A Star Falls
Ten days after birth—
He could sit upright.
Not because infants should.
But because STR 20 in a Rank 1 God World is still insignificant…
Yet perfectly controlled strength wastes nothing.
His Stage 2 structure had stabilized.
Stage 2 doubles Stage 1 baseline.
But the God World's atmospheric density meant even Mortal cultivation here was violently compressed.
Every stat point gained here would outweigh thousands in lower ranks.
Quantity differed by world density.
Authority did not.
He circulated qi with awareness.
Deliberate.
Measured.
+1 to all primary stats per completed cycle.
No multiplier.
No technique.
Pure Origin efficiency.
Outside the Sovereign Palace—
The sky changed.
A star dimmed.
Then fell.
Not physically.
Conceptually.
A streak of silver cut across the layered heavens.
The God World trembled.
Not in fear.
In recognition.
Within moments, alarms rang.
Ascendant generals mobilized.
Demigod elders extended divine sense.
Even low-stage Gods opened their eyes.
A Falling Star in a Rank 1 World was never natural.
In the palace courtyard—
A crater of liquid light formed.
From it—
A girl stepped out.
She looked no older than twelve.
Silver hair cascading like starlight.
Eyes like distant galaxies.
Her cultivation—
Ascendant Stage 3.
Her aura—
Unstable.
As if forcefully compressed.
She coughed.
Blood of condensed astral essence fell to the ground.
The earth hissed.
She raised her head.
Whispered one word.
"Sanctuary…"
Moments later—
The Sovereign Father appeared above the crater.
Authority descended.
The sky bent.
Ascendant Stage 3 was nothing here.
But she did not collapse.
She endured.
That alone was abnormal.
"Identify yourself," the Sovereign commanded.
She met his gaze.
No arrogance.
No submission.
Only exhaustion.
"I am Seraphina… Princess of the Astral Dominion."
Her voice trembled.
"Rank 2 World… destroyed."
Silence.
Even the wind stopped.
A Rank 2 Demigod World… destroyed?
Impossible without Transcendent interference.
But Transcendents cannot enter ranked worlds.
If they force entry—
The world collapses.
Which means—
Something hunted it from outside.
Or forced internal collapse.
In his chamber—
The child felt it.
A new presence.
Foreign.
Brilliant.
Fractured.
He turned his head toward the courtyard instinctively.
His PERCEPTION pulsed.
It spiked.
He could feel her soul.
Damaged.
But pure.
System flicker.
[Potential Bond Candidate Detected]Tier: AscendantUnique Multiplier Trait: Astral Compression PhysiqueSurvival Probability without Protection: 12%
Origin Response: Resonance Detected.
His tiny heartbeat quickened.
Not desire.
Recognition.
Her soul carried star-law fragments.
Condensed authority beyond her stage.
That was why she survived destruction.
She had been forcefully expelled before collapse.
A last act of protection.
Back in the courtyard—
The Sovereign Mother descended.
Her aura gentler.
But deeper.
"Who destroyed your world?"
Seraphina's hands trembled.
"An Artificial Origin Cult."
The name struck like thunder.
"They attempted forced compatibility with our World Core."
"They failed."
"And the Core destabilized."
Her voice broke.
"I was expelled at the moment of collapse."
Inside the cradle—
Something stirred.
Artificial Origin.
Again.
The Sovereigns exchanged glances.
Their son.
The girl.
Both connected to the same hidden enemy.
Coincidence did not exist at this level.
The child pushed against his cradle wall.
STR 20.
More than enough.
He slid to the edge.
And fell.
Not clumsily.
Controlled.
AGI 20.
He landed softly.
The maids gasped.
He began crawling toward the courtyard doors.
Each movement precise.
Balanced.
Deliberate.
His DOMINANCE ticked to 2.
Not from power.
From intent.
When he entered the courtyard—
Everyone froze.
Even Seraphina.
Her galaxy eyes widened.
She felt it instantly.
Not strength.
Not aura.
Something else.
A center.
A gravity.
The infant stopped in front of her.
Looked up.
Their eyes met.
Star and Origin.
Her damaged soul trembled.
A faint silver thread extended from her chest.
Unconscious.
Instinctive.
It brushed his forehead.
System surge.
[Bond Formation Initiating]Bond Tier: AscendantCompatibility: 91%Consent: Unconscious Mutual
Bond Established.
The silver thread solidified.
Then dissolved into both of them.
Not ownership.
Not domination.
Connection.
Instantly—
His stats surged.
Base Gain × Race × Talent × Bloodline × Physique × Technique × External Boost= Calculated
Final Gain × Origin Bond Multiplier
Bond Count: 1
Multiplier = 1,000,000 × (1^1.2)= 1,000,000×
But multipliers apply to gains.
Not existing totals.
And realm authority remains unchanged.
A wave of energy passed through him.
+5 to all primary stats.
Not explosive.
Controlled.
Stabilized.
Total stats recalibrated to 160.
Balanced at 20 each.
Stage unchanged.
Because law barrier still governs.
Seraphina gasped.
Her injuries stopped worsening.
Her astral fractures stabilized.
She looked at the infant.
"You…"
She felt it.
Not his stage.
His depth.
Something in her soul relaxed for the first time since her world ended.
The Sovereign Father watched silently.
He could sever the bond.
He did not.
Because he felt it too.
Not parasitic.
Not manipulative.
Symbiotic.
Balanced.
The child lifted his small hand.
Placed it against her cheek.
His CHARM rose to 7.
But charm does not create loyalty.
Shared fate does.
Far away—
In the void between ranked worlds—
A masked figure closed their tome.
The new line brightened.
Origin Signal: Strengthened.
They smiled beneath the mask.
"So you have begun gathering."
Back in the palace courtyard—
The weakest being in the God World formed his first bond.
Not with a servant.
Not with a political pawn.
But with a fallen princess of a destroyed Rank 2 world.
He was still Mortal Stage 2.
Authority unchanged.
Hierarchy intact.
He could not protect her from a God.
He could not challenge the Artificial Origin Cult.
He could barely stand.
But now—
He was no longer alone.
And bonds—
Are the seeds of empires.
The staircase had gained its first companion.
And somewhere beyond ranked existence—
Something ancient leaned closer.