Trial of Talents

The sky above was heavy with dark clouds, a storm on the horizon. The wind howled across the mountain pass, the chill biting through the air. Zheng Yun stood at the entrance of the Rana Clan ancestral hall, blood still staining his clothes from the battle that had raged before. Behind him, the jungle seemed to exhale, as though nature itself was holding its breath.

The world he had once known was long gone, replaced by this new life in the Rana World. Zheng Yun's family was long lost to the sands of time. His parents, killed in the bloodshed of political strife, had left him to be raised by his aunt and uncle. His uncle, Bo Yan, was a respected member of the clan but not the clan head. Clan leadership lay with someone else, someone further up the ladder, but that never bothered Zheng Yun. He had never cared much for family dynamics.

His aunt, however, was a different matter. She was stern and unforgiving, a harsh woman who never seemed to show him any love or understanding. She punished him at every turn, regardless of whether he had done anything wrong. Zheng Yun had learned long ago that the world was cold, and love was a commodity reserved for those who had no ambition.

Still, his talents had started to surface early on. His aunt had noticed his unusual abilities, and over time, her harshness had turned into a strange form of admiration. Not out of love, but out of recognition for his potential. Zheng Yun was different, and she knew that he could bring the clan to new heights.

Bo Yan, his uncle, had always been distant, but he too had begun to notice the growing power within Zheng Yun. Yet he never took the time to nurture it. He simply kept his distance, observing the child with the calculating eye of someone who knew that power had a way of shaping those who sought it.

Zheng Yun's little brother, Zheng Zhi, had been raised alongside him, but the two were like strangers. Zheng Zhi was an emotional child, and while his talent was strong, it was nothing compared to Zheng Yun's. The brothers didn't share a bond beyond blood. Zheng Yun's relationship with his little brother was cold—nothing more than a fleeting acknowledgment that they were related.

Today was the Talent Examination, an event that would determine the future of the children in the clan. Zheng Yun was about to step forward and prove that the Power Stone was just a stepping stone in his journey to power. He had no interest in the rankings it would assign him, nor did he care about the expectations placed upon him by his aunt and uncle.

Zheng Yun walked into the examination hall with a calm and collected demeanor. Zheng Zhi followed behind him, already drawing attention with his childlike innocence and growing talent. As they stood in front of the examiner, Zheng Yun could feel the eyes of the crowd upon him. They whispered among themselves, wondering what the C-rank child of the Rana Clan would achieve today.

When it was Zheng Yun's turn, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the Power Stone. The stone glowed faintly, then dimmed, casting a shadow over his form. The result was predictable. C-rank. The room buzzed with quiet murmurs, disappointment lacing the air. His aunt's face twisted in frustration, while his uncle's expression remained unchanged. They had expected more, but Zheng Yun wasn't concerned with their expectations.

The examiner's voice called out, "C-rank, a steady foundation for future growth, but nothing extraordinary."

As Zheng Yun moved aside, his brother Zheng Zhi stepped forward. The contrast between the two could not have been more apparent. Zhi's innocent smile contrasted with Zheng Yun's cold, emotionless face. Zheng Zhi placed his hand on the stone, and it erupted with a brilliant light, shining with overwhelming power.

"A-rank!" The examiner exclaimed, and the crowd erupted in awe. Zheng Zhi, the once-unremarkable younger brother, had surpassed all expectations. Even his aunt and uncle looked at him with surprise and admiration.

But Zheng Yun remained silent, his eyes never leaving the stone. He knew what it all meant. He knew the A-rank talent would be celebrated by his family, but it was only a fleeting moment of glory. Zheng Zhi was talented, yes, but his lack of ambition would be his downfall. Zheng Yun knew the true meaning of power—knowledge, cunning, and the ability to control fate.

Zheng Zhi was just a tool, a piece in the game of power that Zheng Yun was already playing. His mind was already far ahead of everyone in the room, devising plans, controlling his future, and taking what was his.

After the examination, his aunt and uncle fawned over Zheng Zhi, congratulating him on his success. Zheng Yun merely watched, detached from their praise. They never saw the true depth of his ambition. They didn't understand that this was just the beginning.

Zheng Yun had seen it all before. He had been a student once, and that life had been filled with nothing but misery. He had been weak, powerless, and depressed. But that had all changed now. He wasn't that boy anymore. Now, he had power, and he knew what to do with it.

As the ceremony ended and the crowd dispersed, Zheng Yun turned away from his family, a cold smile crossing his lips. He knew what was coming. The Rana Fateṅga, his secret weapon, would allow him to rewrite the future, to reclaim his past, and to bend time to his will.

He had walked the Demonic Path before, and this time, nothing would stop him. His eyes gleamed with a promise to the world: immortality, dominance, and the path to eternal power.