Sora had known the moment the summoning circle stabilized.
The resonance had settled—not violently, not chaotically—but with a clean, unmistakable harmony that resonated through the chamber and into her chest. The ritual had succeeded.
Still, she did not move at once.
Only when the last traces of light faded did Sora step forward, her measured footsteps echoing softly across the marble as her gaze settled on the two figures standing at the center of the chamber.
Two heroes.
She studied them carefully.
The first—brown-haired, golden-eyed—stood slightly stiff, his posture betraying tension rather than training. His appearance was above average by any standard: well-proportioned features, clear skin, the kind of face that would draw glances without commanding a room. His golden eyes lingered on her a moment too long, wide with disbelief—and something else he failed to hide entirely.
Bewilderment, yes.
But also fascination.
Sora recognized the look immediately. She had seen it countless times before, in nobles and knights alike. She neither encouraged nor rebuked it, merely acknowledged it and moved on.
Her gaze shifted.
And she faltered.
The second boy—white-haired, dark red-eyed—stood with a stillness that felt almost unnatural. His hair fell like white darkness, catching the chamber's light in a way that made it seem unreal, as though it did not fully belong to this world. His features were impossibly refined, balanced to a degree that defied coincidence.
Beautiful.
No—unbelievably so.
Sora felt a brief, uncharacteristic haze pass through her thoughts.
This is—
She stopped herself.
It was the first time she had encountered someone whose appearance stood on the same level as her own—someone whose presence did not diminish hers, nor bow to it, but existed alongside it, equal and distinct. His dark red eyes held the same bewilderment as the other boy's, yet there was something beneath it that unsettled her.
A depth.
A quiet, inscrutable mysteriousness that made her feel, for the briefest instant, as though she were the one being observed.
Sora shook her head sharply and coughed lightly into her hand, the small sound cutting cleanly through the chamber.
Both boys looked toward her.
"Please," she said evenly, her composure returning as naturally as breath. "Allow me to explain."
She folded her hands before her chest, her voice taking on the clarity of formal declaration.
"You have been summoned here as heroes from the mortal world," Sora said. "This summoning was performed to seek your aid in our war against the Demon Lord—and the prophesied unsealing of the Evil Divinity."
The words hung heavy in the air.
The brown-haired boy's eyes widened instantly.
"A-A hero…?" he repeated, awe flooding his voice. His posture straightened, excitement bubbling up unchecked. "So that means—powers, right? Like in games or novels?"
Sora noted his reaction without judgment.
Such responses were not uncommon.
She continued.
"You currently stand within the imperial sanctum of the Atlantis Empire," she said. "It was the Atlantis imperial family who chose to break a long-standing taboo—one that forbade the summoning of otherworldly beings."
A faint murmur rippled among the watching priests.
"The Divine Church approved the ritual under extraordinary circumstances," Sora went on. "Humanity's threats have grown too severe. To counter them, the Empire sought to bolster its combat power through otherworldly heroes."
The brown-haired boy looked almost radiant now, as though the weight of destiny had ignited something within him.
But the white-haired boy spoke.
His voice was calm, measured—neither panicked nor thrilled.
"Even if that's true," he said, dark red eyes meeting hers steadily, "we're just normal people. High school students. We couldn't possibly help in a war against demons or Divinities."
The words were reasonable.
Too reasonable.
Sora felt a flicker of relief at the chance to clarify.
"That is precisely why otherworldly heroes are summoned," she replied. "Those born of this world cannot receive what you can."
She gestured subtly, and several priests in the distance moved at once, parting to reveal an object resting upon an elevated pedestal.
A crystal—vast, translucent, and softly glowing—came into view.
The World Connection Crystal.
Sora turned slightly and pointed toward it.
"That crystal serves as a bridge," she explained. "It connects you directly to the World itself. Through it, you will hear the Voice of the World—and receive sacred gifts unique to you."
Her blue eyes returned to the two boys.
"These blessings are the reason heroes from another world are chosen."
The crystal pulsed faintly, as if resonating.
Sora drew a quiet breath and inclined her head slightly.
"Before we proceed," she said, her tone gentle yet ceremonial, "may I know your names?"
The brown-haired boy reacted instantly, as though he had been waiting for the cue.
"Yes! Of course!" he said, straightening his back with renewed enthusiasm. "I'm Kouki Caldwell."
His golden eyes shone, posture brimming with confidence as if he had already accepted the role being placed upon him.
