The wheels of history roll forward relentlessly, and the vast masses are destined to be but dust in its wake.

Yet those who leave their names in the long river of history shine like brilliant stars in the sky of time.

But who can truly say—do heroes shape history, or does history forge heroes?

The crimson glow of the setting sun bathed the Orlando Mountains, its blood-red light shrouding the peaks as if stained with endless slaughter and tragedy.

The rugged mountains rose and fell, ancient trees stood tall, and an occasional deep roar echoed through the towering peaks, piercing the heavens and sending a chill through the soul.

In a valley town, an intense struggle was unfolding.

The combatants were human—two boys locked in a desperate fight.

Barehanded, their movements were clumsy but carried an unmistakable ferocity.

One of the boys was barefoot, clad in crude leather armor caked with dirt, ill-fitting and battered.

His disheveled black hair obscured his face, but beneath the strands, a young and stubborn countenance could barely be made out.

They had only just awakened their spiritual power, becoming Level 1 warriors.

Though their strength was raw and unpolished, their fighting spirit burned as fiercely as a roaring flame.

Around them, a crowd cheered with excitement, forming a circle of about a dozen people. Each wore an expression of fervent enthusiasm, as if this fight held some critical significance.

Surrounding the scene were makeshift tents and crude wooden fences, with a few scattered guards occasionally casting glances their way.

This was clearly a temporary camp.

Unable to gain the upper hand, one boy grew increasingly enraged, his eyes gleaming with fury.

With a guttural growl, he charged at his opponent, his body surging forward as if to shatter anything in his path.

Faced with this wild assault, the boy called Roy remained calm, stepping back. At the very moment of impact, he decisively dropped to the ground, rolling away to evade the strike.

The charging boy stumbled, missing his target. He quickly regained his footing, his face contorted with frustration, and bellowed, "Roy, you bastard! If you've got guts, fight me head-on!"

Roy rolled back to his feet, brushing the dust off his clothes. He chuckled lightly and replied, "Alright, next time, I won't dodge."

"I'll break your ribs!" the other boy roared, his fists beginning to glimmer faintly with a mysterious light.

The boy suddenly leaped up from the ground, lunging toward Roy in mid-air.

Just as the boy's fist was about to land on Roy's head, Roy suddenly looked up. The black hair that had covered his face parted, revealing a pair of bright, cunning eyes and a sly grin. In an instant, Roy flung a handful of dirt mixed with small stones at the boy's face.

The boy instinctively shut his eyes and raised his hands to shield his face. Seizing the opportunity, Roy lunged forward and, with all his strength, lowered his head and rammed it into the boy's soft abdomen, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Wasting no time, Roy mounted the lion-boy and began pummeling his face with his fists.

The boy on the ground let out a roar, and a faint golden light flashed across his body, abruptly flinging Roy off.

As the boy stood back up, he looked utterly disheveled. His leather armor was askew, his face bruised, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "You despicable coward! I'm going to tear you apart!"

"Leon, stop!" A stern voice suddenly rang out.

At the sound of this rebuke, the boy's rising aura immediately subsided, and his eyes returned to their normal color.

A woman clad in a luxurious robe slowly emerged from the tents within the camp.

Her face was gentle, her demeanor graceful. She was a strikingly beautiful matron, exuding an aura of natural nobility with every step she took.

"Mother, he cheated!" Leon pouted, running up to grab the lioness woman's arm, shaking it in protest. He looked just like any other child complaining to his mother, a far cry from the ferocity he had shown moments earlier in the fight.

The woman, however, pulled her arm away, her expression stern. "Leon, remember this: on the battlefield, there is no such thing as fairness or dishonor. There is only one goal—to kill your opponent. Victory is all that matters!"

"But Mother, a true hero should defeat their opponent face-to-face!" Leon protested, still defiant.

"Leon, you must understand this now: to become a hero, you must first ensure your own survival by any means necessary. Don't be as foolish as your father!"

Leon froze for a moment before lowering his head. "I understand, Mother."

The woman then turned to Roy. Despite her strict demeanor toward her son, she offered Roy a faint smile. "Roy, you did well. Starting tomorrow, you may go to the sanctuary to apply for warrior status. Someone will escort you and explain everything."

"Thank you," Roy said, his face lighting up with a bright smile. He gave the woman a respectful bow and then walked away.

At dawn the next morning, the camp was still quiet and not fully awake when Roy was roused by an elder. After a brief preparation, they set off for Silver Crown City. The elder, a highly respected figure in the town, was tasked with escorting Roy to the sanctuary branch for talent and spiritual power testing.

The carriage moved slowly, the wheels clattering steadily along the road. Roy, filled with curiosity, kept asking the elder questions about the world.

The elder smiled faintly, stroked his gray beard, and spoke slowly:

"This land is called the Orandia Continent. Humans are the main inhabitants, but many other races also dwell here—beastmen, elves, giants, dragons, and even the legendary angelic race.

The strong among them, upon reaching certain levels of mastery or consuming special potions, can even take human form."

Roy's eyes lit up with interest, and he couldn't help but ask, "What kind of place is Silver Crown City?"

"Silver Crown City is a major border town of the Carlos Empire and serves as one of its key gateways to the outside world," the elder explained. "Our destination is the sanctuary branch within the city. Remember, the sanctuary is one of the most powerful forces in the empire, with influence that extends far beyond its borders."

Roy pondered this for a moment before asking, "Is the Carlos Empire very powerful?"

The elder nodded slightly. "Indeed. The Orandia Continent is home to seven major empires, and Carlos is one of them. Its strength and vast territory have maintained a delicate balance with the other empires. However, the world is even larger than you can imagine. You will learn more about this when you reach the sanctuary."

As the carriage continued its journey, the faint silhouette of Silver Crown City appeared on the horizon.

After several hours on the road, the carriage finally arrived at Silver Crown City. From a distance, towering and majestic city walls loomed, weathered by the passage of time.

Banners symbolizing the empire's glory hung above the gates, while armored guards stood vigilantly as streams of travelers came and went.

Roy gazed up at the grand gate and couldn't help but exclaim, "So tall! And this is just a border city of the Carlos Empire?"

The elder chuckled softly, stroking his beard.

"Though it's a border city, Silver Crown City is far from weak. It may be slightly inferior to the larger cities, but it still holds considerable strength. Plus, the sanctuary branch here offers its protection."

He patted Roy on the shoulder. "Come, let's head straight to the sanctuary branch."

Roy nodded eagerly. "I can't wait!"

The elder smiled. "The future of this world belongs to young people like you."

Inside the city, wide streets stretched in every direction. Shops lined the roads, and vendors' shouts echoed through the air. The aroma of street food lingered, prompting Roy to glance curiously at the stalls.

Suddenly, he turned and asked, "Grandpa, how old are you?"

The elder smiled. "I'm over 800 years old now, just a humble Level 137 High Martial King. Ah, the lifespan of a High Martial King is only about a thousand years. Such a pity."

Roy asked in surprise, "Can't you advance further?"

The elder sighed. "My talent isn't sufficient, and breaking through to the next realm is challenging. But I've made peace with it."

As they talked, they arrived at the sanctuary branch entrance. The towering structure, built from pristine white stone, exuded an air of solemnity and mystery.

The elder stopped and turned to Roy. "This is it, child. From here, you must continue on your own."

Roy bowed deeply. "Thank you, Grandpa! Until we meet again!"

The elder laughed heartily. "Until we meet again! Remember—no matter what challenges arise, always hold firm to your beliefs."

Taking a deep breath, Roy stepped resolutely toward the sanctuary gates. He knew that beyond these doors lay a new world waiting for him to explore.