Gravity Manipulation

"What is happening?!"

Freya frozen in place, her disbelief echoing into the night. The scene before her defied all logic.

She rubbed her eyes, hoping the act might erase this surreal vision. Yet, nothing changed—a man atop a horse, his spear absorbing the massive energy blast from the giant wolf.

Eryon Ashbourn.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!" Eryon's roar pierced through the still air, a desperate battle cry against the sheer, magical force of the wolf's attack.

The energy blast was immense, its pressure equally devastating, but it was all being devoured by the Gungnir spear.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Half a minute passed, and the energy assault persisted with relentless ferocity.

Miraculously, the spear continued to absorb the overwhelming power, shielding Eryon from the blast's destructive impact.

[Due to storing immense energy, the fragment of Gungnir spear has temporarily upgraded to SS-class]

Eryon's face twisted in shock, and a wide grin broke across his lips.

Suddenly, the energy blast began to weaken.

Seizing the opportunity, Eryon gripped the spear tighter, disregarding the searing heat radiating from it.

"Take this!!!" he bellowed, reversing the energy's flow, sending it surging back toward the monstrous wolf.

Boom!

An energy burst of equal magnitude retaliated, erupting from the tip of the Gungnir spear, obliterating the giant wolf.

The ensuing explosion painted the night sky with sinister shades of deep purple, an awe-inspiring sight like a colossal laser piercing the heavens, visible for miles.

The onlookers stood frozen, their eyes wide with astonishment.

"That... is that an S-class Awakener?"

"Thank goodness, it must be. We're safe!"

"Finally, we can breathe again..."

Relief swept through the crowd like a soothing wave. They knew all too well the wolf's monstrous strength. If anyone could deflect its attack, it had to be an S-class Awakener.

Meanwhile, Eryon's face showed utter exhaustion. His hands trembled from the effort of absorbing the blast. His skin was blistered and scorched by the intense heat.

The energy blast lasted more than thirty seconds before dissipating completely. At that moment, Eryon collapsed to the ground.

Thud!

Lying there, his hands continued to shake, his vision blurred, everything around him fading into hazy outlines.

The searing pain from the heat was a cruel reminder of his reckless act.

"Did... did I succeed?"

[You have slain the legendary S+ class creature: Valgram]

[You successfully stole its power]

[Congratulations, you have gained the special ability: Gravity Manipulation]

A holographic display materialized before him, and a faint smile crept across his face.

"I did it."

Satisfaction coursed through Eryon. Since the meteor strike, he had watched Freya's desperate struggle against the wolf.

By chance, the wolf had flung Freya close to his location, compelling him to intervene and block its devastating energy blast.

Recently, he had discovered the unique power of the Gungnir spear—its ability to absorb energy. It was the perfect weapon against the wolf, and, of course, he had confirmed its capabilities with the system.

Adding to his advantage, the horse he rode possessed a unique ability to hover momentarily in the air.

Without these factors, he wouldn't have dared to face the massive wolf, a monster of S+ rank.

[Due to absorbing extreme energy, the Gungnir spear has temporarily lost its special abilities]

Eryon raised an eyebrow at the notification but wasn't disappointed. The spear had been his lifeline and the key to defeating the wolf.

[Do you want to extract the Gravity Manipulation ability?]

'Extract it,' Eryon confirmed in thought, his body too wracked with pain to speak.

The system, seamlessly integrated with his body and mind, understood his command.

[Extraction commencing]

Eryon let himself relax, a peculiar sensation coursing through his veins as the extraction began.

But, an unexpected vibration reverberated nearby. Stirred, Eryon's eyes snapped open to see a churning orb of dark-purple energy—a grotesque transformation of the wolf's giant corpse.

Freya, having consolidated her strength, was making her way toward Eryon when she stopped, her gaze locking onto the ominous energy mass.

Moments later, the vibrations intensified, and the dark orb emitted an even more menacing glow.

Realization dawned on Freya's face. Her eyes widened, and she bolted toward Eryon, her voice ringing through the night, "Shield!"

With a sweeping gesture, she activated her magical artifact, conjuring a protective barrier around both her and Eryon.

Simultaneously, the dark-purple orb exploded!

Boom!

A gravity explosion rippled through the air, unleashing destructive shockwaves that devastated the surrounding terrain.

The explosion was so powerful that it reduced a three-square-kilometer area, once dense with trees, to nothing but barren land. Trees in the distance were uprooted by the shockwave, and even Adenville High School, located several kilometers away, felt the impact—along with the surrounding residential areas, though to a lesser extent.

The force of the explosion hurling Freya and Eryon toward a distant mountain.

The remaining Awakeners stood motionless, their faces etched with shock and confusion.

While some appeared bewildered, others wore grim expressions. They recognized the explosion for what it was—a rare phenomenon triggered when a monster infused with elemental power dies. The residual energy doesn't dissipate immediately but accumulates, culminating in a catastrophic explosion.

Each explosion varies depending on the monster's elemental power. Lightning yields lightning; fire begets fire.

"What do we do now?" a voice broke the silence.

No one responded. The heavy silence lingered.

Finally, a blond-haired young man, a massive sword strapped to his back, stepped forward. "We get Alex out of here and report to the government. Hans' death should make them reconsider sending awakaners to the Raid."

"But what about Freya and that S-class awakener?" someone else asked.

"I don't know their fate. Considering the magnitude of that explosion, I doubt they survived. Let's report this to the government first; they can investigate further," the blond man replied.

"That makes sense. Alright, let's grab Alex and leave."

With unanimous agreement, the group began their retreat, leaving behind the eerie remains of the obliterated monster.