Chapter 15: Awakening the Power
The air was thick with tension as the Fallen God's Avatar loomed before them, its presence felt even without physical form. Aeron stood, breathing deeply, the shard of the God's Essence in his hand. The orb had shattered upon contact, and its power was now embedded in him. The moment the energy had coursed through him, the system had triggered a series of notifications, flooding his mind.
The Fallen God's Avatar was a serious threat, one that could obliterate them all if they were not careful. Yet, there was something else—something hidden within the shard of the orb. Aeron could sense it, feel the immense force that it had left behind.
The System buzzed in his mind, its tone more insistent now as it addressed the new skills and items.
—[System Notification]—
Item Acquired: God's Essence Shard
Effect: Grants access to Divine Affinity (Passive Skill). Increases base magic damage and elemental resistance.
—[System Explanation]—
The God's Essence Shard is a rare and powerful item that grants a passive affinity with divine magic. When activated, it forms a bond between you and the ancient powers of the world. This bond enhances your combat abilities, allowing you to harness the elements and divine energies to a greater degree. However, the powers come at a cost—the more you use them, the more they demand from you. Caution is advised.
Item Grade: Legendary
Item Tier: Divine Relic
Aeron felt a wave of awareness as the information settled in his mind. Divine Affinity was a rare passive skill that merged his body with the magic of the ancient gods. It was something that only the most fortunate—or the most reckless—could obtain. He could feel the power radiating from it, as though it was always there, waiting to be harnessed.
—[System Notification]—
Skill Acquired: Divine Affinity (Passive Skill)
Effect:
Increases magic damage by 25%
Boosts all elemental resistances by 15%
Reveals hidden powers and secrets in the environment.
Skill Level: 1/10
—[System Explanation]—
Divine Affinity allows the user to tap into the raw power of the ancient gods. This passive skill is activated whenever the user is in proximity to divinely charged objects or locations. The affinity grows as the user absorbs more of the divine energy from these sources. At higher levels, the user will gain new abilities, such as Aura of the Gods, which passively enhances all magic and physical abilities. However, overuse may lead to a corruption of the soul.
Caution: Abuse of divine magic may cause Divine Corruption, which can negatively affect your stats and abilities.
Aeron was caught off guard. Divine Corruption? He hadn't expected that, but it made sense. Magic like this had a price. He'd have to be careful, especially since he didn't yet fully understand the extent of the powers coursing through him. The potential was enormous, but there were risks.
With a deep breath, he focused on the immediate threat. The Fallen God's Avatar was still looming, its form flickering like an apparition, a dark shadow moving in the corner of his vision. There was no time to waste.
—[System Notification]—
Fallen God's Avatar (Level 25) Detected:
Warning: The Fallen God's Avatar is a powerful entity forged from the remnants of an ancient deity. It possesses both physical and magical powers, making it an extremely dangerous foe.
Weaknesses: Unknown.
Suggested Strategy: Evade or engage with caution.
"Great," Aeron muttered. "Looks like we're dealing with something unstoppable."
Sylva narrowed her eyes, assessing the situation. "We don't know its weaknesses yet, but we can't afford to run. We need to strike first."
Aeron nodded, his hand tightening around his weapon, his pulse quickening. He wasn't about to let this mysterious force defeat them.
Hobbles, who had been eyeing the situation nervously, looked at the shard in Aeron's hand. "What's that thing, anyway? That glowing shard you got from the orb? I've never seen anything like it."
Before Aeron could answer, the system triggered another notification, explaining the item further.
—[System Notification]—
Item Acquired: God's Essence Shard
Effect: This shard is a fragment of a divine relic, the last remnant of the Sunken Gods. While holding this shard, the user can detect divine magic, unlock hidden divine powers, and resist divine corruption.
Item Grade: Legendary
Item Tier: Divine Relic
—[System Explanation]—
The God's Essence Shard can be used to amplify the user's power or interact with divine artifacts. It can also unlock ancient powers hidden throughout the world. This item is crucial in unraveling the mysteries of the Sunken Gods and the secrets they left behind.
"Guess that explains it," Aeron muttered, his gaze shifting from the shard to the looming figure of the Fallen God's Avatar.
The air around them shifted. The Avatar's form flickered once more, and then it took a step toward them. The ground shuddered under its power, sending cracks rippling through the floor. There was no going back now.
"Let's fight," Sylva said, her voice firm. "We can do this."
Aeron's eyes narrowed. He could feel the Divine Affinity surging within him, ready to be tapped into. There was something about this battle that felt different—like it wasn't just about survival. It was about unveiling the truth, revealing the hidden powers that had shaped this world.
"Let's get to work," Aeron said, grinning. His body was already filled with the power of the gods, the magic surging within him. He wasn't alone anymore. The Divine Affinity had made him something more than human, and he would use that power to uncover the truth.
Sylva, Hobbles, and Aeron squared off against the Fallen God's Avatar, their weapons raised, ready for battle. The clash between ancient magic and newly awakened power was about to begin.
—[System Notification]—
Combat Initiated: Fallen God's Avatar
Warning: Proceed with caution. The Fallen God's Avatar is an entity of great power, capable of devastating attacks. Utilize all available resources.
I'll continue the novel with the next chapter, keeping the detailed descriptions, system interactions, deep lore, and NPC immersion intact.
The moment the system's notification vanished, the Fallen God's Avatar moved.
It wasn't a slow or deliberate movement—there was no hesitation, no sense of sluggishness. One second, the towering, flickering mass of divine corruption stood motionless. The next, it was surging forward, its form blurring like a specter as it descended upon them with a force that shook the world.
Aeron barely had time to react. Instinct screamed at him to dodge, and his body obeyed before his mind fully processed it.
BOOM!
The ground where he stood moments ago exploded into a crater, dust and debris flying everywhere. A shockwave rippled through the air, sending cracks through the temple ruins. The sheer force of the Avatar's strike was terrifying.
Sylva had already leaped back, landing in a crouch, her twin daggers shimmering with energy. Hobbles was scrambling behind a broken pillar, muttering prayers to whatever god would listen.
Aeron wasn't sure if the gods were still listening. But if they were, he was about to make them watch.
—[System Notification]—
Battle Log Updated: Fallen God's Avatar
Health: ???
Status: Unknown (??? Effects Detected)
Weakness: Still Undiscovered
Resistance: Physical & Magical Attacks Partially Negated
Aeron's heart pounded. They didn't even have a full read on the enemy's weaknesses yet. And worse—its health bar wasn't visible.
The system wasn't giving them a straight answer.
Which meant one thing—
This was a world-level entity.
—[System Analysis]—
Warning: This enemy operates beyond normal system restrictions. Fighting it head-on may be ineffective. Find alternative methods to weaken or exploit its nature.
"Figures," Aeron muttered. "Nothing's ever easy."
The Avatar's form flickered, the shadows in its body writhing unnaturally.