NOVEL WEB Chapter 252: Rebirth
Orion's Life Fire erupted within his Sea of Consciousness, its brilliant golden-red flames surging violently, rapidly reshaping the very essence of his soul as three distinct lights came to fuse with it.
Within that boundless space, waves of purifying fire rolled forth, incinerating impurities and reforging his spirit into something utterly new.
Heat, like molten metal coursing through veins, enveloped him, roaring with relentless intensity, consuming every shred of weakness, burning brighter and fiercer by the moment.
Outside, Orion's battered form jerked uncontrollably as the evolution took hold. His skin rippled, veins igniting with incandescent streams of gold and crimson lightning that pulsated beneath his flesh.
Bone-deep tremors wracked his body, and a sharp, unbearable pain erupted from his skull as two gleaming red and purple horns tore through his forehead, spiraling outward.
Red and purple scales bloomed explosively along his neck and shoulders, glittering ominously beneath the fractured moonlight, emanating a wild, draconic majesty.
Dragon's Might exploded outward with a raw ferocity, its intensity multiplied manyfold, instantly pressing against the surroundings with terrifying force.
The Tier 7 enemy staggered backward, forced momentarily to one knee as the sudden surge overwhelmed even his superior cultivation. His eyes widened, shock and fear flickering visibly across his features.
Orion's vision blurred, dizziness and disorientation assailing him mercilessly. His heartbeat thundered deafeningly in his ears, echoing painfully within his skull.
A profound, irresistible drowsiness seeped into his bones—draconic instinct triggering deep, regenerative hibernation. His breath grew shallow, limbs leaden and heavy, his knees trembling beneath his own weight.
Lumi's desperate voice echoed anxiously within him, pleading urgently,
[Master! You must stop! The evolution is triggering hibernation. If you move now, you might break down!!]
Orion gritted his teeth violently, tasting blood, stubbornly rejecting the call to rest. "Not… yet," he growled harshly, each word rasping painfully through his constricted throat.
Shaking fingers plunged into his inventory, withdrawing the Drake-Heart Vitality Potion. He uncorked it savagely with his teeth, downing it in one fierce gulp.
Liquid fire burst through his chest, mana and stamina erupting within him like a volcanic eruption.
His body surged upright, spine straightening sharply as the potion's energy coursed furiously through his ravaged frame, temporarily staving off collapse.
Simultaneously, the accumulated energies of all the meatballs he had consumed roared awake, metabolizing instantly into a tsunami of raw, overwhelming power.
Orion's eyes snapped open, his irises burning—one molten crimson, the other a deep, storming violet. Mana roared like a tidal wave within him, crackling wildly through his veins, fusing with the raging power of his evolving body.
His body surged upright with terrifying force, dust and pressure erupting from beneath his feet as the ground shattered violently.
Golden-red embers burst outward in waves, and from his chest, two distinct auras surged simultaneously—Fire and Thunder, primal and unstable, yet harmonizing around his draconic presence.
The very air screamed under the weight of his awakening. Dragon's Might burst from him like a living tide, twice as heavy, twice as sharp, crashing into the Tier 7 enemy like a divine hammer.
The ground beneath the man cracked, groaning in protest. His knees buckled slightly, forced down by the soul-deep suppression as fear flickered briefly in his hardened eyes.
"What… impossible," the Tier 7 awakener whispered hoarsely, eyes widened in disbelief.
Sweat streamed down his forehead, his limbs trembling subtly beneath Orion's raw, oppressive aura.
For the first time, genuine panic flared visibly in the man's eyes, stripping away his composure as his body visibly strained beneath Orion's devastating pressure.
Orion raised his head, horned and flame-wreathed, crimson and violet scales glinting ominously beneath the fractured moonlight.
Lightning danced across his limbs, rippling sparks that jumped chaotically through the air. Fire bled from his breath, each exhale sparking embers and blistering heat that seared the surroundings.
A tense stillness blanketed the clearing, as if reality itself paused to witness the primal rebirth occurring before it.
Then, without a single word, Orion vanished.
The earth detonated violently beneath his feet, flames exploding in a radiant burst as he propelled himself forward.
His fist connected brutally with the Tier 7's jaw before the enemy could react, the bone-shattering force sending the powerful cultivator skidding uncontrollably across the ground.
Soil and shattered stone erupted in chaotic sprays around him, marking the brutal path of impact.
Orion didn't pause. His form blurred again, reappearing in mid-air above the still-reeling enemy. His voice was a guttural growl resonating from deep within:
"Burn."
He opened his mouth wide, his chest glowing fiercely as fire coalesced, unleashing a roaring Draconian Breath.
