Aryan's eyes slowly opened.
For a moment, he didn't move. His gaze remained fixed on the familiar ceiling above him, his mind still trapped in the memory of that endless abyss. The darkness, the voice, the pain—it all felt too real to be just a dream.
He sat up slowly, pressing a hand against his head."…What was that?" he murmured under his breath.
A dream? It had to be. Something like that couldn't be real.
But the moment he tried to get out of bed—
A sharp pain shot through his entire body.
"Ah—!"
His legs gave out instantly, and he crashed onto the floor. A wave of pain spread through him, far worse than anything he had felt before. It wasn't just soreness—it felt like his body had been torn apart and barely put back together.
"My body… why does it hurt this much…?" Aryan gritted his teeth, struggling to breathe normally.
Then his expression slowly changed.
"…Wait a minute."
His mind replayed everything—the void, Mr. White, the cube, the ritual.
"…What if it wasn't a dream?"
Silence filled the room.
If that was true… then everything Mr. White said was real. The power. The ritual. The warning.
Aryan clenched his fist slightly."So I really… got a power."
But instead of excitement, all he felt was pain.
"Great," he muttered bitterly. "Instead of feeling strong, I can't even stand properly."
Mr. White's words echoed in his mind—his body wasn't ready, the ritual should have killed him, and what he had now was incomplete.
Aryan let out a slow breath.
"…I barely survived."
If he wanted to use this power, he needed to become stronger. That much was clear.
But how?
He frowned, thinking it through. If he had received a normal ability—like flame or speed—he could have trained it directly. But Copy?
"What kind of power is that…" he muttered. "It's not just boring—it's useless right now."
Still, complaining wouldn't change anything.
More importantly, there was something else he couldn't ignore.
The exam.
If he wanted answers from Mr. White… if he wanted to know the truth about his father… he had no choice but to pass it.
"There's too much going on," Aryan said quietly, running a hand through his hair. "First, I need information."
When was the exam? Where was it held? What were the requirements?
There was only one place to find all of that.
"The Council Office…"
Aryan looked down at his trembling body. Even standing felt like torture, but he forced himself up anyway, gripping the edge of the bed for support.
"I don't have a choice."
The streets outside were already alive.
The city stretched wide with tall stone buildings and narrow pathways filled with people moving about their daily lives. Vendors called out from roadside stalls, the smell of food mixing with dust and smoke, while distant voices and chatter filled the air.
Aryan stepped out slowly, leaning on a wooden stick he had picked up along the way. Each step sent a dull ache through his body, but he kept moving forward.
People glanced at him as he passed—some curious, some indifferent—but no one stopped.
Step by step, he pushed through the pain.
After what felt like an endless walk, Aryan finally reached his destination.
The Council Office stood tall before him—a massive, polished structure that reflected light across its surface. Guards and officers moved around the entrance, maintaining order as people entered and exited constantly.
Aryan took a breath and walked inside.
The interior opened into a large hall filled with activity. People stood in lines, filing complaints, submitting documents, and speaking with officers. The constant noise of conversation echoed throughout the room.
Aryan's eyes scanned the area, searching for anything related to the exam.
Then he saw it.
A notice board.
He walked toward it slowly and stopped in front of a large poster.
Council Legion Exam
The details were clear—exam date, location, and instructions. It would be held in another continent, in a city called Silvergate. Those who wished to participate had to fill out a form at the Council Office before the deadline.
"So I need to register first…" Aryan murmured.
He turned and began looking around until he spotted the reception area.
Making his way there, he leaned slightly on the counter."Hello, I want a form."
The receptionist looked up. "Which form?"
"For the Legion Exam."
The moment those words left his mouth, the surrounding noise faded.
Silence.
Then—
A laugh broke out from somewhere behind him.
"Did you hear that?" someone said. "This kid wants to take the exam."
Another voice joined in. "Look at him—he can barely walk and he wants to participate?"
More laughter followed, spreading across the room.
Aryan's grip tightened on the stick, but he didn't respond.
Then a firm voice cut through the noise.
"What's so funny?"
The laughter stopped almost instantly.
"If someone wants to prove their worth, you should help them—not mock them," the voice continued. "He may need a stick today, but tomorrow he might become someone others rely on. Never underestimate anyone."
The room fell silent.
Aryan turned slightly.
It was Officer Roy.
The same man who had helped him the day before.
Roy walked closer, studying him carefully. "You're Aryan, right? What happened to you? Yesterday you were walking fine."
Aryan hesitated for a moment.
Should he tell him? About Mr. White, the ritual… everything?
No.
"…I fell," he said simply. "That's why."
Roy looked at him for a second, then nodded. "Be careful. Your body won't forgive you if you push it too far."
Aryan gave a small nod before turning back to the receptionist. "The form."
She blinked, then said, "You're lucky. Only one form is left."
Aryan paused.
"The last date to submit it is tomorrow morning," she added. "If you're serious, bring it back before then."
"I will," Aryan replied.
He hesitated, then asked, "Can you tell me more about the exam?"
The receptionist nodded. "The exam will begin sixty days after the submission deadline. It will be held in Silvergate, a city on another continent."
Aryan frowned. "Another continent? How am I supposed to get there?"
"Don't worry," she said. "A ship will depart from our city port to take participants to the exam location. Just make sure you're on time."
"And if I miss it?"
She looked at him calmly. "Then you'll have to arrange your own travel. It'll cost around twenty thousand zein."
Aryan let out a short breath."…Yeah, I'll definitely be on time."
The receptionist gave a faint smile.
With that, Aryan took the form and turned away.
From a distance, inside a quiet cabin, Officer Roy watched him leave.
His expression was unreadable.
Outside, the noise of the city returned as Aryan stepped back onto the street. He adjusted his grip on the stick and began walking toward home once again, his body still aching with every step.
But this time—
There was direction in his movement.
A goal.
....
A/N: I hope you like this novel, Support by adding to your library and giving power stone one or two. Thankyou.