When the 5th lightning hit my head, my Mortal Body was already about to crumble. As the snaking voltage ran through my whole body, my skeletal structure was starting to be tempered.
Like a rusty sword being tempered once again, my bones were being polished to more than just perfection.
[Transcendent Body: 23%]
Along with the lightning, the lava had already reached me and it started to submerge my body inside it.
Though it immediately burned me, I could feel that inside the lava, something was repairing whatever it was that had been damaged. Replacing it with something better, something transcendental.
Like the system said, it's trying to take off my Mortal Husk and replace it with something that will suit my new state of being. A Transcendent Body.
Of course. The process included extreme pain and it also drew energy from my Flux Energy reserves to aid in restructuring my body. If I became careless or my energy became depleted, I would probably die before completing this tempering process.
[Transcendent Body: 49%]
One hour has soon passed and the restructuring of my Mortal Body is still ongoing. Throughout the hour, the lightning and the lava has continued to pour through me.
The pain was something I had already become accustomed to. Of course, it didn't mean I had adapted to it, it just made my mind to become numb from it as I only focused on gathering more energy to protect my vital organs as well as pour more energy to speed up the process.
Boom! Boom! Ssshhk!
Accompanied by rumbling thunder, the lightning dropped its 8th strike on my head.
It's 8-fold more than the first lightning that I could clearly feel how it immediately blasted away the flesh on top of my head before seeping through in my bones, tempering it further.
But yeah, it's not the first time it happened. As soon as the lightning that seeped into my body subsided, an incredible itch started to spread from my neck upwards. The disintegrated flesh that was covering my skull has been regenerating. Along with it was the essence that was being delivered by the lava pool that was submerging my body up until my neck.
Even without a mirror, the feeling of something creeping up my head has assaulted me. In a matter of seconds, my disintegrated face was back to normal and became more polished than before. Maybe even the sharpest sword wouldn't be able to penetrate it anymore.
It all started at the 6th lightning where cracks started to spread upon being hit by it which was also regenerated. At the 7th lightning, it immediately broke the top of my head exposing the tempered skull while it snaked along my skin creating deeper cracks on my face.
Well, my body has already been turned into a skeleton beneath the lava pool so it's already not surprising that my head would suffer the same fate.
Though every part of my body was itching from the constant disintegration and regeneration, I focused everything on controlling my energy as well as the energy in my surroundings.
Even with the Orb of Reinforcement, it continued to eat away into my flesh. Whenever I used that, the effect doubled. After an hour, the tempering process was already at half-completion.
This is what Yuko meant when she told me her experience before that Incarnation left the World of Systems. 'My whole body has experienced a complete change in structure. I know if it's you, you can endure that better than me.'
Right. Am I enduring it better than her? Maybe? I'm already numb halfway. The remaining 50 would probably be a breeze.
As if it was that easy…
All my skills that were previously opened have already closed by itself due to the ongoing change.
When the Domain of Valour closed, it heightened the sense of pain due to the reduction in Endurance.
When the Energy Incarnation transformation was revoked, my control in energy lessened which lengthen the process.
When the Energy Amplification closed, I was immediately assaulted with intense exhaustion. Having it opened for too long could lead to that.
This was just the 2nd stage, there's another one that would soon start once this ended. So I closed my eyes and completely focused on only one thing. My energy control
[Transcendent Body: 60%]
[Transcendent Body: 70%]
[Transcendent Body: 80%]
Boom! Boom! Boom! Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
When it reached 80% the 9th lightning had finished its charge. This is probably the last one and the strongest one.
After this lightning, if I survived then my Transcendent Body would reach its completion and there's no other result in failure but death. The system was lying when it said that there's also the lighter result in failure, Power Level Dispersion, eh? True it would surely disperse completely because of my death… that could be the only result.
Ugh. Let's stop overthinking.
"Come. Lightning!!!"
I shouted as an attempt to steel myself on the upcoming lightning tribulation.
