Virtual Ascension

Two days had passed.

Luna stood outside the glass chamber, her gaze fixed on Venix, her expression unreadable.

She stared at him in confusion. As a novice—especially one fighting in the Origin Fragment Realm—how could Venix endure for so long?

What Luna didn't realize was that the synchronization between Vulture and Venix had grown stronger, making Venix's Astral Body more solid and defined than ever before.

Instead of weakening over time, as typically happened with an Awaken's Astral Body, Venix's condition was improving, enabling him to last even longer.

With a continuous supply of Awaken Elixir, combined with Venix's experiences in the Origin Fragment Realm and his bond with Vulture, Venix was able to endure an extraordinary amount of time.

Meanwhile, Venix was fully immersed in the virtual world.

He no longer cared about the real world—the one he was supposed to inhabit.

In the Origin Fragment Realm, Venix was eager to work alongside Vulture.

Over the last two days, Vulture had reached the peak of Level 3, while the Dragon also stood at the same level, though it was on the verge of breaking through to Level 4.

However, the Tentacle Monster stood in a league of its own, easily advancing to Level 4—something Venix could not prevent. All he could do was watch helplessly as it grew stronger.

The Tentacle Monster's appearance had drastically changed. At its core was a dark purple humanoid figure of a child, with nine massive tentacles fused to its back.

"We can't delay any longer," Venix muttered gravely, his gaze fixed on the Dragon.

The Dragon looked exhausted, its back covered in wounds far worse than before.

If not for its formidable natural regeneration ability, it would have fallen to Vulture and Venix long ago.

Now, the only way to catch up to the Tentacle Monster's level was to consume the Dragon.

Vulture had grown significantly in size, now reaching a third of the Dragon's size. The Tentacle Monster, on the other hand, matched Vulture in sheer bulk.

"Attack its back!" Venix commanded, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Following Venix's lead, Vulture launched an aggressive assault on the Dragon's back.

The attack was effective, but time was not on their side. The Dragon's resilience was immense. If the battle dragged on, Vulture would eventually lose.

Until now, Venix had been methodically wearing down the Dragon's back, employing the same strategy he'd used against the Snake before.

However, the damage inflicted was always countered by the Dragon's regenerative abilities.

The result? Almost nothing.

With no other choice, Vulture fought with unrelenting ferocity, trying to create a massive opening on the Dragon's back.

The battle grew so intense that other Seed Origins in the vicinity fled, avoiding the small apocalypse unfolding before them.

Vulture's beak began to glow with a brilliant red light. Its body dove sharply, striking the Dragon's nearly shattered back.

Shiiiiing! Slam! Craaash!

"Roaarrrr!!!"

The hardened armor covering the Dragon's back shattered instantly, exposing the soft flesh beneath.

"Now! Keep attacking!" Venix shouted, his voice filled with determination.

Without hesitation, Vulture began tearing into the exposed flesh with its beak and claws.

The Dragon's corrosive blood flowed freely, making every attack increasingly perilous.

However, the blood was no trivial matter. It was far deadlier than the Snake's blood. Vulture's body, already caked in dried blood, now appeared even more gruesome, mingled with the Dragon's darker red blood.

The Dragon roared, thrashing wildly. With all its might, it began to ascend into the sky, attempting to throw off Vulture, which clung to it like a parasite.

But Vulture, too, was beginning to show signs of exhaustion. Its body was riddled with wounds, and the corrosive effects of the Dragon's blood only worsened its condition.

Seeing the wounds on the Dragon's back, Venix realized this was their final opportunity.

"Use Inferno Annihilation!" Venix commanded firmly.

Quickly, Vulture released a glowing red orb from its mouth, planting it into the gaping wound on the Dragon's back.

"Hurry! Escape!" Venix urged.

Vulture wrenched itself free with all its might, attempting to flee.

But the Dragon wasn't about to let it go. It unleashed every ounce of its strength to chase after Vulture.

"Damn it! If it stays close to you, the explosion will hurt you too!" Venix yelled in panic.

Vulture desperately tried to distance itself, but the Dragon pursued relentlessly, like a shadow that couldn't be escaped.

