I woke to sunlight streaming through the window, harsh and insistent against my eyelids. For a moment, I existed in that strange liminal space between sleep and waking, where nothing was real and everything was possible.
Then memory crashed back in like a tidal wave.
Duke Eamon's study. The interrogation. The lies I'd told with a straight face. The legendary saber hanging at my hip. Abel's absence, a void that everyone would soon start questioning more aggressively.
I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling, watching dust motes dance in the morning light.
'I'm still alive. That's something.'
My body felt different. Not worse, surprisingly. The wounds that had been aching yesterday were significantly better now. I sat up slowly, testing my range of motion, and found that the stiffness had diminished considerably.
I twisted to check my back and shoulders in the mirror across the room. The deep gouges from Crimson Maw claws had closed completely, leaving behind pink scars that were already beginning to fade. In another day or two, they'd probably disappear entirely.
'The Primordial Chaos Physique. Enhanced physical resilience and chaos regeneration. It's actually working.'
I swung my legs out of bed and stood, taking a moment to assess my overall condition. Sore but functional. Tired but conscious. Hungry, I realized suddenly. Ravenously hungry.
'When did I last eat? Before entering the Saber Garden? That was three days ago.'
My stomach growled in agreement, but I ignored it. There was something more important to deal with first.
The golden fruit sat on my nightstand, glowing softly in the morning light. Its surface seemed to pulse with contained energy, and I could feel the mana radiating from it even from several feet away.
Duke Eamon's words echoed in my memory. Eat the fruit before training begins. It will expand your mana capacity significantly and should push your mana circulation to intermediate proficiency at minimum.
'No time like the present.'
I picked up the fruit, surprised by how warm it was. Not hot enough to burn, but noticeably warmer than room temperature. The glow intensified slightly at my touch, as though responding to my presence.
'Here goes nothing.'
I brought the fruit to my lips and bit down.
The taste exploded across my tongue. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Sweet but not cloying, with layers of complexity that shifted with each chew. Rich and vibrant, like concentrated essence of summer distilled into physical form. Juice ran down my chin as I chewed, and I felt the mana begin to release immediately.
Warmth bloomed in my chest, spreading outward from my core like ripples on a pond. But this wasn't the gentle warmth of a comfortable fire. This was intense heat, almost uncomfortable, pressing against the boundaries of my mana pathways.
I swallowed, and the warmth intensified.
My mana core, that nexus of energy just below my sternum, began to expand. I could feel it stretching, growing, the walls of the container pushing outward to accommodate the sudden influx of power. It wasn't painful, exactly, but it was overwhelming. Like trying to pour an ocean into a cup and having the cup somehow expand to hold it all.
The translucent blue screen materialized before my eyes, text scrolling across it in rapid succession.
[Legendary-grade consumable detected: Golden Fruit of the Saber Garden]
[Classification: Peak Epic-tier item with Legendary-tier potential]
[Rarity: Unique - Only one fruit blooms per sixteen-year cycle]
[Analysis: This fruit is not merely a mana enhancement resource. It contains a fragment of the Einsworth Family Saber's residual energy, left behind during the weapon's century-long sealing within the Saber Garden. The tree that bore this fruit grew directly above the saber's resting place, its roots intertwining with the weapon's dormant power.]
[By consuming this fruit while soul-bound to the Einsworth Family Saber, you create a resonance effect that will significantly enhance the benefits.]
[Consuming...]
The warmth became heat became fire. I gasped and dropped to one knee, one hand pressed against my chest as the transformation accelerated. My mana pathways, those invisible channels through which energy flowed, were being forcibly expanded and refined. I could feel them reshaping themselves, optimizing their structure, becoming more efficient.
My muscles began to burn next. Not from injury, but from change. Fibers breaking down and rebuilding stronger. Denser. My bones felt like they were vibrating, resonating with some frequency I couldn't hear but could definitely feel.
'What's happening? This is way more intense than I expected!'
The system provided answers even as I struggled to remain conscious through the transformation.
[Consumption complete.]
[Processing effects...]
[Mana capacity dramatically increased: 20 → 45]
[Mana Circulation (Basic 41%) has advanced to Mana Circulation (Intermediate 0%)]
[Note: Intermediate-tier Mana Circulation allows for sustained enhancement of physical attributes during combat. Mana efficiency increased by 30%. Recovery speed increased by 25%.]
[Attribute changes detected:]
[Strength: 12 → 24 (+100%)]
[Agility: 14 → 28 (+100%)]
[Endurance: 11 → 20 (+82%)]
[Intelligence: 16 → 18 (+13%)]
[Wisdom: 13 → 15 (+15%)]
[Mana: 20 → 45 (+125%)]
[Total Attributes: 76 → 140]
[You have exceeded the Novice rank attribute threshold by a significant margin.]
