Alex sat on the balcony of his nursery, a thick history book splayed across his lap, propped up by a creatively folded blanket he had "borrowed" from his crib.
The sun was setting behind the colossal energy barrier that shimmered faintly above the world, like a second sky. A pleasant breeze drifted through the air, carrying the scent of exotic flowers.
He flipped a page with effort, scanning the words with unnerving seriousness for someone who still occasionally needed a diaper change.
> "The Profound Expanse, a naturally formed super-planet, is home to millions of races, protected by an ancient planetary shield. Although advanced in technology, the planet maintains its primitive roots through Talent Awakening and Cultivation. Space-faring races, powerful gene-modified warriors, and robotic-enhanced humans are now common fixtures across the stars..."
Alex paused.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then he burst out laughing—tiny baby chuckles that made a nearby maid squeal in adoration without realizing he was having an existential crisis.
"Wait, wait, WAIT—hold on a second," he wheezed internally, slapping his small palm against the page. "Space battles? Gene-spliced superhumans? Robo-samurai?? What kind of genre mashup did I reincarnate into?!"
---
After a moment, he calmed down, continuing to read more carefully.
Apparently, natural talent was everything here.
Each person was born with a unique power dormant within them, waiting to awaken naturally around the age of two.
Talent determined:
What abilities you had.
How fast you could grow.
How high your limit was.
Cultivation was the art of strengthening and evolving that talent, pushing the body's natural limits beyond imagination.
If someone was unlucky enough to be born without a talent?
They weren't left completely hopeless.
Gene Modification: Scientists and genetic masters could fuse your DNA with powerful foreign races or beasts, granting you abilities you weren't born with.
Robotics Implementation: Less popular (and less "cool" according to the book), but you could augment your body with machines—metal arms, plasma organs, energy reactors, the works.
Still, no matter how amazing tech or gene modifications were, natural Talent always reigned supreme.
Alex leaned back, tiny arms crossed thoughtfully.
> "So Talent is king, genes are the court, and robots... are like the janitors with laser guns."
He snorted.
---
The book even mentioned that outside the planet, enormous fleets of ships sailed the stars, clashing with foreign empires and monstrous cosmic beasts. And sometimes—individual cultivators so strong they didn't need ships at all dueled in the void of space itself, riding energy waves and shooting out attacks that could split moons.
Alex felt a slight headache coming on.
> "Cultivators... in space... fighting aliens... with their bare hands.
And here I am... stuck in a onesie with a pacifier."
He stared dramatically at the setting sun.
The universe was way too big for a toddler.
---
Later that night, lying in his cradle and staring at the soft glow of the shielded sky, Alex whispered to himself:
> "Talent, huh... If I'm gonna survive this cosmic circus, I need the best one."
His little fingers clenched.
Luckily, he was nearing his second birthday.
And with it — his natural awakening.
Something stirred faintly within him... a silent thrum, as if a sleeping beast deep inside was waiting for the right moment to open its eyes.
Alex grinned, a dangerous gleam in his bright eyes.
Soon.
Very soon.
.....
Far across the shimmering lands of the Profound Expanse, within a black crystal palace where even light dared not linger long, another scene quietly unfolded.
In a grand chamber, a gorgeous woman with dark violet hair and obsidian eyes cradled a small child against her bosom. The boy, barely over a year old, dozed peacefully, an unsettling coldness lingering in the air around him.
Sitting across from her, a tall man clad in elegant black robes embroidered with silver skeletal patterns spoke softly. His very breath seemed to draw a chill into the room.
This was Azrael Nightshade, patriarch of the House of Nightshade — the bloodline of Mortis Vein, the Talent of Death itself.
"The other great families descendants has been born" Azrael said, a grim smile on his face, "same with the pillars. The time is drawing near."
His voice deepened, as if pronouncing an ancient judgment.
"So it is true—the Prophecy has begun. The Age of Reckoning is upon us."
The woman, Selene Nightshade, softly rocked their son, Riven, her black-violet eyes flashing with a mysterious light.
"Let them come," she whispered. "When Death matures, no life shall stand in his way."
Unseen to mortal eyes, tendrils of faint mist—death energy—coiled around the boy, causing a vase of fresh lilies nearby to wither into blackened crystal.
Note* the house of nightshade is also part of the great five families..
