Morning came the same as always—yet not the same.
The fortress stirred awake with the clang of steel, the sharp calls of knights, and the muted rhythm of drills echoing through the courtyards. Sunlight spilled across the stone walls, bright but strangely cold. It did not warm—it only revealed.
Everything felt off. Heavy.
Maybe it was Selene's sudden arrival. Maybe it was the thought of Liana leaving soon. Either way, the morning pressed down on me harder than the Graviton bands ever could.
Step. Step.
My boots scraped against the cold floor as I walked the long hall toward the commander's office. Once, I would've admired the fortress's intricate carvings and its proud banners. Today, they seemed dull. Lifeless.
Liana walked beside me. Silent. She didn't look at me, and I didn't know if I wanted her to.
We reached the office. I pushed the door open.
Commander Arvell sat behind his desk, presence as heavy as always, the weight of command coiled around him like armor. Yet my eyes slid past him.
There, on a newly placed sofa, sat Selene—poised in a flowing green dress, elegance wrapped around her like a second skin. Behind her stood Charlotte, ever watchful.
But none of them held my gaze.
My eyes fixed on the black metal bag resting on the table before Selene.
If I was right… I knew exactly what it was
It was the Status Stone.
A device that revealed a person's hidden truth.
Everyone in this world who had awakened carried a personal status screen—something only they themselves could see. Their rank, their affinity, their potential… all locked behind that invisible veil. But the Status Stone stripped that veil away. With a single touch, it exposed everything: rank, affinities, potential.
If Liana had awakened, it would display which affinity had unlocked, and just how high her potential ran.
That part didn't worry me.
What worried me was mine.
My status was nothing like a normal person's. It carried traits and titles that granted passive buffs. It recorded sigils that others didn't even know existed. And most damning of all—my bond with Noctharion.
If that appeared… I was fucked.
Yeah, sure, the "protagonist" of this world also had heaven-defying secrets hidden in his status. But his system always stepped in to veil the truth.
Me?
I had nothing.
If the stone revealed everything, then one thing was certain—
…it would be the end of me.
Selene's lips curved into a warm smile.
"Welcome," she said sweetly, her voice carrying that effortless grace of hers. "Please, sit."
Liana and I obeyed, taking the seats placed before her desk. My eyes drifted almost immediately to the metallic bag resting neatly in front of her. Something about it radiated weight, not in size but in meaning.
Selene folded her hands over the bag for a moment, as if savoring the pause. Then, with calm precision, she spoke again.
"Now then… let's complete the task I was given by Father."
Her fingers unclasped the bag, pulling it open. From within, she lifted an object that gleamed faintly even in the dull light of the office—a crystal ball, transparent yet carrying an unnatural depth, as though it could swallow your gaze if you stared too long.
She set it gently on the table between us.
Liana hesitated before the crystal.
Selene's voice was calm, almost ceremonial.
"Liana, it's the moment of truth. Place your hand on the crystal."
Her fingers trembled as she glanced first at the crystal, then at me. Worry clouded her eyes. Commander Arvell and Charlotte watched in silence, their gazes sharp, measuring.
I gave her a small nod.
That was enough.
She drew in a shaky breath, extended her hand, and pressed her palm against the cold surface.
For a few heartbeats, nothing happened. The crystal remained dull, lifeless, mocking her hesitation. The room was filled only with the sound of our breathing.
Then—
Light.
A blinding golden radiance burst forth, flooding the chamber. The brilliance swallowed every corner, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. The very air felt alive, thrumming with warmth and divinity.
I froze.
That light… I knew it.
Golden threads spiraled upward, weaving into symbols no one could understand, before collapsing into a single luminous flare.
When the glow finally faded, a screen of golden letters hovered above the crystal, hanging in the air like a divine decree.
Silence.
No one dared to breathe.
[Status Screen]
Name: Liana
Rank: E
Potential: SS+
Affinity: Divinity
Attributes:
Strength: E-
Agility: F+
Endurance: E+
Intelligence: E+
Mana Capacity: D-
Luck: A
Selene and Charlotte were speechless, their eyes wide with disbelief.
