Chapter 1: The Awakening of Kael

The village of Darvan lay quiet beneath a cloudy sky, the wind gently rustling through the trees that bordered the village. Isolated from the larger cities, Darvan was a peaceful place, where news of the ongoing battles with the monstrous beasts was only heard in distant rumors. But even in this remote part of the baron’s lands, there was no escape from the growing threat. The beasts—land, sea, and sky—were everywhere.

Kael Rithen stood among a group of fifteen-year-olds, each one eager and nervous. Today was the Awakening Ceremony, a day that would determine the rest of their lives. For years, they had trained and prepared, but no amount of preparation could change the fate revealed by the Awakening Crystal.

The village elder, a stooped man with white hair, beckoned Kael forward. “It’s your time, Kael,” the elder said, his voice a rasp of age. “Place your hand on the crystal and let it reveal your potential.”

Kael swallowed the lump in his throat, stepping toward the crystal that shimmered faintly before him. This was the moment he had been waiting for—his entire future would be decided by what the crystal revealed. Whether he would be a powerful warrior or a weak farmer, it all depended on this moment.

He reached out and placed his hand on the crystal. Instantly, warmth spread through his arm and into his chest. His heart pounded in his ears, and the world around him seemed to fall away. A strange force stirred inside him, unlocking something that had been dormant since his birth. His mind filled with light, and then—

A screen appeared before his eyes, visible only to him:

[Awakening Complete]

Essence Aptitude: Flicker (Rank 1)

Essence Level: Mote (Rank 1)

Talents:

— Sword Talent (Flicker)

— Endurance Talent (Spark)

Unique Skills:

— God Eye (EX)

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— Copy & Evolve (EX)

Kael stared at the screen, his heart sinking. Flicker, the lowest possible essence aptitude. It was said that those born with Flicker had little hope of advancing far, their potential forever capped by the weak foundation. His talents weren’t much better. His Sword Talent was ranked Flicker, just as weak as his essence aptitude, and Endurance Talent was only slightly better at Spark.

But as his gaze drifted down the list, his eyes widened in disbelief. Two EX-ranked unique skills—God Eye and Copy & Evolve. EX-ranked skills were the stuff of legends, whispered about in tales of ancient heroes. The idea of having one was beyond rare, but two?

The elder leaned in closer, his old eyes searching Kael’s face for a reaction. “Well, boy? What did you awaken?”

Kael hesitated. “I… I got Flicker.”

The elder’s frown deepened, and he nodded slowly, his expression softening into one of pity. “Flicker is not a strong path, but don’t lose heart. There have been those who rose far with less. Your talents and skills may surprise you.”

Kael nodded silently, not revealing the whole truth. The elder didn’t need to know about the EX-ranked skills, not yet. He had no idea what God Eye or Copy & Evolve could do, but something told him they were far more powerful than anyone realized.

As the other youths stepped forward to take their turns with the crystal, Kael watched in silence. One by one, they awakened their essence levels and talents. Some were fortunate, awakening with aptitudes like Stream, Horizon, and Bloom, and talents ranked at Veil and Storm. There was excitement in the air as those with higher aptitudes whispered about their bright futures as warriors or scholars.

Kael, meanwhile, couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been both cursed and blessed. Flicker was a dead end in the eyes of most, but those EX-ranked skills loomed large in his mind, mysterious and untapped. What did they mean for him? Could they help him rise beyond the limits of his weak essence aptitude?

By the time the ceremony ended, the sun had begun to set, casting long shadows over the village. The elder raised his hand, addressing the newly awakened youths. “You have all been given a path to walk,” he said. “Some of your paths may seem brighter than others, but remember, it is not the path that defines you, but how you walk it. The beasts are ever watchful, and one day, you will have to face them. Train hard, and never give up.”

Kael stood still, the elder’s words echoing in his mind. He had been given the weakest essence, but the power of his EX-ranked skills stirred within him, promising something more.

Later that evening, Kael sat alone in his room, staring out at the darkening horizon. The distant howls of beasts could be heard from the forests beyond the village. Most of the other newly awakened youths were likely celebrating with their families, but Kael’s thoughts were elsewhere.

Summoning the status screen again, the glowing text reappeared before his eyes, as clear as before:

[Skills Available for Activation]

Activate God Eye?

Activate Copy & Evolve?

His heart raced as he stared at the options. What did these skills mean? How would they change his life? He had no idea what power lay within them, but he knew one thing: they were his only chance to rise above the limitations of his Flicker aptitude.

With a deep breath, Kael whispered, “Activate both.”

A wave of energy surged through him, a cold and clear force that awakened something deeper within his soul. A voice, mechanical and emotionless, echoed in his mind:

[God Eye Activated]

[Copy & Evolve Activated]

Kael felt a strange sense of clarity as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes. He didn’t yet understand the full extent of his abilities, but he knew one thing for certain: his journey was far from over. In fact, it was only just beginning.