After completing all his business in the Numan World, Venix returned to the real world.

  In his room, Venix slowly opened his eyes.

  At that moment, the phone beside him vibrated intensely.

  Frowning, Venix picked up his phone and saw that Ronan was calling.

  Answering the call, the line connected immediately.

  "Where have you been!? What are you doing!? I've been calling you so many times!" Ronan's voice was loud, forcing Venix to hold the phone away from his ear slightly.

  Venix forced a wry smile on his face, his soft voice sounding slightly awkward. "I fell asleep earlier, so I didn't realize you were calling."

  "You’ve been sleeping a lot this past week. Is something wrong with your body?" Ronan asked worriedly.

  Sitting on his bed, Venix checked his own body.

  It felt a bit stiff, but otherwise, everything seemed fine.

  "There's nothing wrong with my body. I'm fine," Venix replied.

  "Could it be a sign that you're about to become an Awaken?" Ronan asked cautiously.

  "Hm?" Venix's heart stirred instantly!

  He began recalling the events that had just occurred.

  Previously, Ronan had been at the Police Department, and it was highly likely that Ronan had become an Awaken!

  Venix rubbed his temples rather hard. Too many things had happened today, making it easy for him to forget important matters.

  Since Ronan mentioned "Awaken," it meant Ronan had indeed become one! Perhaps he had even reached the Seedbound level!

  "I'm on my way home. Wait for me; I'll explain everything to you!" Ronan said quickly before hanging up the call.

  After ending the call, Ronan, who was on his way, began to think: "Venix has been sleeping a lot lately... What’s wrong with him? I know the world is changing, but I don’t want to lose him in all this chaos."

  Ronan continued his journey, feeling increasingly worried about Venix.

  Meanwhile, in his dorm room, Venix let out a heavy sigh. "I hope Grandmaster Ardyn works quickly, and I can get the Teleportation Crystal."

  Venix planned to give each of his friends a Teleportation Crystal to use in critical situations.

  He then opened his system and accessed his Inventory.

  Currently, within his Inventory was a metallic box containing an Origin Technique!

  "One Earth Technique costs 50 Resource Points to store in the Inventory," Venix said with a heavy breath.

  His remaining Resource Points were only 5,000—a significantly reduced amount.

  Consuming 50 Resource Points, Venix retrieved the Technique into the real world.

  "Mortal Cloak Technique. With this, I can stay calm when facing other Awaken," Venix said softly.

  This was only a temporary solution to conceal his identity as an Awaken.

  At least for now, Venix had no intention of revealing his identity as an Awaken to others.

  "Ronan is also an Awaken, but he probably hasn’t learned Awaken Techniques and can’t see the aura of other Awaken yet," Venix muttered softly.

  If Ronan found out, so be it. As long as this information didn’t reach the Police Department, Venix would be fine.

  With that, Venix began studying the Mortal Cloak Technique seriously.

  In just ten minutes, Venix had memorized the Technique in its entirety.

  Memorizing the content of the Technique was much easier. Mastering the Technique itself, however, was the challenging part.

  Closing his eyes, Venix immediately attempted to execute the Mortal Cloak Technique.

  Due to his lack of an Astral Body, Venix's control over the Seed of Vulture was significantly weaker.

  Nevertheless, thanks to their bond, even without an Astral Body, the Vulture cooperated remarkably well with Venix.

  Using his mind, Venix guided the Vulture to spread and control energy throughout his body.

  The Vulture then created a thin layer of energy enveloping Venix's body, like a cloak concealing his aura.

  Once the layer fully covered his body, the next step was to suppress the aura of the Seed Origin that leaked from his body.

  This was a bit tricky, akin to removing oil clinging to the skin.

  Slowly but surely, Venix's aura was suppressed, no longer seeping out from his body.

  The aura was only slightly restrained, making it invisible externally. However, if a more experienced Awaken appeared, such a simple trick would be easily detected.

  Venix slowly opened his eyes, surprised at how smoothly the process went.

  "I didn’t expect… it’s even easier than I thought. Is it because the Seed of Vulture is so compatible with this Technique?" he murmured, his voice almost inaudible.

  Each Origin Technique had a certain compatibility with the user’s Seed Origin.

  For instance, with a Fire Technique, if Venix's Seed Origin were water-based, while he might still be able to use the Fire Technique, manifesting it would be far more difficult.

