Shawn's eyes fluttered open, his mind hazy, his body weightless. He found himself standing in a vast, endless space bathed in a dim red glow. The air was thick with an overwhelming presence, something ancient and terrifying, yet oddly familiar. His breathing was steady, but his instincts screamed danger.
Before him, not far away, stood a figure—no, himself. But different. The being radiated a soothing greenish-gold aura, exuding a sense of tranquility and power. Its very presence eased the aches in Shawn's soul, yet an unspoken challenge loomed between them.
Farther in the distance, two more figures hovered. One emitted an aura of sheer dominance, like a sovereign with authority over all things. The air trembled around it, as though it could rewrite reality with a mere thought. The other figure, wrapped in a luminous, angelic glow, felt far more dangerous—its presence was calm, yet infinitely more terrifying. Chains bound both of them, thick and ancient, yet some were visibly loosened, even broken.
Shawn's pulse quickened. What is this place? Who are they?
He took a step forward, his voice hoarse yet demanding, "Where am I? And who are you?"
The golden-green aura surrounding his duplicate rippled gently. "You are within your Bloodline Domain. It has been forcefully activated by the overwhelming pressure you faced. It is both your trial and your salvation. Win, and your bloodline awakens. Lose…"
The being let the sentence hang, but Shawn understood. Death.
He clenched his fists, his mind racing. Bloodline? I was never told about this!
As if reading his thoughts, the being spoke again, "Your bloodline has always existed within you. Well not you in much but you will come to understand. The bloodline is Locked and Dormant. Until today. My presence here confirms its awakening."
Shawn's eyes darted to the two figures in the distance. "And… them?"
The being shook its head. "Not now. Your focus should be here, on me. I am your Skyrize Bloodline Incarnation, the first to awaken. You must prove yourself against me. If you do not, your body will reject the awakening, and you will die."
Shawn inhaled sharply. A battle to the death. Against myself.
He scrutinized his opponent, trying to grasp its capabilities. "What even is a Skyrize Bloodline?"
A flicker of something—hesitation?—crossed the being's expression. "A race long forgotten. One that walked the path of healing and creation. But there is more that I will not reveal yet. Survive first. Learn later."
Shawn bristled at the evasion. The pieces didn't add up, but he had no time to argue. His focus had to be on the fight ahead. He exhaled, steadying himself.
The Skyrize Incarnation raised a hand, its greenish-gold aura intensifying. "Now, Shawn let us see if you are worthy of what is to come."
A pulse of energy erupted from the being. The battle had begun.
The battle began with an eerie silence as Shawn and his bloodline counterpart locked eyes. It was a surreal experience, facing an entity that looked exactly like him but radiated a greenish-golden aura that pulsated with a healing, soothing energy. Yet, beneath that tranquility lay a force of creation and resilience that threatened his very existence.
Shawn knew that this was a fight for survival, a trial to awaken his bloodline. If he lost, he would perish. There was no escape.
The bloodline version of himself made the first move. A wave of golden energy burst from its body, reshaping the very air around them. The ground beneath Shawn cracked as roots of green energy shot forth, aiming to entangle him. He barely dodged in time, flipping backward as sharp, vine-like appendages lashed out at him.
Shawn retaliated with his vitral, manipulating the air around him to send out razor-sharp gusts that severed the attacking tendrils. However, his opponent healed instantly, the wounds closing as if they had never existed.
'It can heal endlessly… but at what cost?' Shawn thought, his mind racing.
The battle escalated. His adversary's hands glowed as it conjured energy from the atmosphere, solidifying it into spears of light. With a flick of its wrist, the spears shot toward Shawn like homing missiles. He sidestepped, twisting his body midair, but one grazed his shoulder, sending a burning sensation coursing through his body. Blood dripped from the wound, but he had no time to falter.
Shawn relied on his air vitral, using it to enhance his speed and reaction time. With every step, he controlled air currents to give him an edge, dodging with inhuman agility. He struck back, sending compressed wind blasts at his opponent. The bloodline clone countered each one, deflecting them with a mere wave of its hand, its energy seemingly endless.
The battle dragged on. Both sides suffered. Shawn's body was littered with cuts and bruises, his limbs heavy from exhaustion. The bloodline copy, though still regenerating, was slowing down. Healing consumed energy, and the longer the fight continued, the more drained it became.
Then, an idea sparked in Shawn's mind.
'If someone has infinite health, then all I need is a single strike…'
His vision sharpened. He didn't need to deal constant damage—he needed one decisive blow. If not one, then ten. If not ten, then a hundred. If not… then he would sever its head.
Summoning every ounce of his strength, he began compressing the air around him. The surrounding space trembled under the immense pressure. It took everything he had to contain the volatile energy, but he persisted. His breathing grew ragged, his vision blurred, but finally, he condensed the ultimate weapon: a razor-thin air blade, so fine that it shimmered in the dim light.
With a final push, he released it.
The air blade moved silently. No whistle, no disturbance. Just pure, refined lethality.
The bloodline entity only noticed it when it was too late.
Its head separated from its body in an instant.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, blood spurted like a fountain. Shawn felt the nauseating metallic scent invade his senses. His stomach churned. He turned away, retching violently. The gore was overwhelming, unlike anything he had ever experienced.
When he turned back, the defeated bloodline clone was glowing. Its entire form transformed into pure energy, the greenish-golden light swirling toward Shawn. He instinctively reached for it, and the moment it made contact, it surged into his body. The warmth spread through him, entering his solar plexus where his core resided. His vitral pulsed, expanding and evolving. A rush of power filled him, healing his wounds, revitalizing his cells.
He had won.
But at what cost?
His hands trembled as he stared at the place where his opponent had stood. Though it had been a battle for survival, he couldn't shake off the unease—the knowledge that he had just taken a life, even if it was a fragment of himself.
'If I want to survive, I have to have a heart of steel…'
The realization settled in his bones. There would be more battles, more sacrifices. He couldn't afford to be weak.
Before he could process further, a force yanked his consciousness. The bloodline domain shattered around him, and in the next instant, he gasped awake, his body drenched in sweat. His breathing was ragged, his core pulsating with newfound strength.
The first step was complete.
His bloodline had begun to awaken.