Many years ago in Oasis, when Lars Platinumgrey was only six years old, he would train relentlessly alongside his older brother Dustin(8) and their noble relatives. Every child of noble blood was expected to be forged into a warrior, bred and trained for the sole purpose of competing in the Star Games.
Lars showed natural talent in combat, his strikes precise, his movements fluid. But no matter how hard he pushed himself, Dustin was always ahead—stronger, faster, and more dominant in every sparring match. Among all the noble children, Dustin stood at the top, effortlessly proving his superiority.
Overseeing them all was their father, Zion Platinumgrey, the formidable head of the family. He was a legend—the strongest and smartest among their lineage—and his training was known to be merciless.
One evening, Lars stands quietly, watching Dustin inside a simulation chamber as he battled a wave of digital warriors. The intensity of the battle was overwhelming, yet Dustin moved like a storm, cutting through his opponents with pure, overwhelming strength. When the simulation ended, the screen flickered "VICTORY".
But before Dustin could relax, Zion is standing near by as he then moves with terrifying speed. In an instant, he slammed Dustin's head into the floor, sending shockwaves through the chamber.
Lars flinched but did not move. He knew better than to interfere.
"Son, you may be strong, but I can see it in your eyes," Zion's voice was cold, unwavering. "Your emotions. Your thoughts. They cloud your judgment, restraining your true potential."
Dustin, gasping for breath, clenched his fists but does not retaliate.
"You are faster. Stronger. But your emotions and thoughts are making you weak," Zion continued. "As a Platinumgrey, you will uphold the honor of our family without fail. That means you must be at your best at all times."
Lars took a hesitant step forward but froze in place. His instincts tells him to defend his brother, but his mind knew the truth—this was their family's way. This was their tradition.
To be strong, one must endure.
Even if that meant suffering at the hands of their own blood.
Dustin complies with his father's demands, continuing his training without protest. Even as his body aches and his breath grows heavy, he does not stop.
Later that night, Zion finally grants him a break, instructing him to focus on his studies. Beaten and exhausted, Dustin staggers toward his room.
Lars, still young but curious, watches his brother carefully. Something feels off.
As Dustin enters his room, Lars waits a moment before quietly following. But when he opens the door—the room is empty.
His brother is gone.
Lars frowns, scanning the room before spotting a transfer link station in the corner, its system still active. He rushes over, summoning several digital screens, quickly accessing Dustin's travel history.
And there it is.
Destination: House of Frostsilver.
That same night, Lars sneaks out of the Platinumgrey estate, making his way toward the towering city building of Frostsilver. With careful precision, he climbs the outer walls, avoiding security drones and automated defenses. The cold wind rushes against him as he ascends, his hands gripping onto the ledges until he reaches a garden balcony.
Hiding among the bushes, Lars steadies his breath as he watches Dustin sitting alongside Gaia Frostsilver.
She is nine years old, slightly older than Dustin, but she carries herself with grace and confidence. Together, they sit quietly, watching the night sky.
Then, Dustin speaks.
"I wish I wasn't born into the Platinumgrey family."
Lars' heart nearly stops.
Gaia tilts her head, surprised. "But the Platinumgreys are strong. Don't say that. You should be grateful you were born into such a high-ranked noble family."
Dustin exhales, shaking his head. "I want to be as free as you are, Gaia."
Lars watches as Dustin's usually unwavering gaze softens. "You're strong, smart, and you live life at its best. I may be at the same level as you are, but my life is the total opposite. I just… I just want my own freedom to do whatever I want."
Gaia listens carefully before replying. **"Every noble family has its own way of living. Your father probably believes that the way he's raising you is the best path for your family to rise to the top. To finally produce the 'perfect Star.'"
Dustin clenches his fists. "There were times I wished I wasn't even a noble." His voice is barely above a whisper. "I'm tired of these relentless competitions. I would rather live a normal life, like a commoner."
He pauses. "But because I am the most talented in my family, I'm expected to uphold our name. To become a 'great Star.'" His expression darkens. "But I don't want that. I understand—being emotional is considered a weakness. But sometimes, I just want to be human. I want to enjoy life instead of walking this path toward 'Godhood.'"
Gaia, sensing the pain in his words, reaches out and gently places a hand on his.
"If that's what you truly want… then you already know what to do."
Her voice is kind, but firm. "As a friend from the academy, I will always support you. Whether you remain a high-ranked noble, fall to a lower rank, or even become an exile… you will always be my friend."
