At the Eldraven Estate — Night Before the Return
The moonlight bled through the curtains of the Eldraven training wing, casting long silver streaks across the marbled floor. Jin stood alone, shirtless, in front of a massive arcane mural that depicted the Eldraven lineage warriors, archmages, and sovereigns carved into history.
"Alrich Eldraven... my father," Jin muttered under his breath.
He stared at the face carved into the mural's center Lord Alrich, the undefeated dragon-slayer.
Jin's fists clenched.
"I've become stronger… but to him, I'll still be the 'weakest Eldraven.'"
His mind shifted briefly to his last sparring session with Kael.
"Even that idiot is catching up."
Jin turned away and faced the obsidian training pillar. His hand rose, aura flaring crimson-blue.
"I'm not losing to anyone."
He struck a blinding flash.
BOOM.
The entire pillar shattered into a cloud of smoke and splinters.
He exhaled slowly and turned toward the window, eyes scanning the stars.
"Tomorrow, let's see if Father's eyes still hold disappointment."
---
At Kael's House – The Next Morning
Kael sat at his wooden desk, still in a hoodie and loose pants, sipping a half-cold cup of coffee while staring at a notepad.
He took a breath and jotted:
---
[Daily Routine — Starting Today]
2 hours — Elemental Mana Mastery (Fire Focus)
3 hours — Mana Circle Practice (Precision & Speed)
Long-Term Goal: Create my own Meta Realm
Side Note: Investigate the Real Kael Vernier's disappearance
Why are my own memories so foggy? Who was I before transmigration...?
---
Kael paused, staring at the word "transmigration."
"None of it makes sense. The pain, the gaps, the... merge."
He leaned back.
"But whatever the truth is, I need to find it. Eventually."
He closed the notebook.
"For now… sleep."
Kael turned off the lamp, the room dimming to silence. The hum of the distant city buzzed faintly outside his window.
---
That Night — The Dream
It began with light then the light fractured into chaos.
Kael stood, floating helplessly in a void, watching the sky tear open.
Celestial titans appeared. On one side, Hades, in a cloak of black fire, wielding a scythe-like blade that looked eerily familiar a massive version of Vanta's Edge.
Beside him stood Zeus, electricity dancing like serpents along his arms.
On the other side, Odin, his one eye glowing, raised a cosmic spear. Thor, hair like burning silver, stood with Mjölnir crackling in his hand.
The battlefield stretched beyond comprehension titans clashing like walking cataclysms.
Then it happened.
CLANG!
Mjölnir struck Hades' massive Vanta-blade.
A chunk of it broke off and soared through the astral field hurtling straight at Kael.
The fragment struck Kael in the chest.
AGONY.
He screamed as blinding pain lanced through him. His hand spasmed and the snake tattoo of Vanta's Edge spread, coiling like a living serpent around his entire arm.
It hissed, eyes glowing violet and then bit into his chest.
The snake grew massive and swallowed him whole.
---
Kael bolted awake, drenched in sweat, shirt clinging to his skin.
He clutched his chest still sore where the dream-snake had bitten.
"What… the fuck was that?"
He looked at his arm the snake tattoo still there.
But now… it glowed faintly purple.