Chapter 9
Dax studied the old man quietly. "I am known as Dax Godfall," he said at last, his eyes calm and unreadable. "But you will address me as Doctor."
Micah's breath froze. _It can't be that Dax… the child whose talent was stolen at birth._
He knew of every significant prodigy on the continent, every ancient bloodline, every clan of note—yet this boy had never appeared in any of them. Still, none of that mattered. The man before him had saved his life; the origin of his power was irrelevant.
"How did you manage to save me from Aron?" Micah murmured, astonished by the youth who seemed no older than his own granddaughter.
"Just know he won't be coming after you anytime soon."
Dax shifted his gaze to Micah's blade. "Instead of worrying about that, inspect your weapon. She is burning the dying flame of her soul to preserve your life. You should bid her farewell."
The spirit within the blade shook her head in defiance.
Dax turned toward the empty air, frowning. "You wish to stay?"
Micah blinked. To him, Dax looked insane. Speaking to thin air?
But under Dax's Origin Eyes, two translucent figures stood behind Micah—one a beautiful woman, the other a small glowing fairy. Their presence radiated a strange, soothing peace.
A soft smile touched Dax's lips. "Who am I to stop you?"
His voice gentled, becoming almost lyrical.
"There is beauty in life, and beauty in the experience of it. The colors of your existence brought these beings to you. To be alone, yet never truly alone—that is not tragedy. It is testament."
_Master, you're so poetic,_ Inerous teased inside his mind, her voice shimmering like crystalline laughter.
"Inerous, you've grown childlike," Dax replied with amused warmth. "Now, give me a detailed breakdown of my new skills—and this strange new body."
_On it._
**· Origin Body:** A form that embodies creation and destruction through the unity of your traits.
**Note:** You have become _the First of All._
**· Origin Eyes:** Eyes that witnessed creation itself. Nothing escapes their gaze.
**· Origin Touch:** Grants the ability to interact with anything visible to the naked eye.
_Master… your abilities are broken,_ Inerous declared flatly.
"I know."
Dax couldn't hold back his laughter. When he faced Micah again, his smile became sweet—deceptively gentle.
"Old man. Are you ready?"
_I'll test my new skills on him,_ he mused. _Ah… the possibilities._
Micah steadied himself. "Sir… my name is Micah."
He looked into Dax's eyes, trying to understand the being before him. His golden pupils reached into the depths of Dax's existence—and instantly, he felt himself drowning in a void of endless stars.
He gasped.
_How can a human…?_
Then came the pressure—like a colossal hand squeezing his heart. Terror flooded him. But the image of his granddaughter, suffering and helpless, surged into his mind.
_I will hold the hand of the devil if it saves her._
_If this boy speaks truth… I will risk everything._
"Finished staring?" Dax asked lightly, clearing his throat. "Do you know where we are?"
Micah looked around—the towering trees, enormous birds gliding overhead.
"This is the Plains of Vabos. But I don't know the exact region."
"Good. Then we can begin."
His mind was already dissecting the situation.
"Remove the beast corpses from your storage. And bring me a powerful sword."
Micah obeyed immediately.
"Do you know why you're able to move?" Dax asked with a knowing smile.
Micah hesitated, then shook his head.
"Even with those eyes, you can't see?"
Dax opened Micah's eyelid with a gentle touch.
"I… don't understand."
Micah, a man once praised as a genius, now felt like a complete fool.
"What do they do?" Dax's curiosity sharpened.
"These eyes…" Micah swallowed hard. Sweat slid down his spine.
"They resemble the eyes of the Golden Angel."
Dax's eyes widened with delight. Divine power coiled inside Micah's gaze—and Dax instinctively reached toward it.
"Sir!"
Micah's trembling voice snapped him out of his trance.
"Show me," Dax said softly, tilting his head.
"What?"
"Show me the power of those eyes."
Micah grimaced. "Master… these eyes don't belong to me. They belong to the god I once served."
His voice cracked. "Any moment now, they'll disappear. I can feel it."
"Ah… borrowed power," Dax murmured.
"You were used."
His voice softened with false pity—a perfect actor.
"You served him until your old age… how cruel."
"I will help you."
He guided Micah gently to the ground, then walked toward the dissected beast parts.
Operating on a conscious specimen thrilled him—but he did wish he had his old lab.
He picked up the spine of the wyvern.
"I would've loved to observe its heart. But this will do."
The organs lifted from the ground as if drawn by unseen strings, swirling around him in violent harmony.
"Synthesis," he whispered.
A burst of silver erupted from his palm, enveloping the organs.
The air calmed.
The trees hummed.
Thunder rumbled across the sky like the world itself was sighing in pleasure.
"It can't be…" Micah choked out. "Perfect Synchrony?"
"To reach this level… it's impossible!"
Suddenly, agony exploded behind Micah's eyes, ripping through his skull.
The divine power that once leaked from his gaze reversed direction, flooding back with burning warmth that only intensified the pain.
Dax ignored the rapid chimes of new system notifications—he was lost in a trance.
He began to float, hands cradling the silver sphere like a mother guarding her child.
The goo spun violently, the essence of Synthesis manifested. At its core, lights collided and merged in a furious internal war.
Dax's body hummed, releasing waves of silver ripples that trembled through the world.