The story of Journey of the Magic Swordsman, the novel Kain once read, revolved around Kaelan Stormwind, a boy attending a prestigious academy, meeting female leads, forging friendships, and delving into the ruins of an ancient world. Together, they faced challenges, formed unbreakable bonds, and ultimately fought in a climactic war between their world, Altheria, and the invading forces of Urvi.
But the reality Kain found himself in was far different. An anomaly existed in this world, something never mentioned in the novel, an apocalyptic event known as the Great Sundering.
Sixty years ago, the Great Sundering had reshaped Altheria's history. Rifts, mysterious tears in the fabric of reality, had begun to open across the world, unleashing monsters that brought chaos and destruction. Cities fell, kingdoms crumbled, and Altheria plunged into an era of war and instability. It was a time of heroes and calamities, where survival demanded strength and unity.
During those tumultuous times, the magicians of Altheria, became a cornerstone of hope. Their power allowed humanity to push back the tides of monstrous invasions. The progression of magicians, known as the Traditional Path.
The stages of the Traditional Path were:
1. Apprentice
2. Wizard/Witch
3. High Wizard/Witch
4. Arch Wizard/Witch
5. Great Arc Mage
6. Legendary Mage
However, the Great Sundering did more than open rifts and bring destruction. It also introduced a mysterious phenomenon: the Arcane Nexus. This enigmatic force was believed to have caused the Great Sundering itself. The Arcane Nexus selected individuals, granting them the ability to follow a new, uncharted progression known as the Divine Path. Unlike the magicians of the Traditional Path, these chosen ones are called Ascenders, who wielded immense power.
The stages of the Divine Path were:
1. Seeker
2. Master
3. Sovereign
4. Archon
5. Supreme
The strength of the Ascenders far surpassed that of magicians. It was said that a single Archon could battle more than twenty Legendary Mages at once and emerge victorious. However, such power came at a steep cost.
Those selected by the Arcane Nexus faced a significant risk—the chance of losing their minds. The Arcane Nexus granted immense strength, but its influence was unpredictable, and many Ascenders succumbed to madness.
Even six decades later, the scars of the Great Sundering lingered. Humanity had rebuilt much of what was lost, but the rifts remained, and monsters still emerged from the ruins. The balance of power had shifted irrevocably. Currently, there were only nine Supremes—the pinnacle of Ascenders—alive in Altheria, their presence serving as both a reassurance and a reminder of the Nexus's power.
This world, with its harsh realities and enigmatic forces, was far more complex than the one Kain had read about. It was not the story of Journey of the Magic Swordsman. It was something far darker.
At first, Kain was uncertain about the nature of this world. Would the plot of Journey of the Magic Swordsman unfold as he remembered it, or had the Great Sundering changed everything? Were the characters he knew so well from the novel even real, or would they simply not exist in this altered reality?
These questions haunted him until three years ago when a televised news report shattered his doubts. The broadcast announced that the princess of Moonstone Kingdom, widely hailed as a prodigy, had become an Ascender. The report further revealed that she would be attending the prestigious Ascender Academy in three years.
That princess was none other than her—the female lead of Journey of the Magic Swordsman.
Kain's mind raced. In the novel, the protagonist, Kaelan Stormwind, joined the Magic Academy and began his journey there. But in this world, shaped by the events of the Great Sundering, there was no mention of a Magic Academy. Instead, there was the Ascender Academy, a place where those chosen by the Arcane Nexus honed their abilities and trained to master their overwhelming power.
It was a stark deviation from the story he remembered, but the core players—the main characters—still existed. This realization cemented Kain's resolve.
Three months later, Kain himself was chosen by the Arcane Nexus.
The process had been overwhelming, a surreal moment where the Nexus marked him as one of its chosen. His abilities began to manifest, pushing him onto the path of the Ascenders. It was not something he had sought, but neither could he refuse it. To survive in this world—and perhaps, to understand its mysteries—he had to accept the hand he'd been dealt.
From that moment, Kain's strategy changed. He joined the government under the guise of serving as a Reaper, but his true aim was to gather information.
Over the next three years, he worked tirelessly, investigating the key figures from the novel. He delved into records, tracked news reports, and pieced together clues about the people who would inevitably play a role in the coming events.
His suspicions were confirmed. Every single one of them—the protagonist, the female leads, the rivals, even some of the minor characters—had been chosen by the Arcane Nexus. They were all Ascenders, destined to join the Ascender Academy.
This world was no longer a perfect reflection of the novel he had read. The changes introduced by the Great Sundering had reshaped its foundation, yet the essence of the story remained. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and Kain knew that the academy would be the stage where everything began.
The Ascender Academy was set to begin in one month, and Kain needed to prepare for the move to the capital city. It wasn't just about his enrollment—he also had to take his sister and niece with him. Though he would be stationed within the academy, he planned to visit them whenever his schedule allowed.His sister, a Sovereign-level Ascender, was powerful enough to protect herself and her daughter. Yet, there was an unresolved issue that troubled Kain deeply.
Years ago, tragedy had struck their family. When their parents and her husband were killed during a rift incident, his sister had sealed her own powers. The trauma of losing everyone she held dear had destabilized her emotionally, and as an Ascender, instability was a dangerous flaw.
She had sealed her powers to prevent herself from losing control, a fate worse than death for anyone chosen by the Nexus.
Although his sister had since regained her emotional stability, she still had not unsealed her powers. Kain understood her reluctance; reopening the floodgates to that immense power could be overwhelming. However, with the move to the capital city, he worried about the potential dangers they might face.
Even though the city was relatively safe, it was also the center of political intrigue, power struggles, and corruption. If she didn't unseal her powers, her vulnerabilities could put both herself and her daughter at risk.
Kain resolved to address the matter before they departed. His sister had done so much for him, raising him and supporting him after his transmigration into this world. Now, it was his turn to ensure their safety and security, no matter the cost.
As Kain began tying up loose ends for the journey ahead, his mind wandered briefly to the challenges that awaited him at the academy.
The world he had stepped into was far more dangerous and complex than the novel had ever suggested. Yet, despite the changes, Kain knew one thing for certain: he was ready to face whatever came his way.