Chaos Infusion

The air shimmered as the Gateway pulsed with energy, a vortex of swirling lights linking two completely different worlds. The feeling of stepping through it was both familiar and foreign—a momentary sense of weightlessness, followed by the distinct sensation of gravity pulling them back to reality.

Fenix stepped through the threshold alongside Sylis, emerging back into the academy's transfer platform. As soon as his boots touched the smooth, cold floor, he felt a strange wave of relief wash over him. The Soul Realm had a way of making him forget the real world—as if time worked differently there. And now, back on Earth, everything felt… too normal.

He took a deep breath.

The air was different. Lighter. Cleaner. It lacked that strange density he had grown used to in Avalon.

Around them, numerous Awakened teams were also stepping through their respective portals, returning from their own missions. The massive transfer hall of the academy was bustling with activity—groups of young Awakened reuniting, exchanging excited whispers, or simply collapsing from exhaustion. Some students had bandaged arms and tired expressions, while others walked with victorious grins on their faces.

Fenix quickly scanned the area. He noticed how some looked relieved, others frustrated, and some still bore visible wounds from their trials. It was a reminder that, even if they were students, the Soul Realm was merciless. Not every team had a smooth run.

At his side, Sylis stretched her arms, letting out a sigh.

"Back to reality," she murmured, glancing around the room. "Almost feels weird, doesn't it?"

Fenix nodded, his gaze lingering on the massive metallic structures and glowing panels decorating the hall. The technological contrast with Avalon was almost comical—there, they had stone fortresses and medieval streets. Here, they were surrounded by sleek, futuristic architecture.

"Yeah," he admitted. "It's like… I forgot what it felt like to be here."

Sylis smiled slightly but didn't say anything. They both knew the feeling.

As they stepped forward, they saw a row of instructors and academy personnel lined up near the exit, distributing rewards and monitoring the returning students. Some medics were also present, ready to assist those who had suffered injuries during the evaluation.

That was when Fenix noticed something.

Elias and Rika were already there.

Their two teammates had returned before them. They were standing near one of the check-in desks, looking considerably better than when Fenix last saw them. Rika's arm was still bandaged, and Elias had a few scratches on his face, but overall, they were in much better condition than he had expected.

Fenix exhaled slowly. He had almost forgotten that, while he had been unconscious, time had passed. Their teammates must have been retrieved earlier while he was still recovering in the tower.

Rika was the first to notice them. She nudged Elias, who turned his head, and for a moment, their expressions were unreadable. Then, Elias simply gave a nod, while Rika folded her arms, watching them approach.

Sylis tilted her head slightly.

"Guess they've been waiting for us," she muttered.

"Or they just got here before us," Fenix replied.

Either way, the reunion was about to happen.

And more than that—the final evaluation, the rewards, and the next step of their journey were just ahead.

Fenix and Sylis approached the check-in desks where instructors were waiting to process the returning teams. As they walked, Elias and Rika met them halfway.

Elias was the first to speak.

"You two took your time." His tone was neutral, but there was an edge of curiosity.

Rika sighed. "I swear, you guys always have to make things dramatic."

Fenix raised an eyebrow. "We didn't exactly have a choice."

There was a brief pause before Rika muttered, "I know." She glanced at Sylis for a second before turning her attention to Fenix again. "Irel would've been proud of how we finished."

Fenix's stomach tightened at the mention of Irel. His absence was still heavy on them. The reality that their team had started with five members but only four returned wasn't something they could just ignore.

Sylis crossed her arms, looking at Rika. "Did you two get your results already?"

Elias nodded. "Yeah. We passed. Top score." He gestured toward the row of desks. "They're handling the rewards now."

Fenix and Sylis exchanged glances before stepping up to the instructors.

An older woman in a gray academy uniform scanned a tablet in front of her and then looked up at them. "Team Seventeen?"

"Yeah," Sylis answered.

The woman's fingers tapped swiftly on the screen. "You have both been marked as completing the trial with the highest evaluation score. As a result, each of you will receive the standard reward plus an additional selection bonus."