Lars, hidden in the shadows, clenches his jaw. He never realized how much Dustin was suffering.
but anger then fills his heart as he only sees weakness in Dustin.
Ten years later, in the great hall of the Platinumgrey estate is filled with noble warriors, their backs straight, their gazes sharp. The air is thick with pride and expectation as Zion Platinumgrey, the head of the family, stands tall at the front.
His voice echoes through the room, commanding absolute attention.
"I believe it is time for our family to join this year's Star Games."
A murmur spreads through the gathering.
But then, Zion's next words shake the hall into silence.
"The one who will represent our family name is Dustin Platinumgrey."
Gasps ripple through the nobles. Some exchange glances, unable to believe what they just heard.
Yet, in the middle of the crowd, only one person burns with rage.
Lars Platinumgrey.
Later that night, Lars storms into Zion's private chamber. His fists are clenched, his face contorted with anger.
"Father!" He shouts, slamming the door behind him.
Zion barely looks up from his digital screen.
Lars steps forward. "Dustin is not fit to become a Star at all! If anything, he'll bring shame to our family name! I'll prove it to you, Father!"
Zion's expression remains unreadable. He does not answer.
Lars grits his teeth before turning on his heel and storming off.
Lars bursts into Dustin's room, expecting to see his brother training, preparing, doing something to prove himself worthy.
Instead, he sees Dustin sitting on the edge of his bed… crying.
Lars stops for a moment, staring in disbelief.
Then his anger boils over.
"I should be the one crying because I wasn't selected!"
His voice is sharp with resentment. His hand moves to his glasses, tapping the side—a red light blinks on as it starts recording.
He points the device at Dustin. "Look, everyone! This is the person who is supposed to represent our family!?"
His eyes scan the room before landing on a small trash bin nearby. Something catches his attention.
He storms over, peering inside. His eyes widen to see makeup kits in the trash.
His hands tremble as he pulls them out. He turns back to Dustin, his face twisted in fury.
"What is this?! You! You are a Platinumgrey! You can't be having these kinds of thoughts! You're supposed to be strong!"
Lars throws the kits to the ground, crushing them beneath his foot.
"I thought that as the years went by, you'd eventually see what it means to be a Platinumgrey!" His voice shakes. "But you're still the same as you were ten years ago! Weak! Shameful! If you truly believe you can represent our family, then fight me! If you lose, you back out of the Star Games and I will take your place and restore our family's honor!"
Dustin doesn't immediately answer. His hands tremble on his lap, his eyes avoiding Lars' furious gaze.
Then, he finally speaks. "You're right."
Lars falters. "What?"
Dustin lets out a shaky breath. "I am weak… but I tried."
His voice is small, broken. "For years, I forced myself to be what the family wanted me to be. I pushed and pushed, thinking that one day, maybe, I'd finally become the Platinumgrey I was meant to be. But my heart tells me otherwise."
He lifts his head, his tear-streaked face full of sorrow. "I don't want this at all."
Lars steps forward, fists clenching. "Shut up."
"I won't fight you." Dustin rises and says. "I'll exile myself, so save your strength."
Lars can only see red.
He lunges, his fist slamming into Dustin's face. Blood sprays against the wall.
"You coward!" Lars snarls. "You're not going to walk away for free. You have to fight your way out!"
Another punch.
And another.
Blood drips from Dustin's lips, but he doesn't fight back. He just stands there, taking it.
Lars' rage only grows. He grabs Dustin by the collar, shaking him.
"I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SAYING IT, BUT I CAN SEE IT IN YOUR EYES!" He screams. "YOU THINK I'LL BE SENTIMENTAL WITH YOU?! YOU'RE WRONG! YOU THINK I CAN HAVE EMOTIONS AND FEEL WHAT YOU'RE FEELING?! NO!"
His punches grow more violent, the room stained with blood.
"WE WERE TAUGHT TO BE STRONG EVER SINCE BIRTH! SO WHAT WENT WRONG?!"
Dustin's swollen eyes barely open. "...I just thought about what was better for myself."
Lars lets out a roar of fury.
With one final, devastating punch, Dustin collapses to the floor.
Lars, breathing heavily, stands over him.
"There's nothing better than godhood for us nobles," he growls. "That is the meaning of life! Fight me and give me the honor I deserve!"
Lars climbs on top of Dustin, ready to continue the beating—
But suddenly, a fierce kick strikes him in the side, sending him crashing into the wall.
The room spins as he groggily looks up—
Standing in front of Dustin is Gaia Frostsilver.
