Extra’s Survival: Reincarnated with a Doomed Bloodline

"Are you ready?" Levi asked, his crimson eyes holding depths of ancient power that made the dojo's peaceful atmosphere feel suddenly charged with dangerous potential.

Fenix nodded, though his enhanced senses detected the tremor in his own hands that betrayed nervousness he was trying to suppress. "As ready as someone can be for experimental constitutional surgery performed by a dead ancestor."

Levi's laugh carried genuine warmth despite the gravity of what they were about to attempt. "That's the spirit. Remember, once we begin, there's no stopping midway. The purification process has to run its complete course, or the damage could be permanent."

He stood from his seated position with fluid grace, moving to a position directly across from Fenix. The casual humor that had marked their entire conversation faded as his expression shifted to something approaching reverence for the forces they were about to invoke.

"Black Star isn't just a technique," Levi said, his voice taking on the formal cadence reserved for crucial instruction. "It's a manifestation of our bloodline's fundamental nature - the ability to devour opposing energies and transform them according to our will. What I'm about to show you represents the culmination of sixty years spent perfecting applications that most cultivators never even imagine."

Amber aura began manifesting around Levi's form, but this wasn't the wild, uncontrolled energy that Fenix associated with normal enhancement. This was something refined beyond mortal limitations, energy that had been compressed and purified until it approached the divine in its perfection. The power radiating from his ancestor made the air itself seem thick and oppressive.

"The first phase involves direct contact," Levi explained as dark energy began coiling around his hands like living shadows. "I'll need to establish a connection with your mana pathways to identify the impurity locations. This will feel... invasive."

Before Fenix could ask what that meant, Levi's hand pressed against his chest with gentle but irresistible force. The moment their auras made contact, agony exploded through every nerve in his body.

It wasn't physical pain - it was something deeper, more fundamental, as if his very soul was being dissected by forces that recognized no barrier between consciousness and material existence. Fenix felt Levi's energy flowing through pathways that had never been accessed, mapping connections that had remained dormant since birth, cataloging impurities that had accumulated through generations of genetic decline.

"Easy," Levi murmured, his voice seeming to come from very far away. "Don't resist the examination. Fighting the process only makes it more painful."

Fenix forced himself to relax despite every instinct screaming warnings about allowing foreign energy to penetrate his core. Gradually, the invasive sensation transformed into something more tolerable as Levi's technique adapted to his unique constitutional structure.

"Interesting," his ancestor muttered, though his tone carried professional assessment rather than casual observation. "The impurity concentration is higher than I expected, but the pathways themselves are remarkably intact. Your genetics retained more of the original foundation than several generations of decline should have allowed."

The examination continued for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes. Finally, Levi withdrew his hand with obvious satisfaction.

"Phase one complete," he announced. "I've identified seventy-three separate impurity clusters blocking your mana receptors. The purification will need to address each one individually to avoid damaging the underlying pathway structure."

"Seventy-three?" Fenix asked, his voice hoarse from suppressed screams during the examination process.

"Could have been worse," Levi replied with characteristic optimism. "Some of the theoretical models suggested concentrations that would have made restoration impossible through any known method."

He began gathering power around his form again, but this time the amber aura took on qualities that made Fenix's enhanced senses recoil instinctively. Dark tendrils writhed through the energy like living things seeking sustenance, while harmonics that belonged in nightmares rather than martial techniques created pressure that seemed to press against reality itself.

The technique that erupted from his hands transcended anything Fenix had experienced during his training or combat encounters. This wasn't the crude energy manipulation he had witnessed in his previous battles - this was artistry refined through decades of perfect practice, force wielded with precision that approached the surgical in its exact application.

Dark energy flowed into Fenix's body like liquid night seeking hidden corruption. He felt the technique spreading through his mana pathways with methodical precision, identifying each impurity cluster before beginning the systematic dissolution that would clear decades of accumulated blockage.

The pain was indescribable.

Every impurity removed felt like having part of his soul torn away by forces that recognized no distinction between corruption and consciousness. Fenix heard himself screaming but couldn't stop the sounds from escaping his throat. His enhanced physiology writhed against restraints that existed only in dimensions while Black Star continued its relentless work.

But even through the agony, he could feel the changes occurring within his constitutional foundation. Pathways that had been sealed for generations began opening as the technique cleared away energy sediment. Receptors that had never functioned started showing signs of awakening potential. Most remarkably, he could sense the fundamental structure that would eventually house mana cultivation taking shape as ancient genetics remembered their original purpose.

"Steady," Levi's voice cut through the pain with reassuring authority. "We're halfway through the purification. The worst of it is almost over."

Time became meaningless as Black Star continued its systematic work. Fenix existed in a realm of pure sensation where agony and transformation merged into something that transcended normal experience. He felt impurities being devoured by darkness that served his bloodline's deepest nature, corruption consumed by techniques that had been perfected through generations of Ackerman dedication to excellence.

Finally, mercifully, the purification process reached completion.

