Chapter 158 – The Next Step

Chapter 158: Chapter 158 – The Next Step

The academy spent the next several days studying the underground crystal formation.

Azrael and Seraphina returned to their normal training schedule, but the discovery beneath the eastern forest had given Orion enough information to temporarily suspend further expeditions. The academy wanted to map the surrounding network before sending students into an unknown region.

For the twins, however, the pause was useful.

They had spent too much time dealing with ancient structures and strange energy pathways.

Now they needed to grow stronger.

Azrael stood alone inside one of the academy’s advanced training chambers, Astraeus resting in his hand.

Across from him stood several reinforced combat constructs.

The constructs were normally used by instructors to train advanced students. Each one possessed a combat level close to the upper stages of the Mortal Origin Realm.

Azrael looked at them calmly.

"Begin."

The constructs activated simultaneously.

Three rushed toward him from different directions.

Azrael moved.

Astraeus flashed through the air.

The first construct lost its weapon before it could complete its attack. Azrael stepped past it and struck the second across the chest, sending it crashing into the wall.

The third attacked from behind.

Azrael turned and blocked.

The impact pushed him several meters backward.

He smiled.

"Stronger than the previous batch."

The construct attacked again.

Azrael didn’t activate Oblivion.

Instead, he relied entirely on his swordsmanship.

His movements became faster.

One strike.

Two.

Three.

The construct’s defensive formation collapsed.

Azrael drove Astraeus into its core.

The machine stopped moving.

A System notification appeared.

Combat Training Completed

Combat Insight has accumulated sufficient experience.

Combat Insight Lv. 14 → Lv. 15

Azrael looked at the notification briefly before dismissing it.

His progress had been slow recently, but it was still progress.

Then another notification appeared.

Aetherion Resonance

Current Progress: 35%

Azrael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"One percent."

It wasn’t a breakthrough.

But it was proof that his bloodline was continuing to develop.

He raised Astraeus again.

"Again."

The chamber activated another group of constructs.

Meanwhile, in another training area, Seraphina was having a very different battle.

Six large magical beasts surrounded her.

They were artificial creatures created by the academy specifically for combat training. Their bodies were covered in thick armor, and each one possessed enough strength to seriously injure an ordinary Peak Mortal Origin cultivator.

Seraphina held her staff with both hands.

Golden light surrounded her.

"Genesis Bloom."

The ground erupted.

Golden flowers spread across the training field.

The beasts charged.

Seraphina didn’t remain in place.

She moved between them, using the plants to alter the battlefield.

Roots burst from the ground and caught one beast’s leg.

Another beast broke free and swung its claws.

Seraphina raised a golden barrier.

The impact shook her entire body.

She slid backward.

"That actually hurt."

The beast charged again.

Seraphina smiled.

"Then let’s finish this."

Her wings appeared.

Six golden wings spread behind her.

The temperature inside the training chamber changed.

Genesis energy flooded the battlefield.

Instead of creating a massive attack, Seraphina concentrated the energy into the plants already surrounding her.

The flowers grew into enormous golden vines.

They wrapped around the beasts and lifted them into the air.

Seraphina raised her staff.

"Genesis Spear."

A golden spear formed above her.

She launched it.

The spear struck the strongest beast directly in the chest.

The artificial creature exploded into particles of energy.

The remaining beasts were quickly overwhelmed by the vines.

One after another, they fell.

The System appeared.

Combat Training Completed

Genesis Bloom Lv. 7 → Lv. 8

Genesis Bloom Understanding Increased

77% → 79%

Seraphina looked at the notifications and smiled.

"Finally."

Her Genesis Bloom had reached another level.

She had spent weeks developing it, and the increase in skill level was beginning to make a noticeable difference.

Her control over created life had become significantly faster.

She could now create several living structures simultaneously without losing control over them.

That wasn’t the only change.

Her wings also felt different.

The golden feathers carried more energy than before.

Seraphina looked at them.

"I’m getting closer."

She knew her next major evolution was still some distance away, but the increase in her bloodline understanding was encouraging.

She left the training chamber shortly afterward.

Azrael was already waiting outside.

"You finished first."

Seraphina crossed her arms.

"I was fighting six beasts."

"I fought eight constructs."

She looked at him.

"And?"

Azrael smiled.

"I won."

"So did I."

They stared at each other for a moment.

Then Seraphina laughed.

"Race you to the cafeteria."

Azrael raised an eyebrow.

"You’re serious?"

"Absolutely."

She immediately ran.

Azrael sighed.

"You’re impossible."

He followed.

By the time they reached the cafeteria, Marcus and Ryan were already eating.

Marcus looked up.

"You two look exhausted."

Seraphina sat down.

"Training."

Ryan glanced at Azrael.

"You’re both still training every day?"

Azrael nodded.

"We need to get stronger."

Elena, sitting across from them, nodded approvingly.

"That’s probably the smartest thing you’ve done lately."

Marcus frowned.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

After lunch, Orion summoned the twins.

When they entered his office, a familiar magical projection appeared above the desk.

Their current progression was displayed.

Azrael Ashbourne

Race: Aetherion (Awakening)

Realm: Peak Mortal Origin

Evolution Progress: 74%

Aetherion Resonance: 35%

Seraphina Ashbourne

Race: Genesis Bloom (Awakening)

Realm: Peak Mortal Origin

Genesis Bloom Understanding: 79%

Evolution Progress: —

Orion looked between them.

"You’ve both been at Peak Mortal Origin for some time."

Azrael nodded.

"We know."

"Then it’s time to start preparing for the next realm."

Seraphina’s eyes brightened.

"What realm comes after Peak Mortal Origin?"

Orion leaned back.

"The Transcendent Origin Realm."

The twins immediately became interested.

"It is the first realm where your power begins to move beyond the limitations of ordinary mortal life," Orion explained. "Your bodies, souls, bloodlines, and energy cores must all undergo a fundamental transformation."

Azrael looked at him.

"How difficult is the breakthrough?"

"For ordinary cultivators?"

Orion smiled.

"Extremely."

His gaze shifted toward the twins.

"For you two, I expect the process to be even more complicated."

Seraphina smiled.

"Good."

Orion raised an eyebrow.

"You sound excited."

"I am."

Azrael nodded.

"So am I."

Orion handed them two sealed documents.

"These contain the requirements for your breakthrough preparation. You’ll need rare resources, controlled combat, and enough energy to support the transformation."

Azrael opened his document.

Several resources were listed.

Some he recognized.

Others were completely unfamiliar.

Seraphina read hers carefully.

"Are these resources available at the academy?"

"Some."

"And the rest?"

Orion pointed toward the eastern expedition map on his desk.

"You may have already found the place where you can obtain them."

Azrael looked at the map.

"The eastern boundary."

"Exactly."

The twins exchanged a glance.

Their recent discovery suddenly had a much more practical purpose.

They weren’t going there simply to investigate another ancient pathway.

They needed resources for their evolution.

Seraphina closed the document.

"When can we leave?"

Orion laughed.

"I knew you’d ask that."

He stood.

"Give me three days."

Azrael nodded.

"Then we’ll be ready."

The twins left the office together.

For the first time in several weeks, their next destination wasn’t simply connected to an ancient mystery.

It was directly connected to their own growth.

They had reached the peak of the Mortal Origin Realm.

Now they had a higher realm waiting ahead of them.

And neither twin intended to remain at their current level for much longer.