The first rays of the morning sun finally broke over the sharp roofline of Aetheria High School. It was the kind of dawn that felt heavy with significance, signaling the arrival of a day that nobody in this city would ever be able to forget.
The stadium was honestly terrifying. It was built to hold tens of thousands of people, and today, there wasn't a single empty seat to be found. Families, friends, and total strangers were packed in tight, from the very first row all the way up to the highest nosebleeds where the air felt thin. Banners snapped in the wind against the railings while food vendors tried to shout over the mounting roar of the crowd. That sound was like a living thing; it just buzzed and hummed without ever stopping to take a breath. It's too much, Ran thought, his eyes scanning the massive sea of faces.
Down on the green grass of the field, hundreds of seniors stood in rows that were almost too perfect. They were all dressed in matching white uniforms that seemed to glow under the sun. Some of the kids were forced into laughter to hide their fear, while others were constantly stretching, trying to burn off the nervous energy that was vibrating through the air. You ready for this? one student whispered to another, though neither really had an answer.
Today was finally the day of the Awakening Ceremony, the event that changed everything for everyone.
Every year, the graduating class of Aetheria High would walk up those stone steps, touch the Crystal Orb, and finally see the martial soul that had been living inside them since birth. It was easily the biggest moment of their lives. Everything that came after, including your career, your bank account, and your actual place in society, started right here on this field.
To really understand why everyone was so stressed out, you have to realize how this world actually functions. It isn't like the stories you might know.
Everyone is born with a martial soul already tucked away inside them. It's just there from the very first day. It could be anything at all, like a rabbit, a wolf, a fire snake, or even a dragon. Maybe it's even a mythical beast that hasn't been seen in a thousand years. As the old saying goes, 'The soul chooses the man, but the man never chooses the soul.' You just get what you are born with and hope for the best.
That soul is the source of all your fighting power. When you fuse with it, which basically means pulling its raw energy into your own limbs, you gain access to its special abilities. Someone with a fire snake soul can literally breathe flames. A person with a steel turtle soul can turn their skin as hard as a sheet of metal, and someone with a wind hawk soul can move faster than a human eye can follow. I wonder which one I'll be stuck with, Ran wondered, his heart thumping against his ribs.
But there was a catch to all that power. You couldn't just start using those abilities the second you woke them up. You had to put in the grueling work and actually level up your soul.
At Level 1, you are lucky if you can manage the basics, like throwing a tiny spark or getting a small burst of speed. But as you train and fight, your level climbs. By the time you hit Level 10, 20, or 30, you start unlocking the kind of power that can actually level entire buildings. That is where the real respect is earned, Ran reminded himself.
So, when it comes down to it, your level and your soul type matter more than almost anything else in this life.
There was another path to power, but it was reserved strictly for those who were already rich. Wealthy families could afford to buy extra souls and fuse them into their bodies alongside their natural one. These external souls were never quite as strong as the one you were born with, but they gave you a massive range of tools and tricks to use in a fight.
The problem was that this shortcut cost an absolute fortune. We are talking millions of credits here. It was the kind of money a normal, working family would never even see if they worked for ten lifetimes. It's rigged from the start for people like us, Ran thought, his jaw tightening.
As for Ran's family, they were about as far from wealthy as you could possibly get in this city.
Ran was standing somewhere in the middle of the field, lost among his classmates, and he was absolutely sweating through his white uniform. The fabric was sticking to his back in a way that made him want to scream.
It wasn't just the sun making him sweat, either. It was pure, unadulterated fear. Please don't let me fail, he pleaded silently, though he wasn't sure who he was talking to.
His palms were clammy, his stomach was doing nervous gymnastics, and his jaw was clamped shut. He kept his eyes locked on the Awakening Platform in the distance. It was a strange mix of a stone stage covered in ancient, glowing blue runes and high tech holographic projectors. That weird blend of the old world and the new was normal here, but it still felt unsettling to Ran, even after fourteen years of living with it.
Fourteen long, exhausting years.
That was how long he had been stuck in this world. He wasn't actually from around here. He was a transmigrator, someone from Earth who had died and woken up in the body of a baby in this power obsessed society. He still had every single memory of his past life, including the phones, the cars, the internet, and his old school.
The problem was that none of those memories were worth a damn in a world where people could breathe fire and summon monsters.