I stared at the numbers, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. My strength and agility had doubled. Doubled. My mana capacity had more than doubled. My total attributes had nearly doubled.
'This is insane. This is absolutely insane.'
But the system wasn't finished.
[Resonance effect detected: The Einsworth Family Saber recognizes the consumed essence as part of itself.]
[Special benefits unlocked:]
[New Title Acquired: Saber Garden's Chosen]
[Title: Saber Garden's Chosen]
[Rarity: Unique]
[Description: You have fulfilled the ancient compact of the Saber Garden through blood sacrifice, retrieved its legendary fruit, and been acknowledged by its imprisoned blade. The forest recognizes you as one who has paid the price and reaped the reward. This mark will remain with you always.]
[Effects:]
[- Mana regeneration increased by 20%]
[- All sword-related skills progress 15% faster]
[- Beasts native to the Saber Garden will not attack you unless provoked]
[- Minor resistance to nature-based magic and toxins]
[- The Einsworth Family Saber's awakening progress is increased by 0.1% (New total: 0.11%)]
[New Skill Acquired: Blade Sense (Passive)]
[Skill: Blade Sense]
[Proficiency: Basic (0%)]
[Description: Your soul bond with a legendary blade and consumption of its residual essence has awakened an innate sensitivity to all bladed weapons. You can now perceive the quality, condition, and rough capabilities of any blade within your detection range. This sense functions similarly to mana detection but is specifically attuned to weapons.]
[Effects at Basic proficiency:]
[- Detect blades within 10 feet even through obstacles]
[- Assess blade quality (Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary)]
[- Sense the general sharpness and structural integrity of detected blades]
[- When wielding your soul-bound weapon, detection range increases to 50 feet]
[- At higher proficiencies, this skill will allow you to predict opponents' sword techniques and detect hidden weapons]
[Final Analysis: Your physical capabilities now match or exceed those of a mid-tier Novice-ranked warrior. Combined with your Legendary-tier weapon, you can likely contend with peak Novice or even low-tier Apprentice opponents in actual combat.]
[Combat experience remains the primary barrier to official rank advancement: 4/10 Novice-ranked beasts defeated.]
The heat finally began to subside, fading from inferno to warm simmer. I stayed on my knee for another moment, catching my breath, feeling the changes settle into my body.
Everything felt different. Sharper. More responsive. I flexed my hand and watched the muscles cord and release with a precision and power that hadn't been there before.
I stood slowly, testing my balance, and nearly overcompensated. My body was lighter than I expected, more responsive to even small movements. I took a careful step forward, then another, gradually adjusting to the new normal.
'This is what real power feels like. Even just a taste of it.'
I walked to the full-length mirror mounted on the wall beside my wardrobe. What I saw there made me stop and stare.
The face was still Kaine's. Long blue hair, darker and richer than Abel's lighter shade had been, falling past my shoulders in waves that caught the morning light. Sharp, aristocratic features with high cheekbones and a strong jaw. Golden eyes that seemed to glow faintly from within, the trademark of the Einsworth bloodline.
But the body beneath was transformed.
I pulled off the ruined shirt I'd slept in and examined myself in the mirror. The physique I saw was undeniably that of a warrior. Lean, defined muscle covered my frame from shoulders to calves. Not the bulky mass of a bodybuilder, but the functional density of someone built for speed and lethality. Every muscle group was visible beneath pale skin, defined without being grotesque.
My shoulders were broader than before, my chest deeper, my waist narrow and tapered. The scars from yesterday's battle had faded to thin white lines that were already barely visible. In another day, they'd probably disappear entirely.
I looked dangerous. Like someone who could actually survive in this violent world. Like someone who belonged holding a legendary weapon.
'This is me now. This is what the Primordial Chaos Physique combined with a legendary fruit looks like.'
I turned away from the mirror and grabbed fresh clothes from the wardrobe. Simple training attire, black pants and a fitted shirt that wouldn't restrict movement. The clothes fit better now, accommodating my changed physique.
I strapped the Einsworth Family Saber to my hip, and the weight felt even more natural than before. The blade hummed contentedly through our bond, as though pleased by the changes in my body.
'Alright. Physical transformation complete. Now I need information. Real information about this world, not just fragments from Kaine's memories.'
I left my room and headed downstairs, moving through the manor with purpose. Servants I passed in the hallways pressed themselves against the walls, their eyes tracking me with fear and confusion. Word had definitely spread about yesterday. About the saber. About Abel's absence.
I ignored them all and made my way to the library.