Rebirth Protocol: The Return of Earth's Guardian and the Sword-Magus Supreme [A Sci Fi Thriller Progression]

The Academy's upper training decks at 2:07 AM felt like a different world entirely. Frost-kissed moonlight streamed through the transparent mana dome capping Personal Arena 07, painting ethereal shadows across the polished metallic platform. The silence was absolute—no dormitory chatter, no faculty footsteps, no hum of student interfaces. Just Nick and the weight of the last day pressing down on him.

Stepping into the training area , his breath misted in the cool night air. The discoveries from the Omega Archives churned through his mind—Professor Vellian's systematic targeting of exceptional students, Selene's warnings, Val's swift disappearance when they shared their findings.

[Personal Arena Access: Granted. Training Parameters: Unrestricted.]

[Host, the security systems are scrambled and video feeds have been turned off.]

Thanks Sophia.

"Now, let's see what this new class can do," Nick muttered to himself, flexing his fingers as mana surged beneath his skin. The blue glyphs flaring brighter than ever, humming in silent anticipation.

You are about to discover the weight of your current power, Arlize's voice surfaced in his mind. Don't take it lightly.

Sophia's interface materialized only displaying his class skills.

🜂【CODEX WARDEN ABILITY TREE – TIER II ACTIVE】🜂

◦ Mana Sculpt – Shape raw mana into usable constructs

◦ Arcane Pattern Recall – Recover embedded Aurilian techniques

◦ System Override (Local) – Intercept localized Arcadian directives

◦ Reality Anchor – Stabilize zones from dimensional corruption

Codex Subroutines Detected:

◦ Spell Reconstruction Protocol

◦ Mana-Theory Synthesis (Locked)

◦ Integration Feedback Suppression (Active)

◦ Archive Resonance Network (New)

Newly Available:

◦ Memory Echo Analysis – Process and categorize magical imprints

◦ Consciousness Firewall – Defend against mental intrusion

◦ Dimensional Sensing – Detect spatial anomalies and Veil disturbances

Nick stared at the display, the excitement of his class evolution, once again bubbling up in side of him. The Archive exposure had unlocked new pathways in his development, but power without understanding was dangerous territory. Theory was one thing. Application under pressure? That was something else entirely.

"Alright," he said, rolling his shoulders now used to his new strength and his evolved frame. "Let's start with the basics and work our way up."

He raised his right hand, focusing on the first ability listed—Mana Sculpt. The concept was simple enough: shape raw mana into usable constructs. He'd experimented with this before the system, relying on fragments of Arlize's memories to form basic shapes and attune himself to his emerging abilities.

Now, he fully grasped how to create and control the construct—mana cost, structural integrity, spatial resistance—all of it rendered in real time through his enhanced perception. Beginning with a condensed sphere of mana, Nick carefully manipulating its size and density, shrinking it, expanding it, testing its limits until he had a small orb of stabilized clear mana spinning slowly in hand.

Good. You've practiced with my memory fragments. Let's try something a little different since you have the basic shaper skill. Create a cone tipped staff. Arlie said.

Okay, let's give it a try, how hard could it be?

Arlize grunted. Try it and see.

His first attempt at manifesting a basic staff resulted in a twisted approximation that wavered like heat shimmer before dissolving entirely. The second attempt held for three seconds before collapsing. By the fourth try, frustration gnawed at his concentration, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool air.

It's not willpower, Arlize's voice cut through Nick's mounting irritation.

It's an equation. Traditional shapers use willpower to impose a form on mana, Arlize explained. But you are not a regular shaper, you are Codex Warden. They use precise mathematical equations to create their mana constructs. You do not force the energy into a shape—you use equations to define its magical structures, and the mana will follow.

Nick paused, his mind shifting gears completely. He'd seen glyph-logic in the restricted texts—mathematical relationships that defined magical structures. Instead of imagining a staff into existence, he began building what a staff should be, with mana, layer by layer.

