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Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Awakening in the Depths

In the distant reaches of reality, beyond the veil of the mundane world, existed a realm known as Thaloris—a vast, living plane where territories rose and fell like waves, and where awakened Lords carved their power into the bones of the earth itself. Each Lord ruled a piece of this world, battling, building, and expanding to become legends or vanish into oblivion. Some shaped kingdoms. Others were buried with them.

Back in the real world, the dreams of ruling in Thaloris flickered in the minds of teenagers like a forbidden promise. At Silvermist Provincial High, a prestigious boarding school nestled between mountain ranges and ancient river valleys, the topic of Awakening was never far from anyone's lips. For those born into rich families, early Awakening was expected—celebrated. But for the rest, the wait was torture.

And no one understood that agony better than Jade Aurelian Meridien.

"Move, blob," one student sneered as they shoved past the round figure lumbering through the hall. Jade didn't respond. He never did. Words were wasted on people who only heard what they wanted. He clutched his books tighter, eyes trained to the floor, the mocking laughter of his classmates brushing past like cold wind.

"Jade Meridien," called the instructor, ticking off a name from the rollbook.

No one answered.

The class of thirty-two students sat in their rows, polished uniforms pristine, designer bags slung over their chairs. It was the most prestigious high school in the province, where elite families sent their children to prepare for the Awakening Ceremony. Marble floors, enchanted whiteboards, and mana-laced air-conditioning—they were used to luxury.

But Jade? He sat in the back. Always in the back.

Thick black hair always messy, stomach pressed tight into his uniform vest, arms covered with old ink stains. He kept his eyes on the board and his ears closed to the world.

"Elia, present!" a sing-song voice rang.

"Lucien Valehart," the instructor continued.

"Present," came the calm, velvety response. Lucien didn't even look up from his notes.

A hush followed. Lucien Valehart was everything this world adored—tall, lean, blessed with dark red hair that shimmered like embers and eyes like molten rubies. Even though his Awakening came early through his family's secret rite, he stayed in the class for formality. He had no reason to mingle with the rest. But he did, with poise and superiority.

And he never acknowledged Jade. Not once.

Today was special. The Awakening Ceremony was finally happening—for the rest of the class.

There was no predicting who would awaken or what they'd receive. But when the school's Trigger Bell rang at 10:00 a.m., it would begin.

Jade had long accepted he'd probably never awaken. Or if he did, it would be unimpressive. Who would grant power to a bullied, obese orphan who slept in a shared dorm and bought secondhand notebooks?

So he buried himself in numbers, logic, and tactics. It was the only place where he won.

The bell chimed.

The Awakening Room buzzed to life. A massive sigil spread beneath the students' feet, etched in ancient symbols. A faint light swirled around them.

"Brace yourselves," the instructor said. "This year's Trigger Ceremony is activated manually by the Ministry of Lords. If you are chosen, your soul will be transported immediately to Thaloris. There is no return until your newbie trial ends."

Gasps, giggles, and breathless whispers rippled through the room.

Then—light.

Brilliant, blinding, raw.

Jade barely blinked before he felt it. A warmth. A jolt. A pull.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Wha—?"

Blue light burst around him, engulfing his chubby form in spiraling runes.

"Elia, look—he's awakening!" someone shrieked.

"No way! Jade?"

The next moment, he vanished from the real world.

Jade crashed into water.

Salt stung his nose. The sky was a canvas of gray clouds, distant seagulls screeching.

He struggled upright, coughing, drenched, and gasping. Before him stood a jagged island surrounded by steel-colored waves. On the highest point stood a strange hut made of coral and obsidian, pulsing faintly with light. His Lord's Hut.

A notification buzzed in his vision.

[ Welcome, Jade Aurelian Meridien.

You are now an Awakened Lord.

Territory Type: Isolated Marine Island

Summon Type: Merfolks

Protection Time Remaining: 13 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes

Newbie Amulet Status: Active — 3 Lives Remaining ]

He stared, lips parted.

"This is real…"

Beside him, a small pedestal held a silvery, floating orb. His Summoning Core.

He hesitated.

Then reached out.

The orb shimmered, and watery silhouettes emerged—long tails slapping the ground, webbed hands twitching, humanoid torsos heaving with unnatural movements.

Jade recoiled.

The creatures were... not beautiful.

Fish heads with bulging black eyes, gills flaring wetly. Their human parts were pale, sickly, with limbs that moved like broken puppets. Their tails were thick and slimy, ending in crescent fins. When they opened their mouths, the sound that emerged was a screeching warble.

One bowed. "Orders, Lord."

Jade almost vomited. But he bit his tongue. These were his. He had no choice.

"…Defend the territory. Patrol the perimeter. Stay alert."

The mermaids slithered toward the ocean edge, moving fast despite their grotesque forms.

"Okay," Jade whispered to himself. "This isn't over. I can work with this. Think. You've read enough strategy manuals."

But fate had sharper teeth.

Just as Jade began mapping his surroundings, the sky burned.

A fireball slammed into the coral wall with a deafening boom.

Jade stumbled backward, stunned.

"I didn't expect that a loser would be awakened near me. Though, it is still not safe to have someone near my territory" a voice rang above.

Floating midair on a phoenix-shaped summon was Elia Grenvale—the most popular girl in school. She looked down with a sneer, her long curls fluttering in the heated wind.

Behind her hovered a silhouette similar to Lucien, Calm. Cold.

"Elia—stop—" Jade started.

She fired another blast.

"A loser should remain a loser. And I don't want to share resources in this island with someone like you!"

Jade's mermaids screeched, trying to counter the attacks—but their spells were laughable compared to Lucien's and Elia's fire barrage.

One fire lance pierced the hut's roof. A wall caved in. The Lord's Core cracked slightly.

Jade screamed, gripping his Newbie Amulet. The tiny pendant on his chest flashed.

[ Life 1 Consumed. Initiating Random Relocation... ]

Jade opened his eyes in a dense mangrove swamp. His new hut barely stood above the water. Mosquitoes swarmed the area. He was covered in mud.

He survived.

Barely.

Two days later, they found him again.

"Round two, fish-boy! I knew you would still respawn near me. I can't rest well knowing a possible threat is near me. Sorry not sorry trash!" Elia's laughter rang through the air.

Lucien summoned a sword made of fire and hurled it straight at Jade's heart.

He died.

[ Life 2 Consumed. Initiating Random Relocation... ]

When he woke up again, he lay in darkness.

Pressure crushed his body. The world was blue, endless, muffled. No wind. No air.

Only water.

His territory had relocated under the ocean.

His Lord's Hut now sat on a glowing trench floor, surrounded by deep-sea coral.

His lungs burned instantly.

The mermaids screamed silently around him, swimming in panic.

Jade kicked, trying to reach the hut's barrier. His vision blurred. His limbs flailed. The pressure—the weight—it was all too much.

He clawed at the door.

His heart hammered once.

Twice.

He saw the Lord's Core glowing dimly in the center. His Summoning Core nearby.

The Newbie Amulet flashed again—but nothing happened.

[ WARNING: Amulet Life Counter: 1 Remaining. Validity: 6 Days Remaining ]

His body spasmed.

He screamed—only bubbles escaped.

His mind spun.

I'm going to die.

The mermaids cried out—one tried to shield him with magic, but it fizzled like ink in water.

His last thought wasn't regret.

It wasn't even fear.

It was fury.

Pure, molten rage.

At Elia. At Lucien. At the world that had always ignored him.

He gritted his teeth as the darkness swallowed him whole.

And then—nothing.

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