He sat up, breathing heavily, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
His gaze remained fixed on the remnants of the once tall building, which was apparently where he had lived with his mother.
Raising his eyebrows, he blinked a few times. "…What was that?" he said to himself in a near whisper. "…Zephyra."
As those words left his mouth, a soft, melodic voice hummed to life in his mind.
A light, apt chuckle echoed through his mind.
A feminine voice followed, layered with a synthetic undertone that gave each word a melodic, almost hypnotic quality.
"Hehehe…Cyrus, you just awakened your first Unique Soul essence technique, and one of mine too. Although it wasn't used to its full potential…you were quite impressive."
Raising his eyebrows and blinking a few times, he confirmed, "Wait…really?"
"Why would I lie? The name of the technique you just learned is 'Solar Cleave,'" the voice resonated in his head. He inquired again, his voice filled with doubt, as if evaluating the name of the technique.
"Hmm…'Solar Cleave,' not bad. But how does it even work? This time I used it accidentally, right?"
"No, you didn't use it accidentally. I told you that it was awakened…now, if you learn its mechanics, you can use it anytime as long as you have enough Soul essence," Zephyra addressed, her voice soothing and calm.
"Ohho…Care to tell how it works, Mrs. Goddess?" Cyrus nodded in acknowledgment, before he put up another question after a brief pause.
"I will only explain it once…Cough, cough…so pay attention."
After a brief pause, she continued.
"This technique allows you to unleash a devastating slash of concentrated Solar energy, capable of cutting through anything in its path.
First, you gather an immense amount of Solar energy into a single, focused blade that you can swing in broad or straight arcs. If necessary, it can even be done with your hands.
Upon activation, you can unleash a solar slash as a projectile or melee, sending shockwaves of intense heat that travel at incredible speed.
Not only that, but the slash generates a shockwave of searing heat that extends outward from the point of contact. That heat wave can incinerate any solid caught in its radius."
After speaking what seemed like a mountain of words, Zephyra finally paused as Cyrus looked toward the entrance.
He asked one last question to Zephyra.
"Zephyra…do you think any other child my age could have awakened their first technique?"
"Although your technique is not completely awakened, it's almost impossible, but there are a few exceptions…like those who received a divine blessing from other gods, just like yours."
---
"Yes!"
Zuxe exclaimed.
The moment those words left his mouth, something happened.
Something no one had ever expected…not him, not others.
No one.
As he confirmed his 'Omnipotent powers,' the ground beneath him convulsed violently, unleashing an earthquake that could have registered a magnitude of 6.5 or more.
The concrete floor shattered like glass, fissures spidering outward, deepening with each tremor.
The walls of the facility trembled and crackled, sending fragments of debris raining down.
Machines rattled violently, their screens flickering in protest as heavy equipment toppled over, some crashing together with thunderous booms.
Alarms blared in a cacophony of warnings, echoing the chaos that unfolded around him.
Above ground, the effects were even more devastating.
Tremors radiated outward, causing localized destruction within the clan's territory.
Buildings shook violently, some suffering significant damage, while the ground split, creating deep fissures that disrupted the carefully maintained landscape.
The air buzzed with tension, and the faint sounds of panic and confusion echoed as members of the clan felt the tremors, rushing to assess the damage.
Even though Zuxe's Omnipotent power time limit had already ended, the effect of the power remained for several seconds.
After what seemed like an eternity, the quake eventually abated.
Although for a normal person it was just 0.35 seconds, at that time Zuxe felt like it lasted several minutes.
He felt that if he took another step, another calamity would occur, worse than the last.
That was also one of the reasons he didn't move an inch from his spot.
There was another reason, too.
It was astonishment or maybe fear.
Perhaps…something entirely different.
He couldn't quite comprehend that.
---
"Finally…After so many days, I can meet him."
Elisa drifted gracefully through the vast, open sky bathed in the soft, pale gaze of the rising sun.
She was very happy, as she was going to meet someone she knew after many days.
"Let's see, how should I surprise him?"
Thinking about that person, a smile remained etched across her facial features.
Then, without warning, a sharp pulsing energy tore through the air, disrupting the calm and pulling her gaze downwards.
Below, a boy no more than eight years old released a powerful wave of energy through his blade.
It somehow forced her to squint her eyes for a moment.
The next moment she opened her eyes, she witnessed that the wave of energy released by that boy had already turned the main residential building into ashes.
But it didn't stop there; just after the impact, an earthquake followed.
And an earthquake that caused quite a commotion among the clan.
Her eyes widened in awe and disbelief, her lips parting to speak but unable to.
"Cyrus…this boy…h-how could he?"
She finally whispered under her breath, staring at the event unfolding before her.
Right in front of her.
She knew that he had awakened a Unique Soul essence technique.
And it was common knowledge for all that a Soul essence technique unleashed a devastating attack upon its initial use or awakening.
How much could a technique amplify upon awakening?
Two times.
Five times.
At most ten times.
But to cause that much damage…
He was on an entirely different level.
Only Demon Hunters of Rank Six or higher were capable of causing this much devastation with their Soul essence techniques.
Elysia pondered, hundreds of thoughts racing through her mind, but one stood out the most.
"Zuxe's technique is not even comparable to his, no, not to anyone except the higher-ups.
His technique is a hundred times better than Zuxe's if it can cause this much destruction upon awakening."
She mumbled, descending into the courtyard where Cyrus sat up on his back.
---
Thanks for reading.