Foundation matrix: a core of stable energy distribution. A stability algorithm: feedback loops to maintain structural integrity under stress. Power distribution networks: channels that would allow mana to flow efficiently throughout a construct without creating dangerous buildup.

As he computed the exact measurements of a staff for a man his of his height, light that materialized in his hands this time was completely different from his previous attempts. Solid. Perfectly balanced. The staff thrummed with contained energy, the foundation matrix keeping everything stable.

*Ding*

[+2 Mana Control | Mana Sculpt (Level 1)]

"Better," Nick murmured, testing the weapon's weight and balance. The mathematical approach felt natural, like finally speaking a language he'd only read in books.

But if he could maintain one construct, could he reshape it mid-formation? He poured his concentration into the staff, watching its structure dissolve and reform. The staff became a tower shield, its surface rippling with defensive enchantments. Changing the formulaic structure once more, the shield became twin arc blades, each one perfectly weighted and gleaming with cutting edges that could slice through steel.

This is really cool!

This type of power felt intoxicating. With this, he would never need a physical weapon.

Hmm. I wonder if I could create a gun with this? The Codex doesn't have a spell for guns, but with some time...

*Ding*

[Mana Sculpt level 2]

Oh, I guess, now that my class evolution is completed, I can level up?

Sophia, why does this feel like a video game?

[When the Arcadian System first synced with Earth's neural patterns, it analyzed cultural data for optimal cognitive interfaces. It discovered that video games—with their HUDs and progression systems—most closely resembled the original Arcadian display used on Aurelia. It seems your species trains for high-stakes dimensional warfare by pretending to be plumbers and battle royales.]

That we do. Nick responded back wryly.

"That's one ability down," Nick said, dismissing the staff, the mana dispersing and entering his body.

Sophia, how much mana did I lose in constructing and deconstructing that staff?

[Host used 5% of your mana pool to create the spear. In releasing the spell from it's construct, Host lost 100% of the mana used in the creation of the spear. This will decrease with time as host becomes more familiar with his skills.]

5% isn't too bad, but to loose all of it? I'll need to work on that.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Spinal Loop. Shield of Seven Forms, Arlize interjected, his voice cutting through Nick's calculations, is a defensive pattern from the Aurelian War College. It saved my life more times than I can count. Are you ready to learn why?

Wouldn't Jordan be better served learning this than me? Nick asked.

Yes, and you may teach this to your Guardian friend. But this is first and foremost a Codex Warden skill. You must master and use this skill should your Guardian friend's powers fail.

Looking at his display, Nick internally activated the skill, the moment he did, his mind was flooded by memories that weren't his. They came sharp and unrelenting: the instinctual footwork, the mana distribution angles, the calculations for a perfect barriers that stopped everything from arrows to artillery.

His first attempt was again a disaster.

He stumbled through the unfamiliar footwork, Shields blinking into existence—only to falter and vanish as he mistimed the steps and the mana calculations. His mana draining with each misfire, and during a particularly complex spin, he lost control entirely and collapsed to one knee, breath ragged and focus shattered.

Take a breath and rest. Do you want to know why this form is called the Shield of Seven Forms, Arlize asked patiently.

"Enlighten me" Nick asked, taking the moment to catch his breath.

The Shield of Seven forms is called so because seven is the maximum number of threat vectors a single combatant can track simultaneously without their brain overloading. Each mirror reflects one attack. Together, they create perfect spherical defense. You don't have to copy the movements in exactly. You understand the math, now apply it.

Closing his eyes, Nick centered his mind around the calculations of the shield of seven forms. He saw the vectors and how they combined with the each other to form a perfect defensive shield around his body.

Breathe in for four. Hold for seven. Breathe out for eight.

Opening his eyes again, Nick moved. Instead of fighting his body's instincts, he embraced them. One step flowed into seven movements, each move calculated to give the maximum defensive coverage. Mirrors of blue mana materialized around him—covering every angle of approach while maintaining optimal energy distribution.

[I'll be testing your shield.] Sophia announced, and suddenly projectiles of hardened light streaked toward him from multiple directions.