Gaia stands firm between Lars and Dustin with her golden glare.
"That's enough. You'll kill him at this rate."
Lars breathes heavily, fists still clenched. His body trembles—not from exhaustion, but from sheer rage.
Then his eyes narrow at Gaia. "You…" his voice drips with venom. "You were the cause of his weakness!"
Without hesitation, Lars lunges at Gaia, his punch tearing through the air like a bullet.
Gaia meets his attack head-on. Their fists collide, the force sending shockwaves through the room.
They move in a blur—punches, kicks, counters—each strike carrying immense power. Their battle shakes the very foundation of the room.
At one point, their legs clash in mid-air, causing a burst of wind to scatter debris around them.
Gaia smirks. "If that's the case, then why are we stronger than you?"
Lars' eyes widen just as Gaia's foot slams into his chest—once, twice, three times.
With each brutal kick, Lars' body is sent skidding across the floor, slamming into the wall with a loud CRASH!
He groans, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. But he refuses to stay down.
Lars wipes the blood away and glares at Gaia.
"Father only saw Dustin as worthy because he recently developed Ultra Thinking…" His voice is filled with bitterness. "But I have it too."
Gaia's expression shifts slightly, but she remains composed.
Lars straightens, his breathing steadying. His eyes sharpen, his mind accelerating to incredible speeds.
In his head, thousands of scenarios play out in rapid succession.
He sees every move Gaia is about to make, every possible counter she could attempt.
Then, among the countless simulated battles in his mind, he finds it—the perfect moment to strike.
His lips curl into a grin.
"There it is."
Lars moves with precision, mirroring the exact motion from his mental simulation. His body executes the same devastating attack he saw in his mind—
But suddenly—
Dustin steps between them, catching both of their attacks in his hands.
The room falls silent.
Lars stares, stunned.
He didn't see this coming at all.
He didn't simulate this outcome.
Dustin, bloodied and weak, holds back both warriors with trembling hands.
His voice is barely above a whisper. "…Stop this, please."
Then, a presence fills the room.
Zion Platinumgrey.
His footsteps echo with finality as he enters. His cold gaze sweeps across the scene, taking in Dustin's bloodied face, Lars' rage, and Gaia's defiance.
Then, his eyes lock onto Dustin.
A long silence lingers before Zion finally speaks—his voice sharp as a blade.
"You've disappointed me, son, from now on you are exiled."
Dustin freezes.
The weight of those words crushes him more than any of Lars' punches ever could.
Then, Zion steps forward and presses a hand against Dustin's chest.
Immediately, digital particles begin to rise from his body.
A red circle forms beneath his feet, glowing ominously.
The ground beneath him begins to vanish.
Gaia's voice shatters the silence.
"DUSTIN!"
The floor collapses beneath him.
His body is sucked downward, plummeting through endless floors.
Gaia lunges forward, reaching for him—
But he's already falling.
Falling through the grand city… past its glowing towers… past the golden lights of nobility…
And finally—
He breaks through the final layer of the floating city.
As he continues to fall into the ocean below
he closes his eyes.
Then—
He crashes into the deep ocean.
Moments later the waves crash softly against the shore of the commoner city's beach. The neon lights from the nearby district flicker against the dark ocean, their reflections dancing across the water.
On a worn-out bench, Tomi sits, a half-empty bottle in his hand. He stares blankly at the horizon, lost in the weight of his past.
But then—
Something catches his eye.
A body lies motionless at the shoreline, waves gently lapping against it.
Tomi quickly stands, his instincts kicking in. He strides toward the figure and kneels down, brushing away the wet strands of hair clinging to the person's face.
His eyes widen.
A digital red X mark glows on the boy's chest.
Tomi exhales sharply. "This boy is a noble exile."
Years Later…
Tomi has taken in Dustin as his own son as he learns the ways of a commoner.
Dustin Platinumgrey ceases to exist.
Under Tomi's care, he begins to adapt to life without wealth, without privilege, without expectations crushing him at every step.
But no matter how much he buries himself in this new life, his past never stops haunting him.
And one day—
He makes a decision.
Standing in front of a mirror, he stares at his reflection.
Then, a grin forms. "I can already simulate the faces they're going to have..."
He closes his eyes, picturing them.
"…when the first Star winner from this planet is going to be a commoner."
Determined, he undergoes plastic surgery, reshaping his face and features into those of a striking woman. She takes on a new name—Kayle Ross—and dons a star-shaped mask. With her new identity, she steps into Star University, ready to forge a new destiny.