Arion's mind slowly came to, sharp and clear despite the lingering traces of exhaustion. He felt the cool air of the hospital room around him, the sterile scent of medical equipment mixing with the faint presence of his family. There was no confusion. He knew exactly what had happened.
He had passed through the Mutation Awakening Threshold.
His body, now upgraded with the power of his awakened mutation, hummed beneath his skin. It wasn't unfamiliar. This power was not unlike the energy he had controlled in his previous life the essence of fire, destructive and primal, ready to burn the world if left unchecked. Only now, it felt different, contained, in the form of the Mutation Core embedded within him.
"Arion… can you hear me?" The familiar voice of his mother, Lily, cut through his thoughts, warm and grounding.
His eyes opened with ease, no longer blurry or unfocused. The world came into sharp clarity the gentle white light of the room, the soft beeping of machines, and the comforting scent of his mother's perfume.
His father stood beside her, his posture tense but his eyes filled with pride and something unspoken. They had always known this day would come. It was no surprise to them. But still, seeing Arion lying there, changed, would have its weight.
Arion moved his hand slowly, feeling the foreign strength running through his limbs. He wasn't weak. His body no longer felt fragile or broken, but strong,stronger than he had ever been. He flexed his fingers, watching the tendons stretch under his skin.
"I'm fine," Arion said in a voice that was steady, with none of the hesitation one would expect from someone who had just been through such an ordeal. "I've awakened. My mutation is stable."
Lily's face softened, her hand reaching out to touch his forehead. "We were so worried, Arion. But you're going to be okay."
Arion nodded, understanding their concern. But it wasn't what worried him. What he needed now was control. Control over this new power, over this mutation that had changed him. He turned his gaze toward his father, Marcus, and saw the understanding in his eyes.
Marcus cleared his throat, his tone firm but supportive. "It's not easy, son. The awakening is only the beginning. You've reached Tier 1 Foundation Realm. Your mutation has stabilized, but the real challenge lies in learning to control it."
Arion absorbed his father's words without hesitation. His thoughts were clear. This power, this Mutation Core within him, would need training. Even with his experience from his past life, it would take time to master. Hisfenough. True mastery would require discipline.
"I understand," Arion said, sitting up slowly. His body responded effortlessly, as though the days of fragility and weakness had been a distant memory. The pain from the awakening had subsided, leaving only the lingering hum of power in his veins.
"You've always been quick to adapt," his father said with a smile. "But this… this will take time. You'll need to train, to push the limits of your newfound abilities."
Arion's gaze sharpened as he took in his father's words. "What's next? I need to start training immediately. The sooner I master this, the better."
His mother nodded, her expression filled with pride. "We've always known you were destined for greatness, Arion. But remember, you're not alone in this. We'll help you."
Arion's gaze turned inward as he felt the Mutation Core pulse inside him. The energy, the raw power that was now his, felt boundless. But he also knew the dangers of untrained power. His previous life had shown him what could happen if one wasn't careful with such strength.
"Rest, for now," Marcus said, his voice gentle. "There's time to recover. But when you're ready, we'll start your training."
Arion didn't need any more persuasion. The need to control this new power was more urgent than any rest. He knew, better than anyone, that power unchecked would only lead to destruction.
As his parents left the room, he lay back on the bed, his mind racing with possibilities. The world had changed, but so had he. It was time to begin again. This time, he would be ready.
The silence after his parents left was thick, not just with stillness, but with awareness. The hum in his body no longer felt threatening. It was stabilizing, growing sharper as if the raw storm from earlier had coalesced into something crystalline, controlled.
Arion opened his eyes slowly. The light didn't bother him anymore. His senses, once overwhelmed, were now astonishingly sharp. He could hear the nurse's footsteps two corridors away. He could smell faint traces of antiseptic layered beneath the subtle metallic tang of blood. Every heartbeat echoed with purpose.
> [System Notification]
Core Stabilization: 94% Complete.
Tier: 1 - Foundation Realm. Mutation Type: Classified (Non-elemental).
Path Detected: Body-Refinement Dominant.
Recommendation: Initiate Core Alignment Protocol within 24 hours for optimal efficiency.
He exhaled deeply, sitting up on the hospital bed without effort. His body no longer protested. In fact, it felt... light. Streamlined. Every movement was smooth, precise almost too perfect.
Arion rolled his shoulders and brought his legs over the side of the bed. Not a tremble. Not a hint of the fragile condition he'd been in hours before. His physique had changed but more importantly, his internal structure had changed. He could feel the Mutation Core pulsing in sync with his breath, nestled deep in the pit of his sternum.
He whispered, "System. Detail Mutation Core alignment protocol."
> [Core Alignment Protocol]
You have awakened a rare Evolvable Physique without elemental affinity. Your Foundation Realm status enables you to select a primary refinement path.
Current Options:
Titan's Vessel (Body-Reinforcement Dominant)
Neural Apex (Reflex and Mind-Body Sync Dominant)
Primal Root (Hybrid Combat Physique - High Growth Potential)
Warning: Once selected, alignment path cannot be changed until Tier 3: Ascension Phase.
Recommendation based on Host Combat History: Primal Root.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. So it's not just strength or speed. It's structure. Potential. The system didn't force choices it offered insight. He liked that.
"Primal Root," he muttered, recalling the Flame Sage's once-prized combat techniques. Back then, it had been elemental martial arts, yes but layered upon an extremely refined physical base. Here, he had a second chance to evolve purely along that foundation, without relying on the external volatility of flame.
"Select: Primal Root."
> [Primal Root Path Confirmed]
Calibrating host Mutation Core for full alignment...
Estimated Time: 3 hours (during sleep or meditation).
Temporary Symptoms: Phantom tension in muscular regions, minor neural recalibration.
Do not engage in external combat during alignment.
He felt it immediately. A subtle heat under his skin not elemental, but cellular. Like his blood was conducting more than oxygen. A low vibration resonated from his bones, flowing outward through his nerves, skin, and even his senses.
He walked to the wall mirror. What stared back was familiar, but not the same. His once-slender frame now held quiet power still lithe, but with a visible density to it. His eyes, once a dull gray, now shimmered faintly like tempered steel.
No flame. No glow. No symbols or halos.
Just a foundation forged through pain and process.
"Primal Root, huh," he murmured. "Let's see how far this root can grow."
He closed his eyes, sat cross-legged on the floor, and began his first meditation under the new core.
The system chimed once more.
> [Core Meditation Active]
Neural Sync: 82%
Vital Flow: Accelerating
Unique Trait Detected: Eidetic Combat Recall
> Integrating historical combat memory fragments...
Fragment Origin: Previous Life Memory Detected. Filtering usable patterns...
Arion's mind lit up not with chaotic memories of betrayal or fire, but with the crisp edge of technique: sword angles, palm strikes, breathing rhythms. Combat essence from another age, being quietly woven into this one.
Not to dominate. Not to avenge.
To rebuild.
To rise.