In the mountain city of Falcrest, Atlas—an orphan shunned for his foreign blood—has spent his life on the fringes. But when a reckless nightly escapade awakens his dormant mana core, everything changes. Thrust into the elite academy of Falcrest, he must train as a Blade—one of Draegar’s legendary warriors. Here, strength is everything, and weakness is prey. Surrounded by unyielding discipline, ruthless rivals, and a society that sees his very existence as a stain, Atlas must master his unruly mana and uncover the secrets of his power. But survival isn’t guaranteed. In a world where strength determines worth and failure means death. A new Blade is being forged. And it will be bathed in blood. What to expect: # Core cultivation  # Warriors forged from a young age # Weak to strong power progression  # Slow-burn character and world building