  Venix stood from his bed and looked in the mirror.

  No trace of the Seed Origin’s aura was visible on his body, signifying the Technique’s success.

  "The Technique worked… but am I strong enough to survive? Or even protect others? I’m just one of many Awaken, and somehow, this world feels larger and more terrifying," Venix sighed emotionally.

  Then, after mastering the Mortal Cloak Technique, something dawned on him.

  "It seems I can learn this Technique in the Virtual World without transferring it to the real world, can’t I?" Venix rubbed his chin thoughtfully, feeling a twinge of regret.

  He hadn’t expected the process to be far easier than anticipated and not as time-consuming.

  Returning to his bed, Venix picked up his phone to check the latest news.

  Before he could start browsing, the door to his dorm room opened, and Ronan entered.

  Venix raised his head and looked at Ronan.

  "You… What happened to you!?" Venix's heart trembled as he stood up abruptly.

  Ronan’s face was bruised, and both his hands were wrapped in bandages.

  Ronan waved his hand casually, his face showing a hint of excitement. "I just did some training. It’s nothing."

  Venix regarded Ronan quietly. Through his eyes, he could see a fiery red aura enveloping Ronan, confirming Ronan’s identity as an Awaken.

  Although he had already guessed it, Venix sighed inwardly.

  "Hmm… You really aren’t an Awaken," Ronan said, his gaze fixed on Venix.

  "Awaken? What’s that? And anyway, what on earth happened to you?" Venix asked, mixing his lies with genuine concern.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Ronan’s lips curled into a smile. "You wouldn’t believe it, but superpowers have arrived in our era!"

  Ronan spoke with visible excitement.

  "What superpowers?" Venix asked, maintaining his feigned ignorance.

  "Look at this!" Ronan said, raising his right hand into the air.

  Ronan’s empty hand rose into the air. With a swift motion, a blazing streak of red fire erupted from his palm, creating a surge of heat that vibrated through the surrounding air.

  Fwoosh!

  Venix’s pupils contracted in shock. This was the first time he had witnessed an Awaken in real life displaying their power.

  "You…" Venix muttered bitterly.

  It was because he could feel the vibrations enveloping him, making his chest feel tight. The power radiating from Ronan was like a searing flame ready to consume, far beyond anything he could ever hope to muster.

  If this fire were to strike him, Venix was certain he wouldn’t survive—he’d be gravely injured, if not outright destroyed.

  "Look at this! Isn’t it amazing, Venix? I can feel the power at my fingertips, like I could change everything with just one tiny move. I wonder… how far can I push this? Incredible, isn’t it!?" Ronan exclaimed enthusiastically.

  "Venix, this world is changing—heading toward a new era! An era far brighter than anything before!"

  Venix stared at Ronan, his gaze dazed.

  A brighter era? Venix feared this marked the beginning of Earth’s collapse, potentially mirroring the fate of Numan World, trapping its inhabitants within their own domain.

  Moments later, Ronan began explaining everything he knew about the Awaken to Venix.

  Though Venix had already been aware of the Origin Era beforehand, he wasn’t particularly surprised when Ronan confirmed Earth was now entering the Origin Era.

  Not only Earth, but Mars, Europia, and Titania had also simultaneously entered the Origin Era—or so Ronan told him.

  “I’m not allowed to share this information freely. However, Captain Jasper made an exception for new recruits. We can inform close friends, family, and loved ones about it,” Ronan said proudly.

  "What about Rael? Does he know?" Venix asked calmly.

  "I’ve already told him. But what’s with your reaction? You’re so much calmer than Rael! Even Rael, who usually keeps his composure, was utterly shocked and jumped around like a monkey!" Ronan said, dissatisfied.

  “I… My brain’s just processing things a bit slowly?” Venix replied hesitantly, trying to excuse himself.

  “You’ve been sleeping too much, you know that?” Ronan shot Venix a serious look. “Rael and I actually thought you might become an Awaken because of how weird you’ve been acting lately.”

  “If I became an Awaken, the first thing I’d probably do is steal some money!” Venix declared bluntly.

  Ronan nodded in agreement. “That’s what I thought at first too. But apparently, there’s already a network of Awaken preparing, waiting for the Origin Era to arrive.”

  Ronan then introduced Captain Jasper and the Police Department to Venix.

