Arrogance reborn in divine gold. While the elite claims a heaven-sent destiny, the true successor stirs in the dark.
Awakening in Agony
The first sensation to hit Damien was pain. It was not the ordinary ache of physical wounds. This was a gnawing sensation that ate at the soul as much as the flesh. An acidic burn flared in every nerve and every bone.
He opened his eyes with difficulty. The blinding white ceiling of the Valenhall private hospital stared back at him with impassive neon lights. The air was saturated with the smell of disinfectant, overpriced flowers, and suppressed fear.
Then, he saw it.
The blue interface. It hung in the air, translucent and yet tangible. Lines of energy and golden letters pulsed like a living heart.
"What is...?"
Memories rushed back instantly. The roar of the dragon. Elena's flesh consumed. Marcus crushed against the stone wall. Then, nothingness.
"No... No, it is impossible. Not in an E-rank..."
The screen vibrated. Words appeared.
HELLO.
Damien flinched. "Who... who is speaking?"
I AM THE SYSTEM.
He let out a nervous laugh. "I'm going crazy. That's it."
At that exact moment, the door swung open.
The Shadow of the Patriarch
Aldric Valenhall entered the room.
He was a silhouette of absolute command, wearing a charcoal suit tailored to perfection. His gaze was steel. Two henchmen framed him, identical in their stillness. Power incarnate moved across the perfectly polished floor.
"Father!" Damien cried out. "You have to believe me! There was a dragon—gigantic, black as night, with—"
A single gesture silenced the flood of words.
"A dragon, in an E-rank dungeon?" Aldric replied. His tone was calm, sharp, and surgical. "I taught you to be ambitious, not ridiculous."
Damien pointed at the interface floating before him. "Look! Do you see it?!"
The patriarch's cold gaze slid over the empty air. "You are hallucinating."
The screen immediately displayed:
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE ME.
"Ask the others! Elena, Lysa—"
"They are dead," Aldric cut him off. "Only the porter was found alive."
Damien froze. "Kael...?"
"Yes. That bottom-feeding rat is still clinging to life." Aldric approached the bed, his voice losing all warmth. "While you, my son, die in a hospital after failing."
He already turned to leave. "Rest. We will talk when you have recovered your dignity."
The door closed behind him.
Damien remained alone. The silence vibrated around him, saturated with contained hatred.
"No way..." he whispered. "I will not be the one who fails."
The Call of Destiny
I AM HERE TO GUIDE YOU.
Damien raised his head. "To guide me, huh?"
YOU ARE CHOSEN TO BEAR THE LIGHT.
"Then... give me back the strength to hold it."
The interface transformed. Symbols appeared: class names, statuses, powers. He scrolled through them, fascinated.
Warrior. Mage. Assassin. Arcanist...
And then, at the very bottom, a golden line.
PALADIN — RANK SSS.
The description opened, haloed in light:
"Sacred warrior. Bane of darkness. A living rampart between the world and chaos."
His fingers shook.
"Perfect."
He confirmed the selection.
NAME: Damien Valenhall
RACE: Human
CLASS: Paladin
RANK: SSS
LEVEL: 1
TITLE: Unknown
STRENGTH: 10
AGILITY: 10
ENDURANCE: 10
INTELLIGENCE: 10
DEXTERITY: 10
SKILL: [Blade of Divine Retribution (1%)] WEAPON: Holy Sword – Rank S "It's weak..." he grumbled.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF GODS ARE REBUILT FIRST IN FRAILTY.
A smile grew on his lips. His heart beat like a drum. He selected the skill.
The blade charges with divine energy. Justice penetrates the flesh of sin.
A shiver ran through him. "This belongs to me."
He sat up, ignoring the pain. His gaze reflected the blue light, shimmering like a
promise.
"I will become the strongest. More than an Awakened. More than these gods. I will be the light that everyone must follow."
The screen vibrated one last time.
ACTIVE QUEST: BECOME THE LIGHT OF HUMANITY.
A low, almost frantic laugh escaped his lips.
In the frozen calm of the room, Damien Valenhall was born a second time. His radiance was divine.
But somewhere, only a few steps away, the true heir of the dragon slowly opened his eyes.