"Phase two finished," Levi announced, though his voice carried strain that suggested the technique had demanded significant energy expenditure even from someone of his capabilities. "All seventy-three clusters eliminated. Your mana pathways are clearer than they've been in your family line for over a century."

But before Fenix could process relief at surviving the ordeal, Levi's expression shifted to something approaching desperate concentration.

"Now comes the hard part," he said, power beginning to gather around his form again. "Mana core formation requires perfect timing, absolute precision, and more luck than I'm comfortable depending on. If this fails, we may have cleared your pathways for nothing."

The technique that followed was completely different from the destructive purification that had preceded it. Where Black Star had been about consumption and removal, this was about creation and careful construction. Levi's hands moved in complex patterns that seemed to guide mana through dimensions that existed beyond normal space, weaving mana into structures that would serve as the foundation for an entirely new cultivation system.

Fenix felt the process like delicate surgery performed on his soul. Energy that belonged to forces beyond mortal comprehension flowed through his cleared pathways, following routes that genetic memory provided despite generations of disuse. His ancestor's power shaped and guided the formation with expertise that transcended normal understanding, building constitutional foundations that would either transform his capabilities completely or collapse under their own complexity.

The process wasn't painful in the same way purification had been, but the strain on his consciousness was enormous. He felt his awareness stretching to accommodate energy systems that operated according to completely different principles than the aura enhancement he had spent months mastering. His core worked to integrate foreign elements while maintaining the stability necessary for basic survival.

Then something went wrong.

"No," Levi muttered, his voice carrying the first note of genuine concern Fenix had heard since their conversation began. "The core structure is destabilizing. The formation pattern isn't holding properly."

Panic flashed across his ancestor's features as the careful construction began showing signs of imminent collapse. Fenix felt the mana pathways that had been taking shape starting to unravel, constitutional foundation crumbling before it could achieve the stability necessary for independent function.

"Hold on," Levi said through gritted teeth, pouring more power into the failing technique. "I can compensate for the instability, but you'll need to help by accepting the energy flow instead of fighting it."

Fenix forced himself to relax completely, surrendering conscious control to his ancestor's expertise while praying that decades of theoretical research would prove sufficient for practical application. He felt Levi's power flowing through him with desperate intensity, reinforcing failing structures while attempting to complete formation before the entire process collapsed.

For several terrifying minutes, success balanced on the edge of catastrophic failure. The mana core flickered between existence and dissolution while Levi's technique strained to provide the stability that genetic programming should have supplied automatically.

Then, suddenly, everything clicked into place with the satisfying precision of complex machinery engaging properly.

Mana pressure exploded from Fenix's form in azure brilliance that painted the dojo's interior with radiance belonging to forces beyond mortal comprehension. The energy radiating from his core carried qualities that transcended anything he had experienced through aura enhancement - not the raw, passionate fire of his crimson techniques, but something cooler, more refined, infinitely more complex in its fundamental nature.

Like second nature, like genetic memory awakening after generations of slumber, Fenix began absorbing mana from his surroundings. The technique felt completely natural despite being performed for the first time, his newly awakened constitution drawing energy from sources he hadn't even known existed. The dojo's atmosphere, the ancient stones beneath their feet, even Levi's residual power - all of it flowed into his core with the easy grace of water finding its level.

Hours passed in meditative absorption as his mana pathways stabilized and his constitutional foundation adapted to its new purpose. Fenix existed in a state of pure mana cultivation, consciousness focused entirely on the integration process that would determine whether his transformation succeeded or failed catastrophically.

Finally, when his core had absorbed sufficient energy to achieve basic stability, another explosion of azure radiance announced the completion of his constitutional awakening.

The differences between mana and aura became immediately apparent as Fenix examined his new capabilities with enhanced perception. Where aura was passionate and direct, flowing through his body like liquid fire that responded to emotional intensity, mana was sophisticated and subtle. It moved through dedicated pathways with mathematical precision, following routes that had been optimized through genetic refinement spanning multiple generations.

Aura enhancement felt like wielding a sword - powerful, straightforward, effective when applied with skill and determination. Mana cultivation was more like conducting an orchestra - complex, nuanced, capable of effects that transcended simple force application when properly coordinated.

The mana itself possessed qualities that challenged easy description. Where his crimson aura carried the heat of determination and the weight of desperate need, mana felt cool and patient. It responded to intellectual control rather than emotional drive, following patterns that rewarded understanding over mere intensity.

Most remarkably, he could sense the potential applications that mana cultivation would make possible. Techniques that had been theoretical knowledge became practical possibilities as his awakened constitution provided the foundation necessary for their implementation. Black Star itself hummed at the edges of his awareness, no longer sealed but simply waiting for sufficient development to achieve stable manifestation.

"Incredible," Levi breathed, his voice carrying awe that seemed genuine despite his casual personality. "The mana pressure you're generating exceeds anything I managed during my first year of cultivation. Hell, it's stronger than most people achieve after five years of dedicated development."

His ancestor's crimson eyes held approval mixed with something approaching disbelief. "Fenix, I think you might actually have transcendent potential."

