In the year 2045, when the earth trembled under the onslaught of relentless natural disasters, world governments, desperate to save their crumbling civilizations, united under a single banner: the United Earth Alliance Government (UEAG). As the planet reeled from chaos, a team of elite archaeologists was dispatched to uncover the root of the world's misfortunes. Their research led them to a discovery beyond comprehension—ancient scripts inscribed on a golden stone slab, foretelling the end of the world. The language was arcane, readable only by the most skilled scholars.
Weeks passed, then months, until the archaeologists deciphered a truth both awe-inspiring and terrifying: the coordinates to the tomb of a legendary entity, Demigod Fire Phoenix. Once thought to be mere myth, the revelation left the scientific community reeling.
Driven by a mix of skepticism and curiosity, the team followed the coordinates to the border where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans met. Upon arrival, the stone slab shattered, and a towering structure rose from the sea, a magnificent tower built from materials unknown to Earth. Its golden doors gleamed, and obsidian tiles lined the floors, casting an eerie glow. Yet, in stark contrast to the tower's grandeur, the tomb at its heart appeared simple, almost mundane.
When they opened the tomb, a surge of spiritual energy exploded outward, sweeping across the entire planet. In the blink of an eye, humanity changed forever. Those who could withstand the energy awoke with powers—strength beyond comprehension. But many others, unable to bear the surge, fell into a death-like slumber. They became known as the Hollows, their bodies alive but their consciousness trapped in a void.
Amid the global upheaval, a powerful group of martial families, each ruling over a primal element, rose to prominence. These were the Six Great Families: Wind, Water, Wood, Earth, Fire, and Metal, with the Fire Family reigning supreme.
Meanwhile, scientists formed the Hollow Research Facility (HRF), desperate to understand the mysterious array found in the tomb. But years of study yielded no progress. Martial artists from across the world were called to unravel the array's power, yet nothing worked—until one day, the array reacted to their combined spiritual energies, unlocking a portal to another dimension: the Sacred Realm.
This new world was the stuff of legends, inhabited by races and creatures of unimaginable power. Huge amounts of resources were expended to explore this bizarre world. It wasn't an easy venture as many lives were lost and some gravely injured by the beasts occupying this world. But if humanity was known for anything, it was their adaptability and strong will to overcome any obstacle which stood in their way. As such, they kept on, learning from their fallen comrades and eventually gaining a territory in the Sacred Realm to call theirs.
Earth's technology and martial arts were transformed, unlocking potential far beyond human comprehension. The UEAG and the Six Great Families, now equals, carved out their territories in both realms, monopolizing the flow of resources and power.
Yet amid the vastness of these cosmic events, one young man found himself at the mercy of a much more personal struggle. Orion Aarden, a low-ranked assistant at the HRF, had no ambitions of grandeur. His only goal was to save his mother, a Hollow trapped in a lifeless state. Gifted in deciphering ancient arrays and scripts, Orion had once shown promise, but envy and greed had stripped him of his status. His colleagues, jealous of his intellect, belittled and demoted him, reducing him to the errand boy of a ruthless superior, Erica Grey, a Rank 8 Body Refiner.
The humiliation was constant. "Go fetch my coffee, Orion," she sneered, as the rest of the lab laughed at his expense. But while the others saw only a broken man, behind Orion's eyes lay a cold, calculating mind—one even he was unaware of.
Late at night, after another day of servitude, Orion returned to his humble apartment, his resolve hardening. He would not remain powerless forever. In secret, he continued his cultivation, struggling against the limitations of his low-tier Bronze-ranked technique. He knew the world had abandoned him, but he placed his trust in one thing: himself.
The next day, Orion faced his students at the academy where he taught part-time to earn a meager wage. As they prepared for their martial exams, memories of his own failures surfaced. Years ago, he had been tested—a low 1 earth talent, destined for mediocrity. The bitter truth had crushed him then, but now, he saw things differently.
"Your potential will determine your future, but it won't define who you are," Orion whispered to himself, watching his students one by one place their hands on the testing sphere.
His eyes sharpened with determination. One day... One day, Orion Aarden would rise. And when that day comes, the world would never see it coming.