Chapter 4 : True Awakening
Ash froze, his ears catching the faint sound of rocks shifting.
A low, guttural growl rumbled beneath the rubble. His heart sank as he turned toward the pile of stones, dread clawing at his chest like icy fingers
"You've got to be kidding me," he whispered, his voice barely audible, every syllable laced with exhaustion and frustration.
Ash's mind raced.
He didn't have the stamina to fight it again, and waiting around for it to dig itself free was suicidal.
His grip tightened on the broken sword. The jagged edge glinted faintly in the dim light, mocking his weakness.
"Just Die already," he growled, stepping toward the creature.
His vision blurred, and the pain was so consuming it almost drowned out the sound of his own heartbeat. his mind felt numb at the amount of pain he was going through.
But he couldn't afford hesitation.
Not here.
Not now.
He raised the broken sword high, aiming for the exposed part of the rat's neck.
"This ends now."
With a final surge of effort, Ash brought the blade down.
The sound of steel getting stabbed into the flesh echoed in the surroundings, followed by a sickening thud as Ash collapsed on the ground, his breathing ragged.
"Finally…", he muttered.
His hand still clutched the Rune tightly, he let go of his Broken sword.
The white surface of the Rune was covered in his blood.
He brought the Rune close to his heart and with last bit of his mustered strength he muttered,
"O Runes of the forgotten ages… By the blood of the vessel and the spark of the soul… Bind thy essence unto me—Soul Fusion!"
As the last word left his lips, his body went limp, surrendering to unconsciousness.
The Rune in his hand disintegrated, its glowing fragments dissolving into shimmering particles that flowed into his body.
They surged through him, fusing with his very soul.
For a moment, silence fell outside the closed entrance of the mine, the tension dissipating into stillness.
The only sound was the faint hum of power settling within Ash,
But,
Slowly,
The air around him grew dense with mana, spiraling toward his unconscious form like moths to a flame.
Suddenly, a faint glow flickered in his mind—an ethereal light, distant yet familiar.
Lines of glowing text appeared before his closed unconscious eyes, as though written on the fabric of reality itself.
**
[Trait: ??????]
[Trait Synchronization: 67%....88%... 99%... 100%]
**
The air around him grew heavier,
A surge of energy erupted within him as the text on the screen began to shift.
The glowing letters blazed brighter, burning away the shrouded question marks with an intense radiance.
**
[Trait: Oracle of Path]
[Trait Synchronization Complete]
--
Trait: Oracle of Path
Rank: Growth
Description:
-It is a growth type trait that allows the user to walk their own Unique path.
-Path Analysis: Continuously analyzes the user's potential, talent, action and decision, evaluating how they shape the user's journey and growth. After careful analysis, the trait evolves into a New Trait that is perfectly suited to the user's abilities
-Protective Override: If the something poses a danger to the user, such as unstable mana flow or harmful traits, the Oracle overrides the process, shielding the user from harm while guiding them toward a safer, more beneficial path.
**
The air around him grew heavy as the Oracle of Paths began to evolve.
A faint hum resonated in the surroundings,
[Evolving Progress: 1%...]
Visions of endless possibilities and countless paths flashed around his body. The trait wasn't just analyzing anymore—it was rewriting, forging something far beyond its original purpose.
[8%...]
A surge of energy coursed through Ash soul, ancient and overwhelming. The space around him shimmered, faint Golden glow radiated around him.
[77%...]
The hum grew louder. Reality seemed to ripple and bend, his body healed and his pale face gained color back,
[99%...]
Then, a burst of mana radiated out from his body that shook the very air as his lower abdomen core was destroyed,
[100%...]
[Oracle of Paths has evolved into Codex of Creation.]
But this was not the end.
[Re-Awakening Starting...]
The re-awakening resumed with unmatched ferocity as the radiated mana was pulled back into his body, surging like a raging storm.
His frail, malnourished form began to change—muscles developed faintly, his once weak frame began to gain little muscles.
The mana vessels in his body, clogged with blood and impurities, were cleared out by the overwhelming torrent of mana controlled by his Trait.
Black mucus and an oily, foul-smelling substance seeped from his pores, purging the toxins that had lingered in his body for years.
His height increased slightly, and his skeletal structure seemed to realign, reshaping to accommodate the powerful transformation.
At the same time, the Rune of Stability activated, its energy merging with the rampaging mana.
The rune's calm and steady essence diffused through his body, tempering the chaos within.
The wild currents of mana slowed, becoming smoother, more controlled.
Slowly but surely, his insides settled.
Then, in the depths of his being, two radiant white cores began to form—one in his Upper Dantian, the other in his Lower Dantian.
Their surface glowed with purity becoming the foundation of his new power.
The faint golden runic symbols Etched onto the surface of the pure white cores.
Then,
The energy of the rune receded, its work complete.
Ash's re-awakening was not just a transformation; it was the dawn of a new path, forged by the Codex of Creation and the strength of his will.
Only silence remained in the surroundings.
As Ash slept outside the Entrance of the Abandoned mine.
***
Starfall city
Melissia Ravencroft, The only daughter of one of the 7 Saints of Humanity and the Tower master of the Mage Tower.
