The next morning arrived, crisp and quiet, over the sprawling Astaraeas estate.
Aeon was pulled from his sleep by the familiar, precise knock of Terra, followed by her calm voice filtering through the heavy door.
He immediately shook off the lingering drowsiness, slid out of bed, and walked into the bathroom to complete his morning routine. After taking a long, refreshing shower to wake himself up, he signaled for his personal maids to enter.
They efficiently assisted him in dressing, draping him in a tailored, elegant formal suit designed specifically for the high occasion.
Today was an incredibly important milestone.
Today was the official Awakening Ceremony for Aeon and many other noble children of his generation.
In the Valtthoros Empire, the awakening process was not conducted privately at home by individual families. Instead, every noble lineage—ranging from low-ranking Counts to the peak Ducal houses—gathered at the Imperial Palace to undergo the ceremony together.
This mass event did not happen on a fixed annual schedule. It was a rare, monumental occasion triggered only when a direct descendant of the Imperial Royal Family reached the precise age required for awakening.
Once fully dressed, Aeon made his way down the grand corridors to the dining room. His parents were already seated, waiting patiently for his arrival.
"Good morning, dear," Elisabeth said, her face lighting up with a warm, encouraging smile.
She looked breathtakingly elegant, dressed in a flowing, regal purple gown.
Aldrich sat at the head of the long table, looking imposing and dignified in his immaculate formal attire.
Aeon walked over, completely matching their poised demeanor as he happily returned the greeting. "Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad."
He took his designated seat next to his mother, and the servants immediately stepped forward to serve a meticulously prepared breakfast.
The meal was eaten in a comfortable, focused silence. Once they finished, the three family members walked out of the mansion’s main entrance, sent off by long, pristine rows of bowing maids and saluting knights.
They entered a high-end luxury vehicle, which drove them directly to the estate’s private hangar, where the family’s personal jet was prepped and waiting.
The flight was smooth and swift. After a two-hour journey through the sky, the private jet glided onto the secure, exclusive runway owned by the Imperial Family on the floating continent of Drakonius.
The very same butler who had received them during the princess’s birthday party stepped forward to welcome them. With practiced efficiency, he escorted the Astaraeas family into a sleek vehicle, bypassing the common roads and driving them straight into the highly restricted inner zone of the Imperial Palace.
The vehicle eventually brought them to a halt outside a massive, beautifully constructed four-story building.
Crowds of elegantly dressed nobles with their young children were already streaming through the grand entrance. A heavy air of anticipation filled the plaza. While the adults maintained their sophisticated masks, many of the children looked visibly nervous, their hands shaking as they walked.
Aeon kept his composure perfectly, walking calmly alongside his parents as they stepped inside.
The interior opened up into a colossal, amphitheater-style studio. Rows upon rows of plush seats stretched out in a grand arc, some already packed with murmuring nobles while others remained vacant.
Sitting directly at the center of the room, positioned high upon a raised platform, was a brilliant white orb. It was sleek, completely flawless, and only slightly larger than a human head.
This was the legendary Awakening Crystal.
In ancient times, before the creation of such artifacts, the human race and other magical species had to undergo awakening by actively forcing themselves to absorb raw cosmic energy.
By drawing the untamed energy into their unrefined bodies, the cosmic force would instinctively migrate toward the physical location of whichever path they possessed an innate talent for. If a child possessed a talent for the Warrior Path, the energy would compress inside their dantian to form a core.
If their talent aligned with the Arcane Path, the cosmic energy would travel straight to the heart, forging the foundation of magic rings around the organ.
However, that ancient method was notoriously painful and incredibly dangerous. If a child lost their concentration for even a fraction of a second during the process, the volatile energy would instantly backfire. At best, the damage would permanently cripple their energy pathways, destroying any future potential. At worst, the violent influx of raw energy would kill them on the spot.
The Awakening Crystal changed everything. It was the ultimate, foolproof safety measure.
By simply placing a hand on its smooth surface, the perfectly stabilized cosmic energy stored inside the crystal would automatically enter the child’s body.
It would safely, fluidly, and completely painlessly map their inner pathways to awaken their hidden talents, affinities, and destined cultivation paths.
As Aeon and his family navigated through the crowd, there were no booming vocal announcements this time to maintain the order of the ceremony. Instead, a highly trained imperial maid gracefully approached them and bowed low.
"Greetings, Your Excellencies. My name is Mia, and I will be responsible for escorting you to your designated seats today."
Mia turned and led the family up a grand staircase to the second floor. The architecture here was noticeably more intricate, lavish, and beautiful than the lower tier—clearly serving as the exclusive VIP lounge for the highest authorities of the empire.
Upon arriving at their partitioned seating area, Aeon noticed that the Storm and Solaris families had already settled into the adjoining boxes.
The moment Duke William Storm spotted their arrival, he stood up instantly and walked over with a massive grin. "Look who finally decided to show up! If it isn’t my absolute favorite family!"
