The stronghold was quiet, almost eerily so, as Alex sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the inner chamber. Around him, the Demon Core and the 6-Star Essence Stone radiated a faint, almost imperceptible hum, their energies pulsating like living things. The weight of what he was about to endure pressed down on him even before the first spark of energy touched his body.
Alaric's words echoed in his mind: "You take this… all of it. Only then will we have the capacity to fight back."
Alex clenched his fists. The responsibility of not just surviving, but growing strong enough to stand against the Jin Clan, bore down on him like a mountain. Each second was a battle, each breath a struggle against the latent power coiling inside the stones.
The moment he reached out and touched the Demon Core, a surge of energy shot through his body. It was unlike anything he had ever felt—sharp, suffocating, almost as if the energy itself wanted to tear him apart. Heat coursed through his veins, his vision blurred, and a deep, haunting voice seemed to whisper inside his mind: "Submit, or perish."
Alex gritted his teeth, forcing control. Every day was a relentless push against the consuming power, every night a test of endurance. The Demon Core's energy was wild, untamed, and it constantly clawed at his consciousness, threatening to overwhelm him. At the same time, the 6-Star Essence Stone fed him torrents of raw cultivation energy, every molecule burning through his flesh and bones to reshape him from within.
Weeks passed.
At first, the changes were subtle—a twitch here, a flare of energy there. But with each passing day, Alex's body was honed like a blade under fire. His muscles thickened, his senses sharpened, and his reflexes became lightning-fast. Yet the burden was relentless. There were nights he woke screaming, wracked by the Core's energy, drenched in sweat, unsure if he was enduring the power or if it was consuming him.
Months blurred together. Two long, agonizing months. Alex barely saw the sun, barely spoke to anyone. Every waking moment was a battle of wills. His skin grew pale, his body thin yet hard as steel. But slowly, painfully, he learned to control the torrents of energy. The Demon Core no longer threatened to engulf him; its power bent to his will. The 6-Star Essence Stone, once wild and explosive, flowed through him like a river he could navigate instead of being swept away.
Finally, one night, Alex opened his eyes. The chamber was bathed in the soft glow of the stones, but he no longer felt their oppressive weight. The energy inside him had settled, integrated, transformed into something far beyond what he had been before.
He rose to his feet and flexed his hands, feeling the surge of power coursing through him. A single movement of his arm could create a shockwave strong enough to shatter stone. His vision extended beyond the ordinary, able to perceive the faintest tremors in the air, the subtle vibrations of life and energy around him. The Third Stage of the Sage Realm—it was no longer a distant goal; it was now a part of him.
Alex closed his eyes and drew in a deep, steadying breath. The weight of the power he had borne for two months was gone, replaced by a calm, terrifying confidence. He had endured the unbearable, walked through fire, and emerged reborn. The stronghold itself seemed to acknowledge his transformation, the air vibrating softly with his presence.
When he opened his eyes again, they burned with a quiet intensity. This was not just strength. This was a promise—to protect, to fight, to one day stand toe-to-toe with the Jin Clan and make them pay for everything they had done.
Alex smiled faintly, almost imperceptibly. He was no longer the younger brother trembling under Alaric's shadow. He was a force to be reckoned with.
And soon, the Jin Clan would know it.