Within the next hour, Luna began teaching Venix the fundamental principles of Origin power.
Luna moved her hand gracefully. A holographic screen appeared in the air, emitting a shimmering blue light. Within it, an energy diagram formed, rotating slowly like the current of a flowing river.
"Look, Venix. Origin energy doesn't just flow like a river; it can also be condensed into a weapon. Like this." Luna tapped her finger, and the diagram transformed into a radiant sword of light.
"Condensing energy into the form of a sword sharpens and strengthens your attacks. This is basic knowledge. As for Techniques, they're far more complex and follow specific patterns," Luna added.
Venix's eyes widened in astonishment.
"This... is like magic," he murmured, his voice barely audible, as though he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
Luna chuckled softly. "Magic? Then you haven't even seen half of what's possible."
Luna continued, "The concept of Techniques is indeed intricate, but at its core, it's about controlling your own energy and shaping it for a specific purpose, like when you use the Meditation Technique."
Venix studied earnestly, listening intently. Occasionally, he would ask questions to clarify things he didn't understand.
As time passed, Venix absorbed every explanation Luna offered with incredible speed, as if his mind had been reborn.
Every word from Luna's lips sank in and settled, like water absorbed by parched soil.
Unknowingly, his ability to learn had increased significantly—far surpassing his previous capacity, which now seemed like mere dust in comparison.
This improvement was a benefit of the Awaken Early-Stage. Beyond enhancing physical strength and imbuing Origin energy into their bodies, an Awaken's brain and mental faculties also received significant upgrades.
However, this didn't mean someone would instantly become intelligent or wise.
If the brain and memory of an ordinary human could be likened to a glass of water, then the brain and memory of an Awaken like Venix could be compared to a large basin capable of holding hundreds of glasses.
This simply meant Venix had a vast amount of empty space to fill with new knowledge, making his learning process much more effective.
An hour later, the train they were on finally came to a stop.
Luna halted her explanation, and Venix did the same.
After waiting briefly, Venix finally arrived at Numan City!
Venix and Luna stepped out of the train, surrounded by six bodyguards.
The sight of Luna and Venix flanked by guards drew the attention of people nearby.
On the other hand, Venix observed the people of Numan City one by one.
The moment they exited the train, Venix felt as if he had entered an entirely different world.
Numan City, with its towering buildings and broad streets, seemed like a realm beyond anything he had ever imagined, unlike anything he had known before.
The contrast was stark, especially in the clothing of Numan City's residents, most of whom wore similar attire.
Their garments, primarily black with blue accents, appeared diverse yet elegant.
"Numan City is the hub of power in this world. In addition to the significant research happening here, most of the people in this city are chosen individuals.
"Each of them is remarkable and possesses a unique strength that earned them an invitation to Numan City," Luna explained, noticing the curious expression on Venix's face.
Venix nodded, taking in her explanation.
The two were then ushered into a waiting vehicle.
In no time, the vehicle sped off without delay.
After a ten-minute journey, they arrived in front of a grand building. Towering white pillars and gleaming marble walls reflected the sunlight, resembling a presidential palace in the real world—yet more majestic and captivating.
They stepped out of the car, greeted by a man waiting for them in front of the building.
This man had blonde hair, a gentle demeanor, and an approachable presence. His strikingly handsome face could easily charm anyone.
"Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Frans Leoric, but you can call me Leoric," he said with a warm smile.
"You can call me Venix," Venix replied with a slight nod.
Meanwhile, Luna froze for a moment, her mouth slightly agape, eyes wide. She hadn't expected the man before her to be someone extraordinary. Her hand instinctively moved to cover her lips, but she stopped herself.
Venix turned to Luna, puzzled.
"Is Leoric so handsome that Luna is shocked into silence?" Venix wondered to himself.
Leoric maintained his friendly smile, seemingly unaware of Luna's reaction. "Grandmaster Ardyn has been waiting for both of you in his dojo. I'll take you there directly."
"Thank you," Venix said politely.
Leoric began leading them toward Grandmaster Ardyn's dojo.
Venix moved forward, following Leoric, but noticed that Luna remained frozen, unmoving.
Left with no choice, Venix gently pulled Luna to snap her out of her daze.
Once she regained her senses, Luna turned her face aside, embarrassed.
