The Growth of a Titan

This world is filled with many profound and unknown mysteries. If one could glimpse these mysteries, they could wield immense power and become Deity-like beings that could live for thousands of years.

These Deity-like beings could then gather followers and rule with either tyranny or benevolence.

As these Deities gathered their followers, several groups were formed with different cultures and understanding of the world.

The Eastern Region and Western Region.

This was how the world was separated, with the two territories having vastly different ideologies.

However, nothing lasts forever.

The powerful Deities eventually fell and their followers that were left behind began to mix. After several thousand years, the landscape of the world drastically changed.

The Eastern Region was now known as Jiangu by its inhabitants, and over time the formation of three distinct cultures formed.

There was the simple-minded Barbarian people who lived in the desert; the largest of the three cultures but at the same time the weakest.

There was the second largest civilization, the technologically advanced Sakra people. And then there was the most powerful of the three groups, the proud Arkas people.

The Arkadians became powerful due to their ability to wield Aether, a power they claim to be superior to all else in the world.

Though the Barbarians and Sakrians can wield Aether as well, because of their location it was limited. Both had to compensate for that limitation with the Barbarians training their physical bodies to where they can destroy large boulders with a single fist, while the Sakrians focus on developing technology to compensate for the limited amount of Aether they had.

These were the three civilizations in the Eastern Region. On the Western Region side, however, there were only two.

The Royals and the Seven Great Churches.

The Royals consisted of powerful Warlock Families that wielded the power of Mana. These Royal families were ruled by the Beorhtric family, who was the strongest of the Warlock Families.

The Seven Churches, the Ga-On Church, the Ga-Mon Church, the Ga-Mok Church, the Ga-No Church, Ga-Nok Church, Ga-So Church, and Ga-Sok Church were equally as powerful as the Warlock Families; with the Ga-On Church being as powerful as the Beorhtric family.

Unlike the Eastern Region that sees the Barbarians, the Sakrians, and the Arkadian people opening their borders to each other, the Royals and the Seven Great Churches have a clear line between them that if crossed, would result in all-out war.

However, if there was one thing that could unite the Royals and the Seven Great Churches, it was their dislike for the Eastern Region.

Both were similarly powerful and both were desperate for each other resources to become more powerful.

But there was a problem that made both the Eastern Region and Western Region avoid an all-out war that could tear the world apart.

That was the large mountain range that split their two regions.

The Demonic Forest, the Treasured Land, the Unholy Land...

Each culture from both regions had a different name for it, but one thing that was common across their culture was stories of how terrifying it was. These stories were passed down from time immemorial when those Deities existed.

Even those Deities that wielded power beyond one's imagination died while trying to venture deep inside.

The entire mountain range itself was surrounded by a barrier that rejects all outside energies. The Eastern Continent's Aether, the Royals Mana, and the Seven Great Churches Holy Power.

No one who cultivated these energies could pass through the barrier. The two regions have been able to raise people without their given powers to send them inside, but among the thousands or even millions that have entered over the long years, none had made it back alive.

But although no one had ever returned, pieces of news have made it back before as to what was inside this mountain range.

One was the Indigenous tribes, who had no problem living among the ferocious beasts inhabiting the mountain range. And second was natural resources, lots and lots of natural resources.

When the two regions went through a perpetual change with their resources being depleted every generation, there was this mountain range that was left untouched.

But there was no way to get those resources because of the barrier. However, something changed, the barrier had weakened. Maybe it was due to how long it had existed, or the source of it had been damaged or ran out of power. But whatever had happened gaps began to form in the barrier, and without hesitation, each power from the two regions pounced.

Though who would have thought their desire for more power had led them to make such a grave mistake? To have birthed a conqueror that could threaten their existences.

….

…

..

"Sol!"

The screams of several little kids echoed out as they rushed towards a youth that had a large carrier on his back.

"Ugh, what's with you guys every morning?"

Sol said as all the kids latched on to him. He had to spread his legs and arms so he could walk with all these little gremlins holding onto him.

There was even a small boy on his shoulders that was covering his eyes, but Sol as if he could still see continued to walk normally.

"Hehe…"

The boy covering Sol's face giggled before saying.

"We really won't stop until you visit the temple with us!"

This boy was the leader of these gremlins.

"Yeah, that's right! You should come at least once Sol, maybe you might even be chosen to leave the village to the outside world!"

The boy on Sol's shoulders suddenly huffed and then exclaimed.

"Of course big brother Sol will be chosen! Is there even a possibility he wouldn't be given his strength? After all, he is the only one this little boss has acknowledged!"

The boy folded his hands and puffed out his chest as he said that.

With the boy's hands removed, Sol was able to glance in the direction of the temple that was being talked about.

It was a large stone structure with excellent craftsmanship. One would get a sense of holiness when they looked at it, but for Sol, the only thing he felt was intense repulsion.

Though he soon looked away and say while glancing up at the boy.

"What little boss?"

"Whoa! Wahh!"

Sol had begun jerking his head forward and back causing the little boy to let out a terrified scream.

The kids all leaped off Sol. 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝑙.𝘰𝑟𝑔

After stopping, Sol reached up and took the boy from his shoulders before placing him on the ground, but the boy immediately tumbled over from being too dizzy.

"Ah! Boss! Are you alright?!"

Seeing this, the entire entourage of kids rushed to the boy. One of them placed the boy's head on his knees while the others fan him to calm him down.

Meanwhile, the little boy struggled to say while pointing at Sol.

"You win this time, but one day I'll definitely win!"

However, the boy was seeing doubles so he was embarrassingly pointing at an empty space next to Sol.

One of the kids had to nudge his hand slightly so he could correctly point at Sol.

Sol chuckled at this and said.

"Maybe some other time I'll head there."

"That's what you always say but you never came. Grab him!"

The little boy yelled and the other kids suddenly pounce, latching onto Sol once again.

"What are you guys doing now?"

Sol asked and look at the little boy who shakily stood up before smirking at him.

"We're carrying you to the temple!"

Sol sighed as the little boy grabbed his arm and began pulling him towards the temple.

"Yeah, we want to see if you have any potential to cultivate Holy Power!"

The little boy who was pulling Sol's arm turned to the other boy that just said that and angrily yelled.

"Didn't I say it already?! Big brother Sol is the strongest so his potential is better than anyone else!"

The kids latching onto Sol all looked at each other for a brief moment but said nothing in the end.

The little boy huffed and continued to pull on Sol's arm. They past the newly built stone houses in the village and got closer to the temple located in the village square.

Sol could easily get out of the little boy's grasp, but he allowed himself to be pulled towards the temple.

However, the closer he got the more his repulsion increased. It got so bad Sol began to get irritated by the aura radiating from the building, even becoming slightly angry.