1: The Mocked Weakling
The sky above the village of Ashen Hollow burned crimson as the sun set behind jagged mountains.
Today… was the day of destiny.
Hundreds of youths stood in a long line, their hearts pounding. At the center of the stone plaza stood the ancient artifact—
The Spirit Awakening Pillar.
It decided everything.
Power… status… fate.
Or nothing at all.
---
Kian Vortex stood at the very end of the line.
Thin. Quiet. Ignored.
"Move faster, trash," someone sneered behind him.
Kian said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on the pillar.
This is my only chance.
---
One by one, the youths stepped forward.
"Fire Root! High grade!"
"Water Root! Mid grade!"
"Lightning Root!! Genius!!"
Cheers erupted. Pride filled the air.
Then—
"Kian Vortex."
A murmur spread.
"That useless kid?"
"He's always been weak."
Kian stepped forward slowly. Each step felt heavier than the last.
He placed his hand on the cold stone.
For a moment… nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
Faint lights flickered.
Green… Blue… Red… Brown… White…
The elder's expression turned cold.
"…Five elemental roots."
Silence.
Then laughter exploded.
"Hahaha! Trash!"
"Five roots? He'll never reach Qi Awakening!"
"Even servants are better!"
Kian's fists tightened.
The elder waved his hand dismissively.
"Next."
Just like that… his fate was decided.
---
That night, the village celebrated its new geniuses.
But in a dark alley behind broken houses—
Kian sat alone.
His nails dug into his palms.
Why…?
Why was I born like this…?
---
"Because you were never meant to be normal."
A voice.
Cold. Ancient.
Kian's eyes widened.
"Who's there?!"
Silence.
Then pain struck—
AGHHHH!!
It felt like his body was being torn apart from the inside.
A dark energy surged through his veins.
The ground beneath him cracked.
From his chest… a faint black glow emerged.
Deep. Endless. Terrifying.
---
Inside his mind—
Kian found himself standing in an endless void.
No sky. No ground.
Only darkness.
And in that darkness… something moved.
Two massive glowing eyes opened.
"You carry… the forbidden root."
Kian's voice trembled:
"…What are you?"
"I am what remains… of the Void."
The presence continued—
"For years, your true power was sealed."
"Five roots… were merely a cage."
---
Kian's heart pounded.
"Then… I'm not weak?"
A pause.
Then—
"You are the most dangerous existence in this world."
---
Suddenly—
Memories flooded his mind.
Ancient battles. Gods falling. Worlds collapsing.
A single power devouring everything—
The Void Root.
---
Back in reality—
BOOM!!
A surge of black energy exploded from Kian's body.
The alley shattered.
Shadows twisted unnaturally.
His eyes… turned pitch black.
---
Far away, on a distant mountain—
An old master opened his eyes.
"…Impossible."
"In this era… the Void has awakened?"
---
Back in the alley—
Kian stood still.
Breathing heavily.
Fear… excitement… confusion…
All mixed together.
He looked at his trembling hand.
A small black sphere formed above his palm…
spinning slowly…
devouring the light around it.
---
Kian whispered:
"…So this is my power?"
The voice answered softly—
"No…"
"This is only the beginning."