William stretched his arms wide, wrapping Aldrich, Elisabeth, and Aeon into a brief, hearty group hug. Moments later, the rest of the Storm and Solaris family members gathered around, exchanging warm, familiar greetings.
Duke Ignis Solaris stepped forward, practically vibrating with excitement. He looked like he was about to loudly declare a completely inappropriate sparring challenge right then and there, but before a single word could escape his mouth, Eleanor shot him a sharp, warning glare.
Ignis immediately swallowed his words, clearing his throat nervously as he offered a perfectly polite, civilized greeting instead.
As the adults talked, Aeon turned his attention toward the other children. Over the past five years, both Alexander and Sophia had grown significantly.
Alex was no longer the overly clingy, hyperactive child from their youth, though he still carried the cheerful, bright personality of his parents.
The most striking transformation, however, was Sophia Solaris.
She was dressed in a stunning, vibrant red gown that perfectly complemented her draconic features. The nervous, hyper-timid little girl who used to hide behind her mother’s dress had completely vanished. She carried herself with an immense sense of grace, poise, and quiet elegance, her deep red, gem-like eyes clear and focused.
She looked directly at Aeon, offering him a beautifully practiced, sophisticated greeting. "Hello, Aeon. How was your journey here?"
Aeon smiled warmly, genuinely pleased to see her growth. "Good to see you, Sophia. The flight over was very smooth."
Sophia nodded elegantly. She didn’t add anything else, simply lowering her head slightly while maintaining a soft, beautiful smile. Though her severe stuttering had completely stopped over the years, she still clearly possessed a lingering layer of shyness whenever she stood close to him.
As the three ducal families stood together, chatting and catching up, a resonant, magically amplified voice suddenly echoed throughout the entire four-story amphitheater.
"Attention! The Royal Imperial Family has arrived!"
The moment the announcement cut through the air, the entire building fell into a dead, reverent silence.
Thousands of nobles and children dropped to one knee in perfect unison, bowing their heads in deep, absolute respect.
Through the grand upper doors, Emperor Drakon, Empress Seraphina, and the young Imperial Princess walked out in an elegant procession. They moved with absolute majesty, walking past the central stage where the Awakening Crystal rested, and took their places at the front of the grand hall.
Emperor Drakon stood tall before his imperial seat. He calmly lifted his hand, his powerful gaze sweeping over the sea of kneeling subjects.
"All rise."
The crowd stood up smoothly, returning to their respective seats as their eyes remained locked onto the sovereign.
Emperor Drakon stepped forward, his deep, resonant voice carrying effortlessly to every corner of the vast room. "Today marks an incredibly important day for our empire. It is the monumental moment where you younglings will officially awaken your inner powers and take your very first steps onto the glorious path of cultivation.
Today is the absolute beginning of your individual journeys toward greatness. Know this; whether you awaken a common talent or a legendary affinity, the grand road of Ascension awaits you all."
He paused for a brief moment, stretching his arm out toward the glowing white orb in the center of the arena.
With absolute authority, the Emperor concluded, "Let the Awakening Ceremony begin. May the Akashic Records bless you."
As soon as the Emperor’s words faded, an official dressed in formal robes bearing a dragon motif stood up. Holding a sleek, glowing holographic tablet, he walked with measured steps onto the center stage.
Standing beside the pristine crystal ball, he opened the primary interface of the tablet and addressed the quiet assembly. "I will be calling out the names in order, beginning with the children of the Count families and culminating with Her Highness, the Princess.
First person: Andrew Blackthorne."
The moment his name was called, a young boy stood up from the front row of the lower deck and nervously made his way onto the stage.
He was the son of a Count. Although a significant majority of those who awakened high-tier talents belonged to powerful noble bloodlines, the awakening process ultimately remained subject to an individual’s personal luck and predetermined fate.
Andrew stood trembling slightly before the large orb. He waited for a couple of tense seconds, taking a deep breath before finally pressing his palm against the smooth crystal.
Instantly, a soft blue light pulsed from the center of the orb, slowly expanding outward until it completely wrapped around his body. The light remained translucent, allowing the entire audience to clearly witness his awakening.
After a minute had passed, Andrew withdrew his hand from the glass. He immediately looked upward, staring intently at the empty air as if gazing at something completely invisible to everyone else.
He was looking at his Status Window. It was a divine interface granted directly by the Akashic Records to those who awakened, allowing cultivators to accurately track their growth, statistics, and remaining progression targets.
While Andrew was occupied reading his private statistics, the Awakening Crystal projected a large, bright public hologram directly above the stage for the entire hall to see:
< Name: Andrew Blackthorne >
< Talent rank: legendary >
< Special Talent: nil >
< Path: warrior >
< Cultivation rank: not yet cultivated >
< Bloodline: nil >
< physique: nil >
< affinity/s: Fire[A] >
The moment the holographic text flickered into view, murmurs rippled through sections of the lower crowd, while the higher-ranked nobles on the VIP floor remained completely unphased.
