Chapter 2: Zayne Carter – In Search of Something More
Zayne Carter was the golden boy. Born into opulence, raised by influence, and refined by discipline. The Carter family name carried weight in every corner of the modern world. From real estate and finance to media and technology, their business empire spread like a web of dominance, its reach global, its reputation flawless.
But Zayne? Zayne was never just the heir.
From a young age, he showed potential that rivaled the best of his lineage. Fluent in multiple languages by age ten. An accomplished athlete by fifteen. A strategic thinker, polished speaker, and natural leader by seventeen. His parents—warm, grounded, and deeply respected despite their immense wealth—nurtured in him not just capability, but humility. They never let the walls of privilege shield him from the world's truths.
"Just because you were born ahead," his mother used to say, brushing his hair gently, "doesn't mean you should run past those behind. Lead with empathy."
His father, a titan of industry, added the balance. "And when you lead, son, do it with purpose. Your name is a legacy, but your actions are your own."
So Zayne lived accordingly. He trained his body, honed his mind, and learned from every walk of life. From elite prep schools to private mentors, from business summits to philanthropic events, he was immersed in excellence. Yet for all his achievements, something gnawed at the edges of his soul.
He wasn't ungrateful. He loved his family, respected their legacy, and appreciated the education, the travel, the freedom. But he couldn't ignore a creeping hollowness that followed him, even in victory.
It wasn't depression. It was absence.
A question he couldn't answer.
What was missing?
He explored everything to find out. Business theory. Classical philosophy. Martial arts. Psychology. Literature. History. He devoured it all. And when that wasn't enough, he turned to the world of fiction—fantasy novels, cultivation stories, webtoons, isekai manga, immersive VR games.
To the world, he was a rising star. To himself, he was a seeker.
One day, after a long presentation at an international youth entrepreneur conference, he returned to his room, loosened his tie, and stared at his ceiling.
"What am I searching for?" he whispered.
No answer came.
By the time he entered university, he had mastered nearly every system his world offered. Yet he still chose to blend in, to observe, to exist without flexing power. Not out of false modesty, but because he wanted something real—unfiltered by money or fame.
He refused the luxury suites and opted for a standard dorm room. Declined chauffeur services and took public transport. Attended classes with regular students and volunteered at academic groups anonymously.
And it was there he noticed someone different.
Kai Mercer.
Zayne had seen him once during orientation. Quiet. Sharp. Carried himself like a blade—honed, cold, but full of purpose. Over time, Zayne noticed his patterns. Morning library sessions. Evenings in the gym. Avoided attention. Never late. Never lazy.
He learned through whispers that Kai was from an orphanage. A survivor. One of the few who made it this far without legacy or backing.
Zayne admired that. Not with pity—but with respect.
He never approached Kai directly. He knew the type. Self-reliant. Hated handouts. Someone who would rather bleed alone than accept a favor.
But he kept an eye on him.
They had a few classes in common. Occasionally their paths crossed. Zayne always gave him a polite nod. Sometimes he saw Kai nod back.
They shared silence, not friendship.
Zayne's life in university was far from flashy. He didn't party or date much. When he wasn't studying, he was in the campus dojo practicing sword forms with the fencing team or helping tutor struggling students. He was friendly but kept a respectful distance. People often gravitated toward him, yet he never let anyone too close.
A few girls swooned. Some boys admired, some envied. Professors loved him. But only a few knew the truth: Zayne Carter didn't want more praise. He wanted purpose.
One professor, an old man with a keen eye, once asked him during a debate:
"Mr. Carter, why do you think you study so hard? You already possess what most can only dream of."
Zayne hesitated. Then replied, "Because I need to earn something that wasn't handed to me."
The class went quiet.
Outside of academics, Zayne kept a small circle of genuine connections. He helped a few friends start clubs, joined student discussions about world affairs, and even gave motivational talks. But he was always searching. Waiting. Hoping.
Some days, he walked the campus late at night, alone under the starlit sky.
"Is this all there is?" he'd ask the wind.
One evening, he passed a cluster of students chatting near the biology labs.
"Have you seen the sky lately? The stars are... wrong."
"Yeah, I swear I saw this weird arc—like a ring—moving up there."
"Could just be some atmospheric glitch. Or a satellite."
"Or aliens."
They laughed nervously.
But Zayne didn't. He'd noticed it too. For weeks, he'd felt something… off. Static in the air. Dreams that weren't dreams. A pull.
And then, that day arrived.
The sky fractured.
Zayne was finishing a campus meeting when the alarms went off—not fire alarms, but something deeper. A vibration in the soul. He rushed outside and saw the impossible.
Above the university, space itself tore open. A divine light poured through a spiraling rift, and the atmosphere shuddered with celestial force.
Around him, people screamed. Buildings collapsed. Winds tore through like blades.
He scanned the chaos.
And there—through a wall of fire and smoke—he saw Kai.
Their eyes locked.
Time froze.
Zayne didn't understand what was happening. But deep in his core, he knew this was it. The unknown he'd been chasing.
Fate answered.
Then the world disappeared.
—
To be continued in Chapter 3: The Judgment of the Supreme God