《Virtual Ascension [Proggresion Fantasy | Lite-Litrpg/Gamelit]》


 Chapter 1

    Year 2199, Earth.


    A young man named Venix had just woken up from his long sleep in his dorm room.


    His eyes slowly opened, and he could feel the heavy fatigue weighing down his body.


    Reaching for his phone beside him, Venix glanced at the screen, which showed it was already 5 PM.


    "Did I really sleep almost the entire day?" Venix mumbled, disbelief creeping into his voice.


    If he remembered correctly, he had fallen asleep around 9 PM the previous night. But for some reason, his sleep this time had been ridiculously long. Even someone who loved sleeping would be surprised by how long Venix had slept.


    Venix tried to sit up on his bed, but his body felt heavy, as though a massive rock was holding him down.


    The memory of the dream from last night still lingered in his mind. He had fought a horde of monsters with no weapons, taking them down one by one with his bare hands.


    The dream had felt so real that even the exhaustion seemed to linger as he awoke.


    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve slept more than eight hours, and it¡¯s honestly a bit terrifying!¡± Venix sighed.


    Something felt off about this long sleep. Since Venix rarely slept for more than eight hours, how had he ended up sleeping for twenty?


    Before he could ponder it further, the door to his dorm room swung open, and two guys around his age walked in.


    They were Venix¡¯s roommates: Ronan and Rael.


    Ronan had brown hair and a constantly energetic demeanor, while Rael, on the other hand, was more relaxed and always wore glasses¡ªa true bookworm.


    As soon as Ronan saw Venix, he excitedly spoke up.


    ¡°Look at you, Venix! The exams are over, and now we just wait for graduation. We¡¯ve gotta make the most of our youth! You don¡¯t want to waste it, right? Dude, have you even tried getting a girlfriend before graduation?" Ronan asked, his face radiating excitement.


    Venix glanced at Ronan, noticing his excited expression. From what he knew of Ronan, it seemed like Ronan had received some good news that day.


    Rael, standing beside Ronan, adjusted his glasses slightly.


    ¡°You should really reconsider your life choices, Ronan. You¡¯ve decided to spend your youth chasing after women. A few years from now, you won¡¯t even have enough money to treat your girlfriend,¡± Rael said calmly, his words laced with a bit of mockery but also offering what seemed like a wise piece of advice.


    Ronan turned, his face twisting into an expression of annoyance. "Oh, come on, Rael! Save your advice for someone who cares. I''ve already prepped my stomach to drain your wallet dry!"


    Venix smiled at their banter. ¡°In that case, I¡¯m in. I¡¯m starving after sleeping all day.¡±


    Rael nodded. ¡°Good, because we were planning to take you out to eat.¡±


    ¡°Hm, so are we celebrating our graduation?¡± Venix asked, slightly intrigued.


    ¡°Kind of,¡± Ronan replied. ¡°But more specifically, Rael just got his paycheck from his internship at a company. I¡¯m a bit jealous that he confidently invited us both out to eat. How much did he even earn from that company?¡±


    Rael, hearing this, calmly explained, "The money¡¯s just a bonus. I¡¯m working because it helps me apply what I¡¯ve learned faster in the real world.¡±


    Venix looked at Rael with admiration. Of course, Rael was the type to have thought wisely about his future. Unlike Venix and Ronan, who were still stumbling around, trying to figure out their paths like blind men, Rael had already made significant progress and left them both behind.


    Eventually, the three of them headed to a nearby restaurant for a meal.


    Though Venix felt exhausted, he pushed himself to walk, even though his body grew more tired with each step.


    As his energy began to drain, Venix grabbed some snacks along the way to keep him going until they reached the restaurant.


    Once at the restaurant, they all ordered their food.


    This time, Rael didn¡¯t limit how much Venix and Ronan could eat. Venix ordered more food than usual, not at all concerned about how much money Rael had on him.


    Half an hour later, Rael and Ronan stared at Venix with a mix of horror and disbelief.


    Venix had polished off all his food in no time¡ªlike someone starving and not having eaten in days.


    Ronan stared in awe, while Rael just sighed, trying to keep his smile in check.


    Rael didn¡¯t mind, even though the bill was much larger than he¡¯d expected.


    ¡°This is the first time in my life I¡¯ve eaten this much,¡± Venix said with a wide grin. ¡°Thanks, Rael. If it weren¡¯t for you, I might¡¯ve gone bankrupt today.¡±


    Rael gave a small smile. ¡°Glad you enjoyed it.¡±


    However, as they continued chatting, something unusual happened to Venix.


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    His eyes suddenly caught sight of a mysterious interface that appeared in front of him¡ªsomething Ronan and Rael couldn¡¯t see.


    [ The Virtual Ascension System has been successfully linked ]


    ¡°Huh? What is this?¡± Venix muttered softly, startled.


    Ronan and Rael continued their conversation, their voices drowned out by the clatter of plates, laughter, and the soft music playing in the background. They didn¡¯t glance at Venix, as though they didn¡¯t hear anything at all.


    The glowing letters floated in front of his eyes, showing no signs of fading away.


    Venix blinked rapidly, trying to confirm if this was real or just a hallucination caused by his long sleep.


    He glanced at Ronan and Rael, but neither of them seemed the least bit surprised.


    They were still chatting, as if the screen in front of him could only be seen by him.


    Venix took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair, which felt uncomfortably hard against his back.


    His eyes remained fixed on the transparent screen floating in front of him, still glowing as before.


    ¡°It¡¯s not disappearing, huh?¡± Venix thought, half confused, half anxious.


    [ Host has been detected ]


    Venix furrowed his brows, squinting at the changes taking place.


    [ Name: Vain Venix ]


    [ Level: Mortal ]


    [ Origin Power: N/A ]


    [ Virtual World: Numan World ]


    [ Resource Point: 0 ]


    ¡°Hm???¡± Venix was stunned by the changes in the system interface.


    His surprised mutter was drowned out by the noise in the restaurant, so Ronan and Rael didn¡¯t hear him.


    His eyes remained fixed on the transparent screen hovering in front of him.


    The letters seemed carved in the air, revealing information that made his head spin. His full name was clearly displayed, with no mistakes.


    ¡°Am I hallucinating or something?¡± Venix thought, confusion creeping into his mind.


    Venix tried pinching his arm, hoping the pain would make the transparent screen disappear.


    But nothing changed. The screen remained floating in front of him.


    At that moment, a mysterious message suddenly surged into the depths of his mind.


    Venix froze, his body stiffening, his thoughts empty¡ªunable to move or think.


    A full minute passed in silence before the strange effect slowly faded.


    When his body became mobile again, Venix realized something incredible: he now instinctively understood the basics of how to use this system.


    ¡°Is this a new Virtual Reality game that¡¯s been secretly developed? How did I get early access to their project?¡± Venix wondered, his confusion deepening.


    However, the strange experience¡ªthe sudden knowledge that had filled his mind¡ªmade him feel that this wasn¡¯t just some ordinary Virtual Game.


    The Virtual Ascension System, as it was called, allowed its owner to enter and explore a Virtual World.


    In that world, the Host could gain power, evolve, and perhaps achieve even more.


    At least, that was what Venix understood from the flood of information that had been implanted in his mind.


    To control the system, Venix only needed to use his thoughts.


    With a single command in his mind, the system interface hovering before his eyes disappeared, vanishing like an illusion that had never existed.


    Venix tested the system repeatedly, opening the interface, checking his profile, and exploring each menu available.


    Everything worked smoothly, following his will without any obstacles.


    Venix''s expression grew serious, a strange unease creeping into his heart¡ªa subtle warning of danger that seemed to accompany the system¡¯s presence.


    For five whole minutes, Venix examined every corner of the system with his mind. There were no errors, no glitches. Everything worked perfectly. And that perfection was precisely what made Venix uneasy.


    When he opened the [Virtual World] menu, a single name stood out on the screen:


    [Numan World]


    ¡°So, this is the access to a Virtual World called Numan World?¡± Venix thought, his gaze fixed on the screen. ¡°Once I enter, my body in the real world will fall asleep, and my consciousness will transfer to the Virtual World to explore it?¡±


    Curiosity bubbled within Venix. He wanted to jump right in and confirm the truth.


    But logic held him back. If this was real, his body would fall asleep here in the restaurant¡ªa sight that would undoubtedly draw everyone¡¯s attention.


    Reluctantly, Venix closed the system and sighed deeply.


    "Later," he thought.


    He decided to wait until he was back in the safety of his dorm room to test the system further.


    Once his meal had digested and the sluggishness in his body began to fade, Venix finally joined the conversation with his two friends.


    Most of their talk revolved around plans for the future, exchanging advice, and occasionally cracking lighthearted jokes to liven up the mood.


    Time passed quickly. Within an hour, night had fallen.


    The three decided to head back to the dormitory before 9 PM, as the school gates would be locked after that time.


    ---


    When they arrived at the dorm, Ronan and Rael immediately collapsed onto their beds. Their long sighs and limp movements made it clear they had no energy left to do anything else.


    Venix, on the other hand, was still brimming with energy.


    Though his body lay on the bed, his eyes stayed wide open, clearly showing that something was occupying his thoughts.


    Without hesitation, Venix reopened the system.


    The system interface appeared once more, almost teasing him to delve deeper into its mysteries.


    Venix¡¯s thoughts turned toward the [Virtual World] menu.


    With a single mental command, Venix selected [Numan World] from the list displayed on the screen.


    [Please ensure that the Host is in a safe location, away from any danger, before entering the Virtual World.]


    [Would you like to proceed?]


    ¡°Proceed,¡± Venix answered in his mind.


    In an instant, he felt a powerful force pulling at his consciousness. The sensation was so sudden, like being sucked into a vortex, leaving him no chance to resist. Everything plunged into darkness.


    His awareness froze, his body unresponsive, as if erased from existence.


    But it lasted only a few seconds before the sensation vanished, replaced by a gradual return of his senses¡ªhis consciousness reigniting as quickly as it had been extinguished.


    Everything was pitch black. Venix realized his eyes were closed, but his body was slowly regaining its responsiveness.


    One by one, his senses reactivated: the coolness of the ground beneath his feet, the chill of the air brushing against his skin, and the faint sound of wind whispering past.


    A few moments passed, and finally, he felt fully in control of his body. Slowly, Venix opened his eyes.


    The sight before him immediately captivated him: a radiant moon hung high in a dark sky, casting a silvery glow over a world that felt utterly alien.


    ¡°Did I make it to the Virtual World?¡± Venix wondered, his eyes fixed on the breathtaking sky above.


    Cautiously, Venix attempted to move his body, then sat up to get a better view of his surroundings.


    However, the moment he sat up, a foul stench hit his nose like a punch.


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that smell?¡± Venix muttered, frowning.


    His gaze darted around, scanning his surroundings. Venix quickly realized he was in a place filled with piles of scrap metal stacked high like mountains.


    The towering piles of rusted, filthy scrap metal were unmistakably the source of the stench assaulting Venix''s nose.


    Instinctively, Venix pinched his nose with his right hand and muttered, ¡°This game is way too realistic. When did Virtual Games start hitting this level of immersion?¡±


    After steadying himself, he began looking around, scanning his unfamiliar surroundings for an exit.


    His eyes swept across the area, but before he could decide on a course of action, hurried footsteps echoed in the distance, steadily growing louder.


    A group of young men and women, dressed in ragged clothing and looking utterly exhausted, came rushing toward him from afar.


    Their faces were painted with panic, and they sprinted directly toward Venix without slowing down.


    "Run! They''re coming!" one of them shouted desperately, his voice hoarse from exertion.


    Venix froze, utterly bewildered.


    Two things puzzled him.


    First, though he didn¡¯t understand the words the man had spoken, somehow he comprehended their meaning perfectly.


    Second, he had no idea who or what "they" referred to¡ªor the danger that was apparently closing in.


    Seeing Venix standing there like a statue, the man who had shouted at him ignored his inaction and kept running, rushing past him without a second glance.


    At least he¡¯d given a warning¡ªwhether Venix heeded it or not was no longer his concern. The man had no intention of being a hero.


    Still rooted in place, Venix¡¯s gaze followed the group as they hurried past him.


    Then, suddenly, the threat they had feared emerged from the shadows.


    Three cylindrical robots hovered in the air, each equipped with two long, mechanical arms that radiated an aura of cold precision and raw power.


    The machines moved swiftly, chasing after the fleeing group.


    ¡°A robot?¡± Venix murmured, his muscles tensing in anticipation. ¡°Are robots the main enemies in this world?¡±


    His instincts screamed at him to run, to follow the group and escape.


    But before he could act, one of the robots aimed a weapon embedded in its cylindrical body and fired a shot at him with blinding speed.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Venix cursed under his breath, frustration and fear lacing his voice.


    With his current lack of strength and experience, there was no way he could dodge an attack that fast.


    Bang!


    The shot exploded just before hitting him, but instead of shrapnel or fire, it transformed into a sturdy, glowing net that wrapped around Venix, binding him tightly.


    ¡°The lost sheep has been captured. Remaining sheep are fleeing north,¡± one of the robots announced coldly, its voice devoid of emotion.


    Two of the machines immediately resumed their chase, while the remaining robot approached Venix, effortlessly lifting his net-bound body.


    ¡°Prepare to meet the truth of the God,¡± the robot intoned, its tone unchanging, mechanical.


    Venix, ensnared in the glowing net, could only manage a wry smile.


    ¡°A Robot God?¡± he mused, confusion swirling in his mind. ¡°Did the robot race invade this world and force the natives to worship their so-called God?¡±


    Before he could ponder the situation further, the robot holding him moved forward, dragging his body into deeper shadows.


    "Prepare yourself, sheep,¡± the machine said ominously. ¡°The God is waiting.¡±


    As the robot carried him away, the familiar chaos of the scrap-laden wasteland receded into the distance.


    Venix¡¯s mind raced, but his body remained restrained, unable to resist or even struggle.


    The world grew darker with every step, the clanking and whirring of the robot¡¯s mechanisms echoing ominously.


    Whatever awaited him beyond the looming shadows was a mystery¡ªa future Venix couldn¡¯t predict, one he could only face head-on.

 Chapter 2

    After being captured by the Cylinder Robot, Venix was taken to a city.


    Without moving a single muscle, Venix had already achieved his initial plan¡ªa plan he hadn''t even thought through yet!


    Upon entering the city, his eyes immediately caught something intriguing. The city was bustling with humans¡ªor at least creatures that looked like humans. There was almost no discernible difference between them and the people on Earth.


    It felt strange, but also astonishing, to witness such a familiar sight in an alien world.


    Trapped in a web that bound his body, Venix struggled to free himself. He wriggled, tugged, and even bit at the web.


    But it was all futile. The web was too tough. Though it felt soft against his skin, its strength was overwhelming. Every escape attempt only caused the web to restore itself to perfection, as though it had never been touched.


    ¡°This... is too realistic,¡± Venix muttered, sighing in frustration. ¡°It feels more like the real world than just a virtual game.¡±


    Trying to calm his thoughts, Venix opened his system interface. He did this without any gesture¡ªjust using his mind.


    As he suspected, a new mission had appeared on the interface.


    [Quest: Awaken]


    [Description: Obtain the Awaken Injection and activate the Origin Fragment Realm, a hidden power within your body.]


    [Reward: 100 Resource Points]


    Venix carefully read the quest description multiple times, ensuring the details were etched into his memory. This mission might be the key to surviving in this strange virtual world.


    ¡°Captured by a cylinder robot but not thrown into a pit? Well, it¡¯s better than dying pointlessly,¡± Venix thought, trying to find the silver lining in this absurd situation.


    The cylinder robot continued its silent march, carrying Venix toward a large building at the city¡¯s center.


    The structure stood out with its gleaming metallic walls and strange symbols displayed above the entrance¡ªwhether they were letters, numbers, or mere decorations, Venix couldn¡¯t tell.


    As they entered the building, the atmosphere changed dramatically. The interior was bustling with activity. Humans¡ªor humanoid beings¡ªwere busy with their tasks.


    Some were typing on devices resembling tablets, while others moved quickly with serious expressions, carrying documents or glowing objects.


    However, their reaction to Venix was almost nonexistent. They merely glanced briefly at the cylinder robot and the "lost sheep" it carried, then returned to their routines with no hint of curiosity.


    ¡°Hmm... If I¡¯m a ¡®lost sheep,¡¯ I must not be an important one,¡± Venix thought. The workers¡¯ indifference suggested that the term was more of a casual reference to a minor nuisance rather than a significant threat.


    Whether to feel relieved or offended, Venix decided to reserve judgment until he understood what was coming next.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s ideological,¡± Venix mused. ¡°Perhaps those who refuse to worship this robot god are labeled as Lost Sheep.¡±


    It made sense. If the conflict was merely about differing beliefs, it was understandable why the city¡¯s residents wouldn¡¯t make a big deal out of it.


    The cylinder robot stopped in front of a door that opened automatically, then rolled inside, bringing Venix into a specific room.


    There, a woman stood. Her long brown hair was tied into a ponytail, adding to her professional demeanor. She wore a white coat, resembling that of a doctor, paired with glasses that sat neatly on her face.


    But what truly caught Venix¡¯s attention was her beauty. She wasn¡¯t just attractive¡ªshe was stunning! Even if she were on Earth, she could easily be a top-tier celebrity or at least a regular magazine cover model.


    Venix was momentarily transfixed, somewhat surprised. He almost forgot this was a virtual world.


    Before his thoughts could wander further, the woman¡¯s voice broke his reverie.


    ¡°Oh? Another Lost Sheep? Fine,¡± she said nonchalantly, her tone almost bored. ¡°I don¡¯t mind handling one more.¡±


    The robot placed Venix on a large table in the center of the room, handling him with surprising care¡ªor at least pretending to care about his comfort.


    On the table, Venix noticed he wasn¡¯t the only ¡°catch.¡± Another web lay nearby, holding a man trapped inside.


    The man¡¯s face was flushed with anger, and as Venix observed him, he suddenly screamed hysterically.


    ¡°You devil woman! Just kill me! I won¡¯t accept cursed devil blood in my body!¡±


    Venix stared at the man. His outburst was full of hatred but also seemed a bit... over the top.


    In his mind, Venix thought, "So even in this world, there¡¯s room for drama? This virtual realm has incredible depth and attention to detail."


    The woman, clearly unfazed, responded with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°It¡¯s been an hour. Aren¡¯t you tired of cursing me by now? Besides, this is my job. If I don¡¯t do my job, how am I supposed to buy nice clothes every week? Are you planning to cover my weekly paycheck?¡±


    ¡°You... You¡¯re sacrificing us for clothes?!¡± the man shouted in horror, his voice piercing.


    The woman pinched the bridge of her nose, visibly irritated. ¡°Enough with the nonsense! Once this is over, you¡¯re free to go back to wherever you came from!¡±


    The man slumped within the web, hugging his knees as if they were his last line of defense. Trembling, he muttered, ¡°I¡¯m already dead... This is the end...¡±


    While this drama unfolded, Venix watched intently¡ªlike an audience member enjoying an absurd theater performance.


