Chapter 1: Prologue
Year 6,000,000 of Zonastin calendar, Ancient Blue Gate World.
The Ancient Blue Gate World is a vast world with many empires, kingdoms, sects, and other forms of power that dominate their respective territories. Each of these powers has enough influence to affect countless lives, including matters of life and death. The existence of Qi, or Heaven and Earth energy, also supports its inhabitants in various ways, whether for good or bad. Qi strengthens their bodies, even if they do not know how to meditate or cultivate it.
The presence of Qi also indicates the existence of superpowers and supernatural beings that cannot be comprehended by common mortal sense in some places. In this world, where the system is based on Qi or Heaven and Earth energy, a person's power undoubtedly determines their status, except for those born into noble families.
In one part of the Ancient Blue Gate World, the continent of Barisan is no exception, where various empires, kingdoms, sects, and religious groups carve out their domains across the land. The continent, with its diverse landscapes, from the breathtaking scenery of sky piercing mountains to vast forests stretching beyond the horizon, delights anyone who sees it. Yet, despite its population of 150 billion, the continent still harbors mysteries that remain unresolved in some regions.
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The sun still shone so brightly in the sky, illuminating all life forms as they went about their activities. Various activities in the economy, politics, and military continued as usual, there was not much difference from each passing time. Whether from rivalry between countries, those with their own agendas, or those with their own problems and businesses, each of them kept thinking, 'another usual day is coming.'
In the city of Finna, the capital city of the Vindas Empire, the activities are the most bustling in the empire. The city, which has a population of 100 million people and covers an area of 130,000 km², never rests from the movements of life, not even for a moment. In the middle of the city, there is a huge white castle with multiple towers and many guards walking and standing at their posts.
In one of the rooms in the castle, adorned with many hanging flags and ornaments, a middle age man sits at the end of the room on a throne decorated with golden ornaments. He wears a beautifully crafted crown and a red cape that reaches his waist. His demeanor and aura make others cower and not dare to look into his eyes.
He is Herman Avandi, the emperor of the Vindas Empire. In front of him, one can see a kneeling man in knight's attire, bearing the symbol of the empire, a western dragon with two swords crossing each other, on the middle of his armor.
"Your Majesty, there is an unusual movement on the side of the Atria Empire. Our intelligence managed to observe it and is waiting for further movement from the other side."
"It looks like those bastards are starting to lose their patience."
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"We presume that they will start to make their big move but we don't think it will be in short time."
"As I thought, because of that prophecy from the 'Heavenly Direction' church they are trying to do something more reckless" Herman thought. After a few moments of contemplation, he finally gave his order.
"If we don't act sooner, we will lose the momentum. Let's prepare our side to counter any movement. Starting today, I want you all to gather the necessary infrastructure, logistics, goods, and personnel. I want it ready as fast as possible."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After the man received his orders, he retreated from the throne room, leaving Herman alone.
"I hope we can still maintain the status quo, but... sigh I think that is just my dream."
He sat on his throne with a crease on his forehead, thinking about the future of the continent. His worries could also be felt by other powers, on the eastern side of continent there is a vast forest with dense green trees, The lush foliage adds a refreshing coolness that makes people feel comfortable sitting beneath it. However, not everyone is willing to sit there without a clear reason, because that forest is part of the Ivory Empire, inhabited by the elves.
Deep within the dense forest, there are strangely shaped root and branch that do not appear to be naturally formed. These root and branch create a high wall about 70 meters tall, with a gate guarded by many elves. This is the capital city for the elves on this continent, in the Ivory Empire, the city of Evergreen. If someone enters the city through that gate, they will see an arrangement of houses shaped like igloos but made of wood, larger and in various sizes, covered with plants where the elves can live and carry out their activities.
In the center of the city, there is an enormous tree towering so high that it's top pierces through the clouds. Beneath its lush canopy lies a grand palace, shaped like branching roots forming a spacious cage, connected to the giant tree. At this moment, inside the palace, specifically in the emperor's study of the elf nation, the emperor stands facing outward, looking at the view of the city with his hands clasped behind his back.
"This feeling is stronger as ever, something big will happen to this continent."
Some of the other powers on this continent also have their own worries and opinions, but not everyone cares enough about the continent and its fate. At the center of the continent, there is a small, unnamed village, far removed from the luxury and intrigue of high level society. The people there lead simple lives, with a peaceful atmosphere surrounding them and their way of life.
