Part I — A New Beginning
Two days passed.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity...
Life became quiet again.
The wounds left behind by the Tower had long since healed, but the battle itself remained vivid inside my mind.
Every exchange.
Every mistake.
Every adaptation.
Every lesson.
Prime Instinct wasn't simply another technique.
It had become a way of thinking.
A way of existing.
Even while sleeping, my breathing unconsciously followed its rhythm.
Even while walking, my steps wasted less energy than before.
Without realizing it...
I had changed.
---
The morning sun rose above the white mountains surrounding the city.
Golden light spilled across countless floating islands connected by bridges of condensed spiritual energy.
Waterfalls poured from the heavens into rivers that shimmered like flowing stars.
Children flew between buildings while elders quietly watched from distant terraces.
Everything felt...
Peaceful.
---
I opened my eyes.
A calm breath escaped my lungs.
The room was silent.
No system notifications.
No crimson screen.
No Tower.
Only morning.
I stretched before standing.
"...It's been two days."
The blue system hadn't disturbed me once.
Neither had the Tower.
Exactly as promised.
---
After washing and changing clothes, I walked downstairs.
The familiar scent of breakfast greeted me.
My father was already seated.
Across from him sat my older brother.
"Morning."
"Morning, Father."
He nodded with a smile.
"Morning, Vel."
My brother looked up.
"...Morning."
Then he frowned.
His eyes narrowed.
"...You've changed."
I blinked.
"What?"
"You walk differently."
"...Do I?"
He pointed at me.
"You don't stomp anymore."
"I used to stomp?"
"You always did."
"...Really?"
Father chuckled quietly.
"He isn't wrong."
I looked down at my feet.
Without realizing it...
Every step had become lighter.
Balanced.
Natural.
Almost silent.
Prime Instinct.
It wasn't something I activated anymore.
Small pieces of it had become habit.
"...Interesting."
My brother continued staring.
"And your breathing."
I raised an eyebrow.
"My breathing?"
"It's slower."
"...You're weird."
He snorted.
"Says the one acting strange."
Father laughed.
"You two never change."
For a brief moment...
Everything felt normal.
---
Breakfast ended peacefully.
As I stood, Father finally spoke.
"The elders have called every child of the younger generation."
Both my brother and I stopped.
"A gathering?"
Father nodded.
"Yes."
My brother frowned.
"Why?"
"I wasn't told."
He placed his cup down.
"You'll understand soon enough."
I sighed.
Typical elder.
Always speaking like they were testing people.
---
Not long afterward—
The Two of us left home.
The city bustled with activity.
Groups of children flew through the sky toward the same destination.
Some laughed.
Others competed to see who could fly faster.
Many wore expressions filled with curiosity.
It wasn't difficult to determine where everyone was going.
Power gathered in one direction.
Hundreds.
No...
Thousands.
---
The massive training grounds soon appeared before us.
Even from the sky...
The scale was astonishing.
An enormous circular arena stretched across the mountain plateau.
White stone pillars surrounded its edges.
Training platforms floated high above the main grounds.
Everywhere...
Children.
Some stood proudly with arms crossed.
Others quietly observed.
Several trained even while waiting.
The atmosphere wasn't hostile.
It was competitive.
Every person present knew exactly where they stood.
Or believed they did.
---
The moment my feet touched the ground—
Prime Instinct stirred.
Not as a warning.
As awareness.
My eyes slowly swept across the crowd.
Strong.
Very strong.
There were no weaklings here.
Every single person gathered was among the younger generation's finest.
Some possessed overwhelming spiritual energy.
Others had astonishingly refined control.
Several stood perfectly still...
Yet naturally attracted everyone's attention.
Not because they released pressure.
Because they didn't.
Complete control.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
---
I quietly smiled.
"So these are the geniuses..."
My brother folded his arms.
"Nervous?"
I looked at him.
"No."
"Excited?"
"...A little."
He grinned.
"I knew it."
---
At the center of the arena stood a single stone platform.
An elder waited calmly atop it.
He appeared no older than twenty.
Long silver hair rested neatly behind him.
White robes fluttered gently in the wind.
Despite standing before thousands...
His breathing never changed.
Neither did his expression.
I focused slightly.
The blue screen appeared.
> STATUS
Name: Aureon Valeris
Age: 100 Years
Realm: Mid Divine Realm — Second Stage
---
"...Only one hundred?"
I couldn't hide my surprise.
For someone entrusted with guiding an entire generation...
He was astonishingly young.
Which could only mean one thing.
Talent.
---
More children continued arriving.
Minutes passed.
The crowd eventually settled.
Silence spread naturally.
Without releasing pressure...
Without saying a word...
The elder stepped forward.
Everyone instinctively looked toward him.
"Good morning."
His calm voice carried effortlessly throughout the entire arena.
"My name is Aureon Valeris."
His gaze slowly moved across the countless young cultivators.
"I welcome every one of you."
A brief pause.
"Today..."
"...marks the true beginning of your cultivation."
No one spoke.
Every eye remained fixed upon him.
"The lessons you have received until now..."
"Were merely preparation."
"This..."
He looked across the sea of young faces.
"...is where your future begins."
A strange excitement spread through the crowd.
Some smiled confidently.
Others became visibly nervous.
Aureon continued.
"From this day onward..."
"You will no longer be trained equally."
"You will be separated."
"According to talent."
"According to temperament."
"And according to potential."
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
No one complained.
Everyone understood.
Not every genius grew the same way.
"The elders shall personally guide your growth."
"Some of you..."
"...will rise."
His eyes became sharper.
"Others..."
"...will be left behind."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on Aureon's face.
"Welcome..."
"...to the Gathering of Prodigies."
Far above the arena—
The morning wind quietly swept across the countless young geniuses gathered below.
None of them realized it yet.
But from this day onward...
Friendships would be forged.
Rivalries would be born.
Legends would begin.
And history itself...
Would remember the names of those who stood here today.