Fenix's eyes narrowed slightly. Highest score?

The woman continued, not pausing. "Each of you has been granted fifty Soul Fragments as a completion reward."

Fenix barely contained his reaction.

Fifty Soul Fragments. That was enough to evolve his Soul Core.

Sylis remained composed, though Fenix caught the brief glint in her eyes.

The instructor placed two small crystal vials on the desk, each filled with a faintly glowing blue mist.

"These contain the fragments. You may absorb them at your own discretion. However, we advise all students to take proper rest before doing so, as an increase in power can sometimes cause strain."

Fenix grabbed his vial, rolling it between his fingers. He could feel the power inside. This was his key to growing stronger.

The woman continued, her tone unwavering.

"In addition, due to your group's exceptional performance, each of you is eligible to select a personal reward from our list of items." She gestured toward a holographic display that flickered to life above the desk, revealing a selection of gear, potions, artifacts, and weapons.

Fenix scanned the options quickly. There were weapons, utility items, even enchanted accessories. However, one item caught his eye almost instantly.

A black fabric suit, reinforced with heat-resistant properties.

His uniform had barely survived the battle against the Tier III monster. If he was going to continue fighting, he needed something more durable.

"I'll take this," Fenix said, pointing to the suit.

The instructor nodded, tapping on the tablet before retrieving a folded set of black attire from behind the desk and placing it in front of him. "Accepted."

Sylis took a little longer before making her choice, her blue eyes scanning the options carefully. Eventually, her gaze settled on something.

A crystalline bracelet, faintly shimmering with deep blue hues, as if reflecting the depths of the ocean.

"What is this?" she asked.

The instructor glanced at it before answering. "That is the Tidecaller's Embrace. It enhances water-affinity abilities, allowing for greater control over moisture and pressure manipulation. It's particularly useful for those who utilize fluid-based techniques in combat."

Sylis didn't hesitate. She reached forward and selected the artifact.

"I'll take this."

The instructor nodded, confirming the selection. A moment later, she placed the bracelet in front of Sylis. The moment her fingers touched it, she felt a faint resonance, as if the artifact was responding to her presence.

Once their selections were confirmed, the instructor straightened and gave them a final look.

"Congratulations on completing your evaluation. Your official ranking has been updated. You are now granted one week of rest before resuming academy activities. Take this time to recover and reflect on your experiences."

Fenix and Sylis stepped away from the desk, their rewards secured.

As they rejoined Elias and Rika, Fenix clutched the vial of Soul Fragments in his palm. Tonight, he was going to absorb them.

And when he did…

He would evolve.

As they left the reward desk, Elias and Rika split off to handle their own business, leaving Fenix and Sylis walking side by side down one of the academy's long corridors.

The energy in the air felt different. It was lighter than the heavy atmosphere of the SoulRealm, but at the same time, Fenix couldn't help but feel like he was walking through a dream.

One week of rest. That was what they had been granted.

But his mind wasn't at ease.

He had revealed his Chaos. And while Sylis had promised to keep his secret, he wasn't naïve enough to believe things would remain the same.

As they turned a corner, Sylis was the first to break the silence.

"So… what now?"

Fenix glanced at her, tilting his head. "What do you mean?"

Sylis crossed her arms. "Don't play dumb. You just got fifty Soul Fragments. You're about to evolve. I can tell."

Her deep blue eyes locked onto him, filled with curiosity and something else—understanding.

Fenix exhaled. "Yeah… I'm planning on doing it tonight."

Sylis nodded slowly. "Good." She looked down at the bracelet wrapped around her wrist, Tidecaller's Embrace, and ran her fingers over its surface. "We're getting stronger fast. Faster than most people do in their first trials."

Fenix smirked. "Well, we did get thrown against a Tier III monster. I'd say we earned it."

Sylis rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile on her lips. "Yeah. Lucky us."

They continued walking in comfortable silence for a bit, the weight of the past few days still lingering between them.

