I. INTRODUCTION AND THE WORLD OF ORIGIN
In the seemingly endless, dark void, among countless planets, there exists one called Origin. This magical and ancient planet, the greatest jewel of its own system, sustains its presence with blue and green glimmers in space. Origin is the source of life for seven distinct races that possess the "Divine Aspect," and it is divided into nine main regions, each covering a vast geography.
Among these nine regions, Askaraf is the weakest and poorest in terms of resources. However, these lands, where life is harder than anywhere else and filled with struggles, are the fortress of humanity despite all the dangers
.
Agois and his family lived in Zou, the most arid province of this challenging region, which consists of six provinces.
On this vast planet, power reigns supreme. Might is always right, and the masters of this world (and even the void outside it) are those who control the Nel power. Nel energy is constantly present in nature. It is possible for an individual to reach this energy by opening their meridians and drawing it into their body using a special cultivation technique.
THE HEAT IN LENES
The sun had already set. The howl of the cold autumn winds filled the air. In the garden of a small house in the City of Lenes, within the Kingdom of Pergron, where rows of houses were lined up...
Beneath the tree in the garden, a handsome seven-year-old boy with jet-black hair and vibrant green eyes sat cross-legged in meditation. The seriousness on Agois's face was not the kind a child of this age would normally display. Their impoverished life and the knowledge that this world was a brutal and bloody place—especially having witnessed their neighbor, Uncle Harks, die in the war and his family scatter—had matured him this early. Agois was determined to protect his family's warmth and to give them a good life.
Just then, a delicate little girl with braided hair and green eyes approached. Fel was his five-year-old little sister.
Fel: "Hey big brother, Mom is calling. Dinner is ready."
Agois opened his eyes. After stretching nicely and looking up at the sky, he smiled at his sister. Holding Fel's hand, they walked into the house.
Seeing his mother, Mina, setting the table, warmth filled his heart, and he immediately ran to help.
Agois: "Mom, the smells are wonderful again! They reached all the way to the garden, heh heh. I'm starving!"
Mina smiled back at her son and stroked his head. "My little Agois will never change, always sweet-tongued." Seeing her son, who was more mature and intelligent than his peers, she sighed again. She wished she could give her children a better life.
Before long, the house door creaked open. A tall, well-built man with thick, slightly graying hair, holding one or two bags in his hands, entered the house. Crone's hard and sharp facial features softened when he saw his family and smelled the food coming from the house.
Mina: "Welcome home, Crone."
Crone: "Welcome, my beautiful wife, Mina. You've prepared exquisite meals again; the scent travels outside."
Mina giggled and said, "It seems our son gets his sweet-tongue from you." After ruffling Agois's hair, Crone went to wash his hands and face.
They all sat down at the table together. Seeing this warm and happy scene, Agois's heart was filled with peace. He clenched his fists, wanting to protect this moment forever; his determination had grown even stronger.
II. CLASSIFICATION OF TALENT
After dinner, Crone and Agois moved to the living room. Agois leaned towards his father excitedly: "Dad, will meditation truly help my cultivation like you said? I've been doing it for more than two hours every day."
A slight look of surprise appeared on Crone's face. Ever since his son learned about cultivators (the "Developers" or "Adept" people), he constantly wanted to become one. As a father, rather than crushing his son's enthusiasm, Crone had given him a goal.
Crone: "Keep going, Agois. Although meditation may seem boring, it has the effect of calming the mind. With time, the mind can enter a wonderful mystical state. Who knows, perhaps you too will touch that mystical realm. I believe you will become a very strong cultivator one day."
Hearing this, Agois's eyes sparkled. Lately, in meditation, he felt as if he was sensing something, like an enlightenment or the feeling of grasping onto something. Agois: "Dad, do you think cultivators can fly?" Agois asked with a light shining in his eyes.
Crone sighed deeply as he looked at his eager son and began to recount: "It was in the early days of my youth when I was a mercenary. I once witnessed a 'Cultivators' battle on a battlefield. I will never forget that war. The combatants were clashing in the air; we couldn't fully see the battle, in fact, we could barely see it at all."
"We retreated about a hundred kilometers to reach a safe distance from the battlefield. From there, we could only hear and see intense bursts of light. When the battle ended, we barely made out two silhouettes rapidly flying in different directions. One of those silhouettes passed directly above us, creating a legendary scene. Until then, I didn't fully realize how powerful 'Cultivators' were, but that battle made me feel it. Because a radius of one hundred kilometers was shattered by that war."