    Eventually, his curiosity got the better of him. Politely, he raised his right hand.


    ¡°Um, excuse me. May I ask something?¡±


    The woman turned, one eyebrow arched as she noticed Venix, the newcomer to the room.


    Even the previously despairing man looked at him, his face a mixture of confusion and surprise.


    The newcomer, of course, was Venix. He stood calmly, still trapped in the web, as if participating in a class discussion rather than facing a potentially life-threatening situation.


    The language used by Venix was from Earth, but he asked the question confidently. If the system had an automatic translation feature¡ªsomething he suspected from how he understood the language of the people in this world¡ªthen perhaps it also translated the language he was currently using, making it comprehensible to the locals.


    Moreover, Venix was calm. To him, this was just a game. There was no reason to panic.


    If he died, so be it. After all, for Venix, it was a game. He would respawn after some time, maybe in a different location.


    The woman, who seemed slightly surprised by Venix¡¯s composure, finally responded.


    ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± Her tone held a faint curiosity.


    Apparently, this was the first time she had encountered a ¡°Lost Sheep¡± who reacted this way.


    Most, like the man before, would panic and scream as if the world was ending when caught and brought to this room.


    Hearing that the woman was willing to answer, Venix felt a bit relieved. At least the system automatically translated Earth languages. He didn¡¯t have to waste time learning this alien tongue just to communicate.


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious,¡± Venix said, his tone casual. ¡°What are you going to do to us?¡±


    Venix knew that gathering information was the most critical first step. Even if he had to die here, as long as he obtained useful information, it would be a fair price to pay.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    The woman sighed softly, as if explaining something obvious. ¡°Nothing major. I¡¯m just going to inject the Awaken Injection into your body. Once the process is complete, you¡¯re free to go and live your life as usual.¡±


    ¡°Awaken Injection?¡± Venix raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. He clearly hadn¡¯t expected such an answer.


    "Awaken Injection? Could it be related to the quest I have?" Venix thought to himself. His mind began working furiously, piecing together the fragments of information he had just received.


    Glancing back at his system interface, Venix could only let out a small sigh.


    ¡°So, my mission gets completed just like that without needing any specific plan?¡± Venix thought. There was no relief, only a mix of disbelief and bemusement.


    But his curiosity soon took over. Venix looked at the woman with a serious gaze.


    ¡°Is this Awaken Injection supposed to awaken hidden power fragments within me?¡± Venix asked bluntly.


    The woman appeared slightly taken aback but replied nonchalantly. ¡°Well, that¡¯s correct. The Awaken Injection is meant to awaken hidden powers that cannot naturally surface.¡±


    Venix¡¯s eyes immediately sparkled with enthusiasm. He could barely contain his excitement.


    ¡°Awaken Injection? Count me in!¡± Venix declared with a half-joking tone, though his eyes shone with eager anticipation.


    The shock on the woman¡¯s face was evident. Even the man, who had been drowning in despair, now stared at Venix with a mix of astonishment and dread.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy! You¡¯ve been possessed by demons!¡± the man shouted, pointing a trembling finger at Venix.


    Venix ignored the outburst entirely. He focused on the woman in front of him with hopeful eyes, like a child waiting for a gift. If this Awaken Injection could truly grant him power, wasn¡¯t this the perfect first step?


    The woman raised an eyebrow, as if puzzled by Venix¡¯s confidence, but eventually gave a small smile.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll handle you first,¡± the woman said, her tone slightly amused.


    She stepped forward, carefully removing the net that had bound Venix. Once the net was gone, Venix stepped out casually, with no sign of nervousness on his face.


    The woman calmly led Venix to a large, pod-like machine that stood empty.


    Its surface was shiny, with small lights blinking faintly, creating a somewhat tense atmosphere.


    ¡°When you¡¯re ready, step inside. I¡¯ll take care of the rest,¡± the woman said casually, as if this procedure was routine for her.


    Venix paused for a moment, looking at the woman with slight hesitation.


    ¡°Is she really not worried that I might rebel?¡± Venix wondered to himself.


    There were no additional security measures, no tight guards.


    What Venix didn¡¯t realize was that the woman was far stronger than she appeared. For someone like her, dealing with Venix, whose strength was equivalent to an average human, was like swatting a fly.


    After pondering briefly, Venix decided to ask a question, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°May I know your name?¡±


    The woman stopped and looked at him, then gave a small smile.


    ¡°You can call me Luna,¡± she said simply, her tone friendly yet professional.


    Venix noted the name in his mind.


    This game is a bit strange. The NPCs here are too realistic, almost like real-life beings. If that¡¯s the case, building a good relationship with an NPC like Luna might be a good strategy moving forward.


    Before he could say anything further, Luna added something that left Venix puzzled.


    ¡°By the way, are you one of those hypnotized by the tribal chief?¡± Luna asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Tribal chief?¡± Venix frowned, confusion evident on his face. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    Luna looked at Venix for a moment before beginning to explain casually.


    ¡°The Lost Sheep are mostly like that man,¡± Luna gestured towards the man who had been shouting earlier. ¡°They panic and think it¡¯s the end of the world once they¡¯re brought here.¡±


    Venix¡¯s interest was piqued, and he listened attentively.


    Luna continued, her voice calm yet compelling enough to hold Venix¡¯s attention. ¡°These people are born generation after generation, living isolated from the outside world. Their knowledge is extremely limited, and what they know comes from traditions passed down in their secluded communities.¡±


    Venix listened intently, the virtual gleam in his eyes reflecting the new information.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Luna added, ¡°some Lost Sheep start to realize something is off and uncover the truth. To hide the reality that contradicts their teachings, these people are hypnotized. It¡¯s a lengthy process, forcing them back into their old beliefs and traditions.¡±


    Venix paused, processing the information. So... someone was actively covering up the truth from those who became aware? That sounded like a dirty tactic, even for this virtual world.


    Luna observed Venix closely before concluding, ¡°And you¡¯re different from the other Lost Sheep I¡¯ve met. Most likely, you¡¯re one of the hypnotized ones.¡±


    Venix felt like something was missing from Luna¡¯s explanation, but he only nodded slightly, unsure how to respond.


    ¡°Uh, maybe,¡± Venix said hesitantly, averting his gaze.


    However, with Luna¡¯s explanation, Venix began to get a clearer picture of the situation in this world.


    Apparently, the so-called "Lost Sheep" were individuals who rejected the evolution of superpowers and tended to isolate themselves from the changes occurring around them.


    Driven by growing curiosity, Venix stepped toward the Pod standing tall in the room.


    Luna calmly moved aside, approaching the Pod¡¯s control panel.


    With a few quick taps, the Pod door slowly closed.


    ¡°The mechanism of this machine is very advanced,¡± Venix remarked, offering sincere praise.


    Curiosity swirled within him, even as his body felt increasingly tense due to the unfolding situation.


    Once the Pod was fully closed, Venix remained calm.


    Outside the Pod, Luna stood observing intently. A few seconds later, six large needles emerged from the Pod and cruelly pierced the sides of Venix''s body.


    As the needles punctured his skin, a searing heat spread throughout Venix¡¯s body, like fire. His muscles felt as though they were being squeezed by hot metal, and every breath he took felt as if he were swallowing embers. If this was a simulation, the realism was absolutely overwhelming!


    Outside the Pod, Luna stood without showing any overly surprised reaction. However, as soon as she heard Venix¡¯s scream, she glanced toward the Pod with a hint of curiosity.


    "Ahhh!!!" The loud scream reverberated through the air, clearly audible even though the Pod should have suppressed sound.


    "Hm?" Luna was taken aback and glanced slightly toward the Pod that Venix had entered. "Every Pod is tightly sealed with a strong soundproofing function. But this scream¡­ How could it be so loud outside? How intense was his scream?"


    Luna paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes.


    The Awaken Injection process was known to be extremely painful for everyone. It was expected that anyone undergoing the process would scream in agony.


    However, Venix¡¯s scream was louder than she had imagined, breaking through the sound barriers designed to maintain peace and calm in the room.


    The scream reverberated throughout the room, and Luna began to sense something intriguing. This scream, so loud, could easily rank among the top three loudest screams in the history of the Awaken Injection process.


    "This person... interesting," Luna murmured with a thin smile. "Perhaps he will have a much better Awaken quality than any of the normal Awakenings."


    Venix¡¯s scream lasted for a full five minutes, as if time slowed with every painful cry that erupted from his body.


    But eventually, the scream faded, leaving behind a deep silence.


    Luna checked the monitor in front of her, carefully observing Venix¡¯s condition inside the Pod.


    The cameras installed inside the Pod provided a clear view of what was happening.


    What surprised Luna slightly was that, after all the shaking and screaming, Venix now appeared to be either asleep or unconscious, as if his body could no longer bear the pain.


    "Normally, a regular person would scream for several minutes before stopping. But this person... he only screamed for five minutes. His scream was so loud, it might even have broken the record for this category." Luna smiled faintly, finding Venix rather entertaining.


    Meanwhile, the madman who had been trapped in the net earlier now lay unconscious on the table, his face pale.


    Venix¡¯s deafening scream had frightened him about his own fate, and his mind had collapsed before he could even experience the Awaken Injection firsthand.


    The Awaken Injection process was swift. As soon as the Awaken Injection liquid was injected, its effects immediately began.


    This process not only stimulated the body to release hidden Power Fragments, but also destroyed parts of the body, damaging bones and flesh to trigger latent potential.


    However, not everything about the process was terrifying. The Awaken Injection also contained a powerful healing element, designed to repair the damage caused by the injection.


    The healing liquid would start working as soon as the Power Fragments emerged, and the body would begin to recover naturally after the destruction.


    The Awaken Injection process could be extremely painful, but it was also filled with hope. After the power was awakened, the body would heal itself.


    For those who successfully passed this trial, superpowers would soon be theirs!


    The recovery process usually took about six hours for most people, until they fully recovered to their original state.


    At this moment, Venix was completely unconscious.


    Earlier, Venix had tried to stay relaxed, thinking that this was just a game.


    Although the Awaken Injection process was likely not easy, he had been confident he could endure the pain.


    After all, whatever happened in this virtual world should be easily solvable.


    But the reality¡­ The pain was so real, hitting him with an unexpected force.


    It felt like lightning shattering his mental defenses in an instant. Surprised and unprepared, Venix felt as though his body was made of fragile glass, shattering into pieces.


    As someone accustomed to the comforts of the modern world, the pain was so overwhelming that it made him feel trapped in the depths of hell.


    In the midst of his unconsciousness, Venix seemed trapped in a dark world.


    There, spots of color began to appear, dancing in front of his eyes as if they were a faint glimpse of hope. Yet, they were still too far away, just out of his reach.


    Six hours passed like this, time feeling thick and sluggish, until Venix gradually felt his consciousness returning.


    He slowly opened his eyes, trying to adjust to the light that suddenly flooded his vision.


    The door of the Pod holding his body opened automatically, like the response of a machine that had been pre-programmed. Venix was slightly surprised, his voice hoarse as he tried to speak.


    "Uhh... Where am I?"


    "Oh? You''re awake?" A soft voice, that of a woman, rang out, catching Venix¡¯s attention.


    He turned his head, and the face of a beautiful woman with long brown hair and glasses resting on her nose appeared before him.


    Venix furrowed his brow, feeling confused. "You..."


    The woman smiled and then calmly responded, "I¡¯m Luna. And you are... Oh, right, I forgot to ask your name. But the important thing is, you''re in a weak condition right now. You need to rest, at least for a full day."


    "Your mind isn''t fully stable, so you might have difficulty remembering many things right now."


    Venix nodded weakly, trying to recall something, but his thoughts felt too disordered.


    "Uhhh... Whatever it is, is there a bed I can use?" Venix¡¯s voice was still hoarse, his body feeling as if it had just fallen into a pit of suffering.


    Luna smiled slightly, as if she had already guessed Venix''s condition. "Of course, I¡¯ll take care of that for you."


    Luna called one of her colleagues to escort Venix to a lodging in the city.


    Luna¡¯s colleague seemed a bit confused and hesitated. Wasn¡¯t Venix one of the Lost Sheep? Since when did they get special treatment like this?


    However, Luna simply shook her head and explained briefly, "I¡¯ll handle the expenses."


    Luna had her reasons for doing this, but she didn¡¯t explain them to her colleague.


    Without saying much more, Luna¡¯s colleague obeyed and promptly escorted Venix to a lodge in the city.


    During the drive, Venix glanced at the sky, which looked beautiful. But in his current state, like a drunken person, he paid no attention to it.


    Ten minutes later, Venix arrived at a simple apartment building and was guided by Luna¡¯s colleague to his room.


    Once inside, Venix immediately walked toward the empty bed and, without a second thought, collapsed onto it.


    Within seconds, his eyes closed, and his body sank into the much-needed sleep.

 Chapter 3

    As Venix slept in Numan World, his consciousness slowly returned to the real world without his realizing it.


    Venix was so deeply submerged in his sleep, his mind and body exhausted, that nothing could wake him.


    The next day, around 10 a.m., Venix slowly opened his eyes, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains of his dorm room.


    His vision was blurry, but he immediately recognized the plain white ceiling that greeted him every morning.


    A mix of relief and confusion crept into his mind.


    ¡°Is this a dream?¡± Venix thought as he tried to move his heavy body.


    Slowly, he shifted to sit up, feeling the weight of his body, still a little stiff.


    Venix rubbed his temples, trying to ease the sudden headache.


    "That was the worst experience I''ve ever had... What kind of game tortures its players like this?" Venix complained, his voice hoarse and almost weak.


    Looking around his room, Venix finally realized that both of his friends were no longer there. The dorm room, usually filled with noise and chatter, now felt eerily silent.


    "Those two must be busy with their own plans, huh?" Venix murmured quietly. Then a question suddenly appeared in his mind. "Did I have any plans of my own before graduation day?"


    As someone trying to change his fate, Venix felt he must have had something important on his mind.


    But as he tried to remember, it was as if a fog covered his memory. All the plans he had carefully thought of now vanished, reduced to nothing more than vague shadows he couldn¡¯t grasp.


    "That''s right... The System!" Venix suddenly remembered the system that had appeared yesterday¡ªsomething strange he couldn¡¯t fully comprehend.


    With focus in his mind, Venix opened the system interface.


    The screen in front of him showed information he hadn¡¯t had a chance to see or understand before. Numbers and text spun like a puzzle waiting to be solved, beckoning Venix¡¯s attention.


    [ Quest ¡ª Awaken has been Completed ]


    [ Reward: 100 Resource Points Earned ]


    [ You have received a new Quest ]


    [ Quest ¡ª Seed Origin ]


    [ Description: Determine the Main Seed Origin in the Origin Fragment Realm ]


    [ Reward: 200 Resource Points ]


    A notification floated in front of Venix, informing him that the previous quest had been completed.


    Before he could fully grasp what had just happened, the system immediately gave him a new quest.


    Venix stared at the system interface in confusion.


    Resource Points. From what little information he could understand, these points clearly mattered for unlocking something. But what? The system didn¡¯t offer any detailed explanation.


    "Is this really a game?" Venix muttered. The more he thought about it, the more things didn¡¯t make sense.


    It didn¡¯t fit with what he had experienced. Virtual Reality technology was already highly advanced in his era, but not to this extent.


    He had never heard of technology capable of creating such a real experience¡ªwhere pain felt like the torment of hell, and consciousness was thrown out without any equipment. No helmets. No Pods. No cables.


    ¡°How did I enter the Virtual World?¡± Venix thought aloud, his eyes staring blankly at the system screen. Something felt very off.


    Of course, logic tried to fight back. In this era, almost anything was possible. Earth had already entered the interstellar era, with humans scattered across four main planets: Earth, Mars, Europia, and Titania.


    The world was no longer confined to one planet but had expanded to other solar systems.


    Even so, Venix was just an ordinary person. For him, daily life remained the same as most others¡ªwork, study, entertainment. But beyond that monotonous life, there was something else that continued to stir his curiosity: the conspiracy theories scattered across the internet.


    There were rumors of secret experiments on remote planets, alien technology found in asteroids, and even reality simulations that could deceive the human mind.


    All of these theories not only intrigued him but also sparked wild questions in his mind.


    So, when this mysterious system suddenly appeared, his mind immediately jumped to one conclusion.


    Beta Tester.


    "Yeah, this must be some sort of secret technology trial," Venix said, convincing himself.


    That was the only explanation that made sense. The Virtual World felt too real to be just an ordinary game, but it wasn¡¯t plausible enough to be considered real.


    To this day, that belief still held strong.


    For him, whatever was happening, it had to be new technology being tested. Something not yet released to the public. Somehow, he had been chosen to test it.


    And that assumption, strangely, made him feel calmer.


    But deep down, there was a small unease. What if all of this wasn¡¯t just a game?


    Feeling his stomach growl, Venix got out of bed. After quickly washing his face, he left his dorm room and headed toward the school cafeteria.


    Eating was his top priority, especially after the shocking experience in Numan World that kept his mind spinning.


    Upon arriving at the cafeteria, Venix immediately dug into his meal.


    While chewing, Venix¡¯s thoughts drifted back to his earlier experience.


    ¡°It felt too real,¡± Venix thought, recalling how his body had felt crushed when undergoing the Awaken Injection.


    It wasn¡¯t just a virtual effect; the pain... it was real. So real that he could still vividly remember his own screams.


    And the people¡ªor maybe NPCs¡ªhe encountered in that world. They were alive, too alive for a game. Was this really a new technology being tested? Or was there something bigger behind all of this?


    After finishing his meal, Venix hurried back to his dorm.


    His curiosity outweighed the fear he had felt earlier. He wanted to delve deeper into the game.


    However, on his way back to his dorm, something stopped him.


    The sky.


    Venix looked up, his brow raised. There was something strange.


    Lights were dancing across the sky, forming a mesmerizing pattern.


    Green, purple, and blue streaks glowed softly, moving like waves undulating in the ocean. Unlike a usual rainbow that would stay static after rain, this... was alive.


    "Aurora?" Venix murmured. "But... it can¡¯t be an aurora here."


    He rubbed his eyes, ensuring what he was seeing wasn¡¯t an illusion. But the light remained. Not only that, the color patterns seemed to be expanding, like ink slowly spreading on a canvas.


    Without hesitation, Venix took out his phone and pointed the camera at the sky.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s capture this,¡± Venix said as he snapped a photo of the scene.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    However, when he looked at the result, his brow furrowed.


    On his phone screen, all that appeared was the plain blue sky, with no sign of the aurora or the colorful lights.


    Confused, Venix looked at the sky again. The aurora was still there. The colors still mesmerizing, moving gently like a dance in the wind. But on his phone¡¯s screen¡­ it was empty.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Venix muttered.


    Venix raised his phone again, shifting his gaze between the phone¡¯s screen and the sky.


    No change.


    The aurora was real to his eyes, but not visible on the camera. Something was definitely off.


    "Is it my eyes... or is there something else...?" Venix murmured, his voice filled with both anxiety and curiosity.


    He returned the phone to his pocket and quickened his pace back to his dorm.


