The sun hadn't risen yet, but Julian Thorne was wide awake. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.
"Finally," he whispered. "Today, I open my Hallowed Realm."
In this world, everyone was born with a hidden potential. At a certain age, humans could unlock a Hallowed Realm—a private, magical world existing inside their own souls. Some called it a "Pocket Dimension," but most simply called it their "Sanctum."
Owning a Hallowed Realm changed everything. It was the only way to stop being an ordinary human and start the journey toward becoming an Immortal.
The world wasn't what it used to be. Massive portals called Stargates had appeared everywhere, linking their world to dangerous lands filled with Orcs, Demons, and Angels.
To survive, humanity had to learn to fight. They created a ladder of power:
Mortal (The starting point)
Ascendant
Transcendent
Dharma-Lord
Eternal (The legendary peak)
Julian knew that most people stayed at the Mortal level forever. To reach the higher stages, you needed luck and a powerful Hallowed Realm.
Julian looked at the clock on his wall. As the hands hit midnight, he picked up a small, glowing blue rock. This was a Hallowstone.
The Royal Academy gave these stones to every student. While rich noble families had "High-Grade" stones that could make a Realm twice as powerful, Julian only had this basic one. He didn't mind, though. He had lived a previous life in a world without magic, so he was just grateful for the chance.
He gripped the stone. A soft blue light wrapped around him like a cocoon, and his mind drifted into a deep, silent void.
When Julian opened his eyes, he was standing in a different place. It was a vast, silent plain of black soil under a gray sky. There was no sun, no wind, and no sound.
"This is it," he realized. "My Hallowed Realm."
He sensed the boundaries of the land. It was huge—about 400 square kilometers. Suddenly, a sharp sting hit his forehead. A black, diamond-shaped mark appeared between his eyebrows. It was the Hallow-Mark, the key that connected his mind to this private world.
Now came the part Julian was most excited for: The Gift.
The Academy taught that when a Realm first opens, a random treasure falls from the sky. It could be a magical sword, a healing potion, or even a pile of useless junk.
Julian searched the gray sky. For a long time, there was nothing. Then, he spotted a tiny blue speck.
It was a glowing glass bead. Inside the bead sat a tiny, beautiful Blue Lotus. Julian reached out to grab it, but the bead zipped away like a dragonfly. It flew in circles around his territory before diving straight into the black dirt.
THOOM.
The entire world shook. Julian fell to his knees as the ground rolled like waves in the ocean.
When the shaking stopped, the black soil was no longer dead. Tiny green sprouts were popping up everywhere. A rush of information flooded Julian's brain, making his head spin.
"A Realm Trait?" Julian gasped, his eyes wide.
Most people's Hallowed Realms were just empty storage rooms. But a Realm with a "Trait" was alive. It was rare, powerful, and meant his land had its own special magic.
A glowing screen appeared in the air in front of him, showing his new status. Julian's hands trembled with joy. He might not have been born a noble, but he had just started with a legendary advantage.