Ciel sat on his bed, his body still humming with energy. Azure light flickered beneath his skin, tracing patterns through his channels in mesmerizing flows. His Aether Core pulsed at his center, a living thing now, drawing in ambient energy and circulating it through his system with rhythmic precision.
But the surge was too much. Too wild. The newly awakened core didn't know restraint yet, pulling in Aether indiscriminately and flooding his body with more power than he could comfortably handle.
He needed to calm it. Needed to assert control.
Ciel closed his eyes, turning his awareness inward. He could see his core clearly now in his mind's eye. A brilliant sphere of azure energy, spinning rapidly, radiating power in all directions.
Slow down, he thought, projecting his will toward it. Stabilize.
The core responded to his intent, its rotation gradually decreasing. The wild surge of energy began to settle, becoming a steady flow rather than a torrent. The azure light visible through his skin dimmed, fading until it was barely perceptible.
Better. Much better.
Ciel took a deep breath, feeling the difference immediately. His body no longer felt like it might tear apart from internal pressure. The energy flowed smoothly now, controlled and purposeful.
He felt strong. Stronger than he'd ever felt in his life. Power coursed through his veins in ways that were fundamentally different from before the awakening.
He needed confirmation. Needed to see what had changed in concrete terms.
"Status," he thought.
The familiar display materialized before him, glowing with soft blue light.
[Personal Status]
Name: Ciel Lee Silver
Aether Well: 50%
Aether Absorption: 1.8 A/s (High Zone), 1.2 A/s (Normal Zone)
Aether Core: Awakened (Rank 1 - Novice)
Rank: 1 (Novice)
Titles: [The Champion Deadbeat Scion]
Base Attributes
Strength: [21]
Dexterity: [23]
Vitality: [22]
Perception: [21]
Willpower: [15]
Channeling: [50]
Traits
[Genius] [Blessed Physique]
Skills and Abilities
[Analyze]
[Free Attribute Points: 0]
Ciel's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. His mind struggled to process what he was seeing.
His Aether Well was at fifty percent capacity. Already half full despite just awakening moments ago. And his absorption rate had doubled. One point eight Aether per second in high concentration zones. One point two in normal areas.
Every physical attribute had increased by ten points from the awakening. Strength had jumped from ten to twenty. Dexterity from twelve to twenty two. Vitality from eleven to twenty one. Perception from eleven to twenty one.
Plus the additional points from his daily quest completion. The one point to all physical attributes, and the extra point to Dexterity and Vitality that brought them even higher.
The numbers were staggering.
And his Willpower had increased by five points, moving from ten to fifteen. The awakening process, the hours of unbroken concentration, the mental fortitude required to push through, had strengthened his mental attribute naturally.
But Channeling. That was what truly made his jaw drop.
Thirty points from the awakening itself. His natural talent manifesting as immediate capability. Plus the twenty points promised by the System quest.
Fifty. He had fifty points in Channeling.
Most newly awakened Rank One cultivators started with five to ten points. They spent months, sometimes years, slowly building that stat through practice and refinement.
And he'd started with fifty.
To say he felt strong was an understatement. It undermined the sheer magnitude of what had just happened. Power raged through him in ways that made his previous existence seem like a distant dream. Every sense was sharper. Every movement felt effortless. His awareness of Aether around him was constant and crystal clear.
Was this why the System had made him train first? Had those days of physical exercise been preparation, building his body up so it could handle the massive influx of power from awakening?
It made sense. If he'd attempted this while still weak and atrophied, the surge might have torn him apart.
Ciel was lost in thought, marveling at the changes, when his door suddenly swung open.
Belle and Liam stood in the doorway, both slightly out of breath as if they'd run here. Their eyes were wide, expressions caught between shock and something that might have been awe.
They stared at him. Not speaking. Just feeling.
The Aether radiating from Ciel was palpable. Dense. Controlled now, but unmistakably powerful. His presence in the room had weight to it, a pressure that pushed against their senses.
"Ciel," Belle breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "You awakened your core."
