Ethan landed on a huge tree in the first island he encountered on his first visit. He let go of Trevor who was looking at him like he was a monster.
"The fuck was that?!" He said in a disgruntled tone.
"Shush! We have to move to a safe place. Follow me." Ethan said as he began moving on the through. Trevor followed him getting shocked after shock as Ethan traversed the trees like a monkey. Very soon the reached the edge of this island and they jumped to the other or more like Ethan carried Trevor across. This went for 2 hours until they finally arrived at Ethan's settlement where they entered a cave.
The moment they settled; a loud notification rang out in their heads.
*1st Phase Completed.
Breakthrough Commencing...
3... 2... 1... *
The moment they heard this; they fell on their knees. Angitia and Apole who were in their beast compartments were thrown out and made to float in front their masters in small forms. Galeno instantly reinforced the cave when he saw this. A huge and powerful pressure fell and engulfed the whole island.
---
As the countdown ticked down to its final seconds, a brilliant flash of light engulfed Ethan and Trevor. They felt an overwhelming surge of energy racing through their veins, a sensation that was both exhilarating and terrifying. The very air around them seemed to vibrate with intensity, distorting and rippling as if reality itself was being stretched thin. The ground beneath them trembled violently, the rocks and earth shifting as if protesting the force being unleashed.
Angitia and Apole, their spirit beasts, remained in their diminutive forms, but their essence flared with an intensity that mirrored the chaos unfolding around them. Angitia's small, serpentine body radiated an electric blue aura, her scales shimmering with an otherworldly light. Her eyes, fierce and focused, began to pulse with raw telekinetic energy, channeling the power of her master. Apole, though tiny, was no less dramatic; his smoky form writhed and coiled, the fog swirling around him in a mesmerizing dance of shadows and light.
As Ethan's telekinetic power reached a critical threshold, the surrounding debris—stones, dirt, and fallen tree branches—began to levitate and spin wildly. Ethan struggled to maintain control as his ability surged uncontrollably, the rocks hovering and whirling around him in a chaotic tempest. The raw force of his power seemed to tear at the very fabric of the cave, sending vibrations through the walls that caused fragments to fall from the ceiling. The cacophony of shifting debris and rattling stone created a symphony of destruction, echoing through the cavern with a deafening roar.
Trevor, too, was enveloped in the surge of his affinity. His control over smoke manifested as a dense, swirling white fog that thickened rapidly, obscuring everything within its embrace. The cave, once dimly lit, became shrouded in a nearly impenetrable haze. The fog roiled and churned with an eerie glow; its darkness alive with an almost sentient energy even though it was white. The fog's swirling patterns seemed to pulse with a rhythmic heartbeat, a reflection of Trevor's own growing power.
The pressure of the transformation built to a climax, and Ethan and Trevor felt their bodies being reshaped. Every cell within them was realigning to accommodate the unprecedented influx of power. Pain surged through them, a searing agony as their bones cracked and reformed, muscles stretched and tore, and their very essence was transformed. Their screams echoed through the cavern, a haunting symphony of suffering and rebirth. The sound was both primal and ethereal, a testament to the profound changes they were undergoing.
In the midst of this intense pain, a miraculous healing process began. Ethan's gaping arm wound and Trevor's bitten leg—both marks of their past battles—started to mend with astonishing speed. The torn flesh knitted together; the blood vanished as if it had never been spilled. The wounds closed seamlessly, leaving not a trace of their former injuries. The healing was so complete that even the scars seemed to have never existed, as though they were erased by the transformative power.
The cave around them was bathed in a golden radiance that seemed to flow from an unseen source. This illumination, a direct consequence of Galeno's reinforcement, intensified the breakthrough. The walls and ceiling glowed with an ethereal light, the golden hue reflecting off the shimmering scales of Angitia and the dark, swirling fog of Apole. The entire cavern pulsed with an otherworldly energy, the golden light interacting with the fierce blue of Angitia's scales and the churning white fog of Apole, creating a kaleidoscope of dazzling colors.
