Fire.
That was the first thing Kael felt. A searing heat spread through his body, burning him from the inside out. His vision blurred, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his muscles locked in place.
Then came the pain.
It was as if his blood had turned into molten lava, flowing through his veins. Kael fell to his knees, clutching his chest.
"W-What… is happening to me?" he gasped.
The old man stood still, watching. His eyes held no sympathy—only cold understanding.
"Your body is rejecting the power," he said. "If you can't control it, the fruit will consume you."
Kael's mind raced. He had heard the stories—only one Elohim Fruit per person. Eat a second, and you die. But this was his first. Why was it hurting him?
Then, suddenly—the pain stopped.
A strange calmness washed over him, and Kael felt… different. He looked down at his hands. His veins glowed a faint silver.
A surge of energy coursed through his body. His heartbeat steadied, and his senses sharpened. He had survived.
The old man's lips curled into a small smile. "You passed the first test."
Kael looked up, his breathing still heavy. "First test?"
"The test of survival." The old man stepped forward. "Not all who eat an Elohim Fruit can withstand its power. Many die instantly. But you… you lived."
Kael clenched his fists, feeling the raw power humming beneath his skin.
"What kind of fruit did I eat?"
The old man studied him. "Show me your power. Then I will tell you."
Kael took a deep breath. He focused. He reached deep within himself, feeling the energy of the fruit… and then—
BOOM!
The ground beneath him cracked as a wave of dark energy burst from his body, twisting the air like a raging storm. Trees swayed, the sky darkened for a moment, and the air grew heavy.
The old man's eyes widened.
"Impossible…" he whispered.
Kael stood there, panting, his arms trembling from the release of power. He didn't know what he had just done, but one thing was clear—
He had awakened something terrifying.