Kaito tosses in bed, drenched in sweat. The silver ring from Aria—normally dim—starts glowing red. Slowly at first… then blinding. A surge.
Kaito screams.
The room trembles. Mana explodes.
Glass shatters. Cracks spider across marble. The air ripples.
Knights rush in. Servants scream.
Aria, Reyzen, Selena—everyone runs to his room.
Kaito floating above the cracked floor, surrounded in a sphere of blazing crimson light.Bleeding from his eyes and ears like tears from a wounded god.The ring pulsed like a heart—no, like a warning bell.
Selena: "What's happening to him?!"
Reyzen (gritting teeth): "That ring… Aria, explain."
Aria (shaken): "It's just a mana-trigger ring… meant to react to minor leaks. I only gave him a thread of mana—barely a spark to help him form a core. But this—this is a wildfire!"
Reyzen (grabbing Aria's shoulder): "And why did you do that?"
It was Aria's first time seeing Reyzen so furious as if he was ready to snap her in two in a moment's note.
Selena leaps forward, cradling Kaito.
Selena knelt, pressing glowing hands over his chest. "Heal—please, heal!" Her voice cracked under panic. "Don't take him from me!"
The strongest mage of the continent, forced into desperation.
Even she struggles to suppress his overflowing mana.
For an entire hour, she pours everything into stabilizing her son.
Ahh— It;s all....it's all happening because of me. ( The strongest and cold teen broke into tears )
Finally, Kaito collapses, unconscious—alive.
Elric (shocked): "A child… with this much mana? It overwhelmed Her Highness... How is this real?"
Later that night
Aria rushed towards her room full of tears and locks herself.
Aria (weeping): "All I did was give him a thread of mana… and it almost killed him."Her voice broke. "I didn't protect him—I pushed him off a cliff. What kind of sister does that?"
And even now I'm locked up in here just crying whereas mother is giving her best to save Kaito .
She breaks down completely. Maids and knights outside her door remain silent. None dare enter.
At Morning.
Kaito blinks awake in the ruined chamber. Cracks in the walls. Floor scorched. Yet, everyone around him… smiles.
Selena rushes over and hugs him.
"You're awake. Thank the stars."
Kaito: "Why's everyone in my room? And why does everything look… broken?"
Reyzen kneels, placing a hand on Kaito's head.
"You've done something never before seen in history. You awakened, my son. At just five years old… you formed a mana core."
Kaito: "Huh...? This strange sensation in my chest—is that mana?"
Selena (tearing up): "Yes. And now you're officially a mage."
Elric: "The youngest to ever exist… not just in our lands, but in the entire known world."
Maids bow. Knights salute.
Reohrda mutters: "A true Bloodcrest."
Mella along with Varion : "Nah.... maybe a true monster."
Kaito notices someone missing.
Kaito: "Where's Sis?"
Selena: "She hasn't left her room… cried all night, blaming herself."
Huh..? Why would she? Doesn't she helped me to form a core .
Both Reyzen and Selena quitely just nodded their heads.
Kaito quicked rushed towards Aria's room and knocked on the door .
Aria (muffled voice): "Go away... I'm a failure.""
You sensed who I was from behind the door . "As expected of big sis"
He slowly opens the door.
Kaito: "Sis. I'm okay. You didn't hurt me—you helped me awaken. Isn't that amazing?"
She turns, red-eyed, broken.
"You almost died… because of me. I wasn't your shield—I became the blade that cut you.""When I saw your blood, I froze. I didn't fight—I fled.""What kind of sister does that?"
Kaito hugs her tight.
Aww..... Not gonna be in a better mood already ? You're not weak and you didn't hurt me rather you wished good by providing aid to form my core and it was a success .
You're still my hero, Sis. But I'm not staying behind anymore. "Soon I'll beat you"
Aria breaks into a sobbing laugh.
You meatball… Don't get cocky.
You ain't gonna beat me even in a thousand years.
But her smile faded as she watched him walk ahead.But maybe he'll soon will afterall he's a strong kid unlike me .
Now let's go and help ourself with a little meal i'm quite hungry for some reasonl.
Later that evening, in the throne chamber—
Reyzen stands tall, his voice echoing through the halls.
"The boy has awakened. That means it's time."
A priest from the Holy Empire arrives through teleportation circle. Draped in white and gold, eyes glowing with divine power.
Priest: "He must undergo the sacred ritual in a time period of 3 days. At the Bloodcrest Awakening Grounds."
Gasps spread through the hall. Murmurs.
Aria (internal monologue):
"I awakened at 11... and barely survived"... The pain. The fear. How will a five-year-old survive it?
Royal Council Room, Bloodcrest Castle
Reyzen (calm but firm): "Kaito has formed his core. I'm ordering the Bloodcrest Ritual to be held in three days. Summon the dukes, marquesses, all high nobles."
Marquess Thalion: "What madness is this? That child was practically born yesterday."
Viscount Aereth (scoffs): "His Majesty must be mistaken. A five-year-old forming a core?"
Marquess Thalion (shaking head): "Don't mistake Reyzen for a fool, Aereth. You know who we're dealing with—he bears the blood of the divine. Truth sounds like madness when spoken by gods."
Countess Cora (grim): "Let's not forget the Duke's son… vanished into nothing during his trial, despite being a genius in sword and aura. He became a stage 6th aura user in his early twenties"
Marquess Thalion : "I hope you don't forget he was not a Bloodcrest." He was just a normal noble from this kingdom who thought highly of himself and let his foolishness take over him, resulting in his death just for a futile try to achieve strength .
