Chapter 17: Awakening the First Path

Arc's breath slows, becoming steady as the last remnants of the illusion dissolve into the back of his mind. Every heartbeat pulses with clarity, each beat syncing with the hum of the evolution system lurking in his consciousness. He feels the weight of his memories—not just the latest illusion but the countless lifetimes before. War, love, betrayal, sacrifice. It all blends into a singular truth: He must evolve beyond everything if he wants to reclaim what was taken.

The soft flickering presence of the system whispers again, no longer passive but urging him forward.

"Evolution Unlocked: First Path Initiation."

Arc's eyes narrow as a strange surge of energy courses through him. It feels like being reborn—again—but this time, with purpose. His muscles ache and contract, then stretch, feeling alien and enhanced. Instinctively, he knows what the system is offering: not just a boost in strength but the beginning of something far greater—a path that aligns with the raw force of nature and the power to rewrite his fate.

He clenches his fists, feeling the tendrils of power coil through every fiber of his being. His body vibrates at the cellular level, ready to grow, shift, and adapt.

The Trial: Breaking His Limits

A low growl rumbles through the empty room, and Arc's surroundings shift again—this time, not into a memory but into a simulation within his mind.

The walls fall away, revealing a war-torn battlefield bathed in twilight. Torn flags ripple in the wind. The sky is fractured, stained with burning clouds. Soldiers scream in the distance, weapons clashing in endless cycles of death. But these soldiers are echoes—ghosts of battles from long ago. Arc knows them all too well. He's fought with them, died with them, and now, in this warped world of his mind, he will fight them again.

A shadow flickers across the field. Arc spins, his instincts honed through countless lifetimes. A figure emerges—himself, from one of his past lives, garbed in ancient armor, face twisted into a cruel grin.

"Still weak," the other version sneers, drawing a jagged blade. "Always weak. That's why they died."

Arc's eyes darken. He doesn't need to ask who this phantom is talking about. The taunt sinks into his soul like a knife, but instead of breaking, it hardens him.

"No," Arc says coldly, raising his fists. "Not anymore."

The phantom rushes forward, blade gleaming with deadly intent. But Arc is ready. His muscles snap into motion, faster and more precise than they've ever been. He sidesteps the attack, driving his elbow into the phantom's ribs with a force that cracks bone. The ghost of his former self stumbles but recovers instantly, grinning wickedly.

"You think you're better?" the phantom hisses. "Show me."

The Awakening of the First Vein

Arc's mind and body operate in perfect harmony, each movement a result of lifetimes of combat experience combined with the raw potential granted by the evolution system. He launches a flurry of strikes, each punch tearing through the illusion of his former self like a storm. But with every blow he lands, another ghost appears—another version of him from a past life, stronger and more vicious than the last.

The battlefield becomes a blur of fists, blades, and echoes, all coming at him at once. Arc's muscles burn, his lungs scream for air, and yet he keeps fighting, refusing to falter.

"Initiating: Mana Vein Activation..."

The voice of the system hums louder in his mind. He feels it—a deep pulse beneath his skin, like roots spreading through his body. Mana veins—hidden channels running parallel to his muscles and nerves—begin to glow with a pale blue light. Energy floods into him, raw and untamed, making his body lighter, faster, and stronger.

Arc grabs one of the phantoms mid-strike, twisting its arm until it shatters like glass. He pivots, catching the next ghost by the throat and slamming it into the ground with a force that sends cracks through the earth. Each movement becomes sharper, more precise, as the mana veins fully awaken.

The Last Phantom: Himself at His Worst

The battlefield clears until only one figure remains—the final phantom, standing still in the center of the ruined field. It looks exactly like him, but there's a difference. This version wears a cold, emotionless expression, as if nothing matters—no joy, no sorrow, no hope. It is Arc at his lowest, a version forged by despair and failure.

This phantom doesn't speak. It only watches, waiting for Arc to make the first move.

Arc takes a slow breath. He knows this fight isn't about strength or speed. This is a fight for control—control over the fear, the doubt, the endless regrets that have haunted him. If he falters now, if he gives in to that version of himself, he will never escape the cycle of loss.

He steps forward, slowly at first, then faster. The phantom mirrors his movements, closing the gap between them in perfect synchronicity. They clash in a violent dance, fists colliding with bone-shattering force. But this time, Arc isn't just fighting to survive. He's fighting for something far greater.

With a roar, he summons the full power of his newly awakened veins. Mana surges through him, lighting up his body like a star. His movements blur as he channels every ounce of strength into one final blow—an uppercut that connects with the phantom's jaw, shattering it into a thousand shards of light.

The illusion crumbles, the battlefield dissolving into darkness. Arc stands alone, panting but victorious.

Purpose Renewed

As the last echoes of the fight fade, Arc feels the system respond, acknowledging his triumph.

"First Path Initiation Complete. Evolution Progress: 5%."

The numbers are small, but they are proof of his potential. He knows this is only the beginning—a single step on a path that will take him to places beyond human comprehension. But for the first time in a long time, he feels hope. He is not bound by fate. He is not a slave to death.

He will evolve. He will grow. And when the time comes, he will bend the rules of life itself to reclaim his family—and ensure those responsible pay the price.

Arc wipes the sweat from his brow, his breath steady now. The battlefield in his mind may be gone, but the fire inside him burns brighter than ever.

"Evolve or perish," he whispers, the words no longer a warning but a vow.

With newfound purpose and awakened power, Arc steps forward into the unknown. And this time, nothing—not ghosts of the past nor enemies of the present—will stand in his way.