For ten years, Alexander Magnus had lived within the sacred halls of the Magnus Citadel—a place where titanic overlords and divine saints gathered, where primordial secrets lay hidden beneath ancient stone.
But the world was far greater than the citadel.
And now, it was time for him to step beyond its gates.
The Grand Departure
The Imperial War Gate loomed before him, a colossal structure made from Primordial Nethersteel, infused with laws of protection and spatial distortion. This gate had remained closed to outsiders for millennia.
Yet today, it would open for one.
A gathering of high-ranking clan members, elders, and royal figures stood in attendance. His father, Magnus Tyrannos, watched from above, arms crossed. His mother, Seraphina Celestia, stood beside him, her divine aura soft yet boundless.
Alexander stood before them, his hands behind his back, his expression calm.
Despite his young age, he radiated absolute confidence.
Magnus Tyrannos finally spoke.
"You are stepping into a world where the name 'Magnus' will bring either reverence or hostility." His voice carried immense weight. "How will you face this?"
Alexander's golden eyes gleamed.
"With power."
A smirk played at the corner of his father's lips. "Good."
Seraphina Celestia stepped forward, gently placing a golden pendant around his neck. "No matter where you go, remember—you are beyond fate itself."
Alexander nodded.
Then—the gates opened.
With a single step forward, he left the Magnus Citadel behind.
A Vast World Beyond
The first place he ventured into was Titan's Crossing, a grand crossroads city connecting multiple ancient territories—Celestial Domains, Abyssal Kingdoms, and Beast Monarch Lands.
The city buzzed with countless powerful races:
Celestials with glowing divine sigils, their presences radiating law-defying energy.
Demonic Clans, clad in abyssal flames, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
Beast Kings, walking in humanoid forms, their bloodlines pulsing with primal power.
Mortal Clans, powerful in their own right, vying for influence among giants.
Here, every supreme faction had influence.
Here, even Saints were not safe.
The Mortal World
Alexander wandered the city, observing life beyond the dominance of his clan.
He watched warriors training, merchants bargaining with ancient treasures, young prodigies dueling for honor.
At one moment, he saw a group of young cultivators from the Silvermoon Sect harassing a street vendor—a mortal man barely able to defend himself.
Alexander paused.
One of the Silvermoon disciples sneered. "Worthless mortals should know their place." He raised his hand, divine energy surging—intending to strike the old man down.
But before the strike could land—
BOOM!
An invisible force sent the disciple flying. He crashed into a stone pillar, coughing blood.
Alexander stood where he was, not even looking in their direction.
The remaining Silvermoon disciples turned pale. "W-Who—?"
Alexander glanced at them.
In that instant, their very souls trembled.
One of them barely choked out, "L-let's go!"
And with that, they fled.
The vendor, unaware of who had saved him, simply bowed. "T-thank you, young master."
Alexander nodded but said nothing.
Just as he was about to leave the city center, a powerful presence descended.
A young man, clad in celestial robes with flowing silver hair, blocked his path. His aura was powerful—Peak Saint Realm.
"Are you the rumored prodigy of the Tyrannos Clan?"
Alexander stopped. His gaze was calm.
"And who are you?"
The young man smirked. "Zephyr Aurelius. First son of the Aurelius Celestial Clan."
A few gasps echoed among the watching crowd.
"The Aurelius Clan? One of the Ten Great Celestial Families?"
"Zephyr is a genius who stepped into the Saint Realm at twenty. He's a future overlord!"
Zephyr's silver eyes gleamed. "I came here for one reason—"
He raised his hand, divine energy coiling around him like a storm.
"To test whether you are truly a threat."
Alexander's expression remained unreadable.
"Then you may proceed."
Then Zephyr attacked.