Ethan was perplexed by what had happened. Transmitting the archery specialization should have caused, at most, some discomfort, but not unconsciousness. Yet here Aphrael lay, as if struck from behind, sprawled on the ground. Why?
Struggling to his feet, Ethan tried to help Aphrael up, but he could barely muster enough strength to walk, let alone lift her.
"Lily, Andeleiv, come help!" he called out, but his injured lungs prevented him from shouting loudly. He wasn't sure if they could hear him.
Just as he was growing anxious, Aphrael's fingers twitched. Slowly, she got up, rubbed her sore chin, and smiled, showing her perfectly aligned teeth.
"Stop calling for help. I'm fine. Just felt a bit paralyzed for a moment. Thank you, Ethan, not just for the skill, but for your concern. Thank you, my friend."
Ethan sighed in relief. "How do you feel now?"
"Impatient!" Aphrael laughed. "If you don't mind, I need to leave for a few days. I know there's a fierce snow eagle in the Ankee Mountains."
"Ha! I understand your excitement. I felt the same way when I first learned the skill. Go ahead!" Ethan chuckled.
Without further ado, Aphrael opened the window and jumped out of the ship. She whistled toward the forest, and soon a massive black panther bounded out. She leaped onto its back and sped off towards the Ankee Mountains.
Watching her leave, Ethan reminisced about the sleepless nights when he first learned the skill, and a smile crept across his face. With time on his hands, he decided to check his gains from the recent events.
Immersing himself in his thoughts, Ethan was shocked to find that his primal force had increased to 2720, a jump of 1671.
"This doesn't make sense! He's a mage. Why does he have so much primal force?" Ethan examined the description again and noticed an additional line under his main talent:
Lever: Gain 557 mana, automatically converted at a 1:3 ratio to primal force.
"Ah, I see!" Ethan realized that the increase was due to the conversion of mana to primal force, and he felt elated.
As Ethan reveled in his newfound power, he suddenly heard a rhythmic heartbeat in his ears, and his vision blurred. When his sight cleared, the world around him had transformed. Everything was blanketed in white snow, like the Antarctic.
"Is this…?"
Not far away, a mountain-sized, snow-white bear covered in lightning was grappling with a giant armored dragon. The ground shook from their battle, and the sky echoed with thunderous roars. The blizzard's gale whipped up the snow, creating a blinding white wave.
The colossal bear glanced at Ethan, its heartbeat like war drums, calling to him. The scene felt eerily familiar to Ethan, like a distant memory. Though he couldn't recall the details, he understood the bear's invitation to join the fight against the dragon. Grinning, he raised his sword and charged at the dragon...
Time passed like flowing water—one year, two years, three years, ten years, a hundred years. Ethan and the thunder bear vanquished countless dragons, establishing a formidable presence in the icy wasteland. He mastered the power of thunder, his combat skills unmatched, instilling fear in all creatures around.
But Ethan grew old and weary. Years of relentless fighting left him scarred and exhausted. Unable to continue, he knelt, using his sword to keep from collapsing. Just as he was about to close his eyes, his Champion's Blade shattered with a sharp "ting."
The sound jolted Ethan from his vision. Opening his eyes, he found himself back in the familiar yet foreign captain's quarters. The broken sword lay quivering on the floor, its vibrations echoing through the room.
As the century's worth of memories faded, leaving behind only the essence of his battle skills, Ethan collected his thoughts.
"A second awakening..."
He understood now. Crossing 1000 primal force marked the threshold of the master rank, triggering a second awakening opportunity. Though he had acquired the power, he had been trapped in the vision. If not for the Champion's Blade falling and its spirit's cry awakening him, he might have perished in the vision, his spirit dissipating, leaving behind a lifeless body.
Ethan stood, stretching, as arcs of lightning flickered across his body. Clenching his fists, he felt the thunder surge through his arms.
"Wow! Ancient bear, thunder lord's power! Fascinating!" With his second awakening complete, Ethan felt revitalized. His pain vanished, strength fully restored, even surpassing his previous condition. He carefully removed his bandages, revealing fresh, pink skin beneath, and smiled.
"Even my regeneration skill has improved!" While inspecting himself, Anne chirped from nearby. Ethan laughed.
"I know! I promised to help you ascend once my primal force increased." He cast a lightning-imbued primal force hawk towards Anne. The hawk struck Anne, causing her to stiffen and collapse. After a moment, she shook her head, stretched her wings, and shot out of the window, streaking through the sky.
Watching Anne's lightning-fast flight, Ethan was astonished. He checked Anne's attributes:
Golden Eagle: Your trusted companion, will never betray you! Silver Tier 4 Transcendent Eagle, in normal progression. Skills: Speed of Lightning, Tough Hide, Thunder Wings, Regeneration, Endurance.
"No wonder you're so fast! With the Speed of Lightning skill, you'll make a perfect messenger."
Ethan returned to his desk and began writing a letter. Once done, he placed it in a small tube, summoned Anne, and tied it to her leg, instructing her to deliver it. Poor Anne, fresh from her advancement, had been playing happily with Little Yellow and now found herself assigned a task. The two birds circled Ethan in protest before Anne reluctantly flew off, leaving Little Yellow behind, eyeing Ethan with resentment.