Update on my writing projects

Hey everyone, I wanted to provide an update on the status of my current writing projects.

Unfortunately, I've hit a bit of an author's block with Shirou's Journey to Godhood. I've been struggling to make meaningful progress on the next chapter. Rather than force it and risk putting out subpar work, I've decided to put that story on temporary hiatus.

But don't worry, I'm not stepping away from writing altogether! To keep my creative energy flowing, I'll be focusing on a couple other projects:

First, I'll be continuing work on Divine Spirits amongst Chaldea. I have a lot of exciting ideas for where to take that story next. Look for new chapters coming soon.

I'm also launching a brand new story called "Ascension Online"! It's basically the Xianxia!Earth from Shirou's Journey to Godhood but taking a different take to how Shirou ended up there, and this time it's not UBW!Shirou, but Pre-Route!Shirou. I'll be posting the first chapter below this message.

So while "Shirou's Journey" is on pause for now, there's still plenty of new content in the pipeline. Thanks as always for your support and for joining me on these writing adventures!

ShiroKuroEmiya

Ascenion Online Chapter One

WARNING: unlike the main story, Shirou is not a True Ending Unlimited Blade Works route, but a pre-Route Shirou like before the Fifth Holy Grail War started.

I walked into my workshop, exhausted after another long training of Magecraft. As I flicked on the light, my eyes were drawn to a mysterious package sitting on my workbench, along with a folded note. Curious, I picked up the note and began to read.

Dear Shirou Emiya,

You may not know me, but I knew your late father, Kiritsugu. I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Kiritsugu was an extraordinary man who always strived to do what was right and to protect the innocent. I know that he would be proud to see you following in his footsteps and working to become a Hero of Justice.

I have been watching your progress from afar, and I must say, I am impressed by your dedication and potential. However, I also know that the path you have chosen is not an easy one. That is why I have decided to offer you a gift - one that I believe will aid you in your Magecraft training and in your quest to become a Hero of Justice.

Inside this package is something that will help you improve your Magecraft. Always stay true to your ideals and never lose sight of what truly matters.

I have faith in you, Shirou. Your father would be proud.

Sincerely, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg

I stared at the note in disbelief, my mind reeling. The name Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg sounded vaguely familiar, like a half-remembered dream. I knew he was a famous mage, but I couldn't recall why. And this well-known figure had known my father? It seemed surreal that he had now reached out to me, offering a gift to help me on my path.

With trembling hands, I carefully unwrapped the package, revealing a sleek, futuristic-looking helmet within. It was a World Connector, a revolutionary gaming device. The helmet was a deep, glossy black with neon blue accents running along its sides. The visor gleamed, promising to transport the wearer into a whole new reality.

As I picked up the World Connector, I could feel a strange energy emanating from it, piquing my curiosity. It was as if the device had been imbued with some sort of magical power. I turned it over in my hands, examining every detail. The more I looked at it, the more I realized that this was no ordinary gaming device.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind. I recalled seeing an advertisement for the World Connector just a few weeks ago. It had been all the rage lately, promising the first true immersive virtual reality experience that would transport users to another world. The ad had featured stunning visuals of the game world, showcasing lush forests, towering castles, and fierce battles against mythical creatures.

The World Connector was part of a product launch alongside the highly anticipated Virtual Reality MMORPG, Ascension Online. It seemed like everyone in my age group was talking about it, as if it were the latest trend that no one wanted to miss out on. The idea of escaping reality and diving into a world of magic and adventure had captured the attention of people from all walks of life, not just hardcore gamers.

Now, as I held the World Connector in my hands, a sense of confusion began to creep in alongside my excitement. How could a virtual reality helmet and a game like Ascension Online possibly help with my Magecraft training? The first rule of Magecraft was to never reveal its existence to non-mages, so the idea of using a publicly available gaming device seemed counterintuitive. I couldn't help but wonder what Zelretch's true intentions were. Was there more to this gift than met the eye? I knew I would have to investigate further to uncover the truth behind this mysterious present and its potential connection to my Magecraft.

