The air in the stronghold seemed to thrum with tension, thick with anticipation. Every man and woman who had trained tirelessly over the past two months felt it—the pulse of something impossibly strong, yet calm, emanating from Alex.
Alaric stepped forward, his eyes narrowing slightly, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. "Show me, brother," he said. Not a challenge, not a command—just a quiet acknowledgment of the force standing before him.
Alex's smile deepened. He didn't speak. He didn't need to. The aura radiating from him said everything. The stronghold itself seemed to respond to his presence—the air vibrating subtly, the stones underfoot faintly trembling.
He raised his hand, just slightly, and the gust of energy it unleashed was enough to scatter leaves from the trees surrounding the stronghold. The team instinctively stepped back, some gripping their weapons tighter, all feeling the raw, overwhelming power he now wielded.
Alaric's eyes flicked over his brother with sharp precision. He had known Alex would become strong, but nothing could have prepared him for this. The Third Stage of the Sage Realm was not just a rank; it was a presence, a force that reshaped the battlefield merely by existing within it.
Alex's gaze swept across the training grounds, landing briefly on each of his comrades. There was no arrogance in his eyes, only a calm confidence—the quiet authority of someone who had endured unimaginable strain and emerged victorious.
Then, with a sudden motion, Alex moved.
It was not fast—it was instantaneous. In a blur, he was in the center of the grounds, his steps so fluid and precise it seemed as though he had merged with the energy around him. Each movement rippled through the air, bending it subtly, distorting perception. A single swing of his arm sent a shockwave rolling outward, shattering a stone pillar without even touching it directly.
The team froze, awe and disbelief etched into every face. Even Alaric, seasoned, battle-hardened, felt a thrill run down his spine. Alex's cultivation had transformed him into something beyond ordinary understanding.
"You… you've truly changed," Alaric finally said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of recognition.
Alex's smile was faint but satisfied. "Two months," he said simply, "and I've endured every ounce of power they could throw at me. Every day… every night. I'm ready now."
He raised both hands, and energy spiraled around him like a living storm, coiling, stretching, pulsating with life. The aura was overwhelming, tangible even to those untrained in sensing it. It pressed against the edges of their minds, demanding acknowledgment, respect, and—if necessary—fear.
The stronghold trembled subtly under the force of his presence, a silent warning that Alex was no longer just a young cultivator in training. He was a force reborn, tempered by suffering, sharpened by relentless struggle.
Alaric stepped back slightly, nodding once, almost imperceptibly. The stage was set.
Alex's eyes glinted with a quiet fire. "Let's see how far we've come… together."
The words were soft, almost casual, but the weight behind them was undeniable. The calm before the storm had passed. The Sage had awakened.
And soon, the Jin Clan would feel the full force of the storm that Alex had become.