The door to Aurel's apartment creaked open, and he stepped inside, the darkness enveloping him as he closed the door behind him. The quiet hum of the city filtered through the thin walls, a faint reminder of the world outside, but Aurel hardly heard it. He leaned back against the door, his body aching, the exhaustion of the last few days finally catching up with him.
He had done it. He had pushed himself to the brink, taken on the Stone Tortoise, and emerged victorious. Armour Penetration was his—a trait that gave him the ability to break through even the strongest defenses, to strike directly at the heart of his opponents. It was what he had needed, what he had fought for, and now it was his.
But as Aurel moved through the dim apartment, setting the storage ring on the table and collapsing into the single chair by the window, his thoughts began to drift. The adrenaline was fading, and in its place was something heavier—something that pulled at his mind, a weight that settled in his chest.
He had grown so much over the past week. Each day had been a test—a trial that had pushed him to adapt, to change, to overcome obstacles that would have broken him before. He had endured the fire of the red flower, the pain of the mana stones, the relentless physical training that had reshaped his body. He had gained new traits, boosted his stats, and become something far beyond the boy who had once lived a life of mediocrity.
Yet as he sat there, staring out the window at the glowing lights of Citico, Aurel couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had come far, yes, but how far was it really compared to the others? Compared to those who had been given a head start, who had pre-awakened, who had gained supernatural power before they even got the Mana Vaccine?
He tapped the watch on his wrist, the screen lighting up, his stats glowing in the darkness.
Strength: 99
Agility: 99
Endurance: 99
Perception: 99
Mana: 99
All maxed out, pushed to the edge of what was possible for someone with a single genetic lock actualized. He was stronger than most, faster, more capable. But in the grand scheme of things, was it enough?
Aurel took a deep breath, his gaze shifting back to the window. Citico was a massive city—millions of people, thousands of cultivators, each one vying for power, for status. And among them were the pre-awakeners.
The pre-awakeners were different. They had started ahead, their stats already beyond what a normal person could achieve, their genetic locks just waiting to be actualized. For them, the Mana Vaccine had been nothing more than a key—a way to unlock the power they already possessed. While others struggled to break through their first genetic lock , the pre-awakeners had already moved on to their second, their third, their fifth.
Aurel clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. The difference between each genetic lock actualized was exponential—each one multiplying the power of the person, making them stronger, faster, more capable. It wasn't just about stats. It was about potential—about the ability to grow, to evolve, to reach heights that others could only dream of.
Yujiro Lang was one of them. Aurel had heard the whispers, the rumors. Yujiro had already actualized five genetic locks. Five. The power that came with that was terrifying—strength that could shatter hills, speed that exceeded the speed of sound, bodys which no man-made weapon prior to Mana, except maybe nukes, could break. It was the kind of power that set the pre-awakeners apart and made them untouchable at this current stage.
And where did that leave Aurel?
He sighed, his shoulders slumping, the weight of the reality settling over him. He had come far, yes, but the gap between him and the true geniuses—the pre-awakeners like Yujiro—was still vast. He had one genetic lock actualized, and even with his Adaptability, even with all the traits he had gained, he was still playing catch-up.
The university exams were approaching, and Aurel knew what they meant. It was the first real test—the first true measure of strength, of potential. It was the dividing line between those who would go on to become powerful figures, and those who would fade into mediocrity. The top 1000 in Citico would be offered a place at the elite universities —the chance to receive training, resources, opportunities that would set them on the path to true power.
But the competition was fierce. The pre-awakeners were guaranteed a place. They were the ones everyone expected to be at the top—the ones with the talent, the power, the backing. And Aurel? He was just another face in the crowd. Another hopeful, trying to prove himself in a world that valued strength above all else.
He ran a hand through his hair, the silver strands catching the faint light of the room, shimmering like molten metal. He had come so far, and yet, it wasn't enough. Not yet. He needed more—more power, more strength, more traits that would set him apart. He needed to push himself further, to break through his next genetic lock, to reach the level of those he was determined to surpass.
He closed his eyes, his hand clenching into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. Adaptability had brought him this far, had allowed him to overcome obstacles that would have broken him before. It had given him Regeneration, Mana Sensitivity, Sixth Sense, Super Digestion, Flame Resistance, and now Armour Penetration. Each trait had made him stronger, had brought him closer to his goal. But it wasn't enough.
He needed to keep pushing, to keep evolving, to keep adapting. He needed to find a way to break through his next genetic lock—to reach the next level, to unlock another ability that would give him an edge. He needed to do it before the exams, before he was left behind, before the gap between him and the pre-awakeners became insurmountable.
Aurel opened his eyes, his gaze hardening, his resolve settling in his chest. He had faced challenges before, and he had overcome them. He had faced pain, exhaustion, fear, and he had pushed through. This was just another challenge—another wall that needed breaking, another limit that needed surpassing.
He stood, his body sore, his muscles aching, but his mind clear, his goal set. He wasn't done yet. He wouldn't be done until he had taken his place among the top, until he had proven to himself and to the world that he was more than just another cultivator.
Aurel walked to the window, his eyes scanning the city below, the lights glowing in the darkness, the distant hum of life filling the air. Citico was massive, a sprawling metropolis filled with power, with potential, with competition. But Aurel wasn't afraid. He had Adaptability, and that was his edge.
The pre-awakeners may have started ahead, but that didn't mean they would stay there. Aurel had already come so far—already adapted, grown, evolved. And he would keep doing so, no matter what it took.
He turned away from the window, his eyes narrowing, a smile tugging at his lips. The path ahead was long, the challenges daunting, but Aurel thrived on that. He thrived on the struggle, on the pain, on the need to push himself beyond his limits.
He would catch up. He would adapt. And he would prove, once and for all, that no matter where you started, it was how far you were willing to go that truly mattered.