Nick's perception allowed him to track each incoming threat automatically. The mirrors responded in unison, each mirror catching an attack and reflecting it harmlessly into the arena's absorption barriers. Seven projectiles. Seven perfect deflections. Not a single attack reached Nick.

[Arcane Pattern Recall – Level 1 Achieved]

[Shaper Technique: Shield of Seven Forms – Unlocked]

[Combat Efficiency Rating: 94.7%]

"Not bad for a beginner," Nick said, grinning despite himself as the defensive mirrors faded.

Good work. But there's still more to learn, Arlize warned, though his mental voice carried a hint of pride. Real combat won't give you time to calculate the angles. You will need to practice this for the patterns to become instinctive.

As if summoned by those words, the arena around Nick began to distort. Colors shifted, sounds of the night were delayed by fractional seconds, creating an echo effect that made his own heartbeat seem to come from somewhere else. His reflection in the polished floor showed different expressions than the ones he was making.

[Reality Anchor trial initiated] Sophia announced. [Dimensional stability compromised in target zone. Please restore baseline reality parameters.]

The distortions intensified rapidly. Phantom doubles of himself appeared at the edges of his vision, each one slightly different—one with longer hair, another wearing different clothes, a third with scars he'd never received. Even worse, hallucinations began bleeding through the dimensional static—glimpses of Westlake Academy under attack, his parents calling his name from smoking rubble, Sarah reaching toward him with accusation burning in her eyes.

Nick staggered, his concentration fracturing under the assault of false realities. The arena felt like it was tilting, gravity shifting in impossible directions. His enhanced senses, usually so reliable, fed him contradictory information that made his head spin.

If you can't define what's real, Arlize called out—his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade—the System will decide for you. And its version might not include your survival.

That will NOT be happening. Nick called back internally.

Dropping to one knee, Nick pressed his palms against the arena floor. Instead of fighting the distortions directly, he sent a pulse of his own essence through the destabilized zone—not mana, but something deeper. His personal resonance. His anchor to reality. The fundamental frequency that defined Nicholas Valiente as a unique entity in the universe.

One second passed. Then another. With a sharp POP, the distortion imploded like a cascade of bursting soap bubbles. Phantom doubles winked out of existence, and the arena snapped back into focus so fast it made Nick's head spin.

[Reality Anchor Activated | Stability Field Deployed]

[Dimensional Interference: Nullified]

[+3 Fortitude | +2 Wisdom | +1 Intelligence | + 1 Resistance]

[New Ability: Personal Resonance Projection – Level 1]

"Three for three," Nick panted, pushing himself back to his feet. His legs felt shaky, but his mind was clearer than it had been in weeks. "What's next?"

[System Override trial] Sophia announced, their voice almost seeming apologetic. [Host prepare for a cognitive intrusion. This test simulates hostile mental interferences you might encounter during future missions.]

"Wait, what do you mean by cognitive—"

The false memory slammed into him like a sledgehammer. Without warning, he wasn't in the Academy's training arena anymore. He was back in Westlake, pinned under tons of rubble as dimensional creatures shredded his old college like tissue paper. Helpless. He had failed. Watching students die around him because he wasn't strong enough enough to save them.

His heart rate surged, mana circuits flaring wildly as arcs of blue lightning tore through his nervous system, crashing toward his brain. It was like being electrocuted from the inside out. For ten agonizing seconds—seconds that stretched like eternity—the phantom failure eclipsed reality. He felt the weight of rubble crushed his chest and heard the screams of the dying echoed in his ears.

Then his training kicked in. The glyph-string he'd memorized from the restricted library and his personal codex surfaced in his mind like a lifeline. A command sequence designed to reclaim stolen cognitive space from hostile intrusion.

"Null.execute.reclaim://valiente.core," he recited through gritted teeth, his voice barely audible but carrying absolute conviction.

