Zhen Wu, now Elias Malbrecht, opened his eyes slowly, the faint light of dawn filtering through the arched windows of his dormitory in the mage tower. His body felt heavy at first, but it wasn't weakness, it was the overwhelming surge of power coursing through him.
The simulator had shattered. Its intricate runes and delicate balance of energies couldn't contain the transfer from his future self. Yet, the process had succeeded. The vast knowledge, artifacts, and abilities of his apex self were now his, compressed into a seventeen year old body.
Elias sat up on the bed, his movements calm but deliberate. The room hummed faintly, and the air felt charged, as though the very fabric of the world was responding to his presence. He flexed his fingers, watching arcs of golden energy dance across his skin.
This power had changed him physically, he stood tall, his long black hair flowing like a dark river, untamed and wild, contrasting against his pale, almost spectral skin.
His mage robe, a deep obsidian black, clung to his form with the elegance of a cultivator's attire; sleek, powerful, and tailored for someone who had transcended limits.
The robe's subtle, intricate designs seemed to shift and shimmer with an ethereal glow, as if the fabric itself resonated with the immense power now coursing through his veins.
With a single, effortless gesture, he commanded the space around him, his presence a silent storm, exuding an unrelenting force that left no room for defiance.
"So, this is it," he murmured, his voice as steady as ever, but now carrying an undertone of something far more profound.
The wooden floor creaked under his bare feet as he stood. He strode to the window, pushing it open.
The first rays of sunlight kissed the horizon, but as Elias stretched his senses outward, the peaceful dawn was shattered.
The skies above the mage tower cracked. A wave of pure energy radiated outward, splitting the clouds and sending ripples of mana through the air. The shockwave rippled across the tower grounds, bringing the early morning bustle to a halt.
Below, young mages gathered in the courtyard, staring skyward in awe and terror. Among them were Julius, a brash but talented mage, and Cassandra, a brilliant scholar. Both had interacted with Elias earlier in the day, dismissing him as another nameless new recruit.
"What the hell is happening?" Julius muttered, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his wand.
Cassandra's gaze darted to the tower dormitories. "It's coming from the upper floors," she whispered. "Could it be... one of the recruits?"
The sky's fracture expanded, and from its depths emerged a figure cloaked in radiant silver, a being whose very presence seemed to demand reverence. The Archmage Klytheon, the overseer of this planet and the surrounding realms, descended with a wave of his hand, stabilizing the chaotic energies.
His presence was like a mountain pressing down on everyone in the courtyard. The gathered mages fell to their knees instinctively, unable to resist the sheer weight of his aura.
"It's the Archmage!" someone whispered, their voice trembling with awe.
Julius swallowed hard, his usual bravado replaced with fear. "Why is he here? Who could have...?"
Cassandra's sharp eyes caught movement at the tower window. "Look!" she pointed, her voice shaking.
Elias stepped into view, his figure framed by the open window. His robe fluttered gently in the breeze, and his gaze was calm, indifferent. But it was his aura that commanded attention, a power so immense that it dwarfed even Klytheon's overwhelming presence.
The Archmage turned, his piercing gaze locking onto Elias. With a single step, he teleported into the dormitory, appearing mere feet away from the young man.
"You," Klytheon said, his voice like thunder. "You dare disrupt the balance of this realm? Who are you to use such power in this world under my protection?"
Elias met his gaze, unflinching. His expression was serene, almost disinterested, as though the Archmage was nothing more than an insect buzzing around him.
Klytheon's anger flared. He raised a hand, a shimmering orb of silver energy forming in his palm. "Answer me, or I will—"
He didn't get the chance to finish.
Elias tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening for the briefest moment. The air seemed to freeze, the air growing impossibly still.
Klytheon's body stiffened. His eyes widened in shock, and his lips parted, but no sound came out. Black and gold energy rippled, enveloping the Archmage. His form began to disintegrate, layer by layer, as though the universe itself had rejected his existence.
Outside, the gathered mages watched in stunned silence as the Archmage's form appeared briefly in the air above the tower, his body unraveling into a cascade of ash.
Julius stumbled backward, his face pale. "He... he killed the Archmage," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Cassandra's analytical mind struggled to process what she had seen. "No," she said, her tone hollow. "He didn't just kill him. He erased him. Completely."
Elias stepped out onto the balcony, his indifferent smile returning. He glanced down at the crowd below, his gaze sweeping over Julius, Cassandra, and the other young mages. The family members of his current identity, were present among the crowd, were frozen in stunned silence.
"That's Elias?" Edwin whispered, his voice cracking. "But how? He's.... "
Lucia clutched Edwin's arm, her face pale. "No... that's not Elias. That's something else entirely."
Their father, Alrich, who had arrived with them to witness their children's first day, fell to his knees, his pride and authority shattered. "Bow," he hissed through clenched teeth. "All of you, bow to him!"
But Elias didn't acknowledge their words. He turned his gaze skyward, the ash of the Archmage scattering in the wind.
"Pathetic," he said softly, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "If that was the strongest this world has to offer, it's going to be a very dull conquest."
His words hung in the air, a chilling declaration of intent.
The crowd remained silent, too stunned to speak.
Elias or Zhen Wu turned away, his indifferent smile unchanging as he teleported, disappearing from this planet, leaving the world below to grapple with the reality of what they had just witnessed.