She was going to the entrance exam of the Starlight academy in her luxurious car.
"Miss, we'll be arriving at Starfall City shortly," said Nyra, the driver of the car. Nyra was no ordinary chauffeur—she was a Mythical Rank bodyguard personally assigned to protect Melissia.
Sitting on the back seat was a 12-year-old girl, with striking red hair and brilliant red eyes that shimmered with a faint glow, was scrolling through an online store,
Her expression brightening as she found a newly released limited-edition soft toy.
Without lifting her head, Melissia replied casually, "Alright, Sister Nyra."
Nyra glanced at her through the rearview mirror and smiled bitterly. "Miss, I've told you many times. You don't need to call me 'Sister.' Just Nyra is fine."
Melissia paused her scrolling, a playful pout forming on her lips,
"And I've told you many times, Sister Nyra,! You're like my big sister, so I'm going to keep calling you that. No arguments!"
Nyra let out a soft chuckle, her smile widening at the sight of Melissia's adorable pout.
"Alright, alright, Miss. I won't argue."
"Don't you dare laugh at me—!" Melissia began her rambling but stopped mid-way.
Her head snapped toward the window,
Nyra, too, stiffened. Her sharp senses, honed as a Mythical Ranker, picked up on the faint, unusual mana activity outside Starfall City.
The car grew eerily quiet as both of them focused on the strange presence.
"Sister Nyra, something is happening there," Melissia said, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and excitement.
Melissia possessed the Saint Rank Trait: Mana Manipulation, a rare and extraordinary gift.
This trait granted her not only unparalleled control over mana but also an innate sensitivity to its flow, enabling her to detect even the slightest disturbances in the surrounding energy.
It was a power that set her apart, marking her as a true prodigy in the world of magic.
Nyra frowned, her sharp eyes scanning the road ahead. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly as she replied,
"Yes, but it could be dangerous, Miss. We should continue to the academy as planned."
Melissia pouted, leaning forward in her seat. "But it's boring just sitting in the car! Can't we just go check it out? What if it's something interesting?"
Nyra's stern gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, where she met Melissia's pleading red eyes.
"Miss, if anything happens, I'll have no choice but to report this to your father. You know how he reacts."
Melissia flinched, crossing her arms stubbornly. "No! Don't tell Father! He'll lecture me for hours and then probably ground me again.
Please, Sister Nyra, let's at least take a look. You're with me, so if it's dangerous, we can just leave. You're Soo powerful. what's the worst that could happen? Pretty please?"
Nyra let out a long, weary sigh, her expression softening just a fraction. "Fine. But only a quick look, and if it gets dangerous, we leave immediately. No arguments."
"Yay!" Melissia cheered, clapping her hands in triumph as a grin spread across her face.
Nyra shook her head, pulling the car over just outside Starfall City.
As they stepped out, the faint traces of mana in the air grew sharper and heavier.
It was clear that something—or someone—was behind this disturbance.
Melissia's small frame moved with the eagerness of a child on the verge of an adventure.
Her fiery red hair swayed with every step, her bright red eyes sparkling with excitement.
This was far better than sitting in a car, scrolling through her phone.
Nyra, however, was far less enthusiastic.
She reached into her space ring, summoning her weapon—a sleek, dark spear that gleamed faintly under the sunlight.
Her grip tightened around the shaft, her body poised and ready for anything.
"Miss, stay behind me at all times," Nyra commanded, her tone sharp and unyielding.
"Alright, Sister Nyra," Melissia said with a playful salute, though her mischievous smile betrayed her excitement.
She peered around Nyra's protective form, eager to catch the first glimpse of whatever was causing this strange phenomenon.
The duo moved cautiously in the small forest outside the city, Nyra leading with steady, calculated steps, her senses spread to the limit, scanning everything ahead.
A Mythical Rank Hunter could see everything within a fixed radius, leaving no detail unnoticed.
Each step brought them closer to the source.
When Nyra's senses confirmed there was no immediate danger ahead, she finally allowed herself to relax, lowering her spear slightly.
After a while, they reached a small clearing, the ground covered with soft grass and fallen leaves.
At its center was the entrance to an abandoned mine, partially buried under rubble, with a Shadow Fang trapped beneath it.
A broken sword was lodged deep into the beast's neck—it was unmistakably dead.
Near the lifeless creature lay a boy, no older than Melissia, sprawled on the ground. His body was wrapped in bloodied bandages, and black, oily substances clung to his skin.
His silvery-white hair was matted and darkened with blood, and his torn, bloodstained clothes hung loosely over his battered frame.
Despite his battered appearance, his body was perfectly fine.
He appeared to be in a deep sleep, his chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths.
***
Author Notes:
Hey everyone! ✨ Don't forget to check out the Human Ranking System I posted in the Author's Note section—it's crucial for understanding the world Ash is navigating! 🔥
And guess what? Starting next week, I'll be posting 2 chapters per day! 📚🎉 So hang tight, and be patient this week as we ramp things up!
Thank you for your amazing support! 🙌💥 Stay tuned for more adventure!
**