I DECIDE THE END MYSELF
VOLUME 1: ASCENDANCE
Chapter 1: MY OWN WAY!
BOOM!
Another explosion echoed from Kael's backyard — the third one today.
Thud!
Kael crashed to the ground like a rotten jackfruit, the back of his head smacking the dirt with a solid thunk.
"Ughh... my head." He groaned, rubbing the sore spot.
Cough! Cough!
Smoke from the burst machine filled his lungs, and he choked on it, waving the fumes away.
"Fuh... If I didn't jump on time, I might be dead..." he muttered, still flat on his back.
The wrecked remains of his invention sparked in the grass beside him, a few metal parts still rattling from the force of the blast.
"Yeah... just a few more modifications and this creation is don—" Kael mumbled as he stared up at the rising smoke.
"KAEL!!! What is it this time, huh?!"
A familiar voice cut through the chaos like a sharp blade.
At the edge of the scorched backyard stood Elvareth — a middle-aged elf woman with long silver-streaked hair tied in a loose braid, arms crossed and fire in her eyes. Her expression could stop a charging beast in its tracks.
She'd lived with Kael for the past few years. A mother figure, sure... just with a slightly terrifying temper.
Kael sat up slowly, brushing ash off his clothes.
"Steady, Elvareth. I'm almost done. Just a few more tests and I'll have it working, I swear," he said with a grin that didn't help his case.
Elvareth's hands flared with a twitch of wind energy. "No, no, young human. What's done... is YOU." Elvareth shouted from afar
Kael ignored her completely. Heh, what nonsense, old elf," he muttered under his breath
His eyes locked onto the remains of his smoldering machine — one gear still spinning like it didn't understand the whole thing had already exploded
He shook his head and slowly stood up, squinting at the smoking machine in front of him.
His short black hair stuck messily to his forehead, singed slightly at the tips. His bright sky-blue eyes — always flickering with ambition and mischief — glimmered with excitement despite the chaos.
By height alone, he looked more like a child standing beside elves or dwarves. His clothes were stitched from humble, coarse fabric — something out of the middle ages — but laced with odd modifications: glowing circuits, metallic plating, and tiny, buzzing components that blinked and hummed with unstable energy.
Sparks crackled from one of the machine's vents. Kael crouched beside it, pointing at a fried mechanism near the base.
"Hmm... maybe I just need to fix this part."
Before he could grab his tools again—
CLANK!
"Ow—HEY! That hurts, old elf!" Kael yelped, stumbling forward.
A wooden plank had smacked the back of his head. Elvareth stood behind him, holding it like a weapon of divine justice.
"Alright, Mr. Human Inventor," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "time to pack up this weird piece of metal."
"Huh? Why?" Kael asked.
"Because it's been exploding since early morning!" she snapped.
"Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do if I don't, old elf?" Kael teased, smirking as he rubbed the growing lump on his head.
Elvareth's eyes narrowed. She raised a hand, drawing in a swirl of air. Wind gathered with a soft whoosh, circling Kael's legs and lifting him effortlessly off the ground — upside down.
"Now what, human?" she asked sweetly, a smug grin spreading across her face.
"Okay, okay! You win!" Kael flailed, waving his arms in surrender.
She let him gently float back to the ground and crossed her arms.
"It's time for work. You're late."
"Yeah, yeah... I know," Kael muttered. He dusted himself off and whispered under his breath,
"What is this, child labor? I'm only sixteen..."
Elvareth rolled her eyes and turned away as Kael stepped inside.
His house was small — a simple two-story wooden home that creaked with age. He jogged up to the second floor and entered his room.
Tools and half-assembled gadgets were scattered across the desk, wires hanging like tangled vines. On the wall hung an old photo — a younger Kael held up between two adults. Their faces were missing from the torn frame.
His bed sat beneath the window, modified with adjustable levers and cushion controls he'd built himself for extra comfort.
Kael glanced at an unfinished device on his desk also with some weird modification and features
"Hmm... maybe I can use this as a—"
"KAEL! Hurry up! Your friend's waiting outside!" Elvareth called from below.
