Kael Vireon's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, his arms trembling slightly under the strain. Blood seeped down his battered form, a dozen cuts mapping his body like crimson tattoos of survival. The blade in his hand—once polished—was now streaked with gore, quivering faintly in his grip.
Only minutes had passed since he completed the second of three major questions, but those minutes had been a warzone.
Above him, Emactyls wheeled and shrieked—avian monsters with dagger-like talons and hungry emerald eyes. More of them had spawned, diving and circling like vultures around a corpse. But Kael wasn't dead. Not yet.
Their aerial harassment wasn't random—it was part of the test. A brutal simulation designed to fracture the weak and forge the capable. It measured stamina, combat reflexes, cognitive speed, emotional resilience… everything that separated the ordinary from the exceptional.
In the eyes of the Sovereign Academy, this was more than an exam—it was a crucible. One had to survive it to earn a place in the future the Empire was building, a future of Lords, Plunderers, and those who could wield power in the treacherous domain known as the Primordial Domain.
Kael ducked behind a crag, his fingers flicking across his crystal watch, bringing forth a holographic notepad. His eyes narrowed with laser focus.
'The question on War Runes weighs 60% of this segment. I can't afford to rush it.'
As he scribbled down memories, bursts of wind warned him—another dive. He sidestepped, severing a lunging Emactyl mid-air. Its body disintegrated into flickering light particles. Ten minutes later, ten more corpses littered the illusionary land. He had earned some breathing room.
Now Kael looked at the notes and nodded.
---
[War Rune Summary: Detailed Answer]
– War Runes manifest at age 18, but not all intelligent lifeforms awaken one.
– A War Rune links directly to the Primordial Domain, granting access at will.
– Each Rune contains a dimensional storage space. Its size scales with its Tier.
– The Rune interfaces with the soul—it is a gateway to potential beyond mortality.
– Once formed, the Rune must connect with the Primordial Domain within 7 days. If neglected, it fades.
– Known as Limit-Breakers, War Runes allow absorption of primordial energy. This empowers the user, refines the Rune, and strengthens body and mind in return.
---
Satisfied, Kael deleted a few unnecessary points, refining the answer until it reflected his complete understanding.
Another screech. More monsters.
They came faster now—tiny devils swooping with lethal precision. Kael tore through them like a blade through paper, refusing to let their chaos disrupt his focus.
The mountain still stretched above him, its peak lost in clouds. The path to ascension demanded more—both in mind and spirit.
A new question materialized.
> [Scenario: A newly summoned Lord sends their subjects beyond the protective barrier to slay monsters. How many Low Tier-0 monsters must be killed until the Lord's War Rune advances to the next Tier?]
Kael's lip curled. "Simple math," he murmured, even as sharp teeth sank into his left shoulder.
'Neutral Loyalty Links deliver only 1% of energy harvested… Each monster provides 10 units... That's 0.1 transfer per kill. So—100 required.'
He gritted his teeth, slashed two more Emactyls out of the sky, and answered the question aloud to the simulation. His voice remained steady—even as his body trembled from pain.
A hundred wounds decorated him now. His cloak was shredded, his limbs caked in blood, his shoulder a mess of torn muscle and exposed bone.
But he stood.
He endured.
Because that's what it meant to walk the path of power.
A new prompt emerged.
> [Summary Prompt: The Start of the Great Origin Era]
Kael exhaled.
No question. Just a command.
He knew this one would be critical. His mind flickered through everything he had read, every documentary, every theory. The first contact with alien races. The collapse of Earth's borders. The rise of the first interstellar colonies. The birth of the first Lord. The emergence of the Primordial Domain—the realm of plunder, glory, and boundless trials.
The monsters swarmed. The pain grew unbearable.
But Kael began to speak.
---
"The Great Origin Era began with the arrival of the unknown…"
His voice echoed over howling winds and blood-slick stone.
He spoke of the Primordial Domain's emergence 511 years ago, of how humanity was tested, and how the first War Rune marked the dawn of a new species—one no longer bound by natural law. He told of plunder, discovery, conquest, and unity under necessity.
Ten minutes later, his body finally gave out.
---
Then, silence.
Kael opened his eyes, chest rising and falling in calm confusion. No pain. No blood. No monsters. The illusion was gone.
He stood once again in the heart of the Examination Chamber. His blade vanished. His hand reached for his shoulder—unwounded.
But the phantom ache lingered, like a scar carved into memory.
> [Congratulations, Student Kael Vireon. You have completed the final examination. Your score will be calculated shortly. Results will be dispatched following the end of the testing period.]
His backpack lay waiting in a corner. He picked it up slowly, blinking as if waking from a dream.
"Thanks… I hope you torment the next student even harder," he muttered dryly.
> [I shall not favor anyone. Fairness is my highest priority.]
Kael snorted. "Of course."
The ache in his body persisted—a phantom warning of what awaited him in the real Primordial Domain. But Kael no longer feared that realm.
He was born for it.
As he stepped toward the exit, a figure blocked his path.
A woman.
Tall, powerful, and radiant with a domineering aura. Her eyes pinned him like spears. He instinctively bowed—not out of fear, but respect. His instincts screamed danger. His curiosity whispered… potential.
She grinned.
"Kiddo, how're you feeling?"
'Kiddo?' Kael twitched.
"I passed. Probably. Doesn't matter. I don't care for the elite universities or academies. They're not for people like me anyway."
His words came unfiltered. Something about her presence pulled truth out of him. His eyes narrowed.
She was using something on him.
An artifact? A soultrait?
She laughed lightly. "Relax. I'm not here to mess with you. I came to invite you to apply for Saphirelake Military Academy. You'd have more options—especially when the military starts drafting Lords and Adventurers."
Kael's breath caught.
Drafting?
They weren't even at war… were they?
"And why would you care what I do?" he asked, cutting through the haze she'd tried to trap him in.
That surprised her. A flicker of admiration lit her gaze.
"You're sharp. I like that."
She stepped closer, her voice lowering to something half-amused, half-sincere.
"Let's just say I have an eye for promising anomalies. You've got something. You'll realize it soon enough."
Kael took a wary step back.
And only one thought rang in his head.
This woman is absolutely insane...