The Invincible Young Master

The boy trudged along the chasm wall, his fingers grazing the jagged surface while clutching the beast core tightly in his other hand. Its faint, pulsating glow served as his only guide in the stifling darkness, casting fleeting shadows on the rock walls.

He had long lost track of time, hours, maybe days? The silence pressed down on him, broken only by the rhythmic sound of his footsteps.

His stomach growled, sharp and insistent, while his limbs throbbed with exhaustion. But he kept moving.

Then, a flicker of light caught his eye in the distance. It was faint, barely noticeable, but unmistakable.

His heart skipped a beat, and a surge of hope pushed him forward. He stumbled over uneven ground in his haste, his breath quickening.

The glow ahead grew stronger with each step until finally, he reached it, a narrow opening at the chasm's end.

Light spilled through the gap, blinding after the suffocating darkness. He hesitated for a moment, then, with a deep breath, he stepped out.

Towering trees stretched toward the sky, their lush canopies filtering the sunlight into soft beams that danced on the forest floor.

Vibrant greenery surrounded him, the air rich with the scent of earth and grass. It was alive, wild, untamed, and so different from the bleak depths of the chasm.

A deep growl from his stomach brought him back to reality. Of course

,

he thought dryly.

After all that walking... His gaze scanned the forest, searching for food.

Soon, his eyes locked onto a nearby tree laden with plump, ripe fruits. Relief flooded him as he approached, his mouth already watering at the sight.

Instinctively, he balled his fist, prepared to knock the fruits down just as he had done countless times back in the village. It was a familiar motion, one he had performed with ease before.

Drawing back, he swung at the tree trunk with what he thought was a light punch.

CRACK!

The sound reverberated through the forest as the tree split cleanly down the middle.

The trunk toppled with a deafening crash, scattering fruits across the ground.

The boy froze, his hand still outstretched, staring at the fallen tree in stunned disbelief.

He flexed his fingers slowly, his gaze darting between his fist and the splintered wood.

What… just happened?

He hadn't intended to bring down the entire tree, only to shake a few fruits loose.

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This strength… it's not normal.

The realization sank in. Ever since consuming the beast's blood and flesh, he had known something had changed within him. His body had healed in ways that defied reason, his strength and his senses had increased. But this? This was beyond anything he had imagined.

He crouched to pick up one of the fruits that had rolled away. Taking a slow bite, he chewed thoughtfully, his mind a whirlwind of questions.

What had the beast's flesh done to him?

The surge of power wasn't just a restoration, it was a rebirth. The frail, talentless boy he had once been was gone. In his place stood someone stronger, someone… different.

He finished the fruit, its sweetness a small comfort amidst the storm of his thoughts.

As he finished the last bite of the fruit, a familiar warmth swept through his body. It wasn't as intense as when he had devoured the beast's flesh, but it was there, a soothing energy coursing through his veins.

His aching muscles seemed to hum with vitality, and the weariness that had weighed him down lifted, leaving him feeling refreshed.

"Could it be?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes. His gaze flickered to the scattered fruits.

Grabbing another one, he sank his teeth into it, chewing hurriedly and swallowing the sweet, tangy pulp.

The warmth returned, stronger this time, a wave of vitality spreading through his limbs and filling him with strength. His hands instinctively clenched into fists as he focused on the sensation, his pulse quickening.

"This…" he whispered, his voice tinged with awe. "This is spiritual energy."

The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. For as long as he could remember, his body had been a prison, plagued with blockages that prevented him from absorbing spiritual energy from his surroundings.

No matter how hard he trained or how long he meditated, he had only been able to gather scraps of power, a meager trickle compared to what others could effortlessly draw in.

How am I adsorbing it?

He grabbed another fruit and devoured it in seconds. The warmth surged again, its strength undeniable. It was like a floodgate had opened, pouring energy into him with every bite.

"No," he murmured, a shadow of unease creeping into his mind. "It's not absorption."

He paused, recalling the sensation from before, the fiery power he had felt after consuming the beast's flesh. "It's stealing. I'm stealing energy from anything I consume."

The truth settled heavily in his mind, sending a chill down his spine. When he consumed the beast's flesh and blood, it wasn't just sustenance he took.

He had drained the creature's spiritual energy, claiming it as his own. And now, the fruits were no different.

His hands trembled slightly as he reached for another fruit, hesitating for only a moment before tearing into it.

The rush of energy came again, each bite flooding his body with strength.

This is faster than meditating… faster than pills… faster than anything I've ever done,

he thought, his heartbeat quickening.