    His curiosity was burning his mind. What exactly had he seen earlier? And why did that aurora... unsettle him?


    Once back in his room, Venix dropped onto his bed.


    The thoughts of the aurora he saw in the real world kept swirling in his mind. Without wasting any time, Venix opened the system with a thought in his mind.


    The real world faded as a mysterious chill crept across his body. When he opened his eyes, the calm atmosphere of Numan World greeted him, but he knew something was different.


    The first thing Venix saw when he opened his eyes was a clean, neat room¡ªnothing had changed since the last time he left this world.


    However, this familiar feeling didn¡¯t bring him any peace.


    Rising from the bed, Venix quickly walked to the window. He hastily opened it and immediately looked up at the sky.


    His eyes widened, his breath caught.


    The colorful waves were moving slowly, like a dance of light in the sky. The colors curved and merged, forming a pattern that felt unfamiliar but familiar deep inside him.


    Venix¡¯s heart raced. "This... can¡¯t be."


    Faint memories began to return to his mind.


    After receiving the Awaken Injection, his body in this world was no longer the same. At that moment, his consciousness had been in chaos, and his thoughts blurry, as if he were in a nightmare. But one thing Venix clearly remembered was¡ªthe sky.


    A sky like this, full of moving auroras.


    Venix felt familiar with the sight since seeing it in the real world that morning. The colorful waves looked identical, as if the real world and Numan World were beginning to share something in common.


    "What¡¯s really happening?" Venix¡¯s mind was full of questions, and his chest started to tighten.


    He tried to remember again.


    Before receiving the Awaken Injection, the sky in Numan World had looked normal, just like the sky in the real world he knew. But after becoming an Awaken, everything changed.


    His eyes seemed to have been given the ability to see something hidden that ordinary people couldn¡¯t.


    But this wasn¡¯t what made him panic the most.


    Venix swallowed hard, forcing himself to analyze the possibility that had crossed his mind.


    His body in the real world had also been affected by this enhancement.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Venix muttered, cold sweat starting to form on his temples.


    Numan World should only be a Virtual Game. His body undergoing evolution and becoming an Awaken should have been limited to this world.


    However, the aurora in the real world had previously indicated something else¡ª as if what was happening to his body in this world was affecting his body in the real world.


    If that''s true, then one terrifying question arises: Does death here mean death in the real world too?


    That thought made his body tremble. His chest felt as if it were being pressed, and without realizing it, his knees gave way. His body fell to the floor with a soft thud.


    ¡°If I die here, what will happen to my body in the real world?¡± Venix¡¯s breath began to quicken, and he felt the cold sweat dampening his back.


    He wiped his face with both hands, trying to calm himself.


    Yet his mind kept racing, connecting the dots that were still unclear.


    Numan World was a world of evolution, a place where everyone could gain superpowers.


    But if the sky in the real world started resembling the sky here, would the real world also head toward the same evolutionary direction?


    ¡°That aurora... if it continues to expand, what will happen to Earth?¡± Venix thought. A horrifying image appeared in his mind: Numan World was not just a game, but a projection of the real world''s future!


    The thought made his back go cold. He felt his body tremble, not only from fear, but also from the possibility he had never imagined before.


    If the real world were to transform into Numan World, then... everything would change.


    Venix clenched his fist, trying to control the fear that enveloped him. "I need to confirm this. If my guess is right, then I can¡¯t afford to play around anymore."


    Numan World looked incredibly peaceful. Its atmosphere was calm, as though this world had never known conflict or chaos.


    But Venix knew better than to trust this deceptive calm.


    How long had this world been in the Evolution Era?


    That thought haunted him. In the early days of the Evolution Era, when superpowers first began to emerge in people''s hands, there must have been major consequences.


    The social order collapsed. Chaos reigned. The once-stable food chain turned into a war between predators.


    If that scenario really came to pass in the real world, then Numan World might hold a crucial key for him.


    This world was a place where he could study superpowers and learn how to survive in the chaos that would surely come.


    "If this isn¡¯t a game... then what is this system?" Venix muttered quietly, his emotions a mix of frustration and fear. "Damn it! If you chose me, at least help me face the dangers coming in the real world!"


    After venting his emotions, Venix took a deep breath. He returned to his bed and sat in silence, trying to calm his thoughts.


    The truth was still hazy. All of this felt like a giant puzzle, and he had no choice but to start piecing it together, one fragment at a time.


    Venix''s gaze fell on the small table beside his bed.


    A phone lay on the table, with a piece of paper on top of it. He reached out and grabbed the paper.


    The phone in this world resembled those on Earth, strengthening his suspicion that Numan World might be a depiction of Earth''s future.


    But how could the system create a virtual world like this? Did it have something to do with the concept of space and time?


    Venix flipped the paper over and read what was written on it.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve woken up and feel fine, contact me at this number: xxx-xxx-xxx.


    If you still don¡¯t feel completely healthy, continue resting until your condition improves.¡±


    The writing had been directly translated by the system, making it easy for Venix to read.


    "Luna... did she leave this note?" Venix murmured quietly.


    Without overthinking, Venix dialed the number on the phone. Within a few seconds, a dialing tone rang. Soon after, the call was answered.


    "Hello~ Luna here," a familiar, cheerful voice said.


    "Hello, Luna. Are you busy right now?" Venix asked, trying to keep his tone calm.


    "Oh? I¡¯m just finishing up some small tasks. Who¡¯s this?" Luna asked, her casual tone still intact, though there was a hint of boredom hidden beneath it.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Venix,¡± Venix replied.


    Luna fell silent for a moment, sounding confused. "Venix? Who¡¯s that?"


    Venix sighed. "I¡¯m one of the participants of the Awaken Injection yesterday."


    ¡°Hm¡­ Ah, right!¡± Luna finally exclaimed, as if remembering something. "Are you the one who screamed really loudly yesterday?"


    Venix was taken aback.


    ¡°D-did I scream that loudly?¡± he asked, a bit embarrassed.


    "Of course! If there were a contest for the loudest scream during the Awaken Injection, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d make it into the top three without any difficulty!" Luna replied, honestly and seriously.


    ¡°¡­¡± Venix.


    Venix felt his face flush with embarrassment.


    A record?! Seriously?!


    Feeling embarrassed, Venix could only remain silent. How was he supposed to live with that achievement hanging over his head?


    "Alright," Luna¡¯s voice sounded a little playful, "Since you¡¯re the interesting Sheep, is there anything I can help you with right now?"


    Venix took a deep breath, trying to ignore the nickname that was now sticking to him.


    ¡°I want to know more about Awaken,¡± Venix said, his tone serious. ¡°What is it exactly? And what about the Origin Fragment? I want all the answers, and I hope you can help me.¡±


    On the other end of the phone, Luna smiled slightly, though Venix couldn¡¯t see it.


    "Information like that is easy to come by. There are many open sources you can study," Luna said casually. "But... if you want more in-depth information, I can help you. With one condition."


    Venix frowned. "A condition? What do you need me to help with?"


    ¡°Come to my workplace,¡± Luna replied. ¡°There¡¯s a card in the drawer of your desk. Use that to get here. We can discuss everything in person.¡±


    Following her instructions, Venix opened the drawer next to his bed and found a simple white card.


    Luna explained that the card could be used to pay for food or services in the city.


    "But don¡¯t expect too much on the amount," Luna added with a playful tone.


    After giving her address, Luna ended the call. Venix stared at the card for a moment before heading out of his room.


    On the side of the road, Venix found a metal pole as Luna had mentioned earlier.


    It had a button with a simple instruction: "Press this button to order a taxi."


    "Super advanced technology, but still needs a pole? Isn¡¯t this a bit too traditional?" Venix thought as he pressed the button.


    In a few seconds, a taxi came speeding toward him and stopped in front of him. The car looked ordinary, similar to vehicles on Earth, with four wheels spinning like normal.


    Venix felt a little disappointed.


    ¡°I thought I¡¯d see a flying car¡­¡± Venix muttered quietly.


    He got into the taxi and was immediately shocked.


    There was no driver! All that was in sight was a small screen on the dashboard.


    ¡°Please state your destination,¡± a robotic voice greeted.


    ¡°Umm¡­ to this address,¡± Venix said, giving the address Luna had provided.


    Moments later, the taxi began to move on its own at a steady speed. Even though the streets appeared empty, Venix still felt uneasy.


    ¡°A car that drives itself? If there¡¯s an accident, who¡¯s at fault? Me or this robot?¡± Venix thought to himself.


    In less than ten minutes, the taxi stopped in front of the destination building. After getting out, Venix stared at the building for a moment. A tall structure with a futuristic design, but not overly striking.


    Venix followed Luna¡¯s instructions, using the white card on the electronic door guard.


    A soft voice from the machine allowed him to enter, which made Venix feel like this was too easy.


    "Is this some kind of VIP access? Or is this card just a scam?" Venix murmured.


    After walking through several hallways, Venix arrived at a room labeled "Awaken Injection"¡ªthe same room where he had screamed at the top of his lungs just the day before.


    Just as he was about to enter, a woman¡¯s voice sounded from inside, freezing him in place.


    ¡°Kill me, but don¡¯t put that thing inside my body!¡±


    Venix froze. Wild thoughts began to whirl. "Did I enter the wrong room? Is this a torture chamber or something else?"


    Slowly, Venix stepped forward and entered, curiosity overcoming his fear.


    But before he could see who had spoken, the voice came again, more urgently this time.


    ¡°If you keep insisting, I¡¯ll bite your hand off!¡±


    Venix swallowed hard.


    ¡°What... is going on in here?¡± he thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the evil god will surely enjoy a young woman like you,¡± Luna said with a sinister smile, making things even worse with her words.


    Venix, who had already reached his breaking point with what he was seeing, finally spoke up.


    "Cough... Hello?" Venix said, hoping to snap the people around him out of their state.


    Luna had already noticed Venix¡¯s presence from the start, so she only glanced at him briefly without any surprise.


    The young woman turned to look, her eyes widening when she saw Venix.


    Upon seeing Venix, the woman was shocked. "You..."


    "Hm? Do you know him?" Luna asked, turning her gaze to Venix.


    Venix stared at the woman for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I don¡¯t know her."


    After all, Venix had just arrived in this world, and honestly, the only person he knew was Luna. Even that had happened by accident.


    ¡°You... you¡¯re the one the tribe chief talked about!¡± the woman shouted, pointing at Venix with her trembling index finger.


    ¡°What!?¡±


    Venix and Luna looked at each other, shocked.


    Venix... the person the tribe chief was looking for???

 Chapter 4

    "Are you the one the tribe chief is looking for?" Luna asked, her curiosity evident as she looked at Venix.


    Venix, confused and unsure of what was happening, shook his head.


    "I don''t even know what that woman was talking about," he said, still bewildered.


    How could Venix possibly understand what the woman meant? His mind was filled with confusion.


    Luna turned her gaze to the young woman before her.


    "What do you mean when you say that Venix is the one the tribe chief is looking for?" Luna asked in a serious tone, her eyes narrowing.


    "You must kill him!" the young woman suddenly shouted, her voice echoing through the room.


    Luna and Venix exchanged glances, their confusion deepening.


    The tribe chief was looking for Venix... and wanted to kill him? But why?


    Luna tried to make sense of the information swirling in her mind.


    As far as she knew, Venix was just the "Lost Sheep," someone with origins similar to the young woman¡¯s. But could it be that Venix had fled from the tribe chief¡¯s territory, taking something valuable with him?


    "That''s nonsense! Why would the tribe chief want to kill me?!" Venix exclaimed, his voice filled with fear.


    Dark thoughts began to plague Venix¡¯s mind. If he died here, could he still live in the real world?


    Nervously, he rubbed the back of his neck. Even if he logged out of the game and his consciousness returned to the real world, his body would remain inactive and asleep here. The danger was too great for him to risk fleeing this situation.


    The young woman seemed like she wanted to say something, but then swallowed her words.


    Luna noticed the shift in her expression and realized the woman was clearly hiding something.


    "Tell me, what are the characteristics of the person the tribe chief is looking for?" Luna asked, her voice carrying a gentle smile that somehow felt oppressive.


    "Do you really need to ask? Open your eyes and look at him!" the young woman shouted again, her voice full of emotion. "The tribe chief said that this person will bring disaster to our world! Either you or I will die because of him!"


    "Open my eyes?" Luna was initially confused but quickly understood.


    She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, staring intently at Venix.


    There was no change in her pupils, but Venix felt an odd sense of foreboding. It seemed like Luna was using some special trick to see things ordinary eyes could not.


    "Hmm? Interesting," Luna murmured, a small smile appearing on her face. She closed her eyes again, appearing lost in thought.


    "You must kill him!" the young woman cried again, her voice trembling with emotion.


    "What did you see?" Venix asked nervously, standing stiffly. Luna¡¯s answer now felt like a matter of life and death.


    "It¡¯s just the manifestation of your Seed Origin, nothing major," Luna replied casually, as though it were no cause for concern.


    "Seed Origin? What¡¯s that?" Venix furrowed his brow, his confusion growing.


    Luna paused for a moment before explaining, "When someone becomes Awakened and unlocks their hidden power, the Origin Fragments Realm opens. Each fragment has a different Seed Origin form."


    "Seed Origin is the foundational core of a Seedbound. You could say it¡¯s the core of your strength, something that will always be with you, even if you surpass the Seedbound level one day."


    Venix listened carefully, starting to understand a little.


    Luna continued, "Out of all the Seed Origins, one will dominate and usually be stronger than the others."


    "In the past, 90% of the Seed Origins you displayed would become your dominant Seed Origin. But now, in this era, we can replace the dominant Seed Origin with a new type if you''re not satisfied with the one you have."


    Luna¡¯s explanation sounded like that of a patient teacher, and Venix found it easy to follow.


    Coincidentally, Seed Origin was also one of the requirements for the quest Venix currently had.


    "Is my Seed Origin really dangerous, like she said?" Venix asked hesitantly.


    "Is it dangerous? Well, not necessarily," Luna answered calmly, as though it weren¡¯t something to worry about. "After all, people like us are all dangerous, right?"


    Venix looked at Luna, who seemed like an innocent young woman. Where was the danger she mentioned?


    Luna smirked slightly before adding, "By the way, I just found out that the Lost Sheep can use a certain eye technique without needing to be Awakened."


    At that, the young woman in front of them shuddered. Her expression turned fearful, as if she had just revealed an important secret to the enemy.


    "Wait until I finish this annoying daily task," Luna said casually, stretching her stiff shoulders. "After that, I¡¯ll take you somewhere so you can see your Seed Origin for yourself."


    Venix nodded obediently, letting out a sigh of relief.


    At least, his life wasn¡¯t in danger for now.


    With her strength, Luna could easily hold the young woman in place.


    Despite her resistance, the young woman couldn¡¯t break free from Luna¡¯s grip. Eventually, she was forcibly taken into the Pod, where the Awaken Injection process occurred.


    Three minutes later, the Awaken Injection process had begun.


    "Follow me," Luna said briefly to Venix.


    Without waiting for a response, Luna stepped out of the Awaken Injection room and led Venix to another location.


    A few minutes later, they arrived in a large room with a sign that read "Awaken Library." Luna opened the door and led Venix inside.


    "This place is mandatory for new Awakened," Luna explained as they walked through the hallway. "You can find an Awaken Library like this in many cities. Its purpose is to help you understand the new powers you¡¯ve gained."


    Inside, several people were busy studying.


    Most of them were Lost Sheep¡ªpeople from remote tribes who had recently realized that their long-held beliefs were wrong.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    After becoming Awakened, many of them began to understand that the world wasn¡¯t what they had believed all their lives. Slowly, they started accepting the "new truth" that lay before them.


    The authorities had taken an open approach, allowing the Lost Sheep to study their Awakened powers without any specific restrictions.


    As long as they didn¡¯t break the rules or cause trouble, they were accepted as new citizens.


    Luna stopped in front of a large mirror at the back of the room.


    "Step forward," Luna said, pointing to the mirror. "There, you¡¯ll see it for yourself."


    Venix looked at the large mirror warily, then stepped forward slowly.


    When he stood before the mirror, his reflection began to appear clearly. Venix froze in place.


    This was the first time he had truly seen his appearance in this virtual world.


    Through the mirror, Venix scrutinized every detail.


    His appearance was almost identical to his real-world self¡ªhis body shape, height, face, and even his black hair all looked the same.


    However, Venix¡¯s attention was quickly diverted. Besides his own reflection, there was something else in the mirror.


    What was that!?


    Behind his back, a horrifying tentacle creature appeared.


    The creature had nine tentacles that moved slowly, exuding a terrifying aura that pierced to the bone.


    The tentacle monster seemed alive, with each tentacle movement radiating an unspoken threat.


    Venix swallowed hard, his body stiffening. The horror of the figure was so real that it felt as though it could devour him at any moment. Just looking at it, Venix felt like he was being swallowed into endless darkness.


    "Is this the reason she said I deserve to die?" Venix turned and looked at Luna, who was standing behind him.


    "That¡¯s right," Luna replied, nodding slightly. "I didn¡¯t expect that woman could use the power of an Awakened, even though she¡¯s just an ordinary person."


    To see someone¡¯s Seed Origin manifestation, one must use an Origin Technique, which requires them to be Awakened first.


    Luna shook her head slowly before continuing, "Just by looking at it, others can already tell that your Seed Origin has an extraordinary devouring power. You¡¯re lucky to have a Seed Origin with development potential far faster than most people."


    "So, this tentacle monster is really strong?" Venix asked, a mixture of hope and doubt in his voice.


    "Strong or weak, who knows?" Luna shrugged casually. "You¡¯ll only know once you truly master its power. Sometimes, the appearance and aura of a Seed Origin can be deceptive. What looks terrifying might not be that strong after all."


    Venix looked uncertain. "So, there¡¯s no danger if my Seed Origin is this tentacle monster?"


    "That¡¯s hard to say," Luna said, shaking her head. "A Seed Origin can influence its owner, consciously or unconsciously. It depends on you. Are you strong enough to resist its influence, or will you give in to it?"


    Luna paused for a moment, allowing her words to sink in before continuing, "Every Seed Origin is different. Some are neutral and don¡¯t affect their owner at all, but others are so dominant they influence their owner''s behavior. The final answer can only be found once you fully possess and understand your Seed Origin¡¯s power."


    "So," Luna continued, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Venix, "Are you not satisfied with your current dominant Seed Origin?"


    "Not exactly," Venix shook his head gently, scratching the back of his neck. "I just want to see all the available options before making a decision. If I can choose, why not?"


    A thin smile appeared on Luna¡¯s face. "In ancient times, that would have been very difficult. But now..."


    Luna turned around, waving her hand for Venix to follow her. "We live in a modern era. Technology has advanced rapidly. Follow me, I¡¯ll show you how."


    Luna led Venix to another area in the room.


    It didn¡¯t take long before they stopped in front of a machine that reminded Venix of an ATM from Earth.


    "You haven¡¯t officially registered as a new citizen yet," Luna said, turning to Venix. "So, for now, you can borrow my identity to take this manual technique."


