"Huff... Huff..."
Each step I took was a battle against the agony that surged within me. The pain of the fire, the relentless gusts of wind, the crashing waves, and the unyielding earth all converged within my body, threatening to overwhelm me.
I didn't know how many days had passed, how many hours had passed.
The only thing I knew was to battle against the violent mana and try to subdue it.
My body was getting destroyed from the inside, I could feel it was getting pushed to its limits. At this point in time, I was even using my own aura to resist the destruction of my body, trying not to be overwhelmed.
But I pressed on, my teeth clenched and my resolve unshaken. I refused to be broken by the chaos that surrounded me. This was my path, my trial, and I was determined to conquer it.
As I moved forward, the elements continued to assail me, each one vying for dominance over my senses. The fire within me burned like a furnace, a constant reminder of the turmoil I had to endure. The wind howled, tugging at my clothes and attempting to throw me off balance. The water tried to pull me into its depths, its waves crashing with relentless fury. The earth beneath me trembled, sending shockwaves through my body.
"Endure it," I muttered through gritted teeth. The elixir's effects were still coursing through me, providing me with a measure of resilience, but the pain was an ever-present companion.
My vision blurred as I continued to push forward, the world around me a chaotic blur of elements in turmoil. Each step felt like an eternity, every breath a struggle against the forces that sought to break me.
BOOM
The fire mana erupted again, merging with the Earth, trying to overwhelm me as mana.
WOSH
The lava hit me from my arm, and a burning feeling passed through me.
"GRRRRRR…."
I gritted my teeth; the pain was intense. It was getting harder to endure.
SWOOSH
The wind and water mana merged, forming a tornado of waves.
TOK
An immense amount of momentum hit me as the water's speed was fast.
One by one, it was getting harder and harder to stand my ground.
'Bow down to me. You are all going to bow down to me.'
But I still refused. It didn't matter how strong nature was. The only thing I needed to do was to overcome it.
It was what I thought.
Just like that, they passed again and again.
I hadn't made any progress.
DRIP DRIP
Blood was dripping from my wounds.
I could feel my body had already reached its peak; it was like just one little thing was missing.
In the midst of this ocean of constant pain, I was standing alone, trying to find my own path.
Nothing was showing me the way.
Neither my [All Seeing Eye] nor my traits were there to show me the way. The passive skills [Regeneration] had already lost their effects; no matter how much it was, how much mana was there, in the end, everything had its limits.
'Limits?'
At that moment, a question arose.
What was the limit?
When this question arose, the first answer that came to my mind was its formal definition.
When something approaches a point…..
My class.
'The Mage of Beginning.'
What is the beginning?
Amidst the agony, a sense of clarity began to emerge. The pain was not just physical—it was a reflection of the inner turmoil I had to face.
This trial was a mirror of my own struggles, a test of my ability to find balance and control in the midst of chaos.
When one is slowly pushed to their limits, it was said that they would question themselves.
It seems I was no exception to that.
One by one, more and more questions arose.
What was the beginning?
The answer to that question would differ from every belief. On Earth, every religion had their own way of describing the beginning.
One would say Adam and Eve, and another would say we all came from god.
But, when looked at with science, there was one theory.
We all were energy, the same form of being.
And that energy was chaotic.
It was uncontainable.
That was the sole reason the universe was formed, wasn't it?
Then, if I was the Sorcerer of the Beginning, if I was the one that used the attribute Aether, why was I trying to subdue the elements?
No. Why was I trying to make them kneel in front of me? Was it because I was better than them? Was I above?
This was a place to find and forge myself. Why was I trying to subdue something?
This whole time, living by my own ego, and looking down on other things, seemed to pollute my mind.
At that point, amidst the agony, a sense of clarity began to emerge. The pain was not just physical—it was a reflection of the inner turmoil I had to face.
This trial was a mirror of my own struggles, a test of my ability to find balance and control in the midst of chaos.
With each agonizing step, one by one, I realized that the key was not to fight against the elements but to become one with them. I had to embrace the fire, the wind, the water, and the earth within me. I had to understand their nature and find harmony in their chaos.
