The forest whispered with ancient stillness as Jordan SanJose staggered into the hidden ravine beneath the ruins of Valenzuela City, deep within the uncharted borders of the Southeastern Heavenly Empire. The blood on his robes was drying, crusted and thick, but the child in his arms remained untouched, sleeping in the warmth of his embrace.
A cavern opened before him—unseen by normal eyes, veiled by ancient illusions cast long ago by the founders of the Golden Dragon Clan, his maternal bloodline.
Jordan collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily, and whispered a command:"Draconis Veil—Open."
The air shimmered. The entrance appeared.
Inside lay an ancient sanctuary carved into the mountainside. A forgotten temple of the dragons, its architecture lost to time—pillars shaped like coiled wyrms, ceilings etched with constellations of a bygone age, and a spring flowing with Eidra-infused water in the heart of the cavern.
He laid the child gently down on a bed of furs.His voice was low. Almost a prayer.
"…I bought us time, my son. I only hope it's enough."
Outside, no enemy followed. The Martial Ascendancy Hall had lost their trail. And thus, in the ruins of the fallen city, Jordan SanJose vanished, taking with him the child that should never have survived—the boy who once leapt from the edge of death.
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Six Years Later.
Philippine Continent, Southeastern Heavenly Empire (Luzon), Valenzuela City, Malinta Village.
Malinta Village. If somebody heard of it's name, they will recall the local legend of it's village. The reason why is it called like that because 400 Years ago, an Eidran Master was born from here. This was also the eternal pride of Malinta village. This Village Contains 600 Households south of Valenzuela Province, Malinta City.
Outside Malinta Village was, without exception, a huge stretch of farmland where grain and vegetables were grown and shipped to the local Market of Malinta City.
Malinta city was located in the center of Valenzuela province, and while it was not considered a large city, the border of another empire was extremely close, so merchants from both great empires naturally dealt there.
As a result, Malinta developed, and commoners' lifestyles in the surrounding villages were better than elsewhere.
Morning mist rose through the valley as sunlight filtered into the hidden cavern sanctuary Jordan now called home. The wildflowers outside had bloomed, the spiritual spring glowed faintly beneath mossy stones, and the once-silent hall now echoed with a boy's laughter and footsteps.
"Father! I found the Fire Beetles again! They're back!" a voice called out.
A small child no older than six dashed across the moss-covered stone bridge, a bundle of glowing red bugs cupped in his hands. His dark hair was slightly messy, his features sharp for a child, and his golden eyes gleamed with curiosity and an unexplainable depth of wisdom—as though echoes of another life remained within him, whispering from the void.
Clark SanJose, reborn.
This Child, who had arrived 6 years ago, was exactly SanJose Clan's Clark SanJose , who leapt from a cliff for his ideals. When he recovered consciousness, he noticed that, in addition to feeling warm, he couldn't move. However, the expected death did not occur, and he was very soon born into a brandnew world.
Clark SanJose wasn't sure what was going on until much later. He hadn't died, but he was no longer the same Clark SanJose .
The reincarnated Clark SanJose took nearly a year to master this world's language. He remembered that when he was born, despite his inability to open his eyes and see, he heard the deep sound of a man's heartbreaking, lung-splitting howl.
Nonetheless, Clark SanJose was completely satisfied within. After all, he'd been using this name in the other world for nearly 30 years. He was satisfied with having a name that reminded him of his previous existence.
Even though he entered this world nude, Clark SanJose possessed the most valuable asset: his memory.
Jordan looked up from the stone tablet he was inscribing. His beard had grown slightly; there were creases near his eyes now—but when he looked at Clark, warmth softened the steel in his gaze.
"Again? They seem to like you," Jordan said with a slight smile, rising to his feet. "Be careful with those. Their flames bite."
Jordan walked over and knelt down, gently closing Clark's hands. "One day, you'll control real fire. But before that—you must learn discipline."
The boy pouted. "I know, I know. Meditation, breathing, sword forms…"
"Good." Jordan nodded and turned toward the back of the cavern, where two worn dummies stood, swords embedded in a rack nearby. "Come. Time for your daily forms."
Clark sighed dramatically but followed. He had long stopped questioning why his life was different. Why they lived alone, hidden. Why no one ever came near their mountain. Why the world outside was only known to him through his father's stories, ancient books, and starlit dreams.
Hours later after Clark finished his daily forms
That evening, as Clark sat beside the glowing spring, Jordan watched him from a distance, lost in thought.
"Six years… and not a single trace of the Ascendancy Hall," Jordan mused inwardly. "But it won't last forever. When they learn he's still alive… they'll come."
He clenched his fist, the memory of Malak Drakar's blood still etched in his mind.
"They'll come… and I must make sure Clark is ready."
Jordan turned and walked into the chamber's deepest section. There, behind layers of protective seals and ancient inscriptions, was a sealed relic wrapped in dragon-scale cloth.
He stared at it solemnly.
"When the time comes… you'll awaken. And the world will tremble again."
Chapter Ends.