As Evolis stepped out from the other end of the door he entered the final chamber—a vast, dimly lit hall that seemed to hold the weight of countless ages. At its center, an imposing mirror-like pool of luminescent energy reflected not only the chamber's shifting lights but also a solitary figure standing on the far side.
Evolis's breath caught as he surveyed the space. The corridor stretched out before him in undulating waves of glowing energy. The floor itself was a living mosaic, comprised of drifting symbols and elemental runes that shifted away from his feet with each measured step he took.
He advanced slowly, each step resonating with the pulse of the corridor, until a voice, deep and resonant, cut through the silence.
"Well look what he have here."
Evolis froze. The voice was familiar in its tone, yet layered with a wistful, almost sorrowful timbre, yet what shocked him more was how a man with a striking resemblance appeared before him. He hadn't even seen how the man had arrived there. He glanced at the man, heart pounding. "Who are you, didn't they say we'd have to face our clone in the last trial?" he called, his voice echoing against the walls of pulsating energy. There was no answer, only the soft mutterings of the figure as he slowly circled around Evolis. "Hmm, definitely not as handsome as me, although he does look stronger than the previous ones."
Evolis' lip twitched as he heard the first statement.
Shaking off his nerves, he steeled himself and observed the man further.
His figure was tall standing at 6'7, with a bearing that mirrored Evolis's own—chiseled features, the same confident stance, yet he had a glint in golden eyes that held a weight of ancient sorrow. For a moment, Evolis's mind raced: Could that be…? He wasn't sure, but something about the stranger stirred memories he didn't know he possessed.
The figure spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of both amusement and melancholy. "So, I'm on my 100th reincarnation now, huh?" The words hung in the air, enigmatic and laden with unspoken truths.
The dark circles hidden in the depths of Evolis' eyes spun as he tried to use his [Seer's Gaze] on the mysterious figure, but before he could the man chuckled and said, "A little bold to use it on another holder of those eyes, don't you think?"
Evolis's heart thumped as he took a hesitant step forward. "Who are you?" he demanded, his tone a mixture of curiosity and caution. "Are you… my clone?"
The stranger's gaze was steady, his smile sad and knowing. "Clone? Names are trivial, boy. I am an echo of what once was, a remnant of a life far beyond your current mortal coil. I have walked across the vast realms, and crossed the cosmic cycle many times over. I am a God boy."
Evolis's mind whirled. 'A god?' His pulse raced with a mingling of disbelief and wonder. "What are you saying? That I-I used to be a god?" he stammered.
The figure inclined his head, his eyes glimmering with amusement as he ignored Evolis' question. "In another age, when the heavens were less burdened by mortal sorrow, I wielded power without limit. I ruled as a god of Adaptability and Growth, a beacon in the cosmos. But pride and envy led to my banishment, and now I am but an echo left behind, a shadow of my former glory."
Evolis's stomach churned with a mix of awe and confusion. "Why are you here? What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice trembling with both anticipation and fear.
The figure's expression softened, and he stepped closer, though his form seemed to waver at the edges. "I am here to guide you, in a manner of speaking. The path you now tread is treacherous, filled with trials that will test not only your body, but your very soul. You must grow, Evolis, quicken your pace, hone your strength, and learn to master the power that courses through you. And there is something you must know: the mysterious slip of paper you carry, it is not mere parchment, but a key to the first inheritance I left behind as a god. It holds the secrets of your origin, the ruin of my past, and the promise of your future."
Evolis's eyes widened as he clutched the slip of paper tightly in his hand. Its glowing script pulsed in time with his heartbeat, a silent reminder of a mystery he had yet to fully grasp. "The inheritance... ruin?" he repeated softly. "What do you mean?"
The figure's voice grew hushed, almost mournful. "Long ago, in the twilight of my divine reign, I left behind relics—ruins of power, scattered across the realms. They are the keys to unlocking the full measure of ou- *Ahem* your potential. Find them, and you may reclaim what I once lost. But heed this, young one: the journey ahead will be tumultuous. There will be battles that shake the foundations of existence, trials that force you to confront your deepest fears. Yet with each challenge, you will grow stronger, if you dare to embrace the pain and the glory in equal measure."
Evolis took a long, steadying breath as the weight of the stranger's words settled over him. His mind raced, but he forced himself to ask, "Are you... are you really a clone? Or a part of me from the future?"