"Coming, old elf!" he shouted back, grabbing his satchel and heading down
Kael immediately grabbed his satchel, tossing in a handful of tools — clunky, odd-shaped gadgets with blinking lights and gears that clicked in strange, unpredictable rhythms. Most people wouldn't even call them "tools."
But to Kael?
They were his pride.
His creations.
He slung the bag over his shoulder, gave one last glance at his room — at the unfinished machine on his desk, and the torn photograph on the wall — then darted down the stairs toward the door.
"I'm going, Elvareth!" Kael shouted.
"Yeah, yeah!" she replied from the kitchen, her voice half-annoyed, half-affectionate.
________________________________________
Kael flung open the front door.
Waiting just outside was a short, wide- blacked eyed goblin with a mischievous grin plastered across his green face.
"Faster, human!" Nibsken shouted, bouncing on his toes. "We're gonna be late!"
Kael waved lazily. "Yeah, relax, goblin."
He bent down and strapped on his newest invention — a pair of shiny, steam-punk-like boots lined with tiny thrusters and gears.
Nibsken's eyes sparkled.
"Whoa... those shoes are shiny!"
Like most goblins, Nibsken had a thing for shiny stuff. A serious thing.
Kael smirked. "Of course. But don't try to steal them, sneaky goblin."
He pressed a button on the side of the boot.
Click.
WHIRRR.
The soles buzzed to life, emitting a soft glow. With a sharp hiss of air pressure, Kael hopped experimentally, rising a few feet higher than normal.
"Let's race, Nibsken!" Kael said, grinning with confidence.
"Oh, come on, human. You already lost ten times this week." Nibsken folded his arms, skeptical.
Kael laughed. "This time's different."
Suddenly—
SWOSSHH!!
Kael shot forward, kicking up a small cloud of dust as the boots launched him down the path.
"Ey—wait for me!!" Nibsken shouted, scrambling after him.
"No way, goblin!" Kael laughed, zooming ahead.
His speed was insane — clunky, jerky, but fast.
He zipped past a pair of elves, narrowly missed a cart of fruit, and caught air over a small slope "How come he's this fast...?" Nibsken muttered under his breath, panting as he chased Kael from behind.
"I'm already at my max Might-speed… Human brains are seriously unfair."
________________________________________
Kael dashed along the white-bricked road, wind brushing gently against his face.
The soft chirping of birds mingled with the rustle of the tree leaves overhead. The village of Kallidorra — nestled between hills blanketed in lush green — shimmered under the golden morning sun.
The cobbled path beneath his feet glowed faintly, crafted from polished white bricks, laid down with care to ease the way for carts, travelers, and beasts of burden alike. Market stalls flanked the road in full color — run by elves, dwarves, dragnoids, and the occasional odd-looking merchant from faraway continents.
Some vendors shouted prices. Others laughed and argued over fruit. Children from different races ran past Kael, laughing, weaving between the adults.
And Kael?
He zipped past it all — a blur of clunky speed and wild grinning energy.
People waved at him casually. Not because of his face... but because of his look.
The clinking, sparking, oddly shaped gadgets patched into his clothes.
The thruster boots that hissed when he stopped.
The soot on his cheeks from daily explosions.
To them, that wasn't just a human.
That was Kael — the weird inventor kid who ran through this road every day like a broken wind-up things.
________________________________________
"Morning, Kael! Want some fruit?" a female draganoid called from behind her stall.
"I'm good, thanks!" Kael yelled mid-sprint, waving over his shoulder.
Another voice chimed in: "Still inventing explosions, huh?"
Kael glanced sideways at a pale elf leaning against a cart.
"It's called invention, pale elf!" he shot back with a grin.
"You better not fry the village again!"
Kael gave a nervous laugh. "Nah, I'm not in the mood for that today!"
He kept sprinting through the market, dodging carts and waving to familiar faces.
Being the only human in the village — maybe the only one in the world — made him stand out. At first, it was uncomfortable.
But now?
Now they all knew him.
Maybe not always in a good way, but still.
The explosion kid.