    Luna inserted her identity card into the machine. After a few seconds, the machine beeped and confirmed Luna¡¯s identity.


    A small object came out from inside the machine, like a drawer dispensing an item.


    Luna took the item. It was a small metal box now in her hands.


    "This is the Origin Meditation Technique," Luna said, spinning the box in her hands. "This technique has been perfected hundreds of times by our predecessors. Its function is simple but very important¡ªtaking your consciousness into the Origin Fragment Realm, where your Seed Origin resides."


    Venix watched the box with curiosity.


    "Over there," Luna continued, "you will be able to see the different types of Seed Origins, including the tentacle monster you saw earlier. By using this technique, you can accelerate the development of your Seed Origin by actively helping it absorb other Seed Origins to strengthen and refine your main Seed Origin."


    Venix listened attentively, processing Luna''s explanation.


    "On the other hand," Luna added, "you can also develop other Seed Origins within the Origin Fragment Realm. When one of those Seed Origins grows and becomes stronger, surpassing the Tentacle Monster level, your main Seed Origin will automatically adjust to match the strongest Seed Origin within the Origin Fragment Realm."


    Venix nodded, understanding what was happening.


    If Earth were truly going to change in the future, this information and technology would be an incredibly valuable treasure for him!


    Luna handed the metal box to Venix, who accepted it eagerly. A flicker of curiosity shone in his eyes. The box felt light, yet there was clearly something special inside.


    With a single touch, Venix placed the metal box in his hand. Without warning, information flooded his mind, like a book suddenly opening.


    "This technology is insane!" Venix thought, astounded. It was far more advanced than anything he had previously imagined.


    "Alright, that''s just a basic introduction to Awaken. Is there anything else you''d like to ask?" Luna inquired, her calm voice indicating she was accustomed to this situation.


    Venix paused for a moment, then recalled something that had caught his attention¡ªthe aurora across the sky.


    He then asked about the Aurora in the sky and what its existence meant.


    "I almost forgot about that," Luna sighed. "Sometimes, I feel like I''ve lived too long and forgotten that the sky is supposed to be blue."


    Venix fell silent.


    He looked at Luna, who now appeared to be a young woman in her early twenties. How could she feel like a woman in her forties?


    Of course, Venix didn''t know that as one''s power increased, their lifespan could also surpass that of an ordinary human.


    Living for hundreds of years was normal, and as long as their bodies weren¡¯t severely injured, they could stay young for more than a hundred years.


    However, despite their long lives, death still claimed many in this world.


    This was because the majority of deaths in this world were caused by battles, not old age.


    Luna continued her explanation, ¡°That aurora is a sign that the Origin Era has begun. At least, that''s what we call this phenomenon.


    ¡°Back then, this world had no Awaken. Everyone relied solely on technology to survive and evolve.


    "And historical records state that the aurora filled the sky when the Origin Era began. At that time, there was no Awaken in the world, and no one was aware of the changes happening in the sky.


    "We called that aurora the Origin Source. It is the source of the awakening of the Awaken across the world."


    Venix listened intently, his pupils shrinking to small slits.


    Luna continued: ¡°After the Origin Source filled the sky and covered the whole world, ordinary humans began to awaken and naturally transform into Awaken, gaining powers far beyond regular humans.


    ¡°That era was a dark one. The world¡¯s order was shattered due to the emergence of Awaken scattered all over the world, and wars for power broke out everywhere.


    ¡°Perhaps if I went into all the details, it would take too long. The point is, the aurora in the sky signifies that this world has received the blessing from the Origin Source.¡±


    Venix fell silent, processing what he had just heard.


    If what Luna said was true, then the Origin Source had appeared on Earth.


    This meant the Awaken would soon emerge, and the real world would change, perhaps faster than he could imagine.


    But not just Earth¡ªthree other human-inhabited planets might also be facing the same fate.


    Or perhaps, they had already entered the Origin Era and awakened first.


    And if Numan World reflected Earth''s future, and the story Luna shared was true, then the real world would soon become a very dangerous place, filled with chaos and peril.


    While Luna was explaining earlier, there was one thing that had caught Venix''s attention.


    When Luna mentioned the word "Human," the system connected to Venix processed it as "Human." However, Venix''s ears heard a different word¡ª"Numan."


    So, it could be confirmed that "Numan" meant "Human."


    If translated to Earth''s language, did this world mean... Human World?


    "I have another question," Venix furrowed his brow and continued, "You mentioned people who awaken the Origin Fragment Realm, they¡¯re called Awaken. Then, you also mentioned ''Seedbound.'' What does that mean?"


    Luna smiled slightly, "That''s just a name for the level or title of someone who has reached a higher stage in their power."


    Venix nodded, trying to process everything. "How many power levels are there?"


    Luna answered calmly, "There are several. Beginners like you, who have just awakened, are called Awakened. Once you reach perfection, you''ll become Seedbound, and your power will increase significantly."


    Venix mentally noted this. "And then?"


    "Above Seedbound, there''s the Rootbound level. Above that, there''s Treebound," Luna added.


    Venix waited, sensing that there was more to come.


    "For now, the highest level one can reach is Primecore. It is the pinnacle of power in this world," Luna explained.


    Venix frowned, still processing the information. "So, Primecore is the peak of power humans can achieve?"


    Luna met his gaze before sighing deeply. There was a weariness in her eyes.


    "No," she replied softly, her eyes drifting toward the window as if looking at something far beyond. "We believe there is a level above Primecore. However... for some reason, we haven¡¯t been able to reach it and remain stuck here."


    She briefly closed her eyes, as if holding back her emotions.


    Seeing Luna in this state, Venix sensed a sudden shift in her mood.


    Her usually calm and cheerful demeanor now appeared... heavier.

 Chapter 5

    After obtaining everything she needed, Luna invited Venix into her vehicle.


    The journey through the city was calm, with Venix observing the controlled traffic while Luna provided occasional commentary.


    According to the information Luna had shared, owning a personal vehicle required special permission. Additionally, speed within the city was strictly regulated, and violations were considered breaches of the law.


    Inside the car, Venix and Luna chatted during the drive.


    "Are you sure? Although I did say I need your help, if you refuse, I still have other ways you could assist me," Luna said, glancing at Venix.


    "I think what you previously proposed is interesting enough. If it works, I¡¯ll gain multiple times the benefits, right?" Venix stroked his chin and continued, "But I am curious¡ªwhy did you choose me?"


    Luna had asked for his help in researching the Awaken stage and needed someone already at that level for a particular experiment.


    However, Venix found this puzzling.


    Surely, there were plenty of other Awaken individuals besides him. Moreover, he was a stranger to Luna. If this experiment had a chance of succeeding, wouldn''t it make more sense for Luna to work with someone she already knew well, rather than a stranger like him?


    "Every Awaken is different," Luna said, leaning back in her seat. "Each has unique Grades, and these Grades are divided into three levels: Earth, Sky, and Mythic."


    Venix raised an eyebrow slightly. "Interesting... So not all Awakens are equal?"


    "Of course. Most people only have Earth-level Grades. As for Sky-level? They are the lucky ones chosen by the heavens." Luna gave a faint smile before continuing, "But Mythic-Grade individuals? They are the movers and shakers of this world¡ªthe future wielders of extraordinary influence!"


    Venix nodded slightly, trying to process the information.


    "In theory, my experiment is solid and highly likely to succeed," Luna continued calmly. "But using Earth Awaken subjects? That would only lead to disaster. Their Seed Origins are too weak. They can''t push their power to its limits without shattering completely and having to start all over again."


    Venix raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat skeptical. "How do you know their Seed Origins will shatter? Are you just guessing?"


    Luna regarded him casually. "Of course not. I''ve already conducted direct experiments. Previously, I worked with five Earth Awaken, and the result was the same: they shattered and had to start the process from scratch."


    Venix fell silent. This sounded... a bit crazier than he had expected.


    Noticing Venix deep in thought, Luna smiled faintly. "If you have doubts, you still have time to back out now."


    After a moment of consideration, Venix shook his head. "No need. I¡¯m just as curious to see where this goes."


    Venix knew this was a high-stakes gamble.


    If it worked, he would grow stronger. But if it failed? Perhaps he would merely need to start over... hopefully.


    However, there was a worst-case scenario: Venix''s future potential could become severely limited due to failure.


    But the greater the risk, the greater the reward if he succeeded!


    Given that the real world of the future would not be a safe place, Venix understood that he needed to develop his strength as much as possible in this Virtual World.


    One question remained, though: had humanity''s leaders in the real world already accessed the Origin Source? If they had, and managed to develop a Rootbound or even a Treebound, Venix''s life¡ªand the lives of many others¡ªwould change drastically.


    Venix might end up entirely dependent on those leaders¡ªor worse, under their control.


    Noticing Venix¡¯s determination, Luna spoke with a serious tone. "After my past failures, I¡¯ve come to one conclusion: I need a Sky Awaken for this experiment."


    "To be honest, Sky Awaken are incredibly valuable. They''re like rare diamonds. Many people would gladly offer resources and money just to secure their cooperation." Luna paused briefly before adding, "And you, Venix, are a Sky Awaken."


    "If you were to work with others, honestly, they might offer you far more benefits than I could."


    Venix smirked slightly. "But at least you¡¯re honest. That makes you seem reliable enough for me."


    He gazed at Luna thoughtfully. "If I chose someone else, could they be as honest with me as you are now?"


    It might have been premature and slightly inappropriate to say this, but Venix wanted to show his goodwill toward Luna.


    Luna smiled faintly, a glint of intelligence in her eyes. "After all, you¡¯re a Sky Awaken. Sooner or later, you¡¯ll become someone influential in this world. I don¡¯t want to deceive someone like you, let alone make us enemies. That would only hurt me in the long run."


    Venix leaned back in his seat, stroking his chin as he considered Luna¡¯s reasoning. It made sense.


    Of course, if it were him, Venix might make contingency plans¡ªpossibly even extreme measures¡ªto safeguard himself against any partners or others who might pose a future threat. That way, he could ensure a clean and decisive resolution if necessary.


    "At the Awaken stage, there are three phases commonly referred to as the Early Stage, Middle Stage, and Perfect Stage. Right now, you¡¯re in the Early Stage," Luna explained calmly.


    "As I¡¯ve mentioned before, within the Origin Fragment Realm, there are numerous Seed Origins of various types."


    "To become the main Seed Origin, they must devour and absorb other Seed Origins to refine themselves."


    "You can directly participate in this process to accelerate absorption using the Origin Meditation Technique."


    Venix visualized the process, finding it rather intriguing.


    Luna paused briefly before continuing, "The Early Stage is the hardest for beginners. After all, their main Seed Origin¡ªeven yours, that Tentacle Monster¡ªis not yet strong enough to suppress all the other Seed Origins in the Origin Fragment Realm."The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Luna gave a faint smile, as if reminding Venix of the challenges awaiting him. "Typically, once you pass the Early Stage, the subsequent stages like the Middle Stage and Perfect Stage will feel much easier."


    Venix looked confused. Shouldn''t advancing to higher levels be more difficult?


    "Why?" he asked curiously.


    Luna smiled faintly. "Why? Because at the Middle Stage and Perfect Stage, other Origin Fragment Realms will emerge. By then, the main Seed Origin you¡¯ve developed can be used to devour the Seed Origins in those new realms. That¡¯s why the later stages are simpler."


    "But my experiment deviates slightly from the normal process. Because of that, it¡¯s more dangerous and carries a certain level of failure risk."


    Venix raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her explanation.


    Luna then said seriously, "The Origin Fragment Realm operates on the principle of survival of the fittest. Whoever endures to the end becomes stronger. Those who survive such a world become the Kings of the Origin Fragment Realm."


    "Building on this concept, I had an idea. What if, at the Middle Stage and Perfect Stage, instead of using the main Seed Origin you¡¯ve developed to devour other Origin Fragment Realms, you create new main Seed Origins at each of those stages or realms?"


    "Imagine, at the final stage, you¡¯ll have three Seed Origins¡ªlet¡¯s call them A, B, and C. Then, you can choose one to devour the other two."


    Venix furrowed his brows. "So... you want me to create multiple Seed Origins just to have them devour each other later? Won¡¯t that destabilize the process?"


    Luna smiled faintly. "It¡¯s a calculated risk. Think of it this way: a tiger raised in the wild is always stronger than one raised in captivity. It¡¯s survival of the fittest."


    Venix nodded slowly, beginning to grasp the logic behind her plan.


    "If this experiment succeeds, the power and potential of your Seed Origin will increase drastically. You might even surpass an ordinary Sky Awaken!" Luna leaned back with pride before adding, "And it¡¯s not impossible that your Seed Origin could rise to the legendary level: Mythic Grade!"


    If Venix could reach Mythic Grade... it would significantly elevate his power.


    Luna looked at Venix with anticipation. "What do you think? Doesn¡¯t that sound incredibly promising?"


    On the other hand, Venix opened his mouth slightly, unsure of what to say.


    If successful, this would indeed benefit him greatly! The risks and rewards were immense, and Venix felt compelled to succeed to further enhance his strength.


    Everything Luna said made sense. However, the final outcome remained a mystery.


    Driven by curiosity, Venix asked, "Even if this works, what¡¯s in it for you? Haven¡¯t you already surpassed the Awaken stage?"


    "Of course I know that," Luna replied casually. "But if it works, the data collected will allow me to create a new Origin Meditation Technique. This technique will be invaluable for the next generation."


    Venix looked at Luna oddly, never imagining she was doing this for future generations.


    Luna grinned before continuing, "Additionally, I stand to gain a lot of money and wealth if it succeeds. As a collaborator, I certainly won¡¯t forget your contributions to this."


    Hearing that, Venix fell silent, pondering Luna¡¯s plan.


    There was undoubtedly a great risk involved, but if successful, the rewards would far outweigh the dangers.


    "Alright," said Venix with a faint smile, "now I''m very intrigued. In that case, I look forward to our cooperation."


    Luna smiled as well, satisfied to see Venix accept her offer.


    By sheer luck, Luna had stumbled upon Venix¡ªa Sky Awaken¡ªthrough her side job, a discovery that felt like a monumental stroke of fortune.


    Although Luna''s ideas and plans seemed promising, the reality was that many other researchers were also studying ways to enhance the Grade of Seed Origins.


    As a newcomer to this field, Luna faced numerous challenges, especially in finding a Sky Awaken as a test subject.


    Government authorities could not easily provide her with support either. Sky Awakens were incredibly valuable resources, highly sought after by numerous researchers.


    In fact, securing permission to open a laboratory and conduct experiments was already a significant achievement for Luna as a novice researcher.


    Ten minutes later, Luna and Venix arrived at her home.


    Luna''s residence was in an upscale neighborhood, an exclusive area filled with magnificent houses, each boasting expansive yards.


    Her house was a two-story building with an additional two basement levels that she used for experiments and research.


    Upon their arrival, the guards and household staff greeted them warmly. Luna introduced Venix to everyone.


    "From today onwards, treat him as you treat me," Luna said firmly, ensuring that her instructions were clear to all.


    Afterward, Luna escorted Venix inside and allowed him to choose one of the vacant rooms as his living quarters.


    Venix, who had never stepped into such a luxurious and spacious home, was genuinely impressed. His curiosity led him to explore every corner of the house.


    While Venix roamed around, Luna headed to her office to register his identity, making him an official resident of the city.


    Several minutes later, two guests arrived at Luna''s house.


    Luna warmly welcomed them into the living room. Both appeared professional, dressed in immaculate black suits.


    They were Jenna and Jerry, a pair of twins Luna had known for quite some time.


    Jenna was a woman with white hair, while Jerry was a man with dark purple hair.


    Jenna glanced at Luna with a curious expression.


    "So, you found a Sky Awaken from the ''Lost Sheep''? And he agreed to be your test subject?" Jenna asked, her tone slightly tinged with envy.


    Luna smiled contentedly. "Exactly."


    Jerry, who had a more serious demeanor, warned, "We need to ensure he is genuinely willing. If he has agreed to be your test subject, no one else can take him from you until the contract is complete."


    Jenna added with a cautionary tone, "And since he''s a ¡®Lost Sheep,¡¯ you are fully responsible for his actions. If he causes trouble or breaks the law, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences."


    Luna simply nodded, unfazed. "No problem. I can handle it."


    In her view, Venix did not seem like the reckless or troublemaking type. From their interactions so far, Venix appeared quite composed.


    In truth, Luna found Venix very different from the people of his tribe she had encountered before. There wasn¡¯t even the slightest resemblance between them.


    The people from that tribe might have eventually accepted their new reality and begun adapting to modern life. But they remained cautious, kept their distance, and were always wary of others.


    Venix, on the other hand, seemed more relaxed, open, and devoid of the defensive aura typical of his kin.


    Luna called out to Venix, and he came, standing before Jenna and Jerry with a puzzled and curious expression.


    Jerry closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, they glowed with a purple sheen. The light enveloped Venix''s body.


    Naturally, Venix was startled. He took a step back but, realizing nothing was happening to him, stood still once more.


    "That¡¯s a technique to dispel hypnosis or mind control," Jerry explained flatly. "If there had been any reaction, it would indicate you¡¯re under some form of influence. But since nothing happened, you¡¯re clear."


    Venix nodded slightly, though he still felt a little confused by the process.


    Next, it was Jenna¡¯s turn. She stepped forward, and her black pupils gradually transformed into gleaming white.


    Jenna began asking Venix a series of questions. Her voice was firm but not intimidating. Venix answered casually, feeling he had nothing to hide.


    After a few minutes of questioning, Jenna nodded at Jerry, signaling that everything was in order.


    With the examination complete, the next steps proceeded smoothly. Venix''s identity was officially registered, along with a collaboration contract between him and Luna.


    The contract was signed swiftly.


    Under the agreement, Venix was required to complete the Awaken stage and advance to becoming a Seedbound under Luna''s supervision.


    Once he achieved the Seedbound level, Venix would be completely free and no longer bound by the contract.


    On the other hand, the contract also protected Venix. No other party could claim him for research or collaboration during its duration.


    As part of the deal, Luna was responsible for meeting all of Venix''s needs¡ªfood, Origin resources, or anything else¡ªthroughout the contract period.


    Additionally, Luna included a compelling clause: if her research succeeded, Venix would receive 20% of the revenue from selling the technique to the public.


    Hearing all this, Venix looked at Luna with a strange expression, feeling that her actions were excessively generous.


    From the beginning until now, Luna had been too kind to him. Too benevolent.


    He didn¡¯t know the reason behind her kindness, but it was clear Luna likely had her own selfish motives in this matter, ones he could not discern yet.


    In reality, Luna had a compelling reason.


    When she first saw Venix¡¯s Monster Tentacle, she immediately knew his Seed Origin was no ordinary one.


    Though not yet fully developed, the Monster Tentacle possessed immense potential. Luna could also sense that Venix''s Seed Origin was still in its growth stage.


    If just one of Venix''s Seed Origins was already like this, Luna could imagine that any other Seed Origin Venix chose in the Origin Fragment Realm would likely have similarly intriguing potential.


    His potential was too significant to overlook.


