The sky cracked.
Not thunder. Not lightning.
Something… deeper.
In the center of the Azurelight Empire, atop the towering skybridge of House Vaelthorn, the universe itself seemed to whisper. And only one person heard it.
Fedrick Vaelthorn opened his eyes.
The awakening was not gentle. It never was. It struck like a cosmic anvil—memories of endless lives, fragments of celestial truths, and the weight of his bloodline surged into him all at once.
A status screen bloomed before him in radiant light:
[SSS-RANK SYSTEM AWAKENED]
Host: Fedrick Vaelthorn
Bloodline: Origin-Class, "Solarborn Sovereign"
System: Universal Devourer Protocol
Primary Function: Absorb all forms of energy and matter. Convert to Skills, Attributes, and Laws.
Secondary Function: Law Assimilation, Cosmic Integration, Vessel Binding
Bound Vessel: [Class-S Warship: Aurealis Myrrh] — Bond Level: Dormant
Current Power Level: Mortal Tier 0
Unlock: 0.01%
Fedrick exhaled. His breath alone shattered a nearby pillar.
"I'm late," he murmured.
The ceremonial ground below was already packed with spectators—aristocrats from all three lunar provinces, envoys from the Sky Guild, even representatives from the Royal Nexus.Today was his official awakening ceremony. But as with all things in his life, the ceremony lagged behind his destiny.
"Time to show them what 'SSS' really means."
He stepped off the skybridge.
And fell—three thousand meters—landing silently on the diamondglass plaza, sending waves of distorted gravity rippling outward. No impact. No crash. Just pressure. Noble heirs collapsed instantly, choking on breathless silence.
Even the High Elder staggered. "Heavens…"
Fedrick glanced at his system screen again.
[Skill Absorption Ready]
Source Energy Nearby: 12,904 units
Target: High Elder Aethros – Class A Lightning Dao
Absorb?
He blinked. "That's rude," he whispered. "But…"
[Absorption Confirmed]
+Lightning Affinity
+Advanced Law of Current (Fragment)
+Skill: Thunder Vein Movement
+Stat Increase: AGI +82, PER +41
Lightning arced through his veins.
He turned to face the stunned audience and smiled like a prince who had never tasted failure.
"I accept my awakening."
From the crowd, a girl's breath caught.
Her name was Serenya Nyelle, daughter of the Minister of Stars. A calm, distant girl—perfect grades, flawless manners, and always an ice wall around her emotions.
But as Fedrick stood beneath the fractured sky, she felt her world tilt.
Her mother whispered, "That's the boy with the Aurealis Myrrh…"
Serenya didn't hear her. All she saw was him.
And he didn't even know she existed.
Yet.