The woman in the sky heard his firm answer without hesitation, then locked eyes with Darian seriously. He didn't look away or even flinch—there was a desperate, almost suicidal determination in him.
She gave a slight nod. She didn't need to ask anything; just seeing where he was and knowing the state of the world, it was obvious he'd lived a rough life. He believed this was the biggest chance of his life. But... he had no idea about the terrifying abyss he was about to jump into.
Faced with such determination, and realizing he had no way back, her gaze softened. She felt a bit sorry for him, but also saw a reflection of herself in him.
*Whoosh*
With a quick move, Darian watched her wings beat skillfully and a strong gust of wind burst out. In a second, she landed calmly in front of him.
Just like he'd sensed before, the moment her feet touched the ground, her wings vanished like they evaporated. It was surreal—they clearly weren't part of her body. She was human like him... or almost—she was a High Human.
Standing in front of her, Darian felt extremely suppressed. Maybe it was because of her beauty—he'd never seen anyone like her up close...
"My name is Rhea," she said with a light smile, looking him straight in the eyes. "I used to be a regular human just like you. After a full awakening, our body changes, and we become High Humans. What you're feeling is a natural kind of suppression."
She introduced herself and quietly analyzed him. She'd recruited many before and seen this scene play out countless times.
But, unlike almost every other normal guy, Darian's eyes didn't wander to her curves, which honestly surprised her. He was just feeling the natural suppression but still kept his gaze steady, looking her right in the eyes.
After a few seconds, he answered, "M-My name's Darian."
She gave a slight smile and nodded, "Come on, you showed up on the last day of recruitment for the trial. Everyone else is already gathered—you'll get an introduction with the whole group."
Suddenly, Darian saw her wings appear again behind her, but this time, a strong yellowish aura burst out from around her. It was so blinding he had to squint, and his heart raced like crazy in the face of that power.
He barely felt her hand touch his shoulder before noticing his body being wrapped in that yellow energy and...
*Whooosh!*
The world spun into a whirlpool. His eyes widened as he saw himself high up in the sky, shooting up higher and higher, dozens of meters per second. Panic started creeping in along with the urge to scream, but he forced himself to stay calm.
Then, they shot forward at an insane speed.
***
A few hours after Darian's departure, a group arrived at the place he'd left. Among them, a short woman with golden hair and a dark, gloomy gaze stood out.
Everyone stared tensely and nervously at the destruction around them.
"I'm sure of what I saw, ma'am... there's no way he escaped in that condition," a desperate man said.
The woman, face twisted with rage, stayed silent—until...
"I found something!" another man shouted.
Everyone turned to where he pointed. It was barely visible, smaller than a drop, but it was fresh, red blood.
The moment she saw it, the woman's eyes gleamed with a dark light.
***
Up in the sky, Darian looked over at Rhea flying a few meters ahead of him. Her wings beat softly; but obviously, it wasn't the wings keeping them in the air.
That yellow aura connected them like a line, dragging him along. It also shielded him—he didn't feel the cutting wind or anything else.
He glanced down. They'd been flying over a massive desert for a while now.
Darian lived in what was now called the New Arcadia Empire. It was the result of unifying the lands that used to be known as the American continent—covering all of South, Central, and North America.
He was from the northern part of the continent, but they were heading south. Until suddenly, right in the middle of the desert, everything changed.
It was like they crossed some invisible barrier. The dry, hot wasteland disappeared, and now they were flying above a wild, dense forest. Just looking at it, Darian could feel it was hiding something terrifying.
They didn't fly long after that. In the center of the forest, a massive black building rose up. It had countless floors and gave off an overwhelming pressure. It wasn't made of normal material—it was like some kind of living giant, staring them down with a cold, hostile gaze. Everything about it screamed an ancient warning: get lost or die horribly.
They landed slowly in a courtyard near the building. As soon as they touched down, Rhea's yellow aura and wings vanished again.
Right away, a man with full armor and gray hair stepped out from the building at a distance. He waved to Rhea and started walking toward them.
'Be careful. Don't let panic make you act impulsively,' Her voice rang gently in Darian's mind, making him look at her. 'I shouldn't be saying this, but... just focus on sensing what's inside you. Once you figure it out, just go after whatever feels right to you.'