Just looking at how bright the place became due to those golden clouds which held the lightning that will soon descend, it's safe to say that it's trying to obliterate my whole existence.
At this moment, the lava has already become obsolete as it couldn't burn my flesh anymore but the essence that was repairing my body continued to stick and be absorbed by me.
I stood up and leapt into the sky to meet it head-on.
And when I did, that golden cloud of lightning immediately answered by sending a dragon-like lightning strike. I pulled out my sword to meet it using it.
All my items weren't dissolved by that special lava as it only targeted my body. Even the necklace which contained the Orb of Enhancement stayed in its place despite the damage I received from both the lightning and the lava.
Clang! Psshhhk!
As the lightning hit the sword. A loud clanging sound rang out along with the crackling of lightning as that lightning dragon immediately coiled around the sword. It started to bite at the metal but instead of breaking, the sword absorbed the lightning dragon completely! Surprisingly, it also started to temper itself!
Afterwards, as if talking to me, the sword which absorbed the lightning dragon seemed to move by itself. I never really gave it a name as it's something I knew I would eventually replace. For example, a pure regenium weapon. But at this moment, it started to exhibit a hint of its consciousness. It's a new concept that even I am most surprised.
In the novels that I read, they're supposed to happen to precious treasures but this sword was something forged from a metal in the World of Systems. For it to awaken a hint of consciousness, it could be said that it was all out of its luck!
I focused on it and understood the intention of the sword. It wanted for me to continue using it as an extension of myself. It hasn't completely awakened yet but due to the tempering, it managed to convey its intention to me.
Since it went to such length. I nodded and accepted what it wanted. I wouldn't replace it with any other sword. I'll continue using it and find a way to temper it further.
Also. I am now giving it its name. Willful Sword.
My naming sense strikes again but that doesn't matter. It's now called the Willful Sword!
When I decided its name, a series of notifications rang out inside my mind.
[You have reached the state of 'One with the Sword']
[Intermediate Sword Mastery has been upgraded]
[Acquired Advanced Sword Mastery]
[Sword Proficiency Heightened]
[Added a new line: Swordforce]
[Swordforce: a special unit of energy that was solely used for Sword Skills. It was generated through your own understanding of your Sword and Source Energy]
[Added a new function: Sword Skill Creator]
[You can now create a set of 5 Sword Skills of your own creation. Each Sword Skills will be imbued by your own Swordforce. The existing Sword Skills, Counter and Flash Draw will now be incorporated to your own Sword Style.]
Though it should be a happy occasion. I didn't have any time to rejoice at the advancement of my Sword Mastery.
Five more lightning dragons were generated and were now shooting towards me. Though it was a newly added line, I immediately understood what a Swordforce is.
Filling the Willful Sword with Swordforce, it immediately experienced a change. As I brandished it towards the incoming lightning dragons, they were all cut in half before being willfully absorbed by the sword which tempered it further.
Boom! Boom!
As if harrumphing at my display, the golden clouds rumbled loudly. It stopped sending the dragons to become food for the Willful Sword.
Instead of that, it finally readied itself to unleash everything on me.
Looking at that. I smiled and opened my arms wide. As if mocking it to give its everything.
And like I thought, it responded in kind.
The 9th lightning strike was sent.
As soon as that happened, my vision immediately turned into white.
That lightning tribulation was too huge that it encompassed everything in sight.
When it hit me who had no other choice but to take it head-on. I could clearly feel how it immediately disintegrated my whole body.
Flesh. Blood, Bones and Organs.
Everything was dissolved from that blinding light and when that happened, my vision turned dark.
All five senses were cut off due to the lack of sensory organs. However, my consciousness was still widely awake.
And from the darkness, the system notification appeared.
[The Transcendent Endurance Trial has come to a halt.]
[Body Reconstruction is in progress]
[Transcendent Body: 99%]
[The Transcendent Mind Trial will now start]
[You will lose consciousness in 3…]
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