Volume 1: The World Does Not Know Immortality
Chapter 1: Pulse of Fate
"Viel! Viel!
Hurry, or you'll be late for the test! No time to waste, get up, you lazy boy!"
Viel looked around, startled. "Test? Test wha..." Then it hit him. Today was the day. After this, he would become a Shard student. Excitement filled his eyes, and he couldn't help but leap out of bed.
"Aunt Ching, how much time until the test?" he asked.
"Seems like an hour," she replied.
An hour? Plenty of time. Viel jumped from his bed, washed his face, heart pounding with anticipation. In this world, there was a test to determine your talent and your Mother Shard. The Mother Shard was the heart of your soul, the core of your spiritual fortune, shaping your talent and life path.
Viel's excitement was obvious. He had washed his face, dressed in his finest clothes. At fifteen, he wore white garments with touches of black. His medium-length black hair framed his brown eyes.
Though his features seemed ordinary, his face was undeniably attractive.
Viel couldn't wait. Already dressed, he was ready to leave, but Aunt Ching stopped him.
"Young man, remember—don't be nervous. The more anxious you are, the weaker your talent will be."
Viel met her gaze. "Aunt Ching, do you really trust those rumors? Luck is unreliable. I hope it doesn't fail me."
His eyes sparkled with determination as he stepped outside.
He glanced around, muttering, "Clan 'Hon,' ranked 26th among the strongest clans of the Southern Continent. Today, they'll witness a warrior unlike any in history." Clenching his fist, he marched on.
He reached the test platform. A crowd of roughly 2,000 had gathered. Ahead lay a room. Viel pointed, "There!" A person entered the room, filled with countless gray shards. When someone stepped in, a shard would fly toward them—their Mother Shard.
Many waited their turn, anxiety and anticipation etched on their faces. Some were nervous, some thrilled, others terrified. One boy, however, seemed indifferent. Viel noted him, "Thane, my older brother by a year. He skipped last year's test due to drunkenness. Not a care in the world."
Thane sat to the side, calm and collected. He was sixteen, a year older than Viel, his brother.
Viel calmed himself. "If he doesn't care, why am I so concerned? How could I not? When Mother died, I was grieving while he remained indifferent—a demon!"
He whispered the nickname "the demon"
for his brother. Thane's long black hair and slightly red eyes, paired with all-black attire, gave him the aura of darkness itself.
Viel turned his face, tightening his grip.
The test began. The first candidate entered. "Exited," the elder announced. "Hon, Talent B, Power Path."
The crowd murmured, "Power Path and Talent B? How lucky!" Talent B wasn't rare in the clan; someone usually appeared every year. The crowd wasn't impressed, merely labeling him lucky, assuming he was the chosen one for Talent B.
The second candidate entered and exited. "Yun, Talent B… Defense Path."
Shock rippled through the spectators. "Two Talent Bs in a row? The clan thrives with luck! Rejoice, Clan Hon, for these talents!"
About 100 candidates remained. Joy peaked in the clan.
Minutes later, luck dwindled. "Talent C, Talent E, Talent C, Talent D."
Ordinary talents now. No one surpassed Talent C. Even Talent C was rare.
About twenty remained. The elder called, "Thane's turn." Viel's anticipation soared.
Thane entered the dark room, crouching and closing his eyes.
A confident smile appeared. Minutes passed, then a shard chose him.
Its hue shifted from gray to red, reflecting his demonic essence.
Thane exited. The elder examined, again and again.
"Impossible. Not since the first era of the clan."
Finally, the elder smiled. "Rejoice, Clan Hon! Thane—Talent A, Power Path!"
The crowd erupted.
"Talent A! Unbelievable! He is the clan's undisputed future!" Cheers and whistles echoed, Thane's name reverberating through the clan.
Thane remained unmoved, as if his inner steel held him steady.
Viel burned with envy. Fate had chosen him. They did not know Thane was a demon.
"Damn!" Viel cursed inwardly, awaiting his turn. After Thane, only one remained—him. Anticipation surged through every fiber of his body.
Viel whispered, "Even if I am Talent C, I will grow stronger. Talent is secondary to level."
The world had 12 levels. Each level vastly surpassed the last in power; even high talent couldn't surpass a higher level.
The candidate before Viel exited: "Talent C."
It was Viel's turn. Nervousness and dizziness struck. Excitement vanished, replaced by tension. He forced calm. "Stay calm. Don't fear. You will be special."
"Step. Step. Step."
Viel moved forward. The crowd shouted, "The brother of the future village! Perhaps Talent A awaits!"
Reaching the door, his heartbeat thundered. The elder instructed, "Sit crouched in the center, close your eyes, feel it, then open. That will be your Mother Shard."
Viel stepped forward, heart pounding.
He entered, crouched, and closed his eyes.
A minute passed. In the second, a light appeared before him. "Open." He opened his eyes. His Mother Shard shone, pure as the cloudy sky.
"The Mother Shard stood before him, radiant as if it knew his secret before he did."
The shard entered his chest. Voices whispered, "Do you choose immortality, or death now?"
Viel, shocked, "Death now? Seems easy." Hesitating, he chose immortality. Not now.
The shard spoke, "Immortality of life, not body. Death will not return you to life."
Suddenly, the voice vanished.
"I understand." He clenched his fist. Immortality—at least Talent B.
Viel stepped forward, reached the door. "Open." He exited.
The elder asked, "Finished?"
Viel, resolute, "Yes. Finished." Repeated twice. Awaiting confirmation—Talent? Path?
The elder examined him three times. The crowd murmured, "Talent A? Like Thane?" Excitement surged, yet the elder remained stoic.
"Incredible! Did the shard truly choose you?"
"Yes, I am certain," Viel replied.
The elder, unconvinced, asked him to enter again. He obeyed.
Minutes ticked by—ten passed—still nothing.
The crowd yelled, "Elder! Tell us! Didn't he complete the test?"
The chief opened the door, calling, "Come here!"
Examinations repeated. Confusion on the elder's face. Other elders checked; they too were puzzled.
The chief halted them, "Viel. Talent C. No path. No Mother Shard."
Viel, stunned: "Chief, I truly have a shard. Recheck me. How can I have talent without it?"
The chief replied, "This is the truth. I do not understand it."
Viel argued, but all thought he lied.
"Frustration! Failure! Humiliation! Sadness!"
Emotions swirled. He had a Mother Shard—but what happened?
Despairing, he saw the crowd's scorn. They no longer wanted him in their clan. Shame painted their faces.
Viel's resolve hardened. "I… I have a shard. I am certain."
"You believe I am shame? No. You are wrong. I will surpass all. I possess a Mother Shard. You are mistaken."
Hatred flared for all before him. He was someone new. Heart racing, sadness fading, tension gone.
"Viel stood again!"
End of Chapter.