Virtual Ascension

As the dragon fled, Venix was stunned!

Through the connection he shared with the creature, Venix could sense the dragon's profound fear—so vivid it felt as if the dragon were screaming inside his mind.

If the dragon could speak, its words might have been:

"You're asking me to commit suicide by facing that monster? Forget it! I'm too young to die!"

Venix was shocked by the intensity of the dragon's emotions, but he didn't give up.

With all his might, he tried to convince the dragon to return.

"You're a dragon! A legendary and sacred beast! And you're afraid to face that little creature?!" Venix shouted passionately, trying to ignite the dragon's courage.

Yet, the more Venix pushed his will upon the dragon, the stronger its resistance grew.

Each attempt only weakened their bond further, until finally, Venix was forced to release the connection.

Breathing heavily, Venix could only watch as the dragon retreated into the distance, feeling utterly defeated.

"All Seed Origins follow their natural instincts, and the instinct for survival is the strongest of all," Venix muttered with a voice full of sorrow. "One of the most primal survival instincts is avoiding danger."

Venix stood still, lost in thought.

If even a dragon—a legendary and supposedly invincible creature—feared facing the Tentacle Monster, who else could stand against it?

But Venix didn't have the luxury of staying in despair. He knew he had to find a solution.

With rising frustration, he began reaching out to other Seed Origins that appeared strong, leaping from one to the next, searching for potential candidates capable of rivaling the Tentacle Monster.

Yet every time he tried, the result was the same: all the Seed Origins he encountered exhibited the same fear.

They all fled from the Tentacle Monster's territory as if their instincts were screaming to keep away.

Venix grew increasingly restless, his mind racing. The tension within him mounted.

If he couldn't find a Seed Origin willing to confront the Tentacle Monster, nothing could stop it from becoming his dominant Seed Origin!

"I may have to find a seemingly ordinary Seed Origin with extraordinary courage," Venix thought aloud. Then, suddenly, something caught his eye—something he had overlooked before.

It was a plain creature—a vulture!

Its appearance was unimpressive. Its feathers were dark brown, and its posture lacked any distinguishing features that set it apart from other creatures.

Compared to the other Seed Origins, the vulture seemed like an ordinary animal that had accidentally wandered into the wrong world.

But Venix wasn't drawn to the vulture's appearance. What captured his attention was its location.

The vulture stood tall on the sturdy branch of a high tree, scanning its surroundings with sharp vigilance, as if carefully assessing every situation.

Not far from where it perched, the dragon Venix had controlled earlier was fiercely battling and mercilessly preying upon various creatures.

The dragon spewed fire from its mouth, destroying everything in its path.

The area was a terrifyingly dangerous place, yet the vulture remained calm, showing no hint of fear.

Venix observed the vulture intently, and what he saw next left him astonished.

As the dragon clawed one of the Seed Origins to death, the vulture's body began to glow faintly, emitting an intimidating aura—not overly powerful, but enough to grab the dragon's attention.

The dragon halted momentarily, provoked by the display, and turned its gaze toward the vulture.

At the same moment, the vulture moved swiftly. Its wings flapped powerfully, propelling its body forward with remarkable speed.

In an instant, it swooped toward the carcass slain by the dragon, seized it with its sharp talons, and quickly flew away to feed on it in a safer location.

Venix watched the entire scene in silence, awe-struck by what he had just witnessed.

"Incredible!" Venix exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. "This vulture is remarkable! Even though its strength might be the weakest here, its courage, composure, and strategy allow it to survive and adapt in such a perilous environment!"

Venix felt a newfound determination ignite within him.

The vulture's bravery, despite lacking overwhelming power, offered a glimmer of hope.

Perhaps this vulture was the only Seed Origin with the courage to approach the Tentacle Monster!

With firm resolve, Venix immediately linked himself to the vulture without hesitation.

As he attempted the connection, it formed effortlessly, without any resistance.

The moment their bond solidified, Venix could feel the vulture's emotions deeply.

Calmness was the first thing he noticed, but there was also a sharp vigilance—a constant readiness to anticipate anything around it.

Though the vulture appeared serene on the surface, Venix could sense that every move it made was imbued with caution and awareness.

The roar of an angry dragon echoed in the distance, shattering the stillness.

The dragon, clearly enraged by the theft of its prey, let out a furious cry filled with hatred and confusion.

