Thinking about Nexus, Elio roared, a primal sound that echoed through the Pentagon estate. The surge of uncontrolled mana erupted from him, shaking the very foundations of the building.
Panic rippled outwards like a tidal wave, screams erupting as furniture toppled and tremors rattled windows. It wasn't an earthquake – it was Elio.
"Oh?! This is something I haven't felt since a long time," a woman's voice sighed calmly from a nearby balcony. She took a leisurely sip of lemonade, seemingly unfazed by the chaos. "Last time he got this worked up, the Hale family lost a few heads."
Another voice chimed in from a shaded veranda, nonchalant despite the shaking ground. "Yeah, those were fun times. Watch out below, looks like the flowerbeds are about to take flight again!"
In a stark contrast to the carefree leisure enjoyed by others, a single, dimly lit room held a figure cloaked in darkness. Sharp blue eyes snapped open, their gaze cutting through the gloom like twin daggers. The tremor of Elio's rage resonated within these walls, eliciting a deep sigh from the unseen occupant. In a blink, the eyes scanned the situation with practiced efficiency before closing once more, the figure seemingly retreating into meditation.
Meanwhile, back in the epicenter of the devastation – or what remained of the living room and surrounding areas – Valeria and Ruele watched Elio with a mix of awe and something akin to amazement. "He's barely exerting himself," Ruele murmured, a hint of pride lacing her voice. "He's gotten much stronger since four years ago."
Elio stood before them, a terrifyingly beautiful vision. Flames danced around him like a living cloak, their colors shifting from searing crimson to a smoky violet. Where eyes should have been, embers glowed with an intensity that spoke of controlled fury. His hair, once human, had morphed into a corona of flickering fire, mirroring the chaos within.
Skin, replaced by a shimmering membrane that pulsed with the rhythm of his fiery heart, seemed more a forge-forged barrier than flesh and blood. Beneath it, powerful muscles rippled with each movement, leaving a trail of smoldering embers in their wake.
The air shimmered, distorting the very reality around him. When he spoke, it wasn't with human voice, but with the crackling roar of flames, both powerful and strangely calming.
He wasn't just fire-wielding, he was fire incarnate, a walking inferno radiating an aura of contained fury. It was a force of nature, a burning enigma emerging from the ashes. The world itself seemed to tremble as Elio's rage reached its peak, threatening to consume him entirely.
Just as he teetered on the brink, two soft hands reached out and embraced him from behind. Ruele, her touch a stark contrast to his fiery form, enveloped him in a cloak of cool serenity.
"Honey, it's alright," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roaring storm within him. "We all feel the same, and I know you'll protect us, protect him." Her voice, a soothing balm, wrapped around him, anchoring him to the present.
Feeling the familiar touch of his wife, Elio felt the inferno within begin to subside. His breathing slowed, muscles relaxed, and his fiery form flickered and receded, replaced by his human visage. Ruele's calming presence grounded him, pulling him back from the precipice.
Several moments of heavy silence passed before Elio finally spoke, his voice a deep rumble.
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"Roman," he commanded. "One week from now, we convene a family emergency meeting. All top-tier members are required to attend. Failure to do so will be met with...consequences."
A cloaked figure materialized on a rooftop hundreds of meters away, seemingly appearing out of thin air. "As you wish, my lord," it replied in a raspy voice, before vanishing like a phantom into the night.
Elio's gaze hardened. "They think we've softened after all these years of silence. We'll show them, and the entire world, that the Pentagon family remains a force to be reckoned with."
Meanwhile, in the hospital wing of the estate, Jayden lay in his bed, his thoughts churning. The tremors had rattled him, and he'd felt a surge of immense power emanating from somewhere nearby. Though it subsided quickly, it left him unsettled.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he focused on his core once more. The familiar screen materialized, displaying his status:
[Core Status]
[Name: Jayden Pentagon]
[Level: 5 ]
[Race: Human ]
[Class: None ]
[Status Points: 15 ]
Health: 24 / 120
Mana: 320
[MAIN STATUS]
Warning! Your condition is not optimal to calibrate newly received stats
Titles: [Youngest Prodgidy] [Walking Anomaly] - Not available!
Vitality: 0.7 / 3
Strength: 0.3 / 1
Magic: 16
Stamina: 0.5 / 2
Agility: 0.5 / 1
Willpower: 10
[Active Skills]
Empyrean's Last Will - locked*
[Passive Skills]
HeartGuard
He scrolled through the list, his brow furrowed in concentration. The new "Willpower" stat piqued his curiosity. It hadn't been there before, and his father hadn't mentioned it during their conversation. A nagging suspicion gnawed at him. Was there more to his awakening than he'd been told?
Deciding to focus on the present, he directed his attention to the "Strength" stat. A detailed description unfolded before him:
[Strenght] - More than muscle
"Strength isn't just bone-crushing blows. It's the scholar's unwavering focus, the leader's rallying cry, the artisan's unyielding hammer. It's the spirit within, as resolute as mountains, that endures hardship and defies limits. Muscles like iron, resilience etched deep, a mind that mirrors the statue's fist – Strength whispers to other abilities, bolstering Stamina, Agility, and Magic. It's the bedrock, the foundation of power, waiting to be claimed by those who dare to answer its call. Remember, Strength is more than stats. It's the unyielding spirit forged in every triumph, every challenge overcome."
Jayden's eyes widened. This wasn't just a simple stat; it was a philosophy, a way of life. It resonated deep within him, stirring a yearning to push his limits, to test his own resilience.
'Wow,' he thought, a thrill coursing through him. 'This is incredible! But before I get carried away, let's see the others.' He shifted his focus to the "Magic" stat.
[Magic] - Whispers that bend reality
"Magic isn't just fireballs and conjured trinkets. It's the scholar's forbidden knowledge, the alchemist's life-giving touch, the bard's emotion-laced melodies. It's raw power, yes, but also the subtle manipulation of unseen forces, the whispers that bend reality to your will.
Imagine dreams shaping reality, emotions igniting storms, and thoughts carving pathways through space. Magic whispered to its brethren, fueling rituals, enhancing agility, granting raw power, and shielding minds. It's the bridge between physical and mystical, waiting to be claimed by those who dare to unravel the universe's secrets. Remember, Magic isn't just spells. It's the diplomat's calming whispers, the thief's shadow dance, the blacksmith's enchanted forge, the healer's life-giving touch. It's the power to rewrite the very fabric of existence, limited only by your will.
Jayden felt a surge of excitement. This wasn't just about flashy spells; it was about the potential to create, to heal, to defy limitations. He yearned to explore its depths, to unlock the secrets it held."
He continued reading through the descriptions, each stat unveiling a new layer of complexity and wonder. As he finished, a single thought dominated his mind: 'This is just the beginning.'
A knock on the door startled him from his reverie and a young woman with dark hair and dark-blue eyes peeked into the room.
"Hey there, sleepyhead," she chirped, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Ready for some fun?"
Jayden's heart skipped a beat. It was Kiara, his twin sister, and the prospect of spending time with her always brought a smile to his face in contrast with his thought from 2 years ago, he really came to enjoy the time with his sister.
"Absolutely," he grinned, the day's unsettling events momentarily pushed to the back of his mind.