A wild torrent of flames, molten red and searing white, cascaded from his throat. Though lacking refined control, its sheer destructive force was utterly devastating.
The inferno engulfed the Tier 7, bathing him in savage heat. The nearby trees ignited immediately, the soil beneath melting into charred slag.
"Arrghhh!" The enemy screamed, his aura frantically flaring to defend against the overwhelming assault.
His defensive barrier flickered weakly, barely holding as skin blistered and clothing turned to ash. He staggered out of the fading flames, severely scorched and gasping for breath.
Yet Orion was already in motion again, relentless in his assault. He drew a sharp, crackling inhale, gathering thunder deep within his chest.
"Then take this!"
A bolt of Thunder Dragon's Breath exploded forward, a spear of raw lightning piercing the night. The world flashed violently, and a deafening crack of thunder resonated through the air.
The electric blast impacted the Tier 7 directly, sending him flying backwards once more. Shockwaves tore through the forest, shattering trees and carving a deep gouge across the terrain.
The Tier 7 crashed to the ground, body convulsing violently from residual electric currents. Blood dripped freely from his lips, his robes tattered and flesh charred black in places.
His expression was no longer composed—only horror and disbelief remained. "W-What is this monster…?!" he stammered, struggling onto one knee.
But desperation pushed him to extreme measures. With a feral scream, the enemy ripped out a jagged crimson vial, downing its sinister contents instantly.
His body writhed grotesquely, muscles swelling abnormally beneath his skin. Black veins surged visibly along his limbs and neck, his eyes bleeding into an unnatural, bloodshot glare.
The aura around him darkened, pulsing chaotically.
"I'LL KILL YOU EVEN IF IT SHATTERS ME!" he roared, slamming a palm viciously onto the ground. Dark energy erupted from beneath him, radiating malice and madness.
Orion's heart thundered furiously within his chest, each beat resonating painfully. His breath came rapidly, lungs seared raw by his own overwhelming power.
He could feel the edges of his evolving body fraying, his bones and muscles straining violently against the overwhelming mana raging inside.
[Master! If you push any further, your evolution will collapse! The fusion is destabilizing! You'll need decades to heal!]
Lumi's frantic warning tore through his consciousness.
Yet Orion did not hesitate. His expression hardened, eyes narrowing with absolute resolve.
Fear, hesitation, and doubt were incinerated within the flames of his determination.
He felt the evolution trembling dangerously within, his very essence unraveling beneath the immense strain—but still, he did not falter.
He spoke calmly, voice laced with steely determination:
"Asteraxa. Come."
A hush descended, as though reality itself awaited this pivotal moment. Within Orion's Sea of Consciousness, Asteraxa opened her ancient eyes, radiant and knowing.
Her presence expanded within, potent yet deeply solemn, fully aware of the consequences.
She spoke gently, her voice echoing softly through Orion's soul. "You are risking everything, Orion. Decades may pass before you awake. Are you certain?"
Orion answered without hesitation, without doubt. "The price is mine to bear."
Asteraxa's presence surged outward, resonating with Orion's determination. The Soulpiercer Sword answered his call instantly, manifesting in his grasp, blade erupting with fire and lightning intertwined.
The Tier 7's bloodshot eyes widened in stark terror, mouth agape in shock.
"No! That sword—!"
But Orion gave him no chance to finish. His arms raised, mana spiraling violently around him, condensing into a single, unstoppable slash.
"Asteraxa… Burn."
The blade descended—a single, devastating stroke.
The world fractured. An annihilating storm of crimson flame and violet lightning erupted forth with a scarlet tint, utterly unstoppable.
The Tier 7 enemy vanished mid-scream, obliterated instantaneously by the primal wave of destructive force.
An eerie silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the faint crackle of lingering sparks. Orion stood quietly, breathing raggedly, sword lowered, body swaying slightly.
The overwhelming surge of mana began to fade, exhaustion crashing heavily upon him.
His eyes fluttered, the oppressive weight of draconic hibernation finally irresistible.
[Ding! Target Eliminated. Initiating Post-Evolution Stabilization.]
[Warning: Hibernation Imminent.]
Orion's body relaxed slowly, his vision fading into darkness as his consciousness began to slip. He began to slowly fall backward as Fiora—who had been watching everything with widened eyes—flashed towards him and caught him.
"M-Master!"
Feeling someone call out to him from beside him, Orion tiredly opened his eyes for one final time before seeing Fiora's crying face, his draconian face forming a relieved smile.
"See? I'm… not much… different…" his voice faded, his body relaxing as he finally fell asleep in Fiora's trembling arms.
"You said… you wouldn't let me cry again…" she whispered, clutching him closer as tears fell freely.
The forest stood silent and solemn, bearing witness to the rebirth of a true legend.