The Pendragon's Book of Knowledge had been the greatest asset to the Dragon Roar Faction. It was a treasure so invaluable that if the other factions ever learned about its existence, they would stop at nothing to possess it, doing whatever it took to claim it.
But what exactly made this book so precious? It wasn't just any ordinary tome. It held the knowledge of the past, forbidden arts, and techniques that had been banned—either due to their immense power or the potential harm they could cause. In essence, it carried all the wisdom that a Paragon would need to become one of the greatest beings, capable of leading the most powerful faction, if not the most dominant in existence.
The Dragon Roar Faction, with the help of this book, had gained access to numerous techniques, skills, spells, and much more. Though they couldn't fully harness every aspect of the knowledge due to certain restrictions, they had still used a significant portion of it to grow stronger.
One of the techniques that had greatly aided them was the Phantom Body skill. This particular technique was more logical than magical, though the results often felt otherworldly.
When one used the Phantom Body skill, their body would vibrate at such an intense frequency that they would appear as a phantom, able to pass through physical objects as if they weren't there.
The beauty of this skill lay in its versatility. It could be used to stun opponents, enhance body movement, or even increase one's strength. However, it wasn't something just anyone could use. To perform the Phantom Body technique, one had to be a Paragon, possessing either a qi core or a mana core within them. Additionally, they needed to reach a certain level of evolution before they could wield this ability effectively.
Yet here, they all stood in awe, watching Alex—a boy who hadn't even broken through to his first level of evolution—somehow perform this highly advanced technique.
The first time he saw this technique in action was when Gwen used it during her fight with Alex to avoid his attacks. Before Stan had brought Alex to battle the beast, Gwen had even shown him the move, simply to pass the time. Alex had tried to mimic the technique, but up until that point, he had failed miserably.
Now, though, for reasons unknown, Alex was not only able to perform the Phantom Body skill but seemed to do so effortlessly, as though it was second nature to him.
From the viewing area, Stan and Theron were the first to snap out of their shock.
"How is it possible for him to learn that skill? And how can he even perform it?" Theron asked, his eyes wide with confusion.
Just then, two figures appeared beside them—Peter and Elder Rooney. They had arrived, drawn to the scene by the sheer absurdity of what Alex had just done. Watching through the display screens had been unsatisfactory; they needed to see it in person.
When they arrived, all eyes turned to Elder Rooney. The confusion and uncertainty in the air were palpable. What Alex had done was beyond normal, leaving everyone questioning what they thought they knew.
"What if Alex was a spy sent to monitor them? Maybe he was already a Paragon, hiding his levels with some advanced technique," one of them speculated.
It seemed like a ridiculous idea. After all, Alex had gone through several rituals before joining the faction. The system would have revealed his evolution level if he had been hiding it. There was no way he could've deceived them like that. This only meant one thing—Alex was a true anomaly, just like them.
"I know you all have your doubts," Elder Rooney said, addressing the room, "but this is part of the effects of peace energy. Unlike normal Paragons who face restrictions when using certain skills, those with peace energy can use any skill as long as they have enough energy to power it, without suffering any backlash."
The group listened closely as Elder Rooney continued, "The reason Alex couldn't use the Phantom Body technique before was that he couldn't summon enough natural qi. His natural qi is insufficient to use such advanced techniques. However, when he took those hits from the beast, his energy levels surged, and that allowed him to perform the technique."
Peter, still processing the explanation, looked to Elder Rooney for confirmation. "So you're saying Alex could learn any skill, even at his current level, and perform it without suffering any negative side effects?"
Elder Rooney nodded, confirming Peter's suspicions.
Peter's hands clenched tightly, his knuckles whitening. He was torn between excitement and frustration. A part of him wanted to rush down there, slay the beast, and force Alex to teach them everything about peace energy. But he knew better than to act on impulse. Stan's influence and command were a barrier he dared not cross.
