Ascension Beyond Mortality

The day started like any other.

The city buzzed outside Elior’s apartment window, cars honking and people shouting as the sun broke through smog-colored skies. But everything felt different now. Even the air. He could hear things farther away. See clearer. His body felt… lighter. Faster.

He glanced at the black hoodie draped on the chair—burned through at the shoulder.

Not a dream.

His phone buzzed.

LISA: Yo, are you alive? You bailed last night. Again.

Elior stared at the screen.

A few days ago, he would've replied with a dumb joke or a shrug emoji. But now?

How do I even explain this?

ME: Sorry. Things got weird. Can we meet?

LISA: Weird like “guy stuff” or weird like “secret government agency, mysterious power, almost died” weird?

He blinked.

Lisa: ...I'm joking. Chill. Starbucks, 1PM. You’re buying.

Later that day, Elior walked into the coffee shop and instantly felt it.

The world was louder. Brighter. The hum of machines, the whisper of conversations, the exact steps of a man walking behind him—all too clear. His senses were on fire.

What the hell is happening to me…

He spotted Lisa in the corner.

Short, sharp-cut hair dyed silver. Oversized hoodie, headphones around her neck, black nails tapping rapidly on her phone. She looked up.

Paused.

“You okay?” she said, eyes narrowing. “You look like you haven’t slept in a year.”

Elior forced a smile and sat across from her.

“I’ve had… a weird few days.”

Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Define weird.”

Before he could speak, something flashed in his vision.

[Warning: System Spike Detected]

[Proximity Alert: Observer Detected – Status: Unregistered Entity]

Observer?

He glanced toward the window.

There, across the street, a man stood. Black suit. No expression. No movement.

Just watching.

And then—he vanished.

Gone in the blink of an eye.

Elior’s hand twitched.

Lisa noticed. “You are acting weird. What’s going on?”

Elior leaned in. Quietly.

“You ever hear about… people gaining powers?”

She blinked. “Like comic book stuff?”

“No. Like real life. Like systems. Trials. Beasts made of fire.”

She stared at him for a long second. Then nodded slowly.

“You’re either going insane,” she said, “or you just stepped into something real deep.”

Elior looked out the window agai

n.

Observer Detected...

Whatever this was, it wasn’t just about him anymore.