Chapter 87: The Ascension of Stars, Hell, and Serpents


    The second floor of the tower was quiet but for the occasional flickering of light that could be seen through the cracks under the wooden door of a particular room. It wasn’t a natural light—its source pulsed with a rhythm like that of a heartbeat. Recruits had started to take notice of it. Whenever someone passed by, they could see a sliver of brightness leaking through the crevices, as though the very air was glowing within. At night, it was far more prominent—like a lighthouse casting its beam into the void.


    Abel had been locked inside for days. The room itself seemed to hum with his energy, yet no one dared interrupt his mysterious process. Inside, Abel was bathed in a brilliant, otherworldly light—so bright, that the walls and floors were lost in the overwhelming white radiance. The light wasn’t static, though; it pulsed, it shimmered, it grew and contracted in a cycle, as if the room itself was breathing.


    Abel stood in the center of this sea of light, his body shimmering as though it were made of pure starlight. He had been absorbing the energy for days—starlight that pulsed through him, overfilling his being. His skin glowed with a deep luminescence, so bright it was almost blinding. The intensity was overwhelming, but Abel showed no signs of strain. Instead, he appeared calm, his eyes closed, his face serene.


    It felt as if he had become the star he once consumed—a celestial body, radiating warmth and power. The star he had devoured spun rapidly inside him, its energy coursing through every vein, igniting every cell with its radiance. Faster and faster it spun, the pressure building as the light intensified, threatening to burst from within.


    Then, in an instant, it happened.


    The light that had filled the room—so intense it seemed ready to explode—snuffed out like a candle. The silence that followed was eerie. But as quickly as the light vanished, something new appeared. In front of Abel’s chest, a swirling, pulsating star materialized—an ethereal, powerful star that hovered just beyond his skin. It emitted a gentle, calming light, as though the purest essence of the cosmos had taken form.


    Abel looked down at the star with awe. His body had transformed yet again, rejuvenated, reborn. The swirling star then enters his body with a gentle touch, within him, it was no longer wild or chaotic—it had become a reservoir, a vast pool of mana he could now easily pull from. The energy was endless, and it flowed through him like a river. He had succeeded. Although the star still looked ethereal within him, it held an undeniable connection to himself, as he could feel much stronger than before.


    Abel had broken through.


    The star within him was now his core, his anchor to the celestial powers he had bonded with. He felt invincible. The sheer potential of his newfound strength filled him with a sense of awe. Anything seemed possible now, as if he could command the very forces of the universe. Calm yet brimming with energy, Abel’s ascension had only just begun.


    …


    While Abel was breaking through, on the first floor of the tower Sena stood before the Overseer. His body radiated intense heat as flames crackled along his skin, wrapping him in a fierce aura of fire. His normally dark eyes now glowed a brilliant crimson, reflecting the immense power coursing through him. The recruits watched in awe, feeling the oppressive heat emanating from him, forcing them to take a few steps back.


    From his temple, a single, gleaming curved horn emerged, shimmering with a deep red light. The horn pulsed rhythmically, as though alive, becoming Sena''s new mana pool, a core from which his immense power flowed. It wasn’t just an accessory—it was his source of energy, a reservoir for his hellish abilities. Each throb of the horn sent ripples of mana through the air, distorting the space around it as though the sheer power it contained was too great to be restrained.


    Sena raised a hand, and the flames surrounding him danced in response, controlled and deliberate. His mastery over hellish fire was evident, it was vile and unbelievably hot—what had once been an uncontrollable force now obeyed his every command. The flames flickered and swirled, casting long shadows on the stone floor and illuminating his massive frame in a crimson light. Even the recruits, gifted in their own rights, could feel the overwhelming energy radiating from him, their awe mixed with a hint of fear.


    The Overseer, ever the calm observer, took a step closer, inspecting Sena’s transformation. His gaze lingered on the single horn, recognizing its significance. "A rare manifestation of power," he said softly, his voice carrying through the room. "Your mana pool has taken physical form—a living source of your strength."


    Sena stood tall, feeling the raw energy coursing through him, his body resonating with the heat of his flames. He was no longer just a warrior—he was a beacon of power, his horn marking the culmination of his transformation. His strength had evolved beyond what he had once known, and the fire that had once threatened to consume him was now his to command.


    The Overseer gave a slight nod of approval, a real gesture. "You’ve harnessed it well," he said, his voice firm. "With this, you are ready to ascend."


    With a grateful nod, Sena bowed slightly, his body still ablaze with flames as he turned to climb the stairs, moving to the higher floors, leaving behind the murmurs of admiration from the watching recruits.


