Back in class, Kai tried to focus, but his instincts were screaming.
He could feel it now. Subtle pressure from different students. Background noise of hidden powers.
He wasn't just a student anymore.
He was a god hidden in a school full of sleeping dragons.
And he was being watched.
The bell rang, signaling the end of second period.
Kai stretched lazily, pretending to be as bored as everyone else, even though his mind was buzzing.
He had learned more in one morning than in his entire life.
Awakeners. In his class. On the streets. In the very air he breathed.
He couldn't afford to be careless.
As he packed up his notebook, a shadow fell across his desk.
He looked up.
Sophie Silver stood beside him.
Her eyes were like polished obsidian, cool and unreadable, yet... focused. Intense. She wasn't smiling. She never smiled.
"Hey," she said quietly.
Kai blinked. "…Hey."
"You're Kai, right?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah."
"I thought so." She tilted her head. "You feel... different today."
Kai kept his expression neutral. "Had a good night's sleep."
"Hmm." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Be careful. The way you move, the way you look—people notice. Especially the wrong ones."
Her tone wasn't threatening. More like a warning. She gave him one last glance, then turned and walked away, her long silver hair swaying behind her.
Kai didn't move for a moment.
She knows. Or suspects something. I need to be more careful.
---
On the rooftop, the two students who had watched Kai earlier now sat on the railing, their lunchboxes ignored.
"Did you see her?" the bandaged one muttered. "Sophie actually talked to him."
The other nodded. "She doesn't talk to anyone. Not unless she senses power."
"Then he's definitely awakened."
"Or something worse."
They both looked down at the courtyard, where Kai walked with his hands in his pockets.
"We report this to Overseer Dren?"
"Not yet," the first said again, tone darker this time. "I want to test him myself."
---
Later that afternoon, in the safety of his room, Kai lay on his bed with his eyes closed.
"Ema," he whispered.
> "Yes, Creator?"
"I need to check the inner world. I want a full update."
> "Opening direct interface. Synchronizing sensory data… now."
A hum filled his chest. The world around him shifted.
His mind dove inward.
Kai opened his eyes—and stood in a glowing observation platform high above the land he'd created.
But it wasn't the same land as before.
Massive cities sprawled across once-empty plains. Floating temples orbited mountain peaks. Great beasts flew between spires of carved stone. Vast magical rivers glowed in the dark.
Time had moved fast. Centuries passed while he was in class.
> Current Age: Early Mythic Era
Population: 9.3 Million
Dominant Factions:
Draconic Empire of Embervault
Elven Solar Accord
Unified Prime Human Coalition
Chaosborn Clans of the Black Sands
High Human Kingdoms of Vellaria
Ema materialized beside him in her divine form, hands folded.
> "The races have expanded swiftly under their progenitors. There have been four large wars, dozens of alliances, and the foundation of interspecies trade. Faith generation has increased dramatically."
Kai was stunned.
"…I've only been gone a few hours."
> "Nearly three centuries have passed inside. You now have over 92 million units of raw faith."
He felt it coursing through his body like liquid light.
The more they grew… the more he did too.
Ema turned and extended her hand.
> "Come. I will show you the Thrones."
---
They arrived before a massive crystalline gate, which opened at her touch.
Inside was a radiant chamber with five divine thrones—each one pulsing with the essence of a progenitor.
Moments later, the five arrived—summoned instantly by Kai's presence.
The Supreme Dragon, now armored in divine-scaled robes.
The High Elf, her staff crowned with living flame.
The Prime Elder, calm and collected as ever.
The High Human, sword blazing with divine energy.
And the Chaos Matron, laughing madly with streaks of living lightning in her hair.
All five dropped to one knee.
> "We greet the Creator. Your will shapes the stars."
Kai stood tall.
"You've done well. Your races flourish."
The dragon spoke first. "We await your next command, Creator. We are ready to expand beyond this continent."
The elf added, "There are whispers of the Outer Realms… doors waiting to be opened."
Kai raised a hand. "Soon. But first... I need to stabilize the faith core."
He dismissed them gently, and they vanished back to their realms.
Ema approached quietly.
> "They worship you more now than ever. To them, you are destiny itself."
Kai exhaled. "It's... a lot."
> "And yet, you carry it."
---
Later that evening, back in the real world, Kai stared at his own reflection.
He saw the divine energy humming under his skin. The gold in his eyes. The calm, quiet power in his heartbeat.
> Name: Kai
Race: Origin Race (Primordial)
Level: 2
Strength: 6,200
Agility: 6,100
Defense: 6,300
Intelligence: 6,800
Vitality: 6,250
Perception: 6,500
Willpower: 6,600
Divinity: 7,000
Faith Pool: 92,213,892
He was evolving faster than any awakener in history.
And no one knew.
---
That night, Kai lay in bed once again, drained—not by battle, but by decisions. Heavy ones. Divine ones.
"I'm still just a guy," he whispered.
But he wasn't.
He was a god. A hidden one.
As sleep claimed him, he felt a presence lean over him.
A soft warmth on his forehead—a gentle kiss.
> "Sleep well, Creator," Ema whispered. "I will guard both worlds in your name.