"In one day," Liam added, his blue eyes sharp and assessing. "What should have taken two to three days, you accomplished in hours."
Ciel nodded, uncertain how to respond. Was that impressive? The System had guided him. His natural talent had done the rest.
"But that's not what's shocking us," Liam continued, stepping further into the room. His gaze remained fixed on Ciel with an intensity that was almost uncomfortable. "Your energy. Your presence. You feel like a veteran Rank One. Someone who's been cultivating for years, not someone who just awakened."
Belle moved closer as well, her warrior's senses analyzing what she was perceiving. "Your Aether density is absurd for a fresh awakening. And the control you already have..." She shook her head in disbelief. "Ciel, you're unbelievably strong for your rank."
Ciel blinked. They had to be joking. He'd just awakened. Surely everyone felt this way after forming their core?
But the serious expressions on both their faces suggested otherwise.
An idea occurred to him. A way to verify their claims.
He focused on Belle, activating his Unique Skill. Analyze.
Information bloomed in his vision, overlaying his perception of her.
[Analyze]
Subject: Belle Silmaris
Race: Human
Rank: 4 (Expert)
Aether: 68% Well | Absorption 2.4 A/s
Physique: 315
Mind: 185
Overall Stat: 750
Potential Capacity: Undefined
Ciel's eyes widened. Seven hundred and fifty overall stat. Belle was incredibly powerful. And her potential was Undefined, meaning she possessed capabilities beyond standard measurement. No wonder his father had taken her in. No wonder she'd risen to become one of the Ten Fingers.
He shifted his focus to Liam. Analyze.
[Analyze]
Subject: Liam Crowcrest
Race: Human
Rank: 4 (Expert)
Aether: 71% Well | Absorption 2.1 A/s
Physique: 295
Mind: 165
Overall Stat: 610
Potential Capacity: High
Six hundred and ten overall stat. Still tremendously powerful, though noticeably lower than Belle. And his potential was High, indicating he could reach Rank Seven or Eight with optimal cultivation.
Both of them were monsters. Rank Four at relatively young ages. Powers that dwarfed most faction members.
And they were saying he felt strong.
Ciel turned the skill on himself, needing to see his own measurements.
[Analyze]
Subject: Ciel Lee Silver
Race: Human
Rank: 1 (Novice)
Aether: 50% Well | Absorption 1.8 A/s
Physique: 66
Mind: 36
Overall Stat: 152
Potential Capacity: Limitless
His jaw dropped.
One hundred and fifty two overall stat. As a Rank One. A freshly awakened Rank One.
His Physique was sixty six. The combined total of Strength at twenty one, Dexterity at twenty three, and Vitality at twenty two.
His Mind was thirty six. Perception at twenty one and Willpower at fifteen.
And his Aether contribution, calculated from his well percentage and channeling capability, pushed his overall stat to one hundred and fifty two.
For comparison, most Rank One cultivators had overall stats between thirty and fifty. Maybe sixty if they were talented.
He had one hundred and fifty two.
No wonder Belle and Liam could feel his strength. He wasn't just strong for a new awakening. He was absurdly, impossibly strong.
Ciel sat frozen, his mouth hanging open, unable to form words. The System. The quests. The training. All of it had combined to create something beyond normal cultivation progression.
He'd completely underestimated what the System was capable of.
The silence stretched as Ciel processed this revelation. Belle and Liam exchanged glances, giving him space to absorb the magnitude of what had happened.
Finally, Liam cleared his throat, breaking the moment. His expression shifted from amazement to something more serious. More calculating.
"Ciel, we need to talk." Liam moved to sit in the chair near the bed, his posture formal. This wasn't a casual conversation. "What you just did, awakening your core, the power you're displaying, it changes everything."
Belle remained standing but her face had taken on the same grave expression. She knew what was coming.
"The wolves I've been keeping at bay," Liam continued, his voice low and intense, "they're going to bare their fangs now. The branch families, the opportunists within the faction, everyone who's been waiting for an excuse to challenge your position. They've been patient because you seemed weak. Manageable. Someone they could deal with later."
