Kael sat in the heart of the dungeon, his body surrounded by crackling arcs of violet lightning. He had spent months refining his power, learning how to wield it, control it, become it.
[Forsaken Genesis – Power Acquired: Lightning Manipulation]
The moment he had chosen lightning as his first ability, his entire body had undergone a transformation. His muscles became denser, his reaction speed sharpened to inhuman levels, and his senses expanded far beyond what they once were.
At first, controlling it had been brutal.
The raw power of the storm was untamed, wild, and merciless. Every time he summoned it, his body felt like it was burning from the inside. But Kael refused to stop.
His family wanted him dead. His clan had sent him here to die.
But he would emerge stronger than any of them.
One Year Later
Kael stood at the center of the Abyssal Dungeon, surrounded by the corpses of creatures that had once been considered unstoppable. Wraiths, abyssal hounds, shadow fiends—all had fallen before him.
His once frail body had been reforged into something monstrous. His Forsaken Aura had evolved, becoming an extension of himself, shifting between darkness and lightning with each step he took.
He had mastered Lightning Manipulation, refining it to a level beyond mortal comprehension. He could become lightning, moving faster than the eye could track. He could call down storms with a mere thought, shape lightning into blades, and burn his enemies to ash.
But still… the dungeon was not finished with him.
Before him stood a massive golden door, untouched by time, covered in intricate carvings of forgotten warriors and deities. Ancient symbols glowed faintly upon its surface, pulsing with an energy he had never felt before.
At the center, words had been etched in glowing golden light:
"Only the Chosen One may enter."
Kael stared at the door, his hands clenched into fists.
"Chosen? Is this what the System meant? Is this what I was meant for?"
For a year, he had fought, bled, and survived. He had transformed himself from nothing into something the world had never seen before.
And now, he stood at the precipice of something even greater.
Kael took a deep breath, lightning crackling around his body.
"Then let's see what lies beyond."
And he stepped forward.
Kael stood before the golden door, lightning crackling around his body as his gaze traced the glowing inscription. His heart pounded in anticipation.
He had spent a full year within the Abyssal Dungeon, refining his power, pushing his body beyond mortal limits. He had slain countless creatures, honed his lightning manipulation to perfection, and unlocked hidden depths of his Forsaken Aura.
And now, he was ready to step forward—
[WARNING. ENTRY DENIED.]
Kael halted mid-step as the System's voice rang in his mind.
"You are not yet strong enough to proceed."
Kael's jaw clenched. "What do you mean? I've conquered this entire dungeon. My stats are nearly maxed out for my level."
[Current Stats:]
Strength: 24/25
Agility: 24/25
Endurance: 24/25
Perception: 24/25
Intelligence: 5
[XP: 1000]
He had accumulated a massive amount of experience points, yet he still hadn't evolved past his current form.
"System, what exactly am I ranked as right now?" Kael asked, narrowing his eyes. "If Level 1 is a beginner human, then where do I stand?"
The System responded immediately.
[Due to the influence of Forsaken Aura, your level no longer corresponds to normal human rankings. In terms of martial rankings, you are currently an Earth-Ranked Warrior.]
Kael's breath caught.
"Wait… an Earth-Ranked Warrior?"
He had spent his whole life thinking he was weaker than everyone else. But now, after just one year in the dungeon, he was standing on the same rank as warriors who had trained for decades.
To put it into perspective—his father, Lord Darius Draven, was a 5th Earth-Ranked Warrior, one of the strongest in their clan.
Kael let out a dark chuckle. "So, I'm already on the same level as high-ranking warriors…"
He thought back to his past—to the humiliation, the abuse, the way his family had thrown him away like trash.
And now?
Now, he was ready to show them what they had abandoned.
A smirk spread across his face as lightning arced across his arms.
"System, how much longer until I can reach Level 2?"
"Once your stats reach 25 in each category, you will evolve into a Forsaken Underling. At that point, you will surpass standard Earth-Ranked warriors."
Kael's smirk widened.
"Good. Then I know exactly where I need to go next."
His family was hosting the Heir Competition soon—a gathering of the strongest young warriors in the clan, where the next successor of House Draven would be determined.
They had never even considered him as a candidate.
But now?
Now, he was going to walk in through their front doors.
And he was going to crush them all.