Chapter 35 - Free

Aurel lay motionless on the cave floor, his breath steady but his mind sharp, fortified by the new trait that pulsed within him. Mental Resistance. The tendrils of mana that had once violated his thoughts now recoiled uselessly, sliding off his mind like water off steel.

The black creature hovered above him, its glowing blue eyes narrowing in frustration, confusion flickering across its predatory gaze. It had never failed before—its victims always fell under its control, helpless against its mental onslaught. But now… now Aurel's mind stood unyielding, a wall it could not breach.

The creature snarled softly, its expression twisting into one of pure malice. For a moment, it seemed stunned—unsure how to proceed, as if its entire existence hinged on the success of its mental attacks.

Then, its expression shifted into a sinister grin. If it couldn't invade his mind, it would take a more direct approach.

Without a word, the creature stooped, grabbing Aurel by the legs with a grip as cold as death. Aurel felt himself being dragged through the cave, his metallic body scraping against the ground with a grinding screech. His Sixth Sense buzzed frantically, warning him of imminent danger—but he could do nothing. His limbs remained frozen in their rigid state.

The creature dragged him toward the mouth of the cave, its icy blue eyes glinting with wicked intent. Aurel could feel its hatred—this wasn't just an attempt to get rid of him. This was malice, pure and simple.

The storm outside roared, wind and snow whipping through the cave entrance as the creature hauled him out into the open tundra. It moved with purpose, marching toward the edge of a nearby cliff that loomed over a jagged canyon below. The drop stretched nearly 300 meters down, the rocks below sharp enough to shatter bones, the air below thick with the promise of death.

Aurel's heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the malice radiating from the creature as it reached the edge of the cliff, leaning over slightly to glance down at the abyss below.

And then, with a cruel grin, it lifted Aurel's body and threw him over the edge.

Aurel's world tilted as he was launched into the air, his stiff form twisting and tumbling through the icy winds. The creature stood at the cliff's edge, watching him plummet with a satisfied sneer, its glowing eyes reflecting nothing but malice.

The wind roared in Aurel's ears, his body spinning wildly as he fell through the frigid air. Snow and jagged rocks rushed past him in a blur, the ground rising rapidly to meet him.

300 meters... 250... 200...

Come on. Move. His mind screamed at his body, but his limbs remained locked, unresponsive. The metallic sheen over his skin still imprisoned him, weighing him down as he tumbled toward the canyon floor.

His Sixth Sense buzzed in overdrive, every fiber of his being screaming that he was seconds away from death. Adaptability stirred within him, sluggish at first, but the closer he came to the ground, the more desperate it became.

150 meters... 100...

And then, with only 50 meters left—something clicked.

The shift was instantaneous. His metallic skin shimmered once, then began to melt away, the hard surface dissolving into soft, flawless flesh. His complexion returned to a tan, radiant hue, smooth and unblemished, as if untouched by the brutal battles of the tundra.

Aurel gasped as his lungs filled with cold air, his limbs coming alive, every joint and muscle snapping back into place as if freed from shackles. His entire body tingled with raw energy, Adaptability roaring to life, demanding his survival.

A notification flickered across his mind:

New Trait Acquired: Iron Skin (Epic Tier)

Description: Grants the user skin as resilient as iron, capable of withstanding significant physical impacts without injury.

Aurel felt his skin thicken instantly, a subtle but powerful reinforcement spreading across his entire body. The cold air no longer bit into his flesh, and the fear of breaking upon impact began to wane.

But that wasn't all. Adaptability was not done yet.

Another notification blazed across his mind:

New Trait Acquired: Instant Reaction Time (Legendary Tier)

Description: Allows the user to react to any threat or event without delay. Enhances perception to 10x normal speed, giving the user more time to think, act, and survive in critical situations.

The world around Aurel slowed—every snowflake, every gust of wind, every tumble of his body through the air stretched out before him, each second feeling like ten.

He could think.

Okay. I've got this.

The ground was still rushing up to meet him, but now, with his perception slowed and his reflexes heightened, Aurel had time—precious time to act. His mind raced through every option, every possibility.

Iron Skin will dampen the impact, but it's not enough. I need to roll. Distribute the force across my whole body. If I land flat, I'm dead.

Aurel twisted his body mid-air, angling his limbs into a perfect roll position. His Instant Reaction Time guided every movement with precision, each adjustment made instinctively, without hesitation.

The jagged canyon floor rushed toward him—

5 meters… 4… 3…

Aurel braced himself, his body coiling like a spring—

Impact.

His feet hit the ground first, and he tucked his body into a roll, letting the momentum carry him forward. He hit the rocks hard, but his Iron Skin absorbed most of the impact, and the rest was dispersed through the roll.

He tumbled once, twice, skidding across the snow-covered ground until he finally came to a halt. The world snapped back to normal speed, and Aurel lay there for a moment, gasping for breath, his heart pounding in his chest.

Pain radiated through his body, but it was dull, manageable. He was alive.

Aurel rolled onto his back, staring up at the cliff he had fallen from. The black figure stood at the edge, its glowing eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Aurel grinned, his chest heaving with exertion.

"You'll have to try harder than that."