[Very Well Then]
The words cracked through his very soul, shattering the walls he had built around himself. Each syllable tore through his flesh like the pulse of a beating heart, heavy and resonant, filled with ancient purpose. Arminius, standing in that moment, was suspended between the realms of past and future, a trembling figment grappling with the unparalleled weight of destiny.
The flame didn't come from her hand, nor from the sky above. It emerged from the very air around him—as if the world itself had exhaled this divine fire into existence, just for him. It embodied the essence of creation, flickering with the promise of transformation and renewal, leaving him both exhilarated and terrified.
It was golden. Pure. Alive.
The heatless ribbons of light enveloped him like halos, descending with a divine grace, wrapping around his limbs, his chest, his neck. Time itself seemed to stretch, allowing him to savor every fleeting moment of grandeur, every ephemeral brush of warmth against his skin. Arminius stood still, not flinching, not screaming, but wide-eyed, a prisoner to the sheer force of its presence.
In that silence, the world around him faded into shadows—a distant whisper of a life he once knew. The fire, pulsating with energy, enveloped him in a cocoon bedazzled with brilliance. It felt as though the flames spoke to him, resonating with an understanding deeper than spoken language. The fire seemed to comprehend him in a way he couldn't comprehend. It didn't burn him. Instead, it seeped into his skin, wrapping itself within the deepest fibers of his body, a strange intimacy forged between fire and flesh.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
It filled him from his bones to his blood, saturating every inch of his form. Every particle of his being thrummed in tandem with the golden blaze. It wasn't pain—no, it was something more profound. It was as if the very essence of the world was flowing into him, making him whole in ways he had never imagined possible, stitching up the wounds of his existence with threads of shimmering light.
His veins hummed in an ancient language, a hymn accompanying the rhythm of his awakening.
His heart began to beat with a purpose, a rhythm beyond his control, beyond anything he had ever known. It was not just a heartbeat; it was an anthem, a surge of life that rushed through him like a torrent of river water after the rains. His blood burned with heat, but it wasn't the flame that torched him—no, it was the power. The potential.
With each pulsation, he felt the essence of vitality surging through him, amplifying his senses. It was as though he had just become a part of everything that surrounded him. The trees whispered secrets from ages long past, the soil beneath his feet resonated with the footsteps of ancient beings, and the crickets sang a melodious symphony of truth that resonated in his core.
His thoughts became fragmented, memories breaking through like shattered glass—blurred moments of his past. Fragments of who he was, of where he had come from, swirled through his consciousness. A younger version of himself, running—always running—from the weight of his own past, from the shame of his name. He was small. He was weak.
But not now.
Now, the flame had found him. It had chosen him.
Not as a weapon.
But as someone who could hold it. Someone who could endure its trials and rise against the odds.
As the fire consumed him from the inside out, a sense of clarity washed over him like rain cleansing the parched earth. His trembling hands clenched into fists, embodying a newfound determination, a steadfast resolve. The divine light finally settled deep within him, nestling into the very marrow of his being.
And then—there it was.
A sound.
A radiant tone that rang out in his mind, pulling him from the chaos of the moment, pulling him into sharp focus with a clarity that sliced through uncertainty.
[You Have Gained Your Very Own Veil Art, Arminius.]
[A.S.C.E.N.D]
The words appeared before him, golden, bright, and pulsing with an undeniable rhythm. They hung in the air like an ethereal command, a beckoning that resonated deep within the corners of his soul.
A.S.C.E.N.D
Ascend Through The Veil And Beyond It With This Power
His wide-eyed gaze traced the letters, each curve and line flickering with dynamic life. Each word seemed to echo with an ancient promise, resonating deep within him. This wasn't just a power—it was a calling. A beckoning to rise, to break free from everything that had chained him down, to become more than what he had ever been.
This was no longer the boy who had hidden in the shadows of his past. No longer the broken man who had run for so long.
This was his destiny.
His eyes glowed brighter, no longer merely red but now an intense crimson that felt like two burning stars trapped within his gaze. The promise of something greater lingered in the depths of his irises, a reflection of the power now coursing through him.
He could feel it.
The very fabric of his existence hummed with the divine energy. The earth beneath him cracked, as if even nature itself acknowledged the change that had transpired. He had crossed into something new. Something that defied his past, his pain, and the memories that clung to him like chains. The ripening fruit of potential swelled within him.