The illusion shattered. Nick found himself on the arena floor, curled in on himself and trembling. His skin slick with sweat. The silence pressed in, and only then did he realize he'd been crying. He wiped at his face with shaking hands.

[System Override (Local) | Level 1 | Effect: Arcadian Misdirection Nullified]

[Cognitive Defense Protocols: Activated]

[Resistance: +7 | Fortitude + 4]

Impressive, Arlize's approval carried genuine pride and something that might have been surprise. Most students don't learn counter-intrusion for another two years. You've managed it intuitively.

It's thanks to Abuelo. Nick murmured inwardly. He didn't have the energy to speak aloud—his body still curled on the arena floor, muscles trembling with the phantom pressure of being crushed.

Four tests down. His mana reserves hovered at 35%, and he felt drained but stable.

As he centered himself for whatever Sophia had next, something unexpected happened, his aura shifted.

The usual cerulean-blue of his mana was replaced by something deeper and more complex—silver threaded with ultramarine, colors that seemed to exist in the spaces. Abruptly the Codex Warden insignia on his HUD blazed with power and suddenly glyphs were writing themselves in the air around him, forming intricate patterns around his body.

[Codex Pulse Triggered] Sophia announced in fascination. [Accessing available memory archives. Initiating cross-referential analysis of phenomenon.]

Spell matrices from both his own limited experience and Arlize's vast past illuminated in the space around him like a constellation. Nick could see the connections between separate techniques—Guardian barriers enhanced with Technomancer logic algorithms, Shaper constructs powered by advanced mana theory, combat forms that shouldn't exist but somehow did when properly combined.

You will not be limited to recalling techniques across disciplines, Arlize observed, a quiet awe threading through his voice. One day, you'll reshape the very foundations of mana itself—the laws that separate Guardian from Shaper and Technomancer from Mage. You won't just learn the system, Nick. You'll redefine it.

[New Subroutine Discovered: Codex Fusion – Hybrid Pattern Generator]

[Cross-Class Compatibility Analysis Complete]

[Shaper + Technomancer Synergy Detected – Rating: 74%]

[Guardian + Codex Warden Integration – Rating: 89%]

[New Ability: Proto-Construct: Logic Lance – In Development]

A surge of unfamiliar power coursed through him—exhilarating, disorienting, and vast. New pathways unfurled in his mind like branching constellations, stitching together magical disciplines with the precision of engineering logic and battlefield instinct. He could feel the edges of something immense, something unfinished, waiting to be shaped.

This class...once I learn to use it properly...I might actually be able to make a difference. Nick said with wonder, shuddering slightly at the power that now coursed through him. A small smile tugging at his lips.

[Host, you mana has now dipped below 30%.]

Nick sank down to the area floor, his body aching.

Go and rest, Arlize advised gently, his mental voice taking on an almost paternal tone. You've done well tonight.

"But will it be enough?" Nick askd recalling the images he saw during the cognitive intrusion. The silver-deep blue aura was fading, but he could still feel the power humming beneath his skin. "Can we really stop Callahan Industries from breaking through the Veil?"

Power born of doubt falters, Arlize said softly. But power shaped by purpose endures. Don't fixate on stopping Callahan Industries from breaching the Veil. Focus on what truly matters—having the power to protect this world, your home, should the Veil fail.

There was silence for a moment as Nick absorbed Arlize's words.

I couldn't protect my world. I had already died when the Veil collapsed. Arlize murmured. His voice, usually composed, faltering like a fraying thread. But I can help you protect yours. Then Arlize's presence disappeared, leaving behind only silence and the weight of everything he never got to finish.

[Host, today's training session is complete. Please get some rest . You did well today.]

Thanks Sophia.

Walking back to his suite, Nick sifted through the night's aftermath—the tests, the surge of new power, Arlize's pain still echoing at the edges of his thoughts.

I should probably tell Jordan and Maggie about tonight.

Then, almost as an afterthought—

Val too, so she can tell Marcus. He didn't envy her trying to explain any of this.

But not tonight.

Tonight, he would sleep.

He could do all those things tomorrow.