Thunder rolled across the skies of Kryptoria.
Dark clouds stretched across the kingdom, swallowing the stars as flashes of lightning illuminated the enormous towers of the royal capital.
Rain had not yet fallen, but the air carried the heavy scent of an approaching storm.
Inside the royal palace, however, no one was thinking about the weather.
Everyone was waiting for the Awakening Ceremony.
The ceremony took place once every year for those who had reached the age of fifteen.
Every person was born with an Inner Beast sleeping within their soul.
Nobody could choose it.
Nobody could exchange it.
The beast was determined by fate and remained hidden until the time of awakening.
For ordinary families, the ceremony was a moment of excitement.
For the royal family of Kryptoria, it was much more.
It was a matter of pride.
For generations, members of the royal bloodline had awakened powerful Inner Beasts.
Warriors across the kingdom admired them, and the strength of their beasts helped maintain the reputation of the royal family.
Tonight, the youngest prince would awaken his.
Ryuzen.
He stood quietly inside the enormous Awakening Hall.
Hundreds of people surrounded the ancient Soul Altar in the center of the chamber.
Nobles occupied the front seats, while warriors, servants, and important members of the kingdom filled the rest.
The Soul Altar itself was ancient.
No one knew exactly when it had been created.
Strange symbols covered its surface, and a large crystal stood in its center.
The crystal was connected to the altar by several glowing lines that formed a complicated pattern.
One by one, the young candidates stepped forward.
One by one, their Inner Beasts awakened.
“INNER BEAST—FLAME HAWK!”
A burst of red energy erupted around a young boy.
The audience immediately cheered.
“Excellent!”
“A Flame Hawk!”
“He has great potential!”
The boy stepped away from the altar with a proud smile.
Another candidate stepped forward.
“INNER BEAST—IRON BEAR!”
A thick brown aura surrounded the young man.
The crowd applauded again.
Ryuzen watched quietly.
His hands were slightly sweaty.
He glanced toward his five older brothers.
Kaizen, the eldest prince, stood with his arms crossed.
He carried himself with confidence, and there was a reason for it.
His Phoenix Inner Beast had already made him one of the most talented young warriors in Kryptoria.
Raikou, the second prince, possessed the White Tiger.
Darius, the third prince, possessed the Black Tortoise.
Aster, the fourth prince, possessed the Sapphire Lion.
And Zayden, the fifth prince, possessed the Azure Dragon.
Every one of them had awakened a powerful Inner Beast.
Ryuzen wondered what his fate would be.
He looked at Aster.
As usual, his fourth brother was reading an ancient book.
Ryuzen shook his head.
“Aster.”
Aster slowly lowered the book.
“What?”
“You’re reading during my awakening ceremony?”
Aster glanced at the Soul Altar.
“I know how the ceremony works.”
Ryuzen raised an eyebrow.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Aster looked at him for a moment before closing the book.
“You’ll be fine.”
Ryuzen smiled.
“That’s all?”
“What else do you want me to say?”
“Maybe something inspiring.”
Aster thought for a moment.
“Don’t die.”
Ryuzen stared at him.
Aster opened his book again.
Ryuzen couldn’t help laughing.
Despite everything, Aster was different from his other brothers.
He never treated Ryuzen as though he were worthless.
He didn’t constantly praise him either.
But he never joined the others when they mocked him.
That alone meant a lot.
Before Ryuzen could say anything else, a loud voice echoed through the hall.
“Ryuzen!”
His smile disappeared.
His heart began beating faster.
It was his turn.
The entire hall seemed to become quieter.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward him.
Ryuzen took a deep breath.
Then he stepped forward.
His footsteps echoed across the stone floor.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
At the far end of the hall sat the King and Queen of Kryptoria.
His father.
His mother.
The King sat upon the royal throne with a stern expression.
Even without activating his Inner Beast, his presence carried tremendous pressure.
He was the wielder of the Torch Dragon.
Beside him sat the Queen.
Her beautiful face remained calm as she watched her youngest son approach the altar.
Her Inner Beast was the Butterfly.
Ryuzen stopped before the Soul Altar.
The attendant looked at him.
“Place your hand on the altar.”
Ryuzen nodded.
He slowly raised his hand.
For a brief moment, his fingers trembled.
