During the Great Reshape, humanity evolved—strong enough to enter the Pathways, mysterious realms where the brave gained power beyond imagination.
They discovered Teleporters, gateways to these realms, and Spatial Gateways, portals to distant planets—some technologically advanced, some primeval, some crawling with deadly beasts. All bore signs of extinct civilizations, Teleporters, and links to other worlds.
Humanity scavenged these planets, learning lost knowledge, both ancient and advanced, and rose into a new era of technology.
But their growth drew attention. The Devas, claiming to be ancient gods, demanded humanity's submission—or death. Humanity refused, fighting back as a godless race, surviving thanks to planets that barred beings too powerful from stepping inside.
Yet the war was far from over. Humans encountered the Devas in the second realm of the pathway, where their battles continues to this day
One Day Before the Tournament
Rui Yan and Dillard stood atop a jagged mountain, the wind slicing through the summit like sharpened blades. Beside them, a tall figure draped in black cloth remained silent, eyes hidden beneath a shadowed hood, observing the rocky valley below.
The battle was already underway.
At the center of the clearing, a lone figure faced four grotesque beasts. Two others lay dead nearby. One's skull had been crushed, the stone beneath it stained dark with blood. The other's body remained unmarked, yet a widening pool of crimson betrayed its fate.
The remaining beasts circled warily, their heads tilting as they studied their prey.
They were unnatural hybrids named Talon dogs—part dog, part bird. Their muscular, canine bodies carried the feathers of birds from snout to tail. Their heads ended in sharp avian beaks, their jaws snapping and clicking as they measured distance. Legs were dog-like, but tipped with curved claws, always extended, scraping rocks with every step. Wings sprouted from their shoulders, beating rhythmically, and long, feathered tails lashed the ground behind them.
One beast lunged first, claws cutting through the air in a lethal crescent strike.
The human dodged effortlessly, raising his guitar in a single motion. He struck the strings.
A violent soundwave erupted, striking the nearest beast squarely in the chest. Its wings faltered, feathers scattering like leaves in a storm, and it slammed into a rock, groaning as its legs buckled. Its eyes widened with shock— its last moments.
Another beast roared, wings flaring as it propelled itself forward, claws aimed at the man's throat. Fear, pure and raw, shimmered in its golden eyes, yet it pressed on.
The figure timed his attack perfectly. He swung the guitar upward, striking the creature's beak. The impact cracked like thunder, sending it spinning. It crashed into a cliffside with a sickening crack, a feathered scream cutting through the air.
Before the figure could recover, a third beast collided into his side, the momentum throwing him backward. Its shriek was sharp, filled with desperation, its eyes wide as if realizing too late that it had miscalculated.
While airborne, he moved fluidly. The guitar dissolved into a flute, which he raised to his lips mid-flight. He inhaled sharply and blew.
A deafening sonic blast tore through the clearing. The air itself seemed to twist and buckle under the pressure. The attacking beasts staggered, shrieking, wings flapping chaotically as they struggled to maintain control. Their movements slowed, and confusion crossed their faces—their hunting instincts disrupted, senses overwhelmed by the harmonic onslaught.
"The one battling the beasts was non other than Derick. Two days after taking the oath, Rui Yan judged his skills lacking and gave him a Nanovex from the clan library, containing advanced combat techniques and weapon skills."
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Back to the battle
He twisted in the air, landing lightly. Without pause, the flute transformed again—this time into a massive white contrabass flute, forged from the overlapping scales of a dragon. Its surface shimmered faintly under the sun. Gripping the upper end, he sprinted forward, the bottom scraping against the rocks, sending sparks flying and leaving glowing streaks across the uneven terrain.
The nearest beast dove from above, talons extended. Its cry was a mix of fear and rage, a harsh, chittering scream that echoed across the cliffs.
The figure didn't falter. He planted the bottom of the flute into the ground and vaulted upward, body twisting in perfect alignment. Mid-air, he exhaled sharply.
A single, piercing note cut through the clearing.
The descending beast slammed into the invisible pressure of sound. Its skull crumpled, eyes wide in terror, and blood sprayed as its lifeless body fell alongside its fallen companions.
The remaining two beasts charged together. One leaped from the front, jaws snapping, beak gaping unnaturally wide. The other circled behind, wings slicing the air like knives. Their cries were frantic, almost pleading, as they realized the predator before them was not human in conventional terms.
The figure landed lightly, boots grinding against stone. He raised the contrabass flute to his lips again.
This time, the note fractured. Discordant waves exploded outward, jagged and chaotic. The charging front beast faltered mid-stride, eyes glazing over as its nervous system was assaulted by the sound. It convulsed and slammed face-first into the ground. Its final expression, frozen in shock and disbelief, mirrored the futility of its effort.
The rear attacker shrieked, wings beating frantically as it tried to escape. But the figure had anticipated it. The instrument shifted once more, shrinking into the sleek black guitar resting in his hands.
He struck the strings with precision—no melody, only execution.
A crescent-shaped shockwave tore through the air. The rear beast's neck snapped cleanly mid-leap, feathers scattering like petals caught in a violent wind. Its wide eyes, filled with panic moments before, slowly dimmed as its body collapsed.
Silence fell over the mountain. The only sound was the faint hum of the guitar dissolving into motes of light.
From the summit, Rui Yan exhaled, voice calm but edged with awe.
"…He's ready."
Dillard let out a low whistle, arms crossed, eyes studying the battlefield. "Four beasts comparable to an Aberrant-grade beasts of the first Realm, solo, with no serious injuries. That's… more than most candidates can handle."
Rui Yan's gaze never left the clearing. "The Matriarch will be pleased," to be able to utilize the techniques in the Nanovex to this extent and with little time, he really is a special talent
Dillard nodded his head . "Timing, rhythm, and brute precision. I'd hate to face people like him and you in a trial."
Rui Yan blushed, opening her mouth to speak when a voice from her side cuts in. Voice deep and deliberate, breaking the tension. "Tomorrow," he said slowly, "I hope the other candidates will not be too strong for him to handle."
Rui Yan's brow creased. "what if they are?"
He smiled faintly beneath his hood. "If he performs as he did today, the elders will have no choice but to comply with the Matriarch's decision. And… the Devas… they will regret ever stepping foot in the Dragon Bone Valley."
Rui Yan remained silent, gaze fixed, as if she could still see the ghosts of the slain hybrids. "Tomorrow will test more than strength. It will test his adaptability, creativity, and restraint. He must show all of these, or his invitation to the Dragon Spirit family will be in voided ."
The wind howled around the summit, carrying away the last echoes of the battlefield. Silence returned, heavy and potent, as the trio stood observing the valley below.
The day had ended, but tomorrow… tomorrow the true trial would begin.
> Author's Note:
Nanovex — A bio-injection device that introduces pre-recorded knowledge directly into the bloodstream.
Nanovexes range from basic education modules to highly advanced combat techniques. However, knowledge gained through a Nanovex is unstable—if not practiced or reinforced within a limited time, it will gradually fade.
The Nanovex given to Derick contains advanced combat skills and weapon techniques, with a particular emphasis on the use of musical instruments in battle.