Angitia, Ethan's spirit beast, grew to an enormous size, her serpentine body stretching and swelling until she was as large as two elephants. Her scales, now glowing a brilliant blue, caught the light and sparkled like a sea of stars. Her eyes burned with a fierce, telekinetic energy, casting a radiant glow that seemed to command the very essence of the cave. Her presence was so immense that it felt as if she was a living part of the cave's structure, her aura merging with the cavern's energy. The eye rune on her forehead shimmered with a silvery blue energy while transforming to become more refined and beautiful. It now seemed to possess a living, pulsating quality, reflecting the depth of her newfound power.
Apole, Trevor's spirit beast, transformed into a towering entity, shrouded in an impenetrable veil of smoke. The fog that had once been merely a dense mist now took on a solid form, swirling and churning with a malevolent grace. Apole's eyes, glowing like embers, pierced through the fog, casting an ominous light that cut through the darkness. The air around Apole crackled with heat and energy, a testament to the raw power now at his disposal. His crystal skull head remained, but it was now fused with the smoke, making it appear like crystallized smoke. The fusion of the crystalline structure with the smoky mist gave Apole an appearance that was both eerie and majestic, a reflection of the elemental mastery he now wielded.
As the breakthrough reached its peak, Ethan and Trevor felt their minds expand, their consciousness merging with their spirit beasts. They felt a surge of energy and a sense of unity with Angitia and Apole. The cave around them seemed to fade away, and they were left with a sense of clarity and purpose. Visions of ancient realms and powerful beings flashed before their eyes, their understanding of the world and their place in it deepening with each moment. They saw themselves not just as individuals but as part of a grand tapestry of power and destiny, their connection with their spirit beasts forging a bond that transcended the physical.
Finally, the energy reached a critical point, and Ethan and Trevor felt themselves shatter through the barrier to the Advanced level. The world around them erupted in a blaze of light and color, a cataclysmic explosion of brilliance that signaled their transformation. As the blinding luminescence receded, they knew they had emerged irrevocably changed, their abilities elevated to a new plane of power and mastery. The cave, now a testament to their incredible breakthrough, stood as a silent witness to their remarkable evolution. The walls, still glowing with residual energy, seemed to hum with a quiet reverence for the monumental shift that had just occurred.
Ethan and Trevor, now standing amidst the remnants of their transformative experience, felt a profound sense of accomplishment and readiness. They were no longer the same beings who had entered the cave. They had transcended their previous limits and embraced a new level of power and understanding, prepared to face the challenges that awaited them with their newfound abilities.
"The Advanced Level... we did it. We did it!" Trevor shouted in joy at this. His body was still shrouded in dark smoke which slowly turned to its pure, white and holy color.
"Yeah. This feeling of power..." Ethan whispered.
"I got a new Smoke attribute, and I feel a strange calling. Like something in me wants to come out." Trevor said in confusion.
"I think it's your..."
"Path! I'm awakening my path. I can't wait to see what it is."
"Don't rush it. Besides we have to stabilize our powers. Are you ready for a hunt?"
"Count me in!"
Ding!
Just as they were about to leave the cave, Ethan stopped in his tracks with a surprised but happy face.
*Quest Completed!
Reach the Advanced Level in Three Days.
Reward: 5% Unlock of Path.
Congratulations! *
"No fucking way!"
"What's the matter?"
"I just got my path back although it's just 5%."
"Path? 5%?"
"I will explain it later."
'5% is almost overpowered considering the kind of path you have. Don't underestimate it.' Zark scolded Ethan.
Ding!
*Phase 2. Evolution.
Evolve to Your Actual Race.
Related Quest: Survive in Babel's Hive for a Week.
You've Gathered Attention from The Gargoyle Elders and They Are After Your Heads. Survive Their Pursuit for A Week.
PS: Master Of Auras Won't Work Always. It Is Too Low Leveled.
Good Luck! *
"Fuck!"