In this village, with a population of no more than 60 people, mostly elderly, there is a married couple living in one of the houses, a man with red hair and a handsome face sat next to a beautiful woman with long black hair. The wife was heavily pregnant, and it wasn't surprising that she could give birth at any moment. Currently, she was sitting on a wooden chair while her husband gently stroking her swollen belly.
"Our son will be born healthy and strong." said the man.
"I hope he will be like you, strong and responsible." answered the woman.
The two of them kept exchanging words of love, gratitude, and reminiscence, commemorating their adventures up until now, as they were about to complete their family with the presence of the result of their union.
"Honey, have you already decided on his name?"
"Yes, I hope with this name he will be a better person. I don't want him to bear our family's surname." her answer made the man stunned, but it wasn't surprising given their circumstances.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, and I want him to be a person who stands out from the masses and shines wherever he goes, like stars in the night sky, and he will be the brightest one!"
"Oh..What is his name?"
The woman's smile was brighter than ever.
"Aldrian... Aldrian Aster."
When the woman said that name, the entire atmosphere suddenly became tense and the wind blew so strongly that the entire village was thrown into panic. The cattle also began making noises as they panicked. At the sky, clouds congregating at one point, forming a black mass as if a thunderstorm was imminent.
This phenomenon was visible not only from this village but across the entire Barisan continent and beyond. All kinds of life stopped their activities to look up at the sky, which gave them a foreboding feeling that something would come down from the heavens to judge them all.
"Dear, what's happening?" the woman cried, falling into panic and hugging her belly to protect the life inside her womb.
"I don't know! Stay here I will right back."
The man ran outside to look and was dumbstruck by what he saw. The sight etched itself into his memory for the rest of his life: a giant long dragon and a phoenix flying between dark clouds, dancing as if performing some sort of ritual with a beautiful choreography that mesmerized all who watched, despite the weather.
The two creatures continued their dance for a few moments when the next second the tense atmosphere disappeared and the dark clouds dissipated little by little, creating gaps through which rainbow clouds appeared, making the scene look like something from paradise. At that moment, all races, not only on the Barisan continent but across the entire Ancient Blue Gate World, fell silent.
The woman peeked through the gap between the door of their house and gasped at what she saw. She unconsciously stepped outside and stood beside her husband, looking up at the sky. They remained still when suddenly two creatures in the sky turned towards them and swiftly moved in their direction with a speed that was impossible to evade, the strange thing for the entire population of the world was that they just saw the dragon and the phoenix suddenly disappear, but not for the couple. Shocked, they didn't have time to react before the two creatures transformed into particles of light and entered the woman's body.
"IRENE!"
He hugged his wife to protect her and panicked when he saw her in pain, clutching her belly. She couldn't respond to her husband, only making muffled sounds from her mouth with cold sweat dripping from her pained face.
"Damn it! Hold on, honey, I'll be right back." He ran to the west side of the village where an elderly physician couple lived.
When he arrived, fortunately, the elderly physicians were standing in front of their home, looking at the sky like everyone else, so he didn't have to look inside the house.
"Hey, Aldrey, did you see—"
"Old man, I need your help, hurry!"
"Wha—"
"Irene! Something happened to her."
When the old couple heard that, their faces became solemn.
"Where is she? Let's go."
They rushed to Aldrey's home and found Irene still grimacing in pain on the floor. As they tried to help her, the old man injected his energy into Irene's body and was surprised by what he sensed.
"What a huge concentration of energy! And this?!"
"Your son! It's time for his birth!" said the old man.
The commotion they caused had already gained the attention of their nearest neighbors, who started to make their way to help with the childbirth.
After Irene was inside the house and the women began to help the childbirth process, Aldrey, standing outside, could hear their voices.
"Lady Irene, on the count of three, push! One... two... three, push!"
Irene's voice that struggling to give birth, made Aldrey more anxious. But a few moments later...
"Uwa! Uwa! Uwa!" The cries of the baby could be heard from inside, a sound that made Aldrey relax his nerves and rush inside to see his wife. When he finally reached her, he was stunned to see a tiny creature in the arms of one of the women who had helped with the childbirth. Unconsciously, tears started to drop from his eyes—tears of happiness that he had never experienced before. He then looked at his tired wife with her disheveled hair and sweat dripping from her face. They faced each other, smiling with tears brimming in their eyes. He approached his wife and son as the woman tried to hand the baby to him.
"Congratulations! Your son is so healthy! Look at his cute and handsome face! I think he looks more like you!" she praised.
Aldrey then hugged his little love, his own flesh and blood, with tenderness. "My son, who will shine like stars in the middle of the night... Aldrian Aster."
Today is the day a human named Aldrian Aster was born.