With the situation becoming clearer, everyone now understood what had just happened. Their eyes all turned back to Alex, waiting to see his next move. With this new ability, surely, it would be easier for him to end the fight.
Down in the arena, Alex was equally shocked by what had just transpired. He had felt his body shaking uncontrollably but hadn't realized this was the effect of the Phantom Body technique. The fact that the beast had passed right through him, without inflicting any pain, felt surreal.
But soon, Alex noticed a problem. When the beast had phased through him, a massive amount of his rising energy had drained away. The Phantom Body technique, while powerful, came with a heavy cost. It required a significant amount of energy to vibrate the body to the point of becoming intangible. What was worse, maintaining that state consumed even more energy. And every time something passed through his phantom form, his particles would be pulled apart, requiring additional energy to reform his body and avoid destruction.
In a way, this technique was quite dangerous. If Alex didn't stop the skill before his energy ran out, his body would turn to nothing but tiny dust, marking the end of his existence. That was the real risk. While it made a person untouchable in a fight, it was also a perilous move to use.
After the beast passed through him, draining a significant amount of his energy, Alex knew he had to finish the fight quickly. He had one option: escape. With his phantom form, he could pass through the fence and flee. But there was a problem—his legs were in terrible shape. Even if he tried to run, the beast would catch him, and he'd lose more energy in the process.
In the end, Alex knew he had no choice. He had to fight.
Determined, Alex clenched his fists. It was as if his body understood his decision. The shaking that had engulfed his entire form stopped, except in his hands, which continued to tremble slightly. This allowed him to conserve more energy, something he desperately needed.
Meanwhile, the beast had recovered from its confusion. It locked eyes on Alex, mad with rage, and charged at him with incredible speed.
Alex didn't hesitate. He charged forward as well, meeting the beast head-on.
As he neared, Alex swung his fist toward one of the beast's heads. Just like before, his hand passed through its head effortlessly. But this time, something changed. His hand suddenly stopped midway, buried deep in the beast's skull. The force of the charging beast dragged Alex backward across the arena, his feet scraping against the floor, but he held on.
When the beast finally stopped moving, the second head realized what had happened. It howled in pain, thrashing wildly in confusion.
Alex knew he couldn't waste this moment. With his free hand, he swung at the second head, and once again, his hand passed through, only to stop, buried midway into the beast's skull.
Now, with both his hands deep inside the creature's two heads, the outcome of the fight seemed clear. But Alex wasn't finished.
'You wanted to tear me apart, right? Watch me do that to you!' Alex shouted fiercely.
His body began to shake again, but this time the tremors were slower, more controlled. As his body vibrated, he tightened his grip on both heads and began pulling, his muscles straining under the effort.
"arhh!"
He gritted his teeth, shouting out in determination as he started to force the beast's heads apart.
Every movement was slow but deliberate, with Alex pouring all his remaining energy into the act. Each shake of his body caused the beast to let out pained howls as its heads were pulled further apart, inch by inch.
In a swift motion, the two heads were severed from their bodies, and a trail of blood led back to the dog. Black blood splattered everywhere as the dog met its end.
After this grisly act, Alex fell to his knees in the pool of blood, letting out a piercing scream that echoed through the air.
Stan quickly jumped into action, landing in the arena where the fight had taken place. He hurried over to Alex, catching him just before he collapsed completely into the black blood covering the floor. Though Alex had passed out, his body still trembled with residual fear and exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, Alex. This was too much for you," Stan whispered, regret in his voice. "I got carried away by my own desires."
Before long, the others arrived, taking the normal route to reach the scene.
"I thought you said he wouldn't suffer any backlash!" Stan yelled, directing his frustration at Elder Rooney.
"Stan? Have you forgotten how these things work?" Elder Rooney retorted, bringing everyone back to the gravity of the situation. "Can't you see? This is why you brought him here. Alex is finally evolving."
In unison, they all found one word to describe Alex: "Anomaly."