A sad smile played upon the stranger's lips. "I am not merely a clone, Evolis. I am what you once were, unfortunately I can't tell you a lot as I am bound by the chains of causality. But you must understand: my purpose here is not to challenge you to combat, but to offer guidance. The path ahead is yours to forge. You need not fight me, for your destiny is far greater than a mere battle with your clone."
Before Evolis could probe further, the figure's form began to shimmer and blur, as if the very fabric of his existence were unraveling. "There is little time," the figure whispered, his voice fading into the ambient hum of the chamber. "Remember: seek the ruins, unlock the inheritance, and let your true power awaken. You have walked this path a hundred times… I just hope this time's different"
"I swear." Evolis said.
"Huh?" The figure turned to look at Evolis.
"I swear I'll surpass not only you but also… these past selves of me you speak of"
"HAHAHA!" A booming laughter came out of the figures mouth, then he smiled imperceptibly and said, "That's the first time you've said that. I believe in you Evolis, show them that a Primordial God isn't to be trifled with" The figure said in a voice that was too soft for Evolis to hear.
Evolis reached out, his hand trembling as he tried to grasp the ephemeral presence, but it slipped through his fingers like smoke. With a final, almost imperceptible sigh, the figure began to dissolve, the luminous glow around him fading until he was nothing more than a memory lingering in the ether.
For a long moment, silence reigned in the chamber. Evolis stood motionless, his mind a tempest of emotions—confusion, sorrow, wonder, and a burgeoning resolve.
'I… I'll make it so that you don't have to hide so much sorrow behind those eyes, senior.' Evolis thought as he bowed in the direction of the disappearing figure.
He reached into his pocket and clutched the slip of paper as if it were a lifeline, a tangible connection to a destiny that now seemed both wondrous and terrifying.
Slowly, the atmosphere around him began to shift. The vast chamber, once filled with the subtle murmur of disembodied voices and ancient energy, grew still and expectant. The Etherion walls pulsed in a steady rhythm, as if acknowledging the monumental revelation that had just unfolded. Evolis felt a stirring deep within, an awakening of something that had lain dormant, waiting for this very moment.
And then *BOOOOOOOM*
A massive tornado of energy burst out from him and circled him as it seemed to shiver in excitement.
The surrounding Etherion avoided him and vibrated in fear, as if it didn't wish to defile this energy.
'Strange… this isn't Etherion.' Evolis thought as he felt the energy surrounding him, 'It almost feels like it's a step above it.'
Suddenly the tornado stopped spinning, and then as if a black hole had opened inside of Evolis' body, the energy started to violently flow into him.
He felt the energy travel through his body towards his Etherion core then suddenly he heard a crack as if a boundary had been broken.
[Congratulations, you have advanced into the Awakened Stage]
Evolis' heard a voice in his head coming from the Cosmic Ascension Record, but before he could check his status he felt the energy move again.
This time it seemed to move towards his brain, but as soon as it reached it, it bounced off as if it had hit a barrier.
[Error, your soul has been sealed and is preventing the energy from entering]
'Sealed? What the hell, when was my soul sealed?' Evolis was confused.
[Partial unsealing of the soul is possible; would you like to commence?]
[Yes/No]
'Yes.' Evolis thought even though he was confused on what was going on.
[Commencing…]
Evolis then felt as if, deep inside him, a chain had broken. And then suddenly, he felt as if he had gained a second pair of eyes, except that they were omnipresent. Everything in the range of 20 meters around him became unbelievably clear. He could even hear the slight thrumming of Etherion of a rune that was 20 meters away from him as if he was standing right next to it.
But that wasn't all. As he looked around using this Sense, he questioned how he was able to process all this information easily enough for his mind to comprehend, but then he realized that his brains processing power had been elevated as well, with the partial unsealing of his soul.
[The ability Divine Sense has been unlocked]
'Divine Sense huh? Am I not becoming too OP?' Shush Evolis the Author knows what he's doing.
He felt the energy move once again but this time it went straight to his muscles.
"AARGGGHHHH," Evolis screamed in pain as he felt his muscles being torn down and then reformed. He had never felt this level of pain in his life. It felt as if someone was cutting open his muscles and ripping them out then rearranging them and stuffing them back inside his body.
