Apex Star

Chapter 3: Shocking Awakening

Unbeknownst to Nova, a powerful being was becoming aware of Earth's name, while another, possibly from Earth, attempted to return to her 'home.' Nova's consciousness faded into darkness.

Time passed, seemingly normal, for those who strove to survive the formidable trial before them.

During the [Awakening] process, Nova's mind drifted in a blank void. His consciousness materialized, and he slowly opened his eyes.

An instinct to absorb his surroundings overcame him. As he assimilated the enigmatic energy enveloping him, he experienced a newfound sense of well-being and power, intoxicating in its intensity. What Nova remained unaware of was that the "blank energy" he absorbed was, in fact, a manifestation of his Space-Time Bloodline, originating from his father's Clan, the 'Monarchs of Time,' and his mother's Clan, the 'Monarchs of Space.' Merely mentioning their names could send tremors throughout The Upper Realms, extending beyond the Upper Realm itself.

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At the peak of The Upper Realms, within the Space-Time Shrine, Martin Calypso and Arin Apeiron found themselves in a meeting with the Shrine's highest authorities.

The hall teemed with men and women of such immense power that, if they were placed on Earth, the very ground would quail beneath their pressure.

The Space-Time Shrine was overseen by a council representing both the Time and Space Clans, with decisions reached through majority vote. If over 51% of the members concurred, the decision was made. Presently, there were one hundred Council Members, with the Shrine Head serving as the ultimate decision-maker in times of crisis.

Fifty members hailed from the Time Clan, and the remaining fifty from the Space Clan, collectively referred to as the 3rd Generation. Their clans traced their origins to two Ancestors, Tiazul Calypso and Kiana Apeiron. Although each wielded distinct powers, the offspring of Tiazul and Kiana bore the title of the 1st Generation, as the fusion of these disparate bloodlines birthed one of The Upper Realms' mightiest lineages.

The Shrine Head was the solitary representative of the 2nd Generation of the Space-Time Bloodline, an enigmatic figure who had lived for over 10,000 years and was the direct offspring of Tiazul and Kiana's 1st Generation descendants. As for the whereabouts of the rest of the 2nd Generation, the answer remained elusive, soon to be unveiled.

The reason behind the meeting was deceptively simple yet difficult to resolve: whether the Council should exercise its authority to facilitate an individual from the Lower Realms ascending to The Upper Realms. Unquestionably, the discussion centered around Nova.

The issue was further complicated by the fact that Nova's parents both ranked among the top 5 in terms of power, making opposition a daunting prospect. The situation took a more intricate turn when Arin Apeiron voiced her reluctance to admit Nova to The Upper Realms.

"I reiterate, our son must undergo trials and tribulations to acquire the sense of security that Earth once offered, avoiding premature betrayal," Arin emphasized. "Nova must learn the hard way, so he can become a genuine powerhouse, surpassing even the Upper Realm."

Martin, displeased with his wife's stance, responded, "Arin, Nova wasn't prepared for this, unlike us. It's like giving a bicycle to a three-year-old and expecting them to ride it without falling."

Arin acknowledged the delay in the [Awakening] on Earth, which would have granted them more time to prepare and reveal the truth about their background to Nova when he turned 22, offering almost a year of advance knowledge of the [Awakening].

"But we can't alter it now. We can only hope he returns and finds our backup plan. The price we paid to return after our exile from Earth was substantial, but we could have sought out Middle Realms families with branches or subsidiaries in the Lower Realms," Martin regretted not disclosing Nova's heritage earlier.

Arin continued to persuade her husband, "Our best course of action is to prepare for the day he embarks on his journey through the Realms."

Aggravated by his wife's unwavering stance, Martin ultimately relented, "Alright, we'll proceed as you suggest."

As the meeting neared its conclusion, the entire shrine began to tremble.

In a secluded corner of the Shrine, an elderly man opened his eyes, his gaze revealing the passage of many years.

'How many years have elapsed this time...?' the groggy old man wondered.

Suddenly, he vanished from his location, reappearing in front of an expansive stone tablet. The tablet was segmented into ten parts, with the lowermost section bearing the following inscription:

Number: 999.999.999.999

Nova Calypso Apeiron

Stage 1, Rank 1

Bloodline Purity: 99.9%

Bloodlines: Space-Time, Unknown

The old man's pupils contracted, overwhelmed by shock. Council members rapidly congregated around the stone tablet, their expressions frozen in disbelief upon reading the last line.

"How?! How is it possible for the legendary Bloodline Tablet of the Gods Domain to not recognize a bloodline?" exclaimed the elders of the Space-Time Shrine.

"Oh my God..."

"Dear Ancestors..."

All those in the room were powerhouses, ranking at least 9th realm rank 5, yet they stood bewildered.

The old man, the first to arrive, pondered for a moment, then spoke with narrowed eyes and a sly grin, "Perhaps it's because his bloodline belongs to a higher realm than our Space-Time Bloodline..."

The utterance from their Shrine Leader shocked the other elders to their core. In their wildest dreams, they had never envisioned encountering a bloodline of greater magnitude than their own, particularly in this limited sub-region.

They had heard of prodigies from various regions and domains, often referred to as "monsters," but Nova was a unique breed, eclipsing even those esteemed individuals. He was the true monster.