The world did not shift gently.
It reconstructed itself.
The moment Kaelen crossed into the portal, space folded inward and reassembled into something ancient—something untouched by the erosion of time. The air itself felt heavier, richer, saturated with primordial essence.
This was not a realm.
This was origin.
The Land of the Ancestral Dragon.
The instant his feet touched the ground—
Kaelen's body reacted.
Not by choice.
By recognition.
A surge erupted from the Heart of Alyth.
Bones shifted.
Energy surged through every vein.
In a flash—
Kaelen transformed.
White wings burst from his back, vast and radiant, feathers edged with faint gold. A white tail extended behind him, its tip glowing crimson like a smoldering ember. Two smooth white horns curved from his temples, giving him an unmistakable draconic presence.
His eyes sharpened.
His senses expanded.
He inhaled—
And for the first time, the air felt complete.
Magnolia and the other dragons watched silently.
There was no surprise in their gaze.
Only confirmation.
Magnolia spoke calmly.
"Follow."
Kaelen didn't question it.
He spread his wings.
And flew.
They soared across the sky.
The land below was vast beyond comprehension—endless mountains carved by ancient claws, oceans that shimmered with golden currents, forests where every tree radiated draconic energy.
This place wasn't just inhabited by dragons.
It was made for them.
Kaelen felt it.
Every beat of his wings felt natural.
Effortless.
Like this was how he was always meant to move.
Magnolia flew ahead, flames trailing faintly behind his massive form.
The others followed in formation.
And at the center—
Kaelen.
The only human.
Yet not fully human anymore.
They descended into a colossal structure carved directly into the heart of a mountain.
A chamber beyond scale.
At its center stood a statue.
A dragon so massive it dwarfed even Magnolia.
Its wings spread wide.
Its gaze eternal.
The moment Kaelen stepped inside—
His body reacted.
His knees trembled.
An overwhelming force pressed down on him.
Not hostile.
Not violent.
But absolute.
It demanded reverence.
It demanded submission.
Kaelen clenched his fists.
He resisted instinctively.
I don't kneel to anyone…
Magnolia's voice echoed.
"Don't resist, young one."
Kaelen looked at him.
"This is how you receive the blessing."
"From the Dragon God's descendant."
The pressure intensified.
Not to crush him—
But to guide him.
Kaelen exhaled.
"…Fine."
Slowly—
He knelt.
The moment his knee touched the ground—
The chamber trembled.
Alyth's spirit manifested behind him, radiant and immense.
Then—
A wisp of something ancient appeared before the statue.
It grew.
Expanded.
Formed.
The dragons immediately bowed.
Deeply.
Reverently.
The presence solidified into a colossal, radiant dragon—ethereal, yet overwhelmingly real.
It spoke softly.
"…So that's what happened."
Its voice echoed across dimensions.
It looked at Kaelen.
"…Oh."
"A hybrid."
Its eyes gleamed with interest.
"Dragon and human."
"And you possess both gravity and chrono circuits…"
"Stage 3."
A low chuckle escaped it.
"How fascinating."
It lowered its head slightly.
"I am Zenith."
"An ancient dragon."
"It is the first time I have seen a hybrid."
"Even in the era of the First Circuit Beings… none like you existed."
It paused.
"…So you will be the first."
"The first hybrid to undergo this trial."
Zenith's massive form began to shrink.
Condense.
Transform.
Into a humanoid spiritual figure—tall, radiant, composed of pure draconic essence.
He stepped forward.
Placed a hand on Kaelen's head.
Then—
He spoke a word.
But reality itself censored it.
The sound did not exist.
The meaning could not be grasped.
And yet—
Kaelen understood something had been given.
His body ignited.
Energy surged through him in chaotic bursts—red, gold, white, violet—
But it stabilized.
Locked.
Between blue and purple.
Magnolia burst out laughing.
Zenith joined him.
"Boy…"
Zenith said, smiling.
"You are going to become something greater than a Godking powerhouse."
"But your path…"
His expression softened.
"…will not be easy."
"You are humanity's hero."
"You will be forced to make choices."
"Difficult ones."
"Painful ones."
He stepped back.
"But if you endure…"
"…everything will be alright."
Zenith raised his hand.
A portal opened.
Ancient.
Deep.
Endless.
"Your trial awaits."
He looked at Kaelen.
Then spoke a riddle—
"Born without birth, yet older than time.
It devours the strong, yet fears the divine.
To conquer it, you must become less…
Or lose yourself within its endless abyss."
Before Kaelen could respond—
Zenith pushed him.
The portal swallowed him whole.
Gone.
Magnolia stepped forward slightly.
"…May you survive, Kaelen."
The other dragons bowed their heads.
One by one—
They turned.
And left the chamber.
Zenith's spirit began to fade.
Returning to stillness.
Returning to silence.
Returning to myth.
Then—
Footsteps echoed.
Zenith's fading halted.
Paused.
Like time itself stopped obeying.
He turned.
A boy stood there.
5'11.
Short black hair.
Black pants.
Black undershirt.
Black coat with white cotton lining.
Hands in his pockets.
Casual.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Arata Kurogane.
He walked forward.
Stopped in front of Zenith.
Then snapped his fingers.
Reality complied instantly.
Zenith's spirit solidified.
Flesh formed.
Bones followed.
Breath returned.
He was no longer a fading existence.
He was alive again.
Zenith blinked.
"…So you are the one."
"Who brought us back?"
Arata smiled.
"Yeah."
"Everyone has a part to play."
Zenith studied him carefully.
"…You have them, don't you?"
"The circuits."
Arata nodded.
"The Soul Circuit."
"And the left eye circuit…"
"Koketsu."
Zenith chuckled.
"…Figures."
Arata turned slightly.
"You're a powerful race, Zenith."
"And Kaelen…"
He smirked.
"The one I made into humanity's hero—well, he did most of the work himself."
"But since he was chosen by Alyth's heart…"
"I thought—why not let him go through the original process?"
"So I made it happen."
Zenith crossed his arms.
"…You're interfering quite a bit."
Arata shrugged.
"You'll benefit from what's coming."
"The new age."
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"I think you'll love it."
"And don't worry…"
"It's not like I'm killing innocent people."
"They'll earn their power."
He turned to leave.
Zenith watched him.
Then smiled slightly.
"You know…"
"The circuits from the First Circuit Beings era…"
"…are likely returning too."
"They always find a way."
He looked at Arata.
"So expect beings who can do… insane things."
"Not at your level."
"But some might match you."
"For a time."
Arata smirked.
"I'm aware."
"But don't worry about me."
He glanced back slightly.
"I've long since surpassed Evion Vok Magnolias."
A pause.
"…It wasn't written with the 's'."
"People forgot what it meant."
And then—
He disappeared.
Silence filled the chamber.
Zenith looked up.
Then laughed.
Deep.
Satisfied.
"Now that the Soul Circuit…"
"…and the Koketsu have returned…"
His eyes gleamed.
"Especially in the hands of someone like Arata…"
His smile sharpened.
"…those bastards will be destroyed this time."
The chamber dimmed.
Ancient power stirred once more.
And far away—
Kaelen's trial had begun.