Blood leaked out from his mouth and nose as he coughed out bits of his muscles.
But then as if it wasn't enough the energy then moved to his tendons and bones and began reforming them.
Evolis felt like his bones had been submerged in lava and were slowly melting.
Then as he felt his bones and tendons finish reforming, the energy once again moved to his organs and brain.
Evolis was about to try and stop the energy when all of a sudden, his vision went dark. He felt himself pulled into a space surrounded by an unending darkness. Evolis didn't know how much time he spent in that dark space but as his consciousness began to recover, he heard the voice again.
[Body of the !O# %F @$%pt$b$%#@y %$& G#$wt% has been evolved to the first stage]
He felt the pain slowly start to subside, and his body begin to recover.
He slowly started to stand up and as he put his hand on the ground, he felt it slightly sink downwards.
"Huh?" Evolis slowly looked towards his hand as he noticed it sunken down in the ground.
'What the hell?'
He then stood up and tried to take a step forward but felt his body lurch forwards and fall onto the ground 5m away.
"What the fuck is going on?" Evolis stopped moving and decided to use his sense to check his body.
"Woah." Evolis muttered as he noticed his skin which seemed to almost shimmer in the light, and his muscles which rippled with power beneath it. He then checked inside his body and noticed his blood which seemed to have small, miniscule, specks of golden flakes floating through it. His bones glowed with energy as they looked like diamonds, and his tendons tensed powerfully as if they were steel cables. He looked even further and noticed that weird energy inside his Etherion core, slowly circulating.
'I can't go outside fumbling around like this,' Evolis thought as he began to slowly get accommodated to his new power, 'The other trial takers shouldn't be close to this stage by now so I should still have a bit of time.'
[There is still some energy left over, looking for other avenues of strength to increase]
[Target found]
Evolis felt the energy move again, this time going towards his eyes, as he felt a stinging pain.
'Hm? It doesn't hurt as much as before.' As Evolis' body had begun to adapt a little towards the pain.
[Future Sight has been unlocked]
Evolis was about to punch forward to test this ability but before he could, he already saw a semi-transparent fist appearing before his eyes and punching in front of him as the air subtly vibrated.
At this point Evolis was becoming numb to the surprises his power-ups gave him.
But before he started to get used to his new power he muttered, "Status"
Name: [Evolis Aetherion]
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Race: ???
---
Attributes:
Strength: 19 -> 42 [Reformation of Body]
Agility: 16 -> 47 [Reformation of Body]
Endurance: 17 -> 43 [Reformation of Body]
Vitality: 19 -> 48 [Reformation of Body]
Intelligence: 13 -> 53 [Boost from partially unsealing soul]
Charm: 19 -> 49 [Reformation of Body]
---
Etherion Core Level: 9 ->14 [From energy of Novaris]
Talent: SSS
Bloodline: Locked
Abilities:
Innate Skills:
The Seer's Gaze [Grade: Unknown] [Evolvable]
This mystical ability unveils hidden truths and dispels illusions. With a mere glance, your gaze can pierce through disguises, revealing an individual's true race, cultivation level, and even the intricacies of their skills. Your eyes allow you to break down the most complex intricacies of things down to their basic components, aiding you in understanding anything unknown.
Future Sight: Allows the user, to see 5 seconds into the future. Will automatically activate when the user detects that he's in danger.
Body of the !O# %F @$%pt$b$%#@y %$& G#$wt% [Grade: Stage 1] [Evolvable]
Adaptive Assimilation:After being hit with an enemy's ability, your body can begin to learn it and incorporate aspects of that ability.
Chameleon's Veil:Your body adapts to environmental conditions, granting temporary camouflage or resistance to specific effects. As well as allowing you to show only what you want your enemies to see.
Advanced Regeneration: Your body's regeneration is quadrupled and is able to regenerate limbs.
'SSS T-Talent,' Evolis stuttered with his mouth agape, 'To which ever goddess is blessing me, I'm sorry that I can't see you, because if I did I would give you a kiss.' Evolis internally prayed with a serene and righteous look on his face.
Shaking his head to get rid of his thoughts he focused on the energy he could feel thrumming through his body.
'So, this energy is called Novaris… it feels… welcoming?', Evolis scratched his head in confusion. He seemed to faintly feel a sense of familiarity from the energy.
