Western Continent
It had been a week since the boy had entered the cave. Time had eroded not only the supplies stored in his space ring, but also the forces that sustained his body and soul. The necessary reserves had been exhausted, leaving only artifacts of little practical use in this dark time.
Deep in the cave, shrouded in icy shadows and oppressive silence, his sister's corpse began to decompose. The air, filled with a putrid stench, became as thick as pitch. For the first three days, the boy remained in absolute silence, lost in a mental abyss. But at the end of the third day, something changed.
I decided to act.
He began to extract his own blood, one liter a day. To avoid perishing, he used regeneration potions — which, for someone who had not yet evolved, had a powerful effect. Before, his psychological state prevented him from using them, but now, even with his mind still torn apart, he had enough clarity to execute the plan he had drawn up.
By the end of a week, he had enough blood to trace a ritual matrix four meters in diameter. Dark magic circles, unlike other arts, project blood as their primary conductor—and depending on the ritual, the requirements varied in volume, purity, and intent.
With steady hands, the boy first drew the outer circle , representing the material world. Within it, a smaller circle , symbol of the human being — of himself. Superimposed on these, a square , denoting voluntary subordination. In the center, a four- pointed star , delimiting the vertices of the invoked power. Finally, a contained circle , where the soul would be sealed or freed.
Everything done with resolution, in silence.
With the blood still dripping fresh between the lines of the matrix, he began to chant. Using the forgotten language of the Baboans , he solemnly announced his wish, the exact location of the desired entity, his sacrifice, his offering—and finally, he paid his respects.
The cave shook. The light was swallowed up as if devoured by an insatiable abyss. Everything was plunged into absolute darkness.
The boy took two steps forward. But there was no fear in his eyes. Only resolve.
From the condensed darkness rose a black smoke, which seemed to drip from the ceiling and merge with the shadows. Slowly it married the shape of a woman—or something that might once have been one.
Covered in blackened scales, her grotesque nakedness was obscured by a viscous liquid that oozed between her scales. She walked without sound, but her presence roared within the soul. When she opened her mouth, the voice that came out was like the cry of a terrified child—half-hearted, shrill, her teeth chattering like stones in a cold cave.
— Human... — said the creature, looking at the boy with eyes as deep as abyssal wells — ...who dared to summon this demon from hell... Speak your wish. Present your sacrifice.
His serpentine gaze falls on the improvised altar, where the lifeless body of a girl lay—the sister he loved.
The grotesque entity shuddered.
— Human… your sacrifice does not satisfy me. I will take your flesh, your blood… and your soul. — his voice sounded like an echo of death dragging chains.
the boy looked at him with disdain. His smile, crooked and dark, did not belong to a child—it was the kind of smile you see on ancient executioners, not on boys.
— Demon... it is you who will be my sacrifice. — his voice cut through the air like a sharp blade — I will be the one to take your soul, your flesh and your blood.
A dry laugh escaped his lips. Then another. Within seconds, the cave was discovered by a wicked cackle, growing more insane and distorted.
— Hahaha ... Hahahaha ... Hahahahahaha !
He looked possessed. His eyes glowed with an unnatural, almost sickly flame.
The entity became enraged.
— Human… how dare you insult an infernal being?! MORE!
She reached out, claws snapping in the air, and lunged forward to grab him—but in the next instant, she was stopped. A purple glow snaked around the edges of the magic array, and the demon's figure was pushed back by invisible chains.
I was trapped.
Her eyes widened. Her fury turned to favor. The entity's eyes fixed on the parchment the boy held—an ancient manuscript, with black runes that pulsed like damned hearts. Fear filled its form.
She tried to escape. She struggled inside the matrix like a cornered beast, but there was no escape. The entire cave shook with her resistance, but the magical prison kept her contained, immobile, condemned.
Sub-Saharan Continent
Within a ten-hectare radius, what had once been a lush forest now looked like a wasteland of ash and rubble. Trees had been reduced to stilettos, the ground twisted as if torn apart by titanic or necessary forces. In the center of the chaos, Felicia and Fernando exchanged devastating blows.
Each strike between his attacks caused the air to explode in shockwaves. The wind roared as if trying to escape from there.
Physically, they were on equal footing. But in technique, Fernando had the advantage. His movements were cleaner, more precise. Felicia , on the other hand, had superior control over the spiritual flow, manipulating elemental energy with greater agility. However, her advantage was undone by the Art of Gravity that Fernando mastered.
In a brutal gesture, Fernando dug both hands into the ground . The earth vibrated . Two rocky columns rose up like titan arms, forming fists more than five feet in diameter. With a roar, the fists shot at Felicia , cutting through the air with brutal force.
Felicia responded with lethal elegance. With a twist of her wrist, she channeled her elemental power and raised a mountain before her.
— BOOM.