"Embrace the chaos," I whispered to myself, my voice carrying a newfound realization. The pain was no longer just a torment; it was a teacher showing me the path to mastery.
At that moment, I felt like the place was humming to itself like it was saying I finally understood what I was supposed to do.
As I walked, I closed my eyes, shutting out the overwhelming visuals of the elemental convergence. I focused inward, tapping into the depths of my being where the elements resided. I felt the fire burning in my core, the wind swirling through my thoughts, the water coursing through my veins, and the earth grounding me.
In that moment of inner connection, I felt a shift. The pain didn't disappear, but it transformed. It became a part of me, a driving force that propelled me forward. The fire became a wellspring of determination, the wind a guiding force, the water a source of resilience, and the earth a foundation to stand upon.
Each step I took became a dance, a symphony of pain and purpose. I moved with the fire's energy, swayed with the wind's rhythm, flowed with the water's grace, and stood firm like the earth beneath me.
The pain no longer felt like an enemy; it was a reminder of my own strength. It was a testament to my ability to endure, to adapt, and to overcome.
"Huff... Huff..." My breaths were labored, but my resolve was unshaken. I walked on, a figure of determination in the midst of elemental chaos.
And as I continued my journey, the elements around me seemed to respond to my newfound harmony. The flames danced with a controlled grace, the wind's howls became a melodic whisper, the waves embraced me with a gentle touch, and the earth seemed to steady my every step.
At that moment, I felt like I was starting to understand what the meaning of 'Chaos' was.
It was not to subdue.
It was to merge with the mana and become one.
And the moment this realization hit, I finally felt the world I was in shining.
The elements around me responded to my newfound harmony.
The flames that had once threatened to consume me now danced in controlled elegance, their vibrant hues painting the air with an otherworldly glow. The wind's howls transformed into a melodic whisper as if nature itself was revealing its secrets to me. The waves embraced me with a gentle touch, and their crashing transformed into a soothing rhythm. The earth beneath me steadied my steps, offering its support and strength.
And in the midst of it all, I felt the convergence reaching its climax.
A radiant sphere of energy formed around me, encompassing all the elements in a dazzling display. The fiery hues of light, the burning passion of fire, the grounding solidity of earth, the fluid grace of water, the swift movement of wind—all merged together, becoming one.
But there was one element missing, one force that had yet to join the convergence.
And it was the thing that Father gave to me.
'Have you foreseen all of these?' I asked myself, remembering what he said to me at that time.
'Do you understand the essence of your lightning?'
I remembered why he constantly asked me this question. At that time, I didn't question it at first, but after looking at it when some time passed, it didn't make any sense.
Why did he push me this hard?
Lightning.
"Come." I softly whispered, feeling my eyes turning blue. I didn't feel my hair had changed, but I was sure it had turned white.
RUMBLE
As if in response to the absence, a brilliant bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. It struck the center of the sphere, and with a blinding flash, the energy surged forth. The world seemed to vibrate with power as the lightning's energy intertwined with the convergence of elements.
n that moment, I felt a surge of energy unlike anything before. It was as if the very core of my being was being reformed, reshaped by the harmony of chaos. The pain that had been a constant companion transformed into a catalyst, igniting a transformation deep within me.
My mana core, once defined by its limits, began to expand. The boundaries that had confined me for so long shattered, and I felt a surge of raw power coursing through me
However, that was not the end of all. I could feel my body undergoing a severe change as if my whole being was filled with energy.
I could feel it; my Aura was getting its character.
The elements that had once resisted now flowed freely, converging within me in perfect harmony.
As the sphere of energy began to fade, I opened my eyes, my gaze filled with newfound clarity. I stood at the summit of the mountain, alone yet connected to everything around me. The world seemed to shimmer with a vibrant energy, and I knew that I had undergone a profound awakening.
<Ding! Congratulations, host, for becoming a 5-star mage.>
<Ding! Congratulations, host, for becoming a 5-star knight.>
<Ding! Congratulations, host, for achieving something that has never been achieved.>
After all, the system's words echoing inside my head was the proof to this.
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