The world was fading. His body, once invincible, now trembled under the weight of exhaustion. Jin Asura, the "Heavenly Demon," stood atop a mountain of defeated enemies. The air was thick with the scent of blood, and the cries of the conquered echoed faintly in his ears. Murim was his.
Yet, as the crimson sun dipped below the horizon, he felt… empty.
"This is it," Jin murmured, his voice a whisper against the wind. His ambitions had been fulfilled. The martial world now lay in submission before him, but at what cost? Friends, rivals, purpose—all lost in his relentless pursuit of domination.
He closed his eyes, letting the fatigue of countless battles overtake him. Death was not an enemy but a release.
When Jin opened his eyes again, he was no longer the Heavenly Demon.
The cries of a baby filled the air, raw and unfamiliar. He felt small, powerless, wrapped in a warmth that was alien to him. Above, a man with piercing golden eyes and silver-streaked hair gazed down at him. The man's presence radiated immense power—a Sovereign, Jin recognized instinctively.
"Magnus," a softer voice called from nearby, drawing his attention. "He has your eyes."
"Indeed," the man—Magnus Veylora—replied, his tone a mix of pride and curiosity. "The boy already feels… different."
Different? Jin thought, his sharp mind working even as his infant body refused to cooperate. He struggled to turn his head, catching sight of the woman who had spoken. Her auburn hair framed a face marked with both kindness and strength, and her emerald eyes sparkled as she cradled him closer.
"Lyra," Magnus said, his voice softening. "What do you sense?"
The woman—Lyra Veylora, his mother—smiled faintly. "The boy's mana is unusual. Strong, yes, but... unfamiliar. He doesn't cry like a normal child. It's as if he's studying us."
Magnus chuckled. "Perhaps he is. He is a Veylora, after all."
A younger man standing beside Magnus stepped forward. His aura was formidable, though it lacked the overwhelming weight of a Sovereign. "The name Elijah suits him," Caelus Veylora said, his tone calm yet firm. "Strong and enduring, like our bloodline."
"Elijah," Magnus echoed, testing the name on his tongue. "A fitting name for one destined for greatness."
Jin—now Elijah—smirked internally, his past-life memories fully intact. Destined for greatness? You have no idea.
"There hasn't been a Sovereign born in centuries," Magnus said, his golden eyes glinting. "The current ranks have grown complacent. Perhaps Elijah's birth is a sign—a return to what our family once was."
"The boy will have to start like everyone else," Caelus replied. "From Novice to Advanced, then Elite and Expert. It will take time to see how quickly he progresses."
Magnus frowned. "With proper guidance, he will reach the rank of Master before he's of age. You'll ensure that, Caelus."
Training? Elijah considered this with amusement. They expect me to struggle through these ranks?
The magical ranking system intrigued him:
Novice: The beginning stage, where one learns to sense and manipulate mana.Advanced: A magician gains control over basic spells and begins to specialize.Elite: Significant growth in both power and skill, often marking a magician as someone of importance.Expert: A rare rank, indicating a deep mastery of magic and combat.Master: The pinnacle of skill for most magicians. Masters are highly respected, often serving as leaders or protectors.Grandmaster: A league of their own. Grandmasters are capable of feats that defy ordinary logic, wielding immense magical power with ease.Sovereign: Legends incarnate. Sovereigns command forces that can reshape the world itself. Few ever reach this rank.For now, Elijah would play the role of the infant heir to the Veylora family. But he knew one thing for certain:
Eldora would soon learn that a monster has been BORN!