The Inferno Annihilation attack had drained nearly all of Vulture's energy, drastically slowing its flight.

Venix thought quickly. He knew that if this continued, Vulture wouldn't be able to escape.

Then an idea struck him.

"Stop! Don't move!" Venix shouted decisively.

Vulture hesitated. Stop in front of such a massive enemy? But with the trust they'd built, Vulture chose to believe in Venix.

It halted mid-flight and stayed still.

"Brace yourself! Prepare for impact!" Venix shouted again, ensuring Vulture followed his orders.

Vulture immediately adopted a defensive stance, spreading its wings wide to create a natural shield with its remaining strength.

Seconds later, the attack landed.

The Dragon's massive wings and claws struck Vulture with full force.

Bam! Whooosssshhhhh!

Vulture's body was sent hurtling to the ground, crashing into the earth with tremendous force.

Boom!!!

The impact created a massive crater, leaving Vulture sprawled in its depths, wounded from head to toe.

Before the Dragon could celebrate its victory, the glowing orb embedded in its back began to tremble, erupting with catastrophic power.

Boom!!!

The explosion resembled a miniature sun, engulfing the entire Origin Fragment Realm in a fiery inferno.

As the light faded, the Dragon's limp form hung suspended in mid-air, lifeless.

Its body, now sporting a massive hole through its chest, plummeted to the ground.

Boom!!!

The Dragon lay motionless, devoid of any signs of life.

"Quick! Absorb its corpse!" Venix ordered with labored breaths.

Despite its injuries and its strength depleted by 90%, Vulture slowly rose.

Its body wobbled, but its resolve remained unshaken. It flew toward the Dragon's corpse, landing on the massive wound, and began absorbing it hungrily.

Several other Seed Origins crept closer, drawn by the scent of death, hoping to capitalize on the situation.

But they didn't know who they were dealing with.

As it absorbed the Dragon's corpse and regained a fraction of its strength, Vulture sprang into action.

With precise ranged attacks, it mercilessly slaughtered them, defending its prey.

Watching this, Venix let out a sigh of relief. The process had gone more smoothly than he had anticipated.

Now, all that was left was to wait for Vulture to fully absorb the Dragon's corpse.

The process was slow due to Vulture's weakened state, significantly reducing its absorption speed.

In six hours of real-world time, Vulture had only managed to absorb half of the Dragon's body.

But the results were extraordinary.

Absorbing the Dragon's corpse pushed Vulture to Level 4, triggering a higher form of evolution.

Its appearance now radiated menace, exuding an aura of newfound power.

At Level 4, Vulture experienced a massive boost in strength.

Its passive regeneration ability, which had already surpassed most Seed Origins, received a tremendous upgrade. Its recovery rate now rivaled that of the six-headed Snake it had previously defeated.

Even as Vulture absorbed the Dragon's corpse, Venix noticed something remarkable: its depleted energy slowly replenished, and its wounds healed faster than expected.

For Venix, this was good news—at least for now.

Even more astonishingly, the evolution to Level 4 not only enhanced its regeneration abilities but also accelerated its energy absorption rate.

In just two hours, the massive Dragon's corpse had been entirely absorbed.

Vulture's body now shone with its newfound strength, radiating an intimidating aura.

Turning his gaze toward the distance, Venix focused on the Tentacle Monster.

Venix assessed the situation carefully.

"Vulture has surpassed the Tentacle Monster's level," Venix murmured thoughtfully, his voice tinged with caution. "But the gap isn't wide enough to guarantee victory."

The Tentacle Monster was no ordinary foe.

Even though its level was slightly lower than Vulture's, its terrifying abilities made it a force even the Dragon feared.

From Venix's observations, the Tentacle Monster's greatest strength lay in ensnaring its prey and slowly absorbing them.

Venix had never seen it engage in direct combat with other Seed Origins. It simply trapped and drained them, rendering them powerless.

Venix took a deep breath, preparing himself for the inevitable confrontation.

"Alright," Venix said quietly but firmly. "The final battle. Vulture, are you ready?"

Vulture stared at the distant Tentacle Monster, its eyes narrowing. There was no hesitation, only resolve.

"Go!" Venix commanded.