I have tried everything, Ran whispered to himself, making sure no one nearby could overhear the raw frustration in his voice. I really have tried.
He was telling the truth. In every single story he had read back on Earth, the main character always got a lucky break. They got a system, a cheat code, or some kind of unfair advantage that propelled them straight to the top of the food chain.
So, from the moment he could talk, Ran had been trying his hardest to find his own secret edge.
He had stayed up late at night shouting 'System!' at the ceiling, praying that a blue screen would just appear out of thin air. Nothing ever happened. He must have looked like a total idiot, yelling at the darkness like that.
He had spent hours meditating in the backyard, trying to feel some sort of hidden energy or ancient qi inside his gut. Still nothing.
He had even tried running headfirst into a tree because he read somewhere that a near death experience could jumpstart a hidden power. All he got for that was a massive knot on his forehead and a very long, very confused lecture from his mother. I really was a desperate kid, he thought, wincing at the memory.
No system. No cheats. No special edge. He was just Ran, a decent looking guy with average grades and zero special talents. The only thing that set him apart were memories of a world that didn't even exist here, and those were completely useless.
Great, he muttered under his breath. I am officially the most useless transmigrator in the history of the universe.
High up in the stands, three people were sitting together in the middle section, watching the field with bated breath.
Randolf, Ran's father, was a big man with calloused hands and skin that had been darkened by years in the sun. He worked as a carpenter, building and fixing things on construction sites. His martial soul was a Spring Rabbit. It didn't give him any world shaking power, but it let him jump higher than most people, which was pretty handy when you were working on the upper floors of a building without a ladder.
He made just enough money to keep the family going, though it was always a tight squeeze to make ends meet at the end of the month.
Next to him sat Aurora, Ran's mother. She was a small, kind woman with white hair kept in a simple, neat braid. Her soul was called Gentle Light, a healing type that could mend minor wounds and dull the edge of a person's pain. She used to work at the local hospital, helping people get back on their feet after surgery.
The phrase 'used to' was the keyword there, and it carried a lot of weight.
About six months ago, the hospital administration called her in and told her, very politely, that she was being let go. One of the suits told her, 'The new pill is simply more cost effective for our bottom line,' and that was that.
The administrator didn't even bother to look her in the eye when he said that the pill was just better for their profits than her salary was.
Aurora had walked home in total silence that day. She didn't let herself cry until she was safely behind the bathroom door with the water running at full blast to drown out the sound of her sobbing.
Since then, she had been a stay at home mother. She cooked, she cleaned, and she kept a bright smile on her face for the kids. But sometimes, late at night, Ran could hear her and his father whispering about how they were actually going to pay the bills.
Then there was Mia. She was thirteen years old and sitting right between her parents, bouncing around like she had literal springs in her boots. She was holding up a big, homemade banner that said GO RAN! YOU ARE THE BEST! The letters were a mess and the paint was smudged, but she held it like it was a sacred relic.
Mia was genuinely beautiful, and everyone in their neighborhood knew it. She had her mother's white hair, her father's strong features, and these striking red eyes that seemed to catch every bit of light. Her face still had that soft, youthful look that made her seem even younger than she actually was.
Next year would be Mia's turn to stand on that field, but the family couldn't even think about that right now. They had poured every single cent they had into Ran's future.
The list of expenses was endless. There were tutoring fees, preparation courses, expensive health supplements to boost his chances, and the registration fees for the ceremony itself. It had completely drained their savings.
If Ran managed to awaken a good soul today, everything would change. He could get a university scholarship, join the military, or get a job with the City Guard. He could finally take care of his parents and pay for Mia's education without them having to worry anymore.
If he failed, well, it was a very long way down to the bottom.
Randolf didn't even want to let his mind go to that dark place. He just squeezed Aurora's hand, and she squeezed back immediately. Neither of them said a word.
Back on the field, Ran was staring at the platform when someone nearly knocked the wind out of him with a heavy slap to the back. Hey! Stop making that face, a voice joked. You look like you are about to pass out right here.
Ran turned around to see Leo, a tall kid with messy hair and a wide grin, and Ken, who was shorter and always looked like he was solving a difficult math problem in his head. They were his best friends, and they had already finished their turn on the platform.
