The soft hum of his platinum capsule lifted away, revealing the familiar scent of clean air and digital silence. Kaito sat up, rubbing the bridge of his nose before sliding his legs over the side and checking the time. Still early—barely dawn in the real world.
His holo-tab pinged.
[NEWS LIVE: VELTHORN LOGISTICS — NATIONAL INCIDENT REPORT]
Kaito's eyes narrowed. He swiped the notification open and cast it into the room's projection display. A polished news anchor appeared onscreen, the Velthorn corporate logo overlaid in the top corner.
"…Eight Velthorn-owned warehouse complexes across multiple cities were struck in what experts are calling a coordinated assault. Many personnel casualties have been reported, and the initial estimates place property losses in the tens of billions. Surveillance systems were deactivated prior to the breach, and investigators believe the attackers may have used high-level disruption artifacts…"
The footage cut to scorched structures, caved-in loading docks, and silent logistics yards still covered in morning mist.
Then it cut again.
A press conference. Velvet curtains. Security detail behind the podium.
The head of the Velthorn family, 'Bane Velthorn', stood at the center in a sleek grey suit. His gaze was sharp, voice controlled—but burning with restrained fury.
> "This coordinated attack on our infrastructure was not just an assault on Velthorn, but it was an attack on the spirit of free commerce and order. We are currently working with the Earth Federation's security division to aid their investigation in full. I have complete faith that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Velthorn will rebuild—and we will not be intimidated."
Kaito's expression didn't change. He let the words wash past like idle wind. He knew their facade.
He reached for the holo-tab again and tapped the quick-dial for 'Third Uncle'.
A few rings. Then a quiet "Accepted" chime.
He didn't waste time.
"Uncle," Kaito said firmly, his voice sharp as steel. "were there any casualties?"
His uncle's voice came through, calm and low. "None. Not even injuries. Our teams cleared the targets cleanly. All the ruin-armors functioned as expected and They never saw our faces."
"Good," Kaito nodded. "And the gear?"
"Back in storage. Already cleaned. We've erased every trace."
A faint pause.
"What's next?" his uncle asked.
Kaito exhaled slowly, then stood. His gaze shifted toward the window.
"We hold position. Make no further moves unless I call it. let them stew."
"Understood."
Kaito cut the call and walked slowly toward his desk.
He tapped his holo-tab again, this time opening a hidden administrative console, layered with a digital lock and biometric confirmation.
[Genesis AI Interface — Admin Access Granted]
"Initiate Protocol: Featherfall," he commanded.
A pause. Then a calm, gender-neutral voice replied:
> "Confirmed. Would you like the files to be leaked publicly or disseminated through anonymous channels?"
"Use staggered release. Anonymous. Spread them over the next 24 hours. Let their name rot slowly."
> "Understood. Discredit Campaign initiated."
Kaito didn't sit down. He opened a new channel on his holo-tab.
Two figures appeared on the projected screen: his father, face calm and composed, and his second uncle, arms folded, waiting for instructions.
"Father," Kaito began, voice even. "In about two hours, the first wave of discrediting leaks against Velthorn will surface. I want you to be ready. Once the news hits, begin acquiring their stocks—slowly, steadily. Use different portfolios. No direct links. Take advantage of the drop, and start raking them in as much as we can."
His father gave a single nod. "We'll begin positioning the buy orders through offshore holdings."
Kaito turned to his second uncle. "Uncle you'll coordinate with Father. Use every bit of the family's fund pool—don't hesitate. If the money's not enough, ask me. I've got reserves set aside."
His second uncle arched an eyebrow but nodded. "Understood."
"One more thing," Kaito added, tone darkening. "Tonight—after this phase is complete—you'll begin the assassinations phase."
His second uncle leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Coordinate it with Third Uncle. He already knows the targets and field structure. Keep it surgical. If I'm free, I'll join in. But today, I'm tied up handling the Genesis Studio batch. Don't wait for me."
Both men nodded in unison. The screen blinked out a second later.
Then he cracked his knuckles and walked to the corner of his room.
There, mounted on a polished stand, was a hardbound scroll — inked in deep crimson with seven folded flaps.
He unrolled it with care.
