The next morning, the twin suns of the Celestial Sky Kingdom glowed faintly gold and blue, their light spilling across the towering spires of the Celestial Advanced Academy. A mysterious energy flowed in the air — an ethereal pulse that could be felt through the skin, like the heartbeat of the universe itself.
Staryo's eyes opened slowly, still reflecting traces of starlight from his Cosmic Eye's previous night resonance. The faint hum of energy within his body was new — deeper, heavier. He could feel the rhythm of his blood matching the cosmic frequency.
> "This feeling… my energy is evolving again."
He stood near the dormitory balcony, the celestial clouds drifting below his feet. From this height, Kora City — the kingdom's capital below — looked like a sea of light. The academy stood upon the Floating Isles of Eternia, suspended by the gravitational veins of the world's largest astral crystal.
As he gazed into the morning horizon, a familiar voice cut through the serenity.
"Still daydreaming about stars again, aren't you?"
Aru leaned against the doorway, her white-and-azure academy robes fluttering in the cosmic wind. Her hair glowed faintly, harmonizing with the light around her. She had awakened her own energy — Spirit Tempering Realm: Mid Stage.
Staryo smirked faintly. "You've advanced again, huh?"
Aru shrugged. "You noticed? Well, it's thanks to you and that insane sparring session last night. You almost shattered my arm."
He chuckled softly. "You blocked it."
---
The Announcement
A bell rang across the entire academy — a single tone that rippled through the air like divine thunder. Every student froze. Then, a projection appeared above the central plaza: the headmaster, Grandmaster Aerion Veyr, one of the Twelve Celestial Masters.
> "Students of the Celestial Advanced Academy," his deep voice echoed, "your first trial begins today — The Star Pool Awakening."
The plaza erupted in murmurs. Every new batch of students had to pass the Star Pool test — a cultivation ritual that determines one's core synchronization rate with cosmic energy. It could either amplify one's strength or end in total collapse if the body was unprepared.
Grandmaster Aerion continued,
> "This will test not only your cultivation foundation but your will and your connection to the stars themselves. Fail, and you will be expelled from the academy."
Staryo and Aru exchanged looks.
"Looks like it's finally time," she said, her eyes burning with determination.
Staryo nodded. "Let's see what the cosmos has planned."
---
The Journey to the Star Pool
Students from all Twelve Celestial Kingdoms gathered in the grand hall — a majestic place built of silver crystal and engraved with constellations that pulsed with life. Banners of each kingdom hung from the ceiling, and beneath them, the prodigies of royal blood and divine heritage waited.
Among them stood:
Lior of the Radiant Sun Kingdom, wielding Solar Qi.
Serin of the Moonlight Empire, calm and silent, wrapped in lunar aura.
Vaen of the Abyssal Realm, cloaked in shadows, his eyes shimmering with dark blue.
Raiha of the Windcrest Dominion, known for speed unmatched among all.
And then… Staryo and Aru of the Celestial Star Kingdom, the duo whispered to be descendants of a forgotten constellation.
The instructor, Master Veylan, stepped forward. His aura flickered with faint golden runes — Cosmos Emperor Realm: Low Stage.
> "Follow me," he said curtly, his tone carrying enough pressure to make weaker students sweat.
They traversed across the levitating bridges that led to a colossal structure: a floating basin filled with what looked like liquid starlight — swirling, glowing, and humming with divine energy.
> "This," Master Veylan said, "is the Star Pool of Eternia. Each of you will step inside one by one. The stars will judge your potential. The deeper you go, the higher your cosmic synchronization."
---
The Star Pool Awakening
The first student stepped forward — Lior.
As his feet touched the pool, solar flares erupted around him. His body glowed bright, and he descended to the third layer before collapsing.
"Three layers — acceptable," Master Veylan nodded.
Next came Serin, who gracefully stepped into the pool. Her silver aura merged with the starlight, and moonlight patterns danced across the water's surface. She reached four layers before the energy forced her out.
Then Vaen, the prodigy of shadows, walked calmly. His darkness seemed to consume starlight itself, forming a void within the pool. Gasps filled the air as he sank deeper — five layers, six, seven — until suddenly the water burst upward, sending ripples of black mist.
"Seven layers… astonishing," murmured Aru.
Finally, it was Staryo's turn.
As he approached, the starlight above the pool flickered uncontrollably. Even the Grandmaster watching from the high balcony furrowed his brow.
> "His cosmic frequency… it's not natural."
Staryo closed his eyes, stepping in.
The moment his foot touched the pool, the entire basin roared like thunder. The liquid stars spun faster, forming whirlpools of energy. Students shielded their faces as waves of radiant light exploded outward.
> "What the—?!" cried one of the elites.
The energy merged with Staryo's Cosmic Eye — a faint circle of blue and gold appeared over his right iris. The pool reacted violently.
One layer… two… three… six… eight…
Then suddenly — the pool turned black and gold.
A voice echoed inside Staryo's mind.
> "Child of the Twin Cosmos… awaken your path."
His consciousness was thrown into a void of stars. He saw a colossal eye — the First Form of the Cosmic Eye, glowing with billions of constellations.
> "You seek the path of balance between order and chaos."
A flood of energy poured into him. He screamed as light and darkness intertwined within his veins.
Outside, the students could barely see him — only a figure surrounded by spirals of celestial fire. The pool erupted upward, shattering the boundaries of the awakening platform.
---
The Phenomenon
Master Veylan leapt forward, placing a barrier to contain the surge. "He's breaking through the Star Pool limit! That's impossible!"
The Grandmaster appeared above the pool, descending slowly. "No… not impossible. But rare. This resonance… it matches an ancient prophecy."
> "The Eye of Twin Stars shall awaken when cosmos itself trembles."
Inside the storm, Staryo's mind blurred between pain and transcendence.
"Cosmic Eye — First Awakening Complete."
When the light faded, Staryo stood at the center, calm and silent, his robes fluttering in slow motion as the pool stilled.
The entire crowd was silent.
Master Veylan's voice trembled slightly, "He reached the Tenth Layer. No one in recorded history has ever—"
> "Correction," Grandmaster Aerion said quietly, "he surpassed it. The pool's depth is unknown now."
The entire academy erupted in disbelief. Even the elite heirs bowed their heads — a sign of respect for an overwhelming existence.
---
Aftermath: The Birth of a Legend
Later that evening, within the infirmary chamber, Aru sat beside Staryo's bed. His body was covered in faint starlight scars, glowing gently. She placed her hand over his arm.
"Idiot… you almost burned your soul."
He opened his eyes weakly, smiling. "But I didn't."
Aru rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her small smile. "You've officially made every royal heir in the academy your rival."
He smirked. "Let them come."
---
In the High Council Chamber
Grandmaster Aerion stood before a circle of floating elders. Their auras distorted reality itself.
> "So it begins," one elder murmured. "The prophecy of the Twin Star has awakened."
> "Indeed," another said. "The Cosmic Eye's first stage… it has appeared after ten millennia."
Aerion looked out at the floating islands, his voice grave.
> "But for every light that awakens, darkness stirs to answer. The Abyss will not remain silent."
The stars outside flickered faintly — almost like blinking eyes in the void.
---