The King’s Path

The ride to school was... awkward.

Edward sat in the back of his aunt Julia's car, staring out the window as towering skyscrapers passed by, his mind racing faster than the speeding vehicles outside.

New York City—the beating heart of the American Awakened Association—was as lively as ever, with giant holograms advertising the latest heroic exploits and flashy billboards showcasing awakened celebrities endorsing everything from energy drinks to underwear.

It felt surreal, even though the memories of Edward Ludovic told him this was just a normal day. For him? It was like stepping into a video game, only without a tutorial.

"You nervous?" his aunt asked, glancing at him through the rearview mirror, her eyes filled with that usual mix of concern and skepticism. "You've been quiet."

Edward tore his gaze away from a billboard showing an S-ranked awakened slicing through a monstrous chimera with ease.

"Nah, I'm good," he replied, offering his best I'm totally not having a breakdown smile. "Just mentally preparing myself for all the fanfare when I awaken as some god-tier hero, no big deal."

Julia snorted. "Right. Well, just don't embarrass the Ludovic name, okay?" She then added softly, " Even if you don't awaken, do not be disheartened, I'll take care of you always."

No pressure, Edward thought grimly as the car pulled up in front of Imperial Academy For Awakened, the prestigious training school known for producing top-tier awakened. Or at least, formerly known for it.

The past decade hadn't been kind to Imperial Academy. Once a powerhouse that dominated the National Awakening Competitions, they had since fallen behind other schools, failing to produce an S-ranked awakened in years. This year was supposed to be their "comeback" year... and people had high expectations.

Too bad Edward wasn't exactly feeling "main character energy" at the moment.

Edward stepped through the grand front gates, which were adorned with golden banners showing the faces of past heroes that had emerged from the school. He ignored the dozens of excited students buzzing around him, all hyped about their upcoming awakenings.

And here I am, wondering if I'll awaken some knockoff hero like "Jim from Accounting," Edward thought, shaking his head.

"You're late."

A soft yet firm voice cut through his thoughts. Edward turned to see his childhood friend Anastasia Gates standing by the entrance, her arms crossed and a familiar frown on her elegant face. She was the only child of an oil tycoon William Gates, her mother having passed away in child birth.

Anastasia was... well, breathtaking, in that "ice queen" kind of way. White hair cascading down to her shoulders, piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through people, and an aristocratic air that made even the cockiest guys second-guess their flirting attempts.

"Morning, Ana," Edward greeted with a grin, hands in his pockets. "Miss me?"

"You're supposed to take this seriously," she huffed, giving him a once-over. "The ceremony starts in twenty minutes, and you're barely here now?"

"I was fashionably late," Edward replied smoothly. "Great heroes don't just arrive, Ana. They make an entrance."

"You're insufferable, and feel different somehow," she muttered, but Edward noticed the small smile playing on her lips.

Before he could continue his witty banter, a familiar annoying voice interrupted them.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," said Julian Horn, the heir to Horn steel mines, strutting up to them with his usual arrogant smirk.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and with a perfectly styled golden-brown mane, Julian was the self-proclaimed "king" of Imperial Academy. And, of course, a total pain in Edward's ass.

"And here I was thinking you'd chickened out, Ludovic," Julian sneered, eyeing Anastasia. "Anastasia, you really shouldn't waste your time with nobodies. A girl like you deserves a real hero, not... whatever he is."

Edward smirked, loving an opportunity to roast Julian. "You know, Julian, I'm glad you're here. It's nice to know that if I ever need a live demonstration of 'how to fail upward,' I can count on you."

A few students nearby burst into laughter, and Julian's face darkened.

Anastasia sighed. "Edward, don't trigger him..."

"Actually, keep going," said another voice, and Hellaina, Anastasia's best friend, appeared next to them with a mischievous grin. Her blonde hair practically glowed in the sunlight, and her emerald-green eyes twinkled with amusement.