The fist slammed into the mountain. Stone hit stone. The impact shook the ground. The fist shattered into pieces, and the mountain cracked, falling like a dead colossus—but Felicia was unharmed.
Fernando then whispered:
— Graviton .
In the next instant, the space around Felicia distorted. An invisible gravitational field enveloped her, binding her like intangible chains. Her feet sank into the ground. The air in her lungs grew denser. She felt the weight of the world crashing down on her.
The swords she held became anchors—their weight quadrupled by the second. She grunted, teeth clenched, and was forced to release the blades, which dug into the ground like coffin nails.
Fernando watched her with impassive eyes. No words. Just presence.
Fernando remained motionless, his feet firmly planted on the ground as if they were roots fused to the planet. When he activated Graviton , he could not move — his mind was entirely focused, bending space, distorting the mass around his target.
Gravity was not a force. It was a consequence.
By pressing on space with its mass, a body created an invisible curvature—a tilt in the fabric of the universe. Bodies with less mass were naturally drawn into this gravitational depression. This was the law. A law that Fernando mastered and manipulated.
Graviton seemed straightforward at first glance , it involved an intricate process. First, he pinpointed a specific point in space. Then, he manipulated the elemental density around it, drastically increasing the apparent mass of the region. Only then did the gravitational effect manifest.
In scientific terms, ordinary gravity exerted about 9.8 N/kg . But with his mastery of the Earth element , Fernando could alter the mass of any object within his zone of influence, amplifying the gravitational force to absurd levels — like making a feather weigh a ton.
For this, a high cognitive understanding was necessary. Gravity was generated by the Earth, but the one who distorted it there... was Fernando. The greater the mass, the greater the curvature. The greater the drag. The greater the dominance.
Back on the battlefield, Felicia struggled to avoid being crushed.
Step.Step .
His feet dragged as if invisible chains were attached to his body. Every step was a miracle. His face was drawn with effort, sweat trickled down his temples, his muscles trembled under the artificial weight.
Fernando watched with a restrained smile. He raised the gravitational pressure around her even higher, gathering all his elemental power. The stones on the ground cracked under the force that leaked around them. Now, they both stood motionless, like two statues caught on a razor's edge.
The balance was precarious—and it was crumbling.
Graviton technique was incredibly demanding in terms of spiritual energy. The elemental conversion was rapidly eroding Fernando's reserves. Felicia , on the other hand, was channeling all her remaining strength just to resist. Her face was pale. Her lips were trembling.
If there had been a third fighter there, either one would have lost.
But Felicia was already tired of that impasse.
Suddenly, a different force began to gather within her— it wasn't spiritual power, but soul power . A raw, uncontrollable, wild energy. Her eyes lit up with an intense red light, like coals about to explode.
Roar.ROAR .
The sound pierced the heavens, piercing the very air.
A colossal figure appeared behind her. An Earth Dragon , made of soul energy and ancient power. Scales like tectonic plates, eyes like blazing volcanoes. It opened its mouth and let out a roar that caused the clouds to scatter in despair.
— BOOM.
Fernando's gravitational field shattered like fragile glass. The shockwave threw him backwards—his body sliced through the air like an arrow, spinning wildly until he fell dozens of meters away, like a kite with its strings cut.
The Dragon, free, dove back into Felicia 's body , fusing with her in a golden glow. Her hair danced with electricity, and her presence was now overwhelming.
Fernando stood up slowly, coughing lightly. The impact was still reverberating through his body. He shot Felicia a disgruntled look —not one of anger, but of technical frustration. A loss of balance. A calculated failure.
Felicia noticed.
She tilted her head slightly, bit the corner of her lip with teasing charm, and pouted slightly.
— In a battle... all cards are valid. — he said with a triumphant smile.
Fernando nodded slowly, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Dust still danced in the air around them.
— Okay. Let's stop here for today. — he said with a slight smile.
Despite the difference in levels, Fernando felt more confident than ever. Felicia was at the peak of the third level of the Upper Realm , and he was still at the second. But this difference no longer seemed insurmountable. He had faced someone above him in raw power and not only resisted, but almost surpassed her.
It was like a flame lit in his chest.
If he reached the third level, he could fight on equal terms with a cultivator at the initial fourth level. And if he one day reached the full fourth level , he could finally walk tall across the entire realm. He could visit the Evans Territories … and collect old debts.
A glare cut his gaze.
— Brother... how did you become so strong in recent years? — he asked. Felicia suddenly snapped him out of his reverie.
Fernando turned to her, and his smile came like a serene breeze.
—I'll tell you the secret... if you give me a stack of spirit crystals.
Felicia widened her eyes, immediately covering the storage ring with both hands as if she was protecting a rare treasure.
—Who wants to know silly secrets? — he grumbled . — I 'll surpass you again, that's for sure.
