A deep, eternal silence surrounded Zyneth as he drifted in a place beyond time, his consciousness fragmented, suspended in the vast void of nothingness. There were no sounds, no sensations, just the weight of a long-forgotten existence pressing on him. His body, encased in something cold and immovable, felt like it was part of the very fabric of this stillness.
"Evoke."
The word cut through the silence like a shard of light piercing the darkness. It was not a thought, nor was it a voice. It was more like a signal, a command activating something deep inside him.
Zyneth's mind jolted awake. His senses flooded back in an instant, the feeling of the cold coffin around him, the damp air, the faintest vibrations that whispered of distant movements. He could hear murmurs now, the faint chanting of voices, but they were distant, barely perceptible, as if they came from another world entirely.
His body felt heavy, unnaturally so, as if shackled by invisible chains. But even in his weakened state, Zyneth knew this was not his true form. He was more than this. He had always been more.
Suddenly, a voice crackled into his mind, harsh and metallic, as if carried by the wind but also deeply embedded in his being. It was a message, a record left behind.
"Zyneth."
The name echoed through his consciousness, a strange resonance, like a forgotten truth coming home. But it wasn't his own voice.
"You have awoken. The ritual you are experiencing is only partial. You are sealed but not entirely. I have left you this message to activate the System, a divine tool created to guide you as you regain your power. It is your will made manifest."
Zyneth's mind raced, struggling to make sense of the words. System? Will? What was this?
The voice continued, unwavering, its tone precise and authoritative.
"You are not of this world. You were once a god, a Supreme Being. Your soul, torn from your true world, was forced into this realm, a place ruled by the New Gods, beings weaker than those of your former domain. But you are not without power. The System will help you unlock what is yours. I am Sereth, your guide, and I have left this message for you to begin the process."
The words hung in the air, reverberating in Zyneth's mind, sending ripples through the fog of his confusion. His heart skipped. Sereth. That name... it rang like a bell, familiar, yet distant. Had he known Sereth? Had he once trusted him?
"This is your System. It is tied to your will, your essence. Through it, you will regain the powers you once had and unlock the mysteries of your past. But first, you must awaken fully. The New Gods do not know you yet. But they will soon."
The message paused, then continued with a sharp, mechanical clarity.
"Activating System…"
Suddenly, Zyneth felt a surge of energy. It was not the ritualistic blood offerings or the weak power of the mortals around him. This was something else entirely, something ancient and far more dangerous. His body trembled, and a dull ache spread through his limbs as the system's presence connected with his soul. It was like an extension of his own will, but it also felt foreign, as if he had never truly used it before.
"System Activated."
A strange interface flickered into existence in Zyneth's mind. It was not visible in the physical world, but he could sense it, vibrating like a pulse, a living thing. The interface was composed of symbols, like archaic runes and forgotten languages, flashing before his eyes. The screen was incomplete, fragmented, but it displayed enough.
[System Status: Incomplete]
[Memory Restoration: 10%]
[Power: Sealed]
[Next Step: Complete Awakening]
A brief flicker of light sparked in Zyneth's chest. He could feel it,the connection to the System deepening, becoming clearer, more tangible. It was a force linked to his own divine essence, a system designed not only to restore his lost powers but to guide him toward reclaiming his place in the world.
"You are more than you realize, Zyneth."
Sereth's voice resonated once more, almost like a whisper in the back of his mind.
"The world you find yourself in is no longer the one you knew. The ritual is failing, but it is enough to give you the first taste of your strength. Use the System to break free. The power of the New Gods is feeble, but they are many. The key to your rebirth lies in the Trial of the Seals."
Zyneth's mind snapped into focus. Trial of the Seals. That sounded like something important. Something he needed to remember.
His body shifted again, the weight of the coffin pressing down on him, but now it was different. He could feel it,the power of the System beginning to unlock. His limbs twitched with newfound strength. His skin buzzed with energy. The chains of his confinement,both physical and mental,were loosening.
"You must break the Seals to regain your full power. The system will help guide you. But remember,each Seal will bring you closer to the truth. The truth of your fall, your past, and your ultimate purpose."
The coffin trembled once more, this time with greater force. Zyneth could feel the metal cracking, the barriers holding him dissolving like sand slipping through his fingers.
"The world is waiting, Zyneth. You are not forgotten. It is time to awaken."
A final surge of power coursed through him, and with a crack, the coffin shattered, scattering the remnants of mercury and stone across the ground.
Zyneth stood, unsteady at first, but with each passing second, the power flowed more freely within him. The System was there, humming softly at the edge of his consciousness, guiding him, directing him, reminding him of his true form. He was not the man he had been. He was something greater. Something ancient.
And the world was waiting for him to rise again.