Ares exhaled short, sharp breaths… as if his chest had forgotten for a moment how to breathe.
He remained standing without moving, sweat slowly running down his temple, while his entire body still held the memory of that weight that had almost crushed him moments ago.
Then…
he released a long breath.
The breath of a man who had just survived falling into an abyss whose bottom he had never seen.
He muttered in a low voice:
"I thought… I was going to collapse."
There was no fear in his voice.
Only quiet astonishment.
Amazement that he was still standing.
Deep inside, calm gradually returned, like a sea whose storm had settled… yet whose waters were still disturbingly deep.
Then the system spoke.
Its voice had not changed, as if what had just happened was not worth reacting to.
[Spiritual energy absorption complete.]
[Host neural signals: stable.]
[Physical structure: stable.]
[Vital functions: within the ideal range.]
If someone else had been in his place…
these words would have been a declaration of survival.
But for Ares—
they were only the beginning.
The system fell silent for a heartbeat… then continued:
[After analysis: the technique shows high compatibility with the host's dantian.]
At that moment, the black hole inside him moved slowly… like a creature that had heard its name.
Then—
[Modifying technique…]
[Source of modification: Black Hole — primary reference.]
Ares's thoughts stopped.
The technique… was being modified?
For him?
Silence echoed in the room while the system notifications flowed in a steady, cold rhythm… like the ticking of a clock that did not know hesitation.
[Calculating…]
[Analyzing…]
[Analyzing…]
Seconds passed.
But they felt longer.
Then the verdict came.
[Calculation complete.]
For no clear reason, Ares felt that something in the world had slightly changed.
The system continued:
The original technique was designed to control various types of energy and convert between them freely.
It paused for half a second.
But it… was not ideal for the host.
Ares narrowed his eyes.
Not ideal?
The technique requires a special physical structure capable of containing multiple flows of energy.
Silence.
Then came the line that changed everything:
[After analysis and recalculation… the technique has been modified.]
It did not say "improved."
It did not say "adapted."
But—
Modified.
As if the rules themselves had bent slightly.
The system continued in its emotionless tone:
The technique has been developed based on the Black Hole as a primary reference.
In that moment…
Ares felt that the dantian inside him was no longer just an energy center.
But a standard.
Something by which techniques were measured.
Then the system said:
The original technique contained nine levels, suitable for the sub-realms of the first rank of the Path of Eternal Ascension.
A heartbeat.
But now—
The voice stopped.
Even the air seemed to be waiting.
The initial structure… of the tenth sub-realm has been formed.
Ares's pupils widened.
The tenth?
That was not development.
It was transcendence.
As if a new path had just been drawn… because one person had walked it.
This means the host will not be limited to the nine levels.
Then the system announced the name.
A name that had not existed minutes ago.
The new technique is called:
"Origin of the Black Hole."
A heavy silence filled the space.
The kind of silence that does not come after noise…
but after an event the mind does not know how to measure.
Ares whispered inwardly:
"A technique… that did not exist."
But the system added coldly, returning the world to its normal size:
[The host has not yet reached the first sub-realm.]
A small smile appeared on his lips.
A legendary path…
and he was still at step zero.
He sighed quietly, then lifted his gaze toward the second jade tablet.
He hesitated for a moment.
Then thought:
"Nothing more violent than that can happen…
this is just a basic technique."
He reached out his hand.
The moment he touched the tablet—
his awareness opened once again.
But this time…
there was no collision.
Instead, a gentler stream of knowledge washed over him, like cool water after a storm.
Principles of the elements.
Ways to sense them.
How they bend…
and how they are tamed.
The system intervened quickly.
[Absorbing information…]
[Analyzing…]
Moments passed… then Ares felt the pressure fading.
He released a long breath he had not realized he was holding.
Then—
[Analysis complete.]
The system continued:
Technique for controlling and manipulating the elements.
Number of levels: seven.
Simple.
Direct.
But the system was not finished.
[Modifying technique…]
[Calculating…]
Ares narrowed his eyes slightly.
He was beginning to understand the pattern now.
Then came the line:
The technique shows high compatibility… with the host's gravity core.
For a moment—
something hidden trembled deep within him.
As if the core had heard the signal.
[Analysis complete.]
[Modification complete.]
A short silence…
Then the system said:
After integrating the concept of the gravity core…
the technique has been elevated to the eighth level.
Ares slowly closed his eyes.
Once again…
a technique exceeding its limits.
Not because he searched for the best.
But because his existence… imposed the best.
[The host has not yet reached the first realm of the Path of Elements.]
Ares lowered his head slightly.
Two techniques.
Two paths.
And both…
had been reshaped.
For him.
Deep inside, a cold realization began to form:
Most practitioners search for techniques that suit them…
But he—
one day, the world itself might have to learn…
how to suit him.
He raised his eyes.
And in a place deeper than thought…
the black hole moved slowly.
Hungry.
Always hungry.