Prana Chronicles: Sword of the Cosmos

The Prana Test

The hall was silent, the tension thick as the candidates sat in meditation poses around the glowing crystal orbs. The Station Master stood at the front, his sharp eyes scanning the room.

"Focus," he commanded, his voice calm but firm. "Let your mind resonate with the Prana within you."

One minute passed.

Gradually, the orbs began to glow faintly, most turning red, the color of the Base Realm. Blaze's orb lit up in a steady red glow, and BD's followed shortly after.

The Station Master nodded approvingly. "Good. Solid potential."

But then his gaze shifted to Yu and Callen. Their orbs remained dim.

A murmur spread through the hall.

"Are they failing?" one candidate whispered.

"Didn't they defeat a Peak Demon-tier Astrodie together?" another added.

The Station Master frowned, his thoughts drifting to a conversation he'd had with Alaric.

"They're not just silver," Alaric had said, his tone resolute. "Yu and Callen are priceless gems. Rough now, but when polished, they'll outshine everyone."

The Station Master had laughed then, but now, as he watched the boys, doubt crept in.

Suddenly, the orbs in front of Yu and Callen flared to life—not with the usual red, but a dark crimson glow that pulsed with intensity.

The hall fell silent.

The Station Master's eyes widened. "Dark red... at their age?" he muttered, barely able to contain his excitement.

This wasn't just ordinary potential. At 15 years old, Yu and Callen were already at the peak of the Base Realm, a level rarely achieved before the age of 18.

"Monsters," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "Absolute monsters."

Even Blaze and BD, who had also reached the Base Realm at 16, were considered prodigies. But Yu and Callen were on a completely different level.

The Station Master addressed the room. "Candidates, take note. What you see here is the result of dedication and talent. These two boys have already reached a stage many only dream of. This year's group is truly exceptional."

After the test, the remaining candidates gathered for dinner. The number had dwindled to just 30, each one more determined than ever to prove themselves.

At the table, Blaze couldn't hold back his awe. "I didn't know you two were that kind of monster," he said, shaking his head. "At this rate, you'll both reach Demon or even True Demon stages before long."

Yu and Callen exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. They weren't satisfied. In their minds, their current strength was nowhere near enough. To defeat the Planets, they needed to push far beyond their limits.

The next morning, the candidates gathered in the training grounds, where the Station Master stood with a new instructor. Behind them, a series of combat arenas were set up, each glowing with protective barriers.

"Today's test," the Station Master began, "will evaluate your real combat skills. Prana and physical strength are meaningless if you can't fight. Think of it this way: Prana is the ocean, but combat skill is the water that fills it. Without one, the other is useless."

The candidates listened intently.

"This world's power hierarchy is divided into stages," he continued. "From Born Stage to Demi-God, each stage has nine tiers. Today, you'll be facing simulated opponents at the Half-Human Stage.

"You'll choose the tier—anywhere from 1 to 9. Your performance will determine your grade. Don't worry about safety; we've taken every precaution. But don't expect mercy from your opponents, either."

The candidates exchanged nervous glances. The Half-Human Stage was no joke. Even a Tier 1 opponent could overpower an untrained fighter.

"Let's begin," the Station Master declared.

As the candidates lined up, Yu and Callen stood side by side, their expressions calm but focused.

Blaze nudged them. "So, what tier are you picking?"

Callen smirked. "Tier ?, of course."

Blaze blinked. "Are you insane?"

Yu's voice was steady. "If we don't push ourselves now, we'll never be ready for what's ahead."

Blaze sighed. "Fine. But don't expect me to pick anything higher than Tier ?."

BD, standing a few feet away, chuckled. "You're all crazy. But I like it."

As the chapter ended, the candidates stepped into their respective arenas, the air thick with anticipation.

Born stage

half human

human

demon

true demon

demon lord

demi god