It was... a hellish training that had truly paid off. Atlas only realized he had been pushing himself for nearly 40 hours straight once he finally completed all 20 laps.
The next day, he shifted his focus to recovery—semi-naturally. Lyrassa aided in healing his most critical injuries, but he let the rest of his body recover on its own.
This approach would take longer, but it would also help him better understand his physical limits, allowing him to maximize his potential even further.
Everyone else was outside training, but Atlas remained in his room that day, focusing on recovery. He already felt much better, and the relentless training had paid off in a big way—he had unlocked the ability to sense Elemental Particles.
According to Edrik, he had now entered a phase where he could begin unlocking his Elemental Affinity with just a bit more focused practice.
However, Edrik emphasized that this was a golden phase—a critical window where his progress could be accelerated even further. This short period after pushing his limits and achieving a breakthrough was the perfect time to boost his development.
If Atlas integrated a new component into his body during this phase, it would enhance synchronization within him, resulting in more optimal and accelerated progress.
And Edrik's conclusion?
Atlas could ask Lyrassa for assistance with this process.
Wait… was this related to the "sharing vitality" thing?!
"My Lord…" a soft voice broke the silence as the door creaked open, letting in a warm beam of sunlight.
Lyrassa stepped inside with her usual gentle smile, the light framing her figure.
She closed the door behind her and walked toward him.
Atlas, seated on his bed, shirtless, straightened slightly as Lyrassa approached and sat down beside him.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked, her eyes locking onto his.
"Yes, thanks, Lyrassa," he replied with a small nod. "I think I'm ready to join the others for training again."
"Uhmm…" Lyrassa murmured hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"Master Kurogasa said it would be better if you rested today, My Lord," she said gently.
"Really?"
His mind immediately rebelled against the idea.
Damn it, this was the curse of his talents. Once he set a goal, his entire being fixated on achieving it, refusing to let up. The thought of taking a break made him uncomfortable.
But then—
A calming warmth spread through him.
Lyrassa had cupped his cheek with her right hand, her touch soft and reassuring. He turned to her, startled by the gesture.
"Resting will be better for you during this phase, My Lord," she said softly.
"You've trained non-stop for the past two days, and you've already awakened a new skill for sensing elemental particles."
Atlas nodded slowly, his mind drifting to his earlier conversation with Edrik.
"Lyrassa, tell me…" he began, carefully choosing his words. "Edrik mentioned something about the golden phase and accelerating my progress."
Lyrassa nodded gently. "Yes, My Lord…"
"Do you… know something about sharing vitality?"
She paused, her hand still resting on his cheek, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a soft smile, she asked, "Do you want me to share my vitality with you, My Lord?"
"No… I mean, what does it actually mean? What's the impact on me? And what about you—how does it affect you?"
Lyrassa hesitated briefly, then replied softly, "You will gain some enhancements to your body… just as Edrik said. I believe this is the right time for you to do it as well."
"And will there be any negative effects on you?"
She fell silent again, as though weighing her words, before shaking her head. "No… I'll be happy to do this for you."
"Can you do it… like… now?"
Lyrassa paused once more, and after a few moments, she nodded. "Yes, My Lord… I can do it right away."
Atlas smiled faintly. "I'm already resting. We might as well use this time as effectively as possible."
"Yes," she agreed softly. "Let's make the most of it."
Lyrassa's body began to emit a soft green glow, the faint light wrapping around her like an aura. She smiled as her figure seemed to rise gently from the bed, as though lifted by an unseen force.
Her hand reached out toward Atlas, and as their fingers touched, the green energy flowed into him. It spread from his hand, coursing through his fingers, up his arm, and then throughout his entire body.
Atlas felt an immediate change—a lightness that overtook him. His body, too, began to lift off the bed, floating effortlessly in the center of the room. Lyrassa hovered before him, holding his hand.
He remained silent, watching in awe as it unfolded.
Lyrassa gently grasped his right hand with both of hers, her touch firm yet soothing.
Suddenly, green vines began to sprout from the floor beneath them, growing and climbing rapidly. The vines wound their way up, curling around both their bodies as if binding them together.
A protective sphere of green energy formed around them, enclosing them in its radiant glow. The vines continued to crawl along the barrier, weaving into it and thickening, creating a cocoon-like structure.
Inside the cocoon, the green light persisted, illuminating the space with a calming, ethereal brightness as the process continued.
In that moment, Atlas began to feel a profound change within himself. The energy flowing into his body coursed through him like a rushing current, making his blood feel alive, as if it were surging with newfound power.
The pressure inside him grew, pushing and forcing his heartbeat to quicken before it stabilized again. This cycle repeated, over and over.
Their bodies drew closer—so close that their foreheads touched. The vines wrapped tightly around them, merging them as one.
It was… a strange sensation. Atlas felt his entire being awaken, a deep and overwhelming feeling overtaking him. His eyes closed as he surrendered to it.
It was extraordinary—every part of his body felt alive and rejuvenated.
The calming presence of Lyrassa and the soothing glow of the cocoon enveloped him completely, amplifying the tranquility he felt in her presence.
He lost track of time, overwhelmed by the process. Within the cocoon, there was only him, Lyrassa, and the radiant green energy binding them together.
The sensation became so peaceful, so all-encompassing, that eventually, Atlas drifted off, falling into a deep, restful sleep as the transformation continued.
Until what felt like endless bliss, Atlas slowly opened his eyes.
Pushing himself up from the bed, Atlas blinked groggily, unsure how much time had passed. He glanced at his Awakener Device to check the date.
Oh damn?! Really?! Two days?
He stared in disbelief for a moment before shaking his head. His body felt light, almost weightless, brimming with a newfound energy. Instinctively, he raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist, testing the strength surging through him.
With a slight squeeze, he imagined crushing stone, and it felt entirely possible.
Then, a series of notifications filled his vision.
[Congratulations! You have successfully formed the Sacred Bond with Lyrassa, The Floral Healer.]
[You have inherited some of her vitality through this connection.]
[New skills have been unlocked.]
[A new talent has been unlocked.]
[Your blood and body have undergone modifications as part of the bonding process.]