  He recounted all that had transpired and revealed that at least half of humanity was expected to awaken, meaning Venix himself would most likely become an Awaken too!

  “Captain Jasper has Origin Techniques and many other resources that can help us! I’ve already recommended you, Rael, and my family in case they awaken. The Captain will accept all of us into his ranks,” Ronan said enthusiastically.

  Venix narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing something was off.

  “Hurry, pack your things! We have to move closer to the Captain’s headquarters!” Ronan said, his tone still brimming with excitement.

  “Hm? Now?” Venix asked hesitantly, his gaze fixed on Ronan.

  “Of course! There’ll be tons of people awakening! When that happens, chaos will—”

  Ronan hadn’t finished speaking when a massive wave of force slammed into their building.

  Venix had sensed it a split second earlier, his body tensing. But Ronan—a Seedbound—felt it even more intensely.

  BOOM!!!

  The explosion struck with a force that shook Venix to his core, as if the world had flipped upside down in an instant. Tremors shook the ground beneath them, making the air heavy and stifling with heat.

  The building quaked violently, as though caught in the throes of an earthquake.

  Ronan’s face turned pale. Venix, equally stunned, widened his eyes but remained speechless.

  The blast deafened them both, erasing the world’s sounds and leaving only a piercing, oppressive ringing. For a full minute, they heard nothing.

  When the ringing finally subsided, Venix shook Ronan by the shoulders, his voice high-pitched.

  "What happened!?" Venix demanded, panicked.

  Ronan shook his head, his face ashen, his eyes wide with fear.

  “I… I don’t know…” Ronan’s body trembled, his breaths ragged as though he had just run hundreds of kilometers.

  Meanwhile, Venix’s heart pounded like a war drum. Tension surged through his body, and the Seed of Vulture within him stirred violently, as though warning him of a greater danger.

  Without hesitation, Venix darted toward the door. His hand trembled as it gripped the handle, but he didn’t care. Ronan, after taking a deep breath to steady himself, hurriedly followed.

  It was already midday when Venix stepped outside. Far in the distance, he could see a mushroom-shaped plume of smoke rising into the sky.

  The sight made Venix’s heart twist with dread and turmoil.

  Ronan, a few seconds behind Venix, also caught sight of the towering smoke.

  He stared at it, his body trembling. Moments ago, he had felt invincible. But now, fear crept into him, extinguishing his fiery enthusiasm.

  "That’s…" Ronan swallowed hard, his body quaking uncontrollably.

  Venix turned back and shouted, "Go now! Get your family to safety!"

  Ronan looked at Venix with worry. “But what about you…?”

  “I can take care of myself!” Venix snapped. “Bring Rael, too!”

  Ronan hesitated, torn. But despite his concern for Venix, his family’s safety took precedence.

  “Go quickly!” Venix urged again.

  Gritting his teeth, Ronan leapt into action, moving swiftly.

  “Meet me at the Police Department!” Ronan shouted as he ran.

  Venix nodded in acknowledgment.

  Once Ronan was gone, Venix turned his attention toward the falling missile.

  "That area... it looks like a forest area..." Venix murmured softly.

  Venix wanted to pack some essentials he might need before running away to hide. However, before he could do so, he noticed something unusual.

  Looking around, Venix realized that plants and a tree had rapidly grown in the area surrounding his school.

  "When did they grow that big!?" Venix cursed in his heart.

  Less than a day since the Era Origin began, and chaos seemed to be approaching at an alarming rate!

  "Luna said there were Dragons in the Era Origin as well..." Venix pondered, and his sense of foreboding deepened.

  Who said the Era Origin would only grant power to humans? What if every living being within it—plants or animals—also received the Origin blessing?

  Venix stared at the plants growing rapidly, their roots piercing the ground with unnatural force. The trees, once ordinary, now exuded an unfamiliar and menacing aura, as if they had not just grown but awakened.

  Quickly thinking, Venix muttered, "This is more than just a normal change. These plants... they carry something primal, something we’ve never had before. I realize now, the power of the Origin isn’t a blessing solely for humans—it’s for all living creatures!"

  "This is very bad!"

  Venix rushed back to his room in a panic.

  Grabbing his bag, Venix stuffed it with a set of simple clothes and any food he could find.

  As he exited his room, Venix hurried toward the school gate.

  To his surprise, there were already many people and even students running frantically ahead of him.