[Door creaks open—Duke Orwain enters]
Duke Orwain (stern): "Do not misunderstand. My son lacked the strength. It was not the ritual's fault, nor the bloodline's. Even Bloodcrest heirs have been consumed. That is why this ritual is nearly forbidden now. The last success was the princess… but princes have not fared the same."
Marquess Thalion: "Then why risk it now?"
Duke Orwain (softly): "Because… if this boy is who we think he is, the world won't give him peace. Power is not a luxury for him. It's his shield."
Royal Garden, late night
Selena (tears in her voice): "Why, Reyzen? Why would you risk this? You saw him bleeding last night. Do you know what that did to me?!"
"For a moment I thought I'll lose our Kaito and my heart was about to break."
Reyzen (quiet): "I know."
Selena (furious): "Our ancestors died in that ritual. Kings turned to ash. And he's just five! I don't care how strong he is—he's still my baby. If you don't give me a reason, I'll stop that ritual even if it means I crush you right here."
Reyzen (voice cracking): "You think I'm proud of this? Every second I hesitate, I want to run to him—to save our child. But I can't be just a father. I have to be his forge… and this trial is the flame he needs." Every decision I take as king feels like carving a knife into my chest." Even yesterday I was about to lose my mind and shouted at Aria for the first time in my life just to re-direct my anger at someone . I can't even imagine losing our children who is brimming with innocent and just took his first step in this world.
Selena: "Then why?"
Reyzen (tears falling): "Because… if he succeeds, he'll grow thrice as powerful as he normally would. The ritual doesn't just test—it awakens. It gives you the key to break fate." You must know that the ritual is mainly based on the willpower of an individual.
Selena (softens): "You're betting our child's life on willpower alone."
Reyzen (closes eyes): "And I've never seen a will stronger than his."
They embrace, both breaking down in silence. A king and queen. A father and mother.
Scene 2: The Bloodcrest Ritual
The ancient Bloodcrest Awakening Grounds stood silent. A towering, circular chamber of blackstone pillars etched in glowing crimson runes. Yellow mana fog hovered over the altar, the air thick with power and fear.
Nobles from across the Bloodcrest Kingdom—Dukes, Marquesses, high-ranking families—sat in balconies above. Silent. Waiting. Watching.
In the center stood Kaito, just five years old. Small. Alone. His fingers clenched the edge of his tunic.
A priest of the Holy Empire raised his staff, voice echoing:
"The ritual shall now begin. This child will face his bloodline's legacy. Let the mana of the Bloodcrest flow through him."
The runes lit up—one by one. Then all at once.
A massive surge of mana exploded from the ground and shot into Kaito's body.
He gasped. His eyes rolled back. His body jerked.
Inside the Ritual Trial:
Kaito floated in a black void.
Then came pain—not on his skin or bones, but deeper. His soul screamed.
Memories flashed:
Aria laughing, carrying him on her back.
Reyzen gently patting his head.
Selena's warm embrace.
Then the void turned red.
A voice echoed—low, monstrous.
"You are weak. Too young. Break. Shatter. Fade."
"Break? I don't bend—I blaze. I was born to burn the rules to ash.""So shut up… and watch a five-year-old carve fear into the gods.""This is the will of a Bloodcrest."
Suddenly, fire surged through him. His body snapped.
Reality:
The chamber trembled.
Runes burst. Mana spiraled like a storm.
Kaito's black hair began turning blood red, strand by strand. His veins glowed red, pulsing violently. His body rose, engulfed in a blazing golden aura.
Gasps echoed across the arena.
Elric (panicked): "This isn't backlash—it's collapse! His core's about to implode!"
Marquess Haldor: "What… what is happening to the boy?!"
Duke Grevian (voice trembling, barely containing panic): "Your Majesty, enough! If we lose him, it won't be just a tragedy—it'll be a catastrophe. That boy… he's not a gem—he's the future."
Aria stood up, her eyes wide with horror.
"He's just five… he still sleeps with his toy sword. How can he endure this?"
Selena's breath caught. "He's going to burn out—his core can't take this—!"
They moved to intervene.
But Reyzen raised a hand, eyes locked on his son—though his hands trembled.
"Stay Away"
His voice cold, but eyes trembling - "You fear he'll die—but I fear worse: that I'd steal the strength he was born for.I fear I'll cage the god he.
Mella shouted: "But only if he lives." It's still not too late. We can still stop this .
A second later—
Silence.
The aura vanished. The runes faded.
Kaito dropped to his knees, breathing hard, his hair now fully red. A glowing Bloodcrest sigil shimmered on his forehead.
Everyone froze.
The priest of the Holy Empire staggered.
"A flawless awakening. No deviation. No madness. Just raw, full purity."
"In centuries of awakening… never has a soul burned so bright."
Then shouted: "Not even the First Flame's heir burned this brightly…"
Reyzen ran forward and lifted him.
Kaito opened his eyes slightly.
"Did I… pass?"
Priest (shaken): "No. You didn't pass."He kneels.
"You didn't awaken—you ascended. This wasn't survival. It was a coronation by fire."
Aria burst into tears.
Selena ran to his side, pressing her forehead to his.
Around them, the nobles stood.
Aria (muttering): "A five-year-old... withstood what even battle-hardened knights couldn't."
Reohrda (smirking): "Not just a Bloodcrest… a monster in the making."
But Reyzen's smile faded as he looked toward the horizon.
"The world will hear of this... and not all will celebrate."
"He's far beyond what I imagined… Is this still my son, or something else entirely?"
Far beyond the kingdom's borders, in places shrouded in shadow—
others had already taken notice.