The morning sun bathed the towering city of Varian in golden hues, its light glinting off the metallic banners that draped the Grand Awakening Hall. The streets were alive with excitement—merchants selling talismans for good fortune, noble families arriving in grand carriages, and young children walking toward their destiny, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and anticipation.
For Kael, this day was more than just a rite of passage.
It was judgment day.
The weight of his family's history pressed down on him, heavier than the steel-plated gates of the Awakening Hall.
He clenched his fists as he walked, pushing past the whispers, the murmurs of nobles and warriors alike.
"That's the son of the nameless ones."
"I heard neither of his parents awakened anything."
"Tch. He'll bring more shame to the Varian bloodline."
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He had learned long ago that words wouldn't change anything. Only strength would.
And today, he would prove himself.
The Awakening Hall was an architectural marvel—a monolithic dome of blackstone and gleaming silver, designed to house hundreds of children for the ritual. At the center of the vast chamber, a colossal sphere of condensed energy floated above a ceremonial platform, pulsing with raw power.
This was the Heart of Genesis, the ancient relic that awakened their mechanized genetic enhancements.
A hundred children stood in neat rows, dressed in ceremonial robes. Some trembled, some whispered prayers, while others radiated confidence.
Kael's heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained calm. Stoic. Determined.
"This is it."
One by one, the children stepped forward.
They placed their hands on the Heart of Genesis, and in an instant, their genetic enhancements awakened—a transformation that shaped their future.
—A boy from the esteemed Ferro Clan awakened Steel-Forged Arms, his skin turning into glimmering metal.
—A girl from the Ryzen family grew Blade-Tipped Fingers, each sharpened like a dagger.
—A noble son from House Veyar awakened a Pulse Cannon Chest, his torso generating bursts of plasma energy.
Each time a child awakened, the crowd cheered. Parents beamed with pride, and warriors murmured in approval.
And then, it was Kael's turn.
Silence fell over the hall.
He stepped forward, feeling the judgmental eyes of the audience burning into his back.
The Varian family was once legendary, known for their monstrous power and battlefield dominance. But after his parents' disgrace, he was their last hope.
If he failed—if he awakened nothing—his bloodline would be erased from history.
Kael placed his hands on the Heart of Genesis.
A surge of blinding energy wrapped around him, burning into his bones, his nerves, his very soul. His body trembled as an unseen force reached deep inside him, unlocking his genetic core.
He braced himself.
He waited for the transformation.
For the energy to take form.
For the cheers, the recognition, the validation.
But then—nothing happened.
A deafening silence filled the room.
His arms, his legs, his chest—there was no visible change.
"Did... did he awaken anything?" a voice whispered.
"It's happening again. Another failure."
"No way. The son of the nameless ones… he's nothing, just like them."
Kael's vision blurred as he staggered back, his breathing shallow.
This wasn't right. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
The overseer of the ceremony, a stern-looking warrior, frowned.
"...Kael Varian," he announced, his voice cold. "No awakening detected."
A wave of laughter rippled through the hall.
Kael clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
"No… no, this isn't right. I felt something. I felt the energy! But why is there nothing visible? Why—"
The overseer had already turned away.
"Next!"
Kael stood frozen as another child stepped forward, their awakening celebrated with cheers and admiration.
And just like that, he was forgotten.
Alone in the Shadows
That night, Kael sat alone on the rooftops of his family's estate, staring at the city skyline.
The laughter from the ceremony still echoed in his ears.
He gritted his teeth, anger and confusion twisting inside him like a storm.
"Why? Why didn't I awaken anything?"
He clenched his fists, frustration boiling over.
"I refuse to be nothing. I refuse to be forgotten."
But the world didn't care about determination.
It only cared about power.
And as far as everyone was concerned, he had none.
He was alone.
Weak.
And utterly powerless.
…Or so they thought.
Because deep within his mind, unseen by anyone—including himself—something had awakened.
Something far beyond a simple mechanical enhancement.
And soon, the world would know it.
They would all know it.