~Announcement: A Fresh Update to the Series!~
Dear Readers,
I'm excited to share that I've taken the time to carefully edit and enhance the series. These updates are designed to bring you a richer and more immersive experience with a refined plot, deeper storyline, and more engaging characters.
Expect a more cohesive journey, where each chapter is better connected, the world-building is clearer, and the characters you love (or love to hate!) have been fleshed out to feel more authentic and relatable.
Thank you for your support and patience. I hope you enjoy this improved version of the story as much as I enjoyed creating it!
Happy reading!
Best regards,
Noah Caelum
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In 3023, Earth no longer resembled the planet we once knew. Technology had progressed, but humanity hadn't transcended its natural limitations. Cities were more advanced, certainly, but they still bore traces of the past, like the echoes of history mixed with the new.
Cars hovered above magnetic rails, gliding seamlessly without asphalt roads. Still, they didn't defy gravity beyond the planet's atmosphere or break speed limits that felt like science fiction.
Buildings reached unimaginable heights, forged with materials resilient enough to withstand the harshest environments. Yet, they retained familiar lines and structures for all the advancement, blending the recognizable with the futuristic.
Telecommunication had evolved beyond what the 21st century could fathom—holographic displays and neural interfaces were everyday devices—but humanity still clung to conventional screens and familiar interfaces.
Despite the advances, progress had slowed, leaving a world that felt incredibly new and hauntingly familiar—a world a step beyond our current age but still grounded in reality.
What truly reshaped Earth wasn't technology. It was a cataclysm—a cosmic event that forever altered the course of history.
It all began in 2223.
On a quiet summer evening, the world went about its business, unaware of the impending cataclysm. Political tensions dominated the news, and economic uncertainties clouded the future.
No one was prepared for what was coming. The skies darkened as something massive entered the atmosphere—the Nebulon.
This was no ordinary object. It was an astronomical entity of unimaginable size and unknown origin, its glow radiating an eerie, otherworldly green hue.
Scientists had theorized about such cosmic events for decades, but no one had anticipated something of this magnitude. The object streaked across the sky, leaving continents and oceans in its shadow, before finally crashing into the heart of the Bermuda Triangle.
The impact was like nothing humanity had ever recorded. A global shockwave rippled through the planet, shifting tectonic plates, tearing apart landscapes, and triggering a cascade of natural disasters.
The Earth stood still for minutes, holding its breath as it adjusted to the new world order. Then, the skies ignited in a brilliant green flash, bathing the planet in ethereal light for ten endless minutes.
What followed wasn't the expected apocalypse. It was a transformation so profound that its consequences would take centuries to unravel.
Mountains crumbled and gave way to oceans, while seas dried to reveal new landmasses. Ancient cities were buried beneath emergent mountain ranges, and familiar coastlines vanished overnight.
Venice found itself neighboring Bangkok, while Seoul stood shoulder to shoulder with the shores of Bali. The very fabric of Earth had been reshaped, a world in flux, like a puzzle that had been thrown into the air and landed in a new configuration.
No corner of the Earth remained untouched. The old geopolitical boundaries became meaningless as the world was reshuffled like a chaotic deck of cards.
But the true marvel—and terror—wasn't the altered landscape. It was what happened to the people.
Within a day of the Nebulon's impact, strange reports began to surface. People changed, altered by the event in ways that defied logic.
The green radiation that had flooded the Earth seemed to unlock something dormant within the human genome as if activating an ancient, forgotten potential.
Thirty percent of the population awakened to new abilities—they became Novas, superhumans capable of the extraordinary.
Some Novas discovered they could manipulate the elements, commanding fire, water, wind, and earth with a flick of their wrist.
Others found themselves gifted with supernatural strength, speed, or the ability to heal grievous wounds within seconds.
A rare few could bend the very fabric of reality, manipulating time and space in previously thought impossible ways.
At first, these newfound abilities were celebrated. The world was captivated by their wonder. But power, as always, was a double-edged sword. Rogue Novas abused their gifts, unleashing chaos and destruction on a world still reeling from the reshaped geography.
Cities, already struggling to rebuild from the Earth's upheaval, now faced threats from within—human threats with power beyond comprehension.
And it wasn't just humanity that had changed.
From the newly formed wilderness came creatures—beasts that had no place in Earth's historical records. Some had wings and claws like nothing had been seen before. In contrast, others were massive, predatory beings with bizarre, otherworldly forms.
These creatures, later classified as Therians and Avians, prowled the wildlands and even ventured into cities, challenging humanity's newfound supremacy.
Some believed the creatures had arrived with the Nebulon; others claimed they were mutations of Earth's native fauna, changed by the same force that had altered humans.
With time, humanity adapted. Novas became both humanity's greatest champions and its most feared adversaries. Rogue Novas clashed with those who sought to protect, and society was forced to evolve around these new power dynamics.
Cities were rebuilt under the protection of powerful Novas, who formed factions and alliances to safeguard what remained of civilization.
The rise of Novas reshaped the political landscape. Empires and kingdoms were formed and led by powerful rulers who sought to control the chaos and harness the potential of the awakened.
Old boundaries gave way to new alliances, territories were redrawn, and wars were fought over resources revealed by the reshaped Earth. It was a time of uncertainty, a struggle for survival in a world where the balance of power had forever shifted.