Even remembering it, a shadow of fear fell across Crone's face, but there was also a longing within him left over from those times; a longing for that immense power. Still, he knew he could never be a 'Cultivator' in this life.
His only wish was for his son to become a 'Cultivator'. In this world, where war and encountering powerful enemies were imminent at any moment, he wished for his son to become a strong 'Cultivator'. However, he never held great hopes. Neither he nor his wife showed any signs of such talent. This fact, although not definite, seemed like a baseline determining the children's potential.
The fire of ambition and longing shone in Agois's eyes upon hearing this. He had always wanted to become a Cultivator, to protect his family and lead them to prosperity. He wanted to rule these lands with power, make a great name for himself, and see and traverse every beauty of this magnificent, legendary world.
"Hehe, don't worry, Dad," Agois said. "One day I will be able to fly, and I'll take you with me to see the views from the sky!"
Hearing his son's boast, Crone truly wished that day would come. However, he also did not want his son to be overly hopeful. If he lacked the talent, the disappointment he would face could be immense, and he might not recover easily.
He approached his son tenderly: "Remember, Agois, becoming a Cultivator is harder than we think. Even though I want you to succeed with all my heart, if you don't have the talent and can't become a Cultivator, never think that it is the end of the road. We, your family, will always support you and will always be proud of you." With these words, Crone didn't want to put pressure on his son.
Agois was very touched by his father's words. He knew his father wanted him not to be too upset if he couldn't become a Cultivator. Therefore, he looked at his father with a serious expression: "Thank you, Dad, but I will become a Cultivator, don't worry."
Even Agois did not know where this confidence came from. Maybe it was just a feeling, but he felt as if it was destined to happen.
And as soon as Agois returned to his room for meditation, Crone sighed deeply. He wanted him to succeed with all his heart, but deep down, he didn't expect much from his son. After all, he knew that talent determined the baseline for cultivation.
Talent... In this world, people were born either Talented or Untalented. Only those with Talent could have a chance to progress on the path of cultivation. The classification of talents flooded Crone's mind: 1-Star was the lowest level; one could become a cultivator only with great effort and luck. 5-Star represented the peak, and people with this high level of talent would be chosen by powerful clans. There were even rumors of a legendary level beyond 5-Star, but this was merely a tale for ordinary people like them.
Regardless of what level his son might be, Crone only wanted to protect his enthusiasm.
Agois sat in the lotus position on his bed, meditating. With a determination that would not be seen in a seven-year-old child, he never missed his one-hour session every night before bed.
V. PHYSICAL TRAINING AND MYSTICAL POTENTIAL
It was the early hours of the morning. Agois was performing physical exercises in the garden while his father, Crone, watched him.
As Agois continued his arduous physical training, he could feel every muscle fiber in his body straining and developing.
Every day, every moment. Ever since Uncle Harks died, I understood: The limits of my body cannot be my destiny. I must become strong. This physical pain is the first step I take to break the rules of this world, even if I cannot reach that Nel energy. One day, I will be the strongest person in these lands, at least for now... Agois thought.
Crone: "Don't break your concentration, Agois. Devote yourself to the training."
Agois: "Dad, how are my movements? I've mastered them now, haven't I?"
Crone: "Haha, you still have a long way to go, son," he said with a playful tone.
About half an hour later, little Fel appeared. "Dad, big brother! Breakfast is ready, Mom is calling!" As soon as she spoke, she ran into her father's arms. They all went inside together.
As the family ate breakfast, the door knocked. Crone opened the door and saw the friend he was waiting for. He whispered, "When are we leaving?"
His friend sighed deeply. "In three days. Get ready, Crone. I'll see you later." The man quickly turned and left.
Crone closed the door and returned inside. Mina instantly understood the situation. With a heavy expression settling on her face, she asked, "When are you leaving?"
Crone: "In three days," he said and sat down on the couch.
The breakfast continued in silence. Agois was aware of the heavy atmosphere in the room and where his father was going.
After breakfast, his mother asked him to take his sister out to the garden to play. Agois, understanding the situation, took Fel's hand, and they stepped outside.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Mina hugged her husband. "Crone, you don't have to go. If something happens to you..." Her voice was choked with tears.
