Trul felt as if his heart had risen to his throat.

Even after making his move… even after granting Calus power… his sisters still ended up dying.

Why?

But that wasn't the only thing worrying him.

He finally understood who,

or what

the Leader truly was.

The Leader controlled the antagonist camp… while he controlled the protagonist camp.

Realizing this, Trul slowly calmed down. A small smile formed on his face.

"You're right," Trul said, his fingers brushing over his white piece as his smile widened. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"But the purpose of cultivating ,

of growing stronger .. is to defy fate itself," he muttered.

Dah—

The chessboard trembled as a chuckle escaped the Leader's lips.

***

With the truth laid bare, Calus knew what he had to do.

If the past couldn't be changed without consequences…

Then he simply had to grow strong enough to protect his parents from any repercussion.

Years passed.

Calus turned ten.

And now ,

he could finally protect them.

[Host:

Name: Calus

Rank: Silver Realm — Peak Level]

Because of the beasts he had hunted, he had already reached the peak of the Silver Realm and was stuck for the highest in those forest was the tigery he had killed when he was young but now he had another

goal and that was entering the Eastern academy.

Over the past five years, Calus and his parents had relocated to the main town. After discovering he was a fighter, both his mother and father had been overjoyed , though his mother worried constantly.

Ever since that day in the forest, Calus had continued venturing out to hunt low-level fighter beasts.

It was traumatic for his parents to watch their five-year-old walk into the forest alone.

But he was no longer an ordinary child.

He had to do it.

Eventually, they grew accustomed to watching him leave

and return stronger each time.

Soon, at just ten years old, rumors about Calus spread throughout the town.

A rare blessed child.

A prodigy who had reached the Silver Realm at such a young age.

Some even claimed he had been born awakened ,

though most dismissed that as exaggeration.

Most believed it was exaggerated

and calus was just a bit stronger than his mates.

Invitations from the town head and nearby cities didn't faze him.

To Calus, they were insignificant.

He had seen the Central Continent.

He had seen higher realms.

His worldview had long since changed.

Still, to better protect his parents, there was something he had to do.

He had to enter the Eastern Academy.

---

"Mom. Dad. It's time. Recruitment starts today," said the small boy, barely one and a half meters tall, looking at the two adults before him.

His mother's shoulders trembled as tears streamed down her face.

Calus sighed softly, but remained firm.

Once he entered the Eastern Academy and revealed his strength, they would assign experts to guard his parents.

If he displayed even greater talent, they might even bring his parent into the academy grounds.

"Son…" his mother whispered, her voice shaking as she cupped his face. She couldn't stop crying.

Five years ago, she had gone from a mother of three to a mother of one.

Tragedy was common in this world.

But that didn't make it hurt any less.

And now her only son was leaving home to chase his path.

At just ten years old , like many children he would journey to the academy.

"I believe in you," his father said, pulling him into a firm hug. "I know you thirst for strength. But promise me

you would

prioritize your safety."

Calus felt his heart soften as he nodded.

"Mom, Dad, I'll come back to visit. And I'll stay safe. I'm strong, after all," he said proudly, raising his small arm and flexing.

His parents laughed through their tears.

They stood in the town square, where other parents were also saying goodbye to their children.

Calus wasn't the only talented child. A few others were already stronger than their peers ,

some even possessed the strength of adults.

Any child who showed such potential was sent to the academy to test for awakening.

Yet only a few truly awakened as fighters.

And even fewer were accepted into the academy.

Those who failed to meet the required strength were sent back to serve their towns as protectors under government rule.

Yes , this world had a government.

A dynasty ruled by an Emperor and Empress.

Beneath them were kingdoms led by kings and queens. Below them — generals, aristocrats, city lords… and so on.

Soon, the farewells ended.

The children marched toward the town gates.

Some sniffled. Some wiped dried tears from their faces.

For most of them, this was their first time leaving home.

It was terrifying.

Only Calus remained calm.

He counted quietly.

The number was the same as in his past life.

Seventeen.

Including himself ,

eighteen.

"It seems saving only my parents didn't create too much of a butterfly effect," Calus thought, clenching his fist.

"If I change too much, the future becomes uncertain… muddy."

"And that's what I want."

"I will never walk that path again. I will never die to their scheme. Never."

His eyes hardened.

Today, they would be escorted by a Beastman Fighter ,

cultivators who formed life-bound contracts with powerful beasts. As their beasts grew stronger, so did they. Their lives were intertwined.

The stronger they became, the more beasts they could command.

But that wasn't what mattered.

This academy…

This was where he would meet his future best friend.

"In this life… you won't die because of that witch," Calus muttered.

CAAAH!

A piercing eagle cry echoed through the sky as an enormous shadow swallowed the ground below.

The children froze.

Calus exhaled slowly.

This beast… was extraordinary.

Its shadow stretched for nearly a kilometer.

In the next instant, Calus and the other children felt the world blur.

They reappeared atop the massive eagle's back.

"Hold on. Stay on the feathers," a middle-aged man's voice echoed. "If you fall, I won't save you."

"Hmm…"

Soft murmurs spread among the children as they noticed dozens of other kids already riding on the beast.

Each had shy eyes, glancing nervously at their surroundings.

These were the children who had been picked up earlier by the Beastman Fighter.

The beast was an enormous eagle, its legs and tail feathers lined with terrifying spikes.

It served as the transport mechanism of the Eastern Academy.

Calus knew they still had several towns left to visit, so he stepped away from the center and moved toward the edge, gazing at the vast scenery below.

Strangely enough, a bird nearly one thousand meters long should have had body feathers at least fifty meters in length.

Yet this beast's body feathers were only about one meter long.

They weren't dense either ,

smaller, softer, almost like a comfortable bed.

The contrast created a slightly grotesque image. Calus avoided looking at the beast's full body for too long.

Still, it was incredibly fast.

At maximum speed, it could reach 600 kilometers per hour. During this journey, however, it maintained around 300 kph.

Despite that speed, the beast possessed a self-stabilizing barrier that blocked out wind pressure and turbulence.

No matter how fast it moved, standing on its back felt as stable as solid ground.

Soon, Calus reached the edge, where a few children were already laughing and pointing excitedly.

Below them stretched a breathtaking landscape.

Rivers wound across the earth like silver threads. Mountains rose so high they seemed to pierce the clouds.

Above them, thick layers of clouds drifted endlessly.

A gentle wind brushed along the beast's edge, causing their clothes to flutter.

Some wore robes. Others wore simple shirts and shorts.

It was a mixture of backgrounds and personalities.

As more children appeared, the atmosphere gradually changed.

The earlier tears faded.

Laughter replaced fear.

New friendships formed quickly.

"Beautiful…" Calus muttered, a faint smile forming on his lips.

But the smile soon faded.

A horrifying scene flashed through his mind.

Destruction.

Blood.

Screams.

His past memories stirred.

"I suppose… I should cherish this," he murmured quietly, looking away before walking toward a quieter corner.

He lay down on the soft feathers.

They were surprisingly warm.

His eyelids grew heavy, and before long, he drifted into sleep.

---

Time passed swiftly.

The eagle soared across the sky at incredible speed.

More children continued to appear as it visited town after town.

Their laughter, shouts, and chatter filled the air.

The middle-aged Beastman Fighter watched them with a faint smile.

"Enjoy this moment," he muttered softly. "Who knows how many of you will even awaken… and fewer still will enter the academy."

"The joy of childhood…"

The eagle let out a sharp screech.

"CAAAHH!"

It pierced through the clouds.

Darkness swallowed everything as the massive beast disappeared into the thick sky.