In this new era, ordinary humans were left to navigate a world where Novas were both saviors and oppressors. They relied on their superpowered counterparts for protection, but with that protection came a sense of helplessness—a feeling that those without powers were somehow less, destined to be caught in the shadow of the extraordinary.
Our story begins in this world where the line between hero and villain is blurred.
***
Fifteen-year-old Aric Valen was born into a legacy that overshadowed him when he opened his eyes. The Valen family was a lineage of legends, a powerful bloodline whose name was synonymous with strength and prestige. Every Valen was a Nova, each possessing unique abilities that set them apart from the rest of humanity.
Aric's grandfather, Agustin Valen, was a living legend—a Great Paragon, one of the Twelve who stood at the pinnacle of power. Stories of his deeds were told in every corner of the world, tales of battles won against impossible odds, of entire regions pacified by his will alone. Agustin's power was rumored to rival the gods, and his influence stretched far beyond the kingdom's borders.
Aric's father, David Valen, wasn't counted among the Twelve Great Paragons, but he didn't need to be. His genius mind had earned him the title of the Smartest Man on Earth, and his inventions had shaped the course of modern technology. His contributions were invaluable, and he was revered as a visionary who had changed the world with his intellect.
And then there was the rest of the Valen family. Aunts, uncles, cousins—every single one a Nova, each with powers that could reshape the world somehow.
Aric's older brother, Ryan, was a celebrated warrior, his strength and combat skills unmatched among his peers. His older sister, Lira, had abilities that allowed her to manipulate objects with just a thought.
But Aric? He was the exception. The anomaly. The one Valen who had no power.
From a young age, Aric had been subjected to endless tests, prodded and examined by the best researchers money could buy. Every result was the same—Aric had no latent abilities. He was completely, unequivocally ordinary. And in a family where greatness was the norm, his lack of power was a weight he carried alone.
To the outside world, Aric was the fun, carefree son of the Valen family—who never took life too seriously. He was quick with a joke, always ready to lighten the mood with a grin and a quip.
He had mastered the art of deflection, laughing off the questions and the expectations with a confidence that bordered on arrogance.
But behind that confident façade, Aric's heart ached. He felt like an imposter in his family, a shadow among the brilliant stars surrounding him. No matter how many jokes he made, how often he brushed off the comments, the truth was always there, gnawing at the edges of his mind. He was the black sheep—the Valen who wasn't a Valen.
Aric's father, David, never expressed disappointment. Still, Aric could see it in how his father sometimes looked at him, searching for something that wasn't there. His grandfather, Agustin, rarely spoke to him about powers, and that silence spoke volumes. In a family that valued strength above all else, Aric was a question mark—a Valen without power, an enigma that didn't belong.
But Aric would flash his signature grin and shrug it off if anyone asked. "Who needs powers when you've got charm?" he would say, winking playfully. It was easier to be the funny one, the carefree brother than to admit how deeply it hurt.
One crisp morning, Aric sat on the edge of the roof of the Valen estate, his favorite spot to escape from the weight of expectations.
The estate was a sprawling fortress, more a city than a house, with towering walls and intricate architecture that spoke of elegance and strength.
Over two thousand members of the Valen family lived within its protective borders—a testament to their power and influence.
From his perch, Aric could see the gardens below, stretching out in a sea of green and gold. The morning sun bathed the estate in warm light, and Aric closed his eyes, breathing in the cool air.
Up here, away from the expectations, the titles, and the constant reminder of who he wasn't, he felt free.
"I wonder what it's like," he mused aloud, watching the Nova guards patrolling the grounds below. "To have power. Real power."
It was a question he asked himself often, one he never had an answer for. But even as he wondered, he pushed the thought aside. This was who he was, and he had learned to accept it, even if he never truly stopped yearning for more.
Standing up, Aric grinned and spread his arms wide, balancing on the roof's edge like a tightrope walker. "Who needs superpowers when you've got perfect balance?" he said with a chuckle, wobbling dramatically for effect.
He didn't expect anyone to be watching, but a familiar voice called up from below just as he was about to leap down.
"Aric! Get down from there before you hurt yourself!"
Aric glanced down to see his older sister, Lira, standing in the courtyard with a bemused expression. Her arms were crossed, and her eyes glinted with amusement and exasperation. She was a true Valen, a Nova who could stop bullets mid-flight and move objects with her mind.
Aric's grin widened. "You worry too much, Lira! I've got everything under control!" he shouted back.
Lira rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, sure. Just get down before Mom sees you. Or I'll bring you down myself."
"Alright, alright!" Aric laughed, hopping down from the roof with a practiced ease. He landed on the lower balcony without missing a beat, years of climbing and exploring the estate having honed his agility.
"Good," Lira said, a smirk on her face. "Now come on, breakfast is ready."
Aric followed his sister inside, his mind wandering as they walked. He was lucky to have Lira, one of the few family members who never made him feel lesser for not having powers.
She was protective and teasing, never letting him dwell on his shortcomings for long. But even her warmth couldn't fill the void he felt.
As they made their way down the marble staircase to the dining hall, Aric caught sight of his reflection in the ornate mirror lining the wall. Standing next to his radiant sister, he looked like a ghost—a shadow among the brilliant stars.
He turned away from the mirror, forcing a smile. This was his life, and he would play his role. For now, being the charming, carefree son was enough. Even if, deep down, he yearned for something more—something to prove that he was, in fact, worthy of the Valen name.
Aric Valen's journey was only beginning, and he had no idea that the world he thought he knew would change forever.