Before him lay a scene that could not be witnessed anywhere else in the world.
A silent expanse stretched out, devoid of all life. A dark sea blanketed the entire space, but it was immediately clear that this was no ordinary water.
There were no reflections, no discernible surface, only its unfathomable depths.
All that could be perceived—or rather, felt—was a pristine world, an untouched canvas. If one were to compare it to something, it would be like a book whose first lines had barely been sketched.
You may wonder how he could sense all of this. The truth was, even he had no idea. It was as though this sea projected its very existence outward.
It wasn't intuition or assumption, but a natural certainty, as undeniable as the warmth of the sun on one's skin.
Surprisingly, however, this mysterious sea wasn't what made this realm truly fantastical, though it played a significant role.
When he looked up to where a starry sky should have harmoniously complemented the dark ocean, he found only shadows. The sky was empty.
Yet, at the center of this dimension, neither in the heavens nor the sea, shone a faint star, casting a dim, shadowy light across the space.
If one were to step back and take in the entirety of the scene, only one thought would come to mind:
"The birth of a universe."
That's what Maximus—or anyone else witnessing this sight—would have said.
It wasn't as grand or monumental as the Big Bang, perhaps, but it was mesmerizing. It symbolized the tentative beginnings of a story waiting to unfold.
Everything before him was blank, patiently awaiting the start of its own tale.
This echoed the messages he had received: [Your story begins to unfold].
Knowing the trial would not wait for him indefinitely, Maximus set aside his musings. He sought to carve out his own unique path, one that would enable him to survive in this world where he was at a disadvantage.
Without delay, he focused on his initial impressions. Had you stood in his place, you would have recognized it immediately: this space, though empty, belonged to him. No—more than that—it represented him.
He felt an inseparable connection to it, particularly to that star, which would likely signify the growth of his power.
In this space, he felt at home. If anywhere could embody the place where he felt most comfortable, it would be here.
He sensed ethereal connections, like veins, linking every part of his being to this space, and especially to that star. Other, unfinished connections seemed to be waiting to join it.
Through an unconscious effort, in his pursuit of strength, his mind had naturally transported him to this place.
"But I won't let this opportunity slip by," he thought.
For reasons unknown, he could feel that the ethereal particles in the air could be more easily manipulated here.
He could absorb them through the connections linking this space to his physical body, though they couldn't yet be assimilated by the star.
He adjusted these connections effortlessly, like a blacksmith shaping molten metal.
Maximus had pondered long and hard, having noticed that the energies from the first two trials had distinct properties.
The energy of this trial seemed designed for reinforcement and healing, rather than serving as raw power.
That's why he could manipulate these connections. Wasting no time, he contemplated the best way to enhance his body.
He thought of drawing nourishment from the energy of the star floating above the sea.
"No, that would only provide temporary energy for my body, leading to a fleeting increase in strength," he murmured.
Moreover, observing the incomplete connections, he quickly deduced that there would likely be other stars in the future.
He then considered creating similar stars within his physical form to enhance his blood and much more.
But as soon as he tried, the star in the sea trembled and shattered his attempt. He also concluded that multiple stars could not coexist, and that the energy particles couldn't be used as a direct power source.
He paused to think. If he truly wanted to improve his body, he would have to go much deeper.
He needed not just to nourish it, but to modify it, to bring it closer to perfection. And not only that—he had to devise a process that could be refined over time, with increasingly precise adjustments, down to his very DNA.
As this thought crossed his mind, his eyes brightened.
"It would be an evolutionary process, just like my body," he mused. "But the issue is that there must be an intermediary between the energy source and my body.Additionally, it would be too taxing to make manual adjustments with each evolution."
Indeed, he couldn't afford to split his focus in battle while being distracted by something else.
He then attempted to draw minimal energy from the star, guiding it downward, and used the energy from the trial to create an avatar of himself, all while forming new connections between this figure, the star, and his physical body.
But the avatar dissipated immediately upon forming.
After several attempts, he deduced that he lacked a support medium for this creation. He found himself at an impasse.
He pondered what could serve as such a medium, until his gaze fell on the dark sea. He instinctively knew that this was what he had been missing.
"With this, the avatar would be like a sculpture, whose details could be refined over time."
After all, what better material than one meant to evolve with the story inscribed upon it?
With complete control over this space, he caused a large portion of the sea to rise and condensed it into a replica of himself.
