Ethan Cole - The Unlimited System

Ethan took a slow, steady breath as his eyes landed on the next glowing lines in the codex.

The heading introduced the Four Primary Elemental Powers of Ascendants: Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"This is starting to feel like that bald monk's cartoon series," he muttered under his breath, unable to resist the thought even in the middle of something this important.

The codex went on, explaining that each element came with its own set of traits—distinct strengths, natural affinities, and specific weaknesses. None of them were superior to the others, only different.

Ethan's mind stirred with curiosity. 'Do I get to choose my element? Or will it choose me instead?'

The question lingered, but instead of rushing for answers, he focused back on the codex. Line by line, he began reading through the detailed description of each elemental path, eager to learn what made them unique—and which one might call to him.

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1. Fire

The element of unbridled force and consuming wrath. Those who wield it command searing torrents capable of reducing steel to ash and cities to cinders. But with great power comes peril—for fire answers to no one. To master it is to tame a living tempest, a force that hungers for destruction and punishes hesitation. Only those with unshakable will can hold the flame without being consumed by it.

2. Water

The element of flow and rebirth, water is the silent watcher of the world. It takes the shape of all things yet belongs to none. Practitioners of water weave their energy like currents, bending with grace yet striking with tidal force. Its embrace can mend wounds or drown armies, and in its depths lie truths few dare to explore. To wield water is to understand change, balance, and the stillness within chaos.

3. Wind

Wind is the breath of the heavens, unseen yet ever-present. It grants its users speed beyond sight and strikes as sharp as the falcon's dive. Those attuned to wind move like whispers across the battlefield, their blades dancing with ghostly precision. With it, they can soar, evade, slice, and vanish like mist before dawn. But wind is fickle—only the focused may ride its current without being cast adrift.

4. Earth

The oldest of the elements, earth is the guardian of permanence and power. It grants its wielders unbreakable skin, immovable will, and blows that echo like thunder beneath the mountains. With every stomp, the land answers. With every strike, stone obeys. To walk the path of earth is to become a fortress—unyielding, grounded, and eternal. Yet even the mountain can crumble if pride outweighs patience.

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Ethan's gaze lingered on the glowing script, each word sinking deeper into his thoughts.

"So these are the foundations," he murmured under his breath. "Fire for raw power, water for versatility, wind for speed, and earth for strength."

He paused, a flicker of curiosity lighting up in his eyes.

"But what if… I can wield more than one? What happens if I try to combine them?"

As if responding to his question, the codex shifted again. New lines of golden text began to form on the page, almost as though the book itself had been listening. It introduced a new concept—Elemental Fusion.

The codex explained that those who mastered more than one elemental path could fuse them to unlock new techniques, ones far greater than the sum of their parts. It spoke of Ascendants who combined fire and wind to create infernos that moved like tempests, or those who fused water and earth to summon walls that healed allies and shielded them in the same breath.

But the codex didn't flatter or sugarcoat the process. Fusion required more than power. It demanded understanding. True harmony. If even a single thread of energy fell out of balance, the result could be dangerous—even fatal.

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Ethan leaned back slightly, then chuckled as he muttered, "Good thing I've got perfect memory and ridiculously high intelligence now. If not, I'd be drowning in all this."

The codex turned again, ushering him into the next section.

"To wield the elements," it read, "one must first awaken resonance within the Ascendant Core. From that resonance flows affinity. And from affinity… control."

Ethan's eyes narrowed, taking in every line with sharp focus.

The path to mastering the elements was not one of brute strength, but one of stillness and clarity. It required discipline. Meditation. Patience. Each element had a soul of its own, and to command it, one must first understand it.

Fire was wild and untamed, thriving on passion and will.

Water flowed with patience, demanding calm and balance.

Wind was fleeting and free, requiring instinct and adaptability.

Earth stood firm, asking for quiet strength and unwavering resolve.

To truly wield them, one had to meet them not with dominance, but with alignment.