This is it.
He placed his palm against the ancient stone.
Nothing happened.
The hall remained silent.
One second passed.
Then another.
Ryuzen frowned.
Why isn’t anything happening?
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A powerful wave of energy exploded from the altar.
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
Blue sparks crawled across his arm.
The ancient symbols covering the altar began glowing.
The crystal in the center flashed brightly.
“What?”
The attendant stumbled backward.
Thunder suddenly cracked inside the hall.
CRACK!
Electricity exploded around Ryuzen’s body.
His hair lifted as blue energy surrounded him.
The crowd gasped.
Ryuzen stared at his hands.
For a moment, his heart filled with excitement.
Maybe mine is powerful.
The blue energy intensified.
The Soul Altar began trembling.
Ancient symbols flashed rapidly.
Then a bright image appeared above the altar.
Two words formed.
INNER BEAST
Ryuzen held his breath.
Another line appeared beneath it.
He stared.
His expression slowly changed.
ELECTRIC EEL
Silence.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Then someone laughed.
A single laugh.
Another followed.
Soon, whispers spread throughout the hall.
“Electric Eel?”
“That’s his Inner Beast?”
“For a prince?”
“I thought the youngest prince would awaken something powerful.”
“Isn’t Electric Eel one of the weakest Inner Beasts?”
Ryuzen stood frozen.
His eyes remained fixed on the words above the altar.
Electric Eel.
He knew what people believed about it.
Electric Eel users were known for having a terrible weakness.
Their bodies could not withstand the thunder generated by their own Inner Beast.
Their muscles suffered.
Their nerves were damaged.
Their bodies eventually broke down if they forced too much power through themselves.
Many Electric Eel awakeners never became powerful warriors.
But Ryuzen had never imagined that his entire future would be judged in a single moment.
He slowly looked toward his brothers.
Kaizen was smiling.
Not proudly.
Mockingly.
“So that’s what you awakened.”
Ryuzen said nothing.
Kaizen stepped forward.
“The youngest prince of Kryptoria.”
He looked at the words above the altar.
“An Electric Eel.”
Raikou laughed under his breath.
“That’s embarrassing.”
Darius shook his head.
“Even ordinary warriors awaken better beasts.”
Zayden crossed his arms.
“What a disgrace.”
Ryuzen clenched his fists.
He looked toward his father.
The King had not laughed.
Instead, his expression was cold.
Disappointed.
The King slowly stood from his throne.
The laughter immediately disappeared.
“An Electric Eel.”
His voice echoed through the hall.
Ryuzen swallowed.
“Father…”
The King stared at him.
“For generations, the royal family of Kryptoria has produced powerful Inner Beasts.”
He looked at the blue sparks surrounding Ryuzen.
“And this is what you have awakened?”
Ryuzen lowered his head.
“I didn’t choose it.”
The King remained silent.
Ryuzen raised his eyes.
“But I can become strong.”
Several people laughed again.
Ryuzen’s expression hardened.
“I’ll train.”
Kaizen laughed.
“You?”
Ryuzen looked at him.
Kaizen stepped closer.
“You don’t even understand what you’ve awakened.”
He pointed toward Ryuzen’s trembling hand.
“Look at your body.”
Ryuzen looked down.
The electricity crawling across his fingers was already causing pain.
His muscles trembled.
Kaizen smiled.
“Electric Eel users cannot withstand their own thunder.”
Ryuzen gritted his teeth.
“I’ll find a way.”
Kaizen’s smile disappeared.
“You’ll die trying.”
Those words struck Ryuzen harder than the laughter.
He looked at his father again.
For years, he had imagined this moment.
He had imagined his father smiling.
Perhaps placing a hand on his shoulder.
Perhaps telling him that he had made the royal family proud.
Instead, the King stared at him like he was looking at a stranger.
Then the King spoke.
“Ryuzen.”
Ryuzen straightened.
“Yes, Father.”
The King looked around the hall.
His voice became colder.
“You have failed to awaken the strength expected of a prince of Kryptoria.”
Ryuzen’s heart sank.
The King continued.
“From this moment onward, you are no longer recognized as a prince of this kingdom.”
A wave of shock passed through the hall.
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
“Father?”
The King didn’t stop.