Clutching the World Connector and the note, I felt a renewed sense of determination wash over me. I would honor my father's memory and Zelretch's faith in me. I didn't know how a helmet and online game was supposed to help but if it was going to help me become a Hero of Justice I would try it.

~ O ~

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the bright sunlight streaming through the window. As my vision cleared, I realized I was lying in an unfamiliar bed, completely naked. Confusion and panic gripped me as I tried to recall how I had ended up in this situation.

My heart nearly stopped when I noticed the equally naked figure of a beautiful woman lying beside me. She had long, golden hair that cascaded over her shoulders and a face that looked like it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. Her body was toned and athletic, with curves in all the right places. I couldn't help but stare in awe, even as my mind raced with questions.

Who was this woman? How did I end up in bed with her? And why couldn't I remember anything about the events leading up to this moment? I had no idea what was going on, but I knew I needed answers fast.

As I lay there, trying to make sense of the situation, the woman beside me began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing a striking emerald green that seemed to pierce right through me. For a moment, we simply stared at each other, both equally confused and disoriented.

Suddenly, the woman's eyes widened in recognition. She bolted upright, grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me violently. Her voice was filled with a mixture of anger, fear, and desperation as she screamed...

"Why do you have a Reality Marble, Shirou!?" The woman's voice was unfamiliar, but she seemed to know me. "Tell me how you got it! It is impossible for you, who is barely a novice in magecraft, to have achieved something so advanced. We are talking about a concept that I barely understand myself!"

"Stop!" I struggled to shout with my head whipping around. "I said stop! What's a Reality Marble? And who are you?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Shirou!" She screamed angrily. "If you don't tell me then consider our relationship over, and I will fire you!"

I ignored the pain of my neck being shook violently as I was very confused by this strange woman's words.

The first part of her accusation made no sense to me. I had only recently started learning about magecraft, and the concept of a "Reality Marble" was completely foreign to me. I couldn't understand why she was so worked up about something I had never heard of before.

The second, and most confusing, part was her rambling of several unfamiliar terms. I had no idea what she was referring to. Concepts like the "Mana Gathering stage," "godhood," and the "Age of Gods" were all new to me. I couldn't even begin to comprehend what she was talking about.

"Miss," I said while exerting pressure on her wrists. "I don't understand what you are saying. What's a Reality Marble? And what do you mean by all those other terms? Please, slowly explain to me what the problem is? And who are you?"

My words seemed to have some effect on the woman as she stopped swinging my head around and let go.

"Are you serious, Shirou? Did you hit your head or something?" The woman asked in a baffled tone. I only stared back in response. "Your sudden possession of a Reality Marble must be messing around with your memories. In fact…" Her eyes started to glow with glee. "Of course, your memories might be affected! Reaching the Soul Transformation stage and becoming a Demigod is the most dangerous step for humans pursing godhood…" Suddenly, I started to become very uncomfortable as the woman started to look at me as if she wanted to dissect me. "Tell me every last detail you remember up until I woke you up!"

I didn't know what was going on, but I decided to humor her. The next few minutes resulted in the woman's expression morphing from an avid listener to shifting look of fascination to disbelief. I didn't understand her reaction as what I described was that of my daily life.

I was about to ask what was wrong when I grabbed my head.

"What's happening, Shirou?!" The woman screamed as she caught me from hitting the ground.

"Argh," I groaned. It felt like my head was going to split. "I'm getting memories that don't feel like mine..."

"Hang in there!" The woman shouted as she disappeared from my sight and I started to puke. "I need to grab the anti-possession gear!"

Anti-possession gear? Did she think that someone was trying to possess me? That didn't make any sense to me. I had no idea what was happening, but the pain in my head was unbearable.

