While the Awakening Ceremony raged beneath open skies, Ash Neyru strode into the plaza, clad in black robes embroidered with a custom gray Neyru sigil. His hair, tied in a long ponytail, swayed behind him as the once-boyish curves of his face sharpened into early adulthood.
At his side walked Toran, his closest friend and bonded brother-in-arms. In fact Ash exited the library a few months early to go train with Toran.
Toran nudged him gently.
"How do you feel about this ceremony, Ash? You've done your homework—so I know you expect something absurd."
Ash grinned wryly.
"Let's not jinx it. What about you—looking forward to stealing the show?"
Toran nodded.
"We'll see."
The double doors opened wide, and dozens of rows of children filled the plaza. At once, every head turned. The crowd gasped—not just because of the earlier rare awakenings but because now the Fifth Prince was there. All attention snapped to him.
Unphased, Ash and Toran approached the platform. Einar, poised as ever, glanced their way.
"Fifth Prince, you may go first."
Ash shook his head, a playful sparkle in his eyes.
"Nah, Go on ahead Toran. Let me enjoy their reactions."
Toran offered a respectful nod, stepping onto the platform with easy grace.
He placed his hand on the new tablet. A trembling flash of golden light pulsed through him. A deep hum swelled—like a sword drawn from legend.
Suddenly, his grip tightened as the raw force flooded his senses. A sung low note echoed around him. The tablet flared, illuminating every corner of the plaza.
The crowd held its breath.
Then Einar couldn't help but read the results.
"Talent Grade: Transcendent!"
"Foundation Grade: Perfect!"
"Innate Ability: Sword of the Unbroken!"
Gasps thundered through the audience.
Toran's sword materialized mid-air—bowing with layered melodies and shimmering notes. The blade itself glowed, resonating with radiant music that rippled across the hearts of all watching—harmonic arcs of light tracing every note.
He moved, and each swing conjured a chorus of ethereal clarity—a symphony made of motion.
The crowd erupted:
"A Transcendent Talent with a Perfect Foundation!"
"An awakening worthy of prophecy!"
The elite gathered—nobles, elders, seers—took a collective breath. The child's power sang like a beacon.
Toran turned, sword at rest, and met Ash's eyes across the plaza.
With calm fervor, he said: "Your turn."
Ash nodded and stepped onto the platform with casual calm. He barely cared about the result, more curious to see his family's reaction.
He placed his hand on the Awakening Tablet. It glowed softly. A hush fell over the plaza.
Then the results appeared:
Foundation Grade: Perfect
Talent Grade: Elite
Innate Ability: None
Silence.
Ash descended from the platform and returned to Toran's side.
"Well... that's something, isn't it?" he said quietly.
Toran laughed and punched Ash's shoulder good-naturedly.
"Forget this ceremony. I've swung my blade more times against you than I can count. If you're only 'Elite,' then my Transcendent talent isn't so crazy after all."
Even with his math off, his camaraderie stood unshaken.
They chatted as though the world around them — thousands of noble faces — hadn't gone still in surprise. Far above, Emperor Vaerion's hands trembled; beside him, Empress Selyra watched with a strange tightening in her eyes. Their daughters glared, fierce loyalty coiled like steel
---
The ceremony continued. Einar declared that the six Transcendent talents would receive premier training and resources — their families would ascend in status.
That evening, in the throne room, tension thickened like storm clouds.
Vaerion's voice cut through the silence:
"Impossible. A Neyru heir cannot settle for 'Elite.' Pathetic." He slammed his fists on the armrests.
Selyra's calm cracked.
"HEY! He is still our son—do not demean him like that!"
She drew in a slow breath, her tone steady but stern:
"I warned you long ago: we won't force his fate because of that blasted prophecy."
Vaerion leaned forward, fury in his eyes:
"He cannot be subpar. What future lies ahead with mere Elite? He can't even properly defend himself! Also what about the marriage? Do you really believe Vera, would allow an useless cultivator marry her daughter?"
The princesses exchanged swift glances. Their emotions were all over the place right now, they expected Ash to awaken no less than a Supreme Talent much like they did. Even though he didn't they wouldn't change their feeling for their brother. However hearing something about a marriage was absurd.
"Wait!" Nyssari broke through the tension.
"MARRIAGE?" The three sisters exclaimed all at once.
The Emperor and Empress exchanged glances before sighing.
"Yes, a marriage that will link Humans and Vampires together." Selyra spoke.
"It has already been decided and a soul bond was already formed between us and Vera." Vaerion chimed in. Before he continued. "Anyways we will focus on this some other time and don't tell that brat anything."
The sisters remained quiet and their thoughts remained silent as well.
Selyra's tone softened but remained unyielding.
"I won't let you touch Ash. We will let him be, sheltered from outside politics. He'll live under our care and our protection — not expectations. If he chooses to walk the world, he'll go with siblings by his side."
Vaerion ground his teeth, then nodded grudgingly.
"Fine. From now on, he won't be recognized as a Prince of this Empire. Only Ash Neyru — the eighth child."
Selyra nodded reluctantly.
---
Under the moon's soft luminescence in the training grounds, Ash and Toran rested.
Ash finally broke the silence:
"When do you think you'll begin cultivation?"
Toran shrugged, fatigue shading his voice.
"Tomorrow. The Emperor summoned the six top talents again — I think that's when cultivation begins for us."
Ash grinned, wryly competitive:
"Don't get too comfortable. I won't fall behind you."
Toran stood, offering a playful fist bump.
"Deal. When I'm free next, we spar again."
As Toran departed, Ash watched him leave, then let a small smile curl onto his lips.
Alone at last, in the silent night, he activated his system in his mind:
"Riya, show me everything."
A moment passed, and the familiar hum of his system flickered in his mind.
[Ash Neyru]
Age: 10
Race / Bloodline: Locked
Cultivation: Awakened
Talent: Undefined
Foundation Grade: Perfect
Innate Abilities
— Recursion
— Eye of Infinity
Ash blinked, and his vision blurred for just a second — before sharpening into something unnatural. His deep blue irises shifted to ash grey, glowing faintly beneath his eyelids. At their center, black infinity symbols spun slowly, pulsing with power.
Riya concealed the effect. So only Ash could see them for now.
"Whoa…" Ash murmured, bringing a hand to his face.
[Eye of Infinity]
A metaphysical vision that allows the user to observe the infinite potential paths of anything they focus on — movement, power, growth, even fate itself.
-Can perceive the 'evolutionary endpoint' of skills, people, and battle styles.
-Grants instinctive guidance toward flawless technique in swordplay and mana manipulation.
-Allows limited foresight in combat when focused.
-The more battle-tested the user becomes, the deeper the Eye sees.
-Where Recursion learns through trial, the Eye of Infinity sees the ultimate destination.-
----
Ash exhaled. "That's… incredible."
But the system wasn't finished.
[TASK 1]
-Reach Domain Forging Realm
-Unlock Sword Aura
- Defeat 100 Cultivators of equal or higher realm
Weaker opponents will not count.
No assistance or interference allowed.
Reward - Unlock Created Race and Bloodline
Ash grinned, and the symbols in his eyes spun faster for a moment before fading back into subtle greys.
"That seems like a lot," he said, standing up, brushing the dirt from his robes. "But I'm prepared."
His fists clenched. Not with anger — but with silent resolve.
"Let them rise. Let them shine."
"I'll carve my own story..."