"Haha, Sixth Prince, your son is truly fortunate. I heard you even found him a teacher to instruct him in the knight's breathing technique," mocked the Second Prince, Eric. However, inwardly, he felt bitter. He still vividly recalled the failed assassination attempt. If his hunch was correct, and the boy had awakened a powerful element, then...
Raphael didn't respond. Instead, he struggled to hold back his laughter. If only they knew what realm my son has reached, he thought, while feeling proud inwardly.
On a raised platform where a shimmering, rotating silver portal stood, a group of elders, including the princes and the king, were engaged in a heated discussion. On the platform below stood about a hundred children. Like the previous year, many were visibly nervous, while others displayed confidence or complex, unreadable emotions.
Above the silvery portal, a flickering screen was displaying the situation inside the secret realm. There was no sign of movement; everything looked still. The black orb in the middle of the secret realm was still flickering with unending black light.
Once everyone had gathered, the overseeing elder led the group toward the portal. Kranos noticed it was the same elder from the previous year. The elder glanced at him briefly, offering a small smile. Kranos, however, remained expressionless.
He stepped into the portal with the others. A wave of spatial energy washed over him. Within that fluctuation, Kranos couldn't help but feel a profound warmth and comfort—it was refreshing. After all, he, too, possessed the space element.
I think I could create a space portal like this someday... if I grow stronger, Kranos mused, intrigued. If I master this, could I travel anywhere in the world at will?
Belgh…
The sudden sound of retching pulled Kranos from his thoughts. He realized he had already arrived in the secret realm. so fast? As expected of the space element.
He remained calm and indifferent to the noise around him.
Soon, the elder waved his hand, and the retching children were enveloped in soft light, causing the retches to vanish into light particles. I see; so that is actually the light element? Previously, Kranos was amazed by such act but now that he had become a cultivator, he noticed that there were faint fluctuations of pure energy. From the process of elimination, Kranos could infer that it was only the light element that could produce such pure energy.
"Everyone, I will call you up one at a time. When I do, place your hand on the marble," the elder's voice rang out, snapping Kranos back to reality. "It will reveal whether you can cultivate, and if you possess elemental affinity, that will be shown as well."
As soon as the elder finished speaking, he pondered for an instant before selecting a nervous young boy in front. "You come up and place your hand on the marble."
"Yes, Elder," the boy replied shakily before stepping forward and slowly placing his hand on the marble.
…
A moment later, glowing text appeared outside the awakening realm and in mind
[Name – Jordan]
[Cultivation Aptitude – C-grade]
[Elemental Affinity – D-grade Ice]
…
Jordan's eyes lit up with joy. He could finally embark on the path of cultivation, although he was merely average, as far as he could cultivate, it didn't matter.
…
Next the awakening continued one by one…
[Name – Elvie]
[Cultivation Aptitude – C-grade]
[Elemental Affinity – A-grade Fire]
…
[Name – Kelvin]
[Cultivation Aptitude – A-grade]
[Elemental Affinity – E-grade Wind]
…
[Name – Gab]
[Cultivation Aptitude – C-grade]
[Elemental Affinity – B-grade Water]
…
The awakening proceeded smoothly. Kranos noticed that the elder occasionally glanced at him but deliberately avoided calling his name. He didn't mind. He just wanted the process to finish so he could return to his training.
Eventually, only Kranos remained. While everyone was paying attention to the previous awakener, he silently slipped the pill his father had given him into his mouth and began counting in his head. He had less than two minutes. Without waiting for the elder, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the marble.
As before, the marble began scanning him. However, this time, it encountered a strange energy. It paused, then trembled, almost as if in fear, before retreating slightly—though Kranos remained unaware of this reaction.
Time passed. The marble attempted to scan him again, but once more, upon sensing that terrifying presence, it immediately rushed out.
Meanwhile, Kranos was growing anxious. I don't want anything to go wrong, he thought as he counted down silently. 30... 29... 28... 27…
There were less than thirty seconds left; Kranos's heart pounded wildly as he watched everything, but the expression on his face was calm, not showing a hint of nervousness.
9... 8... 7... 6…
Suddenly, glowing text appeared:
[Name – Kranos]
[Cultivation Aptitude – A-grade]
[Elemental Affinity – A-grade Space]
…
The moment the results appeared, silence fell—inside and out. Kranos let out a silent sigh.
3... 2...
Before he could count to 1, he quickly removed his hand. He wasn't sure what would happen if the time expired—perhaps the marble would reveal something else? Kranos felt he had encountered a huge secret that his parents wanted to keep hidden. Still, he didn't want to know for now; he couldn't risk it.
Although Kranos's result was only shown for a few seconds before he removed his hand from the marble, everyone still saw it clearly.
"I... you... what..." the elder stammered, lost for words. That was the Space element—a rare and powerful element, on par with Light, Shadow, and Summoning. And it was A-grade. With such potential, Kranos could undoubtedly become a terrifying expert.
Still speechless, the elder cleared his throat and gestured for everyone to leave the secret realm. The whole way out, everyone was silent. As soon as Kranos stepped out, countless pairs of eyes landed on him as though they wanted to swallow him.
Fortunately, Raphael appeared at his side and gently patted his head.
"Cough, cough... I'm proud of you, grandson," the king said with a warm smile. Although he had known Kranos possessed the rare space element, he hadn't expected his talent to be of such high grade. It was one of the greatest seen in a thousand years.
Of course, this didn't include Kranos' father. Glancing at Raphael, the letter S flashed in the king's mind. How terrifying!
Meanwhile, glancing at Kranos as the king spoke, a fierce light passed through his eyes. Initially, he had planned to exploit Kranos' weakness to gain leverage over Raphael. But now that the boy had awakened such a rare and powerful element, his schemes crumbled.
Since he could not regret it, he could only begin formulating another plan and see how things progress. After the king congratulated Raphael and Kranos, the other princes followed. The First Prince stepped forward. Kranos noted his tall frame and handsome features, which were similar to his father's.
Though he appeared slightly older and more burdened by stress. Still, his dark hair had almost no traces of white or gray.
"You did well, bro," Richard said with a grin, playfully punching Raphael in the arm. Raphael chuckled and nodded in return.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Second Prince approached. The moment Kranos laid eyes on him, a chill ran down his spine. He instinctively tensed. He could feel and tell at a glance that the second prince was a deeply scheming person, it was as though they were connected by a string of fate, an ill-fated, destined relationship.