    Whether the experiment succeeded or not, Luna understood that Venix was someone whose good graces she had to maintain.


    In the future, as Venix continued to grow, who knew¡ªhe might become an invaluable ally to her.

 Chapter 6

    In the real world, Venix slowly opened his eyes.


    He had spent six hours in Numan World, and time in the real world moved at the same pace¡ªsix hours had passed. Among the many wonders of Numan World, its synchronization with real-world time was one of the most remarkable features.


    Picking up his phone, Venix saw that the screen displayed 5 PM.


    He got out of bed and quickly realized his two roommates had returned to the dorm. Ronan, as usual, was lounging casually with his phone in hand, a sly grin playing on his face. Meanwhile, Rael was engrossed in his laptop, focused on some serious task.


    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re awake?¡± Ronan smirked when he saw Venix standing. ¡°Lately, you¡¯ve been sleeping quite a bit. Doesn¡¯t your body ache from oversleeping?¡±


    Venix chuckled lightly. Ronan¡¯s words weren¡¯t entirely untrue. He stretched a few times to confirm that he felt fine. To his surprise, his body felt refreshed, without any hint of fatigue or discomfort.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying lucid dreaming. It¡¯s pretty fun,¡± Venix replied with a small smile before asking, ¡°By the way, have you two eaten?¡±


    Ronan waved his hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯ve got dinner plans with someone, so sorry, I can¡¯t join you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Rael replied without lifting his eyes from the laptop. ¡°But I¡¯ve prepared some instant noodles for later.¡±


    Hearing their responses, Venix sighed inwardly.


    If the world really changed and chaos struck, he could imagine how devastated his friends would be when they realized all their plans were futile.


    But no.


    Venix steeled himself. He had to reach the Seedbound level before the chaos began. With Seedbound-level strength, he could help his friends face any danger that lay ahead.


    Since his friends were preoccupied, Venix decided to eat on his own. He headed to the school cafeteria, which would only stay open until 7 PM.


    As he stepped outside, Venix looked up at the sky, and his expression darkened.


    The aurora waves that had previously been confined to the city¡¯s edge now blanketed the entire area where he lived.


    This was bad.


    The spread was too fast. At this rate, Venix estimated that within a few days, the mysterious aurora might engulf the entire world.


    ¡°There¡¯s not enough time. I need to grow stronger as fast as possible!¡± Venix thought, a sense of urgency gripping his heart.


    After a 15-minute dinner, Venix checked the money in his pocket.


    A quick mental calculation told him that if he was frugal, he could buy enough instant noodles, chocolate, and snack bars to last three weeks.


    As an orphan, Venix depended on the government¡¯s monthly allowance, which he would receive until he turned 20. Rael was in the same situation, being an orphan as well. Only Ronan had a family¡ªa mother and a younger sister.


    With his remaining funds, Venix decided to stock up at a convenience store.


    It took him half an hour to fill four plastic bags with instant food and snacks. He returned to the dorm with his hands full, looking like someone who had won a lifetime supply of food.


    When he opened the dorm door, his two friends looked at him with puzzled expressions.


    ¡°Hey, man, what are you doing?¡± Ronan asked, his mouth half-open in surprise at the sight of Venix lugging so many shopping bags.


    ¡°Zombie apocalypse already started?¡± Rael quipped, pushing his glasses up.


    Venix shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°I just figured buying instant food in bulk would be more cost-effective. Simple, right?¡±


    Ronan squinted, clearly unconvinced. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting a bit odd lately. Not like you to stay cooped up in the dorm. Since when did you turn into a homebody?¡±


    ¡°Haha, just felt like it,¡± Venix laughed lightly, placing the shopping bags beside his bed.


    He knew whatever excuse he came up with wouldn¡¯t sound logical. So, he opted for a casual response to deflect their curiosity.


    Once assured that nothing seemed overly strange with Venix, Ronan and Rael decided to drop the matter and returned to their respective activities.


    Indeed, Venix¡¯s behavior was unusual, but it wasn¡¯t something they couldn¡¯t overlook. After all, everyone had their way of living.


    Although the three often offered advice to one another, they knew that, in the end, personal choices were up to the individual.


    Unless the situation became truly dire and hopeless, they wouldn¡¯t interfere.


    Venix lay back on his bed, ignoring his friends, and launched Numan World through the system.


    In the virtual realm, Venix opened his eyes in his new room at Luna¡¯s house.


    Once he was fully conscious, Venix immediately retrieved the metal box containing the knowledge of the Origin Meditation Technique and resumed his study.


    At this stage, mastering the Origin Meditation Technique perfectly was his top priority before advancing to the next phase.


    For twenty minutes, Venix focused on his learning until a knock suddenly came at the door. He stood up, opened it, and found a servant with a food trolley waiting outside.


    Allowing the servant in, Venix was a bit taken aback but let them set the food down.


    After they left, Venix sat at the small dining table in his room, staring at the array of delicious dishes before him.


    ¡°I just realized something. My body in this world has never eaten anything or felt hunger,¡± he mused aloud.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    He continued, ¡°Back in the real world, I didn¡¯t feel hungry either. I only ate at the school cafeteria earlier as a precaution in case I lost track of time or got too busy here. But does this body in the virtual world feel hunger too? And why haven¡¯t I felt it so far? Could it be because I ate in the real world, so this body doesn¡¯t experience hunger?¡±


    If this was true, it suggested a strong connection between his real-world body and his virtual self.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, does eating here prevent hunger in the real world? If so, then why did I spend all my money on instant food?!¡±


    The more Venix thought about it, the more frustrated he felt.


    Though still slightly irked, Venix decided to try the food brought in by the servant.


    His stomach was already 80% full, so this time, Venix simply wanted to satisfy his curiosity by tasting the flavors of the virtual world.


    One by one, he sampled the dishes, unable to stop himself from praising their taste.


    ¡°This is incredible¡­ This food is amazing!¡± Venix thought in awe. It was arguably the most delicious meal he¡¯d ever had in his life.


    Unfortunately, his stomach couldn¡¯t handle any more. With some reluctance, Venix returned the remaining food to the trolley and placed it outside his door.


    Feeling satiated, he refocused on studying the Origin Meditation Technique.


    He knew that delaying his learning by even a single day could diminish his chances of survival in the real world once the grand changes began.


    Without wasting another moment, Venix concentrated all his attention and abilities on mastering the technique. He studied intensely, to the point of losing track of everything around him.


    A day and a half passed quickly.


    In Numan World, the clock showed 3 AM.


    Venix sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, fully immersed in his training.


    Dark circles under his eyes were a clear sign of sleep deprivation.


    Moments later, he slowly opened his eyes. A faint light reflected in his gaze.


    ¡°Success!¡±


    Venix exclaimed, unable to contain his happiness.


    The Origin Meditation Technique turned out to be far less complicated than he had imagined, especially for a beginner. The technique had been refined hundreds of times to make it easier for the new generation to grasp.


    Under normal circumstances, a novice Awaken could master it in about a week. But Venix? He had conquered it in less than two days.


    Wasting no time, he contacted Luna using the watch on his wrist.


    A hologram appeared, and Luna¡¯s figure came into view on the screen.


    She was still wearing her research attire, seemingly busy despite it being the early hours of the morning.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Luna asked, her tone calm and relaxed, showing no signs of fatigue.


    ¡°I¡¯ve mastered everything! The Origin Meditation Technique, and even the supplementary technique you gave me before.¡± Venix¡¯s face glowed with happiness that was hard to hide.


    Luna raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. ¡°That fast? That¡¯s amazing! In that case, get some sleep first. We¡¯ll begin everything tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Why not now?¡± Venix interjected quickly, clearly unwilling to wait.


    Luna let out a long sigh. ¡°Look at yourself. Your eye bags are already dark. You need rest to ensure your body and mind are in their best condition.¡±


    ¡°Is it dangerous if I try now?¡± Venix asked, refusing to back down.


    Luna shook her head before replying, ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t be dangerous, not with me supervising. But¡ª¡±


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s do it now!¡± Venix interrupted again, his voice filled with determination.


    Luna stared at Venix with a peculiar expression.


    What was driving this young man to be so impatient? Shouldn¡¯t she be the one more eager, considering this was her own research? Yet now, the situation seemed reversed.


    Luna thought for a moment before finally nodding. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come to your room and take you to the basement.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Venix said, his face beaming.


    Luna simply shook her head as she ended the video call.


    \---


    Two minutes later, a knock sounded on his door. Venix jumped to his feet and opened it, welcoming Luna¡¯s arrival.


    Without delay, they walked to the lift and arrived at the first basement level.


    In the dimly lit room, Luna carried a box containing about 20 small glass vials. Each vial was filled with a shimmering blue liquid that looked extremely valuable.


    ¡°This is Awaken Elixir,¡± Luna explained, handing one of the small vials to Venix. ¡°It¡¯s an essential resource for Awaken. This liquid will provide you with the energy you need to train and strengthen your abilities.¡±


    Venix nodded slowly and took the small vial.


    Without hesitation, he drank it all in one gulp.


    In an instant, his body felt cool, as though doused with cold water on a sweltering day. He even heard a faint cracking sound from within, as if his bones were stretching and adjusting themselves.


    Luna continued her explanation. ¡°Awaken possess Origin Energy in their bodies. This energy is what sets them apart from regular humans.


    ¡°Origin Energy will automatically repair and strengthen your body¡ªyour bones, flesh, and muscles¡ªwithout you needing to do anything.


    ¡°This Awaken Elixir is just raw energy. It¡¯s not yet Origin Energy that you can directly utilize. You¡¯ll only have that when you reach the Awaken Early-Stage.¡±


    Venix closed his eyes briefly, sensing subtle changes within his body. The energy felt like a gentle breeze cleansing every corner of his being.


    When he opened his eyes again, he immediately asked, ¡°Can I drink another one?¡±


    Luna paused for a moment before answering. ¡°No. If you drink too much, your body will overload with energy, and it could harm you.¡±


    Venix frowned slightly and said, ¡°But... I feel like my body isn¡¯t full yet.¡±


    Luna gave him a sharp look and thought for a moment. Realizing something, she said, ¡°Follow me. We¡¯ll check.¡±


    Without further ado, they headed to the lift and descended deeper to the second basement level.


    The second level was a space designed specifically for Luna¡¯s research experiments, complete with advanced technology she had personally set up.


    Here, every movement and change within Venix¡¯s body would be closely monitored.


    Luna led him to a glass room surrounded by various futuristic machines, all crafted to support her research.


    Without preamble, Luna began attaching various equipment to Venix¡¯s body. Wires, sensors, and tiny metal nodes were connected directly to the surrounding machines.


    Five minutes later, Venix looked like a half-human, half-machine figure straight out of a legendary sci-fi story.


    ¡°I look like a cyborg now,¡± Venix remarked, glancing at his reflection.


    Luna stifled a laugh. ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t get too comfortable. You can move, but don¡¯t overdo it.¡±


    Venix nodded, testing his movements. Despite feeling odd, he could still move fairly comfortably.


    Then Luna brought over ten more vials of Awaken Elixir, placing them inside the glass room, right in front of Venix.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink them all at once. I¡¯ll tell you when to drink,¡± Luna instructed, her gaze sharp with warning.


    ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Venix replied, his tone relaxed but tinged with excitement.


    His journey to becoming a powerful Awaken was only beginning!


    Luna stepped out of the glass room and moved to the main control desk.


    In front of her, a large monitor displayed Venix¡¯s physical condition in real-time.


    As Venix had mentioned earlier, one vial of Awaken Elixir wasn¡¯t enough to fill the energy within his body.


    Wearing a headset, Luna spoke through the microphone. ¡°Try drinking one more vial.¡±


    Without hesitation, Venix grabbed another vial and drank it quickly.


    Luna closely observed the monitor. Energy streams appeared as they entered Venix¡¯s body, but¡­ once again, his body wasn¡¯t full!


    ¡°What? Two vials still aren¡¯t enough?¡± Luna muttered in disbelief.


    With the microphone still off, Venix couldn¡¯t hear her remarks.


    ¡°Try another one,¡± Luna instructed through the microphone.


    Venix picked up the third vial and drank it. He waited a moment, then moved his body.


    ¡°It still feels the same,¡± Venix said, confused.


    Luna studied the monitor, her face growing more astonished. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense! Three vials of elixir still can¡¯t fill him?¡±


    Based on the data she had collected, only a handful of novice Awaken had such a vast energy capacity.


    Venix was a rare anomaly with an energy capacity far beyond the norm!


    Feeling a surge of excitement, Luna said, ¡°Try one more!¡±


    Venix drank the fourth vial. This time, he started to feel something. ¡°Um... my body feels a little warm. Is that normal?¡±


    Luna furrowed her brow as she heard that, quickly adjusting the monitor¡¯s settings.


    The screen, which had previously displayed Venix¡¯s physical data, now switched to soul analysis mode.


    On the new screen, indicators of blue energy began appearing, revealing activity within Venix¡¯s soul.


    What Luna saw left her momentarily stunned.


    ¡°This is impossible...¡± she whispered, her eyes glued to the screen.


    The energy entering Venix¡¯s body was being directly absorbed by his soul! Even more astonishingly, the rate of absorption far exceeded the passive absorption typical of an Awaken.


    Venix¡¯s soul was absorbing the energy in a way she had never seen before!


    ¡°Venix, what kind of monster are you hiding within?¡± Luna murmured softly, a hint of worry creeping into her expression.

 Chapter 7

    ¡°Good heavens! What¡¯s with this speed? The Origin Fragment Realm is absorbing all the energy in mere seconds!¡± Luna gasped, her eyes wide as she watched Venix¡¯s body transform into an uncontrollable vortex of energy.


    Every Awaken¡¯s Seed Origin typically absorbs energy automatically, but the process is usually slow. Meditation techniques were developed to accelerate it.


    However, Venix¡¯s Seed Origin was devouring energy at an extraordinary rate. Even an entire bottle of Awaken Elixir vanished without a trace in moments.


    While this might seem like an advantage, Luna, with her extensive experience and knowledge, knew that something uncontrollable often spelled disaster.


    ¡°Venix, are you certain the Tentacle Monster is the right choice as your main Seed Origin?¡± Luna asked sharply, her tone filled with unease, and her eyes reflecting deep concern.


    After all, Venix had previously mentioned that, if given options, he¡¯d consider them first.


    ¡°I... I haven¡¯t decided yet. But why do you sound so worried?¡± Venix shifted slightly, groaning as a searing heat coursed through his body.


    Luna wasted no time. Without a word, she hurried into the glass chamber where Venix was.


    Standing behind him, she said curtly, ¡°Hold still. This might hurt a little.¡±


    Venix turned his head, puzzled. ¡°What do you mea¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, Luna¡¯s palm lit up with a blazing crimson glow, like a roaring flame.


    Without hesitation, Luna raised her glowing hand high and slammed it against Venix¡¯s back with full force.


    Bang!


    ¡°ARGHHH!!! What are you doing?!¡± Venix screamed, his body arching forward in agony.


    Instantly, the crimson light spread, resembling a fiery net that burned away the excess energy inside him.


    Within seconds, his pores opened wide, and streams of blue energy surged out like tidal waves, incinerating into vapor almost instantly.


    In less than a minute, all the energy in Venix¡¯s body had been completely drained. His soul was now incapable of absorbing any more energy¡ªat least temporarily.


    ¡°What did you just do to me?!¡± Venix yelled, turning to glare at Luna with a mixture of anger and confusion.


    Luna met his gaze with a guilty expression.


    ¡°The reason you could consume more than one bottle of Awaken Elixir is because your soul was absorbing that energy,¡± Luna explained softly.


    ¡°My soul?¡± Venix frowned, confusion evident on his face.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luna continued. ¡°The Seed Origin and the Origin Fragment Realm reside within a person¡¯s soul. Your Seed Origin was actively absorbing energy at an incredible speed¡ªeven I was shocked to see it.¡±


    ¡°Since you haven¡¯t chosen your main Seed Origin yet, I had no choice but to force all the energy out of your body.¡±


    Venix grimaced as he tried to process Luna¡¯s explanation.


    Luna paused for a moment before continuing in a serious tone. ¡°And there¡¯s another reason I did this. Anything an Awaken cannot control usually leads to disaster.¡±


    Venix¡¯s face tightened, stunned by Luna¡¯s words. So her actions earlier were to save him?


    ¡°What would¡¯ve happened if you hadn¡¯t stopped me?¡± Venix asked curiously.


    ¡°The main Seed Origin, the Tentacle Monster, is on the verge of its first evolution. Once that evolution is complete, its power will skyrocket,¡± Luna explained firmly.


    ¡°And if you choose another Seed Origin afterward, trust me¡ªits chances of keeping up with the Tentacle Monster are almost nonexistent. All your energy and time would go to waste.


    ¡°The purpose of the Origin Meditation Technique is to control and focus energy, directing it to the Origin Fragment Realm.


    ¡°This energy accelerates time within the Origin Fragment Realm, allowing the process of survival of the fittest to occur more quickly there.


    ¡°Think of it like this: the Tentacle Monster has already reached Level 2. Even if you choose a new Seed Origin and it reaches Level 2, the Tentacle Monster will have advanced to Level 3 by then. Ultimately, the Tentacle Monster will remain your main Seed Origin because you won¡¯t be able to match its level.¡±


    Luna concluded her explanation with a grave tone, ensuring Venix understood the gravity of the situation.


    Hearing this, Venix slowly nodded, a mix of relief and gratitude crossing his face.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Venix said sincerely.


    He knew Luna was right. Anything he couldn¡¯t control would never yield good results.


    If it were an external issue, Venix might have let it slide. But this was different. The problem was internal¡ªsomething deeply tied to him.


    If he couldn¡¯t control his own power, he¡¯d become a slave to it.


    ¡°It seems we¡¯ll need to make some modifications to suit your needs,¡± Luna said, her expression a blend of emotions.


    She hadn¡¯t anticipated facing such a situation. From the moment she met Venix, he had been just a random individual she¡¯d encountered by chance.


    Yet this random individual had achieved things that defied belief. How could Luna not be astounded?


    Luna began removing the equipment Venix was wearing, preparing to adjust it to better fit his requirements.


    ¡°Will these modifications take long?¡± Venix asked, curious.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already thought of a solution, and it¡¯s fairly simple,¡± Luna replied while continuing her work. ¡°I just need to add an infusion method to deliver Awaken Elixir directly into your body. This way, I can also control the amount of elixir entering your system.


    ¡°This means you won¡¯t have to worry about excess energy triggering an evolution too soon.¡±


    Luna picked up a piece of metal, contemplating something in her mind.


    Once she figured it out, she continued, ¡°You¡¯ll only need to use a minimal amount of energy to perform meditation techniques. Through soul observation, I can monitor when the technique is active, and I¡¯ll support you by delivering just the right amount of elixir directly into your body.


    ¡°These modifications aren¡¯t overly complicated. I¡¯ll have everything ready within an hour,¡± Luna said confidently.


    Venix looked at her with admiration. In such a short time, she had devised such a practical solution.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take a quick nap. Wake me when it¡¯s done,¡± Venix said, still feeling the lingering pain, as he stretched his body.