I growled as bile rose up my throat. I tried to suppress it, but all that did was make it worse. Bile erupted and I was forced down onto all four while I puked and grasped for air.

The door slammed open and the woman returned with several objects that I didn't recognise.

"Why am I the one serving you when you're my servant?" She grumbled as she put down the objects in her arms and started to set them up. "I'm slashing your pay for this week. Your employer shouldn't be doing things that I had hired you for."

I wanted to respond, but the onset of memories was so painful and disorganizing that was the last thing I worried about. My skull felt as if it was going to break open. I had never experienced anything like this before, and I had no idea what was happening to me.

"Hold on, Shirou. I need a couple more seconds before I can begin the ritual to banish the spirit trying to possess–"

The woman's words started to become fuzzy and my vision started to blur. I was about to respond when everything went black.

~ O ~

"Shirou, you had me panicking for a moment," said Arturia as I helped wash off the bile I had vomited all over her body. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. The exorcism was a success." I lied as my body went on auto-pilot while I organized my thoughts.

The pain was no longer there, but my mind was a mess. I might not be able to recall every single piece of memory that had been transferred over to me while our souls had resonated, but I was able to understand most of it. These new memories that had caused me to black out were a different case. They might have mixed well with my mind, similar to how hydrogen and oxygen easily combined to form water, but fundamentally, they belonged to someone who was an entirely different person from me.

What Arturia believed to have "exorcised" in fact belonged to someone that might share the same name and appearance, but was an entirely different person from me. The memories I had recently received came from someone completely different. He had not gone through the same defining event that had created me: the Fuyuki Fire.

"Shirou!" Arturia shouted in alarm. "You're not supposed to wash that area like th–"

When I heard her moan out, I snapped out of my thoughts and blushed when I realized what part I had been washing. If someone was seeing or listening right now, they could easily misunderstand the situation. I tried to maintain a straight face and changed how I cleaned a certain part of Arturia.

"Get out! I will clean the rest of my body alone!" shouted a blushing Arturia as she snatched the shower head and cloth from my hands.

My body, still on auto-pilot, demanded that I should apologize and clean her naked body in the correct way, but I suppressed that urge and enforced my will. I quickly nodded and rushed out of the bathroom.

I quickly left the bathroom and activated the lock's security program that ensured only Arturia could open the door before I started taking deep breaths.

Bringing up my hands, I inspected them, then looked down at my body. What I saw confirmed that this wasn't my body. It lacked the lean and solid muscle that I had developed through years of rigorous exercising. This body was too soft. It belonged to someone that had barely worked out.

"Trace On."

I detected multiple signs that joined the growing list of suspicions. The time to vocalize my personal incantation took twice as long. The mana flowing through my Magic Circuits took longer to gather at my hands. As I focused on my Magic Circuits, I realized how foolish and ignorant I had been all this time. I had been using my nerves as makeshift Magic Circuits, enduring excruciating pain and risking permanent damage, when I had 27 perfectly functioning Magic Circuits that I had never known about. The revelation was both shocking and humbling, making me question everything I thought I knew about my own abilities and potential as a mage.

As I delved deeper into my self-examination, I discovered something even more astonishing. In addition to my own 27 Magic Circuits, there was another set of 27 Magic Circuits that seemed to have merged with mine. These additional circuits likely belonged to the soul I had somehow resonated with during the incident. What struck me was the stark difference between the two sets of circuits. While my original 27 Magic Circuits felt like atrophied muscles, weak from years of neglect and misuse, the other set of 27 were strong and well-developed, like properly trained muscles. The contrast was a testament to the other soul's dedication and expertise in magecraft, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of envy and admiration for their skill.

What I discovered was the final nail in the coffin.

This body didn't belong to me.

I was also likely not in the world I had been born in and lived my entire life.

"Shirou, I finished. Help me get dressed," Arturia's voice echoed through the door I was leaning against.

"Sorry, Arturia but I can't help you get dressed right now!" I shouted as I recalled some of the memories of the soul I had merged with.