Crone: "I understand your worries, Mina. But I have to go. Our children are growing up. I cannot ignore the opportunity to give them better means." He stroked his wife's hair. "Don't worry. I am a strong man in the Iron Body Realm. I will come back, Mina. I swear."
Just outside the door, Agois, leaning against the wall of the house, heard his father's final words. His eyes were red, and he clenched his fists even tighter while silently looking up at the sky. War... these conflicts over Askaraf's resources (especially between the Kingdom of Pergron and the neighboring Kingdom of Rolan) forced Crone to take this risk as a mercenary.
They were living in the Zou province of Askaraf, right at the epicenter of hardship.
V. CULTIVATION REALMS AND THE SECRET OF THE VISIONARIES
Agois knew Crone was going to war and that his ability to stop him was limited. This reality further solidified his determination on the path of cultivation. He had overheard his parents' conversation and learned that his father was a strong man in the Iron Body Realm. He planned to ask what this realm was but everyone was busy.
Towards noon, Crone paused his preparations and approached Agois, who had just risen from meditation.
As soon as Agois saw his father, he asked the question on his mind.
Agois: "Dad, what is the Iron Body Realm?"
Crone had not yet explained this realm to his son. But he wasn't surprised that he had heard this widely known information, and he began to explain.
"Son, you know that Cultivators achieve development by drawing the Nel energy into their meridians. But there are also people who cannot become cultivators yet do not stop training their physical bodies. When these people train their physique to a certain degree, they enter the Iron Body Realm. After that comes the Copper Body Realm. Of course, progressing further in the physical realm is very, very difficult—almost impossible. Do you understand, son? Even if you cannot become a Cultivator, you cannot give up. Remember that."
Agois etched his father's words into his mind. Cultivator or not, anyone who wanted to survive could not give up. He lifted his head and looked at the vastness of the boundless sky. A clarity of determination, stronger than he had ever felt before, sparked within him. My father is right. Even if I can't become a Cultivator, I will surpass even the Copper Body Realm to provide a safe life for my family in these cruel lands. I can't give up. His self-confidence had grown even more; not being a cultivator was not the end of the road.
VI. NEGOTIATION AND RISK AT THE FRONT
One week had passed since Crone left for the front with his team.
During this time, Agois was training furiously; strength was not a luxury, but a necessity. He had to grow stronger to ensure security and prosperity for himself and his family. As Agois continued his training with these thoughts…
On the other side, Crone and his mercenary team had reached the front line. The team consisted of twenty-three people in total, all strong men in the Iron Body Realm. Only their team leader had reached the Copper Body Realm. The leader, Razor, was a tall, heavily built, muscular, and imposing man. A deep scar running down from his eye added a distinct air of fear and respect to his stern face.
These men were not Cultivators, but they were powerful. Those who couldn't become Cultivators but refused to remain ordinary had given rise to the Iron Body and Copper Body Realms, born from incredible perseverance, sweat, and determination. Although these men were not as strong as the lowest-level Cultivators, they could make a difference on the battlefield.
Razor looked at the team and spoke with a harsh voice:
Razor: "There's movement on the Rolan Kingdom's side. Most likely, they will make another extraction attempt at the mine. Therefore, General Wolkin has given us a mission: an ambush on the Rolan troops ten kilometers from the mine. The goal of the mission is to slow down the Rolan forces and disrupt their formation. The mission will be dangerous, but you are all experienced men. The pay is excellent, you can be sure of that. Those who accept the mission report to Craks; those who do not can go to the General and take other assignments."
Razor turned his back and entered the tent.
Craks looked at the men around the fire and smiled:
Craks: "Hey, I don't know any cowards on this team, but I'll ask anyway. Those who want to accept the mission, gather around me for the name list."
A noise erupted around the fire; laughter and taunting comments mixed together:
Biron: "Hey Duren, I knew you were a coward, hahaha!"
Duren became angry: "You bastard Biron, who's a coward? I'm taking the mission too!"
As the surroundings livened up, Crone was deep in thought and hesitation. The others were free and carefree. Only he and his good friend Renis were married. The mission was very dangerous, but as the leader said: "Danger and opportunity are intertwined." The reward was good.
After a moment of hesitation, Crone calmed and hardened his heart. He clenched his fists, stood up, and walked towards Craks. His friend Renis, with a resolute expression, followed him.
The entire team had taken on the mission. How many of these men would be able to return safely?