The Goddess spoke again, her voice a whisper now, but no less powerful.
[Ascend, Arminius. You Were Born In Ash, But You Are Meant For Flame.]
Arminius looked up at her, the weight of her words sinking in, settling around him with gentle reverence. The fire still burned within him—alive, vibrant, a beacon illuminating the way forward. He felt its warmth wrapping around him, invigorating him as he pondered over his journey, the trials that had led him to this very moment.
"Wha...what does this power do?" he asked, the curiosity driving him forward, pulling him out of his reverie and back to the present.
Herina's voice drifted into his thoughts, soft but clear, her words guiding him like a gentle breeze caressing the surface of a still lake.
[Just Think About It.]
He did.
And before his very eyes, a new window appeared—a status, a revelation of what this power had brought. A strange golden board etched with strange words that he somehow understood hovered in front of him, glowing with an otherworldly light that felt as familiar as the pulse of his own heart.
**Veil Art Unlocked: A.S.C.E.N.D**
**Type: Divine Blessing/Physical**
**Description: Ascend beyond and over the Veil. With this power, you can regenerate very quickly, and you can check on your physical condition and skillset. The limit of your soul's strength no longer exists, and you can grow stronger by gaining [EXP] from fallen foes. Additionally, by using [ASCENSION MODE], you can temporarily, depending on your soul integrity, massively boost your power.**
**Warning: Overuse of [ASCENSION MODE] may damage soul integrity.**
He stared at the words, his mind reeling. The weight of what was happening to him was overwhelming, but the pieces were slowly falling into place—like fragments of a puzzle aligning to reveal a larger picture, a greater understanding.
The power wasn't just about strength; it was about growth. Constant growth, limitless potential waiting to be tapped.
And yet—there was a warning. A clear one. Soul integrity. His connection to the Veil.
He had to be careful.
"Herina....what does this mean and why are the letters like this?"
The urgency behind his question thrummed through his being. The words spilled from his mouth before he could stop them. He wasn't sure why he spoke, but the need to understand, to grasp the depths of what had been thrust upon him, was too great to ignore, the thrill of the unknown mingled with anxiety.
Herina's voice rang through his mind, calm yet full of authority.
[It's Simple, Really.
Every Time You Kill Someone, Especially Evil Beings, You Gain Something Called [EXP]. You Can Use That EXP To Become Stronger. The More You Gain, The More Your Soul Grows. And Because Your Soul Is Directly Linked To Your Physical Body, As Your Soul Strengthens, So Does Your Body.]
[But, There's More.]
[Your Soul's Integrity Is The Link Between You And The Veil. If Your Connection To The Veil Weakens Or Is Severed, Then Your Veil Art Disappears With It. You Must Be Mindful Of Your Soul's Condition. Your Journey Will Not Be Without Challenges; You Must Walk The Path Carefully And With Purpose.]
He absorbed her words, allowing them to weave through his mind like silken threads forming a tapestry of understanding. The pieces were fitting together, yet a lingering question remained, like a note unresolved in a haunting melody.
"So...this power. It's not truly infinite?"
A slow smile crept onto Herina's face, radiant and warm.
She then said, with an engaging smile—a graceful smile that radiated tranquility and assurance but also excitement, a spark that ignited something deep within him.
[That's The Fun Part, It Is!]
Those prideful words, spoken with a tone you wouldn't think a divine being would use, injected a new confidence into Armin. The synchronicity of their dialogue invigorated him. He felt lighter, as if clouds of doubt had cleared from the skies of his mind, leaving behind a brilliant azure light that beckoned him forward.
He wanted to fulfill a duty. He wanted to fulfill his responsibility using this power for something greater than himself.
He could feel it—the promise of something greater, something divine within him. He could ascend. And as he did, the world might get a bit better—like ripples in a pond, even small changes could create profound effects.
And that was only the beginning, merely the first step along a long and winding road that awaited him.
He could almost hear it—the call to adventure, the beckoning of destiny echoing back to him from the far reaches of time and space. It was a melody he was now truly ready to embrace.
With the weight of his past behind him and the promise of power before him, Arminius felt like a phoenix poised to burst forth from the ashes, ready to soar into the boundless skies of his future.
Everything was about to change.
End of Chapter-6