CHAPTER 2 - BEYOND THE CHAINS

In the world of soulforce and ancient bloodlines, power didn’t just exist—it branded you.

For those in the Beginner Realm, a single glowing dot shimmered on the center of the forehead. At mid-stage, a second dot appeared. Reaching the peak meant three distinct lights—a sign to all that you’d conquered the first threshold of martial cultivation.

But beyond that? Things became far more dangerous—and far more divine.

The Advanced Martial Realm brought with it a sword-shaped sigil, carved deep into the forehead, burning with energy. The Martial Master Realm evolved into a triangular glow, then a spherical carving for the Martial Lords. Those at the Martial King level bore a half-circle, Martial Emperors displayed a full luminous ring, and Demi-Gods walked the world with star-shaped markings etched in brilliance.

At the very summit—the Martial God Realm—a crescent moon burned into the forehead like an ethereal scar of supremacy. Around each symbol, glowing dots spiraled like satellites, marking the stage within the realm. The more dots, the closer they were to breaking the next boundary.

And boundaries were meant to be broken.

---

The crowd inside the palace colosseum held their breath. Gold banners fluttered, the sun casting sharp shadows over the stone arena. Thunderous silence reigned as Prince Arrod, third son of the throne, stood tall with his blade raised high.

Soulforce gathered at the edge of his weapon, wrapping the steel in a fiery red glow.

His eyes locked on the figure across from him—calm, motionless, almost bored.

Davious.

Without a word, Arrod stepped forward and slashed through the air.

A blistering arc of energy tore from his sword—roaring like a wildfire straight at Davious.

And then—it vanished.

The moment the attack neared Davious, it dispersed like smoke in the wind, as if the very space around him denied its existence.

Gasps echoed across the platform.

Davious tilted his head slightly, not even bothering to raise a hand. "This is getting tedious, brother," he said softly, "Why don’t we stop wasting time?"

Before Arrod could blink, the air trembled.

A silent burst of soulforce exploded outward. No flash. No warning.

Just raw, invisible pressure.

Arrod was hurled off his feet like a ragdoll, slammed backward across the ring, crashing into the ground with a sickening thud.

Davious exhaled as if bored by it all. “How... pathetic.”

The silence in the arena cracked into stunned murmurs. The prince hadn’t even scratched him.

Moments later, the royal decree echoed through the space—Davious was victorious. And with that victory came freedom.

He would no longer be chained to the royal palace.

---

That same day, he vanished from the capital.

---

Several days later…

Dust curled around Davious’ boots as he walked into a quiet, nameless village under the shadow of craggy hills. His cloak shifted with the wind, and in the distance, shouting broke the morning calm.

He stopped—his gaze narrowing.

Up ahead, five men circled someone near the edge of the village road.

“You bastard! You’ve got guts mouthing off to me!” barked a massive brute, skin weathered and lined, a glowing red sword-shaped sigil on his forehead pulsing with menace—mid-stage Advanced Martial Realm.

Beside him, three others smirked. Their brows bore three dots—late-stage Beginner Realm—cocky, eager, bloodthirsty.

Their prey?

A young man, no older than twenty, standing tall despite bruises on his face and a cracked spear clutched in both hands. His stance was firm, his breathing sharp, but his body was trembling.

He fought.

He moved like a tempest—but against multiple foes, it was only a matter of time.

A blunt strike caught his ribs. He coughed up blood and dropped to his knees.

The brute stomped forward and pinned him down with a boot, grinding his face into the dirt.

That’s when Davious spoke.

"That’s enough." His voice was calm—but the weight in it stopped birds mid-flight.

The gang froze and turned.

A stranger walked toward them with a quiet smile, eyes half-lidded. Wind curled behind him, swirling as if the world bent slightly around his steps.

“Who the hell are you?!” one of the smaller goons spat.

Davious stopped ten feet away. “Leave now. Or I’ll shatter your soul marruns where you stand.”

They laughed—at first.

The brute squinted. “What... what realm is he in? That aura...”

“Too young to be anything special.”

“Maybe a bluff.”

Davious raised a single finger.

“Let’s test your theory.”

The brute howled and charged, dragging the ground with his soulforce. Dust kicked into the air as he roared forward.

But Davious flicked his wrist.

A pulse of soulforce rippled outward—silent, clean, deadly.

The brute didn’t even see it.

His body flew back like he'd been struck by a god. He hit the earth with a crunch—his scream tore through the air.

Blood gushed from his mouth as he clutched his chest, his soul marrun ruptured inside him.

“You... you crushed it...!” he howled, tears and snot streaming down his face.

Davious walked up slowly, crouching beside him.

He smiled.

“Should I take your life too? Or would you prefer to crawl away like the insect you are?”

The man screamed and dragged himself backward, limping into the trees, vanishing in terror. His thugs were long gone.

The young man groaned and sat up.

He bowed low.

“Thank you, Senior.”

Davious gave a simple nod. “What’s your name?”

“Heddicus.”

Davious blinked. “Heddicus? Hmm… interesting. Would you like to become my disciple?”

Heddicus froze, jaw half-open.

“Oh? You’re hesitating. I take that as a no.”

“No! No, of course not! I’d be honored, Senior!”

Davious studied him for a moment longer, then his eyes gleamed.

“You’re the son of General Cuffinus, aren’t you?”

Heddicus blinked. “How did you—”

“That spear technique... your bloodline... and most importantly—”

He stepped close and touched the boy’s chest with two fingers.

“—you were born with a Divine Thunder Body.”

Heddicus’s eyes widened.

“No one was supposed to know! I... I can’t even awaken it until I reach the Martial Lord Realm—”

“Who says?”

Davious raised his hand and pressed a glowing finger to Heddicus’ forehead.

“Watch.”

A golden beam surged from his fingertip. Heddicus screamed as his body convulsed. Lightning arced from his bones, exploding outward in pulses of raw power.

His eyes flared bright blue. The wind howled as the sky darkened.

“I—IT’S AWAKENED! The Divine Thunder Body!” he roared.

“And... and I broke through! I actually broke through!!”

He dropped to his knees, slamming his fist to the ground.

“Disciple Heddicus greets Master Davious!”

Davious smirked and looked to the sky.

“Good. You’ll be the first of many.”

---

The next few days passed quickly.

As they walked along a rocky path, Heddicus pointed ahead.

“Master—that’s the road to Ormadock Martial Academy. Are we headed there?”

Davious nodded lazily. “I assume that’s where you were going before we met.”