Paele Horizon's life had been going downhill these last two months. At only 18, he saw multiple events that emotionally broke him. His sister died in a plane crash. His parents died in a car crash. His two brothers went out one night to drown their heartbreak in alcohol and were stabbed to death. His 13 year old sister died in a school shooting. His extended family had a reunion and a gas leak killed them all.
Now sitting on top of the high building, he felt no regret, no despair, no sadness, only pure entertainment. He was reading the end of his favorite novel, The Crown of Ashes. The protagonist was a dragon who went to Nova Ridge Academy, a high school where the nine races lived.
Angels
Demons
Dragons
Elves
Humans
Fairies
Sirens
Werewolves
Vampires
Humans were basically nothing except for the rare artifact users, mages, and exorcists. Most humans were unaware of the supernatural world. After reading the last bit of the novel where the MC graduated, he closed the book, set it down beside him, and jumped off the building.
When Paele Horizon regained consciousness, he was in a dark void. There was a woman. She had pale skin, black hair, and bright blue eyes.
On closer look, he knew her. She was the author of The Crown of Ashes, Karmen Sanders, one of the most successful female authors.
"Hey, my first reader. If I gave you five wishes, would you stop this foolishness and live?"
Paele thought for a moment, then said, "Yes."
"Then go on and choose your wishes."
"I wish to be born human." Paele said that he wanted to crush the supernatural as a human.
"I wish to be able to wield both divinity and mana." This was important because it gave him both of the world's power sources.
"I want one of the eighteen divine weapons, and my fourth wish is for you to join me as a vampire." He needed a powerful weapon and any of the divine weapons were good, and he also needed a powerful ally. Vampires were powerful and the goddess was a good choice.
"My last wish is for a convenient identity in that world similar to my current one." He did not want a new family. That would hurt too much.
"Hey, if you fell for me already, then I guess I will come with you," Karmen teased.
Then it all went black.
When Paele woke up, he was on a bed in a bedroom with white walls. Karmen was sitting in a chair across from him.
"In this world, your name is Paele Horizon just like before. However, you are now an orphan who inherited a house. Well, we inherited a house from my parents and your adopted parents. You and I are both 18, and our enrollment in Nova Ridge Academy starts in two weeks. This was done to connect us and make you a human while making sure I was a vampire. You never specified which divine weapon you wanted, so I gave you Broken Halo since it was the only one never used. If you are wondering what its abilities are, I will tell you."
1. Crown Shards
Breaks the sword into small fragments that the user can control.
2. Summoner
The user can summon the weapon at any time.
3. Divine Regeneration
The user can passively regenerate.
4. Fallen State
The user gets black wings and eyes turn black. Mana and divinity spike exponentially.
5. Prophet
The user can see with 360 degree vision and look up to 1 to 5 seconds into the future.
6. Telekinetic Control
The user can telekinetically control Broken Halo.
7. Halo Rift
Broken Halo can slice open small or big rifts in space.
8. Weapon Duplication
The user can make duplicates of Broken Halo that disappear after use.
9. Seraph Null
Broken Halo nullifies supernatural abilities.
10. Crown Reign
For a short amount of time, the user gains enhanced control over other abilities. Time can be enhanced with the bond of the weapon. Once fully bonded, it permanently unlocks the true tenth ability.
Paele found these abilities to be good, but with his current amount of divinity, they were useless.
Paele got up from the bed and used the Divine Screen, a screen that was used in the novel by the eighteen divine artifact users.
Bond: 10
Mana: 90/90
Divinity: 130/130
"Let's go get some food. I am starving." Paele's stomach growled very loudly.
Paele's stomach growled again, loud enough that it echoed off the white walls.
Karmen sighed dramatically, crossing her arms.
"Fine. I will make some sandwiches. Just wait here, fool."
Her tone was sharp, but Paele could tell it was not aimed at him. Her nose twitched slightly, a subtle, irritated wrinkle.
He raised an eyebrow.
"…Dog nearby?"
Karmen clicked her tongue. "Obviously. Vampires and canines do not mix. Their scent is like nails on a chalkboard dipped in garlic."
Paele snorted. "That is oddly specific."
"Shut up." She stood and walked toward the kitchen. "Just sit there and do not break anything."
Paele leaned back on the bed, exhaling slowly. The Divine Screen still hovered in front of him, glowing faintly.
Bond: 10
Mana: 90/90
Divinity: 130/130
He stared at the numbers.
Weak.
Not by human standards, but by supernatural ones. Angels were born in thousands. Dragons with tens of thousands. Demons with bottomless wells of mana.
And he had 130.
He closed the screen with a flick of his hand.
"Whatever," he muttered. "Everyone starts somewhere."
From the kitchen, Karmen called out, "If you are talking to yourself, I swear I will throw these sandwiches out the window."
Paele smirked.
"Relax. I am not that hungry."
"You are lying," she shot back.
He was.
But he did not mind. For the first time in months, he was not alone. And he had a weapon that could one day shake the heavens.
Broken Halo.
A divine artifact with ten abilities, and a hidden one waiting for him at the end of the bond.
Paele's eyes sharpened.
"Nova Ridge Academy," he whispered.
"Let us see what this world thinks a human cannot do."