Using the mana in his body, he reached out through his hand and touched the stone. His tiny stream of mana smashed the thin barrier around the rock and the one droplet of blood's mana overtook his. The tsunami wave of mana crashed into Hiro's body, sending a shockwave through him.
"Aghhhhh...."
Hiro's body temperature was rising. The blood droplet soon dissipated and absorbed entirely by Hiro's body. This result caused his body to try and fight the invading force, but his body couldn't keep up. Unlike Leo, Hiro's body foundation wasn't as strong.
Using mana to filter the blood droplet and mana took all of Hiro's concentration. Veins started to pop out on his head, and he began to sweat profusely. If he kept this up, the new power within him would destroy his body.
Hours went by, and Keravnós started to worry. The boy before him hadn't even begun to transform the mana to his. The only thing he was able to do was to keep it from attacking his body.
Hiro's eyes were bloodshot, and his mental fortitude was wearing down. Losing concentration, Hiro didn't move mana to his hand. His pinky pours burst open with blood flowing out of them. The mana in his finger started to explode, forcing blood out the appendage.
Locking onto the exploding mana, Hiro tried to absorb it into his bones and muscles. The flesh and bone handled the mana better, causing him less harm. Soon a transformation began in his finger. The muscle fibers changed from thin web-like substance to vigorous vines. The bones became denser and sturdier.
"This is what I'm supposed to let happen." As Hiro looked down at his finger, he was amazed at the transformation.
Keravnós smiled, seeing as Hiro realized what he needed to do.
Slowly Hiro allowed the mana to attack his body and reform it. The madness of destroying and reconstructing would make a normal man give up and die. Hiro was not an average human. He had been forged since a boy to fight the beast, and his will was as sharp as any sword.
The process took a day and a half to complete, and once Hiro finished, he passed out from exhaustion. Keravnós took it upon himself to contact Charmeine since the disciples were waiting for Hiro.
"Miss, Hiro is currently undergoing the process to become Zeus' successor."
When a powerful mana message invaded her consciousness, Charmeine was scared but relaxed upon realizing it was the artifact spirit. When she heard him say, successor, she knew what that meant. It means if Hiro passed his entire being would make a qualitative change, and he would be given the complete legacy of a god who ascended. This opportunity was something all of the warriors in any race would kill him to obtain it.
"I can't have anyone find out about this," Charmeine said to herself. "If they did even Paziel might not be able to protect the boy."
"He will return to you once he completes it or fails." the voice faded, and she didn't receive another message.
Charmeine looked around at all of the disciples and spoke up. "Everyone, gather your stuff. Hiro is right now attempting to become..." She paused for a moment and then lied. "a direct disciple of Zeus. He was deemed unworthy of becoming the successor. The Spirit told me he would return once his training finished."
Alice looked at her funny. Keravnós never mentioned anything about becoming a direct disciple. She wanted to ask her master if something went wrong but decided against it when she saw how solemn her master was acting.
The disciples gathered their stuff and headed back to the Divine Kingdom. Alice looked back at the storm with concern. Seeing the worry in her disciples face, Charmeine touched her shoulder and said, "He will be alright. Have faith in him."
"Yes, master."
The two turned around and entered the carrier. They flew off to the Kingdom, leaving Hiro there.
In the eye of the storm, Hiro slept as his body healed and reformed. After only absorbing the one droplet, Hiro's appearance had changed. He was now taller and muscles more defined. Even though titans had been extinct on Earth for many years, their bloodline had finally been reborn.
Awaking a day later, Hiro moved his stiff limbs. Gasping at his, not reinforced by mana, amazed him. "Is this really my body?" He asked himself as he stretched and threw a punch and kick.
"Nice, to see you finally awake," Keravnós remarked. "Are you going to continue and absorb the next stone?"
"No. I need to prepare my mind and body before I attempt the last stone."
Keravnós approved of Hiro's decision. "Let me know when you want to attempt it." Keravnós then disappeared back into his artifact, leaving Hiro to cultivate alone.
Four days went by with Hiro learning his new body in and out. He cultivated, meditated, and shadow boxed until he felt confident. Even though he didn't break through another Shattering, Hiro felt like a new warrior.
"Keravnós, I'm ready."
The Spirit appeared and replied, "Are you sure? This one will be ten times harder than the last."
"I'm sure," Hiro responded.
Hiro reached out and grabbed the stone in the Artifact Spirit's hand. This time he didn't even have to probe it with his mana, the rock attacked Hiro itself. The tsunami of mana blasted Hiro backward into the storm. Almost as if he was fighting, the thunder god himself. A bolt of lightning crashed down summoned by the blood.
The electricity tore through Hiro's body, opening a horrific wound on his shoulder and leg where it exited. Just when Hiro thought it was over another bolt crashed down. Then a voice was heard in his mind that wasn't his nor Keravnós'.
"Boy, you don't deserve my power. Now be punished by the heavens."
Lightning bolt after lightning bolt ripped Hiro's body to shreds. If he didn't make the mana become a part of him soon, it would slaughter him.