I needed time to process everything that had happened and figure out my next steps. The memories from the other soul were still fresh in my mind, and I couldn't ignore the implications of what I had discovered.

"What do you mean you can't help me get dressed?" Arturia's voice was filled with confusion and a hint of annoyance. "Shirou, this isn't the time for games. We have a lot to discuss about what just happened."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "I understand, Arturia, but I need a moment to myself. Please, just give me a few minutes to gather my thoughts."

There was a pause, and then Arturia's voice softened. "Alright, Shirou. I'll give you some time. But we can't avoid this conversation forever. Whatever is going on with you, we need to face it together."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "I know. I promise we'll talk soon. I just need to sort some things out first."

With that, I pushed myself away from the door and began to pace the room, my mind whirling with the implications of my newfound knowledge. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was no longer in the world I knew, and that the memories and experiences of another soul had become a part of me.

As I walked, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and stopped short. The reflection staring back at me was both familiar and foreign. It was my face, but not quite the one I was used to seeing. The differences were subtle, but they were there - a slightly different haircut, a softer jawline, and eyes that held a different kind of determination.

I reached out and touched the mirror, as if trying to confirm that the reflection was real.

As I stared at my reflection, I couldn't help but be amazed by how realistic everything seemed. The memories I had gained from the soul I merged with felt so vivid and genuine, as if I had truly lived through those experiences myself. Even Arturia's behavior and reactions to me were incredibly lifelike, making it hard to believe that this was all just a virtual world.

A sudden realization struck me. The World Connector and Ascension Online - could they be responsible for this incredible level of realism? The timing of Zelretch's gift and my sudden immersion in this stunningly detailed world seemed too coincidental to ignore. Perhaps the helmet and the game were more than just advanced entertainment technology. What if they were designed to create a virtual reality indistinguishable from the real world, allowing players to experience alternate lives in a way never before possible?

The thought both excited and terrified me. If this virtual world was so realistic, then my actions here could have consequences that felt just as real as those in the physical world. I needed to find out more about Ascension Online and the true capabilities of the World Connector. The answers I sought might lie within the game itself, waiting for me to uncover them as I explored this amazingly lifelike virtual universe.

~ O ~

On the official Ascension Online forums, a thread suddenly exploded with activity as players excitedly discussed a series of remarkable achievements earned by a relatively unknown player named Shirou. The first post read, "Soul Resonance: Successfully merged with another soul for the first time." Forum members marveled at this rare occurrence, speculating about the new memories and abilities Shirou might have gained.

The next post, titled "Mana Mastery," celebrated Shirou's discovery and activation of his true Magic Circuits. Players debated the powerful spells he could now cast and how this newfound understanding of his magical potential would impact his gameplay.

A third achievement, "Dual Circuits," left the forum in a frenzy. Gamers were astonished by Shirou's acquisition of an additional set of 27 Magic Circuits from the soul he had resonated with. They discussed the unprecedented nature of this event and theorized about the incredible magical feats Shirou might be capable of with this doubled capacity.

As more achievements poured in, the forum buzzed with excitement. "Reflection of the Soul" sparked conversations about the importance of self-discovery within the game, while "A Glitch in the Matrix" led to wild theories about the true nature of Ascension Online's virtual world.

However, a new topic quickly overshadowed Shirou's achievements. Players began reporting that the contents of Ascension Online were partially real: after logging off, they discovered they could use Magecraft with Magic Circuits that they had previously thought were entirely fictional and part of the game's lore. This revelation sent shockwaves through the community, as players grappled with the implications of their in-game actions having real-world consequences. The forum erupted with speculation, fear, and excitement, as players tried to understand the true nature of Ascension Online and their own newfound abilities.

As news of the Ascension Online players' newfound magical abilities spread like wildfire, the Mages' Association and the Holy Church found themselves in a state of unprecedented crisis. For centuries, these ancient organizations had worked tirelessly to keep the existence of magecraft and the supernatural hidden from the general public, but now their greatest secret was exposed to the world.

