The Awakening of Eden

Eden gasped as he came to, his body jerking forward.

He was back.

The void was gone. The battlefield, the wasteland—erased as if it had never existed. He was lying on solid ground, his breath ragged, his heart pounding in his chest.

Slowly, Eden pushed himself up.

Before him, the massive gate loomed once more, its presence unchanged—but now, the air around it felt… lighter.

The trial was over.

He had passed.

Eden took a slow breath, then stepped through the gate.

And the world welcomed him anew.

Present Day

Eden never got the chance to process what had happened inside that gate. Two days had passed in the outside world by the time he emerged. By then, the world had already changed.

The crisis hadn't ended with his victory. In the time he had been gone, more Tier 6 gates had opened across the world. Cities that once stood as bastions of humanity were under siege. Governments and legacy clans scrambled to respond, but the attacks were relentless.

Eden barely had time to breathe before he was pulled into the next battle. The strongest warriors—those who had survived past Grade 5—were gathering, forming coalitions to push back the tide. He became one of them. Not because he wanted to, but because there was no other choice.

Days turned to weeks, and the battles never stopped. The gates appeared faster than they could be closed. Every fight took its toll. The losses piled up. The world's strongest fell, one after another.

Then came The Longest Day.

Three Tier 6 gates opened at once. A full-scale disaster. Eden and his allies fought, pushing themselves beyond their limits. Every second of battle felt like an eternity, their mana reserves drained, their bodies battered. Many died. The ones who lived were barely standing.

And then—the Grade 7 gate appeared.

Silence fell over the battlefield. Everyone felt it, the oppressive weight of mana unlike anything before. It loomed above them, pulsing with a presence so vast it swallowed the sky itself.

A single truth settled in Eden's mind: this was different.

They had struggled against Tier 6. This... this was something else entirely.

The gate trembled. Cracks splintered across its surface. And then, with a deafening roar—

It shattered.

And hell poured out.

His body moved on instinct, blade carving through flesh and bone, fire roaring at his command. His awakened ability, Telekinesis ripped monsters apart mid-lunge, sending their broken bodies crashing into the oncoming horde. Blood soaked the ground beneath him, pooling with the remains of beasts and humans alike.

He had stopped thinking. There was no time to think. Only to kill.

A monstrous bear-like creature, its body covered in shifting obsidian scales, lunged at him with a roar that shook the battlefield. Eden ducked under its massive claws, twisting mid-motion as he drove his flaming blade through its chest. The creature screeched, thrashing violently—until he clenched his fist.

A pulse of telekinetic force erupted within its body. The monster exploded into chunks of flesh.

[Strength: S → SS]

The system's notification flickered in the corner of his vision.

He ignored it.

Another wave surged forward. Hulking beasts with gnarled horns, wolf-like creatures wreathed in shadow, twisted humanoids with elongated limbs and glowing eyes.

A sharp pain lanced through Eden's side as something slashed across his ribs. He spun, countering with a burst of fire, incinerating his attacker in an instant. His breath came ragged, his muscles screamed for relief, but he refused to stop.

There was no room for exhaustion.

He kicked off the ground, telekinetic force enhancing his movement. He twisted mid-air, dodging a razor-sharp tendril before slamming his fist into the earth. Fire erupted around him in a blazing inferno, consuming everything within reach.

[Agility: S → SS]

Another notification. Another ignored message.

He had no time.

His vision blurred—whether from fatigue or the sheer number of monsters swarming him, he didn't know. His body was breaking, pushing past its limits again and again.

How long had it been?

Hours? Days? Time had lost meaning.

And then—

A roar unlike any other tore through the battlefield.

Eden's head snapped up just in time to see a colossal figure descend from the sky, slamming into the ground with enough force to shatter the land. Dust and debris exploded outward, obscuring his vision.

When it cleared, a towering, four-armed beast stood before him. Its body was covered in runic armor, its molten eyes burning with primal fury. A king among monsters. A true apex predator.

A Grade 7 Boss.

Eden exhaled slowly. He tightened his grip on his sword, fire coiling around his arms. His body was screaming, his mana reserves were running low. But there was no retreat.

This was the moment.

The beast charged.

Eden met it head-on.

The battle was unlike anything before. The monster was relentless—each strike carried enough force to shatter mountains. Eden dodged by a hair's breadth, retaliating with precise, devastating counters. His blade found flesh, his flames seared through thick armor, but it wasn't enough. Eden wasn't alone, multiple comrades participating in the fight. He watched as they fell one after another, helpless to do anything.

The creature adapted. It learned. It countered.

