I stared at the night sky, letting my eyes trace the constellations scattered across the dark velvet above. The stars shimmered faintly, distant and cold, yet somehow steady—silent witnesses to the chaos that had consumed our lives. Below me, Alex slept peacefully, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths, a rare calm in the storm that had been our existence for the past seven months.
I leaned back against the cold wall of the cave, muscles still sore from months of grueling training, and allowed myself a moment of quiet reflection. It had been seven months since our families were wiped out—seven months of blood, loss, and survival—and six months since Alex and I had awakened our mana. Time had blurred, but the weight of our purpose never diminished.
If we were to categorize our strength now, I would be in the peak layer of the Void Realm, my mana flowing with precision, strength, and endurance honed through countless battles. Alex… he had come so far, growing in control and confidence, and now rested in the 7th layer of the Void Realm, a level that still amazed me considering how raw his abilities had been when he first awakened.
I allowed my mind to wander, thinking about the world we lived in. There were three kinds of cultivators: the Qi Users, the Mana Users, and the rare few who could traverse both paths. Each path had its own hierarchy, a ladder of strength measured in realms and layers. For the Qi Users, the path climbed through the Consolidated Realm, Purple Blood Realm, True Spirit Realm, Desolate Lord Realm, Sacred Lord Realm, Monarch Realm, Sage Realm, Saint King Realm, Celestial Emperor Realm, Martial Supreme, each step harder than the last, each requiring more than just skill—discipline, endurance, and will.
For Mana Users, the path was slightly different but equally unforgiving: Consolidated Realm, Void Realm, Mystic Realm, Ethereal Lord Realm, Cosmos Lord Realm, Origin Realm, Sage Realm, Saint King Realm, Celestial Emperor Realm, Supreme Magus. I had felt the pressure of these levels in every battle, every heartbeat, every pulse of mana that surged through me.
I glanced down at Alex again, sleeping, and felt a strange warmth and pride. He had grown so much in these months, his healing mana now responsive, subtle, and powerful—a perfect complement to my offensive mastery. Together, we had survived monsters, rage, and the cruelty of this world. Yet, this was just the beginning.
My thoughts drifted to tomorrow, to the location marked on the map—the end of our long journey through forests, mountains, and trials. The treasure our father had found, the path that would finally bring us closer to vengeance… It was almost within reach. But the truth weighed heavily on me: strength alone wouldn't be enough. We would need strategy, focus, and unyielding resolve. Every battle had taught us that. Every near-death moment had carved that lesson into our bones.
I closed my eyes, letting the faint pulse of mana within me hum along my veins. Even now, I could feel it, flowing calmly but powerful, a river of energy waiting for command. Alex's mana was slower, gentler, warm and protective, but it resonated with mine in subtle harmony. Together, we were stronger than we had ever been alone.
But strength alone would not erase the memory of blood—the families we had lost, the betrayal, the faces of those who had struck without mercy. Tomorrow would be the culmination of all those months of hardship, all that training, all that pain. And for the first time in a long while, I let myself hope that it would all be worth it.
The cave was quiet except for the soft rhythm of Alex's breathing. I felt the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. The journey had been long, the nights filled with doubts, the days with relentless training, battles, and growth. But tomorrow, all of it—the anger, the struggle, the suffering—would be put to the ultimate test.
I leaned my head back against the wall, closing my eyes. I could feel the hum of mana circulating, the rhythm of my heartbeat synchronizing with it. I allowed myself a final thought before sleep pulled me under: Tomorrow… we will face everything. And we will not falter.
The forest outside whispered in the wind, carrying the scent of earth, leaves, and distant threats. I drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. Tomorrow, the journey would finally lead us to the location we had been chasing for months. Tomorrow, the path of vengeance would begin in earnest.
But for tonight, there was only the night sky, the quiet presence of my brother, and the calm before the storm.