  Grrrrr~

  A low growl echoed, sending an uncontrollable shiver down Venix's spine.

  Beside him, Venix was startled to see a large tiger-striped cat entering one of the classrooms.

  Its movements were graceful, yet its glowing eyes radiated a threat toward the three men and two women standing in the corner of the room.

  "No! Mimiw! Don’t come any closer!" one of the women begged desperately, her hands outstretched, trying to stop the predator's advance.

  But the large cat ignored the woman’s cries. Its body crouched low, its tail whipping the floor with a sharp whap-whap. Then, in an instant, it pounced toward them!

  Slash!

  The cat’s sharp claws tore through the air at lightning speed, slashing into one of the men.

  With a single strike, his body was torn apart, blood spurting violently across the floor.

  A piercing scream filled the room, followed by the heavy thud! of the man’s body hitting the ground.

  Blood pooled on the tiles as the large cat stood there, its claws drenched in red.

  Venix's eyes widened in shock at the scene unfolding before him. His breathing grew heavy, and a wave of nausea swept over him as he watched.

  A thought suddenly emerged in Venix’s mind: "I can’t let this continue. This world is turning into something I no longer recognize. I must become stronger, faster! Otherwise, I’ll just end up as another victim."

  Venix felt guilty watching the carnage. For some reason, he felt like he should have been able to do more!

  A powerful desire arose within Venix—a yearning to reach greater strength!

  The Vulture residing within Venix’s soul sensed his overwhelming emotions, filled with anger and intense guilt.

  Suddenly, the Vulture’s eyes opened wide.

  Simultaneously, Venix’s eyes, once dark black, turned a shadowy purple, radiating a dark, chilling aura.

  In an instant, Venix felt immense power surging through his body, a force he could control at will. The emotions weighing him down were replaced by a dominant battle instinct.

  With a slight movement, dark purple energy enveloped his hands, forming razor-sharp claws that looked lethally dangerous.

  Now, Vulture and Venix had become one. Without an Astral Body, such a state should have been impossible.

  Yet, their merging created an inseparable bond.

  Venix could feel the Vulture's rage perfectly blending with his own emotions. There were no more boundaries between them; they had become a single entity. Together, they were unstoppable.

  Fueled by burning anger, Venix launched himself forward. His attack targeted the large cat, his energy-infused claws slashing with full force.

  The large cat was startled and enraged by the sudden assault. However, Venix’s energy claws easily pierced through its body, tearing its flesh apart with brutal precision.

  The cat let out a cry of pain, but Venix didn’t stop. He continued his relentless onslaught, ensuring the creature had no chance to fight back.

  Flesh and blood flew everywhere. The cat's body was shredded beyond recognition. It didn’t stand a chance of surviving.

  A minute passed.

  Slowly, Venix regained his composure. The Vulture’s energy surrounding him had dissipated, leaving him utterly exhausted from the excessive energy usage.

  He looked down at the mangled remains of the large cat—a mutilation too horrific to describe. Fresh blood covered the room, its metallic scent saturating the air.

  Confusion clouded Venix's mind. He tried to process what had just happened, but his consciousness seemed stuck in the flood of rage from moments earlier.

  His eyes shifted to the corner of the room.

  There, four of his fellow students stood trembling, staring at him with expressions of sheer terror. Their faces were pale, clearly traumatized by what they had just witnessed.

  “Th-Thank you…”

  A soft, trembling voice came from one of them, a girl standing at the front. Her eyes were filled with tears, a mixture of confusion and fear. Although her lips expressed gratitude, her gaze betrayed shock at seeing Venix.

  Venix opened his mouth, attempting to respond, but before he could say a word, a loud rumble echoed from the distance.

  WHOOSH!

  A missile shot through the school ceiling. With tremendous force, it struck the floor of the room they were in.

  BOOM!!!

  A deafening explosion obliterated everything. Blinding light filled the room, followed by an unbearable wave of heat. The entire classroom was engulfed in flames.

  Venix’s body was thrown violently against the wall. His vision blurred, and his ears could only register a piercing ringing. Dimly, he saw the shadows of the four students breaking apart, their bodies shattered into tiny fragments by the force of the blast.

  Amid the thunderous roar and consuming fire, Venix felt his own body beginning to disintegrate. His skin burned as the flames devoured him to the bone.

  At that moment, he realized his body was slowly dissolving, like wax melting in the searing heat of hellfire.