Without a moment's delay, Vulture shot toward the Tentacle Monster, its wings slicing through the air with blinding speed.

The air around them seemed to tighten, heralding the impending clash—a showdown between the top predators of the Origin Fragment Realm!

"Be careful with its tentacles. Each one is extremely dangerous," Venix warned with a tense tone. "If it grabs you and you don't escape immediately, it will absorb you completely."

Venix had been observing the Tentacle Monster for quite some time—long enough to grasp the horror of this enemy.

Above the gloomy skies, Vulture hovered, eyeing its primary opponent below on the ground.

The Tentacle Monster, with its nine tentacles, moved with unnerving agility and coordination, leaving almost no openings—no blind spots to exploit.

Venix felt a sharp pain in his head as he racked his brain for a new strategy.

But strategies that had worked against a Dragon or a six-headed Serpent would be ineffective here.

This opponent was too different.

"I'm leaving everything to you," Venix sighed, acknowledging his limitations. "I don't have much combat experience, and my suggestions might end up being more of a hindrance to you."

Deep inside, Venix felt a tinge of frustration.

If only he could remember Luna, still out there somewhere, perhaps he could seek her advice and take a break from this.

But ever since entering the Origin Fragment Realm, his mind had been consumed with developing his Seed Origin, casting aside all thoughts of the outside world as if it no longer mattered.

Vulture, on the other hand, remained calm—even in this dire situation.

If it were just a wild vulture, it might have been timid and refrained from taking reckless actions, relying on its natural instincts to survive and merely awaiting its end.

But now, after working with Venix, Vulture had changed. Its combat style was more measured, more strategic, and far bolder.

Even so, this fight was no less daunting for it.

Despite facing an opponent that seemed invincible, Vulture harbored no hesitation. It shot forward at incredible speed, directly targeting the Tentacle Monster!

The final battle for the throne as King had begun.

A crimson aura radiated from Vulture's body, encasing it in deadly energy. Its wings, now like swords, seemed capable of slicing through anything with a single sweep.

Its beak and talons glowed sharply, ready to tear through its foe.

Vulture's first attack struck like lightning, creating a deafening boom in the air. The Tentacle Monster flinched, caught off guard by the bird's sudden charge.

In one fluid motion, Vulture swung its wing at a tentacle attempting to block its path.

Slish!

One tentacle was severed cleanly, dropping to the ground like a felled tree branch.

Venix's eyes gleamed at the sight.

But his relief was short-lived.

Almost immediately, the severed tentacle began to move, reconnecting with the main body like liquid merging into itself.

Seeing this, Venix's heart sank to the pit of despair.

"Damn it... how are we supposed to win against regeneration like that!?" Venix cursed, his voice filled with anger.

Vulture, though startled, did not retreat.

It hovered steadily, preparing for its next strike. Meanwhile, Venix's mind raced, cycling through potential strategies. How could they possibly defeat an enemy that seemed indestructible?

After pondering briefly, Vulture attempted to flee, hoping to escape the looming danger.

But the remaining eight tentacles swiftly blocked its escape route, trapping Vulture in an endless fight.

On the ground, the humanoid figure controlling the Tentacle Monster grinned victoriously, its gaze fixed on Vulture with a ravenous hunger.

"Attack the humanoid controlling the tentacles!" Venix shouted, clarity striking him like a lightning bolt. "That's the core of the Tentacle Monster!"

Vulture listened intently to Venix's instructions and immediately shifted its attack toward the humanoid figure at the center of the tentacles.

Slash!

Vulture's initial strike grazed the humanoid's skin, but the wound healed instantly, as if it had never been there.

"Damn it! Even its humanoid form has regenerative abilities!?" Venix yelled, his expression souring. Despair began to take hold of him. "This is impossible! This monster has no weaknesses! Even the Dragon's Seed Origin would struggle against it!"

Unable to inflict any significant damage on the humanoid's body, Vulture found itself increasingly cornered.

Its legs were now firmly gripped by two massive tentacles, leaving no room for escape.

Venix's heart churned with anger and bitterness. After all this effort, were they truly powerless against the Tentacle Monster?

Worse still, this wasn't even a fight—it was a one-sided slaughter.

