In the world of Hero's Ascent, the land was called Halo - a place where glowing portals opened without warning and dangerous beasts roamed the wild forests. Magic wasn't just real here, it was everything.
People in this world had something called bloodlines - special powers passed down through families like eye color or height. These bloodlines fell into three main groups.
Most people had Elemental bloodlines. These were the simple ones - Flameborn who could control fire, Stonekin who could shape rocks, Frost Vein who could freeze water. The nobles loved these bloodlines because they were easy to understand and control.
Then came the Deviants. These were tricky. Ancient bloodlines that might skip your parents and grandparents, then suddenly show up in you. Some came from old family curses that had been sleeping for generations.
Ryker was a Deviant. His bloodline was called Bloodbound - he could control blood itself. Bend it, shape it, use it to heal wounds or create weapons. It was powerful but creepy, which was exactly why people didn't trust Deviants.
Even though only Elementals were supposed to be nobles, the Validos family had fought their way to that rank. Most Deviants were seen as dangerous and unpredictable. Too wild to fit in with proper society.
The last group was the worst - or the best, depending on how you looked at it. Anomalies. These bloodlines were so ancient and powerful that they seemed almost godlike. People called them cursed lineages or calamity lineages for good reason.
Unlike other bloodlines, you couldn't inherit an Anomaly. You had to trigger it yourself through terrible experiences - portal bleeding, contact with divine beings, or serious trauma. Dragon Born, Void Born, Chrono Weaver, Glass Heart - these names alone made people nervous.
The world of Halo needed these powers because the Gods themselves had turned against humans. The same ancient beings who had created everything were now trying to destroy it. They cracked open portals, sent monsters, and even possessed people to cause chaos.
That's why academies existed - to train young people with bloodlines, help them grow stronger, and hopefully develop classes that could fight back against the Gods.
"Thinking about this plot makes me sick," Ryker muttered as he dug through his small wardrobe. The academy would start in a month, and he needed to get ready. He had to have an advantage this time.
The Validos family had money, but they'd basically abandoned him. They gave him just enough to survive and nothing more. At this rate, he'd be broke soon.
He picked out simple clothes and locked his apartment door behind him. The building was cheap but clean - the kind of place someone lived when they were trying to stretch every credit.
'First thing I need is a weapon,' he thought, walking down the busy street. He was in the Seravelle continent, famous for its floating islands and thick magical energy. The air here was so full of mana that portals opened randomly and creatures mutated just from breathing it.
Everything here cost more, but the quality was supposed to be worth it. With his current budget, he wasn't so sure.
The weapon shop he found looked plain from the outside, but the moment he stepped in, his eyes went wide. High-grade weapons lined the walls - swords, spears, and axes that practically glowed with power. The shop might look ordinary, but these weapons were anything but.
"How can I help you?" The woman behind the counter looked tired. Middle-aged, with brown hair and dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't slept in days.
"I'm looking for a cheap sword," Ryker said without shame. He knew what he looked like - a noble's son dressed like a commoner. But he also knew that soon, none of this would matter.
The woman's face soured. From his appearance, she'd probably expected him to be another spoiled rich kid. Now she was looking at him like he was wasting her time.
"Cheapest I have is 1000 credits."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. His face went pale, but he kept his expression steady. Inside, he was cursing. He'd expected weapons to be expensive, but this was worse than he'd thought.
'Fine, just a sword. I can heal myself with my bloodline anyway,' he told himself, forcing a smile that probably made him look like a villain from a bad movie.
The woman stared at him for a long moment, then bent down and pulled out a collection of swords from under the counter. One look told him everything - these were the bottom of the barrel. Compared to the beautiful weapons on the walls, these looked like toys.
He sighed and started looking through them anyway. Then something caught his eye - a small signature carved into the bottom of one hilt.
Greed.
His heart stopped. He knew that signature. In the novel, Greed was the greatest blacksmith who ever lived. They never made low-quality weapons. Ever.
"Are you Greed?!" The words came out before he could stop them.