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Chapter 13 - Adaptability Showing No Limits

The forest seemed endless, an ocean of darkened trees and winding paths that stretched as far as the eye could see. Aurel moved through it with purpose, his footsteps quiet, his senses sharper than ever. The air was thick with mana, a wild, untamed energy that seemed to pulse from every shadow, every twisted branch.

Sixth Sense guided him, a whisper at the edge of his mind that kept him one step ahead of danger. Each time he felt the prickling awareness of something lurking, he would change his path, maneuvering around the unseen threat without a sound. His Mana Sensitivity helped him feel the currents of energy, pinpointing the concentrations of mana that marked the presence of powerful monsters or treasures hidden beneath the thick foliage. It was as if he were part of the forest itself, connected to its ebb and flow, every shift and movement as familiar as his own heartbeat.

The deeper Aurel went, the thicker the mana became, the more twisted the trees, their bark gnarled and darkened as if they were feeding on the energy that suffused the air. He was searching for the Stone Tortoise—its thick shell, its immense defense. It was the perfect target, and yet, after six hours of moving deeper and deeper into the Border Lands, Aurel still hadn't found any sign of it. He had climbed hills, crossed narrow streams, and navigated dense underbrush, but there was nothing—no trace of the beast he sought.

Instead, he found something else.

It was a flash of red against the dark greens and browns of the forest floor, a vivid color that seemed almost out of place in the shadowed undergrowth. Aurel's eyes narrowed as he approached, his senses sharpening, the mana in the air shifting, becoming hotter, more intense.

The flower was small, no bigger than his palm, its petals a deep crimson, almost glowing, as if they were lit from within by a hidden flame. It emitted a faint heat, a soft, pulsing warmth that made the air shimmer around it. The mana it radiated was different from anything else he had felt in the Border Lands—wild, fierce, filled with a flame-like energy that seemed to burn even without a source of fuel.

Aurel knelt beside it, his gaze fixed on the petals, his Mana Sensitivity heightening his awareness of the power contained within. It was rich with mana—more potent than anything he had encountered before. He knew instinctively that this flower wasn't an ordinary plant; it was something rare, something powerful. And he had a hunch it could be useful.

His fingers brushed against the petals, feeling the warmth seeping into his skin. It burned slightly, but Aurel smiled. He had eaten mana stones. He had swallowed poison. He had endured the searing pain of forcing his body to adapt. A flower like this, no matter how fiery, was a challenge he was more than willing to take on.

Carefully, he plucked the flower from the ground, the heat radiating more intensely now that it was in his hand. He slipped it into his satchel, the warmth seeping through the fabric, reminding him of the risk he was about to take. But Aurel didn't care. Risks were part of his life now—every day, every decision, every battle. If he wanted to keep growing stronger, if he wanted to keep pushing his limits, then he had to be willing to take those risks.

The sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon by the time Aurel made it back to his apartment. He stepped inside, the weight of the day's search pressing down on him, but his focus was still on the flower—the mysterious red blossom that pulsed with fire mana.

He set the satchel on the table, carefully removing the flower, his fingers brushing against the petals once more. The heat had grown stronger, more concentrated, as if the flower had been waiting to be released from the confines of his bag. He could feel it—almost like the flower was alive, its energy pulsing against his skin, daring him to take the next step.

Aurel didn't hesitate.

He brought the flower to his mouth, the petals soft and warm against his lips. He bit down, the taste bitter, metallic, and swallowed, feeling the heat rush down his throat, spreading through his chest, his stomach.

And then the pain hit.

It was like swallowing molten metal, a searing agony that tore through him, setting every nerve ablaze. Aurel fell to his knees, his vision blurring, his breath coming in ragged, uneven bursts. The heat spread through his body, burning from the inside out, a fire that refused to be contained, that seemed to want to consume him entirely.

He doubled over, his hands clutching his stomach, his muscles tensing, his body convulsing as the fire raged through him. He could feel his Regeneration working, but it was struggling—the fire was too intense, too overwhelming. It was as if his body was being torn apart, burned away, and rebuilt all at once.

Aurel grit his teeth, forcing himself to stay conscious, to stay focused. He had been through pain before. He had cut himself to awaken Regeneration, had survived the venom of spoiled food to gain resistance, had endured the biting jaws and claws of beasts. This was just another challenge. Another wall to break through.

His mind blurred, the edges of his vision darkening as the heat intensified, the fire spreading through every part of him, burning, tearing, reshaping. And then—just as quickly as it had begun—the pain started to fade.

The fire dulled, becoming a warmth, a steady pulse that filled him, that seemed to settle into his very bones. Aurel gasped, his breath coming in shaky gulps, his vision clearing, the room around him coming back into focus. He could feel it now—the difference, the change. The heat was still there, but it no longer hurt. It was like a shield, a part of him that burned without consuming.

The watch on his wrist beeped, the screen lighting up with a notification.

New Trait Unlocked: Flame Resistance (Rank: Legendary)

Description: Grants the user resistance to flame-based attacks and environments. Reduces damage taken from fire and heat sources, and increases the user's ability to absorb and adapt to flame-based mana.

Aurel stared at the screen, his breath caught in his throat. Legendary. He had gained another Legendary-tier trait—a level of power that was beyond anything he had expected. He could feel it—the way his body had changed, the way the heat no longer threatened to destroy him but instead felt like a part of him, like something he could control.

He leaned back against the wall, his body still aching, but a smile spread across his face. He had done it. He had taken the risk, faced the fire, and emerged stronger than before. He could feel the Adaptability at work, the way his body had adjusted, had taken something that should have killed him and turned it into strength.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, the warmth still pulsing through him, steady and strong. It was almost intoxicating—the feeling of becoming something more, something that could face danger head-on without fear.

Adaptability. It was unlike anything else—a power that allowed him to change, to evolve, to overcome any threat, no matter how deadly. He had Regeneration, Mana Sensitivity, Sixth Sense, Super Digestion, and now Flame Resistance. Each trait had come with its own price, its own pain, but each one had made him stronger, more capable.

It was almost like he was becoming immortal—able to withstand poisons, injuries, flames, and anything else the world threw at him. But that thought sent a chill through Aurel, cutting through the warmth. Just how far can I push this?