On that day, darkness befell the entire planet of Aphelgustine, lasting for months. Perhaps a calamity loomed over the Devil's Hold—or maybe a genius had just been born into the world.
On that day, emotions ran rampant across the Core City. For a people who prided themselves on emotional restraint, this was a devastating blow. Days passed without answers. Weeks turned into months. And then, after seven long years—when a Core was supposed to form—the darkness vanished.
Sooner rather than later, the world forgot.
---
"Understanding body movement in battle is one of the most important things to master," said Old Man Khan, standing at the center of the courtyard. His grey hair flowed gently in the breeze, his wrinkled face marked by experience. His sharp red eyes studied the two boys before him. "Rushing in with brute force may leave you limbless. Control is key."
"Then why must I use my fists while Jace gets a sword?" asked Kaine Auron, standing calmly to Khan's left. His long, pristine white hair danced with the wind. His unwavering ruby eyes shone with quiet resolve. At just 15, Kaine had already grown into a striking young man.
"Am I hearing this right?" Jace grinned. He looked about the same age as Kaine, with short white hair and matching ruby eyes. Brandishing a wooden sword, he added smugly, "The almighty Kaine is afraid of a little handicap?"
Ignoring their banter, Old Man Khan stepped forward and spoke coldly, "This spar is meant to improve your adaptability—weapon against fists, and vice versa. You'd best show some progress if you don't want your parents breathing down your necks."
"Well, this'll be easy," both boys muttered, almost in sync, before launching into battle.
Jace moved first, slashing his wooden sword in a swift diagonal arc. It was a strike meant to end the fight in one blow—but he knew better. Kaine sidestepped with ease and retaliated with a powerful kick, which Jace barely deflected. Jace retreated and lunged forward with a punch, only to meet Kaine's iron defense again.
Three minutes passed, and neither boy showed signs of relenting. Kaine never left an opening, his relentless assault forcing Jace into pure defense. Eventually, Jace, clearly fed up, tossed his sword aside. Surprised for a split second, Kaine couldn't stop Jace from tackling him to the ground and locking his arms around his neck.
"Aghh...aack... You've got no shame, loser!" Kaine choked out.
With a sigh, Old Man Khan kicked Jace off him as if it were routine.
"You're getting more useless by the day, Jace. Your father would be ashamed... You're done for today. Go clean up and get ready for the tournament. You'll be using your Sin powers next time."
With that, the old man turned and left.
"Hahaha! With my Sin powers, beating you will be easier than squashing a slime!" Jace laughed uproariously.
Kaine sat up, clearly displeased.
"I still don't understand why your grandmother signed you up for the tournament," Jace said with mock sympathy.
"We'll see about that," Kaine muttered.
---
The Aphelgustine Family was structured by a strict hierarchy:
Patriarch > Grand Elder > Elder > Supervisor > Direct Descendants > Normal Blooded Descendants.
The lowest tier, though numerous, upheld the family bloodline through countless branches. Five main branches ruled, each with its own prestige and legacy.
Every year, a tournament was held to determine who would enter VERNAM Academy, an elite institution built by the Five Great Families and the Government of the Celestial Concord. Only the strongest could represent their families—failure meant disgrace. Strength and reputation were everything. Sacrifices were expected, even demanded, for the sake of family honor.
Kaine Auron belonged to the Auron Branch, one of the five main lines. A direct descendant. Yet he was parentless—his mother and father died at his birth. Only his grandmother, Elder Maicy, raised him with love and care.
He had no grand ambitions. As long as he didn't disappoint his grandmother, he was content.
But fate was cruel.
Awakening one's Qi Core at age 7 earned the title of genius. Kaine achieved that. But by 15, he had yet to manifest an affinity with any of the Seven Sins—making him little more than a commoner among his gifted peers.
The Aphelgustine family's legacy lay in the control of sin-based powers:
Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Envy, Sloth, Wrath, and Pride.
True geniuses could wield multiple. The current Patriarch controlled five. The family founder, the only one ever to master all seven, was called the True Sinborn.
By 13, most children had developed a sin affinity. Kaine had not. He was mocked, feared, pitied. Labeled cursed. But still, he trained. Still, he hoped.
---
As Kaine walked through the Core District, he breathed in the serene air. Despite the world's technological advancements, the Aphelgustine family preferred a medieval aesthetic. Stone paths. Gothic buildings. Yet behind this timeless facade, tech thrived quietly.
Occasionally, he'd pass other direct descendants, chatting and laughing—until their ruby eyes caught his. Their faces would twist into frowns, as though he were a disease.
He smiled through it, as he always did.
Soon, he arrived at the Health Center, the central hub for medicine and alchemy. It had nine floors. The first floor, with F-rank herbs. The second, E-rank. And so on, up to the ninth floor: home to Special Grade Herbs, accessible only to the elite.
Kaine had access—because his grandmother ran the place.
He entered the fragrant garden of the ninth floor, marveling once again at its beauty. His eyes locked onto Elder Maicy, a woman whose appearance defied time. Her long white hair shimmered, and her ruby eyes held boundless warmth. Though over a century old, she looked no older than thirty.
She plucked a glowing petal from a rare flower and handed it to Kaine.
"It takes a decade for that to grow back," Kaine muttered bitterly as he chewed it.
"Who cares," Maicy said with a gentle smile, caressing his cheek. "If it's for my beloved grandson."
But Kaine was serious now. "The tournament is a week away. You still haven't found a solution to my problem."
"I have," Maicy replied, hesitating. "But it's dangerous. I don't want you to go through with it."
Kaine's eyes hardened. He was ready. Whatever it took.
Seeing the fire in his gaze, Maicy sighed. She would explain everything.
---
Three Days Later
Kaine ran through the dense forest like death itself was chasing him.
Because it was.
A hulking boar-like beast thundered behind him. Three horns jutted from its skull. It was the size of a truck, and it's speed was surprisingly fast, destroying everything in its wake.
"This method Maicy is talking about us completely insane".