It seemed they hadn't truly believed the rumors—thought them exaggerations or jokes. But now, faced with the truth, their expectations shattered.
Liana had awakened Divinity.
Not only that—her potential ranked SS+, one of the highest in the entire Human Federation. The strongest humans alive were SS+, and for Liana to awaken with that affinity… she was no longer just another awakened. She was a miracle, a treasure, a power the world would fight for.
Selene was the first to recover. A soft laugh slipped from her lips. "Hahaha…" It was sweet, melodic—but I knew better. Behind that laugh, gears were already turning. She was the heir to House Thorne, and now that Liana carried Divinity, she would want to make her theirs—no matter the cost.
"Truly exceptional," Selene said smoothly. "Liana, your future is boundless. You are… amazing."
Then her eyes shifted to me. "Kael… I should also thank you. If not for you taking her in, we would never have discovered her true power. You've helped us greatly this time."
Her smile widened. "You deserve a reward."
Beside her, Charlotte's expression softened, joy flickering in her eyes as she gazed at Liana. She wasn't a schemer like Selene—just happy to see her lady destined for greatness.
My hand clenched into a fist at Selene's words. A reward? As if Liana was just a prize?
Rage burned in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. Right now, I couldn't protect her. With the Thorne family, at least she would be safe.
For now.
But one day… I would take her back.
Selene's attention returned to me. "I also heard about your… enlightenment, from the commander." A faint smirk tugged her lips. "Personally, I find it harder to believe than Liana's awakening. But orders are orders—Father asked me to verify it. So now… it's your turn, Kael."
Her hand gestured toward the crystal.
My heart tightened. That crystal—if I touched it, would it reveal everything? My secret? My bond with Noctharion?
Should I risk it?
Selene's brows furrowed. "We don't have all day, Kael. Stop hesitating."
As I wavered, a voice rumbled deep in my mind.
Do it. Nothing you fear will happen.
Noctharion's voice.
No one else heard it.
I swallowed hard, then slowly stretched out my hand—fingers trembling as they closed the distance.
And touched the crystal.
The moment my fingers brushed the crystal, it stirred.
But unlike Liana's awakening—when it had shone with gentle golden light—mine twisted into something else. Shadows seeped from the stone, stretching like veins through the chamber. The air grew heavy. Darkness coiled in every corner, thick and suffocating, until even the torches seemed to dim.
The crystal trembled in my hand. A pulse rippled out, and the shadows stirred as though alive—watching. Their presence wasn't calm or divine like Liana's. No, this was something different. A stillness that promised serenity only if one surrendered to it completely… an embrace that would never let go.
Selene's eyes widened, surprise and fear breaking her mask. Her hands trembled, clasped together in prayer—or maybe restraint. Behind her, Charlotte had already drawn half her sword, the steel glinting with tension. She didn't strike, though. Something unseen held her back, some instinct whispering that moving now would be unwise.
Even Commander Arvell—ever unshaken, ever cold—showed a flicker of genuine surprise, his jaw tightening as his gaze locked on me.
Beside me, Liana tugged weakly at my shirt, her knuckles pale, her face pressed against me as if hiding behind a shield. Her breath hitched, but she didn't let go.
Then, as abruptly as it began, the phenomenon receded. The shadows melted back into silence. Light crept cautiously into the room once more.
And in that stillness, a screen shimmered into existence before my eyes.
[Status Screen]
Name: Kael Thorne
Rank: D–
Potential: S+
Affinity: Darkness
Attributes
Strength: D
Agility: D–
Endurance: D
Intelligence: D–
Mana Capacity: C–
Luck: ?
_________________
Hello everyone! 🌙
I'll be deleting this version of the novel in about a week. I've already re-uploaded it under the same name with proper cover pictures and I'll be posting all new chapters there regularly.
Please head over to the other version, add it to your collections, and continue reading there. Thank you for your support—it means a lot! 🙏