    Soon after he left Overseer was called by another figure that approached. Isabella stepped forward, her eyes filled with determination. “Overseer, I wish to be assessed as well,” she stated firmly.


    Isabella walked, her movements fluid and controlled. The Overseer, his curiosity piqued, watched as she prepared to demonstrate her newfound power. With a simple gesture, Isabella raised her hand, and from the folds of her robe, a small crystalline snake slithered out, glistening as it hit the light. The tiny creature coiled briefly around her wrist before leaping onto the ground. In that instant, the entire room seemed to shift as the air thickened with energy.


    The recruits around them watched in awe, gasping as the snake began to grow, its form expanding in size and power. From the floor, a massive serpent materialized, towering over everyone in the room. Its body coiled protectively around Isabella, each scale now a radiant, crystalline structure that pulsed with raw, unfiltered energy. The serpent’s scales reflected light in every direction, casting the room in a rainbow of shimmering colors. What had once been a simple serpent was now a living, breathing statue of power, brought to life by the energies Isabella had gained from the expedition.


    The atmosphere shifted further, growing almost divine in presence. The crystalline snake looked like it belonged to another world, its very existence challenging the boundary between magic and reality. Its eyes, bright and piercing, locked on the Overseer for a moment before returning to Isabella, its mistress. As it hissed softly, a faint, glowing pattern appeared on Isabella’s cheek—a snake-scale motif that shimmered with the same radiant energy as her serpent.


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    With another smooth motion, the gigantic serpent began to dissolve, its crystalline form breaking apart into shards of light. But it wasn’t disappearing. Instead, the snake’s entire essence merged back into Isabella, flowing into the glowing pattern on her cheek. The recruits, still processing the spectacle, could almost feel the immense power coalescing within her, as if the serpent had become one with her body, fusing with her very being.


    The room was silent, save for the faint crackling of magical energy still lingering in the air. Isabella’s transformation was now complete—her serpent had become her mana pool, an endless well of serpentine strength that she could summon at will. She was no longer just a gifted fighter; she had become a force to be reckoned with, her mana pool alive and intertwined with her body.


    The Overseer, though not easily impressed, took a step forward, his eyes narrowing in approval. He nodded, his gaze lingering on the now faint, glowing pattern on her cheek. “Impressive,” he said, his voice low but filled with acknowledgment. “Your mana pool has taken a form rarely seen—both a weapon and a part of you. You’ve harnessed its power well.”


    Isabella bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment, her expression calm but the glow of satisfaction clear in her eyes.


    “You, too, may ascend,” the Overseer finished, his words carrying a weight of finality.


    Isabella thanked him, her eyes glimmering with satisfaction as she acended.


    Just as the Overseer was about to turn and leave, a faint light illuminated the base of the staircase, catching his attention. His eyes, sharp and seasoned, fell upon a figure that had been hidden in the shadows. It was Abel. The light surrounding him was not from a lantern or the sun but from within. A soft, ethereal glow radiated from his skin, a lingering remnant of the starlight he had absorbed during his transformation.


    Abel walked with calm confidence, but there was a distinct power in his stride—a quiet, controlled strength that made the room feel heavier, more charged. His presence was unmistakable now, drawing the eyes of the remaining recruits who had watched the previous ascensions in awe. Now, they turned their attention to this glowing figure who seemed to carry the weight of the cosmos within him.


    The Overseer’s expression, typically unreadable, shifted ever so slightly. His lips parted in mild surprise, his eyes narrowing in interest as he watched Abel approach. The Overseer had seen many ascend, but something about this young man was different. There was a quiet energy about him, a presence that wasn’t like the fiery rage of Sena or the serpentine grace of Isabella. Abel’s power was subtler, but far more profound—like the steady pull of gravity or the distant glow of a star on the horizon.


    As Abel reached the base of the stairs, the faint light that emanated from his body flickered for a moment before stabilizing, brighter than before. It wasn’t just a glow now—it was a pulse, a rhythm that matched the very beat of the world around him. The whole of the first floor seemed to be engulfed in a starry light, as some apostles covered their eyes due to the brightness. The star he had once consumed seemed to thrum in sync with the universe itself within him, and it was this connection that made Abel so distinct. He had his own personal star, a real star, a mana pool.


    The Overseer stepped forward, his imposing presence casting a deep shadow across Abel, but Abel remained firm. His gaze met the Overseer’s, his calm, unflinching eyes reflecting the light of the growing star within him. The air in the room grew thick with tension, as if the very space around them was holding its breath, waiting for the final acknowledgment of Abel’s power.


