Unbound of Fate

The village was quiet at dawn, the faint golden light of the rising sun illuminating the modest thatched huts and well-trodden dirt paths. Lloyd stood at the edge of the village, a small pack slung over his shoulder. He glanced back one last time, taking in the familiar sight of his home.

Renna, the warrior who had promised to guide him, waited a few paces ahead, her arms crossed and her cloak billowing gently in the morning breeze. She carried herself with an air of confidence, her piercing gaze scanning the horizon.

"Say your goodbyes, if you need to," she said without turning to face him.

Lloyd hesitated. He had already said farewell to Elder Renna and the handful of villagers who had gathered to see him off, but something still held him in place. He felt a pang of guilt leaving the people who had cared for him his whole life.

But he also felt the pull of something greater. The storm inside him, the power that had awakened, refused to be ignored.

"I'm ready," he said finally, stepping forward.

Renna nodded and turned, leading him away from the village and into the forest.

The forest seemed alive with whispers, the wind carrying faint echoes of unseen creatures. Lloyd trudged behind Renna, each step weighing on him like the uncertainty of his future.

They'd walked in silence for hours, leaving behind the familiar sights of the village. When Renna finally stopped at a large clearing surrounded by towering oaks, she dropped her pack and motioned for Lloyd to do the same.

"This will do," she said.

"For what?" Lloyd asked, rubbing his aching shoulders.

"Your training," Renna replied, pulling out a set of practice weapons. She tossed him a wooden staff, the force of her throw making him stumble.

Lloyd caught the staff, glancing at it uncertainly. "So, what do I do?"

Renna smirked. "Survive."

Without warning, she lunged at him.

Her strikes came fast, each one precise and calculated. Lloyd barely managed to block her first attack, and the second sent him sprawling into the dirt.

"Focus!" Renna barked, circling him like a predator. "Your power means nothing without control."

Lloyd scrambled to his feet, gripping the staff tightly. His breathing was ragged, and his heart pounded in his ears. He tried to anticipate her next move, but she was too fast.

Another strike, and he was back on the ground.

"You're holding back," Renna said, her tone sharp. "Stop thinking and act."

"I'm trying!" Lloyd snapped, frustration boiling over.

Renna stopped, lowering her staff. "Trying isn't enough. Your enemies won't give you a second chance."

Her words stung, but Lloyd bit his tongue. He knew she was right.

That night, as the fire crackled between them, Renna handed Lloyd a small leather-bound book.

"This is for you," she said.

Lloyd flipped through the pages, his eyes widening as he saw the diagrams and descriptions within. "Is this… about the power systems?"

Renna nodded. "It explains the ranks and the path you must follow to master your abilities."

Lloyd scanned the pages, his eyes widening as he read. The ranks were more than just titles—they represented profound transformations, each stage a monumental leap in strength and understanding.

• Dormant: The core lies inactive, its potential untapped.

• Novice: The core awakens, granting access to basic abilities.

• Adept: Control deepens, and the core begins to shape the user's body and mind.

• Advanced: Mastery of elemental techniques and refined combat skills.

• Master: A fusion of core and will, enabling feats that defy logic.

• Grandmaster: Near-legendary power, capable of reshaping the battlefield.

• Arch-Angel: Command over reality itself, bending the laws of nature.

• Angel: A state of transcendence, where the user becomes a force of nature.

• Demi-God: Unkown…

She leaned back, her gaze distant. "I'm a Grandmaster," she said quietly.

Lloyd looked up at her, startled. "You're… that strong?"

Renna's lips twitched into a faint smile. "It's not as impressive as it sounds. Grandmaster is a rank of mastery, yes, but it's also a responsibility. Not a lot of people reach it, and even fewer survive long enough to achieve the final rank: Demigod."

Lloyd's fingers tightened around the book. The idea of such power felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

"Where do I stand?" he asked.

Renna's expression hardened. "You're a Novice. The griffon's attack forced your cores to awaken, but you're barely scratching the surface of your potential. If you want to reach even Adept, you'll need to train harder than you've ever imagined."