Dawn broke over Heavenly Sword Academy like a blade drawn from its sheath.
The clouds parted slowly, revealing the Awakening Platform—a colossal circular arena carved into the mountain's peak. Ancient sword inscriptions spiraled across the stone floor, each rune older than the academy itself. At the center stood the Heavenly Soul Obelisk, a translucent monolith pulsing with primal light.
This was where fate spoke.
This was where cultivators were branded—hero, genius, mediocrity, or failure.
Thousands of disciples gathered in concentric tiers, whispers rippling like waves.
"Kai Draven is here."
"That's the Draven Clan heir?"
"I heard he was obsessed with Elara…"
"Didn't he just correct a registrar yesterday?"
Eyes followed him as Kai stepped onto the outer ring.
He felt it—the pressure.
Not spiritual.
Narrative.
In the original timeline, this platform had been his first public execution.
His Martial Soul had been declared "Chaotic—Unclassifiable", a label whispered with disdain. Elders had frowned. Disciples had mocked. Elara had looked at him with thinly veiled pity.
That single moment had set everything else in motion.
"Kai Draven," an elder's voice boomed."Step forward when called."
Kai nodded calmly.
Nearby, Elara stood with hands folded, face pale but resolute. Lian was beside her, gaze sharp, righteous intent practically radiating from his posture.
Perfect.
The stage was set.
***
THE CEREMONY BEGINS
One by one, disciples stepped onto the platform.
"Zhao Lin — Martial Soul: Iron Tiger. Grade: High."
"Mei Xue — Martial Soul: Frost Lotus. Grade: Exceptional."
Applause followed each revelation.
Elara was called early.
She stepped onto the platform, white robes fluttering gently. Her palm pressed against the obelisk.
Light exploded.
A blooming lotus formed above her—pure, crystalline, glowing with gentle power.
"Martial Soul: Azure Lotus," the elder announced."Grade: Exceptional."
The crowd erupted.
"So pure…"
"No wonder…"
"She really is blessed…"
Elara bowed modestly, eyes shimmering with gratitude.
She glanced—just once—toward Kai.
He did not look back.
Lian was next.
His awakening was violent.
The obelisk roared as a radiant sword-shaped soul erupted skyward, wrapped in golden light.
"Martial Soul: Heavenly Sword," the elder declared, voice tinged with awe."Grade: Destined."
Gasps echoed across the platform.
Destined.
A label rarely spoken.
Lian stood tall, bathed in admiration, destiny clinging to him like a crown.
Then—
"Kai Draven."
The name hit the air like thunder.
Silence fell.
Kai stepped forward.
Each footstep echoed unnaturally loud.
He stood before the obelisk and placed his palm against its surface.
The stone was cold.
Then—
Nothing happened.
Murmurs spread instantly.
"…Is it rejecting him?"
"Again?"
"So the rumors were true…"
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
In the original timeline, this was where it ended.
This time—
The obelisk cracked.
A spiderweb of fractures raced across its surface.
"What—?" an elder gasped.
Darkness surged.
Not shadow.
Void.
The sky dimmed as something ancient stirred beneath the platform.
The obelisk screamed.
Then shattered.
Fragments froze midair.
The academy trembled.
***
SYSTEM FAILURE
Blue text exploded across Kai's vision—faster, harsher than before.
[CRITICAL ERROR]
[TEMPORAL DESYNCHRONIZATION EXCEEDED SAFE LIMITS][GLITCH LEVEL: STAGE 3]
[WARNING: MARTIAL SOUL DATA DOES NOT EXIST IN YEAR 2080 RECORDS]
Kai's breath caught.
So that's it.
In 2080—
This soul was never recorded.
[FORCING COMPATIBILITY PATCH]
A pain unlike anything Kai had felt ripped through his chest.
The Void Dragon bloodline awakened violently.
A roar—not audible, but conceptual—echoed through reality.
Above the platform, a massive silhouette formed.
Not a beast.
Not a weapon.
A dragon-shaped void, coiled around a shattered sword, its eyes burning with starless depth.
The platform cracked further.
Elders rose to their feet in alarm.
"What is that thing—?!"
"That's not a Martial Soul!"
"Shut it down!"
The silhouette stared down at Kai.
Then—
It bowed.
The crowd went silent.
***
DECLARATION
The elder in charge swallowed hard.
"Martial Soul…" he began, voice shaking.
The obelisk fragments rearranged themselves, forming words in ancient script that burned themselves into the air.
[MARTIAL SOUL: VOID-BINDING DRAGON SWORD]
[STATUS: UNCLASSIFIED]
[GRADE: ———]
The dash burned brighter than any ranking.
Unmeasurable.
Unrecordable.
Unacceptable.
The platform went into chaos.
Elara's smile had vanished completely.
Lian stared, jaw tight, destiny flickering unsteadily around him.
Kai lowered his hand.
The void dragon dissolved into mist, sinking into his chest.
Silence followed.
Then—
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
[TASK COMPLETED: BREAK THE FIRST MISUNDERSTANDING (EXTENDED)]
[BONUS CONDITION MET: SHATTERED PUBLIC NARRATIVE]
[REWARD UPGRADED]
+8,000 EXP+Passive Skill: Fate Contamination(Those observing you experience destabilized destiny alignment)
[WARNING: FUTURE EVENTS MAY DEVIATE VIOLENTLY]
Kai exhaled slowly.
So fate had noticed.
Good.
As he stepped off the platform, whispers followed him—fear replacing mockery.
"This isn't right…"
"That soul bowed to him…"
"Is he even human?"
Kai walked past Elara.
For the first time—
She did not speak.
She did not smile.
She simply watched him, panic flickering behind her eyes.
Kai met her gaze briefly.
Then looked away.
The story had changed.
And everyone could feel it.