The doors to the Legacy Chamber slid open with a deep hum, revealing a space unlike any other within the Eternis Clan's stronghold.
Kael stepped inside, his eyes scanning the fusion of magic and technology that surrounded him. The chamber was a masterpiece, refined over generations by his ancestors—each layer woven with runes and circuits, a balance between arcane power and scientific precision. The walls pulsed with shifting glyphs, glowing softly in response to his presence. Energy flowed through them like veins, humming in rhythm with his own lifeforce.
This place wasn't just a training ground—it was an artifact, designed to push its user to the limits of their potential.
As Kael moved forward, a neutral voice echoed in his mind, neither mechanical nor alive.
> "Choose your opponent."
His gaze hardened. He had been waiting for this moment. There was only one true test.
> "Dain Eternis."
For a moment, silence. Then, the chamber reacted. The air crackled as particles of energy and solid light twisted together, forming a towering figure.
A man with broad shoulders, sharp features, and piercing golden eyes stood before him. His long, midnight-black hair, streaked with faint silver, was neatly tied back. His presence was commanding, like a storm contained within human form.
Dain Eternis.
His father.
The illusion was flawless—the chamber didn't just create a visual projection, it replicated everything: Dain's power, his battle instincts, his combat style. It was as if the real Dain stood before Kael.
Dain's golden eyes studied him, the hint of a smirk playing at his lips.
> "You chose me? At your age?"
Kael met his gaze without hesitation.
> "I want to see where I stand."
Dain chuckled, crossing his arms.
> "Then come at me with everything you've got."
---
A Clash of Will and Instinct
Kael moved first.
His feet barely touched the ground before he surged forward, his body already adjusting to strike. His instincts screamed to hit fast, before his father took control of the fight.
Dain didn't move.
Not until the very last moment.
Then—a blur.
Kael's attack was redirected effortlessly. One smooth motion, and suddenly, Dain had him off-balance, twisting his momentum against him. Kael barely managed to flip mid-air, landing in a crouch.
His father hadn't even attacked yet.
> "He's reading my movements perfectly…"
Kael clenched his jaw. He knew Dain was a strategist, someone who controlled the flow of battle rather than reacting to it. If Kael played by normal rules, he'd never land a hit.
Which meant—he wouldn't play by the rules.
A flicker of electricity sparked around him.
> "Zappy, analyze his stance."
The AI's voice responded instantly.
> "Detected shift in weight distribution. Next move—counter incoming."
Kael's mind processed the warning in an instant.
Instead of attacking, he baited. He pretended to strike from the left—then twisted sharply, using his unnatural instincts to slip past Dain's defenses.
It worked.
His fist connected—a clean hit to the ribs.
Dain's expression didn't change. But there was a flicker of approval in his eyes.
> "Not bad."
Then he vanished.
Kael barely had time to register before—impact.
A crushing force slammed into him from behind, sending him skidding across the ground. Dain hadn't teleported. He had simply moved so fast that Kael's perception lagged behind.
Kael coughed, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth.
> "Even after all my training…"
> "I'm still this far behind?"
No.
His eyes flashed.
He refused to let it end like this.
Kael pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his lip. Energy crackled around him as he took a deep breath.
> "Zappy, full synchronization. Maximize combat intuition."
> "Understood."
His senses sharpened.
His heartbeat slowed.
For the first time, Kael wasn't just fighting—he was seeing.
Dain moved.
Kael anticipated.
Their battle became a dance of impossibly fast strikes and counters. Sparks flew as fists met force, every impact shaking the chamber. This wasn't just a test anymore—it was war.
Kael felt himself reaching a limit—but he pushed past it.
He saw an opening.
One final strike—one chance.
And he took it.
---
A Hidden Truth
The simulation flickered.
Dain's form slowed, his body dimming as the chamber registered Kael's victory.
The illusion of his father smirked, eyes filled with quiet pride.
> "You've surpassed my expectations, Kael."
And then, he vanished.
Kael exhaled, his entire body aching, but his mind unsettled.
Something felt… wrong.
His energy—it wasn't the same.
It was shifting, moving differently inside him, almost as if…
> "Zappy… my cultivation… it's different."
Zappy's voice was immediate, but not calm. For the first time, the AI sounded almost… uncertain.
> "Confirmed. Your cultivation structure does not match standard Eternis bloodline inheritance."
Kael frowned.
> "Explain."
A pause. Then, Zappy spoke, but this time, the words carried weight.
> "Your bloodline technique has been altered—exclusively for you."
Kael's breath hitched.
> "What?"
Zappy continued.
> "Your cultivation stages are the same as Eternis Clan members… but the way you progress through them, the advantages you gain… will diverge as you grow stronger."
Kael clenched his fists.
> "So I'm different?"
Zappy didn't hesitate.
> "Yes. And this difference… will become more apparent in the later stages."
Kael's thoughts raced. He had always known he was special—his instincts, his perception, his connection to energy—but this?
This was something else entirely.
And suddenly, he wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse.
---
Cultivation System Introduction
Kael sat down, his mind still processing the revelation.
> "Zappy… explain cultivation. Not just ours, but for everyone."
The AI responded immediately.
> "Cultivation is the process of advancing one's body, mind, and soul beyond mortal limits. However, each race, faction, and school uses different terminologies and focuses. Some are born at higher stages, such as soul lifeforms, while others have natural advantages in certain tiers. However, for universal identification, all power systems are generalized into twelve tiers."
---
Kael's World – Cultivation Tiers
1. Mortal Awakening (Tier 1) – The stage where one awakens their core potential. Most remain here forever.
2. Foundation Tempering (Tier 2) – Strengthening the body, mind, and energy channels.
3. Vein Refinement (Tier 3) – Expanding and refining energy pathways.
4. Soul Embryo (Tier 4) – The soul begins evolving, granting deeper resonance.
5. Astral Ascension (Tier 5) – Connection with cosmic forces, unlocking new perceptions.
(For now, Kael's knowledge only reached Tier 5.)
---
Kael closed his eyes, feeling the energy within him.
He knew now.
He was not normal.
And this was just the beginning.