The air in the valley was cold, unbearably cold. Zero followed Master Sylver deeper into the valley, further than the training path they had walked before. Armed only with the fire made by Master Sylver, shadows stretched across the jagged rocks.
"Master… where are we going?" Zero asked, his voice echoing softly.
Sylver did not look back. "Somewhere only chosen people have ever stepped foot in.Among them, Me…Master Zeyn and the your Master."
Zero's heart skipped. "So deep…?"
"Deeper," Sylver replied. "Very deep, below the island of Elyndra."
The further they walked, the heavier the air became. A faint vibration ran beneath Zero's feet, almost like the mountain itself was breathing. The temperature dropped again, enough for Zero to see his own breath forming mist.
Something ancient was waiting ahead.
THE HIDDEN CORRIDOR
They reached a small stone entrance between two hills. As soon as Sylver touched the wall, the stone shifted, revealing a hidden corridor. The torches on the walls lit up one by one, as if waking up after centuries of sleep.
Zero's eyes widened.
The walls of the corridor were covered with huge pictures carved into the stone...depictions of ancient wars, six elemental sigils, and a crest shaped like a winged sword.
"Master… these pictures…"
"Memories of the First Elemental Era," Sylver said. "Recorded by the ones who lived it."
Zero felt the history flow through the walls, almost alive.
THE ANCESTRAL VAULT
At the end of the corridor stood an enormous stone door, covered with faintly pulsating veins of gold. Sylver raised his hand, and the door thundered open with a sound like a mountain grinding.
Inside was a colossal chamber.
A vault.
Artifacts shimmered on pedestals...crystals of every color, ancient armor sets, scrolls sealed in gold, elemental cores pulsing with primordial essence. The air was thick with aura so old that Zero's skin prickled.
But all of it paled compared to one point in the room.
A single raised platform with ten steps… emitting a devastating crushing pressure.
THE CRUSHING AURA
Zero's chest tightened instantly.
"What… what is this aura…?"
His heartbeat began racing. Every breath felt heavier. Sweat formed on his forehead without him moving an inch.
Sylver's expression turned grim. "That pressure is the reason only the chosen can enter."
He placed a hand on Zero's shoulder.
"From here on… I cannot follow you. If I do, the entity guarding the pedestal will awaken and attack. Only a recognized successor may proceed."
Zero's pulse skipped. "So I must go alone."
Sylver nodded.
"You alone. And if the sword rejects you…"
His voice softened. "…there will be nothing i can do."
Zero inhaled deeply.
Then stepped forward.
TOUCH OF THE ANCIENT BLADE
Atop the ten steps lay a sword embedded into stone.
A long, elegant blade of silver-white with streaks of blue light flowing through it like rivers of energy. The aura around it swirled, ancient yet awake.
Astrael Dominion.
The blade of the First Elemental Sage.
Zero swallowed hard, stepping toward the first stair...
THE TRIAL BEGINS
His foot touched the first step.
BOOM.
Gravity slammed onto him like a mountain. Zero almost dropped to his knees right then.
"What… is this pressure…?"
His muscles contracted, trembling violently. His breathing became sharp and forced.
Step Two.
His lungs felt like they were collapsing.
Step Three.
His knee hit the stone before he could stop it.
Step Four.
His vision blurred.
Step Five.
His bones creaked under the impossible weight.
Step Six.
Sweat dripped like rain, his limbs burning in agony.
Step Seven…
Zero collapsed fully onto one knee. His arms shook uncontrollably, his head hanging.
The sword was trying to make him kneel.
Trying to force him into submission.
Zero clenched his teeth hard.
"…Hah… you think… I'll bow…?"
He activated Inner Force(Ascension Cycle), his inner energy erupting inside him like a rushing tide. His aura expanded, resisting, pushing back. His veins glowed faintly.
The pressure lightened—barely.
"One more step…" he gasped.
He reached out...
And everything turned black.
THE SPIRIT DIMENSION
Zero blinked and found himself standing in a vast, star...filled void. Floating memories flickered around him...battles, ancient cities, a world long extinct.
Then the vision focused.
A man stood before another figure.
One of them Zero recognized instantly...
The First Elemental Sage.
Someone spoke to him... a tall man radiating overwhelming power.
"Astrael Dominion will choose its master. Either my blood… or yours. One day, it will awaken again. I give it to you for you to keep & don't let the enemy take it."
Zero's breath caught.
Bloodline?
Whose Bloodline?
Before he could step forward, the stars twisted...forming a silhouette of light.
THE ENTITY APPEARS
A glowing, humanoid figure materialized before him. Its voice echoed like distant thunder.
"Who are you, child?"
Zero narrowed his eyes. "Zero. I came to claim the sword."
The entity circled him slowly.
