Chapter 1: Awakening of the Avatar

The air was thick with tension. Rael stood at the edge of the battlefield, his heart pounding against his ribs. His body ached from the countless hours of training, but today was different. Today, everything would change.

"Rael, are you sure you want to do this?" his best friend, Kain, asked, gripping the hilt of his sword. "You know what happens if you fail."

Rael clenched his fists. He had come too far to turn back now. "I have to. If I want to become stronger, if I want to survive in this world, I have to awaken my power."

Kain sighed and stepped back. The Awakening Ceremony was a dangerous process. Only those with a strong enough soul could handle it. The weak… didn’t survive.

Rael took a deep breath and stepped into the ancient circle carved into the stone. The markings on the ground glowed with an eerie light as the elders began chanting. Energy surged through the air, crackling like lightning.

Then, pain.

A burning sensation spread through Rael’s body, searing through his veins. He clenched his teeth, refusing to scream. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he saw something—a figure, standing in the darkness, watching him.

"You are worthy."

The voice echoed in his mind. Before he could react, his body was engulfed in a blinding light.

Then—silence.

The First Avatar

Rael gasped as he sat up, drenched in sweat. The stone beneath him was cracked, the once-bright symbols now dim. The elders looked at him in shock, their expressions unreadable.

"Did… did it work?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

One of the elders stepped forward. "Tell me, boy, what do you feel?"

Rael closed his eyes and focused. Something inside him had changed. A presence, a power he had never felt before. Then, instinctively, he raised his hand.

A second Rael appeared beside him.

The crowd gasped. Even the elders took a step back.

"A cloning ability?" Kain muttered, his eyes wide. "No… this is something else."

Rael could feel it—the clone was not just a copy. It was him, sharing his thoughts, his strength. He willed the clone to move, and it did. He willed it to punch the ground, and it did—with the same force he could.

One of the elders finally spoke. "This… is the Avatar Skill."

Murmurs spread through the onlookers. The Avatar Skill was a legendary ability, one that had only been recorded in ancient texts. It allowed the user to summon copies of themselves or take on different forms, gaining new abilities.

Rael’s heart pounded. He had done it. He had awakened something beyond ordinary power.

But he barely had time to process it before a loud voice interrupted.

"Not bad."

Rael turned, his body tensing. A figure stepped forward—a tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a dark cloak. His face was partially hidden, but his golden eyes glowed with amusement.

"Who are you?" Rael asked, his instincts screaming danger.

The man smirked. "Someone who’s been waiting for someone like you to appear."

In a blink, the man vanished. Rael’s eyes widened as he felt a presence behind him. He spun around, but it was too late—a hand gripped his shoulder, and suddenly, he couldn’t move.

"Amazing," the man whispered. "You don’t even realize the potential of what you just unlocked. But don’t worry… I’ll show you."

Pain exploded in Rael’s chest, and darkness swallowed him whole.

A New Battlefield

When Rael opened his eyes, he was no longer in the ceremony hall. Instead, he stood in a vast, open space—a battlefield stretching endlessly in all directions. The sky was a deep crimson, and strange, floating symbols filled the air.

"Where am I?" he muttered.

"Inside your own mind."

Rael turned sharply. The mysterious man stood a few feet away, his arms crossed.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Rael growled, his fists clenching.

The man chuckled. "Relax. I didn’t do anything. This place… is a test."

"A test?"

The man nodded. "You awakened a power beyond anything this world has seen in centuries. But unlocking it is only the first step. If you can’t control it, you’ll be consumed by it."

Rael narrowed his eyes. "And what if I pass this test?"

The man’s smirk widened. "Then you’ll take your first step toward becoming something far greater than you ever imagined."

Before Rael could respond, the ground trembled. From the shadows, figures emerged—dozens of them. They looked exactly like him.

"Your first challenge," the man said. "Defeat them… or be erased by your own power."

The copies attacked.

Rael barely had time to react. The first clone lunged at him, and he ducked just in time. He countered with a punch, but the clone mirrored his movements perfectly, blocking with ease.

Another one came from the side. Then another. Within moments, Rael was surrounded.

They were just as strong as him. Just as fast. Just as skilled.

His mind raced. He couldn’t beat them with brute force alone. He needed something more.

Then he remembered.

The Avatar Skill isn’t just about cloning. It’s about transformation.

If he couldn’t win in his current form… then he just needed a different one.

Focusing his energy, Rael reached deep inside himself. The power of the Avatar Skill surged, and for the first time, he shifted.

His body changed, his muscles tightening, his stance shifting. He felt stronger—faster.

The Strength Class Avatar.

The next time a clone attacked, Rael didn’t dodge. He countered, his punch sending the clone flying. The ground cracked beneath his feet from the sheer force.

The other clones hesitated.

Rael smirked. "Guess I’m starting to get the hang of this."

The battle wasn’t over. Not yet. But for the first time, Rael felt something stir inside him—something beyond power, beyond skill.

He had taken his first step.

And this was only the beginning.

End of Chapter One

Next Chapter Preview: "The Hidden Truth Behind the Avatar Skill"

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