But the vulture remained calm, undisturbed as it devoured its stolen meal from afar.

"Fascinating," Venix murmured with a faint smile. "Alright then, let's see if you're brave enough to approach the Tentacle Monster!"

Using their strong connection, Venix guided the vulture to fly toward the territory controlled by the Tentacle Monster.

100 meters...

50 meters...

The vulture showed no sign of stopping, even as they drew closer to the lurking danger.

The tension was palpable, and Venix could sense a subtle resistance from the vulture.

Yet upon deeper examination of its emotions, he realized it wasn't resistance but doubt—a flicker of hesitation within the vulture's heart.

Ahead of them loomed the Tentacle Monster—the ultimate predator of the Origin Fragment Realm.

If the vulture felt fear, it would be completely understandable.

But what happened next was unexpected.

The vulture didn't flee, unlike every other Seed Origin before it.

Instead, with extraordinary bravery, it soared higher, out of the Tentacle Monster's attack range.

With enough distance between them, the vulture continued to advance.

"Impressive!" Venix exclaimed excitedly, amazed by the vulture's unparalleled courage.

The vulture pressed on before finally stopping mid-air and circling overhead.

Below, the enormous and fearsome Tentacle Monster continued feasting on other Seed Origins, completely unaware of the smaller, more agile vulture hovering high above.

"Since you're so resilient and fearless, I choose you!" Venix declared with admiration. "Now, return and hunt other creatures first!"

Obediently, the vulture followed Venix's instructions, flying away from the Tentacle Monster, heading toward the dragon's location.

With its speed and agility, the vulture effortlessly navigated the air, as if nothing could obstruct its path.

Initially, Venix only wanted to test the vulture's courage—whether it dared approach the Tentacle Monster or not.

If the vulture had retreated, there would have been no point in supporting or empowering it further.

But once Venix realized the vulture had the audacity to face such a formidable threat, he knew this was an opportunity to nurture the creature to its full potential.

Venix was not tempted to confront the Tentacle Monster right away. Instead, he believed that strengthening the vulture gradually was the wiser approach before engaging in a direct battle.

With unwavering confidence, Venix bestowed a Blessing upon the vulture—a divine favor that enhanced its strength and abilities, granting it power beyond its natural limits.

This blessing, however, was not something to be given lightly. It was a one-time opportunity for Venix to tie his destiny to the vulture. If the vulture were to perish, Venix would have to rely on the whims of nature to determine his primary Seed Origin.

The Meditation Technique offered two ways to strengthen a chosen Seed Origin, but the second method couldn't be used recklessly.

Empowered by the blessing, the vulture's confidence began to grow. It felt stronger, braver, and better prepared to face the challenges ahead.

The vulture's first step after receiving the blessing was bold: it started stealing prey killed by a dragon. Initially, it dared to take only one carcass, but as its confidence grew, so did the number of stolen prey.

This enraged the dragon, which had initially been mildly annoyed. Its growing anger eventually escalated to the point where it attacked the vulture.

Sensing the danger early on with its heightened vigilance, the vulture made a swift escape, leaving the dragon's territory behind.

However, Venix was dissatisfied with the vulture's passive approach.

"Its progress is slower than I anticipated," he mused. The vulture seemed content waiting for opportunities to scavenge kills made by others, lacking the initiative to take bolder actions.

Responding to this, Venix gave clear guidance:

"When the opportunity arises, attack! Don't just wait for them to die—you can take them both down one after another, or even simultaneously. Don't hesitate to seize the initiative!"

The vulture listened intently to Venix's directions and began implementing them.

Gradually but surely, the vulture's hunting style changed. No longer passive, it became more aggressive, actively seeking opportunities to attack and steal prey.

With Venix's guidance strengthening their bond, their teamwork improved significantly. They hunted in tandem, supporting each other at every turn.

---

Meanwhile, outside the Origin Fragment Realm, Luna summoned her servants to retrieve the Awaken Elixir stored on the first underground floor.

Luna knew Venix was undergoing a crucial process, and she needed to ensure there was enough elixir to sustain his meditation.

"It's been twelve hours already," she murmured softly, her eyes fixed on the monitor. "How much longer will this boy continue meditating?"

The monitor displayed a highly active Origin Fragment Realm, yet Venix showed no signs of stopping.