    Luna nodded without objection.


    Venix sat down in one of the chairs in the room, trying to sleep.


    Before falling asleep, he recalled how he had recently delved deeper into his system, discovering new settings and features he hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    One such feature caught his attention: a function that automatically returned his consciousness to the real world if his virtual body fell asleep or became unconscious.


    After some thought, Venix decided to disable this feature. This would allow him to sleep peacefully in the virtual world without fear of his consciousness suddenly snapping back to reality.


    Except in certain situations, Venix couldn¡¯t return to the real world and needed his consciousness to remain in the virtual world.


    An hour later, Luna woke him. She had finished modifying the equipment for Venix.


    Opening his eyes, Venix gazed at the glass chamber where he would meditate.


    Inside the chamber was a one-meter-tall tube filled with Awaken Elixir. A small hose connected to the tube, ready to channel the elixir directly into his body.


    As before, Luna assisted in attaching the equipment to Venix, ensuring every connection was secure.


    Once everything was ready, Luna checked his condition on the monitor screen.


    ¡°Your vitals are stable. Nothing unusual so far,¡± Luna said with a satisfied nod.


    Turning to Venix, she added, ¡°Now, begin meditating. Since this is your first time, it might take longer to enter a meditative state. With all this equipment on your body, you¡¯ll need to put in extra effort to relax.¡±


    Venix nodded, showing his understanding. Without delay, he began his meditation attempt.


    As an Awaken, Venix possessed an Origin Fragment Realm. This realm naturally generated a small, continuous amount of energy, providing a basic supply to an Awaken¡¯s body.


    Venix closed his eyes slowly, trying to feel the flow of origin energy within his body. Though faint at first, he gradually sensed it.


    Five minutes passed, and Venix began to feel a subtle energy coursing through his body.


    This energy felt like warm sparks, flowing gently yet full of potential. With sharpened focus, he attempted to control it, slowly directing it toward his head.


    Each spark moved gradually, like glowing specks of dust being drawn toward the same point.


    The process took quite some time¡ªhalf an hour in total. Finally, the accumulated energy was substantial enough to form Venix''s Astral Body.


    Inside his body, a miniature version of himself emerged. This Astral Body was simple, devoid of facial features or details, resembling a small stickman.


    Without hesitation, Venix proceeded to the next stage: accessing the Origin Fragment Realm located within his soul.


    Minutes later, a glowing blue line appeared, connecting Venix''s Astral Body to the Origin Fragment Realm at the core of his soul.


    This line acted as a pathway, making it easier for Venix to locate and access the Origin Fragment Realm.


    The next step was to guide his Astral Body along the line toward a place that felt like home¡ªhis soul.


    The process felt natural; there were no obstacles, only a calmness enveloping his journey.


    Quickly, Venix¡¯s Astral Body arrived at the Origin Fragment Realm.


    The sight before him was magical.


    The Origin Fragment Realm appeared as a sea of multicolored dust moving in unpredictable patterns, each hue radiating a mysterious aura. However, Venix could not fully comprehend or perceive the intricate details of this world. He merely stood still before the Origin Fragment Realm, a center of power that served as the core of an Awaken.


    Meanwhile, Luna, monitoring Venix through a screen, noticed signs indicating that he had reached the Origin Fragment Realm.


    Luna promptly injected several drops of Awaken Elixir into Venix''s body.


    The liquid flowed in, and without requiring any action from Venix, the energy from the elixir was immediately absorbed by his soul, as if this was a process long predestined.


    The energy naturally moved toward the Origin Fragment Realm.


    To Venix, everything felt instinctive, like a mechanism in his body that knew exactly what to do without his direct intervention.


    Previously, the energy flowing through Venix¡¯s body was directly linked to the Origin Fragment Realm.


    However, once his consciousness entered his soul, that energy began merging and connecting directly to his Astral Body.


    As the energy connected to his Astral Body, changes occurred rapidly.


    Hair began to grow, slowly framing the head of Venix¡¯s Astral Body. The previously featureless face started taking shape¡ªeyes, a nose, and lips emerging with increasing detail.


    Despite this, Venix''s Astral Body remained entirely blue, devoid of other colors.


    Finally, his Astral Body was complete. With his fully-formed Astral Body, Venix could see through its eyes for the first time.


    ¡°This view\... it¡¯s extraordinary,¡± Venix murmured softly, his voice a mix of awe and profound wonder.


    Before him, the Origin Fragment Realm resembled a miniature galaxy.


    The tiny specks of dust were filled with minuscule stars rotating in harmony, emitting a gentle yet mesmerizing light.


    Wasting no time, Venix extended both hands, placing his astral palms upon the Origin Fragment Realm.


    Focusing intently, Venix channeled his energy, enveloping the Origin Fragment Realm entirely.


    As his energy flowed, time within the Origin Fragment Realm began to accelerate.


    The "Survival of the Fittest" process occurring inside was intensified, accelerating the natural selection within the Origin Fragment Realm.


    However, Venix maintained control, ensuring the acceleration did not exceed the threshold or become too rapid.


    With his eyes closed, Venix allowed his consciousness to delve deeper into the Origin Fragment Realm.


    When he opened his eyes again, Venix found himself in another world.


    A world filled with majestic scenery¡ªtowering mountains in the distance, dense forests stretching far and wide, and an atmosphere that felt fresh yet brimming with mysterious energy.


    Venix had entered the Origin Fragment Realm.


    Like a spectator, Venix could see everything clearly. His gaze locked onto a peculiar sight within this world.


    ¡°That¡­¡± Venix muttered, his tone tinged with surprise.


    His eyes caught a massive, striking figure atop a mountain.


    A Tentacle Monster, grotesque and enormous, was hunting a tiger. Its long, sinuous tentacles coiled tightly around the tiger¡¯s body.


    In an instant, the tiger¡¯s life was completely drained, leaving its body an empty husk.


    Venix¡¯s body tensed, his skin prickling. Every movement of the Tentacle Monster exuded an aura so oppressive it felt like merely witnessing it from afar was enough to paralyze anyone''s courage.


    Its bloodthirsty, ruthless, and merciless nature was evident in its every action. The monster appeared far more terrifying compared to when Venix had seen it through the mirror earlier.


    ¡°This is¡­ truly horrifying,¡± Venix thought, his chest pounding as he struggled to calm himself amidst the overwhelming dread.


    Others, including Luna, who was currently monitoring Venix¡¯s soul, could only see a rough outline from the outside.


    They could not access the true essence of Venix¡¯s Seed Origin. In fact, no one could clearly perceive the core of another person¡¯s Seed Origin¡ªonly the individual themselves could.


    Within the Origin Fragment Realm, Venix began noticing something unusual at the center of the Tentacle Monster''s body.


    Previously, the Tentacle Monster had only nine tentacles connected to one another without any additional body structure.


    But now, a new form was beginning to take shape at its center, indicating that its evolution was progressing.


    Venix felt an urge to try connecting with the Tentacle Monster using the Meditation Technique he had learned.


    Through this technique, he could establish a bond with the Seed Origins in the Origin Fragment Realm, guiding and empowering them.


    When Venix attempted to connect with the Tentacle Monster, his power was effortlessly repelled, and he was unable to establish any connection.


    ¡°What!? How is it possible for it to reject my power!?¡± Venix was stunned, his Astral Body¡¯s expression clearly reflecting his confusion.


    It was important to remember that Venix was akin to a god descending into this realm. Yet this Tentacle Monster, supposedly weaker, outright rejected his power.


    Venix¡¯s emotions shifted as a newfound determination grew within him.


    ¡°No, this tentacle monster is too dangerous! No matter how strong it is, it will only become a ticking time bomb for me.¡± Resolutely, Venix decided against making the Tentacle Monster his primary Seed Origin.


    Venix knew that if no other options were available, he would have to choose a different Seed Origin.


    Swiftly, he began examining each Seed Origin within the Origin Fragment Realm.


    Each Seed Origin had a unique form¡ªmany resembled animals or even bizarre hybrids of animals and plants, their shapes strange and full of mystery.


    Venix encountered a butterfly with a humanoid body.


    He also saw a creature with the heads of a snake, tiger, and turtle. But the most striking was a figure that made Venix pause for a moment¡ªa dragon!


    The dragon had a body resembling a Komodo dragon, with two large wings on its back. When Venix saw the dragon, a sense of shock and awe overwhelmed him.


    ¡°This is it!¡± Venix could hardly contain his excitement.


    This dragon¡ªthe king of mythical creatures¡ªif any being could defeat the Tentacle Monster, it was undoubtedly this dragon!


    Without hesitation, Venix immediately attempted to connect with the dragon. This time, the connection was established quickly!


    Venix could feel the dragon¡¯s energy flowing into him, a seemingly limitless power ready to be harnessed.


    However, despite being easier to control than the Tentacle Monster, Venix understood that this dragon was driven purely by animalistic instincts. It was no more intelligent than the other Seed Origins.


    Like the Tentacle Monster, this dragon was a predator within its domain.


    With high hopes, Venix directed the dragon toward the Tentacle Monster¡¯s territory, hoping it could vanquish his enemy.


    Under Venix¡¯s guidance, the dragon flew confidently, following his lead.


    As the dragon approached within fifty meters of the Tentacle Monster''s territory, something unexpected happened.


    The dragon suddenly let out a loud roar, resisting Venix¡¯s control as he attempted to guide it closer to the Tentacle Monster.


    Venix was shocked, utterly baffled by the dragon''s sudden rebellion.


    Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, the dragon turned around and fled as far as it could from the Tentacle Monster''s territory.


    Venix was stunned.


    He had never expected a creature as mighty as a dragon to flee in fear like this!

 Chapter 8

    As the dragon fled, Venix was stunned!


    Through the connection he shared with the creature, Venix could sense the dragon¡¯s profound fear¡ªso vivid it felt as if the dragon were screaming inside his mind.


    If the dragon could speak, its words might have been:


    ¡°You¡¯re asking me to commit suicide by facing that monster? Forget it! I¡¯m too young to die!¡±


    Venix was shocked by the intensity of the dragon¡¯s emotions, but he didn¡¯t give up.


    With all his might, he tried to convince the dragon to return.


    ¡°You¡¯re a dragon! A legendary and sacred beast! And you¡¯re afraid to face that little creature?!¡± Venix shouted passionately, trying to ignite the dragon¡¯s courage.


    Yet, the more Venix pushed his will upon the dragon, the stronger its resistance grew.


    Each attempt only weakened their bond further, until finally, Venix was forced to release the connection.


    Breathing heavily, Venix could only watch as the dragon retreated into the distance, feeling utterly defeated.


    ¡°All Seed Origins follow their natural instincts, and the instinct for survival is the strongest of all,¡± Venix muttered with a voice full of sorrow. ¡°One of the most primal survival instincts is avoiding danger.¡±


    Venix stood still, lost in thought.


    If even a dragon¡ªa legendary and supposedly invincible creature¡ªfeared facing the Tentacle Monster, who else could stand against it?


    But Venix didn¡¯t have the luxury of staying in despair. He knew he had to find a solution.


    With rising frustration, he began reaching out to other Seed Origins that appeared strong, leaping from one to the next, searching for potential candidates capable of rivaling the Tentacle Monster.


    Yet every time he tried, the result was the same: all the Seed Origins he encountered exhibited the same fear.


    They all fled from the Tentacle Monster¡¯s territory as if their instincts were screaming to keep away.


    Venix grew increasingly restless, his mind racing. The tension within him mounted.


    If he couldn¡¯t find a Seed Origin willing to confront the Tentacle Monster, nothing could stop it from becoming his dominant Seed Origin!


    "I may have to find a seemingly ordinary Seed Origin with extraordinary courage," Venix thought aloud. Then, suddenly, something caught his eye¡ªsomething he had overlooked before.


    It was a plain creature¡ªa vulture!


    Its appearance was unimpressive. Its feathers were dark brown, and its posture lacked any distinguishing features that set it apart from other creatures.


    Compared to the other Seed Origins, the vulture seemed like an ordinary animal that had accidentally wandered into the wrong world.


    But Venix wasn¡¯t drawn to the vulture¡¯s appearance. What captured his attention was its location.


    The vulture stood tall on the sturdy branch of a high tree, scanning its surroundings with sharp vigilance, as if carefully assessing every situation.


    Not far from where it perched, the dragon Venix had controlled earlier was fiercely battling and mercilessly preying upon various creatures.


    The dragon spewed fire from its mouth, destroying everything in its path.


    The area was a terrifyingly dangerous place, yet the vulture remained calm, showing no hint of fear.


    Venix observed the vulture intently, and what he saw next left him astonished.


    As the dragon clawed one of the Seed Origins to death, the vulture¡¯s body began to glow faintly, emitting an intimidating aura¡ªnot overly powerful, but enough to grab the dragon¡¯s attention.


    The dragon halted momentarily, provoked by the display, and turned its gaze toward the vulture.


    At the same moment, the vulture moved swiftly. Its wings flapped powerfully, propelling its body forward with remarkable speed.


    In an instant, it swooped toward the carcass slain by the dragon, seized it with its sharp talons, and quickly flew away to feed on it in a safer location.


    Venix watched the entire scene in silence, awe-struck by what he had just witnessed.


    ¡°Incredible!¡± Venix exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. ¡°This vulture is remarkable! Even though its strength might be the weakest here, its courage, composure, and strategy allow it to survive and adapt in such a perilous environment!¡±


    Venix felt a newfound determination ignite within him.


    The vulture¡¯s bravery, despite lacking overwhelming power, offered a glimmer of hope.


    Perhaps this vulture was the only Seed Origin with the courage to approach the Tentacle Monster!


    With firm resolve, Venix immediately linked himself to the vulture without hesitation.


    As he attempted the connection, it formed effortlessly, without any resistance.


    The moment their bond solidified, Venix could feel the vulture¡¯s emotions deeply.


    Calmness was the first thing he noticed, but there was also a sharp vigilance¡ªa constant readiness to anticipate anything around it.


    Though the vulture appeared serene on the surface, Venix could sense that every move it made was imbued with caution and awareness.


    The roar of an angry dragon echoed in the distance, shattering the stillness.


    The dragon, clearly enraged by the theft of its prey, let out a furious cry filled with hatred and confusion.


    But the vulture remained calm, undisturbed as it devoured its stolen meal from afar.


    ¡°Fascinating,¡± Venix murmured with a faint smile. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s see if you¡¯re brave enough to approach the Tentacle Monster!¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Using their strong connection, Venix guided the vulture to fly toward the territory controlled by the Tentacle Monster.


    100 meters...


    50 meters...


    The vulture showed no sign of stopping, even as they drew closer to the lurking danger.


    The tension was palpable, and Venix could sense a subtle resistance from the vulture.


    Yet upon deeper examination of its emotions, he realized it wasn¡¯t resistance but doubt¡ªa flicker of hesitation within the vulture¡¯s heart.


    Ahead of them loomed the Tentacle Monster¡ªthe ultimate predator of the Origin Fragment Realm.


    If the vulture felt fear, it would be completely understandable.


    But what happened next was unexpected.


    The vulture didn¡¯t flee, unlike every other Seed Origin before it.


    Instead, with extraordinary bravery, it soared higher, out of the Tentacle Monster¡¯s attack range.


    With enough distance between them, the vulture continued to advance.


    ¡°Impressive!¡± Venix exclaimed excitedly, amazed by the vulture¡¯s unparalleled courage.


    The vulture pressed on before finally stopping mid-air and circling overhead.


    Below, the enormous and fearsome Tentacle Monster continued feasting on other Seed Origins, completely unaware of the smaller, more agile vulture hovering high above.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re so resilient and fearless, I choose you!¡± Venix declared with admiration. ¡°Now, return and hunt other creatures first!¡±


    Obediently, the vulture followed Venix¡¯s instructions, flying away from the Tentacle Monster, heading toward the dragon¡¯s location.


    With its speed and agility, the vulture effortlessly navigated the air, as if nothing could obstruct its path.


    Initially, Venix only wanted to test the vulture¡¯s courage¡ªwhether it dared approach the Tentacle Monster or not.


    If the vulture had retreated, there would have been no point in supporting or empowering it further.


    But once Venix realized the vulture had the audacity to face such a formidable threat, he knew this was an opportunity to nurture the creature to its full potential.


    Venix was not tempted to confront the Tentacle Monster right away. Instead, he believed that strengthening the vulture gradually was the wiser approach before engaging in a direct battle.


    With unwavering confidence, Venix bestowed a Blessing upon the vulture¡ªa divine favor that enhanced its strength and abilities, granting it power beyond its natural limits.


    This blessing, however, was not something to be given lightly. It was a one-time opportunity for Venix to tie his destiny to the vulture. If the vulture were to perish, Venix would have to rely on the whims of nature to determine his primary Seed Origin.


    The Meditation Technique offered two ways to strengthen a chosen Seed Origin, but the second method couldn¡¯t be used recklessly.


    Empowered by the blessing, the vulture¡¯s confidence began to grow. It felt stronger, braver, and better prepared to face the challenges ahead.


    The vulture''s first step after receiving the blessing was bold: it started stealing prey killed by a dragon. Initially, it dared to take only one carcass, but as its confidence grew, so did the number of stolen prey.


    This enraged the dragon, which had initially been mildly annoyed. Its growing anger eventually escalated to the point where it attacked the vulture.


    Sensing the danger early on with its heightened vigilance, the vulture made a swift escape, leaving the dragon¡¯s territory behind.


    However, Venix was dissatisfied with the vulture¡¯s passive approach.


    ¡°Its progress is slower than I anticipated,¡± he mused. The vulture seemed content waiting for opportunities to scavenge kills made by others, lacking the initiative to take bolder actions.


    Responding to this, Venix gave clear guidance:


    ¡°When the opportunity arises, attack! Don¡¯t just wait for them to die¡ªyou can take them both down one after another, or even simultaneously. Don¡¯t hesitate to seize the initiative!¡±


    The vulture listened intently to Venix¡¯s directions and began implementing them.


    Gradually but surely, the vulture¡¯s hunting style changed. No longer passive, it became more aggressive, actively seeking opportunities to attack and steal prey.


    With Venix¡¯s guidance strengthening their bond, their teamwork improved significantly. They hunted in tandem, supporting each other at every turn.


    \---


    Meanwhile, outside the Origin Fragment Realm, Luna summoned her servants to retrieve the Awaken Elixir stored on the first underground floor.


    Luna knew Venix was undergoing a crucial process, and she needed to ensure there was enough elixir to sustain his meditation.


    ¡°It¡¯s been twelve hours already,¡± she murmured softly, her eyes fixed on the monitor. ¡°How much longer will this boy continue meditating?¡±


    The monitor displayed a highly active Origin Fragment Realm, yet Venix showed no signs of stopping.


    From the display, Luna could tell that Venix¡¯s Seed Origin was still in the form of a Tentacle Monster, meaning he hadn¡¯t succeeded in replacing or displacing it with another Seed Origin.