"Vulture only has two abilities left—Inferno Annihilation and Undying Resolve... But what's the point?" Venix muttered, his face twisted in frustration. "After Inferno Annihilation, what can it do? Even if Vulture survives using Undying Resolve, it'll only buy a few more seconds...!"

Doubt clouded Venix's mind as he wondered whether Inferno Annihilation could even leave a mark on the Tentacle Monster.

"If only the Buff I provided had been stronger... Maybe there'd be a chance..." Venix thought regretfully.

But then, as if struck by a sudden realization, an idea sparked in Venix's mind.

"Meditation techniques provide two Buffs that support the main Seed Origin," Venix recalled quickly. "The first Buff enhances the Seed Origin's power, while the second is... Astral Bond."

Astral Bond was a technique known to significantly boost the strength of a Seed Origin.

Venix continued musing, "Astral Bond is meant for the final stage of Seed formation, requiring a massive surge of power to fully merge the Seed. And this technique sacrifices an Awaken's Astral Body to activate the Bond.

"If an Awaken's Astral Body is destroyed, it won't recover until they reach the Seedbound stage," Venix remembered the warning. "That's why this technique is only recommended for the final stages of an Awaken's development."

After a moment's contemplation, Venix realized what he had to do.

Astral Bond could provide the tremendous power boost necessary to save Vulture and turn the tide of the battle.

"It's now or never!" Venix gritted his teeth, making the decision with unwavering determination.

Outside the Origin Fragment Realm, Venix's Astral Body opened its eyes.

In an instant, his Astral Body began to liquefy, merging with the Origin Fragment Realm, signaling the commencement of a high-risk process.

Elsewhere, Luna, still outside, quickly sensed the change in Venix's soul.

"That boy... He's using Astral Bond? At this stage? Does he not understand the risks of this action?" Luna's face froze, a look of concern crossing her features.

She knew she could easily stop the process with her power.

But seeing the resoluteness in Venix's decision, Luna chose to refrain. She couldn't interfere with such a decisive choice.

Within the Origin Fragment Realm, a dramatic transformation overtook Vulture.

As soon as Astral Bond was activated, Vulture's body surged with overwhelming power.

The two tentacles gripping its legs disintegrated effortlessly under the sheer force of the unleashed energy.

The humanoid controlling the Tentacle Monster was visibly shocked, sensing the sudden and immense change in its adversary.

At this moment, Venix and Vulture became one.

What Vulture saw, what Vulture felt—Venix experienced it all.

Though they were united, control over Vulture's body remained with Vulture, while Venix served as an observer, sensing every pulse of its existence.

"Use Inferno Annihilation," Venix commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.

Without hesitation, Vulture unleashed a sphere from its beak. The orb was a deep purple, far darker than before, exuding an energy far more dangerous and mysterious.

"Plant your feet into the ground! Then strike the sphere!" Venix shouted with fiery resolve.

Vulture planted its feet and struck the purple orb with its sharp attack, triggering the explosion.

Even if it meant its own destruction, Vulture showed no hesitation in following Venix's orders.

Boom!!!

The sound of the explosion reverberated like the roar of an apocalyptic force, shattering the silence of the realm.

The devastating blast annihilated everything in its vicinity, like a nuclear bomb obliterating an entire city without leaving a trace.

Both Vulture and the Tentacle Monster bore the full brunt of the explosion.

Venix felt waves of unbearable pain, nearly losing consciousness.

Vulture's body staggered, almost completely destroyed.

It was charred and burned, its feathers and skin peeling away, leaving behind only brittle bones on the verge of collapse.

Yet, thanks to its feet firmly rooted in the ground, Vulture remained standing against the blast's force.

Were it not for the Undying Resolve ability, Vulture would have been reduced to nothing but dust.

The Tentacle Monster fared no better. Its body was utterly devastated, leaving behind only a gleaming black orb amidst the ruins.

As the explosion's aftermath subsided and the dust began to settle, Venix and Vulture could clearly see the black orb lying not far ahead.

"Heh... Absorb that black orb..." Venix spoke, his voice brimming with unmistakable killing intent.

The true core of the Tentacle Monster had finally been exposed!