"I like this version of you. More sass, less brooding." Hellaina Arden, the heir to to the Arden conglomorate run by by her Father Joseph, and Mother Rowena Arden.

Julian growled. "You think you're funny, Ludovic?"

Edward shrugged. "Not think, Julian. Know. And you should know too, considering I live in your head rent-free."

The crowd laughed harder, and Julian clenched his fists, looking ready to throw hands.

"Enough!"

The sharp voice of Professor Hathaway cut through the tension. The old, grizzled instructor, dressed in his signature long black coat, stared at them all with his usual "I'm too old for this" expression.

"You three—inside. The Awakening Ceremony is being broadcast live, and if I hear one more word about your petty squabbles, I'll personally make you spar against the juniors."

That shut Julian up. The juniors were monsters.

Edward smirked as he followed Anastasia and Hellaina inside.

Inside the grand Awakening Hall, cameras hovered in the air, capturing the excitement. Hundreds of students filled the tiered seating, all watching the stage where the Awakening Platforms stood—glowing circles of magic that would determine their destinies.

One by one, students stepped forward to face their fate.

"Anastasia Gates."

Edward watched as Anastasia stepped up gracefully. The platform beneath her shimmered, and suddenly, a cold, regal aura filled the room.

"Candidate Anastasia Gates has awakened the heroic spirit of... Anastasia Romanov. A-rank."

A wave of applause filled the hall, and Anastasia returned to her seat without much expression, though Edward could see the relief in her eyes.

Then came Hellaina's turn. The platform pulsed with golden light.

"Candidate Hellaina Arden has awakened the heroic spirit of Helen of Troy. A-rank."

Edward joked loudly. "So, does that mean you're going to start wars over your beauty now?"

Hellaina winked. "Only if you're lucky."

Julian Horn strutted up next, flexing like a peacock. The magic swirled around him dramatically.

"Candidate Julian Horn has awakened the heroic spirit of Jason of the Argonauts. A-rank."

Julian shot Edward a smug look. "Looks like I'm a born leader."

Edward gave him a thumbs-up. "Congrats. You awakened the dude famous for running away from danger. Very on-brand."

Julian's eye twitched.

And then it was Edward's turn.

Edward took a deep breath as he stepped onto the awakening platform, the murmurs of the audience barely registering in his ears.

"Edward Ludovic, son of Hardwin and Cassandra Ludovic. Let fate decide your heroic spirit."

As the examiner's voice rang through the hall, a pulse of energy surged through the platform beneath his feet. Unlike the others before him, whose awakenings had been flashy but controlled, Edward's felt... different. A low hum resonated through the air, and for a moment, everything around him blurred.

Then, there was only darkness.

When Edward opened his eyes, he was no longer in the Awakening Hall.

He stood in a void of absolute blackness, a silence so oppressive it felt like the universe itself had been stilled. He turned in every direction, but there was nothing—until his gaze fell upon a lone, withered tree in the distance. Its gnarled branches stretched toward the void like skeletal fingers, and beneath it...

A man.

Seated against the withered trunk was a golden figure, his radiance contrasting the surrounding darkness. His armor, intricate and majestic, gleamed under an invisible light, though it was marred with crimson stains—blood. Chains of ethereal energy wrapped tightly around him, anchoring him to the dying tree.

The man's face was strikingly handsome, with sharp golden eyes that pierced through the gloom and long blonde hair that framed his regal features. Yet, despite his royal appearance, his expression carried the weariness of someone who had seen far too much of the world.

Before Edward could speak, the man let out a low, bitter laugh.

"I never expected someone to reach this place ever again..."

Edward took a cautious step forward, his brows furrowing. "Who the hell are you?"

The man's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he simply chuckled and looked away. "It matters not who I am," he said. "You are not yet ready for my power."

Edward frowned. "Yeah? Well, I didn't exactly ask for a locked treasure chest. What kind of hero are you supposed to be, chained up like some kind of rejected Halloween decoration?"

The golden man's amused smirk turned into an annoyed glare. "Careful, boy. Even in this state, I could end you with a mere thought."

