Chapter 3: The Door to Destiny

The Awakening Ceremony had begun.

All the schools across the country had been divided into batches, organized alphabetically by name. Riven’s school, East Vale High, was assigned to Batch 14. One by one, a voice from the central speaker called each batch forward, echoing across the enormous capital square.

In the center of the square stood the Awakening Platform—a vast circular stone disk surrounded by four towering crystal pillars. It was beautiful and intimidating. As the first batch was called, the platform stirred. Light didn’t simply shine—it erupted. Supernatural energy rippled outward like waves in water, surging into the four floating blue crystals atop the pillars.

Then the platform pulsed.

“Attention! Batch 1, step forward and approach the Awakening Platform.”

A group of students walked forward, trembling with a mix of awe and anxiety. At their head was a boy with sharp silver-blond hair and piercing gray eyes—Kael Drayven, son of Aldric Drayven, the third strongest Awakened in the country and master of the Iron Howl Guild.

High above, in one of the capital’s towers, Aldric stood silently behind a glass window, arms folded. He watched his son with a proud smirk as powerful guild representatives from across the nation took notes, their eyes scanning detailed lists of high-potential Awakening candidates.

Kael and his classmates stepped onto the glowing platform. Light coiled around their bodies like cosmic threads, and in moments, they were pulled upward—vanishing into the mirror-like disc floating above the platform.

As each batch went up, excitement built. The Awakening Ceremony wasn’t just tradition—it was the birth of legends.

Then, Batch 9 was called.

The crowd stirred.

Stepping forward was a girl with hair like falling snow and eyes like polished silver—Lyra Valtros, daughter of Draven Valtros, the strongest Awakened in the country and 9th in the world. Her mother, Serena Valtros, ranked 15th.

Students around Riven murmured in awe.

“She looks like an elf…”
“She’s going to awaken some mythical-tier talent, I bet…”

Riven’s breath caught in his throat.
He couldn’t look away.

“I want to be like her. Someone people admire… not someone they mock or forget.”

As Lyra vanished into the mirror above the platform, a quiet wish burned in Riven’s chest.

Finally, the speaker called out—

“Batch 14, step forward.”

Riven’s heart raced.
He walked silently behind his classmates, head low. As they climbed the steps to the platform, sneers echoed around him.

“Oh look, the trash came.”
“He’s still alive? Thought he’d drop dead from fear.”

Riven ignored them. His eyes were locked on the mirror above, glowing faintly with starlight.

Then came a whisper behind him.

“This is your last chance, worm.”

It was Drake Valen, the leader of the five bullies who had made Riven’s life miserable. His voice dripped with venom.

“Step off the platform and go home. At least you’ll survive that way.”

The others laughed cruelly.

Riven didn’t respond.
His fists were clenched. His legs trembled. Fear twisted in his gut like a coiled serpent.

But he didn’t move.

“I’m not leaving. No matter what happens… I’ll awaken. Even if I die doing it.”

The moment his foot touched the center of the platform, something shifted.

The energy around him wasn’t just stronger—it was different.

He gasped.

The platform trembled faintly beneath his feet. Then, just like the others, his body began to glow. Blue light enveloped him. His vision blurred.

And he soared upward—sucked into the mirror like a streak of starlight.

In a living room far away…

His parents sat silently, eyes glued to the television. The broadcast showed Batch 14 entering the Awakening. His mother clutched the couch tightly, and his father’s jaw was tense.

In the doorway stood his sister, arms crossed, eyes shadowed.

“Come back alive, Riven…” she whispered.

Suddenly, the camera zoomed in.
Something was wrong.

The four floating crystals above the platform—silent all morning—began to glow violently. Light exploded from each one, shooting toward the mirror like rivers of lightning.

Gasps echoed across the venue.
Guild leaders leaned forward. The crowd murmured.

“What’s going on…?”
“It’s never glowed like that before…”

Inside the mirror realm, something had changed.

Riven opened his eyes.
He was floating in a vast, black space.
Stars—tiny glowing lights—shimmered all around him like the night sky.

“Where… am I?”

A glowing screen appeared in front of him.

[Awakening Process Initiated]
Welcome, Candidate.
Prepare to endure mental and physical pain to determine your Awakening Rank, Innate Talent, and Unique Skill.

He blinked.
His heart thundered in his chest.

“No turning back now…”

The screen vanished.

And then the pain came.

Blazing heat surged through his body. His muscles spasmed. His mind felt like it was being shattered and reforged in a crucible of agony.

He screamed—but no sound came.
His body twisted in the void, helpless.

Then—suddenly—images flashed before his eyes.

A throne of light.
A shattered sword floating in space.
A blue crystal burning like a star.

And then—silence.

Riven panted, his body limp, drifting.

A voice spoke.
Deep. Ancient. Neither man nor god.

“At last… you have arrived.”

Riven’s eyes shot open.

“Who… who are you?”

From the darkness, a glowing blue crystal emerged.
It pulsed slowly, like a heart.

“You… are the chosen bearer of the Path of God.”

And before he could speak—
The light exploded.

Chapter 3 Ends