"I heard from Grandmaster Ardyn that thanks to you, the Meditation Technique development has advanced significantly," Leoric said, glancing back at Venix with a serious expression.
"Umm... To be honest, I think Luna deserves most of the credit for this achievement, doesn't she?" Venix replied hesitantly.
"Of course, Luna has contributed greatly. However, I was referring to your Seed Origin," Leoric said calmly before continuing, "The data Luna collected has been sent to the research center and analyzed further.
"The final battle between Vulture and Seed of Chaos is why the data Luna gathered from you is so valuable!"
"Wait... Seed of Chaos? What's that?" Venix asked, his face puzzled.
Leoric slapped his forehead. "Right, neither of you know about this."
Venix turned to Luna, who also appeared confused.
"You called it the Tentacle Monster, didn't you? Well, it does look like one. However, its true name is Seed of Chaos," Leoric said with his signature warm smile.
Venix furrowed his brow, still unsure.
He turned to Luna, asking her, "Seed of Chaos? What is that?"
"You're asking the wrong person!" Luna replied, clearly frustrated.
Leoric chuckled before explaining. "Seed of Chaos is the name given by Grandmaster Orion."
Grandmaster Orion had referred to it with an air of mystery: Seed of Chaos. The words echoed in Venix's mind, as though concealing some hidden dark force.
"Grandmaster Orion? The one with prophetic abilities?" Luna asked in shock.
"Exactly," Leoric nodded before continuing, "Only a select few are aware of this prophecy, including the 'lost sheep' scattered across the world."
"The lost sheep?"
Venix and Luna exchanged uncertain glances.
"Hahaha! There are many secrets you both have yet to uncover. But with your current contributions, you'll learn about them sooner or later," Leoric said with a pleased smile.
Unbeknownst to them, the three had arrived at Grandmaster Ardyn's dojo. The three-story structure loomed tall, surrounded by sturdy stone walls, with large windows at the top radiating golden light.
"Go ahead. Master just finished his daily training and is waiting for you inside," Leoric said calmly.
Luna and Venix exchanged a brief glance before stepping forward together.
They opened the dojo doors and entered one by one. Inside, a vast training area stretched out before them, with only one figure visible.
The man stood tall, his long black-and-white hair tied back, cascading elegantly. His muscular physique was evident, each movement radiating an aura of immense power. The atmosphere around him was thick with an invisible pressure.
For a brief moment, Venix felt a heavy weight in the air, as though the very presence of the man was suffocating.
"You've both arrived," the man's voice broke the silence, and in an instant, the pressure dissipated.
He turned to face them with a warm smile.
"You can call me Grandmaster Ardyn, like everyone else," he said warmly and with a welcoming tone.
Venix frowned slightly, his eyes narrowing.
Although Grandmaster Ardyn appeared friendly and approachable, there was something different about him.
Unlike other Awaken he had encountered on his journey, Grandmaster Ardyn's aura was incredibly subtle, almost imperceptible, yet his power was unmistakable.
His control over his power was so refined that it could deceive others' perceptions!
"Greetings, Grandmaster Ardyn." Luna bowed nervously.
Venix followed suit, bowing and greeting Grandmaster Ardyn as well.
"No need to be so formal," Grandmaster Ardyn said with a slight wave of his hand before continuing, "There are two reasons why I've summoned the two of you here today."
Grandmaster Ardyn looked at Venix and Luna kindly.
"First, it's for research. Thanks to your contributions, Luna, you've been granted permission to come to Numan City and even participate in further research alongside Venix to gather more data," Grandmaster Ardyn explained.
"Thank you, Grandmaster!" Luna bowed again, her gratitude evident.
Grandmaster Ardyn smiled faintly before turning his gaze to Venix. "And the second reason... Aside from bringing you here for research purposes, it's also for your safety, Venix."
"My safety?" Venix pointed to himself, confusion etched on his face.
He was just someone who had arrived in this world a few days ago. Somehow, it seemed like he was a criminal who needed to be hunted down!
"It's because of your Seed of Chaos," Grandmaster Ardyn said with a sigh.
"Seed of Chaos? The prophecy mentioned by Leoric? What exactly is that?" Venix was growing more curious about the meaning of Seed of Chaos.
"Among the Primecore in this world, Grandmaster Orion is someone who possesses the ability to foresee the future," Grandmaster Ardyn said softly, then continued, "At least a year ago, Old Orion mentioned that a human would come, who, upon Awakening, would birth the Seed of Chaos."
