Chapter 54: Alter Elijah

In the midst of a dense forest, where shadows danced with the light filtering through the trees, there lumbered a creature that seemed like a bear, but with a peculiar twist. Its brown fur bristled, spiked with tufts of fur that stood like a punk rock hairstyle gone wild.

Each step it took reverberated through the ground, sending shivers down the spine of any nearby creature. And above this lumbering beast, there sat three figures, as odd a trio as one could imagine.

Two figures rode atop the creature. One, a man with blonde hair and eyes like molten gold, exuded an aura of devilish charm as he polished his katana with a grin that spoke of mischief.

His muscles rippled beneath his shirt, a testament to the strength that lay beneath his devilishly handsome facade.

Beside him, a striking girl with dark purple hair tied back in a ponytail sat, her eyes as cold as the arctic, staring off into the distance as though lost in her own thoughts.

Her beauty was ethereal, enough to ensnare the hearts of any who dared to gaze upon her, yet beneath her perfect exterior lay a turmoil of emotions that few could fathom.

Meanwhile, perched upon the bear's head, was a man with a smile that seemed permanently etched upon his ruggedly handsome face.

His black hair framed eyes as calm as the still waters of a lake, his muscular form relaxed as he gazed up at the sky, seemingly without a care in the world. This was Elijah, the leader of the trio, who had a peculiar ability to communicate with the very creatures of the forest.

As Elijah gently patted the bear's fur, he turned to his alter ego, Alter Elijah, who seemed to exist within his mind.

"Okay, then, have you found a solution?" Elijah inquired, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency.

"We were wrong to say it's unstable, but it's just the opposite," Alter Elijah replied cryptically before pulling Elijah into a white space that shimmered like starlight.

Suddenly, they found themselves surrounded by a vast expanse of twinkling stars, with a towering spiritual figure of Elijah's own body stretching across the cosmos. Alter Elijah appeared beside him, a mirror image with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

The only thing that changed was his black and golden hair, along with his eyes. It seemed like Alter Elijah 1 and 2 had fused to become this being before you after his bloodline awakening.

"I have already created a core for it, fusing them energy by energy. Even with our improved version of that technique, we still need our bodies to fully get used to the Pure Yang and Yin energies inside us," Alter Elijah explained, his voice echoing through the void.

"Damn, seems like we should focus on increasing the tier of our Yang and Yin core, along with mastering that incomplete technique," Elijah sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"Yeah, the dangers haven't been fully eliminated, but they've lessened. We just need to be cautious and make sure to use it when both our Yin and Yang Chi are fully aligned or empty," Alter Elijah added, his tone surprisingly nonchalant given the gravity of the situation.

"Why?" Elijah questioned, his gaze flickering to the orbs that hovered around him – a silver orb in the middle of his chest, a golden orb in his right hand, and a dark orb in his left hand, with a mix of both Golden and black core radiating above his head.

"The moment you do, both of your element cores will fuse, which could be catastrophic for our not-so-strong body. Plus, we're not fully accustomed to those energies yet, so the likelihood of us biting the dust is pretty high," Alter Elijah explained matter-of-factly.

Elijah sighed, feeling the weight of his responsibilities pressing down upon him. He knew he had to increase his Chi circulation, reach the Expert realm in martial arts, and elevate his element cores to Tier 2 before leaving this planet.

It was a daunting task, made even more so by the fact that he had two versions of himself to contend with. "We're not enough to deal with all of this," Elijah muttered, his exhaustion palpable.

"If you're thinking of creating another me, it's mostly impossible. Besides, you don't even know who I am," Alter Elijah retorted, the space around them shifting once more into the white void.

"Then tell me," Elijah demanded, his patience wearing thin.

"Hahaha, that's for you to know, not I. Either way, you already know what needs to be done," Alter Elijah replied cryptically, eliciting a frustrated sigh from Elijah.

"Do you want to find out?" Alter Elijah teased, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

Elijah knew that his growth in strength had been rapid, but it had now begun to plateau. Reaching E rank would take months, E+ perhaps a year and a half of relentless training, and D rank was still a distant dream.

The stronger he became, the harder it was to break through his limits, and he was beginning to feel the strain.

In his soul space, a hidden dimension within his being, Elijah contemplated his predicament. Everyone possessed this dimension, though not everyone had access to it.

For Elijah, it was a gift bestowed upon him by Alter Elijah, whose origins remained a mystery even to himself. During a ritual, he had learned of his race's unique trait – the existence of three dimensions within their being.

The physical dimension Increases the strengthening of the body and mind, the spiritual dimension enhanced cultivation tenfold, and the soul dimension remained shrouded in mystery, accessible only to those who reached X rank.

The link between these dimensions was crucial; a strong spirit meant more time spent in the physical dimension, a powerful soul strengthened the spirit, and a robust body fortified the soul. It was a delicate balance, one that Elijah struggled to maintain.

Sighing, Elijah faced Alter Elijah once more. "What do you want?"

"Hahahaha, okay then, I ONLY want two things," Alter Elijah replied with a sly grin. "First, stop suppressing me. And second, allow me to take over your body when you're about to kick the bucket or when your willpower has all but fizzled out."

"What are you playing at?" Elijah demanded, remembering Alter Elijah's previous attempts to seize control of his body.

"Listen to me, I refuse to accept a watered-down version of myself, especially from someone who doesn't even know himself," Alter Elijah declared, his voice tinged with defiance.

"That's the deal – I'd rather see you bite the dust than accept your weak-ass self. But if you don't want me taking the reins, then just make sure you never have a weak will or come close to death. And if you do kick the bucket, I'll only take over for about forty-five minutes."

Elijah nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Okay then. So I just need to focus on the spiritual and physical dimensions."

"Exactly," Alter Elijah confirmed with a nod. But as he moved closer to Elijah, a strange expression crossed his face, and he reached out to touch Elijah's forehead.

Suddenly, Elijah vanished into thin air, leaving Alter Elijah alone in the void. "Our soul will never be whole if you cannot accept me, Elijah," he whispered into the empty space, his words echoing into the abyss.