PROLOGUE
A deathly silence enveloped the heavens. In the midst of that void, a sight that should have been impossible stretched out: the corpses of five Gods, floating lifelessly. The aura of their power, which once had the strength to shake the universe, had now flickered out forever. This was the testament to the extraordinary achievement of the only figure still standing, Kael Varen.
Kael's breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale feeling like fire burning his lungs. Blood dripped ceaselessly from dozens of gaping wounds, yet his grip on his cracked sword did not waver for a single moment. His eyes, burning with rage and exhaustion, were fixed straight ahead.
There, atop a shimmering throne that seemed to mock the devastation around it, sat the Sage Emperor.
The figure sat with arrogance. There was not a single stain upon his robes. His face was calm, as if all the catastrophic battles that had just occurred were merely a brief entertainment for him.
"A fairly interesting diversion," the Sage Emperor's voice echoed, not in Kael's ears, but directly within his mind. "You managed to exceed my expectations, Kael Varen. A pity, this is your limit."
"This limit..." Kael growled, forcing his body to stand straighter. "...is the end of your reign!"
Casting aside the pain tearing through his body, Kael roared! He poured every last drop of his energy, soul, and fury into one final strike. His sword exploded in a blinding light, brighter than a thousand stars. It was an attack that carried all his remaining hope and power.
The explosion of light surged forward, tearing through the void... and struck the Sage Emperor's chest head-on!
The world seemed to stop turning. Kael saw a flicker of shock on the Sage Emperor's face. For a fraction of a second, hope surged in his heart. He had succeeded!
But... something happened that shattered his hope.
The fatal, gaping wound in the Sage Emperor's chest began to shrink and close with preposterous speed. In an instant, his robes were pristine again, his body perfectly whole as if that devastating attack had never touched him.
"A formidable strike," the Sage Emperor said in a terrifyingly calm tone. "Unfortunately, it is useless. This is the Law of Time. I can rewind any wound I receive."
A bone-chilling cold ran through Kael's heart. It was not because of a counterattack, but because of a far worse realization. He was not fighting a stronger enemy. He was fighting an enemy who could not be harmed.
"No... NO!"
Driven by despair, Kael attacked again. And again. And again. He unleashed every forbidden technique he knew, exhausting the remnants of his life force to create strikes capable of collapsing stars. Every attack hit its mark. Every strike severely wounded the Sage Emperor. And every single time, the wound vanished in the blink of an eye.
The Sage Emperor did not even need to dodge. He simply stood there, letting Kael exhaust his strength attacking a being who was essentially immortal.
Finally, Kael's body reached its limit. His energy was spent. His sword felt as heavy as a mountain, and he fell to his knees, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He no longer had the strength to even lift his head. Only then did the Sage Emperor rise from his throne. He walked casually toward the helpless Kael.
"Do you see now?" the Sage Emperor said, looking down at Kael. "You never stood a chance."
Without the Law of Time, without any complex techniques, the Sage Emperor simply extended his hand and fired a simple beam of light. An attack that Kael, in his prime, could have parried in his sleep. But now, Kael could only stare at the approaching light, unable to do anything.
As the light pierced his chest, Kael felt no pain. Only a profound regret and one final vow burning in the remnants of his soul.
"Listen to me, you bastard..." he whispered in a voice that was barely audible. "If there is a life after this... if there is one more chance... I will return. And I will seize that power of time from you."
The Sage Emperor merely gave a soft snort, while the light in Kael Varen's eyes slowly dimmed and finally went out.
CHAPTER 1. I AM BACK
A thin blanket of mist slowly unveiled the valley, chased away by the first warmth of the morning sun. Beneath it lay a jewel of civilization hidden from the outside world: Kota Bintang. The name was no empty metaphor. When night fell, the city streets, made of special mineral stones, would glow softly, mimicking the constellations in the sky. Yet by day, the city showed a different charm. Surrounded by the dense Hutan Senyap on one side and majestic mountains on the other, this city was like a natural fortress, calm and peaceful.
In the southernmost corner of the city stood a grand institution that was the pride of the inhabitants: Akademi Bintang Selatan. Here, the city's finest young men and women were forged to become guardians, fighters, and the future pillars of Kota Bintang.
In the academy's backyard, under the shade of a tree that was perhaps older than the academy itself, four teenage figures lay sound asleep on the green grass. In their midst, a scrawny boy with messy black hair slept with the calmest breath. His name was Kael Varen. Beside him, Eron Kaive, with his sturdy build, snored the loudest. On the other side, the quiet Nero Sylven slept with an elegant posture, as if he were meditating. And finally, the mischievous Zein Elric; even in sleep, a sly smile played upon his lips.
Suddenly, that peace was shattered.
Kael Varen's eyes snapped open. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart pounded wildly. Cold sweat drenched his temples. He had just felt the Sage Emperor's sword of light pierce his chest. He should have been dead. Panic-stricken, he lifted his hands. His fingers looked... small. Tiny. He felt his face, his arms, his legs. This was the body of a young boy.
"I... came back?" he whispered in a raspy voice, the voice of a thirteen-year-old.
The reality hit him like a tidal wave. He had returned to the past. The last memory of his previous life flashed through his mind. At the exact moment before his consciousness faded, he felt the Soulcore suddenly melt, transforming into a flow of pure energy and merging with his shattered soul.
Kael sighed softly, a mix of relief and frustration. "Soulcore... so that was your true power." He vowed in his heart that this time, he would obtain that Soulcore again before it fell into anyone's hands.
His gaze then shifted to the three figures still fast asleep beside him. Eron, Nero, Zein. Faces he could only see in regret-filled memories during his hundreds of years of lonely cultivation. Ten years from now, the sky of Kota Bintang would turn blood red. An invasion from the outer realm would occur. He remembered clearly how these friends stood on the front lines to protect him.
At that time, Kael Varen was nothing but a loser. He could only hide, listening to the screams of his friends that slowly faded away. When that invasion ended, only a handful of people survived. One of them was him, and a genius girl, the Mayor's daughter, Eira Velyn. Eira's death later became the point that destroyed him and forged his resolve.
Back in reality, a tear fell from Kael's eye. But this time, it was a tear of happiness. Unable to contain himself, Kael crawled over and hugged Eron tightly.
"Eron... Nero... Zein... You're still alive," he whispered with a trembling voice. "You are my best brothers."
"Nngghh... what is this?" Eron squirmed, opening his sleepy eyes. He pushed Kael away. "Hey, Kael! Get off me! Are you wishing us dead or something? You bastard!"
Kael only laughed, a laugh that sounded so free. "Anyway, you guys are my absolute best brothers in the entire universe!"
"He's officially gone crazy," Zein muttered while yawning.
Suddenly, Eron's eyes widened. "Wait a minute... the sun is already this high! We're skipping Miss Velina's class!"
Instantly, the atmosphere turned into panic. The name 'Miss Velina' was like a spell capable of making even the three bravest teenagers tremble with fear.
"Crap! We're finished!"
The four of them immediately bolted, running headlong across the academy grounds toward their junior class building. They arrived at the classroom door, panting for breath. Kael hesitantly opened the door.
The entire class went silent. At the front of the class stood a woman in a tight blue dress and sharp-framed glasses. She said nothing. She simply folded her arms across her chest and glared at the four of them with a sharp gaze that felt as though it could skin them alive. Miss Velina Dreth.