Chương 19: Spark of divinity

Alypos, still resting on the outer edges of the Goblin's cave, reached into his bag and pulled out the dark, shimmering crystal. Its surface gleamed ominously, hinting at power hidden deep within. He held it close to his head, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he commanded the Karmic Records to analyze the object.

{Analyzing object... Object identified.}

{Rank (A+) Planet Crystal}

{Planet Crystal: Contains a fragment of pure essence. It grants the one who consumes it a spark of divinity, enabling them to handle laws.}

{"I feared him, not for his strength but for his ambition. He wished to challenge the Unknowns by devouring many planet cores and fragments."}

This was new—an actual quote, presumably from someone's memories stored within the Karmic Records. Alypos's brow furrowed. He hadn't expected the crystal to be this valuable. It was his first time acquiring such a high-ranked material. He felt a pang of disbelief before shaking it off. There was no time to waste.

He opened his status window, scanning his stats with a calculating eye.

{Current name: Alypos Ilias (????th reincarnation)}

{Age: 12}

{Rank: G+/F+}

{Affinities: Water (100%), Life (100%), Death (70%), Ice (100%), Lightning (85%), Pain (100%), Soul (80%)}

{Aspect: Evolution, ???, ???}

{Race: Human (Max: E-)}

{Strength: 2.9 -> 4.1/10 (G+)}

{Agility: 2.4 -> 4.3/10 (G+)}

{Constitution: 2.1 -> 4/10 (G+)}

{Dexterity: 2.5 -> 5/10 (G+)}

{Charm: 2.8 -> 3.9/10 (G)}

{Mana: 3 -> 5.3/10 (G+)}

{Luck: 0.5 -> 0.9/10 (G-)}

{Skills: Water Manipulation Stage 1 (D+), Healing Palm (F),}

{Combat: Flowing Style Level 2 (Quasi-master)}

"Almost to the next rank," Alypos murmured, noting how each stat was creeping closer to breaking past the G-rank barrier. He had grown significantly stronger since his reincarnation, but it was only the beginning.

Without hesitation, he swallowed the planet crystal, feeling the sharp, bitter taste overwhelm his senses. His face scrunched in pain as unbearable heat and pressure exploded within him, writhing in agony, but no sound escaped his lips. Pain was an old friend. He had endured worse. He bore it silently, his body convulsing as he fell from the rock he was sitting on.

{Host has consumed Planet Crystal.}

{Spark of divinity being born.}

Suddenly, a vision appeared before his eyes—two glowing cores. One

Suddenly, a vision appeared before his eyes—two glowing cores. One was a vivid blue, the other a radiant green. Both shimmered with an intensity that made his heart pound. The blue core shone brighter, pulsing with a golden hue. Alypos's mind raced as he realized what was happening—this was the spark of divinity taking shape.

But then, with terrifying hunger, the blue core surged forward, enveloping the golden spark. It devoured the essence with a vicious, consuming force.

"No!" Alypos screamed in his mind, watching helplessly as the spark of divinity, the key to greater power, was ripped away from him. His fury and shock surged as the blue core continued its assault until there was nothing left of the golden light. His shout echoed within him, but his body remained motionless on the outside, wracked by the internal struggle.

{Spark of divinity destroyed.}

The system's cold, clinical notification stung his pride, filling him with a sense of profound loss. But as he glared at the blue core, seething with anger, he began to feel it shift. It pulsed with newfound energy, radiating power throughout his body. The very core that had stolen his divinity was now pumping strength into him.

{Attributes unlocked. Attributes gained.}

The surge of strength was undeniable. Alypos's muscles tensed as power flowed through his veins, reforging his body in ways he hadn't expected. He felt a deep connection with his soul, a newfound dexterity, and fluidity that seemed to permeate his every fiber. His consciousness remained intact, though the pain coursed through him like a relentless river. It felt like being born anew. For 20 excruciating minutes, his body was torn apart and rebuilt.

When it was over, Alypos lay in a pool of his own blood, his breathing ragged. Nibbles approached cautiously, chirping in worry. The squirrel nudged him gently with its nose, and Alypos managed a faint smile at its concern. Slowly, he pulled himself to his feet. His body ached, but it was different now—stronger, more resilient.

Nibbles chittered at him, pointing to the nearby lake.

Alypos nodded, still feeling the residual power coursing through him. He dragged his body to the lake, which he had cleared earlier while exploring the outer settlement. He gazed down at his reflection in the calm waters and winced. He looked terrible, his entire body covered in blood, his hair matted, his skin pale.

