Somewhere, in an unknown land, a portal materialized out of thin air. Its swirling energy crackled violently, illuminating the barren surroundings.
Moments later, Azhrael's limp body was ejected, landing unceremoniously on the ground. He lay there unconscious, unaware of the events about to unfold.
The area around him trembled as if resonating with his presence. Faint cracks began to appear in the fabric of space, spreading outward in jagged lines.
Simultaneously, Azhrael's body began to glow faintly. Strange symbols appeared on his skin—seals, ancient and intricate, that pulsed with a dim light. One by one, the seals began to break, their light fading as they shattered into nothingness.
The air grew heavier, and the ground beneath him warped as the spatial rift opened around him. It was as the same phenomenon that happened with Wayne. Above him, the ominous sky turned a deep shade of purple, thunder rumbling in the distance.
Then, within his unconscious mind, a blue translucent screen appeared:
__________________________________
Soul Integration process
58% .....73%...96%....
Soul Integration Finished
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As the message flashed, Azhrael's body arched upward, his entire form bathed in radiant light. The soul that had been separated from him at birth—the missing half—merged seamlessly with his being.
The immense power of the integration surged through him, causing the very ground to crack and crumble under the weight of his reawakened potential.
The seals that had suppressed his power disintegrated entirely, releasing waves of energy that rippled outward.
Trees uprooted, stones shattered, and the very air vibrated with the sheer magnitude of the event. A beam of mana shoot through the sky, spliting the clouds, illuminating the whole area.
Azhrael's breathing steadied, his once frail frame glowing with newfound vitality. His once-dormant constitution roared to life, the strength within him now palpable.
His hair regained its radiant snow-white glow, shimmering like freshly fallen snow under the moonlight.
His eyes, once dulled by fatigue and weakness, were now a piercing azure, glowing with an ethereal brilliance.
His already handsome face transformed further, transcending the bounds of human beauty to something almost divine.
The frail boy was gone; in his place lay a being that radiated power capable of shaking the very heavens.
Yet as the torrent of energy settled and the chaos around him calmed, his body fell back into unconsciousness.
But something profound had changed.
Deep within, fragments of his past began to reassemble. Memories of his previous life—the game he had mastered—and the echoes of his true birth both surged to the forefront of his mind, weaving together to form the complete story of who he truly was.
---
Far to the west, the skies lit up with a blinding beam of light that pierced the heavens. It wasn't just a spectacle; it was a roar of mana so immense that every being on the continent felt its reverberation.
From nobles in their palaces to wanderers in the deserts, to mages deep in their research towers, all turned their attention westward. The sheer magnitude of the mana stirred both curiosity, fear and greed in equal measure.
Rumors began to spread quickly—some whispered of an ancient relic, others of a newly awakened artifact with unimaginable power.
Forces, both small and mighty, prepared to move. However, the moment their gazes turned to the source, their ambitions faltered.
The mana emanated from the Forbidden Forest, a land shrouded in mystery and terror. No one dared step into its depths willingly, for the forest itself was said to consume the unworthy. Many hesitated, choosing safety over curiosity.
The Archons, also sensed the disturbance.
Their gazes turned toward the sky, narrowing in curiosity and contemplation. For them, the mana was a curiosity, not a threat. They dismissed it, assuming it was another fleeting event of the changing world.
For artifacts, they had hundreds of them, and they didn't even think that it was coming from an sixteen year old boy.
All except one.
A streak of light shot across the skies, heading straight for the source.
---
In the heart of Eldoria Academy, Elaric stood at the edge of his tower, his gaze fixed westward. The sheer force of mana rippling through the air sent shivers down his spine, but a grin stretched across his face.
"Impossible…" he muttered to himself, but deep down, he knew the truth. This wasn't the work of an artifact or relic.
The mana was coming from him.
From Azhrael.
Beside him, Elizabeth stared in stunned silence, her crystalline eyes wide with disbelief.
"That's…" Elizabeth began, her voice trembling with a mixture of awe and unease. She turned to Elaric, her gaze imploring him for an explanation.
Elaric, his sharp features illuminated by the distant glow of mana in the west, let out a low chuckle that grew into hearty laughter.
"It's him," he said, his grin widening with a mix of wonder and disbelief. "He's finally awakened. Hahaha—what a goddamn monster."
Elizabeth's lips parted, but before she could speak again, her grandfather continued, his excitement undeterred.
"Oh, the other continents are going to be stressed. They thought we were sleeping. Ha!" He waved a hand dismissively, as if the troubles of the world were beneath him.
"Ah, Grandpa…" Elizabeth called out, frowning trying to bring him back to his senses.
But Elaric he waved her off. With a gleam in his eyes, he turned and disappeared into the central tower, leaving Elizabeth to stand in the shadow of his confidence and excitement.
---
Far from where Azhrael lay unconscious, a bit deeper in the Forbidden Forest, two figures moved with purpose.
The first was a woman, her long, pure white hair flowing like silk as she stepped through the chaos with elegance and poise.
Her ruby-red eyes gleamed with cold calculation, and in her delicate hands, a slender blade danced with lethal precision.
Each swing of her sword cleaved through the monstrous creatures that dared to cross her path, as effortlessly as swatting flies.
Behind her, her shadow moved with eerie fluidity, a figure shrouded in black clothes.
It wasn't a mere shadow cast by light but a protector, an extension of her will. The shadow moved swiftly, intercepting any surprise attacks that threatened to strike her from behind.
The woman's crimson eyes narrowed as she turned her gaze toward the direction of the massive mana surge. "Well, would you look at that," she murmured, the faintest hint of curiosity in her otherwise stoic tone.
Her grip on her sword tightened as she stepped forward. "Let's check it out, shall we? perhaps it will be there."