How did it go? Ran asked. He had already seen the results on the big screen, but he needed the distraction. He needed to hear a human voice instead of the panic screaming in his head.
Leo held out his hand, and a faint red glow formed into a tiny lizard made of pure light. It was about the size of a mouse, and it flickered for a few seconds before disappearing. Fire Lizard, Leo said. It is a Normal type, but it is in the attack category.
That is actually pretty good, Ran said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
It is not exactly a dragon, Leo admitted with a shrug, though he was still grinning. But it is an attack type, which means I can actually fight. I can join the City Guard, level up, and send money home. That is really all I care about right now.
Ken raised his hand next, and a smoky, transparent black cat appeared for a moment. Phantom Cat, he said. Normal type, attack category.
Two attack types, Ran noted. You guys really lucked out today.
Ken just shrugged it off as if it were no big deal. He pointed out that most people get a Normal type soul, and that is just the reality of life. The real lucky ones are the kids who pull a Rare type or better. But as long as you have an attack type, you can make a decent living. Defense and support souls are a lot harder to use if you are trying to make it on your own.
What about utility types? Ran asked, his voice a little lower.
Ken made a face at that. Utility types are basically what your dad has, no offense intended. They are fine for a regular job, but they are useless for everything else. You cannot fight with them, and you definitely cannot level up in any way that actually matters in the long run.
Thanks for the massive confidence boost, Ken, Ran said dryly.
Leo laughed and threw an arm around Ran's shoulders. Relax, man. Just go up there, touch the orb, and let it happen. You do not have to do anything. The crystal just reads whatever is already inside you.
That is exactly what I am worried about, Ran thought to himself, his stomach tightening again.
He didn't have time to dwell on it because the Elder was calling the next name. The Elder was an old man with a grey beard that reached his belt. He wore traditional robes but carried a high tech tablet, which he tapped before looking up at the silent crowd.
Next student: Ran!
Ran felt his heart stop for a second before it kicked back into gear at twice its normal speed. The blood was rushing in his ears.
That is you! Leo shouted, giving him a hard shove toward the platform. Get going, man!
Good luck, Ken added, and for once, he actually looked like he meant it.
Ran started walking toward those dark stone steps. Each movement felt like he was dragging weights behind him.
The platform sat about thirty feet above the field. The steps were made of dark stone, and the runes along the sides were glowing with a steady, eerie blue light. At the top, the projectors hummed quietly, just waiting to broadcast his results to everyone in the stadium.
He started the climb, and every single step felt heavier and more significant than the one before it.
He could feel thousands of eyes on him. Students, parents, teachers, and even the university scouts sitting in the VIP section were all watching his every move. Those scouts were only there for the top tier talent. If you pulled a Rare type soul, they would shower you with scholarships and training offers.
If you just got a Normal type? They wouldn't even remember your name by the time you walked off the stage. You were just another face in the crowd.
Ran took a quick look toward his family. His dad was sitting up straight with his hands on his knees, looking incredibly tense. His mom had her hands clasped as if she were praying to every god she knew. And there was Mia, standing on her seat and holding that banner, her mouth moving in a silent cheer.
You can do this, brother! she was clearly mouthing, her eyes wide with excitement.
Ran managed a small smile for her. He told himself he could not fail, not for his own sake, but for theirs. If he really was a transmigrator, there had to be something special inside him. I just need one win, he thought.
He finally reached the top of the platform, the air feeling cooler up there.
The Crystal Orb was sitting there on a stone pedestal. It was massive, maybe three feet across, and it was so clear it looked like it was filled with nothing but air. If you got close enough, you could see the tiny, intricate runes etched into the surface.
The Elder looked at him over the top of his tablet. Name?
Ran.
Give me your full name, boy, the Elder prompted without looking up.
Ran Aldric.
The Elder tapped his screen a few times. Alright, Ran Aldric. You know how this works. Put your hand on the orb and try to clear your mind. Do not try to force it. Just let the crystal do its job.
Ran nodded, his throat feeling so dry it was like he had swallowed sand.
He walked up to the pedestal. The orb was giving off a visible chill, like he was standing right next to a block of ice in the middle of winter.
He took one deep, shaky breath to steady his nerves.
Then, he pressed his palm flat against the cold, smooth surface of the crystal.
