The Terron training grounds were quiet at dawn.
Not peaceful—never peaceful—but quiet in the way a battlefield is before the charge. Rows of empty weapons racks, armored statues watching from stone alcoves, and a pale blue sky overhead. The clan's younger trainees had been cleared out. No distractions. No audience.
Except for one man.
High Paragon Daelor Terron stood at the edge of the stone platform, arms crossed over his chestplate. His eyes were fixed on the boy standing alone in the center—his son, Kenzo Terron, heir to the clan and next in line to wield the Steel Strategist's power.
Kenzo's breathing was steady, but forced. His hands trembled slightly.
This was the moment he had trained for since he could walk—his Constellation Awakening Trial.
And yet, doubt gnawed at the edge of his resolve.
"I'm ready," Kenzo muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His voice lacked the strength of his father's. He clenched his fists tighter and stepped forward.
Floating in front of him was a shimmering ring of light—an Astral Gate. It pulsed with a silver hue, marking his connection to the Ferrion Constellation, god of defense and strategy.
Once he stepped through, he would enter his Spirit Domain—a realm formed by his mind and soul. There, he would face his trial. If he survived, the first star of his constellation would awaken, and his path as an Astra would begin.
If he failed…
He didn't let the thought finish.
Kenzo glanced back, once, at his father. Daelor gave no encouragement. No nod. No words. Just a silent gaze of steel.
Kenzo turned back and stepped into the gate.
The world changed instantly.
Stone battlements rose around him. Dust and ash filled the air. A crimson sky loomed overhead, and far in the distance, black shapes moved along the horizon. The sound of war drums echoed through the air—steady, ominous.
He was no longer in the real world. This was his Spirit Domain: a massive fortress city under siege.
The ground beneath him vibrated. The walls around him cracked with pressure.
Kenzo heard the voice before he saw anything.
"Hold the line… or fall."
It wasn't his father's voice. It came from everywhere and nowhere. Deep. Calm. Ancient.
It was the echo of Ferrion, the celestial war god whose constellation he bore.
Then, pain bloomed in his chest. Sharp, spreading, electric.
Seven points of light lit up across his body—forming a Constellation Sigil over his heart. They aligned into a shape: a warhelm above a tower shield, surrounded by gears.
Ferrion, the Steel Strategist.
The first star blinked.
[Steelveil Skin — Activated.]
Silver plates shimmered into existence, forming a layer of Astral Armor across Kenzo's body. It wasn't heavy—just warm, solid, and humming with power. His breath caught in his throat.
He had done it. He had awakened the first star.
But the trial wasn't over.
A roar shook the sky. The first wave had arrived.
From the broken horizon, dark shapes charged toward the fortress. Twisted monsters of astral corruption—beasts born from energy that no longer followed the rules of nature. Astral Siege Beasts.
Kenzo didn't wait.
He jumped from the wall and landed in the courtyard with a roll, armor cushioning the fall.
The first beast reached him, leaping with claws wide. Kenzo sidestepped, bringing his armored fist into its side. The impact cracked its outer shell, but it didn't fall. Another came from the left. Then a third.
Kenzo ducked under one, kicking it back. The armor on his leg sparked with residual astral force, burning a mark into the beast's hide.
But they were fast—faster than any training dummy, faster than sparring partners.
One claw caught his shoulder. Sparks flew. His armor held, but the force made him stumble.
[Anchor Core not unlocked. Knockback resistance unavailable.]
His mind raced.
He had only unlocked the first star. Six more lay dormant. His strength was limited, and the trial wasn't just about winning—it was about surviving. He had to last nine nights, with each wave growing stronger.
Kenzo gritted his teeth and fought defensively, using terrain to his advantage. He dodged into narrow alleys, forced the beasts into chokepoints, and used his armor to absorb what hits he couldn't avoid.
Hours passed. The sun didn't move.
Time in the Spirit Domain didn't follow real rules. It bent to the rhythm of the trial.
Finally, the beasts retreated.
For now.
Kenzo slumped against a wall, his chest heaving.
His armor faded, returning to light. His hands shook. But he was alive.
Outside the Astral Gate, Daelor Terron still hadn't moved.
A guard approached quietly. "My lord… should we prepare a recovery team?"
Daelor shook his head. "If he needs rescuing, he isn't ready."
The guard hesitated. "Still… he's young. This trial isn't meant for children."
Daelor's gaze sharpened. "Neither are wars."
Back in the Spirit Domain, Kenzo stood again.
His hands were blistered, but his eyes were steady.
He walked back to the walls. He could already see movement on the edge of the battlefield.
More beasts. Stronger ones.
He knew what came next: wave two.
"I won't break," Kenzo whispered. "I'm Terron."
He raised his fists, armor shimmering back to life.
And the second night began.
[Chapter 1 – End]