Two marbles

"Such a rough state…"

Damien scanned the line of soldiers, their weary faces illuminated by the flickering torchlight. Their smiles—though warm—were laced with exhaustion, yet through his years of experience as a gang leader, he could tell that most of them were genuine.

The soldiers of the Valthorn Kingdom truly cared.

They stood clad in simple leather armor, pockmarked with fist-sized holes that painted a grim picture of their struggles. Their faces were pale, sickly, their cheeks sunken almost to the bone—signs of long-standing malnourishment.

His gaze shifted toward the massive stone wall towering nearly five meters high. It was a crude construction, nothing more than gigantic boulders stacked atop one another. Yet, despite its simplicity, the wall stood firm, a testament to their resilience.

But what caught his attention most was the deep crimson staining its surface. Dried blood, layered over time, mixed with fresh splatters, emitted a thick, metallic scent that clung to the air.

A battlefield.

And yet, the expressions of the citizens beyond the wall told a different story. Their faces were bright, almost joyful. The contrast between their surroundings and their optimism made Damien's frown ease slightly.

Just then, movement caught his eye.

A middle-aged soldier approached, his steps heavy with purpose. His chiseled features carried a solemn expression, weighed down by something unseen yet unmistakably burdensome.

"General Felix…?"

The name surfaced in Damien's mind the moment he saw the man.

Though he was called a crown prince, the so-called Valthorn Kingdom was no true kingdom—just a city, situated precariously at the center of the pass.

To the north lay the Ten Thousand Beast Forest, a wild expanse filled with tens of thousands differnet types of apocalyptic creatures hence the name.

To the south, the ever-hostile Blue Hammer Kingdom stood, an enemy never far from striking.

General Felix was the man responsible for guarding the southern gate.

Nearby, Devrok—the elder of the two Harrier brothers—seemed to realize something. His expression darkened, his body tensing with unease.

Felix leaned in, muttering something in Devrok's ear.

Whatever he said had an immediate effect. Devrok's stiff shoulders relaxed, his worry melting away, though his eyes still held traces of lingering concern.

Felix's gaze then shifted to Damien and Niomi, both of whom remained silent, watching.

That silence made Felix frown. This wasn't the Damien he knew.

The crown prince was unpredictable—mad, even. Normally, he would have caused an uproar by now, shaking the world around him with his erratic energy.

One moment, he would be laughing with others. The next, he might act as though they were strangers.

A loose cannon.

Felix quickly composed himself and bowed his head.

"Oh! Forgive me, Prince Damien, for my rude behavior just now…"

There was no doubt that Felix was stronger, but in terms of status, Damien was leagues above him.

Damien combed through his predecessor's memories, searching for anything of significance regarding Felix.

Nothing.

Most of it was trivial.

So, he simply nodded.

Encouraged by the gesture, Felix spoke again.

"So, how was the ceremony—"

Damien raised his hand, cutting him off.

Now was not the time for pleasantries.

They had ridden straight to Valthorn without a single break. His body was sore, exhaustion creeping into his bones. More than anything, he was eager to uncover his talent and soul weapon.

Sensing his urgency, Niomi finally spoke.

She didn't know why Damien was in such a hurry, but as his wife, she saw it as her duty to support him.

"General Felix, let's discuss these matters at a later time."

Felix immediately bowed. "As you say, Crown Princess."

He didn't take offense to Damien's behavior. In truth, it was his own fault for expecting conversation when the prince had barely had time to rest.

Neigh!

The sound of a horse's hooves clattered against the paved road as Damien pressed forward, his path leading straight to the grand mansion in the city's heart.

News of his arrival spread like wildfire.

"Look, the prince is back!"

"The crown princess looks healthier than before… did something happen?"

"He went to Mesarith City… does that mean he awakened his talent?"

The citizens murmured amongst themselves, their curiosity evident. They knew the likelihood of awakening a talent was low—but not impossible.

As Damien disappeared from view, their whispers continued.

---

Following the path laid out in his memories, Damien soon arrived at his room.

The moment he stepped inside, servants rushed forward to tend to him, but he dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

Tonight, he needed solitude.

Niomi, equally exhausted, immediately went to bathe, leaving him alone in the dimly lit chamber.

Outside, darkness had fully descended.

Damien sat cross-legged on the thick carpet, closing his eyes as he focused inward.

He sifted through the knowledge of his predecessor—specifically, on the process of talent awakening.

Once a person awakened, they could access their spiritual space.

It was an enigmatic concept. Neither fully tangible nor completely abstract. A realm of its own.

For five minutes, he concentrated, pushing his mind deeper.

Then—something shifted.

His vision blurred, despite his closed eyes.

The sensation was strange yet expected.

When clarity returned, Damien found himself standing in a vast, dark expanse.

At its center, two luminous marbles hovered, pulsating faintly.

One was pure white, radiating a soft, almost divine glow.

The other was deep purple, its energy sharp, vibrant—mysterious.

A sense of familiarity struck him.

These… are a part of me.

Instinctively, he knew—

The white marble represented his SSS-Grade talent: Acceleration.

The purple one was his soul weapon.

His predecessor had no knowledge of soul weapons. The concept was foreign, absent from anything he had learned before.

But a thought surfaced in Damien's mind.

"Could it be related to the Reincarnation Battle Royale?"

It was just a guess.

Yet something in his gut told him he was right.

Suddenly, the two orbs began to spin—whirling, responding to an unseen force.

And then—

Everything started to shake as an unknown energy was pulled from outside.