'Everyone's a dumbass going after the biggest, strongest, flashiest thing. But what's made for you is the real treasure. Sometimes, something small and "weak," even if it makes you progress slowly, is way better than something huge that gives you a quick boost. Real power, the one that builds up slowly, becomes part of you and never stops growing. Idiots start out huge, but they usually hit a wall and never reach their real peak.'
She finished and sighed. Then she turned to him with a soft smile: "Good luck, Darian. I hope we meet again."
He nodded back, confused, feeling that warm look she gave him. It felt strange—Rhea didn't look much older than him, but she was gazing at him like he was a toddler taking his first steps. Was she helping him because she actually saw something in him?
There was no reason for it, but... as he looked at her for a few more seconds, Darian noticed something shocking.
It happened so fast he hadn't realized before: his curse wasn't reacting like it always did. Now he saw it—around her, there was a pure, white aura.
Rhea was completely different from anyone he had ever met. And even when he focused harder, no dark images or twisted visions popped up like they always did with other people.
"Come on, hurry."
The armored man reached them and spoke in a dry tone.
Darian snapped out of his daze and gave Rhea a quick nod of thanks before following the man into the building.
It was huge and oppressive, reminding him of the mansion where his mother used to work. As a kid, Darian had only seen it from afar a few times before his curse flared up. Now he was actually inside, and his chest tightened at the memory of his family.
He had to move forward no matter what. He couldn't leave his siblings alone. As for his mother... he clenched his fists tightly.
'Blood will be paid with blood. One day, I'll make you pay a thousand times over.'
Lost in his thoughts, he entered a huge hall where several eyes turned to him.
A dozen figures were waiting—half of them men, half women. They all looked about his age. Among them, a girl had hair the same greenish shade as his.
"I'm the instructor in charge of guiding you. First, follow me."
The instructor spoke coldly and moved toward a door at the back. Darian joined the group, and they all crossed through it. On the other side, they found a long, well-lit hallway. After about a minute, they reached the end.
Ahead of them, a strange light wrapped around them, making their hearts race.
They were now standing in a huge circular area, more than a hundred meters across. The top was open, letting the sunlight pour down onto the ground. Giant walls surrounded the place, like the whole building had been built carefully around this one spot.
A celestial blue light filled their eyes, and a heat spread through their chests, giving them an indescribable rush, almost like euphoria.
Darian and the others all turned to look at the center of the place. About five meters up, something round floated lightly. It looked like it was made of hundreds of different light points, all fused together.
"I'm gonna be straight with you."
The instructor stepped in front of them and spoke loud and clear, grabbing everyone's attention.
"As you can probably guess, you were chosen by the Heaven's Will. Now it's time to prove your worth. You're about to face the entrance test—pass it, and you'll awaken a power beyond human understanding."
He paused. Silence spread over the group like an invisible blanket. Everyone focused on his words.
"This power isn't a privilege—it's a burden. It was given to us to protect, and only those willing to sacrifice and push past all limits will come out on top. We are the Spiritual Guardians."
For a moment, no one even dared to breathe.
"You, who were born as normal humans, used to look up to us, dreaming of being like us, right? That's pure ignorance. Every High Human eventually realizes that their old life was way simpler and way more enviable. Our battles and responsibilities are way bigger than you can imagine. One mistake, and countless lives disappear because of us. We exist to defend all life in the world. Heaven's Will gave us its blessing, and with it, we cross universes to fulfill our duty."
"Another universe? You mean like another planet... or another galaxy?" one of the guys asked, thinking hard.
"No. The world is so big your mind couldn't even handle it. Our galaxy is just one among countless others in our universe. And beyond our universe, there are countless more, far away from us. In those places, there are things you can't even dream of. And also... a much deeper, darker evil. Our job is to wipe it out."
"Why go to others? Shouldn't we protect our own?" a girl asked, worried.
"Our universe is special. It doesn't need protection. That's why the people from our universe are the only ones who can help the others."
The first guy asked again, "Our universe? So there's life out there besides Earth?"
"Yeah. But our universe is different. There's very little life. In total, there are a few hundred planets like Earth. Not all of them are human, but we all work together as Spiritual Guardians."
The instructor answered quickly and snorted.
"Let's cut to the chase. If you pass, you'll understand more of the details."
Everyone nodded, still full of doubts.
"The name Spiritual Guardian isn't just for show. Our power comes from our soul, not exactly from our body. But body and soul work together. When our soul gets stronger, our body slowly changes too, until we become superhuman. That's why we're not just regular humans anymore—we're High Humans."
