The Death stone settled into its orbit with an ominous grace, trailing a wave of inky black mana that rolled outward from the capsule like a dark tide. The air seemed to grow heavier as the wave coursed through the room, a silent, chilling ripple that made the more mana-sensitive among the audience shift uneasily. Yet, the Death stone absorbed the energy with calm precision.

Then, as if answering an unspoken call, the Life stone stirred to life. It glowed with a vibrant, verdant energy, a defiant contrast to Death’s somber presence. The stone pulsed rhythmically, its light washing over the room like a warm sunrise chasing away the night. Slowly, it drifted into orbit opposite Death, the two forces now poised in a delicate, almost poetic equilibrium.

This has to be linked to my new passive physique. Makes sense, right?

Ren accessed his profile, scrolling through the interface to examine the skill description.

Skill: Sacred Spring Physique-Arcane

Level: 1

Type: Passive Enhancement & Empowerment

The Sacred Spring Physique is a passive skill that provides boundless stamina and unyielding resilience. It enhances the Arcane’s body to function at peak capacity, allowing even the simplest skills to manifest extraordinary power. This innate physical mastery ensures sustained performance in the most demanding situations.

The convergence of Life and Death—two opposing, primal forces—was as rare as it was unsettling. Together, they created a balance that felt both harmonious and precarious.

The smooth settling of the Death and Life stones brought a flicker of relief to Duke Kal’s otherwise impassive face. The Life affinity was vital—without it, the heirs of the House of Nurturing could not hope to cultivate the singularities that defined their lineage. Its presence alongside Death hinted at balance, at potential. For a moment, the mana field seemed to stabilize, its currents flowing in a harmonious rhythm.

Then, without warning, the field erupted again, its energy surging with renewed intensity. The air grew charged, bright and volatile, as three stones shot upward in perfect unison: Psionic, Vibration, and Space. Their ascent was seamless, and synchronized. These weren’t ordinary affinities—they were legendary-tier, rarer than most dared to dream of.

Three legendary skills... I grabbed those during the skill selection. Definitely need to test out the other two later. Mental note: prioritize that.

Skill: Cosmic Resonance-Legendary

Level: 1

Type: Vibration

Users possess the ability to create, shape, manipulate, and interact with vibrations—a mechanical phenomenon characterized by oscillations around an equilibrium point. This power extends to influencing vibrations within themselves, others, objects, and across various states of matter, including plasmas, gasses, liquids, and solids, as well as the surrounding environment.

Skill: Void Step-Legendary

Level: 1

Type: Space

By creating a connection to the void—a realm where distance and time lose meaning—the user can instantly traverse vast distances, bypass barriers, and evade attacks with seamless fluidity.

A ripple of astonished murmurs broke the silence. “Three? At the same time?” a scholar muttered, nudging his companion as though seeking confirmation. “That’s absurd.”

Absurd didn’t begin to describe it. Legendary affinities were rare enough to spark celebrations when one appeared. For three to rise together was an impossibility. Yet there they were, gliding into orbit behind Death and Life.

Before the gravity of what had just unfolded could sink in, another wave of mana swept through the chamber. This one was different—slower, heavier, and imbued with an almost sentient deliberation. It moved like a tide seeking its shore, probing the air as though searching for something. Yet, no stones rose to meet it. A tense silence fell, the kind that stretched and thickened with anticipation, until it was broken by the princess's voice, clear and sharp.

“Something’s happening,” she said, her words slicing through the murmurs like a blade. “An affinity beyond the stones—one we’ve never seen before.”

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As though summoned by her observation, the raw mana within the capsule began to coalesce. It spiraled inward, folding into itself until it formed a tight, radiant sphere at the center of the field. The Life and Death stones shifted, as if compelled by an unseen force, retreating to the second orbit. Their positions now seemed deferential, subservient to the newborn presence.

The sphere began to shimmer, its surface glowing with an intense, almost otherworldly light. Slowly, it shifted hues, turning a deep crimson. Then, in a mesmerizing display, it split into two smaller orbs. For a moment, the orbs pulsed in unison, radiating a golden light, before merging back into a unified white form. The transformation repeated, rhythmic and deliberate, as though the mana itself was experimenting, refining, asserting its identity.