" I doubt my little sister will surpass me in this life, " he teased , shaking his head in mock pity. " Instead of training, you're always wandering around looking for treasures."
Fernando's light tone suddenly changed. His expression became more serious, more firm.
— Felicia ... what happened last time cannot happen again. John is your nephew. And as his aunt, you have responsibilities.
She frowned. Guilt flickered behind her eyes, but she kept silent.
In the Kingdom , the role of uncles and aunts was sacred. They were seen as second parents —keepers of traditions, bridges between generations. There were certain delicate matters, certain moments in a child's life, that only an uncle or aunt could handle with appropriate wisdom. It was up to them to teach customs, reinforce blood ties, and pass on the values of the lineage.
Felicia knew this. But she had been away for too long.
In addition to their obligations, uncles and aunts also had rights. When a nephew stood out, his or her rise would shine upon them like a blaze. An aunt's word, in certain family matters, could even trump that of the parents — even if it was not definitive, it was respected.
Felicia remained silent for a few seconds. Then she nodded slightly in silent acknowledgement.
—I'll be going to the capital in two weeks. — he murmured .
Fernando narrowed his eyes, surprised by the answer.
—But John's birthday is in a few days! — he exclaimed , unable to hide his disappointment .
— That's the least of it. I've been summoned... I ca n't be late. Felicia spoke in a firm but low voice . — There will be a meeting of all the Lords, without exception. I really have to go.
Fernando remained silent for a few moments. His eyes stared at the red horizon, and then he said calmly:
— I want you to do something for me.
Felicia did not hesitate.
— You can count on me, brother.
They took flight. Their silhouettes cut through the sky like floating shadows, traveling side by side. The wind passed through them like a living current, whipping Felicia's hair. Her expression, once relaxed, now held a rare—and somehow charming—focus.
Fernando glanced at her before saying:
— While I'm gone, you must watch over the territory. — But most of all... I want you to take good care of John.
Felicia didn't respond immediately. She continued flying beside him, absorbing the request. Her nephew's name seemed to weigh heavily on her thoughts.
It was then that Fernando spoke, clearly:
—Teach him... the Sea-Splitting Sword.
Felicia whipped her head around, her eyes narrowed in disbelief.
" The... Sea-Splitting Sword? " His voice wavered between surprise and doubt. " How can I teach him that if he's still just... a primitive being?"
In their world, the distinction was clear.
There were primitive beings —those who had not yet taken the first step toward evolution. They lived with ordinary bodies, incapable of touching the higher energies.
And then there were the evolving beings —people who had awakened a Core of Evolution after undergoing specific rituals tied to their chosen paths. Paths that could lead to art, to the sword, to alchemy, to summoning... hundreds of routes. Hundreds of rituals. Hundreds of possible futures.
But there was one undeniable truth: without a core , it was impossible to wield an evolution technique. Without it, no art or spell could be used. Fernando's request sounded absurd.
She turned to him in the air, trying to understand.
— How...?
Fernando smiled softly, as if he already knew about the confusion.
— It is not to teach the art itself. That would be impossible.
He turned his body in the air, floating on his back for a moment as he continued:
— I just want you to teach him the basic sword stances . The flow. The theory. The thinking behind the cuts. — When the time comes, he will remember... and he will be able to teach himself.
Felicia kept her eyes fixed on him for a few more seconds. Then, she sighed deeply, letting the wind carry away the accumulated tension.
— Do you really believe he can inherit that sword?
Fernando replied without hesitation, his voice firm as stone:
— I have no doubt.
Fernando sighed deeply, as if he were carrying the weight of many destinies on his shoulders.
— Two years.
Felicia frowned.
— What will happen in two years?
Fernando looked up at the red sky, his eyes shining with an indefinable spark—maybe hope, maybe fear. He smiled.
— A lot. — I will stay in the capital for that time. The Institute will open its doors to a new generation of students.
He landed briefly on a rocky ledge, his feet touching the ground lightly. Felicia did the same.
— When I return... we will perform John and Alex's ritual. It will be the beginning of their journey through the world.
There was a trace of pride and concern in his voice. A father who was preparing to leave his children on the brink of the abyss of destiny.
— Of course, until then, I will do my best to prepare them both. But... the Institute 's missions are real. Dangerous. — Their life or death will depend on fate... and the Goddess.
Felicia crossed her arms, staring at her brother.
— What about John's uniqueness?
Fernando hesitated. The sparkle in his eyes faded for a moment.
— I don't know much yet, — he replied , discouraged. — But in the capital... I'll ask Albert for help .
Felicia's eyes widened in surprise.
— The... crazy researcher?
Fernando nodded naturally.
— He is the most capable in the entire kingdom. Research on magic , matrices, magic circles, soul, evolution... if there is anyone who can discover something, it is him.