"Traveling physically to other universes is dangerous as hell. There are powers and creatures out there that can wipe you out in a second. That's why, both in the test you're about to take and later on, our training and evolution happen in a different universe called the Divine Protection Universe. And it's only our soul that goes."
He looked into everyone's eyes and saw the confusion growing.
"So let me make it clear. This is a blessing that lets us grow. Our home is called the Universe of Heaven's Will. If we stay here, it's impossible to get stronger. Like I said, our place is special. But the Divine Protection Universe is special too, just in a different way—it's made for us to evolve."
"With only our soul, we can unleash about a third of our true power. We can train for thirty days there, then return to our bodies back on Earth. That's when the fusion happens, and our real strength awakens. That's when we start taking on dangerous missions and head off to fight in other universes."
"Simply put, we go to the Divine Protection Universe to train with our souls, then we come back, fuse the strength we gained into our physical bodies, and finally leave for other Universes to fight the enemy."
Everyone swallowed hard, deep in thought.
"We're standing now on the Celestial Altar," the instructor said, pointing to the cluster of floating lights at the center. "That's our gate into the Divine Protection Universe. Once there, our bodies are kept safe in a special place. We stay healthy for the full thirty days, we don't age, and nothing happens to our body while we're gone."
A woman couldn't hold back a question: "And if something happens to our soul? Can we die from a distance? What happens then?"
"Yeah. The Divine Protection Universe is our training ground, but if there were no risks, it wouldn't be real training. If you fail the test or screw up later, you'll lose everything. In that case, thanks to the Heaven's Will blessing, you'll wake up back in your body, alive and healthy... or almost, because you'll lose all your powers. And worse, you'll lose all your memories."
"You'll be taken back home unconscious and wake up there, remembering only the life you had before awakening. If it happens now, it's not that bad—you'll just lose a few days. But... imagine waking up and forgetting everything after years."
"It's even worse than you think. A crushing emptiness will eat you alive, along with a sense of loss that never goes away. Most people who go through that can't bear to keep living. In the end... at least you don't die. But sometimes, death would feel like the better option."
Everyone was stunned—that was way worse than just falling into a coma. You'd wake up with the feeling you once lived something incredible. You had powers, huge responsibilities, skills beyond belief. And then... nothing. Like a king turned into a beggar.
It would just be a nagging feeling—like the sense you'd forgotten something vital, something you desperately needed to remember. But you'd never be able to. And the weight of that invisible absence, that formless void, would be an unbearable mental burden.
The instructor went on seriously: "During physical missions to other universes, death is real. But... the enemies we face aren't weaker or dumber either. It's normal to get captured and used until you slowly waste away over dozens of years... dying directly might actually become a desperate wish you might never achieve."
Everyone was tense hearing that. The power they were chasing came with insane risks. Reading everyone's thoughts, the instructor added:
"At the same time, the rewards are massive. Everyone who passes will officially become agents of the New Arcadia Empire. It's basically a job—you'll get paid based on your achievements. The stronger and more dedicated you are, the higher your salary. And for missions that demand full power, the victory bonuses are crazy high too. In other words..."
He gave everyone a grave look. "You have to give everything you've got to pass. And after that, in the few days you'll have to train, you can't waste a single second. Only power and training will keep you alive. Back on Earth, anything you dream of could easily become yours—if you're capable enough."
"The test... what exactly is the test...?" murmured the green-haired woman, her voice tense.
"You'll only go in soul to the Divine Protection Universe. Once you get there, your spiritual root will try to become complete. It needs two things—first is the test: you have to absorb an energy that doesn't exist on Earth, called Qi."
"You have to absorb Qi until you're completely filled up. Then the test ends, and the will of the heavens will recognize you, pulling you to a safe place. From there, your journey will really begin—and you'll meet a fated partner in that universe."
"This partner will form a contract with you, and you'll receive the second part once your spiritual root is complete. That way, you'll gain the first ring—and that's the core of a Spiritual Guardian's power."
"In simple terms: Absorb Qi, get pulled by the Heaven's Will, and form a contract with a partner to gain your Spiritual Root. Just keep these steps in mind."
When Darian heard the terms 'Qi' and 'spiritual root,' his eyes widened. He had read about that stuff in the fantasy book before. Could it really be the same thing? But then again, there were plenty of fantasy books that used those terms. It couldn't really be the one he read, right?
