---
Darkness still clung to Alex's consciousness, but this ti, it was not the crushing void of exhaustion. It was a gentle lull, like floating in the depths of a serene ocean.
His mind drifted in half-lucid dreams, his body slowly recovering from the brutal trial.
A firm, commanding voice shattered the silence.
"Awaken, boy. It is ti."
Alex's eyes fluttered open. He was still lying on the stone platform, the cavern's ancient runes bathing everything in a soft, ethereal glow.
His body no longer ached as much as before, though a dull soreness remained—a testant to the battle he had endured.
The ancient warrior stood before him, arms crossed, his gaze expectant.
Alex groaned as he pushed himself up. "You sure you don't want to give a few more hours?"
The warrior snorted. "You have rested long enough. Any more and I would have mistaken you for a corpse."
"Harsh," Alex muttered, rubbing his temples before exhaling. "Alright. What now?"
The warrior nodded. "Co. It is ti to receive your true rewards."
Alex's ears perked up. True rewards? That definitely got his attention.
Without further hesitation, he stood up, stretching his limbs before following the warrior toward a section of the chamber that had been previously sealed.
As they approached, the stone walls rumbled, parting to reveal a hidden passageway.
Alex whistled. "You guys really like your secret doors."
The warrior smirked but said nothing as he led the way.
---
The passage opened up into a vast underground chamber, completely different from the rest of the ruins.
The air was thick with energy, humming with an unseen force. At the center lay a massive pond, its surface shimring with multiple colors—blues, greens, reds, purples—each hue shifting and flowing like liquid gemstones.
Alex's eyes widened. "What is this place?"
"The Elental Baptism Pond," the warrior declared. "One of your rewards."
Alex blinked. "Wait, I get a fancy bath as a reward?"
The warrior rolled his eyes. "This is no re bath, fool. The pond attunes itself to the affinity most suited to you. It will awaken your dormant elental potential."
Alex's breath hitched. Elental affinity awakening?
In this world, elental affinities were crucial. Mages, swordsn, and even martial artists benefited imnsely from them.
While most people had to rely on rigorous training—or sheer luck—to awaken their affinity, an opportunity like this was practically cheating.
"Damn," Alex muttered, trying to contain his excitent. "Alright. So, I just jump in?"
The warrior nodded. "Subrge yourself fully. You will know when the process is complete."
Alex eyed the pond, took a deep breath, and stepped in.
The mont his body was fully subrged, an overwhelming sensation flooded him. His veins burned as raw elental energy coursed through him, seeping into his very being.
The colors around him twisted, converging—lightning crackled, shadows coiled.
Minutes felt like hours. Then, as suddenly as it began, the energy settled.
Alex gasped, bursting out of the water. Panting, he stumbled back onto solid ground, dripping wet. He felt... different. Lighter, yet more grounded. His skin tingled with residual energy.
The warrior observed him carefully. "Well?"
Alex's mind raced. He opened his status window.
---
[Status Window]
Newly Awakened Affinities:
Lightning Affinity – Grants increased speed, reflexes, and the ability to manipulate lightning mana.
Darkness Affinity – Enhances stealth, perception, and allows manipulation of shadow mana.
---
Alex's eyes widened. Two affinities.
Lightning and Darkness.
His heart pounded. In this world, deviants with multiple affinities were incredibly rare. Even among them, most only had two if they were prodigies.
Ethan Williams, the protagonist, had all affinities—sothing that made him truly broken. But Alex, despite being an extra, had now joined the ranks of those who defied the norm.
A slow grin spread across his face. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
The warrior, unaware of Alex's inner thoughts, gave an approving nod. "Impressive. Few are blessed with multiple affinities. You have the potential to walk a unique path."
Alex smirked. "Yeah, I tend to do that."
The warrior sighed. "Enough of your arrogance. There is still one last reward."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"
The warrior's gaze sharpened. "A legacy long forgotten. A blade art of the highest order."
Alex's smirk faded. He swallowed hard.
A sword art?
The warrior motioned for Alex to follow once more. They moved deeper into the chamber, where a grand pedestal stood, covered in ancient inscriptions.
The warrior turned to him. "Kneel."
Alex hesitated for a fraction of a second before doing as told. The warrior placed a palm on his forehead, and suddenly, knowledge surged into Alex's mind—a flood of techniques, movents, principles beyond mortal comprehension.
The sensation was overwhelming. He gritted his teeth, sweat forming on his brow as his breathing grew ragged.
Then, just as abruptly as it began, it ended.
Alex collapsed forward, panting heavily. His fingers dug into the stone floor as he tried to steady himself.
The warrior stepped back, a satisfied look in his eyes. "You have inherited the art. Use it well."
Alex's fingers twitched. The na of the sword art echoed in his mind, yet he couldn't fully grasp its depth yet.
His lips parted, his voice barely above a whisper. "This sword art is...
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