"Do you feel no urge to devour that crystal?"
Fernand scrutinized his son, noting how the black smoke surrounding Muria's body had thickened. He knew this indicated that Muria's internal power was now in a state of fervent agitation—a state Fernand himself had experienced before. He couldn't help but be even more curious.
"I do," Muria admitted calmly. "My power definitely wants to absorb and assimilate this crystal."
"Then why—" Fernand's eyes narrowed as he observed his son's unusual composure.
"I control the power within me, not the other way around. I am its master," Muria replied, his tone unwavering.
Every Titan is born with an innate understanding of their own power, a trait that needs no teacher. Titans instinctively know that they must dominate their strength, never letting it dominate them. For them, self-mastery is second nature.
Thus, even though the energy within Muria yearned to consume the crystal, he kept it firmly in check, ensuring that no impulse would override his decision-making.
"If only you had been born twenty years earlier—or even just ten years earlier," Fernand sighed, his voice tinged with regret as he gazed at this extraordinary son.
"Stop suppressing your power. Let it loose and let it absorb the crystal. It will only benefit you; it poses no harm," Fernand urged, his tone now coaxing.
"What kind of benefit are we talking about?" Muria inquired, his expression serious.
"It will allow you to achieve your second awakening ahead of time," Fernand said with a small, sly smile, his voice carrying a tempting allure. He believed even this son, with his exceptional self-control, could not resist such an enticing prospect.
"Second awakening?" Muria raised an eyebrow slightly. In the royal family, the initial awakening usually occurred around the age of ten, while the second awakening typically took place upon reaching adulthood, around eighteen years of age. The second awakening marked a qualitative leap in a royal's power.
"Exactly," Fernand affirmed with a nod.
"So this crystal can shorten the time needed for my next awakening?"
"Not only that. Once you've fully absorbed it, it will also expedite your third awakening," Fernand elaborated.
"I see." Muria extended his hand and picked up the black-and-red crystal from the box, holding it in his palm. He then released the suppression on his internal power.
The effect was immediate. The energy within Muria surged forth like a ravenous beast, coiling around his arm in a dense cloud of black smoke. The tendrils of energy wrapped around his arm, particularly concentrated around his clenched fist, where they seemed to thrum with an almost sentient hunger.
At the same time, Muria could feel the crystal's energy being siphoned into his body. Tiny sparks of golden-red light flickered within the black smoke encasing his arm.
Then, Muria began to change.
His body started to grow—slowly at first but visibly enough to be noticed. His perspective shifted as his line of sight gradually rose, accompanied by a tangible sensation of strength coursing through his entire being.
A tingling itch spread throughout his body as new tissues and structures formed. Muria could "see" the changes happening to him. The fiery patterns on his face extended down his neck, creeping across his body.
The once pale and delicate skin of his arms and torso darkened, taking on the appearance of polished obsidian. The new skin looked unnervingly durable, like a protective shell. At key points on his joints—elbows, knees, wrists—crescent-shaped bone blades emerged, glinting with a metallic sheen.
"Second awakening!" Fernand exclaimed, his voice laced with astonishment as he watched Muria grow to a size nearly equal to his own.
The transformation had exceeded Fernand's expectations. He had seen many awakenings, but this was unlike anything he had encountered.
By the time Muria's awakening concluded, he stood nearly three meters tall. His clothes had long since been shredded by his expanding physique, leaving his fully transformed body exposed.
The transformation was nothing short of awe-inspiring: a towering, muscular figure with sharp, angular lines etched into his obsidian skin. Glowing crimson patterns like molten lava veins crisscrossed his form, emitting a faint heat. Bone blades protruded from his joints, giving him a fearsome, primal appearance.
"Is there a problem?" Muria bent slightly, peering down at Fernand, who seemed momentarily lost in thought.
"A big problem," Fernand muttered, his brows furrowing deeply. "I anticipated it would take you at least three months to fully absorb that crystal. But you've done it in half an hour."
"My absorption efficiency exceeded your expectations. Surely that's a good thing," Muria said, his tone casual.
"It is." Fernand nodded, though his expression remained troubled. He reached up, unconsciously placing a hand over his chest. His eyes flickered with hesitation before he concealed it with a practiced calm.
"Don't tell anyone about this—your second awakening, your accelerated growth—none of it. Understood?"
"Understood."
"For now, avoid fighting anyone, especially your siblings. Don't show this awakened form to anyone," Fernand continued, his tone firm before shaking his head. "Actually, never mind. I'll handle the arrangements. Prepare yourself."
"Prepare for what?" Muria asked, tilting his head slightly.
"Prepare to leave the palace. You'll be undergoing special training, just for you," Fernand declared, his back already turned as he left the room.
Muria watched his father depart, noting the king's subtle movements and gestures. Fernand was clearly deep in thought, contemplating what to do next.
Fernand returned to his chambers, his mind racing with plans for Muria. His youngest son's extraordinary talent required an equally extraordinary course of action.
"Such potential… If properly nurtured, Arnold might even surpass me. No—he might become the greatest ruler in the history of Gayle."
Fernand's hand pressed against his chest, feeling the hard, crystalline core embedded there. This was the crystallized essence of Gayle's first king, a relic passed down to each reigning monarch. It was both a symbol of their sovereignty and a reservoir of immense power.
"The founder's strength is too much for me to bear," Fernand murmured to himself, his voice heavy with regret. "I can barely use it without it overwhelming me. But Arnold… he might be the one who can wield it fully, even perfect it."
Despite his outwardly robust appearance, Fernand knew his time was limited. The burden of the king's essence had taken its toll on his body.
"If only Arnold had been born sooner," he lamented, slumping onto his throne with a weary sigh. "I may not have enough time to see him fully grown."
Meanwhile, back in his chambers, Muria studied his newly transformed body, his mind a whirl of thoughts.
"Initial awakening, second awakening, third awakening…" he mused aloud, tracing the fiery patterns etched into his obsidian skin. "What lies at the end of this path? What happens at the pinnacle of royal blood?"
Muria's own instincts told him the truth: the more one awakened, the less human they became. His current form was proof of that. His fiery breath, the sharp bone blades protruding from his body—these traits were far removed from anything remotely human.
As he reined in his power, his body slowly reverted to its five-year-old form. His black skin lightened, his fiery patterns faded, and his sharp bone blades receded. In moments, he looked like a harmless child once more.
"So, absorbing royal blood crystals is a shortcut to power," Muria murmured, his thoughts turning speculative. "If I could acquire more of them, my strength would skyrocket."
He paused, considering a darker possibility.
"All royal power is of the same source, nearly identical in nature. Which means… Could I devour the essence of other royals?"
The idea lingered in his mind, a tempting yet dangerous prospect.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.