---
In a place far from the Kingdom of Aurelia, where a magnificent palace floated among billowing clouds like a beacon of magic, an extremely beautiful woman with striking crimson hair, which seemed to dance with flames, walked into a resplendent chamber. The room, adorned with opulent tapestries and enchanted lanterns, offered a breathtaking view of the realm below.
Across the polished marble floor, seated on an intricately carved obsidian throne, a young man of about nineteen exuded an air of haughty confidence. His chiseled features and piercing gaze, sharp and resolute, betrayed both arrogance and latent power. A subtle, knowing smirk played upon his lips as he surveyed the panoramic view, a kingdom nestled in the clouds, that seemed to pulse with life.
The crimson-haired woman moved purposefully toward him, her silken robes trailing elegantly, her molten-gold eyes burning with determination. "Lord Cassiel," she began in a voice that mingled reverence with a tinge of urgency as she bowed, "I sensed an extraordinary stirring, a sign of awakening in the one we have long sought."
Cassiel's eyes narrowed, his confident smirk giving way to intrigue. "And who might that be?" he asked coolly, leaning back as if to assert his command.
The woman's gaze remained unwavering. "It is Evolis Aetherion—the prodigal child of divine lineage. He now teeters on the brink of his Awakening Trial, and if he slips away unbridled, the balance of our realms may falter."
A tense silence fell between them as Cassiel considered her words, the soft glow of magical lanterns and the distant, cloud-bound kingdom lending gravity to the moment. "You speak as though fate has already chosen him," he finally said in a low, measured tone. "Why should I be concerned with the awakening of a bug who has merely started taking his baby steps?"
The woman's eyes flashed with both solemness and resolve. "Because the very essence of Etherion sings his name. The wills of the dimensions, the mists, and the ancient runes all bear witness to his destiny. You must please go, Lord Cassiel and ensure he does not stray from the plans we have laid for him. Should he exit the trial unrestrained, our realms may descend into chaos."
Cassiel's eyes flashed with mockery as he absorbed her words, the quiet majesty of the palace and the view of the expansive, cloud-draped kingdom underscoring the weight of his duty. After a long pause, he spoke, his voice laced with arrogance, "Send Axel to go deal with him. Tell him that if he successfully accomplishes this I can consider enlisting him in the war against the pantheon of the Gods."
A hint of panic appeared on the woman's face as she raised her head to look at her Lord, "B-But Lord Cassiel if Axel fails then-"
She stopped speaking as she felt an overwhelming amount of killing intent and aura land on her.
She bowed her head again as she said, "I apologise Lord Cassiel, this servant of yours has spoken out of turn."
Cassiel turned his gaze away from her as he rose from his throne and strode toward the tall, arched windows, his eyes reflecting unbounded arrogance and disdain. "Get out of my sight before I kill you."
The crimson-haired woman scrambled out of the throne hall as sweat matted her forehead. She quickly wiped it off and went to go do what her Lord ordered her to do.
---
As Evolis finished surveying his status, he decided to stop focusing on it and proceeded to test his body's limits.
About an hour passed.
Evolis could be seen stepping side-to-side as he almost seemed to leave after-images of where he was. He stopped and started walking toward the far end of the chamber, where a massive, ornate door stood, its surface inscribed with cryptic runes that seemed to glow with an inner light.
As he turned to leave the chamber, his internal resolve solidified. 'Heh I wonder how that old geezer's going to react when he sees how strong I am now.' He thought as he clenched his fists, this single action caused the air to slightly vibrate.
He momentarily became quiet as he also thought about how Lyris might be doing.
'Well it's fine, I'll just ask her how she did when I get out of here.'
With his newfound clarity and the weight of destiny upon him, Evolis stepped towards the door of shifting Etherion energy as he excitedly tried to exit the trial.
But before he could step through, as if he seemed to sense something, he looked up and noticed the sky of the trial break, and semi-transparent shards falling down to the ground as if displaying what was about to happen.
Evolis' eyes widened but before he could jump through the door he heard a voice.
"Whew, that was a lot more difficult than I thought it was gonna be." A man clad in dark robes said as broke through the barrier of the trial, "So you must be the one the Lord said needed to be captured." The man said as he turned his eyes toward Evolis.