For a long, agonizing second, absolutely nothing happened. The orb stayed dark and silent. Ran's hand was trembling, and he could feel the entire crowd holding their breath with him.
Come on, he pleaded internally, his eyes squeezed shut. Just give me something. Anything.
Then the orb finally started to hum. It was a low vibration at first, but it built up quickly until he could feel it in his chest and even in his teeth.
A light appeared in the center of the sphere. It started as a tiny spark and then swirled around like smoke trapped in a jar until it settled into a steady, flat glow.
The light was grey.
Everyone knew what that color meant. It was the very first thing you learned in school about soul types.
The projectors hummed to life, and the giant screen displayed his results in massive, heartless letters. Name: Ran Aldric. Martial Innate Soul: Basic Orb. Type: Normal. Elemental Affinity: Zero.
The entire stadium went quiet, but it wasn't a good kind of silence. It was that uncomfortable, pitying silence that happens when everyone sees something go horribly wrong and nobody knows what to say to make it better.
Then, a sharp laugh broke the silence from the front rows. It was one of the rich kids, the ones who didn't even have to worry about their results because their future was already bought and paid for.
A Basic Orb? a voice called out, full of mockery. What even is that supposed to be?
It is literally just a ball, another kid laughed. A boring grey ball. That is pathetic.
It is not a weapon, it is not a beast, it is nothing, someone else shouted. And zero affinity? That means he cannot even use elements. He is got nothing at all.
The laughter started to spread through the front rows like a wildfire. The wealthy students, the ones with everything to lose, were the ones laughing the loudest and the hardest.
Ran just stood there with his hand still on the cold orb, staring at the screen. Basic Orb. Normal type. Zero. It was like his entire world had just collapsed.
He looked out at the stands to find his family, his eyes searching for some kind of anchor.
His father's posture had completely collapsed. He looked like he had been punched in the gut, his rough hands just hanging uselessly at his sides as if he had lost the strength to move them.
His mother had turned her head away, trying to hide the fact that she was wiping her eyes. She was trying to be strong for him, but Ran could see right through it from where he stood.
And Mia was still up on her seat, still holding that banner, but her arms were shaking. Her red eyes were welling up with tears, and she was biting her lip so hard it had lost all its color. It was the most heartbreaking thing he had ever seen.
Something deep inside Ran just snapped.
He thought about all those savings and all the overtime his parents had worked until they were exhausted. He thought about them skipping meals and wearing old, tattered clothes just to pay for his classes. All of Mia's future had been bet on him, and this was the result.
He had lost the bet. A grey ball was all he had to show for their sacrifice.
Ran's jaw tightened and his eyes burned, but he refused to cry. He was not going to give the crowd that satisfaction. Not the scouts who were already looking away and definitely not the kids laughing at him.
He started to pull his hand away from the crystal, ready to walk down and hide.
Suddenly, a sharp sound rang out through his head. Ding!
It sounded like a digital bell, but it was coming from inside his own brain. It was clear and electronic, echoing everywhere at once.
Ran froze right where he stood, his hand hovering just inches away from the orb.
A screen appeared in front of him. It wasn't on the projectors or the stadium displays. This was a small, semi transparent blue screen floating right before his eyes, glowing with a soft, steady light.
He realized instantly that he was the only one who could see it. No one in the crowd gasped or pointed. Even the Elder, standing just a few feet away, didn't notice a thing.
Ran focused on the words appearing on the screen, his heart racing again for a completely different reason.
System Initialized. Detection: Key detected. Martial Innate Soul Basic Orb confirmed. Link Established to Private Pocket Dimension: Sayfrid.
Welcome, User. You are part of the very few chosen to be a Lord. Out of all the souls in this universe, only one billion have been selected. Cherish this opportunity and fight for supremacy. Become the Lord of all Lords.
Would you like to enter your Private World for the first time? YES / NO.
Ran just stared at the prompt. His mouth was hanging open and his heart was hammering against his ribs like it wanted to break free.
A system. After fourteen years of absolutely nothing, it finally showed up. And it wasn't just some basic stat tracker. It was a key.
Wait, he whispered, so quietly that no one could hear him. This is a key to a private world.
His mind was suddenly working a mile a minute. The laughter from the crowd was still there, but it felt like background noise now, muffled and completely unimportant.
Ran looked at the floating blue screen one last time, until it suddenly disappeared.