The moment Max's right foot stepped onto the platform, his body trembled faintly. A sensation like soft electricity ran through his hair, seeped into his skin, and sank all the way to his bones, forcing him to pause for a brief moment. His eyes lifted to the golden tip above, blazing like a miniature sun.
After giving himself a silent pep talk, he forced himself onward, stopping only when he stood directly before the altar.
The current coursing through his body intensified with every passing second, tightening around his limbs until even breathing felt difficult, as if an invisible weight had been placed on his chest. Neither wind nor rain seemed able to reach this place anymore, making him feel as though nothing existed beyond him and this ancient power. As if he had been stripped away from the world itself.
Rosalia's fingers were clenched tightly together as she watched Max slowly raise his hand and place it against the glowing runes. She didn't know why, but her chest had never felt this tight before. She had met this stranger only a day ago, yet already she could feel that something about him stirred her in ways she did not understand.
The world fell quiet. Every breath sounded louder than the wind.
And yet, despite the strange sensation surging through his body, the altar did not react to Max. His system window showed thirty seconds remaining, making him let out a heavy sigh.
"So after all, I really have no magic of my own... no wonder. I'm just a normal human." He whispered under his breath. His hand remained pressed against the pillar, desperately hoping something would happen the moment the clock reached zero.
But the people surrounding him wore stunned expressions.
"Don't tell me he truly has no magic inside him..." William's jaw dropped. He had thought Max was lying about coming from a place where magic did not exist, and the truth of it baffled him. In his village, everyone possessed at least a trace of magical aptitude.
Rosalia bit so hard into her lower lip that blood welled at the edge of it. She couldn't accept this outcome either. If Max failed to awaken even the smallest spark of power, then she would have no choice but to accept his fate.
Death.
She lowered her gaze, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles had gone white. "Please... Max... don't make me do this."
Henry observed everything in silence, his eyes drifting to his daughter. He could not help but shake his head. On one hand, his heart ached at the thought of placing such a burden on a young girl. On the other, he knew she would one day succeed him as the leader of the clan. Sooner or later, she would have to make decisions like this. And if fate had chosen now, then now would have to be her lesson.
"You may step back now, Max. The altar has not reacted to you." Henry's voice rang out with quiet authority. "I am sorry to say it, but there is no magic within you." He was already turning away, signaling for the others to end the ritual.
"No."
Like thunder splitting a clear sky, Max's voice made everyone's blood run cold for a heartbeat.
Rosalia's face went pale. She could hardly believe he would be this reckless.
"Max! Please, don't do this. You need to listen to my father's orders. You clearly have no magical talent. Please, come here." Her voice wavered with desperation, while behind her William's expression darkened. His fingers twitched, itching for blood.
A cold smile slowly spread across his face. Max's refusal had given him exactly what he wanted—an excuse to spill his enemy's blood. Drawing the dagger once more, he stepped forward.
"Defying the chief's orders is punishable by death under the law of our ancestors. In their name, I will carry out the execution, end this madness, and rid this village of the pest wasting our precious resources."
This time, Henry did not stop him. He only gave a grim nod of approval. Rosalia also remained frozen in place. She knew Max had crossed the line now. Even as the chief's daughter, her voice held no weight once her father had given his word.
"All of this... is for the clan's future..." she whispered under her breath, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. A sharp pain stabbed through her chest, forcing her to look at the back of the man who stood before death without fear.
"I will not move." Max's voice rang out again. His cold gaze fell upon William, making the young man falter for a brief second before surging forward even faster, hatred blazing in his eyes.
"Die, pest!"
William had only taken a few steps toward the altar when a gentle wind stirred around him. In the next instant, it swelled into a violent gale, slamming into his body and slicing into his skin like invisible blades.
The black system window twisted wildly before Max's eyes.
[Time Remaining:]
[3...]
A savage gust blasted outward, driving everyone back. Only Rosalia and Henry managed to remain standing. A translucent barrier shimmered into existence around them, but cracks were already spreading across Rosalia's shield.
[2...]
Max felt something inside his chest begin to change. A wave of frost surged through his veins, as though his blood had been replaced with ice water.
[1...]
Rosalia's translucent shield shattered. The raging wind hurled her backward, draining all color from her face. Henry moved at once, vanishing from his spot like a phantom and reappearing beside her, wrapping himself around her in protection.
"Father!" Panic trembled through her voice. "What is going on? Is he... awakening?"
"Yes," Henry said heavily. His expression darkened with grim certainty. "But this is not good for us..." A small purple flame flickered to life in his palm, aimed straight at Max.
"Father, what are you—?" Rosalia felt as though her legs might give out beneath her. "Isn't this a good thing? Don't kill him!" she pleaded, only to be cut off by his bark.
"No!"
The purple flame shot forward, twisting in midair into the shape of a falcon as it charged straight toward Max.
"He will doom us all..."
[Congratulations. Your magic soul has been successfully constructed.]
[Commencing magic awakening...]
Something dark flashed across the world, as if a solar eclipse had been cast over the heavens.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the ground. Dark smoke surged into the sky from where Max stood. The purple flame falcon vanished the moment it struck the wall of smoke. Henry's eyes widened, his expression frozen in utter disbelief.
Every observer stared at the sky in fear.
A massive rift split the heavens in two above the altar. Every cloud in the vicinity vanished as if it had never existed, and even the sun seemed to dim before the birth of Max's new power.
[Your magic soul awakening has been successful.]
[Your new magic affinity is...]