The sky cracked.
Not metaphorically.
Not symbolically.
It split apart.
A suffocating pressure descended upon the battlefield.
Students froze.
Teachers stood motionless.
Even the summoned creatures—beasts that knew no fear—began to tremble.
"…What is that…?"
High above—
something was emerging.
Not fully.
Not completely.
But enough to make the world feel small.
A massive shadow.
Winged.
Ancient.
Its presence distorted the very air, as if reality itself struggled to contain it.
"No… that's impossible…"
"That level of existence—"
"It shouldn't exist in this era!"
At the center of it all stood a boy.
Aetherion Valen Drakhar.
His hand was raised slightly.
Dark energy coiled around it like a living serpent.
On his skin—
a black, shifting sigil pulsed faintly.
His eyes reflected the sky.
Calm.
Silent.
Unshaken.
"…I didn't summon this," he murmured.
A voice responded.
Not from the sky.
Not from the ground.
From within.
"No… we did."
The shadow above moved.
Just slightly.
And the world trembled.
Then—
everything shattered.
Darkness swallowed the sky.
The pressure vanished.
The battlefield collapsed like a broken dream.
And—
The sound of bells echoed.
Aetherion's eyes opened.
He stood in a long line.
Children in white robes surrounded him.
The air was calm.
The sky intact.
The Sanctum Church.
"…So it begins," a faint voice whispered inside him.
Aetherion frowned slightly.
"…What was that?"
"A glimpse."
His gaze lifted toward the altar ahead.
Unaware—
that his future had already begun to break the world.
The bells of the Sanctum Church rang across the capital.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Today, destinies would be decided.
The grand hall stood bathed in pale light filtering through towering stained-glass windows. Constellations glowed faintly above—stories of a forgotten age.
An age where dragons ruled the skies.
Where demons walked among kings.
Where angels descended from the heavens.
An age long gone.
At the center stood the Sigil Altar.
A circular structure of white stone, etched with patterns that seemed almost alive.
"Next."
A child stepped forward.
Hand trembling.
Heart racing.
Light gathered.
A creature formed.
"A Horned Rabbit. F-Rank."
Relief.
Disappointment.
Acceptance.
One by one—
the results repeated.
A sparrow.
A fang rat.
A stone lizard.
Small creatures.
Predictable futures.
Even nobles expected little more.
Because legends—
did not exist anymore.
"Aetherion Valen Drakhar."
The hall fell silent.
Whispers spread instantly.
"The heir of House Drakhar…"
"One of the highest noble bloodlines…"
"He should summon something extraordinary…"
Aetherion stepped forward.
Calm.
Measured.
Unhurried.
The High Priest watched him closely.
"Place your hand on the altar."
Aetherion did.
And the world changed.
The light flickered.
The air grew cold.
The glow—
faded.
Then vanished.
Silence.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
"…What is happening?"
"This has never occurred before…"
The altar trembled.
Aetherion felt it.
Something ancient brushing against his existence.
Not hostile.
Not gentle.
Just…
there.
Darkness gathered.
Slowly—
a form appeared.
A girl.
Faint.
Translucent.
Unreal.
But her eyes—
were endless.
She looked directly at him.
"…What is that?" a priest whispered.
"No classification…"
"No structure…"
Aetherion didn't move.
The girl tilted her head.
And smiled.
"So… you're the one."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…You can speak."
"Of course."
Her voice echoed inside him.
Calm.
Ancient.
"After all… I chose you."
"…Chose?"
"Yes."
The word carried certainty.
"Not the system. Not fate. Not chance."
A pause.
"Me."
Aetherion's gaze darkened slightly.
"…What are you?"
She smiled.
"Something your world was never meant to remember."
The connection snapped.
The form vanished.
The light returned.
Reality resumed.
"…That's it?"
"No creature?"
"What did he summon?"
Aetherion looked at his hand.
A sigil had appeared.
But unlike the others—
it had no shape.
A black mark.
Shifting.
Unstable.
"…Unidentified entity," the High Priest announced.
A pause.
"Contract classification: Failure."
The hall erupted.
"A failure?!"
"For House Drakhar?!"
"Even commoners receive creatures!"
Aetherion stood still.
Unmoved.
Behind him—
footsteps echoed.
The crowd parted.
A man stepped forward.
Lord Drakhar.
His presence silenced the hall.
He stopped beside Aetherion.
Looked at the sigil.
Silence.
"…How interesting."
The words cut through everything.
"…Lord Drakhar," the priest began, "this is a serious matter—"
"Or an extraordinary one," he interrupted calmly.
His hand rested on Aetherion's shoulder.
"A power that cannot be understood…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…is not something to dismiss."
Aetherion looked at him.
"…You're not disappointed?"
A brief pause.
Then—
"If the world cannot recognize its value… that only means it lies beyond them."
Behind Aetherion—
the faint outline of the spirit appeared once more.
Watching.
Smiling.
"He understands more than the others."
Aetherion's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're still here."
"Of course."
She circled him slowly.
"Did you think I would leave after choosing you?"
"…You're not a creature."
A soft laugh echoed.
"Finally."
She leaned closer.
"No… I am not."
"…Then what are you?"
A pause.
Then—
"The beginning."
Aetherion felt it then.
Something vast.
Something ancient.
Something that did not belong to this world.
"For now… grow."
"…Wait."
"You'll understand soon."
She vanished.
Completely.
Aetherion lowered his hand.
The black sigil flickered once.
Then stilled.
Far beyond the church…
Beyond the sky filled with constellations—
There existed a place where no stars shone.
A void.
Endless.
Silent.
And within it—
something awakened.
For the first time in ages—
it recognized a signal.
Aetherion Valen Drakhar.
A name that now echoed in the darkness.
Back in the hall—
Aetherion lifted his gaze.
The dragon in the stained glass above him seemed distant now.
Small.
Not something to admire—
But something…
to surpass.
"Let's begin."
End of Chapter 1