"But where is your elemental flow? The bloodline of six elements is locked inside you. Why?"
Zero stared. "What are you talking about?"
The entity stopped.
Then its hand pierced into Zero's chest.
Zero screamed.
Pain...unlike anything he'd felt...exploded through his entire body. His vision blurred, colors bleeding together.
The entity's voice shook.
"This aura… this impossible…"
Its tone shifted—shocked, afraid.
"Is this… his aura?"
THE ANCIENT VOICE
Before Zero could ask, a deeper, sovereign voice resonated across the void:
"Sword entity. You serve my bloodline. Do not overstep."
A wave of overwhelming authority swept through the dimension.
The entity was blasted backward, crashing into the starfield.
Zero gasped, feeling the pain fade suddenly.
The entity rose slowly, trembling.
"If… if that is true… then this boy… this Zero… must be…"
Its voice lowered in awe.
"…the descendant of him."
Before Zero could respond, the stars warped again.
THE SWORD'S JUDGMENT
The entity returned to him, bowing its head slightly.
"You are recognized. Astrael Dominion accepts you."
It lifted a hand.
"But hear me, child. You are not yet worthy of the sword's true form. Your inner energy is too low. You stand only in Inner Force. To unlock Astrael Dominion full form… you must at least reach Inner Sovereign (Transcendent Early Stage)."
"Then how do I reach it?"
The entity's eyes glowed.
"With battle & meditation. A fight where your life hangs in the balance. Only then will your inner power evolve. Your journey to awaken your power is still far from complete."
The dimension shattered...
ZERO AWAKENS
Zero's eyes flew open.
He gasped, drenched in sweat, his whole body aching. But his mind was clear.
He stood slowly… and reached the final steps.
His hand touched the hilt of Astrael Dominion.
A warm surge of energy pulsed through him... familiar.
"Why… does this feel like something I've known since birth…?"
The blade hummed.
Zero gripped it.
And pulled.
CRACK.
Energy exploded.
THE AWAKENING — ELYNDRA SHAKES
The entire vault trembled violently. Crystals shattered. Ancient relics vibrated. The ground roared.
Outside…
Across Elyndra…
Even the skies shuddered.
Xyron Inferno at the surface snapped their heads toward the island.
He narrowed his eyes.
"That energy… Is the Demon Lord arriving through our portal early?"
"No!" Zephyros replied. "This energy is ancient...older than any demon signature!"
Xyron clenched his jaw.
"Then someone else… someone dangerous… has awakened."
BACKLASH
Zero attempted to lift the sword.
Instantly...
SHUUUUPP...
The sword drained his inner energy like water from a cracked vessel.
Zero collapsed.
His skin turned pale. His vision dimmed.
"A...Ah… damn it…!"
His body trembled violently, nearly lifeless.
He pushed the sword into its sheath near the pedestal, trying to catch his breath.
Then, step by step, he walked out.
The moment Sylver saw him, he froze.
"Zero! Your face...what happened?!"
Zero leaned against the wall. "I took it… Astrael Dominion."
He explained everything—
The entity.
The voice.
The bloodline prophecy.
Sylver's eyes widened as if seeing Zero for the first time.
He whispered, "Your Master once tried to claim that sword… and the entity told him: 'You are not chosen.' If that is true… Zero… you are not just an ordinary child, You a the chosen one."
His mind wandered.
"Could he be descended from that person… from another world entirely…?"
Zero breathed heavily. "Master… I need a few hours to recover."
Sylver nodded. "Take your time. But remember...time is running out. You've been inside for nearly three days. I've gathered my disciples. We prepare to ascend to the surface."
"The portal is almost stable."
Zero swallowed.
War was coming.
Zero returned to the training grounds. Commander Veyra approached instantly, sensing something.
"Hye boy… why is your aura twisted?"
Zero frowned. "Not your business."
Veyra's brow twitched. "Watch your tone, boy. Don't forget who you're talking to."
Zero walked past him without a second look.
Veyra scoffed in frustration.
"Hye you old man, I will go ahead alone. I must check on Division 4's battalion."
Sylver nodded. "Be safe."
Veyra vanished into the distance.
Later, as Zero meditated, the sword's entity appeared again within his mind.
"To ascend to Inner Core," it said, "you must face a life-and-death battle. Only the edge of death will liberate your true strength."
Zero stared. "Who are you? Why do you know all this?"
The entity smiled faintly.
"I have lived for thousands of years, across many worlds. The answers you seek… will come."
Then faded.
Zero opened his eyes.
Master Sylver stood before him.
"It's time," Sylver said.
Zero stood, gripping Astrael Dominion.
"We're heading to the surface… to stop the Demon Ritual for the Portal."
Zero nodded.
"Let's finish this."
Side by side, they walked toward the ascending passage.
As they stepped into the rising light...