As they neared the exit that led to the dormitories, Fenix suddenly stopped.

Sylis turned, giving him a questioning look. "What?"

He hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.

"…Thanks."

Sylis blinked. "For what?"

"For keeping my secret," he said, voice quieter than usual. "For having my back."

Sylis studied him for a moment before shaking her head with a soft chuckle. "Don't get all emotional on me now, Fenix."

Fenix rolled his eyes. "Just trying to be decent for once."

She smirked, stepping past him toward the dorm entrance. "You can repay me by not dying next time."

Fenix chuckled, watching as she walked off.

As much as he didn't want to admit it… he felt relieved.

Even with the weight of his newfound power, even with the reality of Irel's death still fresh in his mind—he had someone who understood.

That night, Fenix sat on his bed, staring at the fifty Soul Fragments resting in his palm.

The dim glow of the fragments pulsed gently, casting eerie shadows across his dimly lit room. This was it.

His next step.

His hand clenched around the fragments. The power within them thrummed in anticipation.

He exhaled slowly, steadying himself. There was no turning back.

With a single thought—he absorbed them.

[Soul Evolution Initiated]

[Absorbing Soul Fragments… 50/50]

[Soul Core exhausting with power 300/300]

[SoulCore Expansion in Progress…]

And then—agony.

Not a dull ache. Not a sharp pain.

A complete, overwhelming rupture.

His body seized up, every muscle fiber twisting, burning. His bones cracked, then repaired themselves, only to crack again.

His breath hitched as something deep within his soul shattered and reformed at the same time.

And his mind—

His mind was breaking.

Darkness.

Not the comforting embrace of night.

The void.

He was floating—no, he was falling. Endlessly. Weightlessly.

Chains wrapped around his limbs, his neck, his chest, suffocating him. Pulling. Tightening. Tearing.

And then, he heard it.

That voice.

That damned voice.

"You are not ready."

A shadow in flames.

Two burning eyes.

The sensation of something vast, something ancient and bound, watching him from beyond the abyss.

Chains rattled as the entity lurched forward, straining against its bindings.

Fenix couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

And then, the chains snapped. 

His body convulsed.

He was back in his dorm.

But the pain didn't stop. It intensified.

His heart pounded like it was trying to escape his chest.

His blood boiled inside his veins.

His nerves screamed as his body reshaped itself, forcefully adapting to the overwhelming power surging through him.

His mind—his very essence—was being rewritten.

He clutched his head as if trying to keep himself together. Visions flooded his mind—flashes of battle, of destruction, of fire and ruin.

His body wasn't his own anymore.

And then, finally—

A snap.

His back arched as his entire being collapsed inward, as though consumed by the very flames he now wielded.

And then—silence.

A heartbeat.

And everything stopped.

[Second SoulCore Achieved – Chaos Infusion]

[Your Chaos Grows Stronger]

[A New Power Awakens]

Fenix collapsed onto the floor, gasping, sweat dripping from his body.

The pain was gone.

But he wasn't the same.

He could feel it.

His body was stronger, faster, more attuned to his power. His mind still throbbed, but the chaos within him had settled—tamed, if only for now.

He struggled to his feet, staggering toward the mirror.

And what he saw—

Was someone else.

His eyes, now a deep, glowing crimson, burned with something uncontrollable. His hair, once purely black, held streaks of silver that shimmered under the dim light.

He raised his hand, and black flames erupted from his fingertips.

The fire didn't burn him.

It obeyed.

For now.

Fenix clenched his fist, snuffing out the flames.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

This was only the beginning.

The academy grounds were quieter than usual. Most students were still recovering from the Soul Realm evaluations.

Fenix stepped outside, inhaling the cool morning air. His body still ached from the evolution, but he felt… different.

His new Voidweave Attire fit snugly, its fire-resistant material blending seamlessly against his skin. A perfect replacement for the uniform that had been reduced to ashes.

One week of rest.

One week before training resumed.

One week to plan his next step.

And he already knew what he needed to do.