After succumbing to the might of Adeia's technique, impaled by her relentless blade, Kieran was soon plunged into a blackened world.
Though, it was strange because unsettling grogginess overtook him.
The feeling was similar to waking up with a hangover, mixed with a peculiar psychosis unique to the ingestion of certain psychedelics.
In short, Kieran felt as if his body wasn't his, like he was currently spectating his situation from afar.
But that was it. There wasn't much else for him to identify.
In this black nebula, if it could be called such, the falling feeling also felt suspended, like he was descending yet stagnant at the same time.
Stuck in this nauseating paradox, seconds turned into minutes and soon it felt as if hours had elapsed.
Yet, the persistent and disorienting lethargy continued to dominate Kieran.
It wasn't until Kieran felt a throbbing resonance all around him that the setting underwent subtle changes.
A whirlpool formed at the most distant point of the black expanse, revolving at an increasing pace. Soon, Kieran began to feel gentle winds assuage his face, then his arms, then all over his injury-riddled body.
At some point, he noted that the energy felt familiar.
Then again, how could it not? Kieran wielded it whenever he engaged in battle.
The familiar feeling embracing him was blood.
Unbeknownst to Kieran, following the completion of the trial, he was catapulted into an explicable place, possibly the Ego World of the Bloodied Fountain.
As the name implied, an Ego World was a type of subspace unique to the Egos of Relics or items of a similar standard that couldn't be classified as Relics.
In an Ego World, the Ego was the ruler. An undisputed archon that could administer or deprive treatment. It was evident that the Bloodied Fountain's Ego was giving Kieran aid to help him heal.
The strange thing, however, was that Kieran couldn't sense the entity, presence or consciousness responsible for this aid.
'Some kind of melded sentience? Does that mean the Bloodied Fountain is a lower-grade Relic?' Kieran wondered.
Though still weary and perplexed by the earlier events, especially the use of the Imperfect Blood Armor, Kieran's gaze regained a notable amount of focus, allowing him to observe his surroundings in greater depth.
Dense tendrils with the thickness of a forefinger burrowed into Kieran's body, going so far as to penetrate his body. An excruciating burning sensation shot through his body, but it wasn't unbearable.
Provided it didn't escalate any further, Kieran felt he would manage.
Soon enough, Kieran closed his eyes and basked in the misery, welcoming the perverse familiarity of it all. Whereas many would recoil and dread discomfort, Kieran found comfort in it.
The pain told him that he was still alive. That he could still accomplish more.
Suddenly, Kieran's eyes shot open amidst these thoughts, rattling uncontrollably. Dozens of these tendrils converged above his wounded heart and impaled it, resulting in violent spasms.
〈System: Due to your actions within the «Immemorial Gladiator Trial» where you revealed unprecedented valor, indomitable persistence and a tenacious will to survive, you have awakened an Apex Trait.〉
〈System: You have gained the Apex Trait: «Indomitable Psyche».〉
The moment the system revealed this trait, Kieran experienced an instant change. The haze that remained was washed away by an indomitable force.
This force was the vigor of Kieran's spirit.
As mentioned before, an Apex Trait was the strongest classification any trait could manifest as. Obtaining one before an Awakening, better yet, an Advancement, was already baffling.
Though, considering the perils Kieran persisted against, it was understandable.
Adeia's final strike had touched upon a level of power that Kieran couldn't help but dread. Yet, he accepted it without veering from his initial goal.
If the threat of something as absolute as death failed to shake the solidity of his aspirations, Kieran had doubtlessly gained the right to be called indomitable.
Curious of this trait, Kieran motioned with his hand, bringing up its details.
「 Trait Name: Indomitable Psyche
Trait Type: Physical/Mental Trait
Trait Rank: Apex
Order: Sixth Apex
Description: A unique trait of a phenomenal order, born from the supreme unwillingness of a bearer of a Flawed Soul. The mind can not excel without a vessel to control. And the body can not excel without a resilient and driven mind to fortify its limits and produce a constant desire to surpass those limits. Together, these tenets of indomitability give the holder incredible resistance.
«Indomitable Mind» - The user's mind is greatly reinforced by their Will, increasing the effects of all mental-aligned Hidden Attributes. Damage from all mental and soul-type attacks can be resisted if below the S-Rank threshold. The effects of some negative skills are mitigated based on their severity. The odds of resisting mental and soul intrusions are diminished against stronger foes.
«Indomitable Vessel» - The user's physical resistance is greatly increased. Attacks below a certain level will no longer damage the body. Attacks above a certain threshold will be imperfectly resisted based on the user's tolerance. Allows the user's Will to be imposed upon their body to a certain extent.
