New Dawn Calendar, year 999.
Lost continent, Knight Heaven City.
The weather had gradually become cooler, with occasional sights of several yellow leaves flying in the wind, making one realize the hot summer was about to pass.
A small figure was walking alone with a carefree smirk on his face, this figure was none other than Gray.
After awkward dinner that day with his family, Gray had left the castle of the Peace-loving family, and no one had even bothered to stop him, as most people had given up on him anyway.
Gray lived alone in the outskirts of the city, away from the familiar faces, as he was worried that the more time he spent with the people of the Peace-loving family, the more flaws he would reveal. After all, he hadn't inherited the complete memories of the former Gray Peace-loving.
Walking on the well-paved streets of the city, Gray looked at his appearance and couldn't stop himself from feeling pleased, he was indeed handsome, with a printed nose, sharp jawlines and sword like eyebrows, he could put most models to shame in terms of appearance.
Dressed in a white one-piece coat that was tightly clung to his body, it perfectly stopped the cold wind from rushing inside.
His long golden hair was neatly tied together in the form of a ponytail behind his head, making him look graceful.
After resting for some days, his complexion had improved, he no longer looked as sickly as before.
Today, his destination was the Knight Heaven square, where the coming-of-age ceremony would be held.
Gray was slightly nervous, as this was his last chance. If he was not able to prove himself even this time, he would have to join the Knight Heaven guards and defend the city until his last breath.
If possible, Gray wanted to avoid such a fate. Like everyone, he also wanted to attend the most prestigious academy of the city.
Starting from thirteen years old, the children of Knight Heaven City could take part in the coming-of-age ceremony and prove their talent.
If they were deemed talented enough, they would be admitted to the Knight's Heaven Academy and receive the guidance of experts.
While walking, Gray suddenly sighed, as he could not believe just how talentless this body was, even after drinking the blood of countless apocalypse beasts, he had failed three times.
Because of this, he could also understand the attitude of the Peace-loving family and didn't blame them in his heart. There was no point in holding grudges. Moreover, the original had long passed away, and he had nothing to do with the family.
Thankfully, he had the system to rely on, otherwise, he would have no option other than to hug the thighs of the Peace-loving family tightly.
While thinking, he quickened his pace, as he didn't want to be late for such an important occasion.
From time to time, the residents of the city would look in his direction, especially the young girls who felt their hearts flutter when their gaze landed on Gray.
As he approached the bustling square, Gray glanced around, catching glimpses of other young hopefuls, their faces alight with ambition and excitement. Children not yet of age darted between the legs of adults, their laughter blending with the hum of the crowd. Elders gathered in small clusters, their expressions solemn, observing the proceedings with the weight of years and tradition.
Lost in thought, Gray suddenly jolted back to reality as he accidentally stepped on someone's foot. "Watch your steps, young man," the man snapped, his irritation fading the moment he noticed Gray's golden hair—a mark of his family's noble bloodline. Gray gave a curt nod, dismissing the man's glare as he continued toward the stage.
Knight Heaven Square was adorned with banners and the crest of the city—a stylized lion's head framed by thorns. The officials from the city lord's mansion moved with swift purpose, adjusting the ceremonial items, making sure every detail was perfect.
Gray's gaze lingered on the massive statue at the center of the stage, its figure both beautiful and terrifying. The Statue of Asura—a three-headed being with a fierce expression, each face carved with such precision that it seemed almost alive. Today, this statue would judge the talents of every young candidate, determining their worth with an ancient power that was beyond Gray's understanding.
As he surveyed the scene, Gray's attention drifted to the crowd, searching for a familiar face. He looked for Raven, but she was nowhere to be seen. In fact, none of the noble families had arrived yet. It seemed he was early.
It appeared he had arrived too early.
Gray started to look around aimlessly.
"Interesting... to think I would encounter such a strange, chaotic breath as soon as I arrived on this cursed planet."
A seductive, playful, and slightly innocent voice sounded from behind him, puzzling Gray as he slowly turned his head back to see.
For a moment, he was stunned by what he saw, even when the system awakened, Gray wasn't this surprised.
Blood immediately rushed toward a certain part of his body. He was greatly ashamed by his body's reaction.
A beautiful woman, capable of overturning any empire just by smiling, stood behind him. Her skin was pale white with no imperfections and seemed to glow in the light, contrasting with her black hair that fell like a waterfall behind her back.
Her eyes- hypnotic, striking crimson, shining like two beautiful rubies, and seemed to be slowly spinning. A tight one-piece dress hugged her body, highlighting her hourglass figure. Overall, she looked like a divine being, with a slight demonic touch.
Gray immediately shook his head and turned his gaze away from her blood-red pupils, as he was afraid that if he had looked at them for even a moment longer, his soul would have been sucked inside.
To Gray's surprise, others didn't seem to notice her appearance, as if she didn't exist.
Now, Gray was truly afraid, and he slowly started to retreat.
The woman didn't seem to care about his actions, however, the smile on her face turned even more playful.
In that moment, a commotion erupted nearby as the crowd parted, heads turning in unison. "Everyone, make way! The geniuses from the noble families are here!"
For a moment, Gray thought that someone had finally noticed the strange woman, and he was finally safe.
But he was wrong proven wrong, not a single being seemed to be aware about the woman presence.
"I am not going to eat you, young man. Why are you afraid?" The woman giggled and spoke with her eyes narrowing, her voice was incredibly soft yet filled with unparalleled charm.