The Mages' Association, a powerful consortium of mages dedicated to the preservation and advancement of magecraft, was thrown into chaos. Emergency meetings were called, and the organization's leaders scrambled to devise a plan to contain the situation. They feared that the sudden influx of untrained mages wielding real magical powers could lead to catastrophic consequences, threatening the delicate balance between the magical and mundane worlds.

Meanwhile, the Holy Church, a religious institution with a long history of combating supernatural threats, found itself grappling with a new reality. The Church's Executors, highly trained agents tasked with eliminating rogue mages and other dangerous entities, were suddenly overwhelmed by the sheer number of individuals possessing magical abilities. The Church's leadership struggled to adapt to this new paradigm, realizing that their traditional methods of containment and control might no longer be sufficient.

As the two organizations raced to respond to the crisis, they found themselves at odds with each other. The Mages' Association, ever protective of its secrets and traditions, advocated for a swift and decisive crackdown on the Ascension Online players, seeking to silence them and erase any evidence of their abilities. The Holy Church, on the other hand, recognized the potential for these newly awakened mages to be guided and trained, hoping to bring them into the fold and prevent them from falling into darkness.

Tensions between the two factions rose as they debated the best course of action. Some within the Mages' Association argued for the use of extreme measures, such as memory manipulation and even assassination, to maintain the secrecy of magecraft. Others, however, saw an opportunity to recruit and train a new generation of mages, recognizing the potential for innovation and growth within their ranks.

Within the Holy Church, a similar divide emerged. Hardliners demanded that the Ascension Online players be treated as a threat to be eliminated, while more progressive members advocated for a more compassionate approach, seeking to provide guidance and support to those struggling to come to terms with their newfound powers.

As the debate raged on, the world watched in awe and terror as the once-hidden world of magecraft and the supernatural was thrust into the spotlight. Governments, media outlets, and ordinary citizens grappled with the implications of this revelation, and the delicate balance that had existed for centuries began to crumble.

In the midst of the chaos, both the Mages' Association and the Holy Church realized that there was one individual who might hold the key to understanding the unfolding crisis: Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. The enigmatic and powerful mage had a reputation for meddling in the affairs of both organizations, and his involvement in the creation of the World Connector and Ascension Online seemed all too likely.

Representatives from the Mages' Association and the Holy Church sought an audience with Zelretch, hoping to demand answers and hold him accountable for the catastrophic revelations that had shaken the world. However, when they arrived at his last known location, they found only an empty room and a cryptic note that read, "The world is changing, and it's time for the old ways to adapt or perish."

Infuriated by Zelretch's apparent disappearance and his role in the crisis, the two ancient enemies found themselves in an unprecedented situation. The Mages' Association and the Holy Church, despite their long-standing animosity and conflicting ideologies, were forced to put aside their differences and work together to track down the elusive mage.

A joint task force was formed, combining the magical prowess of the Mages' Association with the investigative skills and resources of the Holy Church. Agents from both organizations scoured the globe, following leads and interrogating anyone who might have information on Zelretch's whereabouts.

As the hunt for Zelretch intensified, the world continued to grapple with the consequences of the Ascension Online revelations. Governments struggled to come to terms with the existence of magic, while ordinary citizens found themselves divided between fear and fascination. Some embraced their newfound abilities, while others sought to distance themselves from the chaos and uncertainty that had engulfed their lives.

Through it all, the Mages' Association and the Holy Church remained focused on their mission to bring Zelretch to justice. They knew that the future of magecraft and the supernatural world hung in the balance, and that failure was not an option. As they closed in on their target, the two organizations prepared themselves for a confrontation that would determine the fate of not only their own institutions, but the entire world as they knew it.

What do you guys think about what you read? Is it good, bad or meh? Any recommendations to improve? Please let me know.

Thank you for reading!