Ascendancy: The System’s Chosen

Prologue

Eleanor Holt had always been ordinary. A struggling waitress in the heart of New York, she had no grand dreams—just survival. The bills piled up, the city drained her spirit, and every day felt like a battle she was destined to lose.

But everything changed the night she died.

A car accident should have been the end. But as her consciousness faded, a voice echoed in the void.

[System initializing…]

[User: Eleanor Holt detected. Fatal injuries sustained. Activating Emergency Rebirth Protocol.]

[Congratulations! You have been selected as a System's Chosen.]

When Eleanor opened her eyes, she was no longer in New York. She wasn't even human anymore.

She found herself in Aetheria, a world ruled by magic, monsters, and systems—where strength determined fate. And inside her mind, an interface glowed with golden text, offering her a choice.

[Welcome, Chosen One. Select your class:]

Warrior

Mage

Rogue

Ascendant (Unique)

Her heart pounded. Unique?

A whisper of intuition told her—this was her path.

With a single thought, she selected Ascendant, and power surged through her veins. Her body shifted, adapting to a form of elegance and lethal grace. A strange emblem burned itself into her palm.

[Ascendant Class Chosen: Your journey begins.]

But power came with a price.

Aetheria was at war. Kingdoms fought for dominance, dark forces stirred in the shadows, and the gods themselves took an interest in the Chosen.

Now, Eleanor must navigate a world where betrayals lurk around every corner, power-hungry rulers seek to control her, and an ancient enemy whispers her name.

With a mysterious system guiding her, she has one goal—to rise, to conquer, and to forge her own destiny.

But as she grows stronger, the truth unravels.

Why was she chosen? What is the System's true purpose? And what happens when an Ascendant reaches the pinnacle?

Because in Aetheria, gods do not appreciate rivals. Eleanor's first breath in this new world burned like fire in her lungs.

She gasped, clutching her chest as she sat up, her fingers sinking into soft grass. The scent of damp earth filled her nose, and a cold breeze sent shivers down her spine.

She was alive.

But this wasn't New York.

Towering trees stretched toward an unfamiliar sky, their silver leaves rustling like whispers. A river glowed with an ethereal blue light, its waters shimmering unnaturally. Everything was too vivid, too sharp—too real.

[System initializing…]

A golden interface flickered before her eyes.

[User: Eleanor Holt]

[Class: Ascendant (Unique)]

[Level: 1]

[Health: 100%]

[Mana: 100%]

[Abilities Unlocked: None]

Eleanor blinked.

"What the hell?" she muttered, waving a hand through the glowing text. It didn't vanish. Instead, it followed her vision, adjusting as she moved.

[Welcome to Aetheria, Chosen One.]

Her heart pounded. She wasn't dreaming. She wasn't in a coma. She was in another world, one with a system straight out of a game.

And she had chosen the Ascendant Class.

She frowned. "What even is an Ascendant?"

As if responding to her question, new text materialized.

[Ascendant: A being who surpasses mortal limitations, evolving beyond conventional classes. Potential: Unlimited.]

Unlimited? That sounded overpowered.

Before she could process it further, another notification appeared.

[Quest Received: First Steps]

Survive for 24 hours.]

Reward: +5 Stat Points, System Upgrade

Eleanor tensed.

She was alone. No weapons, no supplies, no knowledge of this world. The system didn't even give her a tutorial.

Survival in an unknown land?

"Great," she muttered. "This is already the worst isekai experience ever."

A rustle in the bushes made her freeze.

Slowly, she turned her head.

Crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness.

A wolf. No—something worse. Its fur shimmered like liquid shadow, its fangs elongated unnaturally. It wasn't just a predator. It was a monster.

[Nightfang Direwolf – Level 3]

The creature growled, its body coiling, ready to pounce.

Eleanor's heart slammed against her ribs. She was level one. This thing was stronger than her.

She had no weapons. No abilities. Just herself. And then— A cold, mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

[Emergency Protocol Activated: Skill Unlocked – Adaptation.]

Her vision sharpened. Her muscles tensed. Something deep inside her shifted.

And as the direwolf lunged—

Eleanor moved.