010 - Awakening - Part 3

I walked up to the magic device and surprisingly, my mind was calm.

I moved my gaze towards my mom and Lily and I could see worry in both of their eyes.

Lily didn’t know I had already awakened an ability and she was probably worried about what kind of ability I would get.

I also haven’t told her that I plan to stay on the Shining Cauldron Peak as well, she probably thinks I would change peaks depending on the ability I get.

That girl has a huge crush on me for some reason. Although she tries to hide it, sadly, she is very bad at it. The previous Anshe may not have understood but after I got my memories from my previous life, her behavior became pretty obvious.

I am not going to think about this right now, someday when we’re both older, maybe then. Who knows, she might even change her mind by then.

My mom was probably worried for some other reason, she didn’t know what kind of ability I was going to awaken again, but she was probably thinking it wouldn’t be anything good as I already awakened my Mythic ability.

She was probably also worried about the commotion I might cause.

And that was why she gave me the crystal this morning before Lily arrived.

I patted my pocket and felt the small pebble sized gem in there, she said as long as I have it, I should be able to suppress the effects of the ability I show outside, but she didn’t know how well it would work.

She might've had some other plans as well, but I wasn’t made aware of them.

Clearing my mind I stood and waited to see what kind of innate abilities this body of mine holds.

The device started up and I could feel it stimulating something deep within my consciousness.

‘Avaria, be ready!’

[Understood.]

[Detected stimulation of the magic root.]

[Magic root has started absorption. 1%... 2%... 3%]

[...]

As the magic root was absorbing the energy and awakening my abilities, the surroundings weren’t really quiet as the process was taking longer than normal.

“Why is it taking so long?”

“Is the device malfunctioning?”

Murmurs started going around the hall.

I didn’t really care but Lily and mom were starting to get worried. I could see it in their eyes.

“Well, what do you expect from the cripple?”

“Ain’t that right! I was curious since the infamous cripple came to get awakened, but I guess I was expecting too much, ha ha!”

I also heard a few snickers around the hall. Of course both of them heard it too.

My mom’s eyes shone with a sharp glint and Lily didn’t bother to hide her rising anger.

But they stayed quiet. A few more seconds had passed before I had to ask.

‘How much longer, Avaria?’

[We are facing some difficulties.]

‘What is it?’

I was still calm, even if I couldn’t awaken my own innate abilities, I had ways of getting more. I really wasn’t concerned, but the same couldn’t be said about the people who care about me.

[Only one of the two locked abilities can be awakened at the moment, the second ability which seems… foreign, cannot be stimulated enough to awaken right now. Whatever that ability is, it is very powerful. An even bigger stimulus may be required.]

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‘Don’t bother with it, let’s just awaken the one I can get now.’

I was curious about the so-called foreign ability, but I knew that now was not the time.

[...Understood.]

I heard a little reluctance in her voice.

[Magic root stimulation stopping at 25%.]

[Royal Rank Ability has been acquired.]

[The insatiable system demands more - 10x multiplier applied.]

Boom!

My body froze for a second as my magic root exploded with power.

I felt something growing deep within me, this feeling then stretched to my entire being as I felt something I had not felt in a long time.

Hunger.

I suddenly felt like I was starving. Not like hunger one would normally feel but like a deep primal type of hunger. And it happened so suddenly.

My body leaned forwards as I tried to breathe but this feeling of hunger had covered my entire body and I almost fell down.

[Not Enough.]

[50x multiplier applied.]

[NOT ENOUGH]

I clenched my fists. My magic root felt like it was expanding, stretching, devouring.

The devices started making sounds they weren’t supposed to and even the magic circle started flickering.

I could also feel something was wrong with the system window. No, the system itself seemed off.

Like it was angry.

‘Avaria… What are you doing?’

She was not responding to me.

[MORE]

[80x multiplier applied]

[MORE]

[100x multiplier applied]

[NOT ENOUGH]

[1000x multiplier applied]

A sharp ache spread through my chest. I staggered slightly, trying to suppress the flood of energy, but Avaria wasn’t stopping.

Her voice in my head grew louder and louder as I wasn’t able to understand anything that was happening around me.

Avaria’s voice sounded deeper now, darker and somehow, more human.

[NOT ENOUGH]

[5000x multiplier applied.]

[NOT ENOUGH]

[NOT ENOUGH]

My vision blurred.

I could feel something beyond my body pulling, tearing, consuming.

The devices around me began to break down. The pipes cracked and blue wisps of energy leaked out in the air. The people around the hall, and the instructors all showed panicked expressions.

[NOT ENOUGH]

[NOT ENOUGH]

[NOT ENOUGH]

[NOT ENOUGH]

[NOT ENOUGH]

The messages continued endlessly before a final message came.

[10000x multiplier applied]

[Royal Rank Ability has evolved into Ascendent Rank Ability ]

The hunger faded.

And with that, not only the device itself and the magic circle beneath my feet, but the entire apparatus exploded.

I was about to use the new ability I got instinctively but at that moment, before I could even blink I felt a cold wind blow around me and I felt my mom holding me tightly as a glowing white dome covered me.

I couldn’t even see how she reached me this quickly, almost as if she teleported.

Seeing as I was alright, she let me go and the shield around me collapsed into minute particles and disappeared by blowing into the wind.

And although the system had hidden the effects of the ability from showing outwards, my body could barely handle it and the pain was visible on my face.

…

Most people couldn’t see what happened, but Rodan was different, he had seen everything.

‘The boy’s body was absorbing energy like no tomorrow…’

He couldn't explain what happened at the end. His gaze sharpened as he stared at the mother and son duo as they made their way out of the debris.

She looked at him and said, “I hope I can report his ability at a later time, I will be taking him back to Shining Cauldron Peak.”

Although he wished he could get some answers out of the woman now, he knew he couldn't do so. Everyone in the sect knew how overprotective she was of her son.

Allowing her son who wasn’t even qualified to take the sect’s exam before to live in the Shining Residence alone was enough to showcase how much the sect master valued this woman.

She was troublesome.

He smiled at her as usual while faking some concern on his face.

“Of course, Peak Master, you may take him back, his safety is of the utmost priority. Rather, it is me who should be apologizing, I will make sure to send something good for Little Anshe by evening as an apology.”

She wanted to refuse, but he continued.

“Please, I insist.”

She reluctantly nodded and waved her hand as she and the two kids along with her disappeared.

The people in the hall could only watch in shock. This included Sarah, whose gaze lingered around the area where they had just disappeared, no one knew what was going through her mind at that moment.