"What exactly are these things? How are we supposed to find Qi?" asked the same woman, confused.
The instructor replied indifferently, "Instinctively, everyone will be able to sense the Qi and where it's coming from in that place. The spiritual root, on the other hand, is the unique connection all living beings have with the Heaven's Will. Awakened ones have a special spiritual root. Once everything's in place, we can use powers that twist reality—called Blessings."
"Anyway, you all need to run and find where the Qi is the strongest. Be as fast as you can so you can pass the test quickly... or you'll never get this chance again. No point in giving more details now. If you pass, thirty days later you'll return to Earth."
Everyone looked serious, thinking it over. Darian, meanwhile, was stunned. He knew a lot about Qi and all the other stuff from the book. Could his knowledge actually be right?
"That's enough for now. You'll understand more later. One last warning: if three of you manage to pass, that'll already be a miracle. The rest will fail and just wake up later. You won't actually die—the consequences of failing now are still pretty small. The world belongs only to the strong, to those who overcome obstacles without fear. Be fearless, but smart too. And if you pass, always chase the thing that's beyond your limits. If you settle for easy stuff, paddling in a shallow pond, you'll never grow into a dragon."
Everyone got the message loud and clear. They had to always go after the most powerful thing they could find, even if it meant insane risks. Darian was surprised though—Rhea had given him the exact opposite advice.
The instructor didn't leave them any time to overthink. He waved his hand, and that floating orb in the center pulsed.
Everyone looked at it—it shone like a freaking sun. A blinding light covered them all, and in the next instant, they felt their consciousnesses diving into darkness.
***
Darian's consciousness snapped awake. His vision adjusted, and pretty soon, he could see the world in front of him.
Everything was dark and silent.
Darian looked down at himself and noticed a faint light running along his body, letting him see himself clearly.
He seemed to be wearing the same clothes as before. It felt like he had a body — he could feel the cold around him and even something warm flowing inside.
He focused for a moment and picked up on some subtle differences. This wasn't really his body. He was a soul, though he only knew that because he'd been told beforehand. And that thing flowing inside him... he recognized it as life energy, something he'd read about in that book.
"The book... was it really just fantasy?" he muttered, confused.
Right then, a strong gust of wind tore through him. He turned around and spotted another soul just a few meters away — a man who'd been part of the group earlier.
The man's whole spirit-body was covered in glowing, colorful lines. They looked like veins... Was that the spirit root the instructor mentioned?
He also noticed the guy's eyes darting back and forth, like he was seeing something weird.
Darian finally took a real look at his surroundings, but nothing looked super crazy. Sure, everything was covered in this thin black mist that felt straight out of a fantasy story — which was already strange enough.
They were standing in a rocky, mountainous area, with no plants or signs of life anywhere. The air was chilling and heavy. There was no light around, but somehow he could still see a few meters ahead just fine.
*Grrraaaugh...*
Suddenly, a creepy, guttural sound echoed out, making him whip his head forward.
He spotted something — two round, red eyes floating in a dark mass. His soul shivered. It was like he could *feel* the danger crawling right through his very being.
Out of nowhere, dozens of light pillars shot up in every direction around him.
Darian was stunned and quickly turned back to check. Sure enough, that man behind him was glowing with that same bright, intense light.
There were exactly a dozen lights now, scattered in different directions. It was obvious now — every examinee was lit up like some kind of sacred beacon. The scary creature in front of him froze, a little suppressed by the light.
"What the...?"
Darian looked down at his own body.
Nothing.
"Where's my spirit root?"
There wasn't even a flicker of the thing everyone else had. Just that same weak light that had let him see himself before.
"I... I didn't get anything?"
The thought had barely formed when a gust of wind sliced through the air.
*Woosh!*
That guy behind him shot off into the distance, wrapped in a divine glow. Another one followed. Then another. And another.
Everyone was seeing something he couldn't. Everyone had gotten something he hadn't.
Darian's eyes widened.
"No... this can't be."
He was alone.
The glow around him faded away as everyone left, and the darkness crawled back in, thick and suffocating. For a second, everything was dead silent.
Then—
*Gwaaaaaar!*
The same guttural growl from earlier.
But this time, way closer.
And it wasn't just one.
The growls came from every direction.
Darian slowly turned his head, a chill crawling up his spine.
The darkness was alive.
And it was closing in on him.