For Andrew and his family, however, a Legendary-rank talent was incredible news. His parents only possessed Rare-rank talents; a Legendary-rank awakening guaranteed that their son would surpass them in strength, granting him a legitimate historical chance to eventually step into the realm of an S-rank or even SS-rank powerhouse.
In this world, the officially recognized tiers of talent were strictly categorized from lowest to highest:
Common, Uncommon, Rare, Unique, Legendary, Transcendent, Mythic, and Divine.
Before Andrew could fully celebrate his good fortune, the announcer’s professional voice broke his focus.
"Very well. Return to your seat. Next: Emma Ironwood."
The ceremony moved forward at a steady pace as the announcer called out name after name. As expected, the children of the Marquis families enjoyed excellent fortunes, with the luckiest among them awakening Transcendent-rank talents.
The rest of the common nobility mostly fluctuated between Unique and Legendary ranks.
Finally, the time arrived for the direct lineages of the five Great Ducal families.
The announcer shifted the digital files on his tablet, his voice carrying an extra layer of gravity.
"Next. Damian Darkmore."
The moment the name was declared, a young boy with an incredibly pale complexion, short jet-black hair, and cold black eyes stood up.
He descended the grand staircase from the second-floor VIP lounge, carrying himself with an unmistakable air of supreme arrogance and might.
Reaching the central stage, Damian didn’t hesitate for a single second. He walked straight up to the crystal ball and slammed his hand against it.
Flash!
An explosion of brilliant blue light instantly shot out from the core of the artifact. It was vastly more dazzling, thick, and majestic than any of the previous awakenings, completely enveloping his entire body in a swirling vortex of energy.
Witnessing the sheer scale of the phenomenon, several nobles gasped in absolute shock, their hushed whispers filling the auditorium.
"The light is entirely different from the previous children. It’s far more grand! Could it be that he is going to awaken a Mythic-rank talent?" a high-ranking noble whispered, his voice laced with profound awe and a bitter hint of jealousy.
"The Great Ducal families really exist on an entirely different level," another noble chattered in, nodding in agreement.
As the frantic murmurs continued to spread across the amphitheater, the intense light finally began to dim, gradually receding back into the smooth white orb until it vanished completely.
Damian stood perfectly still on the platform, his cold gaze locked onto the empty space before him as he calmly analyzed his newly manifested Status Window.
The public holographic display of the Awakening Crystal flared to life, projecting Damian’s results in giant, glowing runes above the central stage:
< Name: Damian Darkmore >
< Talent: mythic >
< Special Talent: Reaper of Death > [ SSS ]
< path: warrior >
< Cultivation: not yet cultivated >
< physique: Abyssal Sovereign Physique > [ SS ]
< Bloodline: umbral Dragon bloodline > [ SS ]
< affinity/s: shadow,[SS], darkness[SS] death[S] >
The moment the screen fully resolved, an oppressive silence gripped the room, followed immediately by a collective gasp from the audience.
Even the high-ranking Dukes on the VIP floor, along with the Emperor and the Imperial Family, leaned forward, their eyes reflecting genuine amazement.
Awakening a Mythic-rank talent was already a once-in-a-generation miracle. But Damian had not stopped there; he possessed an SSS-rank Special Talent, an SS-rank physique, and an SS-rank bloodline all at once.
For a direct descendant of House Darkmore, inheriting a powerful dragon bloodline was to be expected.
However, unlocking a legendary physique and an ultra-rare Special Talent simultaneously was practically unheard of. To make him even more terrifying, he commanded a triple affinity of shadow, darkness, and death—a devastatingly rare and perfect combination for a future powerhouse.
A wave of frantic murmurs broke out across the amphitheater. The audience spoke in a chaotic mixture of deep awe, absolute shock, and bitter, burning jealousy.
The balance of power in the younger generation had just been heavily tilted toward the Western Region.
The announcer quickly stepped forward, his voice cutting through the rising noise and restored order.
"Silence!"
The auditorium fell quiet once more, the heavy tension still lingering in the air.
The official glanced down at his glowing tablet and called out the next name.
"Next. Alexander Storm."
Hearing his name, Alex stood up from the VIP lounge. As he descended the grand staircase and stepped onto the stage, he passed directly by Damian.
Damian then looked at Alex with arrogant and provoking grin.
Alex didn’t flinch away from the provocation of the Darkmore heir. Instead, he wore a confident smile, locking eyes with Damian for a brief, challenging moment before brushing past him.
Alex walked confidently up to the pedestal, raised his right hand, and placed his palm firmly against the smooth surface of the Awakening Crystal.
Instantly, a violent pillar of brilliant blue light shot out from the core of the artifact, wrapping around his body in a swirling, fierce vortex of raw cosmic energy.