    “Your time has come, Stargazer,” the Overseer intoned, his voice carrying a rare tone of respect. He had witnessed Abel’s evolution firsthand, the boy who had once been a mere recruit now standing before him as something far more powerful and profound. The Overseer’s tone had shifted, no longer one of authority, but of recognition.


    Abel remained silent, his expression focused yet serene. Slowly, he lifted his hand to his chest, revealing the star that now hovered above him—a radiant, celestial body that spun gently, pulsating with a soft glow. It was more than just a source of power; it was the very essence of his being, a link between himself and the vast, unknowable cosmos. Its light bathed the room in a calming, ethereal glow, drawing the awe-struck gazes of the recruits around them.


    Gasps of amazement rippled through the onlookers. The star wasn’t just a symbol of Abel’s power—it was a manifestation of his will and his deep connection to the stars themselves, a bond forged through his trials and growth. The orb, so gentle and serene in appearance, seemed to contain within it the raw, limitless potential of the universe, its soft light brushing against the walls like a distant nebula.


    For a moment, time itself seemed to slow, the atmosphere charged with expectation. Abel’s heart beat in rhythm with the star, each pulse aligning him closer to the infinite energy that lay beyond the reach of normal human understanding. He could feel it—an energy so vast, so incomprehensible, yet so intimate. The stars had guided him here, and now they responded to his will.


    The Overseer, though calm, couldn’t entirely mask the slight flicker of awe in his gaze. The transformation was complete. Abel had crossed the threshold from apprentice to apostle, from student to master of his own affinity.


    “A star that might not be born of this world,” the Overseer said thoughtfully, his voice barely a whisper. “The light within you is unlike any I’ve seen. You stand on the edge of something extraordinary.” He paused, his golden eyes studying the boy—no, the apostle—before him with a deeper intensity. “But even the greatest light casts shadows. Remember that.”


    The warning was clear, though it didn’t diminish the sense of pride and accomplishment that radiated from the Overseer. Abel had become a beacon of potential, a star in his own right. But the cosmos, with all its beauty, also carried dangers beyond comprehension.


    Abel inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. He understood the risks but also knew that his journey was only beginning. This power—this connection to the infinite—was both a blessing and a burden, and it was up to him to master it.


    The other recruits could only watch in silence, feeling as though they were witnessing something beyond themselves. Abel wasn’t just another recruit or apostle—he was becoming something else entirely. Whispers spread through the group, filled with awe and wonder.


    The Overseer turned to the recruits, his voice sharp and commanding once more. “This is what you all must strive for,” he said, gesturing toward Abel. “Power, yes, but more than that—a connection. True mastery doesn’t come from brute strength alone. It comes from understanding the force that flows through you, and bending it to your will.”


    The recruits nodded, though many looked as though they were still processing the sheer magnitude of what they had just seen. For some, it was inspiring—a glimpse of what they, too, might one day achieve. For others, it was daunting, a reminder of the impossible heights they would need to scale.


    Abel, feeling the weight of the room’s attention, exhaled softly. He lowered his hand, and the star dimmed slightly, retreating back into the space just above his heart. Its light still flickered, a silent reminder of the cosmic power now at his command.


    But even as the star quieted, Abel’s mind raced. There were still so many mysteries to unravel—about the star, about himself, and about the path that lay ahead. The Overseer’s words lingered in his mind, their weight pressing against him.


    “I’ve been preparing for this moment,” Abel said, his voice low but steady, resonating with a newfound confidence. “I’m ready to ascend.”


    The Overseer nodded. “You have been touched by the stars themselves, it seems. You have broken through the barriers that hold others back. Your ascension is not just an acknowledgment of your power—it’s a recognition of the path you’re destined to walk.”


    He stepped aside, granting Abel access to the stairs that led to the higher levels of the tower. The path was now open, the way forward clear as Abel moved up the stairs..


    As he approached the second level, the soft glow from his star spread out, casting a faint light over the entire chamber once more. Abel stood still for a moment, turning to glance down at the others. He wasn’t the same person who had entered the tower all those days ago, unsure of his place in this world. Now, he was something more—someone more. The star within him pulsed with life, ready to take him to heights he had never imagined.


    And as he disappeared from sight, moving toward the unseen challenges that awaited him, there was a sense of finality in the air. His time had come. But the question remained: how far would Abel’s star take him?


    End of Volume 1.