The void was endless, formless, a sea of pure potential without memory or anchor. A soul drifted there, untethered from any specific past, ready for the cycle of rebirth ordained by cosmic laws.
Suddenly, golden light pierced the nothingness. A mechanical yet majestic voice echoed through the soul's essence:
"Reincarnation sequence initiated. Soul compatibility confirmed with target vessel in Elyndor. Binding [Supreme Omni-System]… Integration complete at 100%. Host will awaken with no burdensome prior-life recollections—only latent potential and the System as eternal companion. Welcome, future Sovereign."
The soul surged forward, pulled through countless layers of reality until it merged seamlessly with a newborn infant in a grand obsidian-and-crystal chamber high within Sylvaine Citadel, the seat of Duke House Sylvaine in the Kingdom of Lumina.
The baby's first cry rang out, strong and clear. Mana in the air swirled excitedly around the tiny form, aura particles danced like fireflies, and faint qi threads coiled instinctively toward the dantian area. The duke and duchess, both peak existences in multiple systems, wept with joy. "Our heir! Elaric Sylvaine shall carry our bloodline to new heights!"
Servants and mages bowed deeply, flooding the room with congratulatory spells and aura blessings. The System interface remained hidden, dormant, waiting for the child's mind to mature enough to interface without harm.
Years blurred in the protected life of a noble scion. Elaric grew healthy and sharp-witted, trained lightly in basic etiquette and movement forms, yet showed only average talent in early tests—enough to avoid shame, not enough to spark true hope in his ambitious family. Whispers in the citadel spoke of pressure from rival houses, looming beast tides, and the ancient prophecy of a "Void Child" who would unify all systems.
No one suspected the golden interface sleeping within the boy, counting down to full activation on his tenth birthday.
The stage was set. The Sovereign's journey would begin with a single "ding."