[Skyshatter Eternity Manual]
Kaito flowed into the stance. Feet rooted. Arms relaxed. The breathing pattern ignited muscle memory long since etched into his bones.
Each breath sunk deeper than the last. The movements were simple, yet demanded balance, weight control, and absolute presence.
Within fifteen minutes, the sequence was complete.
He rolled the scroll back and returned it to its place.
After completing his martial sequence, Kaito moved to the bathing chamber—an elegant space lined with obsidian tiles and frosted crystalline walls. Steam curled gently from the heated pool as he activated the temperature stabilizers. Reaching into his private supply vault, he retrieved a sealed silver vial etched with the Ren family crest.
He uncorked it carefully, then poured its contents—an amber-hued concentrate of rare herbs, spirit roots—into the water. The liquid shimmered as it dissolved, releasing faint blue sparks and a subtle, earthy fragrance that filled the room.
Kaito stepped in without hesitation.
The warmth enveloped his muscles, but it was more than physical. The medicinal essence was already seeping through his pores, guiding his internal circulation with almost magnetic precision. His breathing slowed, and his mind entered a quiet, focused state.
"Without this," he thought, sinking deeper into the herbal heat, "breaking through would've taken at least ten more days—maybe more if the ambient energy remained unstable. But now... this will cut the time in half."
He could feel it working already—loosening minor blockages, subtly refining his flow, enhancing absorption rate. The bath wasn't just luxury. It was calculated efficiency. The kind that separated ordinary practitioners from those who could rise ahead of schedule.
And Kaito had no plans to fall behind.
...…
After his bath Kaito went directly for breakfast.
The dining table felt more crowded than usual—but intentionally so. As Kaito took his seat, he glanced around. His cousins sat where they always did, chatting softly between bites. Aika, already halfway through her rice, flashed him a cheerful grin. To her right was Mei Rin—poised, focused—and beside her were her ten friends, each with subtle differences in bearing, but all observant, all evaluating.
Among the group, seated gracefully near the head of the table, was his Fourth Aunt—the only adult present who exuded quiet mastery. She was still dressed in light grey martial robes, her long hair tied into a practical braid. Even when seated, the air around her felt calm, composed... disciplined. She had advanced to Rank 2 Mid-Stage recently, and her aura was enough.
Kaito set down his cup and leaned toward her slightly. "Aunt," he began, voice steady but low enough to remain private, "I'm grateful you agreed to act as an instructor at the studio. But I was thinking—you should join the game too."
His aunt raised a calm brow.
"It's not about playing," he clarified. "It's about understanding. If you see the skill sets these kids are developing firsthand, it'll sharpen your approach. You'll know exactly what they need before they even realize it."
The girls across the table—Mei Rin's friends—glanced at his aunt with veiled curiosity, some even exchanging quiet whispers. She caught it, of course, and offered a light, knowing smile that diffused the tension in an instant.
"That makes sense," she said, picking up her chopsticks again. "I was curious about the game anyway. It's time I had a look myself."
Kaito nodded. "I'll have Mei Rin help set up your cabin."
As he chewed quietly, Kaito's eyes lingered on his aunt for a moment longer. At least one of them, he thought. One step forward.
Convincing a traditional martial family to embrace a digital world wasn't easy—but it was necessary. The age of isolated cultivation, of hidden strength that stayed in the shadows, was ending. The battlefield was shifting. After Velthorn, his war would no longer be fought in boardrooms or dark alleys—it would move entirely into Glory. And if his family remained behind, clinging to outdated ways, they'd become irrelevant… or worse, vulnerable.
He had no intention of letting that happen.
Glory was more than a game. It was a crucible—one that rewarded reflex, instinct, and spiritual discipline. In time, martial artists would gain an edge even players couldn't predict. Techniques honed in reality would translate into overwhelming combat presence in-game. Once fully integrated, Genesis wouldn't just be a guild—it would become a force of nature.
She's the first, he thought. Soon, the rest will follow.
...
Just then—another ping.
A blinking reminder on his holo-tab:
[Genesis Studio – Batch Arrival: T-minus 01:30:00]
He swiped open the calendar and reviewed the list.
One hundred names. Each handpicked. Each cleared through custom evaluation.
One hundred seeds of destiny.
and his own foresight—Genesis would rise higher than before.