Vakuma is a continent of the strong. People live by the blade and honor. For a thousand years, Vakuma has resisted Alapurian invasions and has driven them back every single time. Every man on Vakuma knows how to thrust with a spear, how to cut with a sword, and how to cleave with an axe.
It is said that Vakuman children are born with weapons in their hands and the fiercest looks on their faces. Vakuma is a continent full of strength.
There exist three superpowers on this continent. In the East, there are the lands of Liuk, the Folk of the Sea, the first line of defense against Alapurian invasion. They are the people who live by the way of the sea. The lands of Liuk receive aid from the other two superpowers for the invasions.
In the South are the abundant lands of the spiritualists, blessed with the most fertile fields in the entire world, and the ability to connect to another realm of supernatural spirits. The Southern lands of Kal'Hagi are the only ones on Vakuma most similar to the mages of Alapur.
The dominant power on the Vakuman continent is the Empire of Valkulan, which occupies the North and West of the continent. It has the largest area and the most powerful military.
It is the final line of defense against the continent of Alapur, assuming they can get there again. The Empire of Valkulan is also home to the Rakaru Archduchy.
A family of Knights, a millennium old, and the strongest force on the Vakuman continent, surpassing the Empire they serve. The Military strength of the Rakaru family is unmatched.
The classifications of strength on Vakuma are as follows, from weakest to strongest:
Ordinary Class Citizen, Adventurer, Veteran, Warrior, High Class Warrior, Squire, Knight, Intermediate Knight, High-Grade Knight, Millennium Knight, Hyperion Knight, Paragon Knight, and God.
There exists only one person at the level of Paragon Knight in the entire world, and that man is the current head of the Rakaru Family, Evan Rakaru, Ethan's father. Furthermore, in the entire continent of Vakuma, only six Hyperion Knights exist, and four of these Knights are loyal to the Rakaru Family, practically raised by them.
The Rakaru Family has been the most active against Alapurian invasions since the very beginning, that was, until William Rakaru, Ethan's Grandfather stopped the Rakaru family, and opted for an age of peace.
Many criticized his rule, and some even blamed William for being the first man to bring shame to the Rakaru Lineage, but at his time, William was the most powerful man alive, so no one really dared to do anything, not even the Emperor. And so, the Rakaru family abstained from participating in the defense for a period of eighteen years. It was done shortly before the birth of Evan's twins.
Three months later, a pair of twins were born in the Rakaru Estate: Ethan and his sister, Alicia.
Ethan inherited most of his mother's features, whilst his sister leaned more on her father. However, this was not the most glaring difference between them. Ethan and his sister were special.
Twins are a bad omen on Vakuma; they are perceived as lesser human beings solely because of Ki. Ki is always split between twins, and almost all of them can never be above even a normal human being unless under extremely special circumstances.
Scholars assume it is because of the connection one's Ki shares with their soul. Twins are presumed to be one soul split in two, and thus, Ki follows. Every set of twins born on Vakuma always has one thing in common.
Low amount of Ki.
The rating of Ki for an average baby on Vakuma is 12-15, with the ability to grow to a minimum of 20. Gifted people are born with a Ki rating of 24-29, with the ability to grow to a minimum of 40. The extremely gifted are born with a Ki Rating of 43-46, with the ability to grow to a minimum of 60.
Every set of twins falls below these standards. Talent is distributed unevenly, and geniuses become normal, or the extremely gifted become geniuses. The amount of Ki decides everything in Vakuma.
However, the Rakaru twins were abnormal. They were the first set of twins to set two records.
Ethan Rakaru, son of Evan Rakaru and Elizabeth Valkulan, was born with the lowest Ki rating in history, a measly 6.
Alicia Rakaru, daughter of Evan Rakaru and Elizabeth Valkulan, was born with a Ki rating of 96, 6 points less than the highest Ki rating ever recorded.
From birth, Ethan had been given the worst odds. Many criticized his birth and called him the second stain of the Rakaru family. Many began to believe this was retribution for abstaining from the holy defense of the continent.
The fall of the Rakaru family. The first true stain of the family. The cursed disgrace. Ethan's birth had done significant damage to the Rakaru family's image, however, despite all of that.
Evan Rakaru and William Rakaru had declared Ethan Rakaru to be the next heir of the Rakaru family, defying everybody's expectations.