unfiltered sunlight—warmed his skin. And everywhere he looked, there was green. Trees. Grass. Flowers in colors he'd forgotten existed.
It was beautiful.
And it made him sick.
Director Voss led him through a series of pristine corridors, her heels clicking against polished marble floors. The enforcement drones flanked him on either side, silent and watchful.
"I imagine this must be overwhelming," Voss said without looking back. "Most people from The Undercroft never see Avalon Prime. Consider yourself privileged."
"Privileged," Kaelen repeated flatly. "That's one word for it."
"You're upset. Understandable. Being taken from your home without explanation would disturb anyone." She glanced over her shoulder, her cold eyes meeting his. "But I assure you, Kaelen, we mean you no harm. We simply have... questions."
"About what?"
"About how a four-year-old boy from the lower city can kill mutated beasts barehanded. About how you manifest energy that our sensors detect as something beyond current technology. About how you survive injuries that should be fatal." She stopped in front of a large door and turned to face him fully. "In short, Kaelen—we want to know what you are."
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "I'm just a kid trying to survive."
"No." Voss's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You're something far more interesting than that."
The door slid open with a soft hiss.
Beyond it was a room that looked like a blend between an interrogation chamber and a laboratory. White walls. Observation windows. Medical equipment. And in the center, a single chair with restraints.
Kaelen's stomach dropped.
"Careful, little god," Crust warned. "They want to dissect you. To study you. To understand your power so they can replicate it."
"I'm not sitting in that chair," Kaelen said firmly.
Voss raised an eyebrow. "You don't have a choice."
"Actually, I do."
Kaelen flexed his wrists. The energy cuffs glowed brighter, trying to suppress his power—
But Kaelen wasn't using his power the way they expected.
He didn't summon light. He didn't create a burst of energy.
Instead, he reached deep inside himself, to the core where Crust resided, and borrowed something else.
Raw strength.
The cuffs shattered.
The drones reacted instantly, raising their stun batons—
But Kaelen was faster.
[Divine Burst]
Golden light exploded from his palms, slamming into the drones and sending them crashing into the walls. Sparks flew. Alarms blared.
Voss stumbled backward, her composure cracking for the first time. "Impossible—those cuffs were designed to suppress any known energy signature—"
"I'm not using any known energy," Kaelen said coldly. He stepped forward, and golden light danced across his fingertips. "I'm using something older. Something your technology can't measure."
Voss's hand moved to a device on her belt—
"Don't." Kaelen's voice was quiet, but there was steel in it. "I don't want to hurt you. But I will if you try to trap me again."
For a long moment, they stared at each other.
Then Voss slowly raised her hands. "Very well. No traps. But you must understand—we can't simply let you leave. You're too valuable. Too dangerous."
"I'm not your test subject."
"No. But perhaps we can come to an arrangement." Voss straightened her suit, her composure returning. "You want something, don't you? Everyone from The Undercroft wants something. Money? Resources? Medicine for a sick family member?"
Kaelen thought of Lira. Of her brother dying in the lower city.
"Information," he said. "I want information about the old world. About what happened before The Undercroft. Before Avalon Prime. Before all of this."
Voss's eyes narrowed. "That's an unusual request."
"Do you have it or not?"
She considered for a moment. "We have archives. Historical records. Most of it is fragmentary—data recovered from ruins, partially corrupted. But yes, we have information." She tilted her head. "Why do you want to know about the past?"
"That's my business."
"Fair enough." Voss smiled slightly. "Here's my offer. You cooperate with us—submit to some tests, nothing invasive—and in return, I'll give you access to our archives. Plus, I'll arrange for medicine to be sent to The Undercroft. Enough to treat whoever you're trying to save."
Kaelen's eyes widened. "How did you—"
"Please. You're traveling with two companions. One of them is clearly motivated by desperation. It wasn't hard to deduce." Voss extended her hand. "Do we have a deal?"
Kaelen stared at her hand.
"It's a trap," Crust said immediately. "She'll study you, learn your weaknesses, and then dispose of you when you're no longer useful."
"Or she'll keep her word."
"Humans from positions of power rarely keep their word."
"But Lira's brother needs that medicine. And I need that information."
"Then accept. But be ready to kill her if she betrays you."
Kaelen slowly took Voss's hand. "Deal. But if you try anything—"
"I won't." Voss's grip was firm. "I'm a woman of my word, Kaelen. Even if I am curious about what makes you so special."
The tests were extensive but, as promised, non-invasive.
They scanned him with machines that hummed and beeped. They measured his energy output, his physical capabilities, his reaction time. They drew blood—which made Kaelen nervous, but Crust assured him they wouldn't be able to replicate divine power from a simple blood sample.
Throughout it all, Voss observed from behind the observation window, taking notes.
After three hours, she finally called a halt.
"Fascinating," she said, reviewing the data on a holographic screen. "Your cellular structure is... different. Enhanced. And the energy you emit—it's unlike anything in our databases. Where does it come from?"
"I don't know," Kaelen lied.
"You're a terrible liar." But Voss didn't press. "No matter. We have enough data for now." She gestured to a door. "Come. I'll show you to the archives as promised."
The archives were enormous.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with data crystals, ancient hard drives, even physical books sealed in protective cases. The room smelled like old paper and ozone.
"This is everything we've recovered from the old world," Voss explained. "Most of it is corrupted or incomplete. But there are fragments. Stories. Legends."
She led him to a terminal and activated it. A holographic interface appeared, displaying categories:
HISTORICAL RECORDS
TECHNOLOGICAL BLUEPRINTS
MYTHOLOGICAL TEXTS
BIOLOGICAL DATA
Kaelen's eyes locked onto MYTHOLOGICAL TEXTS.
He selected it.
