Zac sat in his room with the space ring resting in his palm.

His father had placed a special seal on it, one that would only open with Zac’s blood. So he bit his finger and let a drop fall onto the ring.

The ring unlocked instantly, revealing three items inside. A video chip, a skill book, and a luxurious golden-black card.

He inserted the chip into his phone. The screen flickered, and his father’s face appeared before him.

Zac’s body froze. Before he could stop it, tears filling his eyes. It had been almost eight years since he had last seen or heard his father’s voice.

Hi, Zakie. It’s Dad. If you’re watching this, then I believe you have successfully become a Variant, and I haven’t returned yet.

"I’m sorry... for not being there for you. I just hope you understand and don’t resent me. Ho...and congratulations on becoming a Variant."

After a brief pause, his father’s expression hardened.

"Now, listen carefully."

"I don’t know what kind of life you want or wish to live. If you want to live a normal life, stop this video right now and burn the video chip."

"But if you want to become a great Variant, then there are a few things you need to know. First... our bloodline. Fallen."

"Don’t ask me how we possess it, because I won’t tell you. As for the bloodline itself, it grants us immense power and limitless potential."

"But the cost is equally heavy. The stronger you become, the harder it will be to control your mind. Little by little... your emotions will slip out of your control, making you a psychopath."

"That skill book I left behind will help you keep that in check."

"As for why I disappeared..."

"If my predictions are right... five or six years after your awakening..."

"The world will be destroyed."

Silence.

The tears on Zac’s face hadn’t dried yet, but his expression had already changed. His eyes widened, his breath caught halfway, with shock crashing through him all at once. His disbelief of what he had just heard is evident in his face.

"I can’t say exactly how it will happen... but one thing is certain. The world will surely come to an end. I searched everywhere, leaving no stone unturned across the entire planet, but every lead was a dead end."

"That’s when I decided to go somewhere far away, knowing I might not make it back alive."

"Now you may ask, why me?"

"Well, as cliché as it is, the quote from Spider-Man is reality and even more true for people who are righteous."

His father exhaled softly.

"I know this is too much to put on you right after your awakening... but I believe in you. You’re the reason I left without hesitation. I know you’ll take care of Martha and Carrie."

"Look after them for me, son."

"And the card I left... it’s my personal Variant bank card. Use it however you need."

"One more thing."

"During my time as a variant, friendships aren’t the only things I’ve earned. I’ve collected enough scars and enemies to fill several lifetimes. So until you become strong enough, never reveal that I’m your father or anything about our bloodline."

"It will put all of you in danger."

For a moment, his voice softened again.

"I’m praying I return in time and stop this before you see it."

"Watching their child grow and become something great is a parent’s greatest joy... but it seems that isn’t meant for me."

"Take care, my son."

"Wherever I am, my mind will always be thinking about you and Carrie."

The video ended.

***

The words played on a loop in Zac’s head. His chest felt tight, all kinds of emotions rising and crashing one after another.

Among them disbelief lingered the longest. The world getting destroyed, the thought was too massive to fit inside his head

He exhaled slowly. "System, do you know about this?"

An innocent whistling emoji appeared before him. "So you do know something."

[Of course.]

[I am an omniscient being.]

Zac stared at the panel expectantly.

[But I cannot tell you.]

Zac’s face heated up. "Are you mocking me?"

[Don’t look at me like that. I have my own restrictions and rules. I’ve already broken many to save your life once. If I do it again... I may not survive.]

Zac clenched his jaw in frustration but said nothing.

[Even if you knew, nothing would come of it. You don’t have the power to change anything. It would be like a worm trying to fight a dragon.]

Zac’s eyes narrowed. "What if the worm crawls into the dragon’s ear... reaches its brain?"

[I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be stupid.]

[Shits like that doesn’t happen in reality. And even if by some miracle a worm tried to do it, it will be crushed by the dragon’s aura before it could reach a few meter near it.]

After having a quibble with the system, he set the phone aside and picked up the skill book. It looked untouched, not a crease or tear in sight.

Heart Sword, the title, was written across the cover in elegant calligraphy.

He opened it and read the first line.

The heart as a sword.

Will as a wielder.

Kill without mercy.

Zac’s hair stood up from the goosebumps he got from the lines.

He tightened the grip around the book and spent the next hour and a half memorizing every single detail of the book with great excitement

"This is amazing," he muttered under his breath.

The book isn’t what he had initially expected to be. It isn’t a skill but a technique used to forge the mind, also known as the sea of consciousness, into both a weapon and a shield.

"The method of using it is simple, but the requirements are overwhelming. According to it, multiple high-level elemental energies had to be used to temper the mind again and again."

[You already have lightning essence.]

"The liquid from the pond?"

[Yes]

"Alright."

He shifted slightly, preparing to begin.

[Wait]

His brows drew together. "What now?"

[Forging means constant hammering. Your mind will be broken and reforged repeatedly.]

"...So I have to shatter my own mind over and over to make it stronger?"

[Yes]

"That sounds dangerous."

[Let me remind you of your own words. There is no free meal.]

Zac shook his head, a faint smirk forming. "Yeah. Using my own sword against me." He pulled out the lightning essence, lifted it without hesitation, and swallowed a mouthful.

The moment it settled in his stomach, violent energy surged through his body, spreading like wild lightning.

He sat down in a lotus position, closed his eyes, and began circulating the technique. His fallen bloodline and lightning affinity kept the violent energy from tearing his body apart.

At the same time, the Heart Sword technique guided it all toward his sea of consciousness, where it rose and crashed without end, destroying and rebuilding it again and again.

From each destruction, his body is trembling and mind screaming to stop. Every nerve felt like it was being split open and stitched back together.

His teeth ground against each other as he fought to stay conscious.

His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Sweat poured down, soaking the ground beneath him. Veins across his body lit up in streaks of blue, flickering like lightning across a night sky.

Two hours later, a long breath escaped his lips.

He opened his eyes as a sharp glint flashed within them. His thoughts felt clearer, steadier. Even the control over his lighting element seems much easier now.

⟦ STATUS ⟧

Name: Zac Godson

Level: 20 (E)(+12)

Age: 19

Race: Human

Title: -

Bloodline: Fallen (Unknown)

Traits: Divine Aura, Unmatched Charisma.

Awakened Abilities: System (Unknown), Swordsmanship (SS), Lightning (S)

Technique: Heart Sword (SS)

Skills: -

Info Points: 20

Attributes

Strength: 30

Agility: 26

Physique: 36

Wisdom: 26 (+5)

Un-allotted points: 72

"A five-point increase in wisdom..." a faint smile formed. "Worthy of an SS-level technique."

He glanced at the remaining lightning essence in his hand, mentally measuring the amount.

"Eight... maybe nine uses left." His fingers tightened slightly. "I’ll need another source if I want to keep going."

[Using the same essence repeatedly will reduce its effect.]

"So I need different essences." He exhaled. "Fine. I’ll deal with that later." He stretched his neck, exhaustion finally catching up.

"Now, I’m sleeping."

After washing off the sweat, he lay down and closed his eyes.