Wait—this has Wrath Skill written all over it. The way it's acting... yeah, it fits.

Just when the air began to settle, the mana field surged with renewed vigor, and three more stones ascended into orbit: Metal, Arms, and Bow. Their emergence sent a ripple of astonishment through the hall, punctuated by audible gasps. These affinities—unmistakable in their significance—had not appeared together since the fateful naming ceremony of Duke Kal’s elder brother. That general, whose unmatched command of the Astra techniques had shifted the course of the last great war, was a figure etched deeply into the empire’s history.

Hmm, my spectral arm must have played a part in this...

The symbolism was impossible to ignore. These were the very affinities that had defined the fallen hero—a man who had channeled his life force into the Astra arts, wielding them as a shield for the empire at the cost of his own life. His sacrifice had been the cornerstone of their survival, a tale retold in reverent tones through generations. And now, as if drawn by some unbroken thread of destiny, the same trio of stones rose once more, orbiting in quiet homage.

Nine affinities in total. The sheer weight of that number hung in the air, unspoken but heavy with meaning. It wasn’t just the quantity—it was the quality. Four legendary affinities, two epic, two rare, and one enigma: the radiant, ever-shifting presence at the center of it all.

Ugh. This feels awful.

Inside the capsule, Ren wasn’t sharing the crowd’s sense of awe. The relentless surge of mana coursing through him reached a breaking point, triggering his innate skill, Unix. Like a system reboot, the skill absorbed the overflowing energy and redirected it in one controlled burst—a final wave of silver mana, sharp and precise.

But this wave didn’t behave like the ones before it. It ignored the established stones entirely, refusing to resonate with any of them. Instead, it did the unthinkable: it forged something entirely new.

Before the stunned assembly, a rune stone materialized out of the very fabric of mana. Its surface shimmered with intricate, otherworldly patterns. The room went dead silent. Even the loudest of the nobles didn’t have anything to say.

...Oh. Actually, never mind—it feels kind of amazing now. Okay, Unix, you’ve got my attention. Let’s start with you.

Skill: UNIX (Design, Create, Store)-EX

Level: 1

Type: Creation

Design- The user can generate and refine complex blueprints for any concept, from mundane tools to intricate objects or technologies.

Create- Use stored energy to manifest blueprints directly into reality.

Store- Store infinite blueprints and created objects within a metaphysical inventory for future use.

The affinity test concluded as the Rune stones gently descended, settling onto the floor with a faint hum. The capsule creaked open, releasing tendrils of mana vapor that swirled away from little Ren’s motionless form. His body, still radiating traces of energy, spoke to the ordeal it had endured.

The void bands remained fastened around the observers’ wrists—a precaution, as Ren’s body could be dangerously unstable after its prolonged exposure to an influx of mana.

Without warning, three glinting blades sliced through the air, each aimed precisely at Ren. The guard tasked with protecting the princess had acted swiftly, his arm a blur as he hurled the weapons.

An assassin stood among them.

In that instant, time fractured for four individuals in the chamber.

The assassin, positioned a few feet south of the deadly trajectory, had revealed their intent too late to retreat. To the east of the blades, the duke stood frozen, his mind a battlefield of conflicting impulses. Should he intervene, shielding his son with his own body, or trust the protective barriers encasing the capsule? The very act of stepping forward risked crushing the fragile Rune stones that had resonated with Ren—a calamity that could undo everything the test had achieved.

As a Tier 6 entity, the duke knew he could intercept the blades effortlessly, snatching them from the air in a fraction of a second. Yet when it came to his family, logic and power clashed with his fear and hesitation. The decision, measured in fleeting heartbeats, stretched into an agonizing eternity.

North of the blades, where they were destined to end their lethal arc, Ren’s senses flared. Deep within the misty capsule, his Resonance skill was already at work, processing the flow of sound, light, and energy waves around him. The skill painted a vivid three-dimensional image in his mind, rendering his surroundings with startling clarity. The imminent danger jolted another ability—Dominion of Mind—into overdrive, allowing Ren to evaluate countless solutions in the blink of an eye. Survival was paramount, and hesitation was not an option.