The sunlight filtering through the high arching windows of the Crimson Sky Academy's central dome bathed the white marble corridors in golden hues. Despite the brilliance, a storm brewed in the hearts of many students. The Academy was abuzz with rumors—of Su Mengtian's phenomenal growth, his undefeated streak in internal duels, and his looming clash with elite-ranked students in the upcoming inter-branch ranking challenge.
In the Training Hall of the Thunder Division, Su Mengtian stood still like an ancient statue. Sweat beaded on his brow, dripping silently as he maintained a perfect sword stance. Around him, lightning crackled faintly, responding to the presence within him—a mysterious, dormant force that stirred in moments of intensity. Though he did not know its name, the second bloodline within him was awakening little by little, its guardian instincts whispering of great power.
He was not alone. Behind him, the top instructors and hall captains watched silently. Their expressions were tense, amazed, and wary. For someone with an apparent Tier 4 Flame Claw Tiger bloodline, the intensity of elemental synchronization he displayed was... unnatural. It rivaled even that of high-tier bloodline elites. But Su Mengtian had told no one of the second presence inside him. Not even his most trusted council.
Today, however, was not for sparring. It was time for strategy.
He turned to face his council—Xiao Han from the Iron Guard Hall, Ji Ling from the Shadow Hall, Yue Qian of the Healing Hall, Lan Fei from the Beast Handling Hall, and Wei Jun from the Forge Hall. They sat around a circular table in the private war room, the walls etched with tactical diagrams and maps of global monster hotspots.
"The Academy Tournament is only three weeks away," Su Mengtian began, his voice steady. "We're not just fighting for recognition. We're testing the limits of what our new organization—Heavenly Spear Alliance—can do."
Xiao Han crossed his arms, his crimson armor glinting. "We've trained well. My Iron Guard Hall can hold defensive formations for hours. But I worry about infiltration threats during the matches. Some branches might resort to sabotage."
Ji Ling nodded. "I've already placed eyes within the other divisions. The Crimson Talon Hall suspects our rise, especially after the duel between Su Mengtian and their top student. Their vice captain is known for poison manipulation."
Yue Qian leaned forward, her soft voice holding hidden strength. "And what of the beast wave near the Frostline Coast? I intercepted a communication—there's speculation of a Class-7 dimensional gate opening. If that happens during the tournament, we'll be split between glory and survival."
Su Mengtian's expression hardened. "The world won't wait for us to be ready. We prepare for both—the tournament and the tides of blood. The name 'Heaven's Reign' must echo not just in the Academy, but across the world."
Wei Jun unrolled a blueprint. "I've completed the portable resonance nodes. We can deploy our communication network during matches. Lan Fei's team will deliver tamed aerial scouts as our overwatch."
Lan Fei, ever calm, nodded. "My beasts have been reacting strangely lately. Something is stirring in the dimensional layers. One of my wyverns refused to enter the airspace above the Academy's North Wing. It's never done that before."
Su Mengtian noted it silently. The North Wing was where the Hall of Forbidden Relics was located—where ancient artifacts tied to unknown bloodlines were kept.
"Continue observation," he said. "And tighten our rotation schedules. No one moves alone. Heaven's Reign will rise as one."
Far across the Academy grounds, Professor Lin Shaoyang stood before a massive curved screen inside the World Geography and Dimensional Studies Lecture Hall. The screen displayed an intricately detailed map of Terra Vitae, the current world, rendered in deep color and motion. Energy lines pulsed across it, revealing leyline flow and dimensional activity.
"Our world," he announced, "was once like Earth, before the Great Rift. Now, seven primary continents dominate the surface—Xianzhou, Virelia, Umbross, Zalthera, Eosgard, Terrathal, and the fragmented Arcticus Isles.
A hand-drawn map exploded into 3D animation. Mountains rose. Seas churned. Cities sparkled.
"Xianzhou is our homeland. Once known as Eastern Prime, it's the largest and most stable, protected by the World Nexus Barrier. It houses all twelve Sovereign Academies and three national capitals."
"Virelia to the west is dominated by merchant guilds and tech-driven bloodline hybrids. Many of their elite wield elemental machine-type hybrids."
"Umbross to the south hides shadow covens and dimensional rifts. That land is shrouded in perpetual twilight—many lost bloodlines have resurfaced there."
"Zalthera is a mystic land, largely uncharted. Its people blend natural energy with awakened instincts, calling themselves the Seers of the Flow."
"Eosgard lies in volcanic chains, its people hardened by flame beasts. Their Flame Sovereign Clan boasts the first known triple-bloodline user."
"Terrathal, shattered into floating isles, is where gravity behaves erratically. Their warriors fight in aerial swarms and bond with sky serpents."
"Finally, the Arcticus Isles, home to ancient ruins. Ice storms of elemental origin drift freely there. Some say, hidden in the core island of Karthun, an ancient god slumbers."
He touched the oceans.
"The Abyssal Trench spans the depths between continents, home to leviathan-class dimensional beasts. Naval bloodline users patrol it, but we've lost many. In one cycle alone, 300 warships vanished."
"The Sea of Whispering Stars surrounds Arcticus—odd energies there can mutate bloodlines. A student from Arcticus Academy turned into a partial beast hybrid during awakening. Her blood turned crystalline."
Then he touched the center of the map.
"This... is the Crimson Rift. No one knows its depth. No satellite, no scrying spell can peer into it. And yet, dimensional waves—like the one predicted near Frostline—pulse from it regularly. It shifts continental energy currents, and some believe it is alive."
Students sat stunned.
One raised her hand. "Professor, what does this have to do with us?"
Professor Lin smiled grimly. "Everything. Each awakening bloodline resonates with one of Terra Vitae's many hidden leylines. That's why all awakening ceremonies are synchronized with global patterns. Your powers... your destinies... are tied to the world itself."
He then turned toward Su Mengtian, seated silently in the back row. "And some awakenings... have implications beyond just personal destiny. Some bloodlines are meant to shield this world. Or destroy it."
That night, in his meditation chamber, Su Mengtian sat cross-legged, surrounded by cascading lightning runes. His body floated slightly above the ground, his skin pulsing with energy. Deep inside his soul realm, the two forces warred again—one blazing like fire, the other thundering like an incoming storm.
He felt pressure mounting. As if the world itself was calling to him.
In his dream, he saw Yueying again. She stood atop a tower of light in a realm beyond reality. "The time is near," she whispered. "They will come for you. You must be ready. Not just for them... but for what sleeps inside you."
He reached for her, but she vanished. The tower crumbled. Lightning crashed. And the world dissolved.
He awoke, gasping.
Thunder echoed in the distance.
Something was coming. Something that would either crown Heaven's Reign as a beacon—or bury it in blood and secrets.