The Unachievable Task
Valen Aetheris gazed out of his large window, his striking appearance blending with the opulent room that surrounded him. At just six years old, he already radiated an air of quiet power and refinement.
His silver hair, inherited from his father, shimmered in the afternoon light, while his deep amethyst eyes—like his mother's—held an otherworldly depth.
Despite his youthful appearance, there was an intensity to his features that made him look far older than his years.
To the untrained eye, he was simply a handsome boy from a noble family. But those who could sense mana would understand that Valen was anything but ordinary.
Though others his age hadn't even awakened yet, still blissfully unaware of the power that coursed through the world, Valen had already reached the Mana Manifestation Realm, the fourth major realm in Ethyros.
A feat unheard of for one so young. He stood far beyond even the most talented nobles, who usually wouldn't achieve their awakening until they reached their teenage years.
Valen felt the Primordial Core within him, a core no one had ever formed before—neither in this world nor in the fabled stories of old.
He glanced down, focusing his thoughts inward. "Nyx, show me my progress."
The familiar, feminine voice echoed softly in his mind.
[ Valen Aetheris ]
[ Age: 6 ]
[ Realm: Mana Manifestation Realm, 8th Stage ]
[ Mana Core: Primordial ]
[ Mana Breathing Technique: Sovereign's Breath (10th Order) ]
[ Battle Arts: Astral Edge (10th Order), Void Step (10th Order) ]
[ Villain Points: 0 ]
[ Fate Essence: 0 ]
He glanced over the information, satisfied with his progress. His Primordial Core, something that surpassed even the legendary Celestial Core, set him apart from anyone else.
Only someone like him, who had absorbed all the ancient blood during the Transcendence Ceremony, could achieve such a thing.
His techniques were equally rare. The Sovereign's Breath, an exclusive breathing technique passed down through the Aetheris family, allowed him to refine mana to its utmost purity, unlocking levels of power unreachable to most.
The Astral Edge, his family's prized sword technique, was as sharp and swift as starlight itself, capable of cutting through most defenses.
And then there was Void Step, a movement technique that enabled him to vanish from one place and reappear elsewhere almost instantaneously, making him nearly untouchable in combat.
All of these would have been impossible without his family's profound inheritance and the system's guidance.
—————————————
Two years ago, when Valen had just reached the Core Condensation Realm, the system had fully activated.
It had been quiet until then, gathering power as Valen accumulated mana. But when he broke through to the second major realm, it had spoken for the first time.
At the time, Valen had been wary. In the novels he had read before his transmigration, systems often served hidden agendas or manipulated their hosts. But this system was different—it didn't claim to control him, nor did it attempt to deceive him.
"Why should I trust you?" he had asked the system the first time it spoke.
The voice had been calm, without a trace of hidden intent.
[ You need not trust me. I am but a tool—an extension of your will, born from your deepest desire for power. You may destroy me at any time. ]
Valen had paused then, probing the system's words. And in that moment, he had felt it—the truth behind them. The system wasn't lying. It truly existed for him and only him. If he willed it, he could unmake it in an instant.
That was when Valen understood. The system wasn't his master. It was his tool. And so, for the first time, he allowed himself to trust it—not out of naivety, but because he knew that he held all the power.
Now, two years later, the system had given him his first real task.
[ Task: Achieve the Unachievable ]
[ Details: Achieve what no one has ever achieved. ]
[ Reward: 100,000 Villain Points, ??? ]
[ Time Limit: None ]
[ Status: Incomplete ]
Valen smirked. He knew the task was directly tied to the First Great Opportunity, something even the so-called protagonist, Kael, had failed to achieve in Echoes of Eternity.
But unlike Kael, Valen had no intentions of letting it slip through his fingers. He had two years to prepare, and when the time came, he would claim it for himself.
"Valen?"
The soft voice of a young girl broke his concentration. Valen turned to see Aeliana, standing in the doorway. She was four years old, with a gentle smile on her face.
Her blonde hair fell in soft curls, and her large, trusting eyes gazed up at him with pure affection. Though they were not related by blood, her attachment to him was obvious.
Aeliana had been adopted into the Aetheris family when Valen was four years old. Her arrival hadn't been a surprise for Valen, as it had been part of the plot in Echoes of Eternity.
Her parents had been murdered, though the truth of that matter was still hidden for now. To the world, she was an orphan, taken in by the kindness of Marcellus Aetheris. But Valen knew better.
Aeliana's importance went beyond family. Her physique was directly tied to the First Great Opportunity. In the original story, Kael had grown to care for her deeply, even loved her, and that love had caused him to hesitate at the critical moment.
Valen wouldn't make the same mistake. He cared for her, of course —she was, after all, innocent. Still his goals came first.
"Do you want to play, Valen?" Aeliana asked, her voice light and full of warmth. "The gardens are really pretty today!"
Valen smiled softly, his gaze gentle. "I have some things to do today, Aeliana. Maybe later."
Her shoulders sagged slightly, but she nodded in understanding. "Okay... promise you'll play with me later?"
"I promise," Valen said, ruffling her hair lightly.
She beamed and skipped out of the room, leaving Valen alone once more.
The smile faded from his face as soon as the door closed behind her. He had long perfected the art of manipulation, even as young as he was. Aeliana's affection for him would serve him well. Her loyalty was absolute, and he would need that when the time came.
The First Opportunity was approaching, and it was directly tied to her. Valen had no doubt that her love for him would only make things easier.
Valen turned his attention back inward, feeling the Primordial Core thrumming within him. His journey through the realms had been swift and relentless.
He had first formed his core in the Mana Foundation Realm, where mana was initially awakened within the body, laying the groundwork for all future cultivation.
From there, he had quickly ascended to the Core Condensation Realm, where mana was compressed into the core, allowing him to store more mana and control it with greater efficiency.
The Essence Gathering Realm had followed, where he refined his mana into a purer essence, amplifying his strength significantly.
And now, at the Mana Manifestation Realm, his mana was no longer just an internal force—it could be wielded externally, affecting the world around him with tangible power.
Valen reflected on the remaining major realms that awaited him.
The Elemental Awakening Realm would be next, where his mana would begin to align with elemental forces, granting him greater control over the natural world.
Beyond that, the Essence Refinement Realm would allow him to further purify his mana, amplifying his strength to greater heights.
The Core Strengthening Realm would follow, where his core would be pushed beyond its natural limits, preparing him for ascension.
Afterward, he would face the Elemental Mastery Realm, mastering the very elements that defined existence.
Finally, beyond those, lay the Realm of Ascension, where mortal limits would be peaked, and then the Transcendence Realm, where one would achieve a divine connection with mana itself — shedding the mortal limits.
Valen breathed deeply, his ambitions clear. He had no intention of stopping until he reached the highest pinnacle of power. And with the system's help—and Aeliana's role in the coming First Opportunity—he knew that nothing could stand in his way.