Edward crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Then do it, Mr. Almighty. Snap your fingers, throw a lightning bolt, go full anime villain. What's stopping you?"

The man let out a long sigh, the chains rattling as he shifted slightly. "This... must be my punishment," he muttered. "To have such a mouthy successor."

Edward tilted his head. "Successor?"

The man's expression grew serious. "Tell me, Edward Ludovic... are you willing to learn the real truth of this world? To become an enemy of the so-called gods that toy with humanity for their own entertainment?"

Edward blinked. "Wait, what? What do you mean 'enemy of the gods'? Didn't they, you know, save humanity? Gave us powers, fought the dimensional invasions, all that stuff?"

The man scoffed. "And you believe that? Fool. That story is what they want humanity to believe. A grand lie woven over thousands of years."

Edward frowned. His mind raced with everything he had learned about the gods in history class. Was it all fake? "And what exactly are you offering me?"

The golden figure leaned forward, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Edward's chest tighten. "To inherit my dream. To break the shackles placed upon humanity and free them from divine manipulation."

Edward hesitated, his mind swirling with doubt. "I... don't know what's really going on here, but I do know one thing—no matter the world, strength is the only thing that truly lets you be free."

For the first time, the chained man grinned—a genuine, almost proud expression. Then he laughed, loud and boisterous. "Hah! Foolish, yet ambitious. I suppose I could have asked for worse."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the motivational speech. But if I take your power, doesn't that make me a target for your enemies?"

The man's expression grew dark. "Indeed. If the gods discover my successor, they will not be kind. You must not reveal my existence... not until you are strong enough to withstand their wrath."

Edward sighed. "Great. So I'm getting a power I can't even use yet? How am I supposed to survive in this world if I can't actually do anything?"

The man smirked. "Patience, boy. My spirit shall remain dormant within you... but for now, you will awaken another heroic spirit—one who resonates with your soul."

With a flick of his wrist, a golden key materialized in his palm. It shimmered with an otherworldly glow before he tossed it toward Edward. As it touched his chest, it dissolved into golden particles, merging with his very soul.

Edward felt himself being pulled away from the void.

As his vision darkened, the golden man's voice echoed one last time:

"Prove yourself worthy of my will, and lead humanity to see the truth beyond the gods, the era of humans."

Edward gasped as his consciousness snapped back to reality. The Awakening Hall came back into focus—the crowd, the platform beneath his feet, and the examiner staring at him with confusion.

A golden glow surrounded him, flickering faintly before settling down.

"Please be something cool," he thought nervously.

A second later, the screen above the platform displayed his results.

"Candidate Edward Ludovic has awakened the heroic spirit of... Ahnavat, the Weapon Forger . Rank: B."

Silence filled the hall.

"B-rank?!" someone whispered.

"A... weapon forger? What kind of lame hero is that?"

Edward stared blankly at the screen. "Ahnavat? Who the hell is that?"

Even the examiner looked puzzled. "Uh... Ahnavat appears to be a rather unknown heroic spirit, orginating from the extinct sumerian mythos, specializing in crafting and enchantments."

Julian's laughter rang through the hall. "Wow, Ludovic. Guess your bloodline amounted to... a blacksmith! Hah!"

Edward groaned internally. "Great. Just great."

Anastasia, ever composed, leaned in and whispered with concern, "Edward, are you okay?"

Edward forced a smile. "Oh, I'm fantastic. Nothing like realizing your destiny is to be a walking toolbox."

Hellaina grinned. "Hey, at least you'll always have job security."

Edward sighed, rubbing his temples. If only they knew the real mess I just got thrown into.

As the ceremony continued, Edward glanced at his hands. Though they looked normal, he could feel something deep inside—an untapped power lurking beneath the surface.

Alright, Mr. Golden Chains... I don't know what your deal is, but I'll play along.

For now, he'd keep his true awakening secret. But sooner or later, he'd have to figure out what that golden key really unlocked.