One by one, he consumed the remaining fruits, his hunger evolving into something deeper, more primal.

With each mouthful, the spiritual energy within him grew stronger, denser, and more alive.

By the time he finished the last piece, a blazing heat had ignited deep in his abdomen, spreading outward like molten fire.

The boy slumped against the fallen tree trunk, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His body trembled, not from exhaustion but from the sheer intensity of the power coursing through him.

It was as if something deep within him was stirring, struggling to awaken from a long slumber.

His gaze drifted to his trembling hands, the residual energy crackling faintly beneath his skin.

If I can steal energy from anything I eat… then…

His eyes lowered to his waist, where the beast's core rested securely. Its faint glow reflected in his wide eyes.

Reaching down, he pulled the core free and held it in his hands. It was smooth and warm to the touch, like a heartbeat captured in solid form.

The energy within it was palpable, a swirling, concentrated power that seemed to hum with life.

"If I can steal energy from this…" His voice trailed off as his grip tightened.

Hunger stirred within him, but this time, it wasn't the hunger of an empty stomach. It was something far deeper, clawing at his very being. A hunger for strength.

He lifted the core closer to his face, its radiant glow illuminating the determination etched in his expression.

The energy within it was unlike anything he had ever encountered, raw, pure, and tantalizing. If consuming the beast's flesh had transformed him, what would happen if he devoured the source of its power?

Would it awaken something greater?

As he raised the beast core to his lips, his hand trembled, pausing mid-motion.

Doubt crept in.

Was this really a good idea?

He knew how beast cores were usually handled and used during meditation to gradually absorb their refined energy over time.

No one consumed them directly. The thought of eating it felt reckless, even dangerous. What if the energy within was too unstable? What if his body couldn't handle it?

The core's faint glow pulsed steadily in his hand, illuminating his face as he weighed his options. The unknown loomed before him like a shadowy abyss, and for a moment, hesitation gripped him.

Then, memories flooded his mind. He remembered the betrayal in the forest, the mocking sneers of the inner sector disciples who had left him for dead.

"The elder tasked us to get rid of you,"

they had said, their laughter still echoed his ears.

He clenched his teeth, his chest burning with the bitterness of that moment. His grip tightened around the core, his hesitation melting away.

If he returned to the sect, he would definitely encounter those who wanted him dead.

And to make them pay, he needed power, power strong enough to make even the elders tremble.

"If this is what it takes..." he muttered, bringing the core closer.

With a sharp inhale, he bit into it. The surface cracked under his teeth, a faint crunch breaking the silence.

Light flickered briefly from the fracture, and the taste of the core flooded his mouth, metallic, bitter, and strange. He swallowed without hesitation.

The moment the shards entered his body, chaos erupted.

The forest around him stilled, as if holding its breath. Then, a low hum began to rise, soft at first but growing louder with each second. The air rippled as though disturbed by an unseen force.

Suddenly, the energy within the core exploded into motion.

A searing heat surged through his body, igniting his veins like rivers of molten fire.

The boy gasped, clutching his abdomen as the energy raced through him, spreading outward in waves. It was raw, untamed, and overwhelming.

Golden streams of light spiraled around him, crackling with power as they coiled tightly like serpents.

The ground beneath him quaked and splintered, unable to withstand the immense pressure radiating from his small frame. Leaves were torn from the trees, sucked into the swirling vortex that encased him.

The energy gathered, concentrating at the center of his being, his abdomen. It twisted and churned, condensing into something more concentrated, more powerful.

His body felt as though it might shatter under the weight of the transformation, yet he held on, teeth gritted, refusing to give in.

And then, as suddenly as it began, the storm subsided.

The swirling energy dispersed, leaving behind faint crackles of light in the air. The forest fell silent once more, the only sound of his ragged breathing as he slumped forward, exhausted but alive.

Minutes passed. Slowly, the boy opened his eyes.

The world around him seemed different, sharper, more vibrant. His gaze darted to the surrounding air, and for the first time, he could see it.

Spiritual energy, once invisible and elusive, now shimmered before him like a flowing tide. He reached out instinctively, and it responded, swirling gently around his outstretched fingers.

His body no longer burned. Instead, a calm balance settled within him, as if every part of him had aligned perfectly.

He clenched his fist, marveling at the raw strength coursing through him. It felt limitless, intoxicating.

A smirk tugged at his lips. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The boy who couldn't absorb energy, who was mocked and discarded, had crossed a threshold.

He wasn't the same anymore. He had ascended to a realm many only dreamed of. Enjoy more content from empire

He had become an

Ascendant.