Felicia knew. Even though he was an eccentric without limits, Albert was a living legend. Not even the royal family could force him to work — he followed only his own whims, guided by curiosity.
—And how are you going to attract that maniac here? — she asked, suspicious.
Fernando smiled, confident.
— He owes me a favor.
Felicia was speechless for a few seconds. That... was unexpected.
— You know how rare it is to get anything from him... Even the queen had to wait months.
Fernando didn't answer — the smile was still there, intact, as if he had already calculated each step.
Felicia narrowed her eyes.
— What if it's something... forbidden ? — What if he finds something on John's body that ... that shouldn't be revealed? How are we going to deal with that?
Fernando looked at her again. And then he said, with a calmness that seemed impossible:
— If it's something that needs to be hidden... then no one better than Albert to figure out how to hide it.
— It's simple. He just has to sign a confidentiality agreement. — Fernando said naturally.
Felicia raised her eyebrow, suspicious.
— What if he refuses?
—Then he won't lay a finger on my son's body. —The answer came firmly, cuttingly.
Fernando then changed the subject, as if nothing had happened.
— And as for the expenses of the ritual... they will be paid by you.
Felicia froze in midair, eyes wide. A shiver ran down her spine.
— What?! No way! You're the father, take care of your son!
— I can even teach you for free. But I won't spend a single elemental crystal on the ritual.
Fernando crossed his arms, pretending to be disappointed . Then he assumed a threatening air, as if he were speaking to a rebellious subordinate.
— Okay. Since you don't accept this punishment... I'll beat you until you learn to be responsible.
In the next instant, the surrounding air became heavy. A brutal soul energy escaped from Fernando's body, spreading like an impending storm.
ROAR.
Even without materializing, the presence of the creature from Fernando's soul was enough to alter the forest. The strongest animals fled in panic. The weakest curled up on the ground, overcome by fear. Some even fainted.
Felicia felt the crushing pressure on her bones. She knew deep down that her Earth Dragon would not be able to resist it.
The creature was about to appear—its shadow was already beginning to form in the sky.
— OK! I ACCEPT! — she shouted , desperate.
The energy was immediately retracted. The pressure dissipated like mist in the wind.
— I... I 'll contribute ten percent of the ritual. — Felicia said , huffing, indignation written all over her face.
But Fernando just smiled. A wickedly playful glint crossed his eyes.
ROAR.
Louder. Deeper. More menacing.
— TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT! — cried Felicia, alarmed.
ROAR.
The forest floor shook.
— THIRTY! — she gave in, her voice almost hysterical.
Silence. Not even the rustling of leaves. The forest held its breath along with her.
Fernando collected his aura, satisfied.
— Deal done.
Felicia was still hovering in the air, indignant.
— You are the worst brother in the world.
Fernando just winked.
— And the most efficient.
—Forty percent! — Felicia shouted , her voice almost breaking.
ROAR.
It came dry, brutal, like thunder from a sky hungry for war.
Felicia gritted her teeth.
— Fifty! FIFTY PERCENT! I won't give any more crystal fractions!
ROAR.
More ferocious. More oppressive.
Felicia's heart trembled. Every fiber of her soul wept for her elemental crystals. Fifty percent for two rituals was the limit of her generosity—and her greed. She would rather take a beating from her brother than give another penny.
As the roar died down, Fernando's soul creature began to take shape in the air, its silhouette shrouded in black mist and pulsating energy particles. A suffocating heat invaded the sky.
Felicia clenched her fists, eyes blazing. Her voice cut through the air:
— If you want more, you'll have to rip the crystals out over my dead body.
In response, the ground shook with the unexpected joy of his own earth dragon. The beast roared with fury, its body solid as rock and eyes blazing like lava.
Fernando commented on his sister attentively. He knew how to recognize the limit of provocation. If he pushed her further, she could recover — and he would lose the precious fifty percent he had already wrested with sweat, spiritual pressure and emotional blackmail.
With a resigned sigh, he collected the soul energy.
— Okay. Fifty percent then.
The dark mist dissipated. The creature did not materialize completely, remaining only as a threat suspended in the air.
Felicia also collected her dragon, which dissolved into fragments of earthy light. Her expression was blank, as if she had just buried a loved one.
— I lost more than gold today... I lost a part of my soul.
She spoke in an almost tragic tale, her eyes fixed on nothing, like a widow asked to donate her husband's inheritance to pay off family debts.
The two resumed their flight in silence. Felícia flew with a dead look in her eyes, as if she were still calculating her losses, while Fernando smiled with satisfaction, like a businessman who had just closed the best deal of the season.
Within minutes, the vast barriers opened up before them.
And on the horizon, imposing like a throne carved from the bones of the earth, loomed Venhorst Castle —the ancestral pride of their lineage.