Sora nodded, committing the name to memory.
Her gaze shifted to the white haired boy.
For a brief moment, he hesitated—just enough to be noticeable, but not enough to seem suspicious. Then he spoke.
"…Null Abysmal."
The name settled into the chamber like a foreign note in a familiar melody.
Sora blinked once.
She repeated it softly, carefully. "Null… Abysmal."
There was no mockery in her tone—only gentle curiosity. "That is a rather… peculiar name."
For the first time since his arrival, the white-haired boy's composure wavered. A faint flush crept across his cheeks, subtle yet unmistakable, and he averted his gaze just slightly.
"…It's complicated," he replied.
Sora smiled—small, understanding—and chose not to pursue it further.
"Very well," she said. "Then, Kouki Caldwell. Null Abysmal."
Her expression grew solemn as she turned toward the crystal.
""The next step is the most important" Sora continued sincerely. "Please place your hands upon the World Connection Crystal."
The crystal responded with a soft pulse.
At once, Kouki pointed at himself, incredulous and thrilled. "Me? First?"
Without waiting for confirmation, he stepped forward confidently, boots tapping against the marble as he approached the softly glowing crystal—his excitement barely contained, as if destiny itself were calling his name.
****
Kouki stepped up to the pedestal.
He swallowed.
"Alright then," Kouki muttered, half to himself. "Hero stuff… here I come."
He placed his palm against the crystal.
The moment skin met light, the chamber vanished.
Sound collapsed inward, folding into a single, immense silence. Kouki's vision drowned in white—not blinding, but endless, as though he had fallen into a sky with no horizon.
Then—
A voice.
It did not come from ahead or behind. It did not echo. It simply existed, resonating directly within his consciousness.
« Kouki Caldwell »
His breath caught.
« Child of the mortal world, Your existence carries potential unbound by the magical realm's laws »
« In recognition of your will to defy mortality and awaken…»
« A sacred gift shall be granted »
The light surged.
Pain lanced through his body—not sharp, but overwhelming, as though every cell were being rewritten at once. Kouki screamed, though no sound escaped. The sensation peaked, then snapped into perfect clarity.
[Sacred Gift Confirmed]
The voice shifted, heavier now.
« Ability Name: ✦ Sovereign Ascension »
Understanding poured into him.
Sovereign Ascension — a unique ability that allows the user to temporarily transcend their current limits by synchronizing their intent with the world's flow. As long as their resolve did not waver, their physical abilities, magic affinity, and resistance to interference would scale dynamically against opponents stronger than themselves.
«Bear it well»
The white void shattered.
The crystal dimmed and generated a holographic window showing Kouki's stats.
Kouki opened his eyes and checked the holographic window.
Status:-
{Name: Kouki Caldwell
Age: 18
Title: Otherworldly Hero
Stats:-
Strength: 9
Defence: 8
Stamina: 9
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 4
Sacred Gift: Sovereign Ascension}
The chamber erupted.
Priests gasped. Guards stiffened. Arcane instruments screamed as their readings spiked wildly.
Sora stared, blue eyes wide.
"Sovereign Ascension…?" she whispered.
"By the scriptures—this is one of the rarest sacred gifts s ever bestowed by the World!" a priest voiced in shock.
"A true hero…" an imperial guard murmured.
Jubilation spread like wildfire.
Voices rose—praise, prayers, exclamations echoing through the vaulted chamber.
Hearing their exclamations, Kouki's chest swelled with pride.
The praise washed over him like a rising tide, each exclamation striking deeper than the last.
A true hero.
Chosen by the World.
One of the rarest blessings.
His golden eyes shone brighter as he pushed himself to his feet, shoulders straightening almost unconsciously. The lingering ache from the crystal faded beneath a surge of confidence that felt as natural as breathing. This—this was what it meant to be special. To be acknowledged. To matter.
In that moment, surrounded by celebration and reverence, Kouki Caldwell did not merely feel like a hero.
He believed he had been born to be one.
He glanced slightly at Sora. Seeing her surprised expression, he hummed with satisfaction.
"Kouki Caldwell," Sora composed herself smoothly, offering him a polite smile. "On behalf of the Atlantis Empire and the Divine Church, I congratulate you on receiving such a rare sacred gift."
Kouki grinned, pride flickering unmistakably across his face.
Sora then turned.
Her gaze settled on the silently watching white haired boy.