A list of files appeared:
Legends of the Sky Cities
The Dragon Kings
Tales of the God-Emperor Zephrion
The Catastrophe and the End of the Golden Age
Kaelen's breath caught.
They knew. Or at least, they had stories.
He selected The Catastrophe and the End of the Golden Age.
The file opened, displaying fragmented text:
"...in the final days, the world was ruled by gods and beasts. The God-Emperor Zephrion maintained balance, but his son... [DATA CORRUPTED] ...released the Catastrophe, a being of pure destruction... [DATA CORRUPTED] ...the world burned... only ash remained..."
Kaelen's hands trembled.
"You look pale," Voss observed. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Kaelen closed the file and opened another: Tales of the God-Emperor Zephrion.
"Zephrion, father of creation, ruled with wisdom and power. His son, Aelion, was said to be his greatest pride and his deepest sorrow. Legends say Aelion's ambition led to the world's destruction, but Zephrion's final act was one of love—he sealed the Catastrophe within his son's soul, cursing him to carry that burden forever... [DATA CORRUPTED] ...some believe Aelion still lives, reborn across time, seeking redemption..."
Kaelen stepped back from the terminal, his heart pounding.
They knew. Not everything, but enough.
"Interesting reading?" Voss asked.
"Very."
"These legends have always fascinated me. Gods. Magic. Beasts that could level cities." She looked at him. "Of course, most scholars dismiss them as fiction. Primitive explanations for natural disasters." She paused. "But you don't think they're fiction, do you?"
Kaelen met her gaze. "What makes you say that?"
"Because the energy you emit matches descriptions in those texts. 'Golden light that burns like the sun.' 'Power that defies natural law.'" Voss leaned closer. "You're connected to those legends somehow, aren't you?"
Kaelen said nothing.
Voss smiled. "Keep your secrets, Kaelen. For now. But know this—I will uncover the truth eventually. I always do."
Before Kaelen left, Voss handed him a data chip.
"Medicine formulas," she explained. "Enough to synthesize treatment for most common illnesses in The Undercroft. Give this to your friend. Tell her she doesn't have to worry about her brother anymore."
Kaelen took the chip carefully. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. We had a deal." Voss turned to leave, then paused. "One more thing, Kaelen. The upper city is watching you now. You've proven yourself... interesting. That can be an advantage. Or a liability. Be careful how you use it."
"I will."
"Good. The transport will take you back to The Undercroft. Oh, and Kaelen?" She glanced over her shoulder. "Come back anytime. Our archives are always open to you."
It was an invitation.
And a warning.
The transport descended through the clouds.
Kaelen sat in silence, the data chip clutched in his hand, his mind racing.
Voss knew more than she was letting on. And now she had his blood. His energy signature. Data on his abilities.
"You gave them too much," Crust said.
"I got what I needed."
"And what did you need? Confirmation that legends about you exist? You already knew that."
"I needed to know if anyone else survived. If there are others like me out there."
"And?"
"The files were corrupted. Incomplete. I didn't find anything conclusive." Kaelen leaned back in his seat. "But I will. Eventually."
"And what about Voss? She's dangerous. She'll use what she learned against you."
"Let her try." Kaelen's eyes hardened. "I'm not afraid of her."
"You should be. She's smarter than you. More patient. And she has resources you can't imagine."
"Then I'll just have to get stronger."
Crust laughed—a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through Kaelen's mind.
"Good. That's the spirit. But remember, little god—power alone isn't enough. You'll need allies. Strategy. And the willingness to do whatever it takes to survive."
"I know."
"Do you? Because the real challenges haven't even started yet."
When Kaelen returned to the shelter, Ryker and Lira were waiting.
They practically tackled him.
"Where have you been?!" Ryker shouted. "You've been gone for hours! We thought—"
"I'm fine." Kaelen pulled the data chip from his pocket and handed it to Lira. "Here. Medicine formulas. Everything your brother needs."
Lira stared at the chip, her eyes wide. "How did you—"
"I made a deal." Kaelen met her gaze. "Your brother's going to be okay."
Tears welled up in Lira's eyes. She threw her arms around Kaelen, hugging him tightly. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Kaelen awkwardly patted her back. "It's fine. We're a team, right?"
"Right." She pulled back, wiping her eyes. "So what happened up there? In Avalon Prime?"
Kaelen glanced at Ryker. "A lot. And we need to talk. All of us."
They found a quiet corner of the shelter and Kaelen told them everything—the tests, Voss, the archives, the legends.
When he finished, Ryker let out a low whistle. "So they know about you. Or at least, they suspect."
"Yeah."
"That's bad, right?"
"Could be. Or it could be useful." Kaelen looked at both of them. "Voss gave me access to their archives. That means I can learn more about the old world. About my father. About the other gods."
"And what then?" Lira asked. "What's the endgame here, Kaelen? You get stronger, you learn the truth, and then what?"
Kaelen was silent for a moment.
Then he looked up at the ceiling—at the metal and rust and decay that defined The Undercroft.
"Then I change this world," he said quietly. "I make it better. For everyone."
Ryker grinned. "Alright. I'm in."
"Me too," Lira said.
Kaelen smiled.
For the first time since waking up in this body, he didn't feel alone.
That night, a notification appeared.
[New Quest Available: The Path of Power]
[Description: You have caught the attention of forces beyond The Undercroft. To survive what's coming, you must grow stronger. Reach Level 10.]
[Reward: Class Selection, 1000 XP, Rare Skill Token]
[Accept? Yes / No]
Kaelen selected [Yes] without hesitation.
[Quest Accepted. Current Level: 6. Levels Remaining: 4]
Four more levels.
And then, everything would change.
"The game has begun, little god," Crust purred. "Let's see if you can win."