Chapter Five — Echoes of the Azure Dominion
I looked around me.
Nothing seemed different from what I remembered.
The chamber, the air, the faint hum of divine energy woven into the walls—everything was familiar. Still, I extended my senses outward, letting them flow freely across the planet.
Instantly, I felt it.
Powerful energies—many of them.
Some were vast and open, radiating confidence like blazing suns. Others were restrained but sharp, coiled like predators waiting to strike. This planet was anything but weak.
Yet among them all, one presence stood out.
It was… hidden.
Not weak.
Not overwhelming.
Just perfectly concealed.
Its energy blended into the world so naturally that it almost disappeared. On the surface, it was unremarkable—but that was exactly what made it terrifying.
When you live on the main planet, you don't show off unless you enjoy being slapped to death by someone older, stronger, and far more bored than you.
I focused on that presence.
A man.
Divine Realm — Third Stage.
No… closer than that.
Infinitely close to the Fourth Stage, as if a breakthrough could happen at any moment. His beast had completely fused with his will. There was no separation—no inner struggle.
He was the beast.
As if sensing my observation, the man suddenly stopped.
He lifted his head and looked toward the sky—toward the point where my spiritual senses hovered.
In the next instant, pure blue aura erupted from his body.
Lightning surged wildly as a low, animalistic growl escaped his lips—a warning.
His black pupils flared into bright blue.
His white tail, marked with glowing blue stripes, shone brilliantly—a clear sign of Beast Blood Awakening. The tail flickered sharply behind him, no longer bound at his waist.
A phantom white tiger manifested around him.
My race's signature.
Its eyes glowed blue like rubies set ablaze, attempting to pierce through my concealment.
They failed.
Still, he did not look away.
His face remained expressionless, fierce, focused. His tail swayed slowly, deliberately—his body preparing for battle.
His aura expanded outward, releasing a gentle breeze in all directions. Warm. Calm. Controlled.
Yet the ground beneath him remained perfectly intact.
Not even a crack.
A feature of the divine—when one becomes one with nature itself. When will, energy, and the laws of the universe resonate in harmony.
I observed him for a moment longer.
Then I lost interest.
Retracting my senses, I vanished completely from his perception.
The instant my gaze disappeared, he powered down, his aura fading as if nothing had happened. Without another glance at the sky, he continued on his way, wherever he had been going.
From my brief scan of the planet, I gathered a great deal of information—confirming much of what the system had already told me.
My race was known as the Azurions.
Meaning: Children of the Azure Flame.
My clan—
The Azu'Tor Dominion.
Meaning: Sovereigns of the Blue Tiger God.
Many races lived alongside us, but there was no confusion about who ruled this world.
My race owned the entire planet.
Still, some races caught my attention.
Especially one.
The Stone Men.
They were humanoids formed entirely of rough, orange-brown stone. Their bodies looked as if they were built from massive rock plates and boulders, stacked together into indestructible frames.
Rugged. Massive. Durable.
Their glowing blue eyes contrasted sharply against their rocky bodies, and most of them wore dark blue shorts—some even bothered with actual clothing.
They were called the Ma'ruhn.
A name that carried mystery and elemental weight.
They possessed the ability to control earth itself.
(And honestly…)
(They probably shared ancestors with Kragar or at least stole his fashion sense.)
(Same rocky build. Same stubborn energy.)
In summary, my race ruled the planet known as the Azu'Tor Dominion.
As for why it carried that name—
That was tied to an ancient myth. One I'd learn in time.
Suddenly—
The door opened.
The sound jolted me from my thoughts.
I turned my gaze toward the entrance, anticipation rising.
At last… my parents.
The man who entered first looked no older than eighteen—handsome, sharp-featured, calm. Of course, knowing the Divine Realm, appearances meant nothing.
Behind him walked a woman so beautiful she looked like a goddess who had accidentally descended into the mortal world and forgotten to leave.
Together, they looked like a pair crafted by heaven itself—perfectly matched, complementing each other so well it almost felt unfair.
My mother looked delicate and radiant, like a newborn wrapped in divine grace.
My father, on the other hand, looked like a perfectly sculpted, lean bodybuilder—balanced, powerful, refined.
But appearances were deceiving.
My father stood at the peak of Divine Realm Third Stage.
My mother was already at the early Fourth Stage.
(Guess the saying "women can't be offended" holds true—)
(but in raw power? Yeah… my father would still win.)
My mother rushed toward my incubation chamber the moment she saw I was awake. My father followed behind at a much calmer pace.
She pressed a button on the chamber.
The liquid drained away smoothly.
She opened it, lifted me gently into her arms, and smiled.
I stared at her blankly.
She made an exaggerated, silly face—clearly trying to make me cry or laugh.
I let out a small giggle.
Her smile widened instantly, radiant with joy.
My father stepped closer and asked how Velzahar was doing.
So that was my name.
Velzahar — The Burning Roar of the Heavens.
My mother replied that I was perfectly fine… and that I had already unlocked my Beast Blood—something even my elder brother, Azharyon, had failed to do, despite being born a god.
Azharyon — Spirit of the Blue Fire.
They spoke at length about me and my brother, even arguing lightly about which of us would grow stronger.
I listened quietly, uninterested in the debate.
Their names soon became clear to me:
Azuryx — Sovereign of the Burning Storm.
Lysera — Empress of the Azure Flame.
Azuryx was my father.
Lysera was my mother.
They were a loving, understanding couple—always together.
(So loving, in fact, it occasionally made me want to slap them.)
My mother insisted on spending most of her time with me.
Naturally, this made my father jealous.
They carried me everywhere—visiting friends, relatives, elders. I used the opportunity to observe others my age.
To my surprise…
I wasn't special.
At least, not on the surface.
But with the system's help and its relentless rewards, I was confident—
No one was my match.
A month passed after my rebirth.
Surprisingly—or unsurprisingly—I already looked about five years old.
Apparently, this was completely normal here.
That month was eventful. Fruitful.
I met many people and learned about my race. The elders taught us about the Divine Realms—what they represented, what they demanded.
There were late-night stories. Ancient myths.
And finally, I met my elder brother.
Daily system trials pushed me far beyond others my age. The challenges were brutal—but rewarding.
At this point, I could even defeat my father in combat.
They chalked it up to "talent."
I knew better.
I spent time with Azharyon. Though I looked five and he looked eighteen, we trained together and talked often.
He was simple. Honest. Genuine.
We formed a strong brotherly bond.
Through him, I met many others:
Raivharyx.
Thundraryx.
Lunaryth.
Zephyrax.
Caelvhar.
There were twins as well:
Raivharyx & Vaelura.
Velzahar & Seravyn.
Caelvhar & Azharael.
We befriended other races, traveled freely, and even met my grandfather—the ruler of the planet.
He looked like he was in his twenties.
Very young… for a man with grandsons.
With no danger threatening the planet, we were free to roam.
We fished.
We hunted.
We worked farms.
It was fun—and enlightening.
Every day was filled with laughter and growth.
At night, my parents told us stories.
Peaceful days.
Happy days.
But I knew the truth.
Good times never last forever.