The inventor freak.
The mightless boy with a genius brain.
________________________________________
SWOOSH!
His boots hissed louder as he and Nibsken reached the wide plaza near the town's center. The chase was still on — in Kael's mind, this was nothing short of an epic battle.
"HAHAHA! You're slow, Nibsken!" Kael shouted back, twisting his head to see the goblin stumble past a cart.
"You bastard human! Wait for me!!" Nibsken yelled, flailing as he tripped slightly on a loose stone.
Kael laughed wildly — then, suddenly—
BZZZTT!
BZZZT!
"Huh? Why's it buzzing...?" Kael glanced down at his boots.
Sparks burst from the soles — his newly invented shoes, overloaded with energy, began to whine and stutter. The lights flickered red.
BOOM!
A small explosion popped from the back of one boot, and Kael lost all control.
The propulsion failed.
He couldn't stop.
"Hey—watch out!!" Nibsken shouted in panic from behind.
"WAAAH!!"
________________________________________
THUD.
"Oof!"
Kael slammed into something solid — or rather, someone.
He stumbled backward and landed on his rear, clutching his forehead. The shock buzzed in his skull like a gong.
"Okay... that was NOT part of the design."
A shadow loomed over him.
"My apologies, child," came a low, composed voice. Calm and deep — like wind blowing through ancient stone.
Kael blinked.
He looked up... and froze.
________________________________________
A towering figure stood before him — a High Elf, clad in stunning bluish-green armor that shimmered with the faint glow of starlight. His Crimson Red Cape with gold strips on his back. The Letter E on his Cape makes it even clearer that it symbolized his responsibility for the East Cardinals. His silver-grey hair flowed gently with the breeze. His eye green emerald eyes so charismatic. Long, sharp ears peeked through strands of hair, and his face held no emotion — just a calm, regal stillness.
Strapped across his back was a massive sword, Bluish gold and silver like forged lightning.
And on his right shoulder—
—a red dragonhead badge. The Letter E already symbolise East Branch
Gasps rippled through the crowd like a shockwave.
Villagers, traders, children, even stall vendors stopped mid-conversation to stare.
Kael's breath caught in his throat.
"Th-that symbol..." he stammered, eyes wide. "You're... you're a Realm Protector…"
Whispers broke out.
"He's the real thing…"
"That badge... it's East Branch..."
"That's a commander... a real commander!"
Even Nibsken, far behind, had frozen completely.
"No no no!" the goblin muttered in a panic, hiding behind a fruit cart. "I can't get near someone with that level of Might influence! I'll pass out on the spot!"
Might.
The energy. The core. The foundation of nearly every living being in this realm.
From the nobles of every race, to the towering Realm Protectors, and even to the lowliest beings like Nibsken—Might flows through them all.
It grants power. Control. The ability to shape the world around them.
With enough training and natural talent, what begins as a gentle breeze could become a storm, a tornado, a weapon of mass destruction.
And the stronger someone's Might level, the more their very presence suppresses and influence those beneath them—crushing pressure, like gravity on the soul.
But Kael?
That's exactly what he lacks.
No Might. No elemental affinity. Nothing.
Yet even without it, he keeps pushing forward.
Fighting to survive in a world built on power—armed only with wild inventions, raw stubbornness, and a brain that won't quit.
Machines to match what others are born with. Tools to defy the impossible.
This is Kael's hardest reality.
Kael's legs trembled. His knees threatened to buckle. Just being in the presence of someone so powerful was almost overwhelming.
But then...
The elf smiled gently and extended a hand.
"All good. No worries, child."
His voice was smooth and composed, like he was used to causing this kind of scene everywhere he went.
Kael hesitated — then took the hand.
The High elf pulled him up with ease, as if Kael weighed nothing.
And then, suddenly—
The high elf Realm Protector narrowed his eyes.
He tilted his head slightly, examining Kael more closely.
"Strange... I can't feel any Might from him..." He thought "This shouldn't be possible even the weakest beings give off some trace of might… but this kid? nothing.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face — brief, but telling.
