The morning sun spilled its golden hue over the Ren estate, casting a tranquil warmth across its vast courtyards. It was April 7th, and though the day had started like any other, a quiet undercurrent of excitement ran through the household. Today marked Kaito's sixteenth birthday—a milestone for any martial artist. He rose early, refreshed and energized, and headed down for breakfast with the rest of the family.
The dining hall was lively, filled with cheerful chatter. Aika was already seated, flashing a bright grin as she handed him a small wrapped gift. "Happy birthday, Brother!" she said, beaming. Their mother, seated across the table, gave him a fond smile, while their grandmother reached over to lightly pat his hand.
"Sixteen already... my, how time flies," she murmured, eyes soft with affection. "You were barely up to my knees just yesterday."
"Don't get all sentimental now, Grandma," Kaito chuckled, hiding his smile behind a sip of tea.
The doorbell chimed, and a maid stepped in to announce Mei Rin's arrival. She strode in shortly after, dressed casually but with elegance, her long black hair tied back into a loose braid. She offered Kaito a playful smile.
"I figured you'd be up early on your big day," she said as she entered.
"Wouldn't miss it," Kaito replied. "Thanks for coming."
"I wouldn't dream of skipping out," Mei Rin said, handing him a neatly wrapped box. "But don't open it yet. You'll see it later at the party."
The two shared a look before Kaito led her out toward the newly acquired factory building.
They headed out together, with Aika waving from the entrance.
Located just a few blocks from the estate, the former factory stood as a relic of the past—a large, empty shell of industry now waiting to be reborn. As they stepped inside, Mei Rin tapped on her holographic tablet. The air shimmered briefly before a 3D overlay of the fully furnished studio appeared, suspended midair. Tables, training pods, smart desks, and wall-mounted diagnostic scanners came to life within the projection.
"I did a full layout design last night," she explained, rotating the holographic model with a flick of her fingers. "Main operation room, VR coordination bays here, and individual cabins at the back for extended gameplay. Aesthetic choices can still be tweaked. I just need final funds to begin procurement."
"It's perfect," Kaito said, his eyes lighting up as he walked through the ghostly vision of their future studio. "Start as soon as I release the funds—should be two days from now."
she said proudly, "Leave the planning to me."
Kaito smirked. "I already did."
She glanced at him. "Good. Then stop worrying and just focus on recruiting the team."
"I'll focus on that... and prepping myself for tomorrow," he said.
she nodded.
After locking up, they returned to the estate just in time for lunch. The dining table was lively once again, and Mei Rin excused herself after the meal.
"I'll head home to prepare," she said, standing. "You have a party to attend. I'll be back with my family this evening."
By the time evening descended upon the estate, soft lights had begun to flicker on across the halls and courtyards. Elegant holographic banners displayed floating birthday wishes in midair. Tables lined with delicacies, desserts, and drinks had been arranged in the main garden under the glowing lanterns that danced like fireflies above the guests.
Kaito stood at the edge of the crowd, momentarily stunned by the transformation. Mei Rin returned just as promised, flanked by her family—her father, a tall and stoic man named May Kanji, her graceful mother May Hana, and her older brother May Jin, whose calm, confident air hinted at his own achievements.
Formal greetings were exchanged, and the families mingled comfortably. Aika buzzed around like a sprite, greeting every guest and keeping the mood buoyant. Kaito's cousins— Ren Hiroto, Ren Kaede, Ren Daichi, Ren Suzune —all participated in the celebration, sharing light banter and cheerfully teasing the birthday boy.
The party was filled with warm laughter, familial affection, and a palpable sense of camaraderie. A holographic music display floated in the corner, playing traditional yet upbeat tunes. Guests took turns offering their well-wishes, and even the estate's loyal staff joined the festivities.
After the final cake slice was passed around and the guests slowly began to filter out, Kaito turned to see his grandfather gesturing discreetly toward the main villa.
"Come with me" he said, voice low but kind. "There's something I need to show you."
Curious, Kaito followed him past the quiet corridors until they reached the hidden entrance to the underground library—an ancient archive built into the very foundation of the Ren estate.
Torches flared to life automatically along the walls, revealing rows upon rows of aged scrolls and locked cabinets. His grandfather pulled out a sleek, dark box from one such cabinet and handed it to Kaito.
"Don't open it here," he murmured, voice suddenly grave. "This is your gift. Inside is the cultivation technique."
Kaito nodded solemnly. "I understand."
"It's called Skyshatter Eternity Manual. A peak-grade technique that will serve you to Rank 9 if your talent and resolve hold true."
A flicker of excitement danced in Kaito's eyes. "Thank you, Grandpa."
"You're the first to receive it. The others will begin once they come of age," he added, glancing toward the glowing rows of tomes. "For now, go rest. Begin reading it when your mind is clear."
Back in his room, Kaito placed the sealed scroll box gently on his desk. He stood before it for a moment, absorbing everything that had happened. His birthday had not only marked his growth into a martial artist but had also brought clarity to his responsibilities, allies, and aspirations.
As the night deepened, casting the villa in the soft hush of starlight, Kaito remained at his window for a few minutes longer. His mind was clear, but his thoughts spun like a silent storm—strategy, team dynamics, timing, execution. Everything hinged on precision.
He turned back to his desk and activated his optical lens. The AI shimmered into view with a silent glow, illuminating the darkened room with faint blue light.
"Run final verification on the top 100 local dossiers," Kaito instructed. "Cross-reference their current activity records, any recent game tags, or community activity over the past week."
The AI responded instantly.
"Processing... confirmed. 92 active players found with updated activity logs. Eight have gone dormant. All dossiers updated."
"Good."
Kaito leaned back for a moment, his gaze shifting toward the sealed scroll box on his table. Just knowing what it contained filled him with quiet motivation. But tonight wasn't the time to begin training. Tonight was for preparing the battlefield of another kind—Glory.
He stood up again and walked toward his closet, pulling out a simple combat-grade exercise uniform. Lightweight, breathable, and fused with pressure-regulating fibers, it was standard gear for reflex enhancement drills.
"Time to polish the basics," he muttered.
In a small room beside his bedroom, the family had installed a virtual dojo—a circular space lined with full-surround AR emitters. Kaito stepped in and closed the door behind him. As the emitters activated, the wooden floor beneath his feet transformed into a rocky battlefield under a setting sun.
"Activate solo reflex mode. 200ms interval."
A series of projectiles blinked into view.
He exhaled slowly—and then moved.
The night passed not with sleep, but with sweat, breath, and controlled strikes.
When the sun would rise tomorrow, it would be April 8th. His final day before the world entered the age of Glory.
And Kaito Ren intended to greet it not as a beginner.