Moments later, he repeated the same connection process but stopped when he realized that the energy from the star was too weak to condense such a complex form.
He then reshaped the avatar into something smaller, opting for a miniature version of himself, curled up, with a translucent cocoon around it.
He chose this form in analogy to a fetus in a mother's womb, as it was achievable but symbolized the new beginning he granted to himself and his new life.
Seeing that everything seemed ready, he once again created connections, though this time only a few and at a superficial level, as that was all he could manage for now.
A single channel linked the star to the avatar's womb, like an umbilical cord, and vessels connected his physical body to his main muscles and bones.
He wished he could do more, but he lacked the energy.
Once everything was finalized, what could be seen was a sort of newborn, connected by various types of tubes, floating just above a dark sea, beneath a shadowy star.
The avatar itself was also dull, devoid of color or vitality, awaiting nourishment.
Impatient, Maximus willed the star's energy to flow. In that instant, the star trembled, and its energy surged through the channels, reaching the avatar, which suddenly glowed with a deep purple hue, dark like blood under the night sky.
Slowly, the avatar grew, its form solidifying.
This change reverberated immediately, releasing energy similar to that of the star but more refined. This energy coursed through Maximus's major muscles and bones.
Simultaneously, his consciousness exited the space, returning to his body, where a symphony of cracking bones and profuse bleeding from his pores awaited him.
An indescribable pain overwhelmed him, forcing him to collapse onto the steps, screaming until his voice gave out.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
He screamed and yelled until his chest, reshaped by the transformation, robbed him of his voice.
Yet, despite the agony, he gritted his teeth, using every ounce of his will to remain conscious, determined to observe the changes in his body.
He knew this process would allow him to refine the technique later. As he concentrated, he felt a warmth seep into his bones and muscles.
They shattered and reformed in a continuous cycle of reinforcement.
Had he been able to see it, he would have noticed a dark red substance materializing from nowhere, seeping into his body.
This energy was breaking his bones and muscles, then healing them.
It also formed intricate, circuit-like patterns of the same color, becoming more prominent with each passing moment.
After some time, the cracking subsided. Lying on the staircase, Maximus panted from the pain, all the while absorbing more particles from his surroundings to heal himself.
When he finally felt fully recovered, he rose to examine his body more closely.
He was startled to realize that his perspective had shifted.
It seemed he had grown by about five centimeters, now standing at 1.65 meters. He turned his attention to his abdomen, now more defined, and to his firmer biceps.
His legs resembled those of a budding athlete.
Maximus took a deep breath, feeling an enhanced coordination and more precise control over his body.
His skin appeared smoother than before, and the scars and wounds that had once marked him were entirely gone.
His face, too, had gained sharper features, with a more chiseled jawline and better symmetry.
"If evolution comes with beauty, I'll gladly take it."
He felt immense pride in his achievement. However, he wasn't satisfied.
He hadn't become overwhelmingly stronger than other humans. Perhaps in the past, this would have been the case, but with evolution, he knew others had a better starting point.
He sensed he was just slightly above average. Nonetheless, he was determined to close the gap and surpass them.
He still had much potential left to unlock.
As he observed his body, he noticed that something seemed to have capped his growth.
Despite his increased height and slightly more defined muscles, he still appeared somewhat gaunt.
He concluded that the strengthening had consumed most of his body's resources. Though he didn't feel hungry, he deduced that the energy was merely keeping him alive.
"I'll need to eat properly once I return to Earth."
After gathering his thoughts, Maximus stretched and picked up the sword resting on the step.
Testing his newfound strength with the blade, a grin spread across his face. Wasting no time, he continued his climb.
Finally, he reached an orange-lit platform. The moment his foot touched it, the stairs behind him vanished, and a figure began to take shape. Within moments, an avatar of himself materialized.
However, this avatar was unlike the one he had seen before. It wore light armor on its chest, shoulders, and legs, and its sword appeared sturdier, more menacing.
Most striking, though, was its size and presence.
The once gaunt figure now seemed taller and more imposing, with a gaze that, while faint, hinted at a budding awareness.
Its eyes locked onto Maximus, and its stance suggested a rudimentary understanding of combat.
Seeing this, Maximus felt a surge of excitement. An overwhelming urge to fight, to test the limits of his enhanced body and push himself further, welled up inside him.
He raised his sword, every fiber of his being thrumming with energy, and with a voice filled with raw exhilaration, he shouted:
"COME ON, FIGHT ME!"