He cleared his throat and asked, "If it's alright... may I ask your name, child?"
Kael blinked. "O-oh! My name?"
"Yes," He nodded.
"Kael... just Kael, Commander!"
"No need to be so formal, Kael."
The High Elf gave a soft, almost amused smile.
"My name is Commander Aeronis Ashvale. As you can probably guess, I'm the East Branch Commander of the Realm Protectors. I hail from the High Elf race."
His voice was calm and composed, but everyone within earshot was already buzzing.
"Did he say High Elf?!"
"He's a noble for sure..."
"His Might... it's so strong I can barely breathe!"
Several of the villagers looked pale, and even a few elders began to wobble on their feet.
Aeronis noticed it instantly.
"Tch... I forgot to suppress it again."
He quickly lowered his Might influence by easing his posture and breath even heavier, letting the tension in the air fade like mist.
"It's not good for me to linger here too long," he thought to himself.
He turned back to Kael.
"So, Kael... what are you?"
Kael straightened up and answered politely, "I'm a human, Commander Aeronis."
Aeronis blinked. "A human?" he repeated. "Hmm... I've never heard of that before."
Confusion flickered in his eyes for a moment, but he smiled again.
"Well, be careful next time," he said kindly.
"Yes, Commander Aeronis!" Kael saluted with both hands in a flustered pose.
Aeronis gave a short laugh.
"You're an interesting one, human."
Then—
SWOOSH!
He vanished in a gust of wind, leaving only a ripple in the air behind him.
________________________________________
"Wow... so fast!" Kael murmured, stunned.
"Kael! Are you okay?!" Nibsken ran up to him, panting.
Kael's eyes sparkled.
"Nibsken..." he said breathlessly, "I want to become a Realm Protector." Kael Really fired up inspired by Aeronis strength and charisma
For him Aeronis is
A Dream
A Hope
A Representator
"Kael! Are you okay?!"
Nibsken's voice rang out as he sprinted over, worry plastered all over his green goblin face.
Kael groaned, brushing dust off his clothes, his sky-blue eyes glowing faintly—filled with something more than just light.
Something like… resolve.
He stood up, chest rising and falling with excitement.
"Nibsken..." Kael said, voice steady.
"I want to become a Realm Protector."
Silence.
The goblin blinked.
Once.
Twice.
And then—
"HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Nibsken doubled over, slapping his thigh like he'd just heard the greatest joke in the world.
"You?! A Realm Protector?!" he cackled.
"You've got no Might, Kael! NONE! And you say this every time we meet one!"
He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
"Still hilarious every single time!"
Kael didn't reply.
He just smiled—softly.
Because this time, he meant it more than ever.
________________________________________
Up on the rooftops, Aeronis paused.
He looked back toward the street — at the boy with soot-stained cheeks and malfunctioning boots.
"A human... who didn't even flinch under my pressure?"
He furrowed his brows.
"Don't tell me it's because... no. Maybe I'm just overthinking it."
Still, the unease lingered in his chest.
"That kid... is something."
________________________________________
Nibsken was still laughing as Kael dusted off his clothes. "You seriously think someone with zero Might can become an RP?! HAH!"
Kael ignored him, then suddenly realized—
"Crap! We're late!"
________________________________________
Panicked, Kael pulled out yet another invention — this one built more for mobility than chaos.
A pair of mechanical roller shoes, patched with little thrusters and stabilizers. He strapped them on quickly, hit a button—
Vrrrrmmmm...
The gears hummed to life beneath his feet.
"Let's roll."
Nibsken smirked and channeled wind beneath his feet, lifting slightly off the ground to boost his speed.
And they took off.
________________________________________
To others, it probably looked awkward. The boots clanked and jolted. Sparks shot out the back.
But Kael didn't care.
Other races flew, hovered, blinked through space with their Might.
Kael had none of that.
But he did have one thing God already given to him...
A brilliant, stubborn, relentless, and innovative brain.
The two continued down the cobbled path, side by side
toward their workplace.
The Kallidorra Forgehold.
And thus, Chapter 1 comes to a close—just the spark before the inferno.