Smoke Ascension: The Rise of Kai Ashen
In the year 2087, the asteroid Chimera crashed into Earth, unleashing a mysterious particle that fused human DNA with insect traits, creating a new breed of superhumans known as Hybrids. To control this sudden evolution, the world established Vertex Academy, a prestigious institution where gifted hybrids train to harness their abilities and protect humanity from the monstrous creatures born from the same catastrophe.
Enter Kai Ashen, an unremarkable eighteen-year-old dismissed as a “Level Zero” hybrid. His ability? The power to produce smoke—a seemingly useless trait in a world of warriors with exoskeletons, venom, and devastating physical abilities. Ridiculed and overlooked, Kai is assigned to the academy’s lowest-ranked class, where failure means expulsion.
But what no one realizes—including Kai himself—is that his ability is far more than it appears. As he trains under the enigmatic Professor Mantis, Kai discovers he can manipulate his smoke’s density, temperature, and chemical composition, leading to explosive reactions, sensory manipulation, and even short bursts of flight. When the academy is attacked by rogue hybrids, Kai’s unique talents prove invaluable, thrusting him into a deadly game of espionage, underground conflicts, and a looming war between Earth and forces beyond the stars.
From a weak outcast to a legend, Kai’s journey is one of intelligence over raw strength, strategy over brute force. As he ascends through the Evolution Protocol, unlocking unimaginable power, he must navigate the deadly politics of hybrid society, the shadows of the Vespari Mafia, and an intergalactic conspiracy that threatens to consume the planet.
In a world where only the strong survive, one overlooked underdog will rise—shrouded in smoke and destined to ignite a revolution.
