I sat down on the couch and opened the leather diary. Then I started reading its contents.
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January 1, 2550 – Page 1
Today is the first day of the new year! Dad promised to give me a New Year's present.
I was very happy when I heard about getting a present. I asked him if my brother Jade would get a present also.
He frowned, then bowed slightly and eventually told me, "Jade doesn't like New Year presents."
I could see Jade in a corner looking at me with jealousy and hate. I thought he was upset about something.
Eventually, I decided to give him the gift that my father was going to give me. After all, I am his big brother.
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January 1, 2551
Oh! Silly me! I completely forgot I had a diary.
I am sorry diary! I will diligently write from now on. I swear! After all, I am great Kaien Vaterion, one who will conquer the world!!
P.S.: I am joking! Anyways I am six years old now.
Finally, I am old enough to leave home and chase my dreams! Every great hero needs a sidekick. Jade will be my sidekick! Hehe.
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January 16, 2551 – Page 2
Today is my birthday! I am seven years old now. I am a legal adult now. Hehe.
I will awaken a core probably in a week!
Then Father explained how powers worked!
Apparently, you can become powerful in two ways:
1. Ascension Protocol
2. Cultivation
When I heard the name "Ascension Protocol," I immediately decided to devote myself to my father. I wanted to become powerful that way!!
Because why not? The name was extremely cool! Cultivation sounds boring.
But what my father said next made me sad. Very sad.
Not everyone can go down that path. Ascension Protocol is a system. The system chooses its hosts independently. It's completely a matter of luck; it chooses its host randomly. Even if you are untalented, by having this system, you can become strong. The system will push you to your limits, and you will face different trials and challenges provided by it. If you complete them, the system will give you huge rewards.
But if you are unable to complete them… well, you'll find out.
I swallowed hard just imagining it.
I was assured by my father that the system is not unreasonable.
It won't make me bear something I couldn't endure.
Phew.
The chances of being chosen by the protocol are 1 in 5 million.
Father told me that every generation our family gave birth to two hosts of the Ascension Protocol genetic.
Between me and my twin younger siblings, Jade and Eha, one of us will be chosen!
P.S.: My mom is also a host of the Ascension Protocol!!
I didn't bother asking Father about cultivation. It felt boring.
My father just smiled at me warmly.
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January 23, 2551
Damn it! The AP didn't choose me!
I was really upset. But Father told me it didn't matter. I could still become a strong cultivator. All hope wasn't lost—at least that's what he said.
After all, I am the great Kaien Vaterion!
Come to think of it, did I ever mention I'm a noble? I heard the nanny saying, our family is very powerful.
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I was reading the diary in silence, trying to digest all the information I just got.
"It's a lot to take in," I sighed after processing the situation.
Also, what was that pain earlier? It felt like my body was tearing up from the inside. Should I not channel my mana again?"
"I have a feeling there's more to it."
It was obvious. I couldn't believe the words of a 7-year-old kid. I needed to verify it.
"So, it's this Kaien person whose body I am currently controlling… was a noble."
"This world—it's a bit interesting."
Ascension Protocol... Cultivation... People can use different powers here?
I put down the diary. I need to know more about this world.
As for the diary, I could pretty much predict what happened next. Kaien being a huge disappointment to the Vaterion family. Instead of him, his siblings were chosen by the AP. His siblings finally bathed in the admiration and exaltation of others, and had to dissociate themselves from their shadows… blah blah blah.
This is one of the reasons why I hated victory stories. They were way too predictable! At least for me, that was it.
Fictions always had cliché plots—but me? If I'm reading a fantasy novel that has good ratings and reviews, I still find faults in them. I was a programmer. Or at least… I used to be.
I haven't read many fantasy novels, but I get the gist.
Although this isn't a fictional world, I'll treat it as one. I need to know this world better.
I'm pretty sure I can achieve that if I go to a library in this world. I need to keep reading Kaien's diary to understand more about the situation and Kaien's past.
I have a nagging feeling Kaien isn't in a good situation.
I need to be cautious for now. I can't trust anybody. I'll talk less. I need to stay in the shadows until I know more about this world.