Xaden nearly choked on the air in his lungs.
Ancient god level! How is that even possible?
Xaden stared at the screen, mouth ajar. He had never even dreamed of reaching a transcendent level, much less a divine rank, but a god-level rank was simply out of his wildest dreams.
As many things were in the world, one's awakened abilities were divided into various ranks. The potential one had to grow was well within these levels, and only a small few managed to surpass the limitations of their ranks. In fact, this was one of the reasons individuals like Leo and Kent still had to undergo the first crucible despite already knowing their abilities.
'Chaos Wielder, I've never heard of a chaos wielder.' Xaden thought. By the description, it sounded cool enough, just that he had never heard of anyone claiming to be a chaos wielder.
'Primordial chaos has chosen you to be its vessel. Do you accept?'
A screen tab appeared in front of him once again.
"Hell yeah!" He nearly screamed. Who in their right mind would choose the alternative?
The voice continued.
'You are the undoing of order, the breaker of every chain. Where you walk, nothing remains entirely whole.'
'The ancient gods have seen and acknowledged you as their own, sending their blessings to go on and accumulate strength.'
[Divine acknowledgement received.]
[Authority over chaos: partially granted]
Level 1 Chaos Wielder
Chaos Energy: 3/100
Golden light shone around Xaden, coming together to form golden runes that spun around him as the deep voice continued. He felt the words flow through his soul, awakening something dormant inside of him. He felt it hum under his skin and wash his tired spirit.
'You have unlocked your secret name.'
Secret names were one of the most important aspects of awakened abilities. They correspond with who you are both inside and out, the very sum of your being. A skilled individual who knew your secret name could be granted unlimited control over the person. Luckily, no one can know your name unless you tell them, or hear it from the person closest to you.
[Left, and abandoned in the world, you have defied every limitation of your birth. A sorrow-filled child. A strong-willed individual. A weapon of mass destruction... All correct, and yet none actually are]
[Strange circumstances and peculiar events are destined to follow wherever you go, drawn towards you like a moth to a flame. A true harbinger of disharmony]
[You are the one who holds the helm. The vessel of chaos itself!]
[Secret name: Chaos incarnate]
His secret name. Rather strange, really. He swore then and there that he would never tell anyone ever. Not even Leo. It was far too risky, especially now that his ability rank was revealed to be god-level.
Anything above the transcendental rank was so extremely rare that the only confirmation Xaden had that it existed was from the times members of the Valeguard had drunk to a stupor at Sue's tavern and talked ceaselessly about what could partly be known as classified info. Information like how the beasts that surrounded them had begun to breach into the Vale. Particularly in Sector 45, for whatever reason.
Xaden didn't even notice when the golden light faded.
The runes dissolved slowly, one by one, like they had never truly existed. The warmth they left behind did not disappear with them. It settled somewhere deeper, somewhere beneath the exhaustion and the pain and the fear he had carried since stepping into the ruined city.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the voice returned.
"Evaluation incomplete."
The words fell into the silence like a pebble dropped into still water.
Xaden frowned slightly. Incomplete? After everything he had just been through, after surviving the crucible, after being acknowledged by something that literally called itself ancient gods, the system was still not done with him?
The darkness in front of him rippled again. Another screen appeared. However, it wasn't the golden this time. Crimson letters formed slowly, one after another, almost like they were being carved into existence by an invisible finger.
[Aspect compatibility detected.]
Xaden's throat tightened.
"What now…?" he whispered hoarsely, even though he already knew the crucible scarcely cared about what he thought.
The black screen flickered once.
The words appeared.
[First Aspect granted: Psionic Abilities]
For a second, nothing happened.
Then the pain struck.
It wasn't physical. Not really. It felt like something had reached directly into his skull and pressed inward. His vision blurred instantly, stars bursting across the darkness as a sharp pressure built behind his eyes.
Xaden staggered back a step, grabbing his head with one hand. He held on for a moment more, and just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain stopped. It suddenly stopped.
Xaden opened his eyes.
The voice spoke.
Aspect stabilized.
[Compatibility: exceptional.]
'Phew.' Xaden sighed, releasing the tension he hadn't even known he'd been carrying.
The black screen shifted again. New words appeared beneath the others.
[Warning: fatal flaw detected.]
The crucible did not hesitate.
Your strength increases in direct correlation with emotional loss.
Every advancement will demand detachment.
Every increase in power will reduce emotional stability.
Every step toward divinity will distance you further away from your humanity.
The darkness around him felt colder now, and he suddenly felt just how empty the endless space around him was.
For the first time since the crucible ended, Xaden didn't feel excitement. He didn't feel relief. He didn't even feel fear.
Just a quiet, sinking understanding.
The voice finished, as calm and merciless as ever.
Fatal flaw identified: Emotional Attrition.
A pause. Then the final line appeared.
[The stronger you become, the less you will feel.]