His blue eyes bored into Ciel's golden ones. "But this? This awakening? The power you're displaying? It terrifies them. Because if you continue at this pace, if you keep growing at this rate, you'll become untouchable before they can act."
"Which means they'll act now," Belle added quietly. "While you're still Rank One. While they can still claim you're inexperienced. Untested."
Liam nodded. "I need to know, Ciel. Was this intentional? Did you plan this awakening? Because if you did, if you're actually committed to reclaiming your position and leading this faction, then I need you to understand something."
He leaned forward, his expression deadly serious. "Your quiet life is over. Completely. Irrevocably. From this moment forward, you're a target. Every action you take will be scrutinized. Every weakness will be exploited. You'll need to train harder than you've ever trained. You'll need to grow faster than should be possible. And you'll need to do it while protecting yourself from threats both obvious and subtle."
The weight of his words settled over the room like a physical presence.
"Tomorrow, you begin real training," Liam stated. "Not exercises. Not basic cultivation. Real combat training. Belle will oversee it." He glanced at her, and she nodded confirmation. "She won't go easy on you. Can't afford to. You need to be ready."
"Ready for what?" Ciel asked, finding his voice finally.
"The academy," Liam replied. "After your fifteenth birthday. Eight months from now. You'll join the Aethermoor Academy in the human faction's capital. It's the premier cultivation institution. The place where future leaders are forged. And it's where you'll prove yourself."
He stood, pacing slightly. "But before that, there's a more immediate concern. The consortium meeting. One week from today. The branch families and major stakeholders will gather to review the faction's leadership structure. They'll expect you to attend. To present yourself. To demonstrate that you're worthy of your position as heir."
Liam's expression turned grim. "One week, Ciel. You have one week to gather confidence. To build enough skill and presence that when you stand before them, they see Dale Silver's son rather than the deadbeat scion they've been mocking for nine years."
He turned to Belle. "Don't take it easy on him. Push him. Hard. He has the physical capabilities now. He needs the skills and mentality to match."
Belle's silver hair caught the dim light as she nodded. "Understood. We'll make every hour count."
Liam moved toward the door, then paused. He looked back at Ciel, and for a moment, his stern expression softened just slightly.
"For what it's worth, I'm proud of you. Your mother would be proud. You've taken the first step on a very long, very difficult road. Don't let the challenges ahead make you forget that."
"Get some sleep," Belle added, her voice gentle despite the serious conversation. "Tomorrow begins your real journey as a cultivator. It won't be easy. In fact, it's going to be the hardest thing you've ever done."
A small smile played at her lips. "But I believe in you. Just like your father did. Just like your mother did. You have great potential, Ciel. Now we're going to forge that potential into power."
They moved toward the door together, preparing to leave him to rest.
"Belle," Ciel called out, stopping them. Both turned back. "Thank you. Both of you. For everything. For not giving up on me. For protecting me when I couldn't protect myself. For believing I could be more than I was."
Belle's eyes glistened slightly. She smiled, warm and proud. "You're my brother, Ciel. I'll always believe in you."
Liam simply nodded, respect clear in his expression. "Sleep well. Tomorrow, everything changes."
They left, closing the door softly behind them.
Ciel sat in his room, alone once more, but the darkness felt different now. Less oppressive. Less like a prison. The azure glow of his Aether Core provided a gentle light from within, a reminder that he was no longer the hollow, broken heir he'd been just days ago.
He lay back on his bed, exhaustion finally catching up to him. The awakening had drained him mentally and physically despite the massive increase in his capabilities.
One week until the consortium meeting. Eight months until the academy. Tomorrow, real training began.
And somewhere beyond all that, enemies he didn't yet know waited for their chance to strike.
But for the first time in nine years, Ciel Lee Silver felt ready to face what was coming.
He closed his eyes, his newly awakened Aether Core pulsing steadily at his center, and drifted into deep, dreamless sleep.
Tomorrow would bring hardship. Challenge. Pain and growth in equal measure.
But tonight, he allowed himself to rest.
The hollow heir was dead.
The protagonist was beginning to awaken.