ραndαsΝοvεl ƈοm «Overdrive» - Grants the user the ability to overdrive the mind and body at a hefty cost, extracting its potential from a vast well of latent potential. Relying upon this ability will lead to severe reductions in one's ability to process and recover.
...
Note: An Apex Trait is only as strong as the peak of the user's potential. Grow, and a new Apex shall be attained. 」
There were many new and thought-provoking things about this trait that Kieran noticed at a glance.
For starters, an Apex Trait wasn't as straightforward as a Strengthened Trait. There were no values to calculate. Instead, everything relied upon Kieran's mental and physical capabilities.
For more concise information, Kieran would have to test out the effects of this particularly fascinating trait.
But, for now, Kieran's intention wasn't vested in how vague the wording was. He was more interested in this strange classification.
"Order? Sixth Apex? What exactly does that mean?" Kieran muttered weakly, still coughing and wheezing while the damage to his body was healed in recurring intervals.
Thanks to a lack of knowledge regarding Apex Traits, Kieran could only speculate the meaning of these orders. Perhaps it corresponded with the Tier it belonged to. For example, in Kieran's memory, a Tier 6 Being was another named for an Enlightened Being.
If his guess was correct, it would mean that this trait was generally something an Enlightened Being possessed. Typically, that was a stage of existential maturity where the dread of death no longer burdened them, allowing them to be unshackled and at liberty.
After all, there was a reason they were regarded as Enlightened Beings. One had to experience Enlightenment to reach that level.
Setting aside the effects of the first two abilities, Kieran focused on the last one—Overdrive.
The warning didn't seem grim or menacing, but Kieran understood a thing or two about pushing one's limits to the extreme. There was a point where one could end up breaking themselves—quite literally in fact.
Kieran had once fought against an opponent that obliterated their body by undoing their limits without knowing when to stop. It was a dangerous and addictive feeling. A rush of intoxicating power potent enough to cloud one's judgment.
It was similar to the dual activation of Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm.
After discarding the screen, Kieran closed his eyes and searched his thoughts, meditating on what he had experienced in his fight against the Fallen Ones and Adeia. The War Phantasmagoria was a trial worthy of praise.
Now that he could look within, Kieran learned the experience was like a ruthless blade carving at his soul. Even his Mystic Gate seemed somewhat odd.
Now, it resembled a crown, regal and indomitable. Perhaps the symbolism went deeper than Kieran could currently fathom.
…
Sometime later, a portal opened before the Bloodied Fountain once the half-kneeling soldier of blood dissolved into a crimson pool. From within that pool-like portal, Kieran's body ascended.
It wasn't strange that some of his wounds remained visible. They were gruesome and bone-deep, requiring more energy to heal than the Bloodied Fountain had to spare.
As he lifted his head, Kieran was quite surprised to find Veradin standing in the same position he had been in when Kieran departed.
A question immediately surfaced in Kieran's mind. 'How long was I gone?'
Time within the trial grounds was a tricky conundrum that no person would even attempt to understand. Thus, if Kieran wanted to understand, he'd have to hear it from someone like Veradin, who remained within a boundary with set time specifications.
"That sharp look in your eye," Veradin commented. A second later, his chiseled arm shot from under his sleeve, his massive hands clawing toward Kieran like a vice.
"No reaction?" Veradin's expression changed slightly, revealing hints of intrigue and praise. He had purposely controlled the speed of his hand to a level Kieran could perceive, but the intent in his hand was something that radiated certain death!
One squeeze and Kieran's head would explode like a compressed watermelon! Yet, he didn't do so much as flinch nor did he blink, remaining calm, unperturbed, but most of all… unamused.
As Kieran lifted his eyes to meet Veradin's gaze, he smiled. "I've succeeded."
"I could tell that without you having revealed it. Not only did the Bloodied Fountain communicate your progress, but the change in you is also apparent. My question is… how much of a monster have you become?"
"Not a monster," Kieran retorted. His smile grew more genuine and relaxed, betraying ruthless confidence. "I've become a reasonable beast."
There was meaning in Kieran's voice. The word reasonable was emphatic, denoting his intention to abide by his creed, not follow the whims of mindless slaughter that the War Deity Council glorified.
Veradin's usual stalwart expression softened after that. "I couldn't be more pleased, young man. It seems that your values have not been destroyed by the madness of war."
"About my reward. Can we... handle that matter now?"
"Ah, yes. Leave it up to you restless youths to impatiently request your rewards. Follow me," Veradin ordered, quickly turning around to venture elsewhere inside the headquarters.
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