CHAPTER 13 — THE 5% BREAKTHROUGH
After the battle, Cedric was taken to a secure chamber.
Director Reyes looked pale.
"You defeated a Herald… alone."
Cedric didn't answer—he was barely listening.
Inside his body, the Divine Core pulsed like a second heart.
Arhenos appeared beside him in spirit form.
"Good. You handled the Herald better than I expected."
Cedric frowned.
"Aztarion will send stronger ones, won't he?"
Arhenos nodded.
"And when he descends himself… your world ends."
Cedric closed his eyes.
"I need more power."
The system responded instantly:
[ WARNING: DIVINE CORE BREAKTHROUGH ATTEMPTED ]
Proceed to unlock to 5%?
Extreme Pain.
Risk of Heart Burst: 31%
Risk of Soul Fracture: 10%
Reward: ???
Proceed? (Y/N)
Cedric didn't hesitate.
"YES."
Arhenos shouted:
"CEDRIC, WAIT—!!"
Cedric screamed as raw divine power ignited inside him.
His bones liquefied—
then reforged in divine patterns.
Mana surged violently—
his veins glowed like magma.
His heart nearly exploded.
His soul trembled like it would tear apart.
Finally—
a thunderous boom erupted from his chest.
Light engulfed him entirely.
The system chimed:
[ DIVINE CORE — 5% UNSEALED ]
[ EVOLUTION UNLOCKED: GODSLAYER FORM 1 ]
Cedric collapsed, panting.
He felt…
Stronger. Faster. Unbreakable.
Arhenos stared at him, stunned.
"You are evolving too fast. A human should not survive 5%…"
Cedric stood up, wiping blood from his lips.
"I'm not a human."
End of Chapter 13