The year was 2047.
Lightborn University stood as a beacon of excellence across all of Asia, renowned for its groundbreaking Soul Power Research and its mercilessly rigorous Combat Training programs. Nestled within its sprawling campus, futuristic buildings gleamed under the perpetual haze of holographic skies, their sleek metallic surfaces reflecting the endless stream of students hurrying between classes. Floating holographic boards hovered gracefully in mid-air, displaying real-time updates on training schedules, monster sighting alerts, and live soul-energy readings. Neural-link implants pulsed faintly at the temples of nearly every student, connecting their minds directly to the university's vast digital archives and simulation chambers.
This was no ordinary place of learning. Here, every young soul harbored the same burning dream: to become a Soul Evolver, to awaken their dormant power, and to stand against the deadliest monsters that now roamed the fractured world outside the protective domes. The air itself seemed charged with ambition and quiet desperation.
Today, however, the Advanced Soul Theory classroom under Professor Meera crackled with storm-like intensity. The debate had grown so heated that it felt as though fists might fly at any second. Tension hung thick in the air, almost tangible, like an invisible current ready to spark. Some students had leaped to their feet, voices raised in passionate shouts, while others remained seated, slamming their arguments down with equal fervor. Faces flushed with emotion, gestures sharp and insistent — the room had transformed into a battlefield of ideas.
Then, the classroom door slid open with a soft, almost reluctant hiss.
Professor Meera stepped inside.
She appeared to be around thirty-eight years old, yet her cool, unwavering eyes and the straight, purposeful line of her posture made her seem ageless, as if time itself respected her composure. Across the entire university, she was known for her icy calm and the emotionless precision with which she delivered even the most complex lectures. Her presence commanded respect without demanding it.
She cast one slow, sweeping glance across the chaotic room. Her gaze cut like a laser beam, slicing through the noise and freezing every movement in place.
"Enough."
One single word. Nothing more.
And just like that, the entire classroom plunged into absolute silence. The shouting died mid-sentence. Students who had been standing sank back into their seats. The air, which moments ago had vibrated with conflict, now felt heavy and still.
Professor Meera walked forward at a measured pace, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor, and took her position behind the podium. "Let us put an end to this pointless bickering," she said, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority that silenced any lingering whispers. "Can anyone tell me exactly how many levels exist in the Soul Power hierarchy?"
For a few heartbeats, the room remained deathly quiet. Then, from the third row, a shy-looking boy hesitantly raised his hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
"Uh… ten?"
Professor Meera gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Correct. Now, can someone name them for me?"
The same boy opened his mouth to try again, but no sound emerged. His cheeks burned with embarrassment. At that precise moment, a clear, confident voice rang out from the very back of the classroom, cutting through the hesitation like a blade.
"There are ten levels."
Every head in the room turned at once.
Krish stood there, tall and slim, with a calm face and deep, ink-black eyes that seemed to hold centuries of quiet wisdom. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it absentmindedly while thinking, yet his posture radiated an unusual maturity far beyond his years. He was widely regarded as Lightborn University's top student — blessed with an extraordinary memory, a razor-sharp mind, and an almost unnatural serenity that made him stand out even among the most gifted.
"1. Soul Evolver
2. Junior Soul Evolver
3. Senior Soul Evolver
4. Soul Master
5. Soul Grandmaster
6. Soul Lord
7. Soul King
8. Soul Saint
9. Soul Divinity
10. Soul Trinity"
He spoke the names with such unshakable confidence that the entire class fell momentarily speechless. Even in Professor Meera's usually frosty eyes, a faint spark of approval flickered.
"Very good, Krish," she said, the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly — the closest thing to a smile anyone had ever seen from her. "At least one person in this class actually reads the textbooks."
She turned smoothly and activated the massive holographic screen mounted at the front of the room. With a soft chime, the entire Soul Power Hierarchy chart materialized in stunning three-dimensional detail, rotating slowly in shades of electric blue, vivid crimson, and profound obsidian black. Glowing lines connected each level, pulsing gently like living veins of energy.
"Now I will explain the power of each level in detail," Professor Meera continued. "Pay close attention. Do not miss a single word."
The earlier heated arguments were instantly forgotten. Every student leaned forward, eyes locked on both the shimmering screen and their professor. The atmosphere had shifted completely — from chaos to rapt focus.
Professor Meera began, her tone measured and clear. "We are currently in the year 2047, though many still speak of it in the shadow of what historians call the Great Catastrophic Year of 2025. That dark chapter remains the blackest event in recorded human history. The Curse Power Virus that swept across the Earth transformed nearly every living creature into monstrous abominations. Yet humanity suffered the cruelest blow of all."
A cheerful boy named Yug immediately shot his hand up, his face bright with eagerness. "Professor, was it because our immune systems were the most advanced? That's why the virus couldn't affect us as quickly, and we couldn't evolve like the animals, right?"
"Exactly correct, Yug," Professor Meera replied, allowing a rare, brief smile to touch her lips. "The monsters that roam our world today evolved from what were once ordinary animals, birds, and insects. They possess unique skills and terrifying strengths that defy conventional understanding. But humanity refused to surrender. When our most advanced modern weapons proved useless against them, we turned to the final frontier of science."