"Transcendent potential?" Fenix asked, though he continued his meditative absorption while speaking.

"There are five levels of cultivator potential," Levi explained, settling back into instructor mode with obvious enthusiasm. "These determine how far someone can progress regardless of training quality or dedication to advancement. Once your mana core forms, testing reveals whether you possess dormant, enabled, enhanced, empowered, or transcendent capability."

He gestured toward Fenix with something approaching reverence. "Most people fall into dormant or enabled categories - they can cultivate, but advancement becomes increasingly difficult as they approach their genetic limitations. Enhanced potential allows progression to Expert rank with proper training. Empowered cultivators can reach Grandmaster rank if they're willing to pay the necessary prices."

Levi's voice grew more intense as he reached the crucial classification. "But transcendent potential? That's the rarest category, possessed by maybe one person in ten thousand. It means you can reach Paragon rank with just the right training and sufficient dedication to excellence."

The implications hit Fenix like physical force. Paragon rank - the level his ancestor had achieved through sixty years of obsessive cultivation. The pinnacle of what mortal capability could accomplish when properly developed. And according to Levi, his newly awakened mana constitution possessed the genetic foundation to achieve such heights.

"Are you certain?" Fenix asked, his voice carrying disbelief mixed with desperate hope.

"The mana pressure patterns don't lie," Levi replied with absolute conviction. "I spent decades studying constitutional classification, and your readings are textbook transcendent. You have the potential to match or exceed anything I accomplished, probably in half the time if you apply proper methodology."

They talked for what felt like hours as Fenix processed the implications of his transformation. Dual cultivation paths that would demand extraordinary discipline. Techniques that operated according to completely different principles than anything he had learned. Most importantly, the potential to achieve capabilities that could reshape not just his family's fortunes, but the entire political structure of the Human Domain.

But eventually, Levi's expression grew more serious as their conversation approached subjects that neither wanted to address directly.

"I've enjoyed this," he said finally, his voice carrying genuine warmth despite the melancholy undertones. "Having someone to talk to, sharing knowledge that I thought would die with me, watching you discover capabilities that make my own achievements seem almost modest by comparison."

Fenix felt his chest tighten with recognition of approaching farewell. "You're leaving."

"Not by choice," Levi admitted with characteristic honesty. "But maintaining this connection requires energy expenditure that the katana can't sustain indefinitely. I've probably got a few more minutes before the mana resonance fails completely."

He leaned forward with sudden intensity, his crimson eyes holding depths of urgency that made his casual personality seem like carefully maintained facade.

"Listen carefully, because this is important. The life weapon will bring you back here when you're ready to learn the Second Art. I can't tell you when that will be - it depends on your development and the challenges you face. But when the time comes, you'll know."

Levi's expression shifted to something more practical. "Time has been paused during our entire interaction. Everything you've experienced here - the conversation, the constitutional restoration, your mana awakening - all of it occurred in maybe five minutes of real-world time. Your expedition team won't have noticed your absence."

Relief flooded through Fenix as he realized his teammates wouldn't have been forced to face whatever dangers awaited without his support.

"Take the valuables from the skeleton," Levi continued with clinical precision. "Ancient artifacts, precious materials, anything that might be useful for your development or your family's financial recovery. The labyrinth's guardians will find you soon - probably within the hour - so gather what you can and prepare for extraction."

Before Fenix could respond, before he could express the gratitude that had been building throughout their interaction, brilliant light began washing over his vision like dawn breaking over darkness.

"Levi," he called out desperately, "thank you. For everything. The restoration, the knowledge, the chance to become something more than my limitations suggested possible."

His ancestor's voice seemed to come from very far away as the light intensified beyond bearable levels. "Make it count, descendant. Our family's future depends on what you do with the gifts you've been given."

Then consciousness snapped back to physical reality with jarring suddenness.

Fenix found himself kneeling in the throne room where this entire experience had begun, his hand still resting on the katana's white hilt. The skeleton sat in eternal stillness, but now he understood the figure's true significance.

He reached out toward the weapon with hands that trembled slightly from anticipation mixed with residual awe. This time, there was no teleportation, no forced trial, no mana examination. The katana came free from the skeleton's grip with the easy grace of reunion rather than conquest.

As he drew the blade from its white sheath, silver steel caught the chamber's illumination with radiance that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his newly awakened mana pathways. The weapon felt alive in his hands - not threatening or demanding, but responsive and eager, like a loyal companion that had been waiting centuries for the right person to arrive and claim their partnership.

The katana hummed with barely contained energy that resonated with both his aura and mana cultivation systems, creating harmonics that suggested integration possibilities he had never imagined could exist.

Fenix smiled at the blade as understanding passed between warrior and weapon in the kind of perfect communication that transcended words or conscious thought.

"I'll call you White," he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of names that became destiny through the simple act of speaking them aloud.

The katana's hum deepened with what could only be interpreted as approval, silver steel gleaming with anticipation for the battles they would face together and the legends they might forge through dedication to excellence that refused to acknowledge impossible odds.

His transformation was complete. The next phase of his journey could begin.