“I hereby disown you from the royal family.”
Silence.
Ryuzen couldn’t breathe.
The words echoed inside his head.
Disown you.
His mother remained seated.
She didn’t defend him.
She didn’t even look surprised.
Ryuzen looked toward his brothers.
Raikou, Darius, and Zayden showed little reaction.
Kaizen simply watched.
But Aster had stopped reading.
His book remained open in his hands, but his eyes were fixed on Ryuzen.
The King raised his hand.
“You will remain within the palace for now.”
Ryuzen stared at him.
“But you will no longer carry the title of prince.”
His father’s voice was final.
“You will no longer represent the royal family.”
Ryuzen’s chest tightened.
He wanted to ask why.
He wanted to beg.
He wanted to scream.
But something stopped him.
Pride.
Not the pride of a prince.
The pride of a boy who refused to let everyone see him break.
He slowly lowered his head.
“I understand.”
The King sat down.
The ceremony continued.
But Ryuzen didn’t hear the next name.
He didn’t hear the cheering.
He didn’t hear the conversations around him.
He simply walked away from the altar.
As he passed Aster, his brother quietly said his name.
“Ryuzen.”
Ryuzen stopped.
He didn’t look back.
Aster hesitated.
Then he said,
“Don’t give up.”
Ryuzen closed his eyes for a moment.
He nodded.
Then he continued walking.
The doors of the Awakening Hall opened.
Ryuzen stepped outside.
Cold wind struck his face.
He walked through the palace corridors without looking at anyone.
Servants stepped aside when they saw him.
Some whispered.
Others stared.
He could hear them.
“That was the prince who awakened Electric Eel.”
“Former prince.”
“I heard the King disowned him.”
“How unfortunate.”
Ryuzen continued walking.
He eventually reached an empty balcony overlooking the royal city.
He placed both hands on the stone railing.
Below him, Kryptoria stretched toward the horizon.
The city was beautiful.
It had always been his home.
Yet for the first time, Ryuzen wondered if he still belonged there.
He looked at his hand.
A tiny spark appeared.
Then another.
Blue electricity crawled between his fingers.
Ryuzen concentrated.
The electricity became stronger.
Pain immediately shot through his arm.
He gritted his teeth.
But he didn’t stop.
“Again.”
The electricity surged.
His arm trembled.
Pain spread through his shoulder.
He nearly collapsed.
But he remained standing.
“Again.”
The thunder became stronger.
His breathing grew heavier.
His knees weakened.
Still, he refused to fall.
“Again.”
A bolt of lightning flashed across the distant sky.
For a moment, Ryuzen stared at it.
He understood something.
His Inner Beast wasn’t going to make his journey easy.
His body wasn’t strong enough to withstand its power.
Then he would make his body stronger.
If everyone believed Electric Eel was weak, he would prove them wrong.
If everyone believed he would fail, he would continue until they had no choice but to acknowledge him.
He looked at the blue electricity surrounding his hand.
“I didn’t choose you.”
The sparks flickered.
“But you’re mine.”
Ryuzen clenched his fist.
“I’ll become strong enough to control you.”
The thunder disappeared.
Ryuzen stood alone beneath the dark sky.
He had lost his title.
He had lost his father’s approval.
He had lost the respect of his brothers.
But he still had something.
His will.
And he refused to surrender it.
Far beyond Kryptoria, hidden beneath mountains that no ordinary warrior dared approach, ancient forces were already beginning to stir.
Ryuzen knew nothing about them.
He knew nothing about the seven forbidden coffins.
He knew nothing about the ancient sword waiting for its rightful wielder.
He knew nothing about the mysterious darkness that would one day threaten the kingdoms.
For now, he was simply a fifteen-year-old boy who had been disowned by his father.
A boy with an Inner Beast everyone considered worthless.
A boy whose own body couldn’t withstand his power.
But his story had only just begun.
Ryuzen looked toward the distant mountains.
His eyes hardened.
“I’ll prove them wrong.”
Thunder answered from the heavens.
BOOM!
And beneath that thunder, something inside Ryuzen’s soul stirred.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
Just enough to remind him that the power everyone had mocked…
was still there.
Waiting.
Ryuzen had lost his place in the royal family.
But he had not lost his future.