    She observed how Venix was carefully manipulating time within the Realm, slowing it down deliberately. This suggested that Venix was determined to prevent the Tentacle Monster from evolving too quickly while strategizing to strengthen his chosen Seed Origin.


    Inside the Origin Fragment Realm, Venix and the vulture continued their efforts with growing success.


    ¡°Keep attacking the dragon¡¯s back!¡± Venix commanded.


    With incredible speed, the vulture soared through the air, diving down to strike the dragon¡¯s back repeatedly.


    Bang!


    ¡°Roarrrr!!!¡± The dragon bellowed in pain.


    The vulture¡¯s relentless assaults disrupted and wounded the dragon continuously. Its tough, armored skin had begun to crack, exposing raw flesh beneath.


    ¡°Retreat!¡± Venix ordered.


    The vulture swiftly distanced itself from the dragon, scouting for other prey in the vicinity.


    By now, the vulture had grown significantly stronger. Its size had increased, and its once-pristine feathers were now darkened, exuding a menacing aura. Its power felt increasingly formidable.


    Using his divine observation, Venix identified the three strongest Seed Origins in the Realm: the Tentacle Monster remained the most powerful, followed by the dragon, and then a six-headed serpent.


    Despite its growth, the vulture was still no match for these three creatures. Its courage was its greatest asset, but its raw strength was still insufficient for a direct confrontation.


    \---


    The Tentacle Monster had undergone further evolution, and Venix observed a small fetus forming at its core.


    ¡°It looks like a human fetus,¡± Venix muttered, his eyes narrowing at the sight.


    He realized the Tentacle Monster¡¯s growing strength demanded that he accelerate the vulture¡¯s development.


    The vulture occasionally attacked both the dragon and the serpent, aiming to inflict serious damage by targeting specific points. Every Seed Origin slain caused the Origin Fragment Realm to shrink, forcing the remaining creatures into closer proximity and more frequent battles.


    Although the vulture sustained injuries, its increasingly robust body allowed it to recover quickly.


    Unlike the dragon¡¯s hardened armor, the six-headed serpent was less durable, and the vulture¡¯s repeated strikes began to take a toll.


    Venix sensed the opportunity.


    ¡°Finish the serpent!¡± he commanded.


    The vulture dove toward the serpent¡¯s injured head, its claws glowing crimson. It launched a ferocious attack, tearing through the serpent¡¯s flesh.


    Shing! Rip! Splurch!


    Blood sprayed as the vulture¡¯s claws gouged deep wounds.


    Though the serpent resisted, it was visibly weakening. The vulture hesitated, ready to retreat, but Venix urged it on.


    ¡°Keep attacking! Dig deeper!¡±


    Trusting Venix completely, the vulture resumed its assault, clawing through the serpent¡¯s flesh.


    The serpent¡¯s corrosive blood splattered onto the vulture, burning its feathers and skin. Yet, the vulture¡¯s natural resilience allowed it to endure.


    Eventually, the vulture was thrown back by the serpent¡¯s spasms, blood spraying everywhere.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough! Fall back!¡± Venix ordered.


    Though wounded, the vulture retreated, watching as the serpent weakened further from blood loss. Its regeneration was too slow to counteract the damage.


    After several tense minutes, the serpent¡¯s movements slowed.


    ¡°Now, absorb it,¡± Venix instructed.


    The vulture descended, its claws glowing with a dark red aura as it began extracting the serpent¡¯s life essence. The serpent¡¯s body withered rapidly, and within moments, it was no more.


    \---


    The vulture¡¯s transformation was remarkable.


    Now at level 3 (early stage), it was still behind the dragon (mid-stage) and the Tentacle Monster (late-stage, nearing level 4), but its newfound abilities were promising:


    1\. Inferno Annihilation ¨C A devastating ultimate attack, unleashing a core explosion that could annihilate everything nearby.


    2\. Undying Resolve ¨C A survival skill allowing the vulture to endure a fatal blow, leaving it with a single point of life.


    ¡°These will be crucial,¡± Venix thought, his enthusiasm growing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop now! Keep hunting! We can¡¯t let the Tentacle Monster get too far ahead!¡±


    Feeling Venix¡¯s fervent emotions, the vulture immediately responded. Its sharp gaze swept across its surroundings, quickly locking onto a group of Seed Origins fleeing from its presence.


    The vulture, once more patient, now displayed a look of dissatisfaction. Watching those creatures escape stirred a sense of challenge within it.


    With refined hunting techniques, the vulture decided to pursue them¡ªthis hunt would undoubtedly be more exhausting, but it was also an opportunity to further hone its strength.

 Chapter 9

    Two days had passed.


    Luna stood outside the glass chamber, her gaze fixed on Venix, her expression unreadable.


    She stared at him in confusion. As a novice¡ªespecially one fighting in the Origin Fragment Realm¡ªhow could Venix endure for so long?


    What Luna didn¡¯t realize was that the synchronization between Vulture and Venix had grown stronger, making Venix¡¯s Astral Body more solid and defined than ever before.


    Instead of weakening over time, as typically happened with an Awaken¡¯s Astral Body, Venix¡¯s condition was improving, enabling him to last even longer.


    With a continuous supply of Awaken Elixir, combined with Venix¡¯s experiences in the Origin Fragment Realm and his bond with Vulture, Venix was able to endure an extraordinary amount of time.


    Meanwhile, Venix was fully immersed in the virtual world.


    He no longer cared about the real world¡ªthe one he was supposed to inhabit.


    In the Origin Fragment Realm, Venix was eager to work alongside Vulture.


    Over the last two days, Vulture had reached the peak of Level 3, while the Dragon also stood at the same level, though it was on the verge of breaking through to Level 4.


    However, the Tentacle Monster stood in a league of its own, easily advancing to Level 4¡ªsomething Venix could not prevent. All he could do was watch helplessly as it grew stronger.


    The Tentacle Monster¡¯s appearance had drastically changed. At its core was a dark purple humanoid figure of a child, with nine massive tentacles fused to its back.


    ¡°We can¡¯t delay any longer,¡± Venix muttered gravely, his gaze fixed on the Dragon.


    The Dragon looked exhausted, its back covered in wounds far worse than before.


    If not for its formidable natural regeneration ability, it would have fallen to Vulture and Venix long ago.


    Now, the only way to catch up to the Tentacle Monster¡¯s level was to consume the Dragon.


    Vulture had grown significantly in size, now reaching a third of the Dragon¡¯s size. The Tentacle Monster, on the other hand, matched Vulture in sheer bulk.


    ¡°Attack its back!¡± Venix commanded, his eyes gleaming with determination.


    Following Venix¡¯s lead, Vulture launched an aggressive assault on the Dragon¡¯s back.


    The attack was effective, but time was not on their side. The Dragon¡¯s resilience was immense. If the battle dragged on, Vulture would eventually lose.


    Until now, Venix had been methodically wearing down the Dragon¡¯s back, employing the same strategy he¡¯d used against the Snake before.


    However, the damage inflicted was always countered by the Dragon¡¯s regenerative abilities.


    The result? Almost nothing.


    With no other choice, Vulture fought with unrelenting ferocity, trying to create a massive opening on the Dragon¡¯s back.


    The battle grew so intense that other Seed Origins in the vicinity fled, avoiding the small apocalypse unfolding before them.


    Vulture¡¯s beak began to glow with a brilliant red light. Its body dove sharply, striking the Dragon¡¯s nearly shattered back.


    Shiiiiing! Slam! Craaash!


    ¡°Roaarrrr!!!¡±


    The hardened armor covering the Dragon¡¯s back shattered instantly, exposing the soft flesh beneath.


    ¡°Now! Keep attacking!¡± Venix shouted, his voice filled with determination.


    Without hesitation, Vulture began tearing into the exposed flesh with its beak and claws.


    The Dragon¡¯s corrosive blood flowed freely, making every attack increasingly perilous.


    However, the blood was no trivial matter. It was far deadlier than the Snake¡¯s blood. Vulture¡¯s body, already caked in dried blood, now appeared even more gruesome, mingled with the Dragon¡¯s darker red blood.


    The Dragon roared, thrashing wildly. With all its might, it began to ascend into the sky, attempting to throw off Vulture, which clung to it like a parasite.


    But Vulture, too, was beginning to show signs of exhaustion. Its body was riddled with wounds, and the corrosive effects of the Dragon¡¯s blood only worsened its condition.


    Seeing the wounds on the Dragon¡¯s back, Venix realized this was their final opportunity.


    ¡°Use Inferno Annihilation!¡± Venix commanded firmly.


    Quickly, Vulture released a glowing red orb from its mouth, planting it into the gaping wound on the Dragon¡¯s back.


    ¡°Hurry! Escape!¡± Venix urged.


    Vulture wrenched itself free with all its might, attempting to flee.


    But the Dragon wasn¡¯t about to let it go. It unleashed every ounce of its strength to chase after Vulture.


    ¡°Damn it! If it stays close to you, the explosion will hurt you too!¡± Venix yelled in panic.


    Vulture desperately tried to distance itself, but the Dragon pursued relentlessly, like a shadow that couldn¡¯t be escaped.


    The Inferno Annihilation attack had drained nearly all of Vulture¡¯s energy, drastically slowing its flight.


    Venix thought quickly. He knew that if this continued, Vulture wouldn¡¯t be able to escape.


    Then an idea struck him.


    ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t move!¡± Venix shouted decisively.


    Vulture hesitated. Stop in front of such a massive enemy? But with the trust they¡¯d built, Vulture chose to believe in Venix.


    It halted mid-flight and stayed still.


    ¡°Brace yourself! Prepare for impact!¡± Venix shouted again, ensuring Vulture followed his orders.


    Vulture immediately adopted a defensive stance, spreading its wings wide to create a natural shield with its remaining strength.


    Seconds later, the attack landed.


    The Dragon¡¯s massive wings and claws struck Vulture with full force.


    Bam! Whooosssshhhhh!


    Vulture¡¯s body was sent hurtling to the ground, crashing into the earth with tremendous force.


    Boom!!!


    The impact created a massive crater, leaving Vulture sprawled in its depths, wounded from head to toe.


    Before the Dragon could celebrate its victory, the glowing orb embedded in its back began to tremble, erupting with catastrophic power.


    Boom!!!


    The explosion resembled a miniature sun, engulfing the entire Origin Fragment Realm in a fiery inferno.


    As the light faded, the Dragon¡¯s limp form hung suspended in mid-air, lifeless.


    Its body, now sporting a massive hole through its chest, plummeted to the ground.


    Boom!!!


    The Dragon lay motionless, devoid of any signs of life.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Quick! Absorb its corpse!¡± Venix ordered with labored breaths.


    Despite its injuries and its strength depleted by 90%, Vulture slowly rose.


    Its body wobbled, but its resolve remained unshaken. It flew toward the Dragon¡¯s corpse, landing on the massive wound, and began absorbing it hungrily.


    Several other Seed Origins crept closer, drawn by the scent of death, hoping to capitalize on the situation.


    But they didn¡¯t know who they were dealing with.


    As it absorbed the Dragon¡¯s corpse and regained a fraction of its strength, Vulture sprang into action.


    With precise ranged attacks, it mercilessly slaughtered them, defending its prey.


    Watching this, Venix let out a sigh of relief. The process had gone more smoothly than he had anticipated.


    Now, all that was left was to wait for Vulture to fully absorb the Dragon¡¯s corpse.


    The process was slow due to Vulture¡¯s weakened state, significantly reducing its absorption speed.


    In six hours of real-world time, Vulture had only managed to absorb half of the Dragon¡¯s body.


    But the results were extraordinary.


    Absorbing the Dragon¡¯s corpse pushed Vulture to Level 4, triggering a higher form of evolution.


    Its appearance now radiated menace, exuding an aura of newfound power.


    At Level 4, Vulture experienced a massive boost in strength.


    Its passive regeneration ability, which had already surpassed most Seed Origins, received a tremendous upgrade. Its recovery rate now rivaled that of the six-headed Snake it had previously defeated.


    Even as Vulture absorbed the Dragon¡¯s corpse, Venix noticed something remarkable: its depleted energy slowly replenished, and its wounds healed faster than expected.


    For Venix, this was good news¡ªat least for now.


    Even more astonishingly, the evolution to Level 4 not only enhanced its regeneration abilities but also accelerated its energy absorption rate.


    In just two hours, the massive Dragon¡¯s corpse had been entirely absorbed.


    Vulture¡¯s body now shone with its newfound strength, radiating an intimidating aura.


    Turning his gaze toward the distance, Venix focused on the Tentacle Monster.


    Venix assessed the situation carefully.


    ¡°Vulture has surpassed the Tentacle Monster¡¯s level,¡± Venix murmured thoughtfully, his voice tinged with caution. ¡°But the gap isn¡¯t wide enough to guarantee victory.¡±


    The Tentacle Monster was no ordinary foe.


    Even though its level was slightly lower than Vulture¡¯s, its terrifying abilities made it a force even the Dragon feared.


    From Venix¡¯s observations, the Tentacle Monster¡¯s greatest strength lay in ensnaring its prey and slowly absorbing them.


    Venix had never seen it engage in direct combat with other Seed Origins. It simply trapped and drained them, rendering them powerless.


    Venix took a deep breath, preparing himself for the inevitable confrontation.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Venix said quietly but firmly. ¡°The final battle. Vulture, are you ready?¡±


    Vulture stared at the distant Tentacle Monster, its eyes narrowing. There was no hesitation, only resolve.


    ¡°Go!¡± Venix commanded.


    Without a moment¡¯s delay, Vulture shot toward the Tentacle Monster, its wings slicing through the air with blinding speed.


    The air around them seemed to tighten, heralding the impending clash¡ªa showdown between the top predators of the Origin Fragment Realm!


    "Be careful with its tentacles. Each one is extremely dangerous," Venix warned with a tense tone. "If it grabs you and you don¡¯t escape immediately, it will absorb you completely."


    Venix had been observing the Tentacle Monster for quite some time¡ªlong enough to grasp the horror of this enemy.


    Above the gloomy skies, Vulture hovered, eyeing its primary opponent below on the ground.


    The Tentacle Monster, with its nine tentacles, moved with unnerving agility and coordination, leaving almost no openings¡ªno blind spots to exploit.


    Venix felt a sharp pain in his head as he racked his brain for a new strategy.


    But strategies that had worked against a Dragon or a six-headed Serpent would be ineffective here.


    This opponent was too different.


    "I¡¯m leaving everything to you," Venix sighed, acknowledging his limitations. "I don¡¯t have much combat experience, and my suggestions might end up being more of a hindrance to you."


    Deep inside, Venix felt a tinge of frustration.


    If only he could remember Luna, still out there somewhere, perhaps he could seek her advice and take a break from this.


    But ever since entering the Origin Fragment Realm, his mind had been consumed with developing his Seed Origin, casting aside all thoughts of the outside world as if it no longer mattered.


    Vulture, on the other hand, remained calm¡ªeven in this dire situation.


    If it were just a wild vulture, it might have been timid and refrained from taking reckless actions, relying on its natural instincts to survive and merely awaiting its end.


    But now, after working with Venix, Vulture had changed. Its combat style was more measured, more strategic, and far bolder.


    Even so, this fight was no less daunting for it.


    Despite facing an opponent that seemed invincible, Vulture harbored no hesitation. It shot forward at incredible speed, directly targeting the Tentacle Monster!


    The final battle for the throne as King had begun.


    A crimson aura radiated from Vulture¡¯s body, encasing it in deadly energy. Its wings, now like swords, seemed capable of slicing through anything with a single sweep.


    Its beak and talons glowed sharply, ready to tear through its foe.


    Vulture¡¯s first attack struck like lightning, creating a deafening boom in the air. The Tentacle Monster flinched, caught off guard by the bird¡¯s sudden charge.


    In one fluid motion, Vulture swung its wing at a tentacle attempting to block its path.


    Slish!


    One tentacle was severed cleanly, dropping to the ground like a felled tree branch.


    Venix¡¯s eyes gleamed at the sight.


    But his relief was short-lived.


    Almost immediately, the severed tentacle began to move, reconnecting with the main body like liquid merging into itself.


    Seeing this, Venix¡¯s heart sank to the pit of despair.


    ¡°Damn it... how are we supposed to win against regeneration like that!?¡± Venix cursed, his voice filled with anger.


    Vulture, though startled, did not retreat.


    It hovered steadily, preparing for its next strike. Meanwhile, Venix¡¯s mind raced, cycling through potential strategies. How could they possibly defeat an enemy that seemed indestructible?


    After pondering briefly, Vulture attempted to flee, hoping to escape the looming danger.


    But the remaining eight tentacles swiftly blocked its escape route, trapping Vulture in an endless fight.


    On the ground, the humanoid figure controlling the Tentacle Monster grinned victoriously, its gaze fixed on Vulture with a ravenous hunger.


    ¡°Attack the humanoid controlling the tentacles!¡± Venix shouted, clarity striking him like a lightning bolt. ¡°That¡¯s the core of the Tentacle Monster!¡±


    Vulture listened intently to Venix¡¯s instructions and immediately shifted its attack toward the humanoid figure at the center of the tentacles.


    Slash!


    Vulture¡¯s initial strike grazed the humanoid¡¯s skin, but the wound healed instantly, as if it had never been there.


    ¡°Damn it! Even its humanoid form has regenerative abilities!?¡± Venix yelled, his expression souring. Despair began to take hold of him. ¡°This is impossible! This monster has no weaknesses! Even the Dragon¡¯s Seed Origin would struggle against it!¡±


    Unable to inflict any significant damage on the humanoid¡¯s body, Vulture found itself increasingly cornered.


    Its legs were now firmly gripped by two massive tentacles, leaving no room for escape.


    Venix¡¯s heart churned with anger and bitterness. After all this effort, were they truly powerless against the Tentacle Monster?


    Worse still, this wasn¡¯t even a fight¡ªit was a one-sided slaughter.


    ¡°Vulture only has two abilities left¡ªInferno Annihilation and Undying Resolve... But what¡¯s the point?¡± Venix muttered, his face twisted in frustration. ¡°After Inferno Annihilation, what can it do? Even if Vulture survives using Undying Resolve, it¡¯ll only buy a few more seconds...!¡±


    Doubt clouded Venix¡¯s mind as he wondered whether Inferno Annihilation could even leave a mark on the Tentacle Monster.


    ¡°If only the Buff I provided had been stronger... Maybe there¡¯d be a chance...¡± Venix thought regretfully.


    But then, as if struck by a sudden realization, an idea sparked in Venix¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Meditation techniques provide two Buffs that support the main Seed Origin,¡± Venix recalled quickly. ¡°The first Buff enhances the Seed Origin¡¯s power, while the second is... Astral Bond.¡±


    Astral Bond was a technique known to significantly boost the strength of a Seed Origin.


    Venix continued musing, ¡°Astral Bond is meant for the final stage of Seed formation, requiring a massive surge of power to fully merge the Seed. And this technique sacrifices an Awaken¡¯s Astral Body to activate the Bond.


    ¡°If an Awaken¡¯s Astral Body is destroyed, it won¡¯t recover until they reach the Seedbound stage,¡± Venix remembered the warning. ¡°That¡¯s why this technique is only recommended for the final stages of an Awaken¡¯s development.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s contemplation, Venix realized what he had to do.


