The Ninth Stage

Chapter 118 — The Ninth Stage

The battle continued for nearly an hour.

The black-scaled predator was stronger than any Stage 8 beast Aether had fought before.

Its body possessed terrifying defensive power, while its six horns could release concentrated bursts of Origin Energy sharp enough to pierce stone.

Blackfang was destroyed three times.

Ironhide was destroyed twice.

Every time, their bodies collapsed into black mist and returned to Aether's shadow.

Every time, they emerged again.

The predator gradually became more cautious.

It had learned that destroying the shadows accomplished nothing.

Aether watched it carefully.

That was exactly what he wanted.

The creature was adapting.

So was he.

"Blackfang, left."

The shadow wolf disappeared.

"Ironhide, front."

Ironhide charged.

The predator attacked Ironhide.

Blackfang reappeared behind it.

Aether moved simultaneously.

The predator twisted to defend against Blackfang, exposing its front.

Ironhide slammed into its chest.

Aether's fist struck the same point.

The combined impact cracked the beast's natural armor.

The predator roared and unleashed its Origin Energy.

Aether was thrown backward.

Ironhide's body shattered.

Blackfang was caught by a sweeping horn and dispersed.

For several seconds, only black mist covered the battlefield.

The predator stood proudly in the center.

Then Aether walked out of the dust.

His clothes were torn in several places, and blood ran down one side of his face.

He wiped it away.

Stolen story; please report.

The wound wasn't serious.

The predator stared at him.

Aether stared back.

"You're strong."

His expression remained calm.

"But that's not enough."

He closed his eyes.

Origin Energy surged through his body.

His Infinite Origin Physique responded immediately.

The energy around him became denser.

The surrounding atmosphere seemed to distort.

Aether didn't possess an endless amount of energy.

He didn't need to.

He simply used every bit efficiently.

His body moved.

The predator reacted.

Their collision sent another shockwave through the valley.

Aether deliberately allowed the beast to force him backward.

One step.

Two steps.

Three.

The predator believed it had gained the advantage.

Then Aether stopped.

His foot pressed against a particular patch of ground.

A small crack had formed there during the previous exchange.

He had noticed it earlier.

The beast's right rear leg was slightly weaker.

Not because of injury.

Because of an imbalance in its natural Origin circulation.

Aether had been studying it throughout the fight.

"Found you."

He vanished.

Shadow Step carried him into the creature's blind spot.

The predator turned.

Too slow.

Aether's palm struck the weakened area.

Origin Energy erupted inside the beast.

The predator's body froze.

Blackfang emerged from its shadow and bit down on its neck.

Ironhide appeared in front and slammed its entire body backward.

Aether stepped forward.

One final strike.

The predator's defensive energy collapsed.

Its enormous body crashed into the earth.

Silence returned to the valley.

Aether stood over it.

The beast attempted to move.

Aether looked into its eyes.

There was no hesitation.

His hand pierced its chest.

The predator's life ended.

[Stage 8 Peak Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points +100.]

[Origin Points: 1,200 / 1,200.]

Aether's eyes changed.

The pressure inside his Origin Core exploded.

[Breakthrough condition fulfilled.]

[Origin Awakening — Stage 8 breakthrough threshold reached.]

[Origin Energy accumulation beginning.]

Aether immediately sat down.

The breakthrough could no longer be delayed.

His Origin Energy began circulating through every part of his body.

The surrounding Origin Energy rushed toward him.

Blackfang and Ironhide instinctively moved away.

The pressure around Aether continued rising.

His muscles tightened.

His bones vibrated.

His Origin Core became brighter.

The energy inside him expanded again and again.

Aether remained completely still.

He didn't resist the transformation.

He guided it.

The Infinite Origin Physique absorbed the surrounding energy with terrifying efficiency.

His body endured.

His Origin Core expanded.

His senses sharpened.

His connection with the shadows deepened.

Then—

BOOM!

A powerful wave of Origin Energy exploded from his body.

The entire valley trembled.

Aether opened his eyes.

The world seemed clearer.

He could sense the flow of energy in the surrounding environment more accurately than before.

His body felt lighter.

Stronger.

More complete.

[Breakthrough successful.]

[Current cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 9.]

[Origin Points: 0 / 1,600.]

Aether slowly stood.

Stage 9.

The difference was obvious.

He had crossed another major threshold.

But something else had changed.

Aether looked at his shadow.

Blackfang and Ironhide stood inside it.

Their connection was stronger.

More stable.

And the previously dormant Stage 9 imprint stored within his Origin Energy suddenly reacted.

Aether's expression became interested.

The imprint of the black armored lion-like beast he had defeated earlier was beginning to resonate.

At the same time, the Origin Shadow Authority reacted.

[Origin Shadow Authority resonance detected.]

[Current resonance: 51%.]

[Advanced resonance detected.]

[Authority evolution conditions progressing.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

The Stage 9 imprint was not merely stronger than his other stored imprints.

It was responding to his new cultivation.

Perhaps this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

He looked toward the corpse of the beast he had just killed.

Then toward the endless wilderness beyond.

He had reached Stage 9.

His next breakthrough required 1,600 Origin Points.

That would take time.

But the strength of his shadows could also increase.

Aether raised one hand.

Black mist gathered around his fingers.

A faint smile appeared.

"The next stage of the army begins now."