Venix and Luna frowned, trying to digest this new information.
Grandmaster Ardyn continued, "Old Orion said that the arrival of the Seed of Chaos signals the destruction of our world."
Venix and Luna were stunned by this revelation.
Especially Luna, who had heard of the famed Grandmaster Orion and knew of his prophetic abilities.
"You've never heard of this prophecy?" Venix turned to Luna, asking seriously.
"I don't know everything, okay!?" Luna snapped, annoyed by Venix's question.
Venix coughed awkwardly and averted his gaze.
Previously, Venix had been quite fearful and worried. To lighten the mood, he had posed the question to Luna, hoping to ease the tension.
And unexpectedly, it worked!
"So, Venix is the target of Grandmaster Orion now?" Luna asked worriedly. "Then, does that mean Grandmaster Ardyn also..."
"Hm? Believe in that old fool's prophecy? Ptui! If not for that old man's prophecy, our situation wouldn't be this complicated now!" Grandmaster Ardyn said with a sour expression.
Hearing this, Venix and Luna sighed in relief. At least Grandmaster Ardyn was on their side.
"Then, what exactly did the prophecy say?" Venix asked, his curiosity deepening.
How could his arrival lead to the world's destruction? Was he really so powerful that the Primecore would feel threatened by him?
Even if the Seed of Chaos—essentially the Tentacle Monster—was truly powerful and dangerous, wasn't the Primecore capable of killing it effortlessly?
"The prophecy didn't say much. It merely stated that the Seed of Chaos would devour everyone one by one until no living creature remained in this world," Grandmaster Ardyn explained.
Venix frowned. Every prophecy, whether in novels or movies, was always like this—cryptic and requiring guesses throughout the entire process.
"Fortunately, you managed to make the Vulture your Seed Origin. Otherwise, that old man—Orion—would be hunting you relentlessly," Grandmaster Ardyn said.
Venix swallowed hard, feeling a chill down his spine. The threat felt very real.
"But it's precisely because of the Seed of Chaos that we've gained something extraordinary," Grandmaster Ardyn continued. "The data we collected from your battle in the Origin Fragment Realm—it's invaluable. Without it, we wouldn't have figured out how to further enhance the quality of Seed Origin."
Venix frowned. "Data? What do you mean?"
Luna interjected, "Venix, your battles—especially when using Astral Bond—proved that Seed Origin must be forged through intense conflict. That's the key to strengthening them."
Grandmaster Ardyn nodded. "Exactly. Until now, researchers like Luna have only been able to make minor improvements to the quality of Seed Origin. But your data showed us that only through fierce battles and mutual devouring can Seed Origin reach its full potential. And with that data, we can measure its limits so it doesn't break during intense combat."
Venix looked at the two of them, trying to process their explanation. "So, does that mean... I was just lucky?"
"Not just lucky," a faint smile appeared on Grandmaster Ardyn's face. "It also means you're the only one who has managed to do this so far. But don't let your guard down—the battles ahead will be far more challenging."
Venix swallowed hard, starting to grasp what Grandmaster Ardyn meant.
"90% of the Seed Origin in the second and third Origin Fragment Realms are the same, aren't they?" Venix asked cautiously.
"That's correct," Grandmaster Ardyn nodded.
Venix gulped and said, "Most likely, the Tentacle Monster—no, I mean the Seed of Chaos—will occupy the position of the second and third Seed Origin."
"If the first Seed Origin, the Vulture, loses in the final battle, will the Seed of Chaos become my Seed Origin?"
At first, Venix had been quite confident.
But now, he felt the Seed of Chaos was still shrouded in mystery.
The Vulture had barely defeated the Seed of Chaos through immense effort, with Luna's and his own significant contributions. And that Seed of Chaos hadn't even been in its perfect form yet!
How strong would the Seed of Chaos be in its perfect form?
The Vulture had grown immensely powerful, its strength rivaling that of the defeated Seed of Chaos, albeit in a different form.
Then, Venix realized that each Seed Origin possessed unique abilities.
What if the Seed of Chaos had an even more absurd ability in its perfected state?
If two fully-formed Seeds of Chaos appeared in the final battle, could the Vulture stand a chance against both?