It was stable.
I increased the speed little by little, pushing it forward, watching as the layers of rotation built upon themselves. The fire particles responded, following the flow naturally instead of resisting it.
Faster.
Tighter.
The pressure grew, but instead of breaking apart, the sphere remained intact. For the first time since I entered the chamber, it didn't explode on me.
A small smirk tugged at my lips.
But I wasn't done yet.
I increased the rotation further, pushing it toward the next stage. The fire twisted, a concentrated vortex burning within my grasp. But the moment I tried to rush it—
Boom!
The sphere exploded, sending heat rushing against my skin.
I let out a short breath.
So, that was the limit. I had built it well, but I had gotten greedy at the end, forcing the speed beyond what it could sustain.
Again.
I formed another, moving faster this time, but keeping the same steady flow.
Letting the rotation guide itself instead of imposing my own pace. It was a strange balance, control without over-controlling. I kept repeating the process, adjusting the speed, testing the limits, watching how far I could push before it collapsed.
Each time, I lasted longer.
Each time, I understood more.
The fire tornado from my vision had started slow, built itself up, and maintained its peak. If I could reach that same point, sustain the highest rotation without losing stability, I would have full control over the technique.
A sudden thrill ran through me as I pushed the fire further, testing its limits.
The spinning sphere in my palm burned brighter, its rotations smooth, controlled. This was no longer just practice, it was a challenge, a game between me and the fire.
How far could I take it before it collapsed?
I increased the speed, feeling the heat coil tighter, the particles obeying my will without hesitation.
My Psynapse buzzed, feeding me information faster than before. Every shift in the fire's motion, every change in temperature, I felt it all.
I counted the seconds as the sphere spun flawlessly, more particles merging into its core. Compressing it further, I pushed the speed higher, maintaining absolute control. The moment it reached the desired density and power, I halted the acceleration.
Nineteen seconds.
An improvement of fourteen seconds, but still too slow.
Hours passed as I repeated the process over and over, refining my control, forcing the sphere to form faster.
My eyes burned from the relentless focus, but I was close. The effort wasn't wasted and also I had pushed my Psynapse to 114 by keeping the generator active.
But I had to stop.
A notification appeared, the one I had been waiting for.
[Requirement completed]
[Talent Leveling Up…]
Suddenly, Essence surged toward me, drawn in like a tide shifting with unseen force.
I closed my eyes, steadying myself as my heart pulsed with a growing intensity. I was used to the sensation of my talent leveling up by now.
Through my perception, I observed the movement around me. The fire particles in the chamber drifted like boats on an endless ocean of Essence, rising and falling with the invisible currents.
And at the center of it all, me. The pull of my Generator was like a whirlpool, drawing everything inward, guiding the flow rather than forcing it.
Heat built in my chest, as more and more Essence surged in. The process stretched on for nearly two minutes, each moment sharpening my awareness of the energy around me. Then, just as suddenly as it began, everything stilled.
And I heard the notifications.
[Talent Level Up!]
[Generator 3 → Generator 4]
I hurriedly opened the talent panel.
[Talent]
--------------------------------------------
Talent Name: Generator
Function: Generates Essence from absorbed energy
Level: 4
Essence: 10/35 units
Level Up Requirement: 700 units of Essence generated
Progress: 10/700
Talent Upgrade Requirement: Talent Level 5
Generator Activation Command: Power Up!
Recharge Sources: Any form of energy
Abilities:-
Essence Transfer – Can transfer stored Essence to an attribute. After use, 40% of the transferred Essence unit remains as a permanent boost
Essence Infusion – Can infuse stored Essence.
Particle Absorption – Can directly absorb energy particles from the environment.
Sovereign's Mark – Generated Essence bears your unique signature, bending only to your will.
--------------------------------------------
A slight disappointment settled in, I had hoped for a new ability, but maybe I was getting too greedy. There was only one level left before my talent upgraded, and I was really looking forward to it.
Still, the changes were significant. My core's storage capacity had expanded to 35, and the Essence Transfer efficiency had increased to 40%. That meant if I transferred all 35 units at once, I'd gain a solid 14 points in an attribute. A massive boost.
Exhaling, I stood up and walked over to the lever, switching it off. The fire chamber dimmed as the temperature stabilized. Stepping out, I was met with the cool night air, time had passed faster than I realized.
The training grounds were quiet at this hour. My footsteps barely made a sound as I walked, my body's temperature was still pretty high from hours of training.
The thoughts of the mission occupied my mind as I made my way back to my room. I wanted to grow strong, of that, I was certain. But things were changing.
The cost of strength in this world wasn't just hard work and determination. It was loose morality, bloodshed, not just of enemies, but of my own kind. Maybe even people I personally knew. What I did with Holt today was proof of that.
He hadn't gone out of his way to trouble me. I was the one who acted first, and I did it for my own benefit. I never thought I'd cross that line, but when the moment came, I didn't hesitate.
I exhaled, my gaze drifting upward. The stars shone brightly, distant and untouchable. I wondered about the old man I had seen in my vision, the one who held the power to crush an entire planet. What had he gone through to reach that position?
Did he regret the way he lived his life? Or was he satisfied with how everything had unfolded?
After a few minutes of silent strolling, I pulled out my phone, the screen's glow cutting through the darkness.
I hesitated for a moment before selecting North's name and typing a message.
[Me]: Hi North?
The moment I hit send, I stared at the screen, waiting.
Would she reply right away? Maybe she was asleep. Maybe she wouldn't even see it until morning.
**** North's PoV
I sat cross legged on the couch, my eyes fixed on the screen as two high-level archers clashed in a brilliant display of speed and precision.
Every movement was calculated, every shot flawlessly executed. I leaned forward slightly, watching their footwork, the way they controlled their breathing before each release.
My own archery still had a long way to go, and seeing experts in action always left me both inspired and frustrated. If I wanted to reach that level, I had to put in the work.
Just as one of the archers loosed an arrow that rotated and flew off with such speed it left a sonic boom behind, my phone dinged.
I blinked, torn from the fight, and glanced down at my phone resting beside me.
A message.
I looked at the screen, and the name was Boring Billion.
My heart skipped a beat as I reached for it.
I recalled the first night I met him during the checkpoint mission, the way he tore through Abominations with nothing but torn shorts and bare fists.
He moved like a force of nature, unstoppable and absolute. His presence alone shifted the battlefield, turning everyone else into background noise.
The other unit members fought around me, struggling against their opponents, but in his presence, they looked weak. Pathetic even.
His green eyes gleamed with confidence, not arrogance, just a deep, undeniable certainty that he knew exactly what he was doing and why.
I didn't understand it at the time, but there was something about him that pulled me in.
He gave no sign of interest, not a single lingering look or charming line, but still, I liked it when he invited me to dinner tonight. I even put on some light makeup, hoping for a compliment. But of course, the guy was completely oblivious. Handsome, but boring.
I scoffed, shaking my head as I picked up my phone and typed a reply.