Kei emerged from the fractured sky of the Zone into a new environment—a crystalline beach lined with soft sand that shimmered under the pale, broken sunlight. He blinked, adjusting to the sudden change in scenery. The trial’s prelude had been grueling, but the calm waves lapping at the shore felt like a reprieve.


    The absence of Mia’s hammock by the beach tugged at Kei’s mind. His thoughts drifted to her fragile condition.


    "Hope she’s hanging in there," he muttered, kicking a smooth stone into the surf. The rhythmic sound of the waves stirred something within him, a curiosity sparked by the gentle vibrations.


    Kei crouched by the water, letting the cool waves brush against his fingertips. The steady rhythm of the tides reminded him of something fundamental: frequency. His mind wandered, connecting the dots of what he had learned about resonance.


    "Frequency is vibrations," he whispered, staring into the surf. "And everything… everything is made of vibrations."


    A Thought Experiment


    The concept lingered, refusing to let go. If vibrations governed sound, could they also influence other states of matter? His thoughts raced as he considered the scientific principles.


    <ol start="1">


    <li>


    Solid Vibrations: Lower energy, tightly packed atoms vibrating minimally.


    </li>


    <li>


    Liquid Vibrations: Moderate energy, atoms sliding past each other but maintaining cohesion.


    </li>


    <li>


    Gas Vibrations: High energy, atoms free to move without restriction.


    </li>


    <li>


    Plasma Vibrations: Extreme energy, electrons stripped from atoms, creating an ionized state.


    </li>


    </ol>


    Kei traced patterns in the sand as he mulled it over. "If everything vibrates at different frequencies to create these states… could resonance manipulate them?"


    He imagined the waves before him—could he synchronize vibrations to mimic water’s fluidity? Could he amplify them to create wind? Heat them to ignite fire?


    The idea consumed him. Kei placed his hand flat on the sand, sending out a faint pulse of resonance. The vibrations rippled through the grains, painting a picture of their compact arrangement. He focused, trying to alter their frequency, but nothing happened.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Unlocking the Skill


    Kei’s frustration grew as he repeated the process. The System, silent as always, seemed to mock him with its absence. He clenched his fist, sending another pulse into the sand. This time, he pushed harder, forcing the resonance to accelerate the particles.


    Suddenly, a notification appeared:


    <blockquote>


    System Notification: Hidden Skill Unlocked: Resonant State Manipulation Description: Utilize resonance to mimic and manipulate the states of matter through frequency alignment.


    </blockquote>


    Kei’s eyes widened. "You’ve got to be kidding me."


    Before he could process the implications, the System provided more details:


    <blockquote>


    Resonant State Manipulation Techniques Available:


    <ul>


    <li>


    Fluid Resonance: Mimic liquid properties, creating flowing barriers or attacks.


    </li>


    <li>


    Aerial Resonance: Amplify frequencies to generate wind currents or sonic blasts.


    </li>


    <li>


    Thermal Resonance: Excite particles to produce heat or fire.


    </li>


    <li>


    Solid Resonance: Stabilize vibrations to reinforce or harden matter.


    </li>


    </ul>


    </blockquote>


    Kei stood, the waves lapping at his feet. "Alright," he muttered. "Let’s see what this can do."


    Experimentation


    Kei began with Fluid Resonance. He crouched near the waves, focusing on the flowing water. He sent out a pulse of resonance, matching its frequency. Slowly, he extended his hand, willing the water to rise. The vibrations responded, creating a thin stream that hovered in the air before collapsing back into the ocean.


    “Not bad for a first try,” Kei said, grinning.


    Next, he turned to Aerial Resonance. He focused on the wind, feeling its faint movement across his skin. He amplified the vibrations in the air, creating a sudden gust that scattered sand and ruffled his hair.


    “That’ll come in handy.”


    With growing confidence, Kei attempted Thermal Resonance. He placed his hand over a dry piece of driftwood, channeling energy into the particles. The wood grew warm, then hot, until a small flame sparked to life. Kei yanked his hand back, shaking it with a laugh.


    Finally, he tried Solid Resonance. He picked up a smooth rock, focusing on its tightly packed particles. The resonance stabilized, hardening the rock until it felt denser, heavier. Kei hurled it into the surf, watching it sink like a lead weight.


    A New Perspective


    Kei sat on the sand, staring at his hands. The possibilities of this skill were endless. The System had offered him a tool unlike anything he had imagined, but it came with questions. Why had it remained hidden? And what other secrets did the System hold?


    The rhythmic crash of the waves brought his thoughts back to the present. He gazed at the horizon, a determined smile creeping across his face.


    "One step at a time," he said, rising to his feet. "Let’s see how far this can go."


    With renewed purpose, Kei set off along the crystalline beach, ready to face the next phase of the trial and unlock the full potential of resonance.