High on a mountain peak, a man sat under an ancient elder tree in deep meditation. His eyes were shut and an onlooker would think he was no longer alive. The man’s body was powerfully built, dressed in ancient armor and mail, exuding power and domination. Vines entwined around him and flowers grew out of his armor, making the spectacle extremely bizarre. It was a bright but cool morning, and nature was in perfect harmony. Insects raked, birds sang, and animals joined the chorus. Nobody would expect what universe-altering event was about to happen. The man was old indeed, but only of age. He had lived for centuries and yet had the physical constitution of a forty-year-old man in his prime. His aura was thick and divine like a god. He was, in simple terms, an immortal. The tiny planet, Erode, was his sanctuary and prison. It was a quarter the size of the Earth’s moon. One could drive around the planet’s circumference in a day. It had a modest blue sea and two new-fold mountain ran

Pan Osbourne was optimistic today. He was eighteen, and it was his first day at Cloyster Academy of Technology. Even though he was poor and likely to be mistreated, he was still excited to learn and get ahead in life. The boy had been looking forward to this day after graduating from high school. The latter had been a nightmare. Pan’s wealthy classmates enjoyed torturing and humiliating him. They would burn his books, spill water on his homework, throw his lunch to the dogs, fill his desk with cat turds, and so on. He could not complain to authorities because nobody cared about helping a poor kid. The rich bullies always got away. Pan’s treatment was not so different at home. His parents died in a car crash when he was a baby and since then his uncle’s family adopted him. However, they treated him like a servant. His elder cousin brother, two older sisters, and one younger sister, were all given special treatment while Pan was considered a humiliation to the family. They mad

“Pan Osbourne, right?” Jessica asked cheerfully, walking ahead of him in the corridor. It was a windowed passage that led to the college gymnasium. Ample sunlight lit the entire length of the gallery. “That’s correct.” “Ah, then Leo Osbourne is your brother?” Leo was twenty-two and in his third year at Cloyster Academy. He was the Student President of the academy, and a popular figure for his good looks and grades. Compared to his brother, Pan was a nobody. “Yeah… He is…” Did Jessica want to use him to get to Leo? “Your parents are elite suppliers of construction equipment, aren’t they?” Pan nodded. His parents started the business when they were alive. It was taken over by his uncle shortly after their untimely deaths. “Yeah, but I am not a part of the main Osbourne family. I work there as a servant.” “I see…” “Can I say something, Jessica?” Pan posed. “Go ahead.” “Umm, you are quite popular. I hate to say it… but you should not be seen with me. Since I’m fr

Pan was underwater and did not know how to swim. He was almost out of breath and started guzzling water. The lake water was clear, sweet, and cold. It was almost welcoming. 'What sort of trap is this?' he thought in panic. 'Did my bullies set this up?' But the magic he was experiencing was too advanced to be carried out by a first year. Did he fall into one of the academy's ponds? Initially, his instincts acted up, and his fingers reached for the surface, wiggling as a signal for help. However, as his body flailed helplessly, he saw the surface retreating. Pan was sinking. Nobody saw the boy drowning, and hence nobody came to his rescue. Every insult that he had ever been subjected to flashed across his mind. The words resonated in his head and hurt him like fatal slaps. 'Why do I let myself be treated like shit?' he wondered. Pan was convinced he was dying, but part of him gasped for air, trying to break to the water's surface. 'Why am I struggling to live?' 'The wor

Pan almost died underwater. If what he was currently experiencing was one last dream of fantasy, then it was pretty entertaining. If it was fake, then he had nothing to lose. If it was real, then his life was about to change forever. But first, he needed to win the successor contest. He nodded to the talking frog, finally having wrapped his head around the situation. "I agree. Please begin." Jewel hopped down from the leaf pedestal and said, "Excellent! Let's proceed. Currently, we are on a lower slope of Mount Filo, which has four rungs. You must pass three of them successfully to get to the top. The fourth rung is the summit, where you can meet your divine parents." Pan nodded. "Let me open a portal to the first rung," Jewel said. The talking frog croaked in a musical rhythm. Water from the pond rose and formed a large, swirling circle in front of them. "Follow me!" he instructed before hopping into the magic ring. He did not come out the other way but vanished. Pan to