Judgent had been part of the reason Adam had been unconscious for two entire years. Back then, Ivy had supercharged the Adaptive Conduit with Wild essence after its evolution, forcing him and Rem into their souls.
During that ti, Judgent had remained out of reach. But now, standing still, Adam felt it again.
His eyes sharpened instantly as his hand rose in front of him. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, confidence returning as the realization clicked into place. "Alright..." he muttered under his breath, fingers flexing slightly. "Co to Daddy."
Far away, inside Ivy’s s workshop, the transparent case holding Judgent trembled violently. Cracks of energy flickered across its surface before, in the next instant, the weapon vanished without a trace.
Back in the corridor, sothing surged into Adam’s palm.
His fingers tightened instinctively as the shaft of the Adaptive Conduit fully ford in his grip. The mont it settled, a powerful wave rushed through his body, like sothing awakening all at once.
Adam’s eyes widened slightly as he exhaled. "Wow... that’s new."
The teleportation alone was unexpected, but the power flowing through Judgent felt different. Alive in a way it hadn’t been before. It wasn’t just the sa weapon returning, it had changed.
"You must’ve been growing while I was away," he said, a faint grin spreading across his face as he adjusted his grip. The conduit pulsed in response, almost like it acknowledged him.
Excitent flickered in his eyes.
"Then let’s test that change."
Without wasting another second, Adam turned and walked down the corridor. The energy around him was already building, tightening like a coiled spring ready to snap.
The mont he stepped out of the house, his expression shifted completely.
"Rapid Charge."
His figure blurred.
And in the next instant, Adam vanished from the manor, leaving nothing but a fading ripple of power behind.
****
Felecia stepped out of her room with a quiet sigh, her shoulders finally loosening after the noise from the press conference. Without wasting ti, she headed straight toward the training room, grabbing a drink along the way.
She took a slow sip, letting the taste settle as her thoughts shifted back to cultivation. Even as a Master, progress wasn’t guaranteed. Enlightennt didn’t just co because you wanted it, it had rules, limits, and frustrating delays.
Creating techniques was the only path forward.
But even that ca with restrictions. A Master could craft sothing valuable, sothing other martial artists needed, and only then gain enlightennt in return. And after that, they had to wait again.
Felecia clicked her tongue lightly.
Pushing the door open, she stepped into the training room, expecting noise, movent, or at least so kind of activity. Instead, she froze slightly as her eyes landed on Scott standing completely still.
Felecia frowned as she walked closer, circling slightly to get a better look at his face. His eyes were open, focused, but it was clear he wasn’t actually seeing anything in front of him.
"What’s wrong with him?" she muttered.
Raising her hand, she waved it directly in front of his eyes, then snapped her fingers a few tis. "Erdes to Scott. Can you hear ?"
Scott suddenly blinked.
His body tensed slightly as awareness rushed back, and he turned toward her with a confused expression. "What is it?"
Felecia lowered her hand, raising a brow as she studied him. "You were completely zoned out. You looked like soone who just found out their crush had sothing extra under her skirt."
Scott’s eyes narrowed instantly. "Do you always have to be vulgar?"
Felecia shrugged, completely unfazed. "I just say it as it is."
Scott exhaled slowly, clearly deciding not to argue further. Still, he shook his head slightly before speaking again, his tone more serious now. "Your assumption is wrong. I was learning a technique Adam created."
Felecia’s expression shifted.
Confusion flashed across her face, but instead of following his aning, her eyes lit up with sothing else entirely. "I know you’re not good with won, but Adam is the last person you should go to for advice."
Scott blinked.
"I’m still surprised Angel even fell for him," she continued casually, taking another sip of her drink. "Then again, they’re both freaks of nature, so I guess it works."
Scott stared at her in silence for a full second.
"...How did your mind even get there?" he asked flatly.
Felecia tilted her head slightly, as if the answer was obvious. "Why wouldn’t it? There’s no way you’re talking about martial techniques. You two don’t share the sa affinity. It’s impossible for you to learn anything Adam created."
Scott held her gaze for a mont longer.
Then he spoke calmly.
"That would be true... if the technique wasn’t fire affinity."
Felecia froze.
"...What?"
Felecia’s expression stiffened, the casual humor gone in an instant as Scott’s words sank in. Her grip tightened slightly around her drink, eyes narrowing as she studied him, trying to see if he was joking.
"I don’t understand what you’re saying," she said slowly, her tone sharper now. "Adam’s affinities are wind and death. That alone is already insane. No martial artist in history has ever awakened two."
She took a step closer, her gaze locking onto his.
"Are you sure you didn’t mistake it for his special talent?"
The team already knew Adam was abnormal. They had seen enough to suspect his talent allowed him to mimic or use abilities outside normal limits. That alone was pushing the boundaries of understanding.
But affinities were different.
Even for Adam, this sounded ridiculous.
"So you’re telling ..." she continued, her voice lowering slightly as if saying it too loudly would make it more real, "that Adam has three affinities?"
Scott didn’t answer imdiately.
He simply watched her, as if he had already expected this exact reaction. Then he shook his head.
"Adam doesn’t have three affinities."
There was a brief pause.
Just enough for the tension to stretch.
"He has four."
Felecia went completely silent.
Her mind stalled for a second, refusing to process what she had just heard. The words were simple. But they didn’t make sense. Not within everything she knew about martial paths and affinity laws.
"...What?"
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