Chapter 9: The Awakening
Darkness.
Ray drifted in an abyss, weightless, as if he had been severed from reality itself. There was no ground beneath him, no air to breathe—only an endless void stretching infinitely in every direction.
Then, a pulse.
It started deep within his chest, a rhythmic force that grew stronger with each beat of his heart. His senses returned in fragments—the feeling of his fingers twitching, the faint hum of something ancient echoing in the distance.
Then, he heard the voice again.
"Awaken."
The void shattered.
Ray's eyes snapped open, and he found himself standing in a massive space—an endless, ethereal plane filled with swirling lights and shifting shadows. The ground beneath him was a smooth, reflective surface, as if he were standing on a mirror reflecting a sky that did not exist.
He turned sharply, searching for the source of the voice.
Then he saw him.
A figure stood before him, cloaked in a mist of shifting darkness and flickering stars. His face was obscured, but his presence was overwhelming, pressing against Ray's very soul.
Ray's instincts screamed—whoever this was, he wasn't human.
"Who are you?" Ray demanded, forcing himself to stay calm.
The figure took a step forward, and the space around them warped—as if reality itself bent under his presence.
"I am the remnant of what once was," the voice rumbled. "And you, Ray, stand on the edge of what will be."
Ray's fingers twitched toward his sword, but something told him that steel would be meaningless here.
"What do you mean?" Ray asked cautiously.
The figure lifted his hand, and suddenly, the world around them shifted.
Visions erupted before Ray's eyes—blazing battlefields, warriors clad in ancient armor wielding forces beyond comprehension, entire cities crumbling under unseen might.
Then, a lone warrior stood against the chaos, wreathed in a power that seemed to defy existence itself. His very presence devoured the light around him.
Ray's heart pounded. He recognized the power. It was the same energy that had flickered to life within him.
"What… is this?"
The figure's voice was calm, yet absolute.
"This is the truth of what you hold inside you."
Ray felt a chill creep down his spine.
"The power of the Void," the figure continued, "is not merely the absence of light. It is the force that exists beyond reality itself. It is what lurks between time, between space. It is a power that does not belong in this world."
Ray clenched his fists. "Then why do I have it?"
The figure's voice grew deeper, resonating through the plane.
"Because you were chosen."
Ray's breath caught. "Chosen by who?"
For the first time, the figure hesitated. Then, he spoke one word.
"Fate."
Ray's mind raced. Fate? What did that mean? Was this why the Emperor's agents were watching him? Why the Elders had summoned him?
The figure stepped closer, and Ray felt a crushing weight press against him, like gravity itself was trying to force him to kneel.
"You do not yet understand what you are," the figure said. "But soon, you will have no choice."
Before Ray could respond, the world shattered again—
And he was falling.
—Reality Returned.
Ray gasped as his body slammed back into existence. His eyes shot open, and he found himself lying on the floor of the Elder's Chamber.
Liana was kneeling beside him, her face filled with concern. "Ray!"
His vision blurred, but the golden-eyed Elder's voice rang clearly.
"It has begun."
Ray struggled to breathe. His body felt different—as if something inside him had been unlocked.
The Elders looked at him with unreadable expressions. Valen stood near the doorway, his arms crossed tightly.
Ray pushed himself up, his muscles trembling.
"What… happened to me?" he rasped.
The golden-eyed Elder spoke. "You have awakened something that has not stirred for centuries."
Ray clenched his fists. He could still feel it—the faint pulse of something vast, something ancient, lurking just beneath his skin.
Liana helped him to his feet. "Are you okay?"
Ray exhaled. "I don't know."
The Elder's gaze sharpened. "Then you must find out. Because from this moment forward—you are no longer just a contender in the tournament."
Ray's breath hitched. "What do you mean?"
The Elder's voice was firm.
"You are now a threat.
Ray's body still trembled as the weight of the Elder's words settled over him.
A threat?
Liana's grip on his arm tightened. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice sharper than usual.
The golden-eyed Elder stood, his gaze never leaving Ray. "Do you think the Emperor's agents were simply watching you for entertainment? You have awakened something beyond normal magic or swordsmanship. Something that should not exist."
Ray's heartbeat pounded in his ears. Void Stride, the strange power, the vision…
It all led to this moment.
One of the other Elders, an elderly woman with silver hair, sighed. "You are now marked, Ray. Many will seek to control you, others will want to eliminate you before you grow into something uncontrollable."
Ray forced himself to stay calm. "And what do you plan to do with me?"
The Elders exchanged glances before the golden-eyed one spoke. "For now, you remain in the tournament. But know this—every powerful force in the empire will have its eyes on you. You must prove that your power is yours to wield, not a force that will bring ruin."
Ray exhaled slowly. He had trained his whole life to become stronger, but this… this was different.
Liana turned to the Elders, her expression fierce. "Then what guidance will you give him?"
The Elder shook his head. "None. His path is his own to walk."
Ray clenched his fists. Then I'll figure it out myself.
The Elder raised a hand, and a scroll materialized before floating toward Ray. "Take this. It is an invitation."
Ray caught the scroll and unrolled it. His eyes widened.
Grand Combat Selection – Official Entry.
It wasn't just confirmation of his participation. It was a declaration.
"You are no longer just a competitor," the Elder said. "From now on, you are a name that cannot be ignored."
Ray nodded. He had no choice but to move forward.
No matter what awaited him.
---
Outside the Elder's Chamber
Ray stepped into the cold night air, Liana walking beside him. She still looked troubled.
"You're thinking too hard," Ray said.
Liana shot him a glare. "You just got labeled as a threat by some of the most powerful people in the empire. Of course, I'm thinking."
Ray chuckled. "Then what's your plan?"
Liana hesitated before sighing. "I… don't know yet."
Valen appeared from the shadows, arms crossed. "Then figure it out fast. Because your problems are about to get worse."
Ray turned to him. "What do you mean?"
Valen's eyes darkened. "The assassins were already watching you. Now, with this official entry, you'll be on their list for real."
Ray smirked. "Then let them come."