Kael's eyes snapped open in the pre-dawn darkness. He didn't need an alarm; his internal clock was now tied to the rising sun with a sense of both anticipation and dread. He lay perfectly still, feeling the soft sheets against his skin, a luxury that still felt alien to him. The quiet of the fortress was a stark contrast to the constant, dripping noises of the Sump.
He looked toward the large window. The sky was a deep, dark blue, just beginning to turn grey at the horizon. It was almost time. He braced himself, remembering the lesson with the teacup. Focus. Don't fight it. Just accept it.
As the first ray of sunlight streamed through the window and touched the floor, the familiar warmth erupted in his chest. It was far more intense this time, a tidal wave of energy that surged through every cell of his being. His muscles felt like they were being forged anew, growing denser and more powerful. The mana in his core swirled like a miniature galaxy, expanding with explosive force.
Then, the text appeared in his mind.
[Sunrise Escalation Complete.][All Core Stats and Mana have been Multiplied by a Factor of Six.]
Kael's breath hitched. Before he could even check his status, another message flashed in his mind.
[The Sextant Protocol has reached a new threshold.][System Interface Update 2.0 is now available.][Installing Update… Complete.][New Features Unlocked: [Luck], [Daily Rewards].]
[System Note: This System update and the feature [Daily Rewards] are exclusive modifications for the host due to the unique nature of the Sextant Protocol. No other System user possesses these features.]
The old, simple status screen Kael was used to vanished. For a second, his mind was blank. Then, a new interface materialized in his thoughts.
KAEL KAELENLevel: 1 Rank: F Title: None
Core Stats:
Strength: 1296
Agility: 6
Stamina: 6
Intelligence: 6
Special Stats:
Mana: 600/600
Luck: ???
Talent:
Conceptual Comprehension (Unique)
Affinities:
Aether (Divine)
Void (Abyssal)
Skills:
Mana Sense (Passive): Allows the user to feel the flow of mana in the environment and in living beings.
[Quests] [Inventory] [Daily Reward (Claim)]
Kael stared at the new layout. His thoughts felt clearer, his senses sharper. Then his eyes were drawn to the new, confusing line.
Luck: ???
He focused on it, trying to understand. What was a luck stat? And why was it hidden behind question marks?
'System, what is Luck?' he thought.
[Insufficient authority to view information on the [Luck] stat.]
The answer was blunt and unhelpful. Kael felt a flicker of frustration but pushed it aside. He then looked at the bottom of the interface. There was a new, glowing button that read [Daily Reward (Claim)]. With a sense of excitement, he focused his will on the button.
[Claiming your First Daily Reward…]
[Congratulations! You have received: [Crystal of Foundational Attunement].]
A new message popped up, giving him details.
[Item: Crystal of Foundational Attunement][Type: Consumable][Description: A special, one-time reward. When consumed, this crystal will analyze the host's most dominant core stat (Strength) and elevate all other core stats (Agility, Stamina, Intelligence) to match it, creating a perfectly balanced foundation for future growth.][Consume Yes/No?]
Kael's eyes widened. A perfectly balanced foundation. It was exactly what he needed. His strength was growing so fast, but his body was lagging behind. This could solve that problem. He immediately focused on 'Yes'.
He felt a cool, clear energy spread through his body, starting from his core and reaching every muscle and nerve. It wasn't a rush of power, but a deep, humming sensation of harmony. His entire being felt perfectly in sync. He quickly checked his status again. The change was breathtaking.
His Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence had all shot up to match his Strength.
Core Stats:
Strength: 1296
Agility: 1296
Stamina: 1296
Intelligence: 1296
Now he wasn't just strong; he was impossibly fast, impossibly tough, and his mind worked with a speed and clarity that was beyond human. The world seemed to slow down around him, and he could process information at an incredible rate.
He finally pushed himself to sit up, his mind buzzing. He remembered his lesson from yesterday and focused intently on the simple act of moving. He swung his legs out of the bed, placing his feet gently on the floor.
CRACK.
A spiderweb of fractures instantly appeared on the thick stone floor beneath his feet. Kael froze in horror. He hadn't even put his full weight down. The floor hadn't just creaked; it had broken.
He was no longer just a walking statue. He was a walking natural disaster.
A sharp knock came from his door. "Kael? Are you awake?"
It was his grandfather.
"Yes, grandfather! One moment!" Kael called out, his voice sounding surprisingly normal. He looked at the cracked floor and then at the door. He couldn't walk over there without shattering the floor with every step.
Thinking faster than he ever had before, he took a tiny, precise leap, pushing off with just enough force to cross the room in a single, silent bound. He landed as lightly as a feather in front of the door, not making a sound. His new Agility and control were the only things that saved him.
He opened the door. Valerius stood there, looking fresh and powerful in the morning light. His eyes were sharp, and they scanned Kael from head to toe.
"Good morning," Valerius said with a calm smile. "I trust your power has settled, as I predicted?"
Kael had to lie. It was the only way. "Yes, grandfather. I feel… stable. Much better than yesterday."
Valerius nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Excellent. Your quick grasp of control yesterday was promising. It shows you have a true talent for it. But that was just the beginning."
He turned and began walking down the hall, expecting Kael to follow. "Today, we go to the aetheric training grounds. Holding a teacup is one thing. Controlling your power when you are channeling it is another. It is time for us to see what your Aether and Void affinities are truly capable of."
Kael closed the door behind him and followed, his heart pounding a nervous rhythm. His grandfather thought his chaotic growth had stopped. He had no idea that Kael was now six times stronger in every way than the boy who had struggled with the teacup.
He was being taken to a training ground to test his magic. How could he possibly cast a simple spell without revealing a level of power that could level the entire fortress? The lie felt heavy in his chest, a secret as dense and dangerous as the new strength in his bones.