Shockwaves After the Ceremony
The courtyard fell eerily silent as the realization settled in: Alex Vael had defied every rule, every expectation. The forbidden Paradox Scripture had one Master. And now, a second—and far more unpredictable claimant—stood among the clan's elite.
First Elder Ilyana was the first to recover. "Seal the Paradox!" she barked to the attendant cultivators. Misty blue runes sprang to life, encasing the corrupted tablet in stasis.
Alex took a step back, heart pounding. His breath rattled as the alien Presence quelled its initial siren calls. The courtyard was a mess of shattered spatial shards, distorted time ripples, and swirling threads of fate.
Damon raised his hand. "This—this is the cursed scripture!" he spat, stepping close enough for Alex to feel his hatred. "Cease this madness, Vael impostor!"
Selene merely observed, silent, sharp as a blade. Favoured by Fate, understood by many—but disturbed, clearly afraid.
---
Within minutes, Second Elder Magnus and Third Elder Cassiel arrived. They exchanged terse glances. "This is unprecedented," Magnus muttered — time distorting spells flickering on his robes as he scanned the scene.
Cassiel's expression was unreadable save for one detail: relief. He stepped toward Alex, studying him as though he held a key. "Tell me, child… can you explain?"
Alex swallowed. "I don't know much yet. Something… called me. I obeyed. I didn't intend to—"
Magnus snapped. "Intent doesn't matter. This Scripture is forbidden for a reason. It destroyed countless cultivators even attempting comprehension."
Ilyana intervened. "We must imprison the tablet, not the boy—until investigation."
Soft murmurs fluttered through the clanspeople. Felix, head of the Federation ritual bureau, also argued—he recalled Alex's grandfather, Dorian, we had once speculated he might have discovered a way to seal but not decipher the Scripture…
---
Attempts to lift the tablet failed. Instead, shards flew off, imperceptible spatial tears filling the air. A panic ripple ensued; crystal pillars cracked, elders scrambled with preservation arrays.
Ilyana pulled Alex back. "Stay away from it."
"He's the problem and the solution," Cassiel murmured.
After ordering the tablet moved to the clan's archive, Damon cornered Alex amidst shocked observers. "You have no place here. Give it up."
Alex closed the distance. His own spiritual aura flared – subtle warp at his fingertips. A faint time dilation shimmered the ground at Damon's feet.
Damon paused, his hand drooping. "What— what trick is this?"
"I didn't do anything," Alex whispered. "I only… listened."
Selene watched from a distance. Her lips curved into an unreadable smile, causing a ripple of dread, curiosity… Ice running down Alex's spine.
---
First Inner Awakening: Outer God Descent Emerges
Later, alone in his new quarters, after awakening Alex was given a new quarter better than where he used to live. Even though they are controversy due to the Paradox Sacred Art Alex treatment was not bad.
Alex pressed his palms together and stared at the dormant tablet shard hidden in his robes. His pulse quickened. Beads of sweat formed.
He entered a cultivator's meditation – Breathing Method from Paradox Scripture swirling in his mind. Unable to recall the words, he focused on presence.
Suddenly, the air quivered. Time slowed. Spatial distortions ossified — walls flickered. He glimpsed possible futures — himself soaring, annihilating barriers, whispers of cosmic laws.
Then came the flash — crystalline energy erupted from his chest, rippling through his arms and out his connected palms. A shockwave shattered the chamber's door.
Someone heard. He wasn't safe.
Elder Cassiel stormed in, ceremonial staff humming by his side. A lull of calm washed the room, the spatial-distortion torn from the walls.
"Explain," Cassiel demanded.
Alex collapsed to his knees. "I… I didn't know I could do that."
They stared at each other. Cassiel nodded once, quietly. "Heirs are often discovered this way."
Elder Cassiel observed him for a while and then from his space ring withdrew a jade parchment. "We must hide this." He placed the parchment near Alex, chanting. A translucent field shimmered over the sealed scroll.
"What is that?" Alex asked.
"This scroll holds your name and the story. It's a protective seal." Cassiel said. "It may save or doom you."
Alex absorbed this grace — a fissure of empathy from the stern Fate Elder.
After Elder Cassiel left Alex began to ponder over what happened. After he woke up earlier in this world in the morning some information appeared in his mind about an ability or entry know as 'Outer God Descent' . And because of the Awakening ceremony he couldn't study it and after the ceremony he was in a hurry to practice forgetting about it.
But while operating the breathing method this ability react which caused the explosion earlier.
From the feedback he just got and the message in his mind this ability has some heaven defying uses. Like heaven defying comprehension and giving heaven defying battle power to fight beyond realms.
This can be consider as his golden finger.
---
Later that evening, Alex faced the four primary elders inside the Inner Pavilion:
Ilyana, still cold, but attentive.
Magnus, visibly doubtful, yet calm.
Cassiel, calculated, protective.
And a new person Patriarch Tristan Vael, stepping from behind a hovering platform.
He glided forward. His voice echoed with authority. "Alex, we need your words: Why did you choose this scripture?"
Alex looked up at him, confronting the Patriarch with a calm he didn't feel. "The call was louder than the fear."
Tristan's gaze narrowed. "We'll test that claim." "Go and prepare for the Awakening Trial in three days."
Watch Alex leaving the pavilion he motioned; attendants and command them to prepare the necessary materials needed for the Awakening Trial.
"An Awakening Trial is immediate."
Getting back to his quarters Alex mind was still on the upcoming Awakening Trial.
The Awakening Trial is usually conducted in a secret realm controlled by the clan and the trial usually last three months.
In the secret realm there are many resources that one can use for practice thereby shortening the time required to establish a Sacred Foundation.
This is one of the privileges of having a powerful background.
Before going to bed after a heck day of dying been reborn and undergoing an Awakening ceremony Alex decide to see his cousin tomorrow to discuss about the Trail.