The Awakening of Titan Heart
(Henry's POV)
Just as I pushed open the massive black stone gate, another System Notification flickered before my eyes.
---
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
- Your strain is reducing.
- Titan Heart is now fully awakened.
---
I froze.
"What?"
Then—
A sudden pulse ran through my chest.
A deep, powerful thrum, like a war drum echoing inside my ribcage.
Then another.
Two.
Two heartbeats.
My eyes widened. I could feel it—two hearts beating in perfect synchronization.
One was my original human heart.
The other…
It was something else entirely.
Something stronger.
My body stopped aching. The soreness from using Divine Punishment faded instantly.
Instead—I felt stronger.
I clenched my fists, feeling the raw energy surging through my veins.
Step One – Understanding the Awakening
"System, explain!" I demanded.
---
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS]
- Titan Heart has fully awakened.
- You now possess two functioning hearts.
- Your second heart is an enhanced Titan Core, providing limitless endurance and boosting all physical abilities.
- Passive Effect: Fatigue is drastically reduced. Strain from high-level techniques is minimized.
- Regeneration Rate Increased: Minor wounds heal instantly, while major injuries recover rapidly.
- Combat Boost: Your body's adaptation speed has reached near-perfect efficiency. Techniques that previously caused strain will no longer do so.
---
I stared at the blue holographic text, my mind racing.
I placed my hand on my chest, feeling the strong, steady rhythm.
"So this is what Samuel meant… when he said I had the Titan Heart."
This wasn't just some normal power-up.
It was evolution.
I took a deep breath, then clenched my fists.
Before, when I pushed my body too far, I could feel the strain creeping in.
Not anymore.
I took a step forward—my speed felt sharper, my balance effortless.
I stretched my arms—the slight fatigue from before was completely gone.
I smirked. "This changes everything."
I looked toward the open demon gate, feeling the unholy energy seeping from within.
The enemies inside were stronger.
Deadlier.
Before, I might have had to pace myself.
But now?
Now I could fight without holding back.
I smirked, rolling my shoulders.
"Alright then."
With newfound confidence, I stepped forward into the darkness.
I exhaled slowly, feeling the steady, powerful rhythm of my two hearts.
The Titan Heart was fully awakened, and my body felt unstoppable.
No fatigue. No strain. Just pure power.
I smirked, glancing at the massive demonic hideout ahead.
"Alright, let's take care of everything here first."
Once this was handled, I had another battlefield waiting for me.
Tomorrow, my art exhibition would take place.
It wasn't just about showing off paintings.
It was about honoring past Henry.
The part of me that Katerina buried.
The part of me that I was reclaiming.
I rolled my shoulders, gripping my sword tighter. "First, I clean up this mess. Then, I show the world who I really am."
And with that—
I stepped through the massive stone gates of the demon hideout, my sword resting on my shoulder.
The air inside was thick with sulfur and decay, the walls lined with glowing red runes, pulsing with dark energy.
Torches flickered, casting twisted shadows along the cavernous hall.
And then—
They appeared.
From the darkness, dozens of demons crawled forward.
Some were hulking beasts, their blackened skin covered in cracked molten veins. Others were thin and jagged, their clawed hands twitching with hunger.
Their glowing red eyes locked onto me, filled with nothing but bloodlust.
One of the larger demons let out a deep, guttural growl.
"You shouldn't have come here, Executioner."
I smirked, rolling my shoulders.
"I hear that a lot."
The demons rushed forward in a chaotic frenzy, claws and fangs bared.
I moved instantly, activating Celestial Blink, teleporting behind the first demon before it could even react.
I swung my sword, slicing clean through its neck—
SPLAT.
One down.
Another demon lunged from the side—
I grabbed its skull with one hand and crushed it, black blood splattering across the stone floor.
Two down.
A third demon swung at me with a jagged obsidian blade.
I parried effortlessly, twisting my wrist and impaling the demon through the chest.
Three down.
The rest hesitated, realizing I wasn't just any human.
I smirked, feeling the power of my Titan Heart pumping through me.
"Come on. I don't have all night."
They came at me all at once.
I moved like a storm of death.
I dodged left, grabbing a demon by its horns and snapping its neck.
I sidestepped another, driving my sword through its chest and twisting.
A massive demon tried to crush me with a club—I caught it mid-swing with one hand and ripped its arm clean off.
The ground was soon covered in demon corpses, their blood pooling like black ink.
I stood in the center of the massacre, my breathing steady, my body untouched.
But then—
The air shifted.
A heavy presence filled the room.
From the far end of the hideout, a massive throne of bones stood at the center of a raised platform.
And sitting on it—
A demon unlike the others.
He was taller, his skin a deep crimson, his horns curved and jagged like a crown. His glowing yellow eyes stared at me with amusement, not anger.
He slowly stood, his voice deep and commanding.
"You've done well, Executioner. But your slaughter ends here."
I smirked, flipping my sword in my grip.
"Big talk for someone who just watched his men die."
The Demon Lord grinned, baring his fangs.
"I was only waiting to see if you were worth killing myself."
Then—
The entire room shook, dark energy swirling around him as his power exploded outward.
I exhaled slowly, feeling the heat of battle rise again.
"Finally," I muttered, stepping forward.
"A real fight."