More than two hundred years later, The Earth's environment has become so toxic and evolved in a distorted way that humans must wear a special full-face respirator mask to breathe. Without them, humans can hardly survive for two minutes.
The Earth's atmosphere is now covered in thick grey haze. The sky looks dull and lifeless, with no sign of the blue it once had. The sun is weak and hidden behind the cloudy air, giving everything a cold, damp feeling. It's not freezing, but the chill is constant, making the world feel uncomfortable and dull, like a long, overcast winter day.
However, in some places, mysterious mutations had occurred, leading to the birth of Mutated Creatures. These places are known as Gene-Mutation Zones. These Mutated Creatures were completely different species from humans. Their bodies were made of a combination of bio-metals and bio-crystal substances, fundamentally different from human flesh and blood.
Even the lowest-level Mutated Creatures had bodies as hard as steel, resistant to typical bullets, inflicting little to no harm. The higher-level Mutated Creatures had body strength beyond human imagination, rendering mankind's proud weaponry almost ineffective against them, rapidly leading to the collapse of human society.
It was not until scientists discovered a way to use the Mutation Cores found in Mutated Creatures that they developed Core Technologies for generating electricity and creating Core Weapons, Core Armours, Core Vehicles and special Core Respirator Masks to survive the toxic environment. These Core Weapons allowed humans to injure or kill Mutated Creatures with ease, showing the signs of a gradual revival of human civilization.
Humanity made significant progress using Mutation Cores to create Core-Technology to survive the hostile world. However, attempts to use them to evolve humans ended in disaster. The transformation experiments failed—those who survived lost their humanity, becoming mindless beasts driven by the Core's power, attacking everyone in sight. Despite the catastrophic results, experiments continued in secret.
[***]
"Strange, why did Father summon me to the Grand Ancestral Hall?" Wang Li asked. Who had just turned 17 today, was still catching his breath after training, his body glistening with sweat.
His sharp, angular features were accentuated in the dim, greyish light that filtered through the ever-present haze outside. His jet-black hair, damp and clinging to his face, framed his intense dark eyes. His fair skin and broad, athletic build reflected years of rigorous training and discipline in a harsh, unforgiving world.
"Young Master, You'll understand when you get there. For now, put on this ceremonial robe" Uncle Zhen replied, while handing him a deep blue robe with silver embroidery, his tone hinting that Wang Li should hurry.
Wang Li then took the ceremonial robe from Uncle Zhen and studied it for a moment. The deep blue fabric shimmered faintly under the dull light, its silver embroidery forming intricate ancestral patterns.
He draped it over his shoulders and fastened the navy sash around his waist. The outfit felt new and special- a sign of responsibilities he had yet to fully understand.
Uncle Wang Zhen, the younger brother of Wang Tianyu (Wang Li's father), was known for his calm and composed demeanor. But don't let that fool you—he was far from naive. In fact, most of the family matters were handled by Uncle Wang, who was also renowned for his decisiveness.
Together, Wang Li and Uncle Zhen walked along the familiar stone-paved path to the Grand Ancestral Hall. Though he had walked it countless times, today a strange sense of anticipation lingered. The grand hall loomed ahead, its towering silhouette always distant yet close to home. Each visit felt slightly different as if it held something new, but so far, he had found nothing.
As Wang Li approached the Grand Ancestral Hall, its weathered stone walls loomed, guarding secrets long buried in time. The massive doors, forged from gleaming metal, caught the faint light, etched with a mysterious symbol—interlocked lines forming a diamond shape with extended arms. This symbol was known as the Ancestral Symbol.
What made it eerie was how the symbol seemed alive. The right half glowed green, the left purple, with colors flickering like a quiet heartbeat. Every time Wang Li looked, it appeared to shift, as if its presence defied the stillness of the door.
The sight always stirred unease and curiosity, as if the symbol was watching, guarding secrets just out of reach.
Wang Li pushed the towering metallic door open, its unusual symbol glowing faintly with the split hues of green and purple, casting an eerie but mesmerizing light into the vast hall. As he stepped inside, the cool air brushed against his face, carrying a faint aroma of agarwood mixed with something earthy, like aged stone.
The Grand Ancestral Hall was immense and awe-inspiring, its ceiling stretching so high it seemed to vanish into a hazy glow of ethereal light. Golden beams cascaded down from hidden lanterns, illuminating intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes etched into the marble walls. The floor was polished to such a shine that it mirrored everything above, creating an almost surreal sense of endless grandeur.
