Standing near the window, Vector's gaze drifted over the quiet morning streets of Carnatic. The soft rays of sunlight spilled across the rooftops, brushing the landscape with a golden hue. But his mind was far from the beauty outside. His thoughts, sharp and reflective, turned toward the world he now lived in—Ethereum.
"Planet Ethereum… a world where Blood Energy and martial arts are real," Vector thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But only one in a thousand people can awaken Blood Energy. And even fewer ever reach the path of body refinement."
He exhaled slowly, a quiet weight behind the breath.
"Body refinement manuals are rare—guarded jealously by powerful clans, ancient organizations, or imperial bloodlines."
In this world, cultivation came at the cost of progress. While martial arts had spread across the land, technological innovation had slowed to a crawl. Even after 20,000 years of recorded history, Ethereum's technology was no more advanced than Earth's 18th century. Crude firearms, muskets, black powder—these were considered modern marvels.
Although there are relics and ancient sites believed to be over milenium, far older than the 20,000 years of recorded history, no one seems to know why that is. Maybe the truth is hidden within the archives of powerful families, forces, or empires, but I don't have access to that knowledge.
As Vector's thoughts drifted deeper, they eventually turned to his current home—and its tragic decline.
He stood now in Carnatic City, a district in the crumbling Novastra Empire, once a mighty power that spanned the heart of the continent.
It wasn't that Novastra lacked strength. Far from it. The empire was rich with skilled warriors and Blood Energy users—just like the Lionheart Empire, their enemy. In terms of raw martial power, they were equals.
But they were losing.
And Vector knew why.
"Firearms."
The word left a bitter taste.
The Lionheart Empire had introduced something revolutionary: early firearms. Crude by Earth's standards—muskets, flintlock rifles, cannons—but devastating on the battlefield.
Where Novastra relied on elite soldiers—trained Blood Energy users—Lionheart had flipped the script. With firearms, anyone could fight. Any man or woman could pick up a musket and kill from a distance.
"Their weapons might be slow and inaccurate," Vector mused, "but they're lethal. Even a first-stage body refinement practitioner can be injured… or killed."
Only one in a thousand could awaken Blood Energy. And among them, just one in a hundred would reach the first stage of body refinement.
Meanwhile, Lionheart trained thousands—ordinary people armed with black powder and steel.
Novastra had strength. Lionheart had both strength and numbers that to with excellent tactics—discipline.
But that wasn't the whole story.
After the death of Novastra's last great emperor twenty years ago, the empire began to fracture. States fell into civil strife.
Lords turned against each other. Unity crumbled.
While Novastra drowned in its own ambition, the Lionheart Empire marched with single-minded focus.
Now as a result, half the Novastra Empire had already fallen, not just to superior numbers or weapons, but to betrayal, and a lack of fidelity to the empire itself.
And… the people suffered.
But the oppression of the Lionheart Empire, their merciless rule and exploitation of Novastra's lands and people, had begun to stir the sleeping embers of unity once more.
Resistance forces rose, fragmented but passionate. And though some infighting remained, their goal had become singular, to drive out the invaders, reclaim the homeland, and Vector was no ordinary player in this struggle.
He had seen it with his own eyes.
50% tax on all businesses, including the restaurant chain his family secretly ran. What was once a profitable venture was now bleeding losses. Salaries had to be paid out of pocket.
Landowners and officials were ordered to extract unreasonable tributes. Farmers collapsed under the weight of quotas. Merchants went bankrupt. Rare metals, beast materials, and herbs—controlled strictly by the empire. Locals couldn't harvest them without a permit, and those were given only to loyalists.
Meanwhile, the Empire continued promoting its own merchants and establishments.
"And martial training? Outlawed for natives. Martial schools are shut down or monitored."
Lionheart sow tension between provinces, Elaris vs. Ashmont, Arya vs. Solara, so the resistance cannot unify.
Locals loyal to the empire are given titles, land, and power to create a class divide.
Lionheart adapted the divide and rule strategy. Because of this Novastra people were not able to unite and this provided an opportunity to invade and acquire the Lands of Novastra to Lionheart Empire.
As these thoughts churned in his mind, Vector's hand tightened into a fist.
"That's why I joined the resistance."
Not for glory… Not for pride… But For survival and the future.
His gaze turned to the reflection in the window. His voice came as a whisper.
"My family—the Astrum family—secretly owns the Leon Restaurant chain across the Novastra Empire."
"The very restaurant where I had breakfast yesterday, and it was part of our network. Though the public knows it as a successful, independent business, my family has always controlled it from the shadows."
His family is one of the ancient families, one that rarely stepped into the light. Only a handful of families even knew of their existence, and those were ancient powers themselves.
The Astrum family wielded immense influence, but had always chosen the shadows over the throne, driven more by purpose than politics.
The same was true for Vector, the only heir of the Astrum bloodline, who had been a sheltered heir until now. A prodigy, yes, but untested. Wealthy, privileged, unchallenged.
Even though a legend-level body refinement manual had been lying at home, he'd never trained before.
He was a comfortable heir, a nouveau riche youth as he is the only young master of the Astrum family. The kind who hadn't needed to fight, until the world gave him no choice.
But things had changed after Elaris fell. The Lionheart Empire invaded Elaris 6 years ago and fully occupied it four months ago.
Family forced him to gain strength in the Resistance.
Unbeknownst to most, the Astrum family was also one of the core pillars of the Novastra Liberation Front, quietly resisting the Lionheart Empire's advance from the shadows.
After awakening Blood Energy and joining the resistance under a false identity.
No one here knew who he really was. In public, he was just an orphaned native of Carnatic. In truth, he had grown up in Avalon, the imperial capital. His name, his bloodline, his legacy… all hidden.
Thanks to Astrum's reach, loyal subordinates had followed him to Carnatic.
His hidden identity, paired with the awakening of Blood Energy, allowed him to rise quickly within the resistance.
With loyal subordinates, connections, and a talent for strategy, he gained control over the Carnatic city resistance spy network.
Carnatic City is the border city with Redfield state and the strategic city to attack Ironfang Hill city, the border city of Redfield in Resistance control.
Because of this Carnatic City importance increased due to strategic point and to know the moves of the Lionheart Empire against the Redfield state of the Novastra Empire.
And now? Now he led Carnatic's resistance spy network.
As the sun climbed higher, golden light streamed through the window and landed across his face. The warmth pulled him back from his thoughts.
It was time.
Vector took a final breath, calming his thoughts. He had trained, awakened, refined his body, and now stood stronger than ever.
He turned from the window and stepped into his room.
Today, he would return to the colonel's estate. And, he would infiltrate the Colonel's private wing.
"Let's see what secrets the Lionheart Empire is hiding."
Vector finished his simple breakfast and prepared to head to the Colonel's estate once again.
[To be Continued….]