From the display, Luna could tell that Venix's Seed Origin was still in the form of a Tentacle Monster, meaning he hadn't succeeded in replacing or displacing it with another Seed Origin.

She observed how Venix was carefully manipulating time within the Realm, slowing it down deliberately. This suggested that Venix was determined to prevent the Tentacle Monster from evolving too quickly while strategizing to strengthen his chosen Seed Origin.

Inside the Origin Fragment Realm, Venix and the vulture continued their efforts with growing success.

"Keep attacking the dragon's back!" Venix commanded.

With incredible speed, the vulture soared through the air, diving down to strike the dragon's back repeatedly.

Bang!

"Roarrrr!!!" The dragon bellowed in pain.

The vulture's relentless assaults disrupted and wounded the dragon continuously. Its tough, armored skin had begun to crack, exposing raw flesh beneath.

"Retreat!" Venix ordered.

The vulture swiftly distanced itself from the dragon, scouting for other prey in the vicinity.

By now, the vulture had grown significantly stronger. Its size had increased, and its once-pristine feathers were now darkened, exuding a menacing aura. Its power felt increasingly formidable.

Using his divine observation, Venix identified the three strongest Seed Origins in the Realm: the Tentacle Monster remained the most powerful, followed by the dragon, and then a six-headed serpent.

Despite its growth, the vulture was still no match for these three creatures. Its courage was its greatest asset, but its raw strength was still insufficient for a direct confrontation.

---

The Tentacle Monster had undergone further evolution, and Venix observed a small fetus forming at its core.

"It looks like a human fetus," Venix muttered, his eyes narrowing at the sight.

He realized the Tentacle Monster's growing strength demanded that he accelerate the vulture's development.

The vulture occasionally attacked both the dragon and the serpent, aiming to inflict serious damage by targeting specific points. Every Seed Origin slain caused the Origin Fragment Realm to shrink, forcing the remaining creatures into closer proximity and more frequent battles.

Although the vulture sustained injuries, its increasingly robust body allowed it to recover quickly.

Unlike the dragon's hardened armor, the six-headed serpent was less durable, and the vulture's repeated strikes began to take a toll.

Venix sensed the opportunity.

"Finish the serpent!" he commanded.

The vulture dove toward the serpent's injured head, its claws glowing crimson. It launched a ferocious attack, tearing through the serpent's flesh.

Shing! Rip! Splurch!

Blood sprayed as the vulture's claws gouged deep wounds.

Though the serpent resisted, it was visibly weakening. The vulture hesitated, ready to retreat, but Venix urged it on.

"Keep attacking! Dig deeper!"

Trusting Venix completely, the vulture resumed its assault, clawing through the serpent's flesh.

The serpent's corrosive blood splattered onto the vulture, burning its feathers and skin. Yet, the vulture's natural resilience allowed it to endure.

Eventually, the vulture was thrown back by the serpent's spasms, blood spraying everywhere.

"That's enough! Fall back!" Venix ordered.

Though wounded, the vulture retreated, watching as the serpent weakened further from blood loss. Its regeneration was too slow to counteract the damage.

After several tense minutes, the serpent's movements slowed.

"Now, absorb it," Venix instructed.

The vulture descended, its claws glowing with a dark red aura as it began extracting the serpent's life essence. The serpent's body withered rapidly, and within moments, it was no more.

---

The vulture's transformation was remarkable.

Now at level 3 (early stage), it was still behind the dragon (mid-stage) and the Tentacle Monster (late-stage, nearing level 4), but its newfound abilities were promising:

1. Inferno Annihilation – A devastating ultimate attack, unleashing a core explosion that could annihilate everything nearby.

2. Undying Resolve – A survival skill allowing the vulture to endure a fatal blow, leaving it with a single point of life.

"These will be crucial," Venix thought, his enthusiasm growing.

"Don't stop now! Keep hunting! We can't let the Tentacle Monster get too far ahead!"

Feeling Venix's fervent emotions, the vulture immediately responded. Its sharp gaze swept across its surroundings, quickly locking onto a group of Seed Origins fleeing from its presence.

The vulture, once more patient, now displayed a look of dissatisfaction. Watching those creatures escape stirred a sense of challenge within it.

With refined hunting techniques, the vulture decided to pursue them—this hunt would undoubtedly be more exhausting, but it was also an opportunity to further hone its strength.