Across the World...
Each of the Five Great Families and pillars witnessed their future awaken.
-----
House of Liora — Talent of Life: Vitalis Bloom
In a garden so lush it seemed to be a living tapestry, a young girl with hair like spun gold giggled as flowers bloomed under her footsteps. Wherever she touched, life erupted in joyous excess.
Her parents, draped in emerald robes, watched her with awe.
"Our little Liana will be a beacon in the coming darkness," her mother said, hands pressed reverently together. "As Death rises... so must Life answer."
The Talent of Life, Vitalis Bloom, flourished more fiercely within Liana than any ancestor before her.
House of Veyla — Talent of Illusion and Reality: Mirage Sovereign
In a palace woven from dreamstuff and astral glass, a silver-eyed girl played with conjured fantastical beasts from thin air, laughing as they danced around her.
Her father, a lean scholar with ink-stained fingers, scribbled furiously.
"Reality bends for her. Dreams obey her will," he whispered in awe. "The world itself may forget what is true if she so desires."
The Veyla bloodline stirred again through their daughter, Seraphina.
House of Walker — Talent of Space and Void: Eclipsing Horizon
Above floating islands, in castles tethered to invisible strings, Alex Walker—the boy of Space and Void—sat in quiet contemplation.
His mother, Amelia, gazed upon him with a serene smile.
"The void hums for him. Space parts before him," she murmured. "When the stars quake, he shall ascend."
House of Draven — Talent of Blood: Sanguine Crown
Deep in blood-soaked caves under crimson mountains, a blood red haired boy sharpened his nails against stone, his tiny figure emanating oppressive vitality.
The patriarch of House Draven laughed uproariously, raising a goblet of thick red liquid.
"Our blood shall reign supreme! Let the heavens and earth kneel before the might of the Draven!"
Meanwhile, among the Four Pillars...
The Four Pillars stood not by blood, but by unrivaled supremacy of Talent. The Supreme Beings who founded them still lived—silent watchers of the cosmos.
Though their forces were loyal, they were not bound by blood. Yet even among them, prodigies had emerged—descendants blessed by fortune or fate.
The Techno Dominion — Talent: Aethermind
Inside a towering arcology of glittering steel and living circuits, a young girl, barely over a year old, floated above the ground. Nano-drones spun playfully around her fingers like loyal pets.
Her mechanical eyes gleamed as she giggled at her floating toys.
The Supreme of Techno Dominion observed from afar, his mechanical heart beating in curiosity.
"Even among endless data, she shines like a nova."
Her name was Aria Steele, the future queen of the Machine World.
The Chaos Crucible — Talent: Elemental Chaos
Within volcanic plains and roaring stormfields, a boy slightly over a year old laughed madly as he was surrounded with harmless fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning.
The Supreme of the Crucible, cloaked in a robe woven from elemental energies, smiled grimly.
"Chaos dances at his feet. A true inheritor of my path."
The boy's name was Kael Tempest.
Swordborn Bastion — Talent: Eternal Edge
In a monastic fortress cut into an ancient mountain, a young girl of one year plus stood alone before a stone monolith.
With a simple wooden sword, she struck.
CRACK!
The monolith split cleanly in two.
The Swordborn Supreme narrowed his eyes approvingly.
"A single strike, and destiny itself shall yield."
Her name was ReinaBladeheart.
Mindspire Covenant — Talent: Mindweaver
In crystal cathedrals echoing with unseen whispers, a young boy slightly a year old closed his eyes, while the thoughts of an entire city brushed against his mind like feathers.
Even without trying, he glimpsed into the hearts of men and beasts alike.
The Supreme of Mindspire folded his hands calmly.
"A single thought... and worlds can fall."
His name was Elior Mindbane.
Back in the House of Nightshade, Azrael rose from his seat, his long cloak fluttering despite no wind.
"The Great Families and the Four Pillars... all have thrown their dice onto the cosmic board," he said grimly.
"Our children... are not merely heirs. They are the storm that shall remake the heavens and earth."
Selene held Riven close, whispering a single promise into his tiny ear:
"My little Death... carve your name into the bones of the cosmos."
Thus, the wheels of fate began to turn.
And the Age of Reckoning would soon drown the world in light, blood, shadow, and fire., And....