Ethan closed the codex for a moment and rested his fingers on the cover, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I've got a long way to go," he whispered. "But I've never been more ready."

He knew now—this book wasn't just a gift. It was a legacy. A bridge between the legends of the past and the power he would one day make his own.

Ethan turned the page, and the golden letters on the next section pulsed with a light of their own. At the top, etched in bold, radiant strokes, was the title:

Dragon Ascension Method

His breath caught.

The image below the title was unlike any he had seen so far. A colossal dragon, ancient and regal, coiled protectively around a glowing core of light. Its eyes—sharp, knowing, and impossibly deep—stared back at him through the page. For a moment, Ethan felt like the dragon was alive, watching him, judging him, daring him to rise to its legacy.

He swallowed and leaned in.

The text shimmered as he began to read.

The Dragon Ascension Method, as the codex revealed, was not just rare. It was a divine inheritance. A cultivation method crafted only for those blessed with golden cores—the chosen few destined to rewrite the limits of power.

The technique traced its origin back to the first Ascendants, who were said to have drawn inspiration from the dragons of myth, modeling their strength, their unshakable will, and their unyielding spirit.

It was more than just a method. It was a path of transformation. A promise of becoming something far greater.

A dragon among mortals.

The page trembled with energy as the codex revealed more, as though even the book respected the weight of this knowledge.

The Dragon Ascension Method was divided into five profound paths, each one building the user's body, core, and mind toward draconic perfection. To ascend through them wasn't easy—it demanded discipline, pain, clarity, and heart. But those who succeeded gained strength beyond comprehension.

Ethan felt his pulse quicken. His golden core… it was no longer just a symbol of his potential.

It was the key.

And this method—this ancient, sacred path—was made for him.

He grinned, the fire of ambition burning in his eyes.

"Let's see what it takes to become a dragon."

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[Dragon Ascension Method]

The path of the dragon is not one of mere strength, but of transcendence. Each step awakens a deeper part of your being, forging you into a force no ordinary Ascendant can match.

1. Dragon's Physique
Harness the raw force of elemental energy to rebuild the body from within. Muscles become denser, nerves faster, and every movement becomes explosive. This stage allows the user to channel elemental energy directly into their strikes, turning even a simple punch into a weapon of devastation. Every blow carries the weight of fire, the force of wind, the pressure of water, or the crush of stone.

2. Dragon's Scale
Transform your body into a living fortress. Your skin and bones are fortified with energy patterns that mimic the unbreakable scales of an ancient dragon. Wounds that would cripple others are shrugged off. Attacks that pierce armor fail to leave a scratch. At this stage, your durability becomes legendary—allowing you to fight longer, endure more, and remain standing when all others fall.

3. Dragon's Flight
Awaken the freedom of the skies. Your energy adapts to give you incredible speed, reflexes, and aerial control. Each step becomes weightless. Each motion becomes fluid. You gain the ability to dash, leap, and maneuver with inhuman grace—on land, in the air, and even through hostile energy fields. No enemy can bind what was born to soar.

4. Dragon's Roar
Unleash the fury of the dragon's voice. This ability converts internal energy into a sonic shockwave or burst of pressure that disrupts the minds and bodies of enemies in every direction. It breaks concentration, disorients groups, and shakes the ground itself. Stronger users can silence entire battlefields with a single breath—forcing even elite Ascendants to their knees.

5. Dragon's Soul
Step beyond the limits of mortal energy. The user connects directly with the spiritual essence of the elements. You no longer control fire, water, wind, or earth. You become one with them. This deep bond allows for advanced elemental manipulation, spontaneous fusion between elements, and the creation of techniques no manual could ever teach. It is the true mark of a dragon—unpredictable, unstoppable, and untamed.

Only those with the heart, will, and core of a dragon can walk this path. The road is steep, but at its peak stands a being who can rewrite fate itself.

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"This is... insane.." Ethan muttered.