Fractured Core

In a meadow of lush green grass stretching across gentle slopes. The air is fresh and filled with the soft rustle of grass in the breeze and the occasional chirp of birds. The entire scene feels like a perfect blend of calm and natural beauty.

Aiden lay in the grass, his eyes fluttering open He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the, brilliant blue sky above, scattered with a few puffy white clouds lazily drifting.

Aiden gasped, sat up right abruptly. His heart raced as images of the Serpentine Wraith's piercing eyes flashed through his mind. "What happened?" He muttered his voice shaky.

And then, it hit him. The realization was both shocking and exhilarating.

"I defeated the Serpentine Wraith!"

From the killing of the wraith his mind, went somewhere so he didn't know how to process, what happened. Still he was relief to be alive. He scanned around only seeing lush green grass. I don't even know where I am? nor to do from here?

Before he could make sense of his thoughts, a voice cut through the silence, reverberating in his mind.

'You have one final step before completing the Trial of Judgment.'

Aiden froze, his hands instinctively moving over his body. His breath hitched. "Who… Who are you?" he stammered. "Are you in my head?"

"I'm your helper." the voice replied calm and assured.

"Helper?"

Actually, Aiden never had anyone helped to survive like this, also he never had anyone close to him. To add whatever this helper is inside of him. I now started to understand my real world and what behind the scenes, then there this that probably been with me for a while.

'I'm the crystal around your neck…I've been with you for a long time.'

Aiden's, brow furrowing reached for his crystal that keep glowing, purple every time he heard the voice. It felt warm pulsing, he always became a bit distracted, as he seem to remember something, then it disappeared leaving behind a hollow ache.

"I never knew…" Aiden whispered. "I don't even remember when I got this… or how long I've had it."

The truth was, he couldn't remember much of his past nor his childhood, its something ever time he tried. Every time he tried to grasp at those memories, something distracted him pulled him away. Eventually, he stopped trying.

'Do you want to know more?'

Aiden hesitated, then asked, "What are you? Where did you come from? And what is the Phantom Dimension?"

'The Phantom Dimension... it's a hidden layer of reality, a fractured echo of our world. It's where the energy flows freely, shaping everything and where the Spectres thrive. For us, it's both a battlefield and a crucible. Survive it, and you'll understand its rules. Fail, and you'll never leave it.'

The voice shifted, its voice growing more introspective. 'Me? I'm... complicated. Let's just say I'm a fragment of something greater in the world, bound to your crystal because you're not entirely one thing or the other. Part human, part... something else. I'm here to guide you call it instinct or design…but even I don't know everything. You'll have to figure out the rest on your own.'

Aiden clenched his fists, it was alot for him to absorb, he was overwhelmed he needed to calm down. He always felt different from others, as if something about him didn't quite fit. From him staying away from others. The present from other people, felt off from what he felt on the inside.

Taking a deep breath, let the smooth air fill his lungs. It carried a faint, fragrant quality, unlike anything he was used to.

Despite what he see from his the dark world in his eyes, he took it in as that the usually. But saying he is part human…that something different does it have to do something, with this world. There the Phantom Dimension, which really can bring a change. He was curious about it, and already being suspicious about it.

What did that mean? Did it tie into the strange Phantom Dimension he'd heard about? The truth felt blocked, hidden somewhere deep inside him, locked behind a wall his body refused to breach.

"I'm twenty-four…" he muttered to himself, a bitter edge to his voice. "And I can't remember the past twenty-one years."

He felt anger and fear because. "What did it mean to have lost so much time? To have no memories of who he was or where he came from?"

The last time he felt this... everything had changed forever.

He still had multiple questions again. What secret does the Phantom Dimension have? What is real reason behind the 'helper'? Always.

Ezekar has to more to meets the eye than being the montior of this zone.

A bitter laugh escaped him, the sound awkward and hollow. He stared out at the scene before him. A serene lake glistens under the sunlight, its surface shimmering with soft ripples. The lake is bordered by tall, swaying reeds and a few scattered trees with thick, leafy canopies.