His body was failing. His mana flickered. His vision blurred at the edges.

'I'm reaching my limit.'

The thought barely had time to register before the beast struck.

A fist, the size of a boulder, slammed into his chest. His ribs cracked. His body was sent flying, crashing through the remains of a ruined fortress. He coughed, tasting iron, but forced himself to stand.

Not yet.

The monster charged again, raising all four arms for the final strike.

Eden didn't move.

He couldn't move.

Something inside him was breaking.

No—shattering.

[Grade 6 → Grade 7: Ascension in Progress.]

A sudden surge of power exploded from within him.

Fire roared. Mana flooded his veins. His body transcended.

The monster swung—only to hit nothing.

Eden was already behind it.

His sword burned brighter than ever before. His telekinetic force hummed, bending the very air around him. For the first time, his power felt unshackled.

He moved.

One slash.

A single, perfect cut.

The beast froze. Then, slowly—its massive frame split apart, cleaved cleanly down the center. It collapsed, the light in its molten eyes fading to nothing.

Silence.

Eden stood, panting, the feeling of exhilaration due to the newfound power coursing through his body.

Above him, the sky split open.

More tier 7 Gates were opening.

One… three… six…

How many?

Eden dropped to his knees. His body was broken. His mana drained. He had reached the pinnacle of human strength, Grade 7 Awakened, but it hadn't been enough.

If only he had been stronger. If only all of humanity had stood together.

His vision blurred. He could barely register the system opening by itself in front of him:

Eden de Sylvain

Age: 30

Grade: 7 

Strength: SS

Agility: SS

Stamina: S

Mana Control: SSS

Mana Pool: S

Awakened Ability: S-Telekinesis [Sacred]

Ascended Ability: A-Perseverance [Sacred]

Transcended Ability: A-One With The Sword [Sacred]

Martial Art: SSS Sword of the Mind and Body

Legacy: 1 New Legacy

Through the haze of exhaustion, one line caught his eye.

[Legacy: God of Time - Chronos]

A new prompt appeared.

Would you like to activate this legacy? 

[Yes] - [No]

Eden exhaled slowly. God of Time…

His lips curled into a bitter smile. If he could turn back time, could he fix everything? Could he save his comrades and defeat this crisis?

His finger hovered over the option. Then, with the last of his strength, he made his choice.

[You have selected: Yes.]

Darkness swallowed him whole.

…

…

Eden woke up with a jolt, his breath shallow and his heart hammering against his ribs. His fingers clutched the bedsheets, damp with sweat. A dream—no, a nightmare. But what was it about?

He grasped for the memories, but they slipped through his fingers like sand. All that remained were emotions—terror, despair, and something else… something cold and unyielding. He felt different, as though something inside him had changed. His emotions had dulled, his thoughts felt distant, but deep in his chest, something burned. A fire. A hunger. A desperate, unshakable need.

I have to get stronger. Strong enough that I'll never lose again

The thought came unbidden, like an instinct rather than a conscious realization. But why? Lose… again? The words surfaced in his mind, but he had no recollection of losing anything important recently. He shook his head, pushing the uneasy feeling aside.

Today was too important to dwell on things he didn't understand.

Today was his 16th birthday.

The day of his Awakening.

If he awakened a strong ability, he could become powerful—powerful enough to provide for his father, the only family he had left. Powerful enough to fight back against the mana gates, the endless tide of monsters threatening humanity. Powerful enough to save the world.

'Save the world..?' Like before, the thought felt alien, like it wasn't his own. 

Shoving the strange thoughts aside, Eden climbed out of bed and dressed quickly. His hands trembled slightly as he buttoned his shirt—not out of fear, but anticipation.

Downstairs, the scent of eggs and toast greeted him. His father sat at the small kitchen table, flipping through the news on a tablet, his brow furrowed.

"Morning," Eden greeted as he sat down.

His father's eyes flicked up, searching his face for a moment before nodding. "Morning, son." His voice was calm, but there was an underlying weight to it. He tapped the screen and turned it toward Eden.

The display showed a live news report—footage of a massive mana gate hovering ominously above a city skyline. Unlike the lower-tier ones Eden had seen before, this one was different. Tier 6.

Awakened soldiers surrounded the gate's perimeter, their weapons trained on the swirling vortex of darkness. Even through the screen, the sheer menace of it was palpable.

Eden frowned. "Tier 6's are appearing already?"

His father exhaled slowly. "They're increasing. Faster than we ever predicted. This is the fourth one this month." He set the tablet down and looked Eden in the eye. "The world's changing, son. And today… you change with it."

