"Why did you become so weak? All your siblings are strong. Your mother is strong. I am strong. And yet, you—you're nothing but a disgrace to our family. What will others say? I am to be the next leader of our clan after your grandfather, and they expect me to bring forth powerful soldiers. We are a clan of strength, yet people like you tarnish our name."
A young man, seemingly in his mid-thirties, stood before a twelve-year-old boy. They faced each other in front of an altar. A silver sphere rested upon it—a sacred relic used to measure power output and potential.
For one to awaken their power, they had to undergo a ritual—a test of worthiness. In the Starborn Clan, the chances of awakening were nearly absolute. For commoners, it was a gamble; for royals, a near certainty. And yet, an anomaly had appeared. The boy before him had not only failed to awaken but had nearly lost his life in the process. His father had been forced to intervene. Even among commoners, failure was rare. To fail within the Starborn Clan was unheard of.
In this world, children were not named at birth. Names were granted at the age of twelve, upon the successful completion of the awakening ritual. Those who failed were outcasts—failures in the eyes of society. The father's crimson aura flared with unrestrained anger, barely subdued by the gentle touch of his wife.
"I am sorry, Father, for failing you," the boy whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "I guess you have no choice but to cast me out. I am a failure."
The man before him, Mr. Shin—the next ruler of the Starborn Clan—exhaled deeply. He was the one in charge of the clan's affairs, second only to his father. He gazed at his son with a complex expression.
"I have made my decision," Shin finally said. "Due to your weakness, you will have no name. Furthermore, I will not live with you. Your grandfather has granted me leadership so that I may learn to rule. Therefore, you will go to live with him. You may not have awakened, but you are still my son. And though the rules demand I cast you aside, I will not abandon you entirely. You have always been gifted with intelligence. Perhaps my father will find some use for you in the clan's financial matters." With that, Shin turned and strode away, leaving the boy standing alone.
The Starborn Clan was the most powerful of its kind, producing legendary figures such as Shin himself, his father, Sir Ades, and other mythical warriors. Their reputation stretched across the four great continents, their strength unrivaled. They did not send their children to prestigious academies. Instead, they trained them personally—and their warriors were stronger than any academy graduate.
One week later…
The preparations were complete. The boy, now known simply as 'Number Three,' was sent to live with his grandfather. Ades, the former ruler of the Starborn Clan, was a figure shrouded in mystery. For years, he had lived in seclusion, claiming to be on the verge of a breakthrough. Though 354 years old, he appeared no older than a man in his mid-forties.
"If it isn't my boy Shin, bringing his offspring," Ades greeted warmly, pulling both Shin and Number Three into an embrace. "Welcome, my boy. I heard about your failure to awaken, but do not despair. I will put that brain of yours to good use."
"Thank you, sir. I will do my best to bring honor to our clan," Number Three said, bowing deeply to his father and grandfather.
Shin turned to Ades. "I see you've reached Perfected Warden. Congratulations, Father. I'm still at the beginning stage and have been using your technique to absorb world energy since my breakthrough into Soul Binder."
Ades chuckled. "No need to be so hard on yourself. I was two hundred years old before I achieved my breakthrough. Your talent far surpasses mine. Appreciate your progress." With that, he ruffled Shin's hair, though the younger man resisted—it was a futile effort.
The power levels in this world were structured as follows:
Spark of Aspirant
Artisan's Touch
Warrior's Resolve
Harbinger's Vision
Soulbinder's Gift
Ethereal Warden
Sovereign Manifest
Cosmic Conqueror
Beyond Sovereign Manifest, few knew whether higher realms existed. The most powerful known being was Aurum, the Keeper of Balance. Not even a million Sovereigns could scratch her—if such a number of Sovereigns even existed. To face Aurum was to challenge the heavens themselves. But she was not a tyrant. She interfered in nothing, her presence known only to a handful.
After a brief conversation, Shin left Number Three in Ades' care, leaving behind only a communication amulet for emergencies.
Ades turned to his grandson, his expression firm yet kind. "Listen well, boy. You may not have awakened, but weakness will not be tolerated in my presence. I will train you. By the time I'm through with you, you'll wish you had awakened just to escape the torment. If you survive, you will understand the true strength of our clan."
Number Three swallowed hard, unsure whether to feel grateful or terrified.
Ades smirked. "Now, before we begin, read this." He handed him a thick booklet. "Finish it by tomorrow."
With that, the true journey of Number Three began.