    Astral Bond could provide the tremendous power boost necessary to save Vulture and turn the tide of the battle.


    ¡°It¡¯s now or never!¡± Venix gritted his teeth, making the decision with unwavering determination.


    Outside the Origin Fragment Realm, Venix¡¯s Astral Body opened its eyes.


    In an instant, his Astral Body began to liquefy, merging with the Origin Fragment Realm, signaling the commencement of a high-risk process.


    Elsewhere, Luna, still outside, quickly sensed the change in Venix¡¯s soul.


    ¡°That boy... He¡¯s using Astral Bond? At this stage? Does he not understand the risks of this action?¡± Luna¡¯s face froze, a look of concern crossing her features.


    She knew she could easily stop the process with her power.


    But seeing the resoluteness in Venix¡¯s decision, Luna chose to refrain. She couldn¡¯t interfere with such a decisive choice.


    Within the Origin Fragment Realm, a dramatic transformation overtook Vulture.


    As soon as Astral Bond was activated, Vulture¡¯s body surged with overwhelming power.


    The two tentacles gripping its legs disintegrated effortlessly under the sheer force of the unleashed energy.


    The humanoid controlling the Tentacle Monster was visibly shocked, sensing the sudden and immense change in its adversary.


    At this moment, Venix and Vulture became one.


    What Vulture saw, what Vulture felt¡ªVenix experienced it all.


    Though they were united, control over Vulture¡¯s body remained with Vulture, while Venix served as an observer, sensing every pulse of its existence.


    ¡°Use Inferno Annihilation,¡± Venix commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.


    Without hesitation, Vulture unleashed a sphere from its beak. The orb was a deep purple, far darker than before, exuding an energy far more dangerous and mysterious.


    ¡°Plant your feet into the ground! Then strike the sphere!¡± Venix shouted with fiery resolve.


    Vulture planted its feet and struck the purple orb with its sharp attack, triggering the explosion.


    Even if it meant its own destruction, Vulture showed no hesitation in following Venix¡¯s orders.


    Boom!!!


    The sound of the explosion reverberated like the roar of an apocalyptic force, shattering the silence of the realm.


    The devastating blast annihilated everything in its vicinity, like a nuclear bomb obliterating an entire city without leaving a trace.


    Both Vulture and the Tentacle Monster bore the full brunt of the explosion.


    Venix felt waves of unbearable pain, nearly losing consciousness.


    Vulture¡¯s body staggered, almost completely destroyed.


    It was charred and burned, its feathers and skin peeling away, leaving behind only brittle bones on the verge of collapse.


    Yet, thanks to its feet firmly rooted in the ground, Vulture remained standing against the blast¡¯s force.


    Were it not for the Undying Resolve ability, Vulture would have been reduced to nothing but dust.


    The Tentacle Monster fared no better. Its body was utterly devastated, leaving behind only a gleaming black orb amidst the ruins.


    As the explosion¡¯s aftermath subsided and the dust began to settle, Venix and Vulture could clearly see the black orb lying not far ahead.


    ¡°Heh... Absorb that black orb...¡± Venix spoke, his voice brimming with unmistakable killing intent.


    The true core of the Tentacle Monster had finally been exposed!

 Chapter 10

    "Absorb the Black Orb."


    Venix''s voice echoed in Vulture''s mind, piercing the oppressive silence around them.


    Despite his body being nearly destroyed and barely holding together, Vulture summoned all his strength to touch the Black Orb with what remained of his wing¡ªnow little more than bone.


    As the skeletal remains of his wing made contact with the orb, a crimson glow enveloped Vulture''s wing bones.


    The absorption began.


    With the aid of the Astral Bond, everything related to Vulture¡ªhis speed, his absorption ability¡ªwas significantly amplified.


    Whoosshhh\~


    An overwhelming surge of energy poured into Vulture''s body, and slowly, new flesh began to form on his nearly obliterated wings.


    Venix sensed the speed of the absorption and was shocked by how quickly it was happening¡ªfar faster than ever before.


    The Black Orb quivered, as though trying to resist.


    However, with no physical body to shield it, the Black Orb could only surrender, feeling its power forcibly absorbed by Vulture.


    The damage inflicted on the orb was severe, making recovery impossible in the short term.


    Second by second, the Black Orb shrank, its energy siphoned into Vulture''s body, which continued to regenerate.


    New flesh and feathers began to cover Vulture, his condition improving rapidly. Despite lingering injuries, Vulture felt far stronger than before.


    Meanwhile, the Tentacle Monster also began regenerating its body. Its humanoid form reappeared, and its nine severed tentacles started growing back. However, the regrown tentacles were noticeably smaller and weaker than before.


    The Astral Bond had a limited duration and could not last forever.


    Had it not been for the strength of Venix''s Astral Body, the effects of the technique would have already ended.


    "We can''t defeat it through normal combat or simply kill it. The only way is to fight for mutual absorption," Venix declared firmly.


    Had the Tentacle Monster been at full strength, this plan would have been impossible.


    However, thanks to Vulture¡¯s earlier suicidal assault, he had managed to gain a crucial time advantage¡ªa fleeting opportunity to weaken the Tentacle Monster and seize control.


    As soon as its regrown tentacles became functional, the Tentacle Monster moved with determination.


    Nine large tentacles coiled tightly around Vulture, attempting to absorb him.


    Though the tentacles appeared terrifying, they were inherently fragile.


    The Tentacle Monster''s true strength lay in its ability to absorb its enemies upon contact.


    Previously, Vulture had effortlessly severed the tentacles, demonstrating that while they could entangle and restrain, they lacked the power to inflict significant damage on his body.


    What made the Tentacle Monster truly dangerous was its unnatural ability to absorb and heal itself.


    This was the core of its terrifying power¡ªthe capacity to survive by leeching off its foes and its astonishing regenerative abilities.


    However, in terms of raw physical strength and combat capabilities, the Tentacle Monster was far weaker than Vulture.


    Venix finally grasped the essence of the monster''s fighting style.


    The Tentacle Monster did not aim to kill its opponents directly but to absorb them alive.


    And in this absorption battle, the Tentacle Monster held the upper hand.


    But Vulture was no ordinary foe. He possessed extraordinary capabilities, enhanced by the buffs provided by Venix.


    Even so, the Tentacle Monster''s absorption ability was superior to Vulture''s, even with the early advantage he had seized.


    The Tentacle Monster absorbed faster and more powerfully, placing immense pressure on Vulture.


    "If you lose, it will be the end of us entirely!" Venix said, his voice tinged with anxiety.


    Outside, Luna watched Venix¡¯s soul through the monitor, her face filled with shock. What she saw on the screen startled her.


    The position of the Primary Origin Seed had shifted.


    The Tentacle Monster, which had previously dominated, was now being overtaken by Vulture.


    However, the shift was brief. In a flash, the Tentacle Monster reclaimed its position.


    This tug-of-war repeated endlessly, a constant battle for dominance.


    Vulture seized control for a mere second, only for the Tentacle Monster to take it back.


    This time, the Tentacle Monster maintained its dominance for a longer duration, signaling a slight advantage in absorption.


    Venix observed intently, his anxiety mounting. Though he could see Vulture¡¯s struggle to absorb the Tentacle Monster, the fight was far from over. The monster still had a slight edge in their contest of mutual consumption.


    Luna, confused, continued to observe the changing data.


    "Venix is trying to replace the Tentacle Monster with Vulture? But why Vulture?" she wondered, sensing something amiss.


    In the real world, Vulture was just an ordinary animal¡ªa choice that seemed illogical to replace the Tentacle Monster.


    Although an Origin Seed held immense power regardless of its form, a unique and specialized form naturally had more advantages than a simple animal.


    Vulture, while strong, was limited compared to the Tentacle Monster, which possessed unique abilities.


    But Luna wasn¡¯t just puzzled by Venix''s decision¡ªshe was also intrigued by the data emerging from the shift in the Primary Origin Seed.


    "If I can collect enough data, I might be able to release a more advanced version of the Meditation Technique!" Luna murmured, her face alight with rekindled passion for research.


    Still, Luna remained concerned for Venix¡¯s condition.


    It seemed Venix did not want the Tentacle Monster to become his Primary Origin Seed. If Venix failed, all his efforts would have been in vain.


    "Unfortunately, I can¡¯t help him. The battle inside the Origin Fragment Realm is too isolated for any external interference," Luna sighed, frustration etched on her face.


    Back in the Origin Fragment Realm, Vulture''s situation grew increasingly dire.


    Despite gaining an early advantage and weakening the Tentacle Monster, the two were now locked in a nearly even tug-of-war. The longer they fought, the clearer it became that the Tentacle Monster was slowly overpowering Vulture.Stolen story; please report.


    "If only Vulture had a little more time, he might have been able to suppress the Tentacle Monster from the start," Venix muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.


    All hope now rested on Vulture.


    There was nothing more Venix could do to assist him.


    He had already given everything to Vulture.


    Venix¡¯s Astral Body was nearing its limit, and the Astral Bond, which had granted Vulture extraordinary strength, would not last much longer.


    "A truly incredible battle, Vulture," Venix said softly, his voice barely audible in the suffocating silence.


    Hearing Venix¡¯s words, Vulture sensed the deep tone of farewell in his voice.


    To Venix, their time together had only been a few days, but for Vulture, they had shared years together.


    In that short time, the bond they had formed was incredibly strong.


    That was why Vulture, despite his primal instincts, continued to obey Venix¡¯s commands.


    Vulture didn¡¯t just trust Venix¡ªhe regarded him as a friend and leader worth following, even in such a critical situation.


    Vulture retaliated with all his might, severing two tentacles. But the severed limbs writhed and tried to rejoin the main body.


    Seeing this, a wild idea struck Vulture.


    Without hesitation, he opened his mouth wide and swallowed the severed tentacle whole!


    As the tentacle slid into his stomach, Vulture felt a resistance, as if the piece was trying to absorb energy from within his body.


    Even so, only a small portion of the Tentacle Monster¡¯s essence remained in that severed piece. Even if it absorbed Vulture¡¯s energy, it wouldn¡¯t reconnect with the Tentacle Monster¡¯s main body.


    Aware of this, Vulture wasn¡¯t threatened. His own energy absorption was far stronger than the severed tentacle''s attempt to drain him!


    Without mercy, Vulture quickly digested the piece, breaking it down completely within his body, turning it into energy to fuel himself.


    This process hampered the Tentacle Monster, which now had to regenerate its lost limb.


    However, this regeneration took slightly longer than before.


    Venix, with his divine perspective, could perceive far more than Vulture could.


    Venix quickly noticed the shift.


    ¡°The Black Orb¡¯s size is shrinking!¡± Venix exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with a startling discovery. ¡°Even if only slightly, this is enough to weaken it! The shrinking is caused by... the Tentacle Monster¡¯s regeneration!¡±


    Venix had finally uncovered the Tentacle Monster¡¯s primary weakness.


    It turned out the Tentacle Monster couldn¡¯t regenerate endlessly! There was a cost each time it did so.


    ¡°Keep cutting and eating its tentacles!¡± Venix ordered firmly.


    The tentacles were far easier to sever than the humanoid body of the Tentacle Monster.


    Vulture, now brimming with confidence, swiftly severed another tentacle and swallowed it whole.


    The humanoid face of the Tentacle Monster twisted drastically. It let out a loud, anguished scream, furious and in pain as its body continued to weaken.


    ¡°Keep going!¡± Venix urged, his voice showing signs of strain. He could feel the Astral Bond¡¯s effects wouldn¡¯t last much longer.


    Meanwhile, outside, Luna was closely observing the unfolding events and noticed a significant change.


    Vulture had now managed to seize the position of the main Seed Origin. Though the Tentacle Monster occasionally regained it, the intervals were much shorter than before, and Vulture¡¯s dominance became increasingly apparent.


    ¡°Did Venix succeed?¡± Luna whispered, her voice filled with awe at the accomplishment.


    Yet beneath her admiration, Luna was acutely aware that Venix¡¯s Astral Body wouldn¡¯t hold out for much longer.


    While Vulture was able to suppress the Tentacle Monster now, that advantage was likely temporary, dependent on the Astral Bond. Without its support, Vulture would revert to being weak, and the opportunity for victory would vanish entirely.


    The disparity in strength, with and without the Astral Bond, was enormous.


    ¡°I need to do something!¡± Luna muttered anxiously, her voice nearly inaudible in the silent room.


    If the Astral Bond ended prematurely, all of Venix¡¯s efforts would be in vain, and their last chance for victory would slip away.


    Clenching her teeth, Luna steeled herself.


    She couldn¡¯t let it end like this.


    With firm resolve, Luna walked toward the glass chamber where Venix was meditating and stepped inside.


    Venix appeared deeply immersed in stillness, his eyes tightly shut as he concentrated on maintaining the Astral Bond.


    ¡°I can help Venix by sacrificing my own Astral Body and extending the duration of his Astral Bond,¡± Luna murmured, her voice resolute despite the doubts lingering in her heart.


    All this time, Luna had been reluctant to take such a step.


    Sacrificing her Astral Body would only prolong the Astral Bond¡¯s duration without adding any extra power or buffs.


    Extending the Astral Bond might allow Vulture more time to achieve victory, but if he failed, it would all be for nothing.


    Luna knew the severe consequences of this action. Damaging her Astral Body would significantly slow her power development for years to come.


    Without certainty of success, Luna hesitated to use this technique.


    But this time, the circumstances were different.


    Vulture had already managed to suppress the Tentacle Monster slightly, and by giving him more time, there was a real chance he could win.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let Venix¡¯s struggle go to waste,¡± Luna murmured, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.


    With steady steps, Luna placed her hand on Venix¡¯s back, her palm radiating a brilliant golden light.


    A unique wave of energy flowed from her body into Venix¡¯s.


    Venix¡¯s nearly transparent Astral Body began to absorb the golden energy, slowly regaining its form. What had been on the verge of fading away became solid and clear, as if revitalized.


    ¡°Hm? What¡¯s happening?¡± Venix wondered, startled by the sudden influx of energy into his Astral Body.


    His Astral Body, which had been nearly drained, now had enough energy to last a little longer.


    Venix didn¡¯t know what was happening, but it was an excellent opportunity for him!


    His chances of guiding Vulture to victory now felt closer than ever.


    Venix understood that once the Astral Bond ended, Vulture would likely fall prey to the Tentacle Monster, even though he had grown much stronger.


    The Tentacle Monster¡¯s abilities were so terrifying that they couldn¡¯t be measured by raw strength alone.


    But now, the tide was turning, reigniting Vulture¡¯s resolve.


    With fierce determination, Vulture tore through the monster¡¯s tentacles, attacking with a vengeance, as if driven by a deep-seated grudge. He devoured every severed piece without hesitation.


    ¡°Keep going, Vulture! You can beat it!¡± Venix cheered passionately.


    The size of the Black Orb continued to shrink rapidly, and a major transformation began to take place within Vulture¡¯s body.


    The feathers on Vulture¡¯s body, previously brown, began to change as he digested more of the Tentacle Monster¡¯s flesh.


    Slowly, dark purple spots started to appear across his body.


    The purple markings seemed like signs of poisoning, but Venix knew better. This wasn¡¯t poisoning; it was a sign that Vulture was evolving¡ªundergoing a significant transformation that would drastically enhance his abilities.


    Two minutes passed, and Vulture¡¯s feathers had completely turned dark purple, giving him a menacing yet awe-inspiring appearance.


    At that moment, the changes within Vulture¡¯s body began to intensify.


    Previously, the Tentacle Monster¡¯s flesh resisted digestion, making the process difficult.


    Now, however, Vulture could digest the monster¡¯s flesh effortlessly.


    His digestion speed skyrocketed, becoming unstoppable.


    Seeing this transformation, Venix couldn¡¯t contain his joy.


    Even though the Astral Bond would soon expire, the results of this evolution assured him that victory was within their grasp.


    Nine of the Tentacle Monster¡¯s tentacles were gone, with only a few remnants left.


    Without hesitation, Vulture began targeting the humanoid body of the Tentacle Monster, attacking with relentless ferocity.


    A series of five consecutive strikes finally severed the humanoid body into smaller chunks.


    Vulture devoured each piece, determined to overcome the humanoid flesh, which was far more difficult to digest than the tentacles.


    But with his newfound evolution, Vulture¡¯s digestion capabilities had grown so much that he could handle even this challenge.


    Piece by piece, the Tentacle Monster¡¯s humanoid body was consumed.


    At last, only the Black Orb remained¡ªthe Tentacle Monster¡¯s final essence.


    The Black Orb, now much smaller than before, fit perfectly into Vulture¡¯s mouth.


    Quickly, Vulture swallowed the Black Orb whole.


    As soon as it entered his body, a massive explosion occurred within him.


    Boom!


    The Black Orb fought back fiercely, attempting to destroy Vulture from the inside.


    But Vulture¡¯s greatest strength now lay in his digestion! His unparalleled digestive power made him unstoppable.


    The Black Orb¡¯s resistance was futile against Vulture¡¯s overwhelming digestion. Slowly but surely, Vulture gained the upper hand, breaking it down completely until it could no longer fight back.


    ¡°It¡¯s over! Excellent work!¡± Venix exclaimed jubilantly. Victory was finally theirs.


    Just seconds before the Astral Bond expired, Venix was confident that Vulture would fully digest the Black Orb, even without the bond¡¯s support.


    As the Astral Bond¡¯s effects faded, Venix saw that Vulture continued to contain and digest the Black Orb, steadily neutralizing it.


    Venix was certain that, with time, Vulture would absorb the Black Orb entirely.


    Finally, a few seconds later, Venix¡¯s consciousness was pulled out of the Origin Fragment Realm, returning to his physical body.


    Venix opened his eyes, feeling an exhaustion he had never known before, as though every ounce of his strength had been drained.


    ¡°Did you succeed?¡± Luna¡¯s voice came from behind him, filled with concern.


    ¡°I... somehow managed to change the position of the main Seed Origin, but... Wait! What happened to you!?¡± Venix asked in alarm, noticing blood trickling from Luna¡¯s lips.


    Luna smiled faintly, attempting to appear calm despite the blood continuing to drip.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not life-threatening,¡± Luna replied, casually wiping the blood away.


    Venix paused, then recalled the final moments when the Astral Bond had almost expired.


    He remembered the sudden surge of mysterious energy that extended the bond¡¯s duration just long enough to secure Vulture¡¯s victory.


    Connecting the dots, Venix finally realized who had provided that crucial assistance.


    If he hadn¡¯t figured it out sooner, he would have felt foolish and perhaps even slammed his head against a wall.


    Luna¡¯s intervention had been pivotal at that critical moment.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Venix said softly, his voice filled with deep gratitude.


    He didn¡¯t know exactly what Luna had done to help, but without her intervention in those final seconds, the outcome of the battle could have been drastically different.


    Thanks to Luna¡¯s timely sacrifice, the future for Venix¡ªand perhaps for both of them¡ªnow lay on a vastly different path.