The tiny being floating before Jaxon had long pointed ears, wore a delicate blue dress, and possessed flowing, translucent blue hair that shimmered like moonlight on water. Its large, glowing eyes radiated curiosity and intelligence. Though ethereal in nature, it exuded a sense of calm power and familiarity.
Its form—no bigger than the size of his palm—looked like something out of a fantasy story.
Cute, Jaxon thought absently, although his expression quickly darkened as questions began swirling in his mind.
Why did it just call me 'Master'?
Before now, the system had always referred to him as host. This sudden change in address caught him off guard.
"Why are you calling me Master now?" Jaxon asked, raising an eyebrow.
The elf-like being responded with a respectful and melodious voice, "Previously, you had not fully awakened the replication authority. The original system functions were locked. Now that you've begun unlocking that power, you are no longer just a host—you are the Master."
Jaxon narrowed his eyes, trying to digest the implications. "And what's with this new form of yours?"
He didn't sound upset—just curious. The image of the little spirit fluttering before him was charming, but unexpected.
"In this stage," the System Spirit explained, hovering with elegance, "you are capable of customizing my appearance. I have manifested based on the image you unconsciously formed when calling me."
Jaxon paused, remembering. When he first summoned the System Spirit earlier, a vague picture of a fantasy elf had popped into his mind—a small, mystical creature with pointy ears and sparkling eyes.
So this appearance was his doing.
"Ah... So that's how it works," Jaxon muttered, chuckling softly. "Well, I suppose I won't change it. You look fine like that."
The spirit—still floating serenely—bowed slightly in appreciation.
But playful appearances aside, Jaxon's mind returned to the one thing that mattered most right now: power.
The Ninja World was no gentle place. The strong survived, the weak perished. Alliances shifted with the wind, and power dictated everything. If Jaxon wanted to not just survive—but dominate—he needed more.
He stared at the glowing spirit.
"Tell me," he asked, voice serious now, "I've reached 5% replication. That should mean I've unlocked cross-world power, right? How do I use it?"
There was a nervous tremble to his tone. His palms were already slick with sweat, even though he was still technically inside his spiritual world. In the real world, his body trembled with anticipation. The room wasn't hot—but his back was soaked in sweat.
This was it.
A turning point in his life.
A moment that would define everything.
The spirit's voice echoed in the emptiness around him, clear and resonant.
"World plane energy transmission initiated. Beginning power unsealing…"
A sudden jolt surged through Jaxon's awareness.
Then—
Flickering images began flashing before his eyes.
Scenes unlike anything he had seen before—towering white castles nestled in floating islands, forests of golden trees that shimmered in rhythm with the wind, otherworldly creatures with wings made of light, and endless oceans that sparkled like glass.
It was overwhelming.
Everything looked fantastical—more dream than reality. And all of it was alien to the Ninja World he had come to know.
"World anchoring initiated…"
The system's voice rang in his ears like a chorus.
"Please wait… anchoring in progress…"
"Anchoring successful. Power conversion in progress…"
"Converting into current world's permissible parameters…"
Jaxon was stunned.
He didn't understand what "anchoring" really meant, or what consequences these conversions would have.
"Power transmission commencing. Please exit the spiritual world."
"Warning: The transmission process will be... extremely painful."
The last part caused a chill to ripple through his very soul.
He took a sharp breath.
So it wasn't going to be some gentle awakening. There would be pain. Probably a lot of it.
But hesitation had never been Jaxon's way. Without waiting another second, he exited the spiritual world.
The moment he opened his eyes back in the real world—
Agony exploded through his body.
Muscles clenched. Bones felt like they were shattering and reshaping all at once. A searing pressure began at his core and surged outward like molten lava.
He didn't scream—not yet. But the pain made his entire body convulse.
Jaxon leapt to his feet—then immediately stumbled, the floor beneath him spinning. As if in instinct, he bolted toward Xuanwo Yunnai, who lay peacefully sleeping on the bed beside him.
And then—SMACK!
He slapped her head hard, rousing her from sleep instantly.
"Oww—! What the—?!" Yunnai jolted awake, clutching her forehead with wide, teary eyes.
But when she saw Jaxon crouched on the ground, his body trembling violently, the pain in her head was forgotten in an instant.
"Jaxon!" she cried out, scrambling off the bed. "What's happening? What's wrong?"
Jaxon's face was pale, his lips twitching, and sweat poured from his skin like rain. Every breath he took was shallow and ragged, as if just breathing was a struggle.
Still, he clenched his jaw and managed to rasp: "Set… up a barrier… quickly… Don't let anyone notice!"
Yunnai didn't hesitate.
Despite her panic, her hands began flying through hand signs. In mere moments, she slapped her palm to the floor, and a near-invisible energy shimmered out in all directions—an advanced chakra sealing barrier cloaked the room entirely.
No one outside would detect what was happening now.
Jaxon gasped in relief.
And then—the transmission began.
His body arched violently. His muscles spasmed as an invisible force surged through every cell, rewriting, remolding, enhancing.
"Aaaaahhh—!"
He couldn't hold it back anymore. The scream tore from his throat, filled with anguish, echoing within the barrier but silenced from the outside world.
Yunnai froze. Her heart cracked at the sight of him in so much pain.
She reached for the door, intent on calling someone—anyone—for help.
But before she could open it, Jaxon's voice barked out again, sharp and strained:
"No! Don't leave! Don't tell anyone!"
She hesitated, eyes full of tears.
"I'm… fine," he grunted out, barely holding himself up. "Just stay… here."
She bit her lip hard, but nodded.
Even as he writhed in agony, Jaxon could feel it—his chakra pathways were expanding, strengthening. His physical constitution was adapting to foreign energies. Something ancient, powerful, and alien was merging into his very soul.
This was no ordinary power-up.
This was evolution.
And through it all, the System Spirit's voice echoed in his mind.
> "Conversion of system protocols complete.
Transfer of cross-world energy successful.
Replication core stability increased.
Current progress: 5.102%"
By the time the pain subsided, Jaxon was collapsed against the floor, soaked in sweat but alive—changed..
He slowly opened his eyes, now glowing faintly with a violet hue, the color of his rising power.
Yunnai was still beside him, eyes wide with worry, hand resting gently on his arm.
He looked up at her and smiled faintly..
"I'm okay," he whispered hoarsely. "Really… I'm okay."
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)