Lucien stood on the balcony of the Flame Archive, gazing out toward the distant rippling barrier of crimson light—the edge of his family's greatest treasure: their Cleared Portal.
The Nine Cleared Portals – Domains of the Great Families
Generations ago, the Nine Great Families had accomplished the impossible—they had each cleared an SSS+ Portal, transforming deadly dungeons into sovereign domains. These portals, once wild and ruled by monstrous powers, were now transformed into pocket worlds, vast as continents, thriving with magic and might. Each was a mark of the family's strength, ambition, and sacrifice, securing their place as the dominant powers of the continent.
Lucien's fingers tightened around the stone railing as he recalled the stories his father had told him as a child—tales of vast lands, living artifacts, and legendary trials that awaited inside the portals. But now, standing before the massive, pulsing barrier that separated the family from their own personal universe, the stories felt far more real, more intimate.
---
General Features:
Size:
Each portal spans the size of Russia at minimum. The Arkanveil Family's portal is the largest—equal to the size of Russia and China combined. Inside, entire ecosystems thrived. Beasts of legendary stature roamed free. Cities had been built from the ruins of once-forgotten realms, their architecture a blend of ancient magic and modern advancements. The world itself was a grand experiment in civilization and conquest.
Function:
Internal academies, family-exclusive training grounds, resource-rich environments: rare herbs, ancient ores, mana beasts. These portals weren't merely battlegrounds; they were resources unto themselves, crafted by the blood, sweat, and strategy of their ancestors.
Ancient ruins, still teeming with secrets, lay scattered across the land. Time seemed to bend and change there, as if the portals themselves evolved alongside the families. There was always something new to uncover, something hidden in the folds of history.
Barrier Systems:
Each domain is surrounded by enchanted formations, sealed by ancient core stones. Unauthorized entry is impossible without family approval. These barriers were more than just protective—they were symbols of sovereignty. Each family controlled its own world, its own destiny. The power of the portal wasn't just in what it held—it was in the security it provided, the inviolable promise of the family's continued reign.
---
Arkanveil Family Portal – The World of Emberfall
Cleared over a century ago by Lucien's great-grandfather and ancestors, the World of Emberfall stood as a testament to the Arkanveil lineage's strength and unity. A name that burned as brightly as the flame it was named after, Emberfall had been the crucible in which the family had forged its legendary legacy. It was a place where every challenge, every victory, had carved the Arkanveil name into the annals of history.
Features:
Floating islands where long-lost battle mages once trained. The ruins of ancient fortresses, suspended in time and space, stood on high cliffs, their battlements still echoing with the sounds of distant combat. The floating islands were a mystical sight to behold, where gravity itself seemed to bend, allowing for aerial training and combat.
Lava rivers and flame spirit valleys, ideal for smithing and high-intensity combat. The fiery heart of Emberfall, these regions were bathed in eternal heat, where the earth itself roiled with elemental energy. Forge fires here could create weapons of unimaginable power, infused with the essence of fire itself. Many of the Arkanveil family's most cherished artifacts were crafted in these molten depths.
Sky Arena suspended above the dead capital of the portal's former overlord. This grand arena, high above the remains of an ancient city that had once belonged to a being of godlike power, was where the most dangerous duels were fought. Its vast expanse was a place of spectacle and strength, where the bravest and most powerful combatants tested their might.
Multiple biomes: fire deserts, mystic fog forests, glacial regions—each used for elemental and resistance training. Every biome was a microcosm of the world's most dangerous environments, each tailored for a specific kind of combat or survival skill. The diversity of the lands inside Emberfall ensured that no matter what challenge lay ahead, the Arkanveil heirs would always be prepared.
Fossils of Titanic beasts and elemental god remnants littered the outer rims. These ancient remains, once the apex of their domains, had long since fallen. But their presence still lingered, a reminder of the immense power that had once ruled these lands. It was said that those brave enough to explore the ruins could find the knowledge or power that had once belonged to these gods.
Core Domain:
At the heart stands the Flame Core Temple—connected to the Arkanveil soul flame. Only direct bloodline heirs could approach the core without suffering soul backlash. This was no mere monument. The Flame Core Temple was alive, its very essence intertwined with the soul of the Arkanveil family. It was the source of their power, their strength. Only those of pure blood could walk the sacred halls, for the temple's flames would burn any other to ash. It was said that within the temple lay secrets capable of shaping the very fate of the world.
Lucien stared at the fire-tinged skyline, whispering to himself, "This world… It's like the novels, but deeper. So much deeper." The words had always felt like they belonged to a fantasy—one that was written in ink and paper. But standing here, at the precipice of the unknown, the portal stretching out before him, he realized that his journey had only just begun.
---
The Other Great Families' Portals:
Knight Families (4):
Their portals resembled fortified kingdoms, each a massive, living battlefield. Siege fields, elite knight academies, and eternal war zones where warriors honed their skills in unrelenting combat. These portals were built for stability, military dominance, and martial perfection. It was said that the blood of these families ran with the spirit of warriors, each heir trained from birth to lead armies and defend their people.
Mage Families (4):
Their portals were arcane wonderlands, living tapestries of magic and mystery. Shifting dimensional citadels, storm-cloaked towers, and living spell libraries that continually evolved with the passage of time. While unstable, these worlds were rich in long-lost knowledge, and their inhabitants were known for their deep mastery of the arcane arts. The danger of these places was only rivaled by the power they offered, for the secrets hidden within were enough to change the course of history.
---
Portal Sovereignty Summit:
Every five years, all nine families gathered in a neutral dimension to share findings, form pacts, or subtly threaten each other. The summit was a place of diplomacy and power, where the families came together to reaffirm their control over the portals and their sovereignty over the lands. But Lucien knew the truth—the summit was never as peaceful as it seemed. Most families only revealed half-truths, while real secrets were carefully guarded.
The Liberation Organization and demonic cults constantly sought to infiltrate these sacred realms, hoping to corrupt them from within. The summit was a game of shadows, where the stakes were nothing short of global domination.
---
As Lucien prepared to enter Emberfall for the first time as an official heir, his heart beat with the pulse of the flame itself. He could sense it—something deep inside, something primal, calling him to the heart of the world. It wasn't just the portal that beckoned him. No, it was something more—a piece of the puzzle that even the original novel had failed to mention. A secret buried beneath the ashes of gods, hidden by time, waiting for him to uncover it.
With the flame of his ancestors burning in his chest, Lucien stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The world of Emberfall was waiting.