Dragging his feet forward, Aiden approached the lake and collapsed to his knees at the water's edge. Cupping his hands, he splashed the cool water onto his face over and over. A faint hum of something ancient stirred in the air, as if waiting.

He stopped, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. A series of sad, tired sighs escaped him as he stared into his reflection in the water.

"What really happened to me?" he murmured."I went from being nothing to doing something… but why do I feel so broken when I look fine?"

"What's the point of it all if everything feels so empty?"

Without memories, he feels like a hollow shell, unable to piece together his purpose or past connections. Not knowing what might be hidden in his lost memories creates an undercurrent of fear.

He's never had anyone close to him underscores a life of solitude. Even in his memories…or lack thereof there's no sense of belonging. Without people to share his struggles with, Aiden feels like he's fighting battles alone.

While in thought, a sense of unease settled over him, though he couldn't pinpoint why.

It's only when saw his reflection started bubbling, he heard the sound of thudding and creaking steel.

A chill ran down his spine. His instincts screamed at him not to look up, but he couldn't resist. His vision was covered by a thick cloud of smoke, that the smoky smell filled his nostrils, making his cough.

As the smoke cleared, Aiden's breath caught in his throat...

He saw a towering hybrid of molten rock and futuristic machinery, standing at least 15 feet tall. Its upper body is humanoid, with armored plating fused with glowing magma veins that pulse with each movement. Its arms are massive plasma-forged constructs, with one ending in a magma axe-like blade.

Its head is a helmet-like structure, forged from obsidian-like metal with intricate glowing lines etched into its surface, resembling a menacing skull. A bright, fiery visor serves as its eyes, emitting sharp, scanning beams of light.

Aiden stared in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper. "Another__"

Aiden felt like this place, was a location of resting, he didn't think that he had to fight another creature.

Actually, when heard from his helper that test trial wasn't finished, he believed that it might have, been another test like the beginning of the bridge.

In the mist of his thought, the thing that looked like a Titan from his games. Stepped down, its powerful mechanical magma-fused legs sending ripples through the ground that shook Aiden to his core. Its fiery visor fixed on him like a predator locking onto its prey.

He quickly realized that it was after to him, and not just here to passby nor creature that stays here to overarching others.

Aiden's body moved on instinct. He leaped back, retreating from the lake as the ground cracked beneath the Titan's weight.

'Stay calm, Aiden.'

Despite breathing slowly, his eyes reflected the Titan's magma axe gleamed in the sunlight, radiating searing heat. With a low, guttural roar, it raised the weapon high and brought it down in a devastating arc aimed directly at him.

His heart thundered in his chest as he dashed away to the side, every step forward felt like walking towards death, the air heavy with foreboding. Still narrowly avoiding the strike. The blade slammed into the ground with a deafening "BOOM", sending a wave of molten energy radiating outward. The shockwave hit Aiden like a freight train, hurling him through the air.

He landed hard, the impact driving the air from his lungs. Pain shot through his ribs, but he forced himself to move. Groaning, he scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting to the grass a few feet away where his dagger glinted faintly.

"I need that blade. Now." He muttered.

The Titan turned, its massive form lumbering toward him, each step shaking the ground. Aiden sprinted toward the dagger, his boots pounding against the uneven ground.

The Titan roared again, raising its axe for another strike. Aiden could feel the heat licking at his back as the axe came crashing down. This time, he dived forward, hitting the ground hard and rolling just as the blade carved a molten trench behind him.

The heat was unbearable, the air thick with the acrid stench of burning earth. But Aiden didn't stop. His hand closed around the hilt of the dagger, the familiar weight calming him.

Spinning around, he faced the Titan, his chest heaving. The dagger glowed faintly, its edge shimmering with an otherworldly light.

The Titan paused, tilting its helmeted head as if assess him. Then, with a mechanical roar, it charged.

Aiden gritted his teeth, his knuckles whitening around the dagger. "I don't know if this trial ends with me winning or just breaking... but either way, I'm still standing."