Eden nodded but said nothing.

His father leaned back, crossing his arms. "I know you, Eden. You're going to get stronger, and I believe in you. But strength isn't everything. You might feel invincible after today, but I need you to understand—" his voice dropped lower, "—there's a much bigger world out there than the one you've known. And it doesn't care about how strong you think you are."

The words hung in the air between them.

Eden swallowed, the weight of his father's concern settling in his chest. "I get it, Dad."

A small smile tugged at the corners of his father's mouth, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You never have." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Your mother… she was just like you. Always chasing after something bigger, pushing herself beyond her limits." His voice softened. "It's what made her incredible. And it's what took her from us."

Eden's throat tightened. His mother had died when he was young. She was a powerful Awakened who cared deeply for the people, a woman whose presence had left an indelible mark on his father. Though his father rarely spoke of her, Eden could see the quiet sadness in his eyes whenever her name was mentioned, the way his heart carried a weight that even time couldn't lift.

A hand landed on his shoulder, firm but warm.

"I just don't want to lose you too," his father admitted.

For a moment, Eden didn't know what to say. Instead, he placed his own hand over his father's. A silent promise.

His father let out a breath and stood up, ruffling Eden's hair before turning back to the stove. "Now eat your breakfast before you go and change the world."

After eating, Eden left the house in a hurry, practically vibrating with excitement.

The walk to the Awakening Agency felt both endless and far too short. Each step carried the weight of anticipation, his mind racing with possibilities. Would his ability be something extraordinary? Would it change his life in an instant?

The Governmental Awakening Agency was a massive facility, sleek and futuristic. Inside, the lobby bustled with teenagers waiting for their turn to awaken. Some chatted excitedly, others sat in silence, either meditating or mentally preparing.

Eden checked in and sat down, tapping his foot impatiently. Minutes dragged on, stretching unbearably long. The air buzzed with nervous energy—murmurs of anticipation, hushed whispers about people hoping for strong abilities.

Across the room, a girl clutched her hands together while praying, her knuckles turning white. A boy near Eden was visibly sweating. Despite his own eagerness, Eden felt oddly detached from their anxiety.

A voice crackled over the intercom. "Eden de Sylvain, please report to Room 3 for awakening."

Eden exhaled sharply and stood, making his way toward the room.

Inside, a worker in a gray uniform gestured to a raised platform where a transparent orb pulsed with faint blue energy. "Place your hands on the mana orb," they instructed. "The process will take approximately ten minutes. You may feel some discomfort."

Eden did as instructed, his palms pressing against the cool surface.

The moment his hands made contact, a rush of energy surged through him. It was like liquid fire, threading through his veins, coiling into his core. His body heated, his breath hitched. His fingers twitched, but he held still.

The mana pooled deep in his torso, gathering into a singular point—the mana pool.

The pressure built. His heart pounded. His vision blurred. And then—

A video game-like screen appeared before him.

Eden de Sylvain

Age: 16

Grade 1 Awakened

Strength: E

Agility: E+

Stamina: E-

Mana Control: F

Mana Pool: F

Awakened Ability: S-Time Sight (Divine)

Flaw: You lose your eyesight

Legacy: Martial Art – Sword of the Mind and Body(SSS) - Would you like to accept? [Y] [N]

Eden's breath caught. Divine rank? That's impossible. The highest publicly known rank was Sacred. A divine ability had never been officially recorded.

And yet, he had one.

Then his eyes fell on his flaw.

His heart skipped.

His vision darkened.

At first, it was subtle—like a shadow passing over his eyes. Then the darkness swallowed everything.

Panic surged. His breaths turned ragged. He blinked. Nothing. He rubbed his eyes, reached out instinctively—his hands met only empty air.

Blind.

A chill crawled down his spine.

He should have been terrified. He should have been gasping for help. But instead… he felt calm. A cold and distant calm. The same eerie feeling he had woken up with.

"The greater the ability, the harsher the flaw," he muttered, recalling the old saying.

His breathing evened. His hands curled into fists. He could handle this. He had to.

A voice hesitated beside him. "Eden… are you okay?"

He turned toward the worker, forcing his lips into a small, almost amused smirk. "Well… I could use a little help finding my way out."

They didn't respond immediately. When they finally did, their voice was quieter. "Of course. Right this way."

The proctor gently guided him, but Eden could hear the hushed whispers in the background. People were talking. Staring.

Divine ability. SSS-rank legacy. Blind yet unbroken, Eden took his first steps as an awakened.

His future had just begun. And it was already a battlefield.