Welcome to the Aurelian Continent—where every soul dreams of power, glory, and transcendence.
Some chase light.
Some embrace shadows.
And some are devoured by ambition itself.
Adrian Veyne jolted upright in bed, gasping for air.
His chest burned. His heart thundered as if it were about to explode. Cold sweat drenched his back, and his hands trembled uncontrollably.
He was alive.
But just moments ago—no, lifetimes ago—he had died.
His own younger brother had carved out his bones, drained his blood, and crushed his heart without hesitation. Even death had not granted him peace. His soul had been sealed inside a soul crystal, exploited until its final shred of value was consumed… then erased completely.
And yet—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The violent pounding on the door shattered his thoughts.
"Adrian! Open up! We know you're inside!"
A sharp voice followed. "Senior Sister is here!"
Adrian froze.
That voice…
His pupils shrank.
Liana Frostveil.
The woman he had once protected with his life.
The woman who had personally pushed him into hell.
His breathing turned shallow as memories surged back with terrifying clarity.
This room.
This moment.
This day.
His gaze darted around the small wooden cabin. Everything was exactly the same—plain furnishings, faint incense, the scent of pinewood. Too real. Too vivid.
This wasn't a dying hallucination.
This was—
Rebirth.
The year fate turned against him.
Before he could react further, the door was kicked open with a deafening crash.
Wood splintered and fell inward.
Three figures stood outside.
At the front was Liana Frostveil—calm, distant, dressed in silver-white robes, her beauty cold and unapproachable.
Behind her stood Gareth Holt, face twisted in barely concealed hostility.
And beside him—
His younger brother.
Evan Veyne.
Clad in pristine academy robes, his expression gentle and worried, the very image of innocence. No one would ever suspect that beneath that gentle exterior lurked a monster capable of tearing his own brother apart.
More students gathered behind them, whispering, watching eagerly.
Just like last time.
Except this time… Adrian remembered everything.
"Adrian," Liana said flatly. "Why didn't you open the door when called?"
Adrian lowered his gaze, hiding the storm in his eyes.
So this really was the moment.
The beginning of his downfall.
Gareth stepped forward impatiently. "Senior Sister is speaking to you. Do you have no respect left at all?"
Liana raised a hand, stopping him. Her eyes locked onto Adrian's face.
"Explain this," she said coldly.
With a flick of her wrist, something fell to the floor.
Thud.
A large, bloodied corpse hit the wooden planks.
The Winged Sunhawk.
Its feathers were soaked crimson, its neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
Adrian's fists tightened.
So it begins.
"In the inspection," Liana continued, "the wounds were consistent with sonic-type abilities. Evan claims you were the only one nearby. Care to explain why his contracted beast died?"
In his previous life, this was where he had panicked.
He had shouted. Pleaded. Tried desperately to prove his innocence.
And for that, he was condemned.
This time, he stayed calm.
He raised his head slowly, meeting her gaze without fear.
"I didn't kill it."
His voice was steady—far steadier than Liana expected.
"I encountered the beast already dead while returning from collecting my monthly supplies. When I went to inspect it, Gareth appeared and accused me on the spot."
Murmurs rippled through the gathered disciples.
Gareth's face darkened. "You're lying!"
He pointed at Adrian furiously. "I saw it with my own eyes! The bird was still warm! Its body was torn apart by sound-based energy—your specialty! Who else could've done it?!"
His words were loud, emotional, convincing.
Just like last time.
Adrian gave a quiet, cold laugh.
"Is that so?"
He stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"Then tell me—how many people in this academy practice sound-based techniques?"
Gareth hesitated.
"There are dozens. Maybe hundreds. It's not unique to me, nor to this hall."
He turned slightly, letting everyone hear.
"And you say you saw me do it. Yet you have no physical proof. No witness besides yourself. No residual energy test. Nothing but your word."
His gaze hardened.
"So tell me, Gareth…"
"If you're so certain—"
"Are you willing to swear a Heavenly Oath that you saw me kill it with your own eyes?"
The courtyard fell silent.
Even Liana stiffened.
A Heavenly Oath was irreversible. Breaking it meant destruction of one's soul.
Gareth's face drained of color.
Adrian smiled faintly.
This time…
He wouldn't be the one on trial.