Chapter 0: The Awakening
The world was built on power. A person's power was determined by the veins they inherited—the mystical pathways in their body that could harness energy. Every individual's veins would awaken on their 16th birthday, granting them an ability that marked their place in society. Veins were not only a reflection of a person's strength but also their potential.
But power was not evenly distributed. There were those who awakened with the strength to shift the course of nations and those whose powers were barely enough to light a candle. And then, there were the anomalies, like Kian Balthor—whose awakening would break all expectations.
The Power System: Tiers of Power
The 11 power tiers shaped the foundation of this world's society. Everyone began at Tier 10, the beginner level, but how far they could go depended on the strength of their veins. Some could progress quickly, others barely moved, and a few, the lucky ones, could rise to unimaginable heights.
Tier 10: The starting point. Those who awakened at this level had minimal control over their abilities. Their powers were unstable and weak, and only through training could they hope to progress.
Tier 9: The level of those who had honed some control over their abilities. Their powers began to stabilize, though still relatively weak.
Tier 8-6: As you moved up, powers became more refined, more destructive. Individuals at these levels could bend elements to their will—summon firestorms or control the tides—but still, they had limitations.
Tier 5-2: The elite and transcendent. These individuals could shape the world with a thought. They were capable of feats beyond imagination, controlling both the elements and the fabric of reality.
Tier 1: The Divine. A rank held by only the most powerful beings. Gods among men. They could manipulate time and space, and their presence alone could reshape the world.
Tier 0: The pinnacle. God-tier. Those at this level could erase existence with a single breath. They were omnipotent, practically eternal, and revered as gods.
The Vein System: From Common to Mythical
Everyone would awaken at Tier 10, but the strength of the veins determined how quickly one could rise through the ranks. The veins themselves were ranked from Common to Mythical, with each rank allowing for quicker progress and greater powers.
Common Veins: The weakest, making it almost impossible to advance past Tier 10. These veins gave birth to basic powers, like fire, ice, or simple strength-based abilities.
Uncommon Veins: Slightly stronger than Common veins, they allowed for better control and quicker progress to Tier 9 and beyond. These veins could unlock abilities like basic telekinesis, or perhaps the ability to enhance one's senses.
Rare Veins: With Rare veins, a person could awaken powers that were far more unique—energy manipulation, elemental control, or even the ability to manipulate gravity or sound.
Epic Veins: These veins were the mark of the elite. Powers gained from Epic veins were often destructive and versatile, such as the manipulation of storms or the ability to warp time in limited ways.
Legendary Veins: Rare and extremely powerful. Those with Legendary veins could manipulate the very fabric of space, shape reality, or wield powers that others could only dream of.
Mythical Veins: The pinnacle of veins, found only in the most extraordinary individuals. Mythical veins granted god-like powers, ones that could shape the world, rewrite the laws of nature, or grant the bearer control over existence itself.
The Awakening Ceremony
The Awakening Ceremony was the most important day in a teenager's life. It was when they would finally see the strength of their veins and discover their place in the world. This day was marked with anticipation, for it would determine whether one would ascend to greatness or fade into obscurity.
At the ceremony, each participant would step onto the stage in front of their peers and family, where their veins would activate. The air would hum with energy as each person's power was unlocked.
Kian stood at the edge of the stage, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew his veins were special—he could feel it. But no one could have prepared him for what was about to unfold.
Around him stood ten others, all waiting for their turn. Some were eager, others nervous, and a few were resigned to their fate. Not all would be as lucky as Kian.
Awakenings
One by one, the others stepped forward.
Lira Seftan stepped confidently onto the stage. Her veins were Rare, and she had always hoped for something spectacular. When her veins activated, fire shot from her hands, flames licking the air with a brilliance that dazzled the crowd. She had awakened with the power to control fire—a common but formidable ability. She was content.
Xan Zaire, a cocky boy with Uncommon veins, stepped forward. His power had always been expected to be something related to water, but when his veins activated, only a few droplets of water materialized before fizzling out into steam. He was devastated. His veins lacked the strength to support his power. Tier 10 was where he would remain, and no one would let him forget it.
Ava Trestor was another with Rare veins. She had hoped for something extraordinary, but her awakening was disappointing. Her ability to control wind was useful, but it was not the grand power she had imagined. Still, she could improve.
Ethan Gorov had Uncommon veins, and his awakening proved to be a bust. He had hoped for telekinetic abilities, but instead, his power manifested as super strength—not weak, but still, nothing to set him apart. He was deflated, but at least his power was useful.
Mila Cruz had Common veins. When her veins activated, her powers were weak—she could only summon a faint, flickering light. She was devastated. Not even the energy to control a simple element had awakened within her. She was one of the unlucky ones—no veins at all, and no hope of ever progressing beyond Tier 10.
Rylan Wexler, a quiet boy, stepped forward. His veins were Rare, and his powers manifested as the ability to manipulate shadows. He could move and control the darkness itself, a formidable ability. His power was not flashy, but it was unique.
Zara Quinn, with Epic veins, was next. Her awakening brought forth lightning—a wild storm of energy that crackled in the air around her. It wasn't just elemental control—it was chaotic power. Zara smiled as the crowd gasped. Her veins were powerful, and she had a bright future ahead.
Soren Feldt awakened with Epic veins as well. His ability was teleportation, but not just any teleportation—he could travel through time, though only for short intervals. His power was feared, and for good reason.
Vera Andros, with Legendary veins, awoke with the ability to control time. She could slow down or speed up moments around her, altering reality itself in brief bursts. The crowd was in awe of her power, but she still had a long way to go.
And then there was Kian Balthor.
Kian stepped onto the stage with a calm demeanor, but inside, his heart raced. His veins had always been stronger than most, passed down from his mother, Lena Balthor, who wielded Void Horizon, and his father, Kairo Balthor, with his chaotic energy powers, Aether Surge.
When Kian's veins activated, the earth beneath him trembled. Green lightning erupted from his body in a dazzling arc, twisting and sparking through the air. But it was not just lightning—it was a fusion of chaos and space itself, an anomaly never seen before.
Mythical veins.
The crowd gasped. Kian had awakened with the most powerful veins known to humanity. His powers could shift the fabric of existence. The air hummed with energy as Kian stood at the center of the storm, his power overwhelming the entire arena.
Kian's awakening was an event that would forever change the course of his life. But for the others, their journey had just begun. Some would rise. Others would fall. But all would have to face the same truth: in this world, only the strong survived.
End of Chapter 0