From a corner seat, another student called out, "But Professor, those modern weapons really had no effect on the monsters at all, did they?"
"You are right," Professor Meera's voice grew slightly more solemn, carrying the weight of remembered helplessness. "We found ourselves utterly powerless. Some people turned to prayer, begging whatever gods they believed in for salvation. Others claimed we were evolving into monsters ourselves. Yet experts at the Soul Divinity level maintain that our powers are fundamentally linked to the primordial trinity — the ancient forces that once governed creation itself."
A soft ripple of whispers spread through the class.
One girl raised her hand, her voice tinged with awe and uncertainty. "Professor… has anyone truly reached the Soul Trinity level?"
Professor Meera drew a slow, deep breath, as if the question carried immense gravity. "That remains our greatest unsolved mystery. To this day, no one has publicly advanced beyond Soul Divinity. Stories about Soul Trinity exist only as rumors and legends. Some claim such experts do exist, hidden away from the world, but they never reveal themselves in public."
"Why, Professor?" another student asked, leaning forward intently.
"Because the closer one draws to the Soul Saint level, the less interest one has in the trivial affairs of ordinary life," she explained. "Those individuals stand on the very threshold of transcendence, almost touching moksha — true liberation. Experts at Soul Divinity operate on an even higher plane. They appear only when a grave threat endangers all of humanity. Otherwise, they devote themselves entirely to cultivation and the hunting of high-level monsters, where the soul experience gained is far richer and more potent."
A sharp, energetic boy named Mahi jumped in with another question. "Professor, I've heard that to increase your soul stars, you have to hunt high-level monsters?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "Low-level monsters still grant experience, of course. But once your own level rises significantly, the points you receive from weaker creatures become minimal. That is why veteran hunters constantly seek out stronger and more dangerous prey."
Professor Meera glanced at the chronometer floating near her podium and nodded once. "That will be all for today's class. This is only your second day at the university. For the next five days, we will focus exclusively on basic theory. If any of you have questions, you may come to my faculty office during designated hours."
The moment she stepped out of the room, the classroom erupted back into lively chatter and movement, the earlier tension dissolving into the familiar buzz of student life.
Yug rose from his seat and made his way toward the back, where Krish, Laksh, Mahi, and Rudra were gathered. The five of them shared a deep bond — all orphans who had grown up together and now occupied the same hostel room, facing the uncertain future as a tight-knit unit.
"Hey, Krish!" Yug laughed, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "Why didn't you save my seat today, man?"
Krish answered in his characteristically calm, steady voice. "You woke up late this morning, Yug. We tried hard to wake you — all four of us — but you kept sleeping like the dead. We took our seats and kept one empty for you, but another student came and sat there before we could stop him. What could we do?"
Yug shrugged with a sheepish grin. "Alright, my bad. But from now on, make sure you save my seat, okay? The five of us live together, so we should sit together too. I don't like being separated."
Mahi burst out laughing. "What's gotten into you today, Yug? We've always stuck together. You just showed up late once and had to sit somewhere else. Why the big drama?"
Rudra, ever the straightforward one, added bluntly, "Looks like Yug has lost his mind today."
Yug turned with a playful smile toward Laksh, who had been sitting quietly the whole time. "Hey Laksh, why are you so silent? What's wrong with you?"
Laksh offered a faint, somewhat forced smile and spoke softly. "It's the selection test in three days. I'm nervous about it."
"Oh come on, brother!" Yug laughed loudly, trying to lighten the mood. "Why are you stressing so much? The rest of us are totally chill about it."
Laksh took a deep breath, his eyes clouded with worry. "You guys don't understand. All of you performed well in middle school. Krish has that incredible memory, Rudra's strength is unmatched, Mahi's speed is something everyone admires, and Yug — your defense was practically unbreakable. But me? I was only good at history and religion subjects. In combat and academics, I always lagged behind."
The four friends fell completely silent, their gazes fixed on Laksh with sudden seriousness.
Laksh continued, his voice low but steady. "In the test three days from now, Krish will top the intelligence stats, Rudra will dominate strength, Mahi will shine in agility, Yug in vitality… and me? I don't have anything special."
A heavy silence settled over the group for a moment.
Then Rudra broke it with a loud, genuine laugh. "You idiot! Those were just middle-school scuffles. None of us had even awakened our talents back then, remember? Real power only awakens after we turn eighteen. At that time, none of us had proper abilities."
Krish placed a reassuring hand on Laksh's shoulder, his touch firm and comforting. "Don't worry, Laksh. We're all in this together. Whatever happens in the test, we'll face it as one."
Yug stood up, stretching his arms. "Class is over anyway. Let's head back to the room. We can talk more comfortably there."
The five friends left the classroom together, their footsteps echoing down the brightly lit corridor. Yet inside Laksh's mind, a single persistent question continued to swirl like a restless shadow:
"What will my talent be?"
Little did they know that the selection test awaiting them in just three days was far more than a simple examination. It would be the first fateful step toward the Void Rift — an event destined to change the course of their entire lives forever.
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