Kael collapsed to one knee.
Pain exploded through his body.
The energy pouring from the pedestal was far more powerful than anything he had ever experienced.
It felt as though lightning ran through every bone.
The Primordial System appeared again.
Origin Core Formation in Progress
Energy Conversion: Mortal Energy → Origin Energy
Warning: Extreme body strain detected
Kael gritted his teeth.
"Just… finish it."
The golden energy continued flowing into him.
His muscles trembled violently.
His heartbeat became louder.
Stronger.
Faster.
Inside his chest, something began forming.
A small sphere of condensed energy.
The Origin Core.
At first it was unstable, flickering like a dying flame.
But as the ancient energy continued entering his body, the sphere slowly stabilized.
Kael could feel it spinning.
Growing denser.
More powerful.
Then suddenly
BOOM!
A powerful shockwave burst from his body.
The chamber lights flared.
The runes on the walls burned brighter than ever before.
The system confirmed it.
Breakthrough Achieved
New Realm: Origin Initiate Realm Stage 1
Origin Core: Stabilized
All Physical Attributes Increased by 300%
New Skill Unlocked: Origin Pulse
Kael slowly stood up.
Everything felt different.
The world itself seemed clearer.
Sharper.
Stronger.
He clenched his fist.
Power surged through his veins far more smoothly than before.
This was completely different from his previous strength.
Before, he relied purely on physical force.
Now…
He possessed a true energy core.
Kael looked down at his hands.
"So this is real cultivation…"
The pedestal slowly dimmed as the trial finished.
But just as Kael prepared to leave.
He felt something strange.
A presence.
Someone was standing at the entrance of the chamber.
Watching him.
Kael turned slowly.
Standing there in golden robes…
Was Seraphine.
Her sharp eyes were filled with disbelief.
"You…"
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You just broke through inside the Ancient Ruins."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Looks like it."
Seraphine stared at him carefully.
Then she spoke again.
"You're not normal."
Kael shrugged.
"I've been told that before."
But what neither of them.
Was that far above the Iron Flame Sect…
Something ancient had awakened.
A presence older than the sect itself.
And it had just noticed Kael.