Sacred Awakening
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Warmth pressed against Alex's skin, seeping into his bones as the fog of unconsciousness finally lifted. The sterile hum of a gaming pod was gone. In its place, he heard the soft crackle of incense, the distant chirp of exotic birds, and the faint buzz of spiritual energy thick in the air.
His eyes snapped open.
Above him loomed an ornate ceiling carved from jade and polished wood, etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly with life. Silver and gold lines formed symbols he couldn't fully comprehend — not yet — but instinctively, Alex understood this wasn't Earth.
He sat up abruptly, breathing heavy. His body responded differently — leaner, stronger, more refined. It wasn't just his mind that had been transported. This body… was his now.
"This is real," he whispered.
Memories not entirely his own rushed in like a tidal wave. The Sacred Domain. The Holy Trinity Clan. His grandfather, Dorian Vael — a legend once hailed as a master of Fate itself — now missing, presumed dead, though whispers spoke of his survival in some unknown realm. His parents, distant in his fragmented memories, cautiously navigating the dangerous political landscape of the clan.
And him? Alex Vael, fifteen years old, branch family member of the Holy Trinity Clan.
And there was more. A dormant, alien power pulsed within him — heavy, ancient, unsettling. The same name echoed within his mind.
Outer God Descent.
The same game that killed him, now tied to his very existence.
Alex's gaze drifted to the mirror across the room. His reflection startled him — dark hair with faint silver streaks shimmered under the light, sharp eyes that glowed faintly with unnatural intelligence.
"I really reincarnated… into the Sacred Domain," he thought.
A knock broke the silence.
"Alex? You're awake?" A female voice, cautious yet familiar.
The door creaked open. A young woman entered, her long chestnut hair tied neatly, sharp green eyes filled with both concern and curiosity. Lina Vael, his cousin — a Time Faction cultivator — memories confirmed.
"You're late for the Inner Pavilion," she stated, arms crossed.
Alex frowned. "Inner Pavilion?"
Her brows arched. "Don't tell me you hit your head that hard. Today's the Sacred Art Selection Ceremony. First step in building your Sacred Foundation? Or did you forget?"
"Sacred Art Selection…" The cornerstone of a cultivator's life. Breathing method. Meditation method. The path to power.
"I didn't forget," Alex lied smoothly, swinging his legs off the bed, steadying himself.
Lina watched him carefully. "You look… different. Your eyes…"
"I feel different," Alex admitted, adjusting to the strange yet familiar body. The dormant energy — the Outer God's mark — curled within him like a coiled serpent, quiet but undeniable.
Lina turned, gesturing. "Hurry. You don't want to be late. The elders will already be watching — especially with your family's… reputation."
Alex followed, processing the weight behind her words. His family, despite their bloodline, was seen as weak, tainted by his grandfather's disappearance. The other factions within the clan — Space, Time, Fate — eyed them with a mixture of disdain and suspicion.
As they walked through the clan compound, the grandeur of the Holy Trinity Clan unveiled itself. Towering pagodas floated among swirling space distortions, rivers that seemed to flow backward in time, training fields where Fate-weaving youths honed their arts.
All of it breathtaking — and deadly.
Lina led him toward a courtyard bustling with young cultivators and stern elders. The Inner Pavilion, heart of the Holy Trinity Clan.
As they approached, Alex caught fragments of whispered conversations:
"That's the one from the disgraced branch family…"
"His grandfather was strong, but he vanished. Left them weak… vulnerable."
"Why let him participate? Waste of resources."
Alex's jaw clenched, but he said nothing. This was nothing new — not after years of dealing with ridicule in games and real life. But now, the stakes were higher.
Inside the Inner Pavilion, the ceremony had begun. Floating stone tablets, each etched with radiant runes, hovered in the air. Spiritual energy crackled around them.
A woman stepped forward, her silver robes rippling with spatial distortions. First Elder Ilyana Vael, Space Faction leader, her expression sharp and unreadable.
"Today," she announced, voice calm yet commanding, "our young cultivators choose the Sacred Arts that will shape their future. The foundation of your strength, your life, and your potential begins now."
All eyes turned to the candidates.
Among them, Alex spotted familiar faces — and dangerous ones.
Damon Vael, tall, lean, his Space Faction robes shimmering as reality subtly warped around him. His eyes were cold as the void itself, landing on Alex with thinly veiled contempt.
Beside him, Selene Vael, enigmatic, Fate Faction prodigy. Her black robes adorned with faint, silken thread-like runes. Her gaze lingered on Alex, unreadable, but curious.
Lina nudged Alex. "Don't let them rattle you."
Alex exhaled, steadying his thoughts.
"It's just like a game," he told himself. "Assess the field. Know your enemies. Play your role… until it's time to change the rules."
The ceremony began.