The AHIA clan is a small clan, its relevance on the planet is null as a force with decision-making power that could affect the status quo of other clans.
Orion is a planet with little significance in the universe, divided into five continents.
Euron Continent: known for its great abundance of mineral resources, this continent holds the largest sources of cosmic crystal on the planet.
Amora Continent: known for its diversity of landscapes, it has the largest flowers on the planet. Within it are found the most valuable and magical natural elixirs of the planet. It is also called the paradise of alchemists and chemists. The fiercest creatures known on the planet have 60% of their habitat in the forests of this continent.
Orion Continent: the center of the planet, home to the headquarters of the most powerful organizations on Orion. 90% of the forces considered relevant powers have their base here. It is rich in cosmic energy, with a large concentration of it in all possible states — liquid, gaseous, solid. It is said to be the only place on the planet where primordial cosmic energy can be found, a substance of great assistance in evolving to level 8.
Argia Continent: known for the lack of governmental law; here prevail the laws of clans, sects, families, and powerful individuals. Controlled by five distinct families — Zhou, Wanda, Carvalho, Gomes, and Smith — founded by cultivators without elder ties. This continent hosts the largest black market on the planet and shelters its greatest criminals. The government does not act because too many interests are intertwined here.
Arfon Continent: the weakest of the five, yet the most famous. It is said that the battle of the Gods took place here, scarring the ecosystem completely. Once rich in cosmic energy, it now has the lowest density of it, with scarce resources. Still, it is visited by the most powerful individuals of the planet who seek the Battlefield of the Gods, for there lie the most powerful techniques and divine weapons — though damaged, still mighty. The entrance to the Battlefield constantly shifts location, impossible to predict precisely.
Cabon City is a small city south of Walana (capital of Arfon). It spans 300,000 km². It is controlled by the AHIA Clan, which earned the right to govern this small city 100,000 years ago due to its contribution in the First Star War.
Though a small clan, within the 300,000 km² radius of Cabon, AHIA is the uncontested king. Against great powers, it is protected by the government. The government does not interfere in small conflicts but helps each family, clan, or individual protect their territory — except in duly registered coups d'état.
Of the 3 billion km² of Arfon, only 60% is inhabited; the rest are areas with almost null cosmic energy density, making them unattractive.
AHIA Grey held Dry, who looked at him as if analyzing the situation.
—The way Dry looks doesn't seem like that of a newborn! Those eyes are the eyes of someone who has already seen the world. I believe he may be a reincarnate. Bring the soul stone,– said Grey to the other clan members present.
When he heard that, Geremi — now called Dry — stopped crying and looked into Grey's eyes in shock.
What the hell is this old man talking about... I just realized I've got 20 years of life ahead of me and now you come at me with this reincarnation crap… And when did I even look at you!? I was busy lamenting my fate and you pull this nonsense, thought Dry, glaring at Grey with resentment.
The other clan members were overjoyed when they heard what the great elder had said; one of them went to fetch the soul stone.
For any clan or organization in the universe, having a reincarnated one means gaining a potentially hyper-powerful being added to the family.
Reincarnates are beings who are reborn; they possess abnormal talent compared to most, with various advantages depending on the level of their past life and the world they once existed in.
On the planet Orion, when a reincarnate reaches level 5, they receive an invitation allowing them to enter the special forces of the central continent, a direct benefit to the family the reincarnate was born into.
The soul stone is a natural artifact shaped like a transparent spherical crystal; it is unbreakable, has an 8 mm radius, portable, and costs nothing to maintain or use. Anyone can have one, simply by filling out a form at the nearest government office. It is the only level 10 artifact on the planet.
No one knows why the government distributes the most advanced known artifact for free, but since it has no other use beyond telling whether a soul is pure or reincarnated, no one asks — for a powerful but useless artifact holds no value.
Grey noticed Dry glaring at him with resentment; he smiled and said:
—Dry… don't worry. It doesn't matter who you were in another life. What matters is that in this life you are an AHIA. The clan will protect and support you in everything. What I hope is that you will do the same for us.–
Hearing this, Dry felt calmer. They brought forth the transparent crystal, and Grey told Dry to place his hands on it.
Dry touched the soul stone; the once-transparent stone turned white at his touch. When the clan members saw this, most were disappointed, for everyone knows the soul stone changes to only two possible colors with distinct meanings: white means a pure soul; black means a reincarnated soul, with or without memory.
The crystal never fails — after all, level 10 is no joke.
Dry looked at the crystal that changed color upon his touch. Even without knowing the meaning, he noticed the disappointment on nearly all faces — except for the young man who first held him and the young woman he assumed was his mother in this life. Their faces showed relief.
—Even without being a reincarnate… my grandson will be extraordinary, not inferior to one,– said Grey, looking at the crystal with a gentle smile.
What!!? Not being a reincarnate… What's going on here… Oh shit, you who brought me here, answer!!! Dry demanded of the letters.
[Scanning agent's soul]
[Soul detected ✓ pure, no past lives]
[Scanning soul's origin]
[Origin detected ✓ Primordia Zero]
[Conclusion ✓ the agent's soul bears no traces of a past life; the agent's soul originated in this world; no traces of other worlds detected in the whole space-time of existence]
[Correction: the unit is not responsible for bringing the agent into this world; the current agent is a native of this world, chosen by the unit among billions of candidates in the universe to be an agent due to talent level 8]
Dry was stunned at what the letters told him. Wait a minute… You're called unit, and me being born in this world has nothing to do with you!!? he asked while processing what he saw.
[This unit's name is 0©©+ translated as "Zero Infima Plus" in the common tongue. Correct: the agent's birth is not the responsibility of this unit or any sentient interference; it is merely a random outcome of the chaos of existence, like everything that is born naturally.]
-_-… if my birth has nothing to do with you… why are you going to kill me once you choose a new agent!!? Dry asked, wanting to devour the letters.
[Answering the agent: The unit is in a state of fusion with the agent's soul; this causes both the agent's soul and the unit to share the same information — each has a copy of the other's data. The unit's protocol does not allow this information to fall into third-party hands; thus comes the process of obliteration.]
Dry stared at the letters, stunned by the simplicity of the reason. Even when he was Geremi, he never left witnesses or evidence, and now he himself was both witness and evidence; if he doesn't die, then who must!? He began crying again, this time louder, thrashing in Grey's arms in despair.
Grey placed him in the arms of Safira Johns, Dry's mother. Safira held him close against her chest, rocking him gently.
—Calm down, my dear… don't grieve,– said Safira, softly humming a lullaby.
Dry heard the melody, caught a pleasant scent, and stopped crying. Already half-asleep, before drifting off completely, he heard Safira whisper:
—Welcome to the Clan, my dear!!!–