Read The Legend of 9 Heavens :: Chapter 7: A Vision Beyond Time

Content Note: Contains themes of violence and intense scenes. Reader discretion is advised.

"To awaken is to suffer. But in suffering, the dormant embers reignite."

The blurry figure before Ryu began to sharpen.

At first, all he could make out was a faint silhouette. But slowly, the outline became clearer—a frail old man, slim and still, eyes closed. Despite his fragile form, the space around him seemed to ripple with quiet pressure. Something about him didn’t feel normal.

And then Ryu noticed something strange.

The man’s legs weren’t visible.

Instead, a thick layer of smoky dust swirled around the lower half of his body.

Ryu’s heart thudded. He stood frozen, unsure whether to move or speak.

Then, the figure’s arm twitched.

A sudden, sharp movement.

The stillness shattered.

And his eyes snapped open.

They were azure—a deep, cold blue, endless as the ocean, with thin streaks of lightning dancing faintly inside them. The moment those eyes met his, a wave of awareness slammed into Ryu like a punch to the chest.

His entire body tensed. His mind rang with alarm.

Something shifted.

The air changed— it felt dense, crushing, and heavy. The pressure doubled. Then tripled. Like mountains being dropped on his back. His vision shook. His ears buzzed. The stone beneath his feet cracked.

His knees buckled.

He couldn’t breathe.

Blood filled his mouth. His teeth ground together as the weight crushed him. Veins bulged beneath his skin. His muscles spasmed, nerves twitching like they might snap.

Then, all at once, the pressure loosened.

Not by much—but enough for Ryu to stay conscious.

He coughed, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his face. His fingers dug into the ground as he slowly looked up.

The old man stood still. Despite his age, his skin had a strange glow—like time had refused to touch him.

Ryu forced out a broken voice. “W-Who... who are you? Why are you here?”

The man furrowed his brow slightly. He looked at Ryu with a gaze so sharp it felt like it could cut through bone. Silence stretched between them.

Then, the man spoke.

“You have passed my testimony. You meet the requirements. You may now ask your questions.”

Ryu blinked, confused. Before he could repeat himself, the figure let out a faint smirk.

“Ah... the question earlier,” he said calmly. “I am the Great Sage. Or... as erased from your history books, I was once called the Seer of Lost Aeons.”

Ryu's heartbeat didn’t slow. His body was stuck in a strange state—half fight, half frozen. Every muscle screamed at him to run, but he couldn’t.

Then—

A flick of the Sage’s finger.

Ryu didn’t even have time to brace. An invisible force hit him like a cannonball.

He slammed into the stone wall behind him.

Pain erupted in his ribs. He fell hard, coughing blood, stars dancing in his vision. Still, he pushed himself up.

He wouldn’t go down like this.

The Sage hadn’t moved.

Ryu staggered to his feet. His legs shook, and his lungs burned, but something deeper pushed him forward.

I need to get out of here. I can’t die here.

He took one step—

But the Sage lifted his hand.

Instantly, Ryu's body locked mid-air. His limbs wouldn’t move. He floated, frozen by some force he couldn't fight. The Sage walked closer, inspecting him like an object.

He plucked a few floating droplets of Ryu’s blood from the air. His expression being unreadable.

“Hm… my perception was correct,” he said softly. “The ember burns within you.”

The force suddenly vanished.

Ryu fell, but before his body could process the pain, he launched forward, swinging a punch.

It passed right through the Sage.

The old man chuckled. “You cannot touch me. Not with power that dull and rusty.”

Ryu’s rage flared.

Maybe it was the way he talked. Maybe it was the unbearable pressure. Or maybe Ryu had just had enough.

Something inside him snapped.

He swung again. And again.

The Sage didn’t even react. His face showed mild amusement. Then—another finger snap.

Ryu froze mid-swing, helpless again.

“You’re no match for me,” the Sage said, but now his voice sounded softer. “Still... you are worthy.”

The pressure lifted.

Ryu hit the ground, panting. “Worthy… for what?”

The Sage folded his hands behind his back.

“To wield power beyond your current understanding.”

He paused, then looked into Ryu’s eyes.

“But before that, I must tell you something.”

His tone changed—heavier, older. Like he had waited lifetimes to say this.

“Everything you’ve been taught about magic is a lie.”

The air around them stilled.

“Why should I believe you? You’re just some ghost,” Ryu snapped.

The Sage let out a tired sigh. “Rude kid, aren’t you?” he said, shaking his head.

“I’m what your kind might call a Higher Spirit—an Ascended Master, if you want the proper term.”

He paused, his voice softening slightly.

“Though... I guess your attitude makes sense. I did stomp all over you for my own reasons.”

Then he tilted his head.

“But let me ask you something...”

He floated closer to Ryu and spoke softly,

“Tell me, how can you even see a spirit… if you supposedly have no magic?”

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing.

“In fact, if you can see a Higher Spirit like me—and even stayed standing for a while—you might have more magic than most people.”

A pause. Then a slight smirk.

“Weren’t you the one they called affinity-less?”

Ryu's eyes widened. “That’s not possible. Magic flows through mana channels. I don’t have any—”

“Exactly,” the Sage interrupted. “Another lie.”

Ryu's voice broke. “But... everyone says—”

“Magic doesn’t flow through imaginary channels. It flows through blood. Through the essence of those who refuse to bow to nature’s rules.”

His words hit harder than any punch. Ryu’s head spun.

No one could ever detect magic in him. He had no affinity. No channel.

That’s why he’d been overlooked. Mocked. Ignored.

“Magic isn’t gifted by gods. It’s not a system for the chosen. It’s inherited through bloodlines that history tried to erase.”

The Sage’s face darkened.

“I’ve seen others like you. Standing on the edge of fate. Most don’t make it. But I believe… you might.”

He raised his hand. Silver glyphs swirled from his fingertips, glowing softly, pulsing like heartbeats.

“But do not mistake this for kindness,” he warned.

“Power comes with pain.”

Ryu’s breath caught.

“This will hurt.”

The glyphs flew at him.

They slammed into his body.

Pain.

Blinding, burning pain.

Silver-blue light flooded his veins. His back arched. His mouth opened in a silent scream. The symbols carved into his skin, glowing brighter with each second. Something deep inside him cracked open.

The Sage’s voice echoed in his ears.

“Your bloodline is not forgotten. You will rise. Or fall.”

The world around Ryu shook. His vision blurred. The Sage faded like a mirage.

“The truth of magic,” he said, now distant, “will come to you... soon.”

Meanwhile,

Aiden stirred.

His body jerked awake before his mind understood why.

A strange pulse in the air—a sharp wave of mana—sent his heart racing.

Then—a crash.

KRRRRRK!

He sat up, eyes wide. Someone outside was yelling.

“Ryu is missing!”