Rows of his relatives stood on either side of the hall, dressed in ceremonial robes, their gazes turning toward him as he entered. A low murmur of approval rippled through the crowd, but the atmosphere remained reverent, almost sacred.
At the center of the hall, on a raised altar framed by towering golden columns, stood his parents. His father, Wang Tianyu, exuded a commanding presence, while his mother, Lin Huilan, with her graceful composure, embodied the dignified figure of a noble matriarch. Both wore ceremonial robes adorned with the family emblem, their eyes frequently darting toward the entrance as if searching for him. When their gazes finally met his, a mixture of pride and relief softened their expressions.
The faint hum of a gong echoed in the hall, signaling his arrival.
Then Wang Tianyu's voice rang out, deep and steady, as he called to Wang Li from the altar. "Come forward, my son," he said, his gaze firm yet warm.
Wang Li walked towards the center of the altar, his footsteps echoing in the vast hall until he reached the raised altar.
As Wang Li stood before his father, Wang Tianyu continued, "As our only son and one who has shown great capability, the elders and I have decided to make Wang Li the successor of our family. This ceremony was originally meant to take place when Wang Li turned 18, but given the circumstances, we had to bring it forward and hold it now, while Wang Li is still 17."
As the final words of the ceremony settled in the hall, a profound silence enveloped the space. Wang Tianyu stepped forward, his gaze steady and commanding. Reaching up, he carefully lifted the chain from around his neck. From it hung a vertical rectangular pendant with rounded corners, its green crystal surface gleaming faintly under the soft golden light of the Grand Ancestral Hall. The ancestral symbol was etched into the pendant with intricate precision, the lines catching the light like delicate veins.
Holding the pendant by its chain, Wang Tianyu extended it toward Wang Li. He began, his voice rich with solemnity, "This pendant is more than a mere heirloom. It is a symbol of our lineage, a testament to the bond between us and the ancestors who came before. For generations, this has passed from one successor to the next, a beacon of duty and responsibility."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Now, it is your turn to carry this legacy. But for the pendant to recognize you, it requires a bond—a piece of you."
Wang Tianyu held the pendant higher, allowing its green surface to shimmer faintly under the ancestral hall's light. "Let a drop of your blood touch this symbol. Only then will it acknowledge you as the rightful successor of the Wang family."
Wang Li nodded solemnly. Taking the ornate knife handed to him, he pricked his finger, a sharp sting followed by the sight of crimson blood welling at the tip. The drop of blood fell onto the pendant, landing squarely on the ancestral symbol.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then, slowly, the crimson blood was absorbed into the lines of the symbol, spreading through them like ink flowing into a delicate pattern. The once-empty grooves of the ancestral symbol turned a deep, vivid red, contrasting sharply against the green crystal background. Yet, the pendant itself remained unchanged, its green surface still gleaming under the hall's light, the red-filled symbol adding a new, striking layer to its appearance.
Wang Tianyu's expression turned solemn as he placed the chain around Wang Li's neck, letting the pendant rest against his chest. "With this, the bond is complete. The pendant of the Wang family recognizes your blood. But with this recognition comes great responsibility. You are now the successor, the bearer of our family's legacy. You must bring honor and glory to our Wang Family."
As his words faded, the hall erupted in thunderous applause, the sound echoing like a declaration of their unity and faith in the new successor.
After the succession ceremony, the Wang family gathered at their grand residence for a rare and lavish meal to celebrate Wang Li's new role as successor and his birthday. Given the harsh conditions on the planet, such a feast was a luxury they wouldn't have arranged if not for the successor ceremony.
Family members raised their cups and cheered, their voices echoing through the hall in a rare moment of warmth and celebration.
Wang Li sat quietly at the main table with his parents, savoring the rare dishes—roasted chicken, sweet rice cakes, and delicacies that few could afford. The room was filled with murmurs of approval from relatives, though the atmosphere was a mix of genuine celebration and concealed tension. Wang Tianyu and his wife maintained their calm and composed demeanor.
However, not everyone shared in the joy. Wang Tianhai, the middle brother of Wang Tianyu, sat not far from the main table, his forced smile concealed the fury boiling beneath him.
As the feast came to an end, family members exchanged polite congratulations and began to retire for the night. Wang Li, still overwhelmed by the significance of the day, nodded respectfully at their kind words before heading to his room, unaware of the storm forming in his Uncle Tianhai's mind.