Without hesitation, he plunged into the water. The coldness enveloped him, yet it felt soothing, like a mother's gentle embrace. He allowed himself to float for a moment, the water easing the tension from his body. As he emerged, he felt reborn.

He stared at his reflection again, and this time, he was stunned. His once-brown hair had turned blue, flowing like waves, reaching his shoulders. His skin was now a pale brown, and his body had transformed—muscles rippled across his torso, his lean frame now boasting an eight-pack. He looked older, around 15, and taller—5'7"—yet still not at his desired height.

He whispered a command to the Karmic Records. "Status."

{True name: Chains of Liberation}

{Current name: Alypos Ilias (????th reincarnation)}

{Age: 12}

{Rank: F-/E-}

{Affinities: Water (100%), Life (100%), Death (70%), Ice (100%), Lightning (85%), Pain (100%), Soul (80%)}

{Attributes: [Child of Water], [Fated], ???}

{Aspect: Evolution, ???, ???}

{Race: Human (Max: E-)}

{Strength: 4.1 -> 6.4/10 (F-)}

{Agility: 4.3 -> 6.7/10 (F-)}

{Constitution: 2.4 -> 6.2/10 (F-)}

{Dexterity: 5 -> 7/10 (F-)}

{Charm: 3.9 -> 8/10 (F)}

{Mana: 5.3 -> 7.7/10 (F-)}

{Luck: 0.9 -> 2.1/10 (G)}

{Skills: Water Manipulation Stage 1 (D+), Aqua Healing (E+)}

{Combat: Flowing Style Level 2 (Quasi-master)}

His eyes quickly locked on the new category: Attributes. With curiosity burning in his chest, he clicked on the first one.

{Child of Water: "The waters of the world heed your call. Oceans, lakes, and rivers listen to your requests. Water-borne creatures sense your presence and revere you as one of their own."}

Alypos's lips curled into a small, cold smile. He had always had an affinity for water, but now he was more than just connected to it. He was its child. This would make his control over the element even greater than before.

Next, he selected the second attribute.

{Fated: "The threads of destiny wrap around you like an ever-present shadow. Fortunes and misfortunes are drawn to you with equal intensity, shaping your journey with unexpected twists. Some are blessed by fate; others are cursed. But rarely is anyone both..."}

Alypos closed the window with a dismissive wave of his hand. It was ominous, but there was little time to dwell on the meaning behind it. Fate, blessings, curses—it didn't matter. He would bend them to his will like everything else.

His mind wandered back to the planet crystal. He had lost the spark of divinity, but the unexpected boon of his new attributes left him feeling stronger, more ready than ever. It wasn't the outcome he wanted, but it was an outcome he could use.

He stood by the lake, staring at the water's surface. His reflection was no longer that of a boy on a simple quest for strength. The face staring back at him was that of a warrior, born from pain, molded by ambition, and driven by a hunger for freedom.

For a brief moment, he let the peace of the water soothe him. But it didn't last long. Nibbles chirped beside him, and Alypos glanced down, his expression softening just slightly as he rubbed the squirrel's head.

Alypos took a breath, his heart steady but curious. The change in his status left him with more questions than answers, and now, one final thing caught his eye—his true name.

{True name: Chains of Liberation}

With a slow exhale, he clicked on it, expecting to find more answers. The Karmic Records hummed for a moment before a description appeared, laden with a foreboding weight.

{Chains of Liberation: "You are both bound and freed by the chains you forge. Every path you take toward freedom will demand a toll. Those who seek liberation often become captives of their ambition. Beware the price of breaking free, for sometimes, the chains are all that hold you together."}

Alypos's eyes narrowed. The words carried an ominous weight, like a whispered warning from something ancient and treacherous. He knew the allure of power, the hunger for freedom, but this... this was different. The very thing he desired most—his freedom—came with the price of chains, binding him even as he sought to break free.

He stared at the words, their meaning both cryptic and clear. The deeper he delved into his true identity, the more it felt as though something shadowy and dangerous awaited him down the path. But he would not stop. He had always known freedom would come with a cost—pain, hardship, maybe even betrayal. The chains would weigh him down, but if he had to drag them to the ends of the world to achieve what he wanted, so be it.

A slow smile crept onto his face. It wasn't the smile of a boy seeking strength. It was the smile of someone who had made peace with the darkness, knowing full well that it was the only road he could walk.

He closed the Karmic Records and turned his back to the lake, his mind set on the journey ahead.

The chains would break. But only once they had served their purpose.

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