Balance and Chaos

Alvin and Carlo studied Victor intently, their eyes drawn to the diamond-shaped mark that had appeared briefly on his forehead.

"So, Victor, what did you gain? That mark—does it mean something good?" Alvin asked, his curiosity evident in his tone.

Victor let out a small chuckle, brushing a hand through his hair as the mark faded without a trace. "I'm not entirely sure yet, but it's definitely something extraordinary. I can feel something… powerful inside me. It's hard to put into words."

Victor knew exactly what the Mark of Divinity was and the incredible abilities it granted. It was the same power that had transformed Leon from average to extraordinary. But explaining it in detail? Too much effort. For now, he let them wonder.

Alvin and Carlo exchanged glances, nodding slowly. Alvin's expression grew serious, his determination clear as he stepped closer to Victor. "Alright, Victor. It's time for you to keep your promise, isn't it?"

Victor placed a firm but reassuring hand on Alvin's shoulder, his crimson eyes gleaming with calm confidence. "Relax. I always keep my word."

Alvin exhaled a sigh of relief, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thanks, Victor. I mean it."

"It's nothing," Victor replied, his tone casual. "After all, I gave you my word, didn't I?"

Alvin nodded in gratitude before glancing toward the villa's gate. "Alright, my work here is done. Mind giving me a ride home?"

"My butler will take care of that," Victor said smoothly, turning his gaze to Carlo. "You don't mind, do you, old Carlo?"

Carlo, ever composed, gave a slight bow. "Of course not, young master."

"Good," Alvin said, nodding in agreement. Together, he and Carlo began walking toward the villa's gate, their footsteps fading into the quiet night.

Victor escorted them to the gate, watching until their figures disappeared into the darkness. For a moment, he stood there in the stillness, the cool night air brushing against his skin.

Then, a sly grin crept across his face, his crimson eyes glinting with anticipation.

"Now," he murmured, his voice low but filled with excitement, "let's see what this new power can really do."

-----

Meanwhile, at another location, Leon stood amidst a bustling crowd, his expression dark with frustration as he stared at the stall where he had lost the Buddha statue.

He wasn't just angry that Victor had taken the statue; the unfolding scene added to his fury. The vendor who ran the stall had been found unconscious and was now being rushed to the hospital.

"That bastard," Leon muttered under his breath, his fists clenching tightly. "Not only did he skip out on paying $5,000, but he also hurt that old man. Damn it! If I ever find you, I'll make sure you regret it!"

His mind replayed the events with bitter regret. He shouldn't have walked away when Victor offered the $5,000. If he'd stayed, maybe—just maybe—he could have retrieved the statue before Victor resorted to violence against the vendor.

Leon exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself and let go of the resentment, but deep down, the desire for the Buddha statue gnawed at him. It felt like the statue was meant to be his. Somehow, even though he believed himself to be a good person, a dark impulse flickered within him—a craving to claim the statue no matter the cost.

Far from finding peace, his unease only grew. His heart pounded faster, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"Shit… what's happening to me?" he murmured, clutching his chest as his breaths grew shorter with each passing second.

As he turned to leave, his instincts screamed at him, forcing him to stop mid-step.

BANG!

A bolt of lightning struck the ground mere inches in front of him, sending him sprawling backward, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The crowd around him erupted into chaos, people scattering in all directions, assuming a thunderstorm was imminent.

But Leon remained frozen on the ground, his chest heaving, his wide eyes fixed on the scorch mark where the lightning had struck.

"What… the hell just happened?" he whispered, his voice shaky with shock.

His mind reeled at the near-miss. If his instincts hadn't kicked in, the lightning might have seriously injured—or worse—killed him.

Confusion gripped him. He couldn't comprehend what had just occurred. Panic attacks didn't make lightning strike out of nowhere.

'Goddamn it,' he thought, his frustration mounting as his heart continued to race. 'What a terrible day for me!'

------

An hour had passed in the serene expanse of the villa's backyard. Victor stood alone, gripping the Ruyi Jingu Bang, now shrouded in a ferocious blue mana aura that crackled with raw energy. The intensity of the weapon's power drained his own mana relentlessly, leaving him both exhilarated and wary.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath, his tone tinged with awe. "I didn't think it'd be this strong."

The overwhelming energy was the result of his extraction of the sword's core—a process that awakened the Ruyi Jingu Bang's latent power. The transformation was potent but untamed, and controlling it felt like trying to harness a storm.

Victor steadied himself, focusing deeply. The diamond-shaped Mark of Divinity on his forehead flared to life, emitting a radiant glow. With his gaze fixed on the weapon, he channeled his focus into its chaotic aura. Slowly but surely, the turbulent mana stabilized, transitioning from a wild storm to a steady, rhythmic pulse. The weapon's insatiable draw on his mana lessened as balance was restored.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips. This was the beauty of the Mark of Divinity—a gift that allowed him to bring balance and harmony to forces within his grasp. Its abilities extended beyond stabilization, offering karmic insight, mental purification, minor healing, and the tantalizing promise of evolution into even greater powers.

But the mark came at a cost. Sustaining its activation demanded immense soul strength, draining his energy like an unyielding tide. Victor's body felt the toll, but his resolve held firm.

He began to move, executing basic maneuvers with the Ruyi Jingu Bang while maintaining the mark's activation. Each swing of the weapon was smooth and precise, his movements fluid like water. The sheer force of his strikes created powerful gusts of wind, bending the distant grass in waves.

As the weapon harmonized with his spirit, Victor felt a profound connection, a unity between man and artifact. Yet, a deep fatigue stirred in his core—a reminder of the burden the Mark of Divinity placed on him.

But he wasn't done yet.

Regripping the Ruyi Jingu Bang, Victor allowed the fiery blue mana to surge around it once more, brighter and more intense than before. With a mighty leap, he propelled himself high into the night sky, the weapon crackling with energy.

Raising it above his head, he swung downward with all his might.

The air split with a thunderous boom, a shockwave rippling outward as the blow tore the clouds asunder. The heavens seemed to part at his command, revealing an expanse of glimmering stars. It was a scene of pure, unrivaled power, rivaling even Carlo's infamous Devil Slash.

Victor descended with a heavy thud, landing effortlessly despite the impact. His body remained unscathed, and his breathing, though labored, carried a triumphant rhythm.

He looked up at the sky, his handiwork still etched above, the stars twinkling against the open void where clouds had once been. A grin of satisfaction spread across his face, unbothered by the exhaustion weighing on him.

"What a glorious day for me!" he said to himself, his voice laced with pride, the grin never leaving his face.