Chapter 27: A Crimson Awakening

Having fortunately acquired a red crystal core with the same attribute as mine, I eagerly sought refuge in a clothing store, ready to attempt another ability awakening. My previous awakening had failed due to insufficient crystal core energy. This time, however, a Level 1 crystal core would surely suffice!

Settling onto the chair in the fitting room, I gripped the red crystal core tightly in my palm. Since my ability had not yet successfully awakened, I still needed to crush the crystal core and absorb its inherent energy.

Having resolved to try again, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. With a surge of strength, I crushed the red crystal core directly.

Unlike the black dust that had previously overflowed, this time, a crimson powder enveloped my surroundings. As I felt the familiar elemental energy, I closed my eyes and drew a deep, steady breath.

The crimson powder, suspended in the air, seemed drawn by my inhale, surging directly towards me. It permeated through my clothes, seeping into my very being.

My body was overcome with an indescribable sensation of pure bliss. This profound feeling transported me as if into a dream of utter ecstasy.

In stark contrast to before, this time, my body did not immediately succumb to that familiar, uncomfortable void. The sustained sensation stood in stark opposition to my previous experience.

This unequivocally proved that the previous awakening’s failure had indeed been due to insufficient crystal core energy. Yet, the euphoria was fleeting. After merely two or three minutes, the sensation gradually faded from my body.

At that precise moment, I snapped my eyes open, a sharp glint flashing within their depths.

Rising from the chair, I extended my left hand, clenching it into a tight fist. Then, with full force, I slammed it against the nearby wall.

The next instant, my single punch left a deep indentation in the pristine white wall. From this small crater, numerous dark fissures spiderwebbed outwards, steadily widening.

‘Hmm, not bad at all!’

I retracted my hand, examining my fist. There wasn’t the slightest mark of injury.

A normal human body could never have punched a hole in a wall like that! This meant my ability awakening had succeeded, leading to a dramatic increase in my physical attributes.

Yet, with such formidable physical prowess, what exactly was the ability I had awakened?

Generally, the stronger an awakened ability, the more significantly one’s physical attributes would be enhanced. The sheer strength to crack a wall with a single punch, as I had just demonstrated, was certainly not something a typical ability awakener could possess.

Let me put it this way: before my rebirth, I had cultivated my spatial ability to Level 6. Even at such an advanced tier, my physical attributes back then were only twice as strong as they were now.

One shouldn’t underestimate that mere ‘two times’ difference. It’s crucial to remember that the higher an ability’s level, the more crystal cores are required for its advancement.

I had only managed to reach Level 6 because, as a base leader, I had access to abundant resources, allowing me to elevate my abilities to such a degree.

For an ordinary person, in the ten years of the apocalypse, reaching Level 6 was unthinkable. Even achieving Level 4 would mark them as a true master.

Even Shen Qing had been a Level 5 ability user. Had she not met such an early demise, perhaps her level would have surpassed mine.

I shook my head, inadvertently recalling events from before my rebirth. The profound impact of ten years in the apocalypse made even suppressing these memories an impossible task.

However, I had no desire to relive the life I had led before my rebirth. Now, I lived only for myself.

To possess enough power to protect myself, my family, and my friends—that alone would bring me complete contentment.

Just as I was sinking into despondency, recalling the myriad hardships of the ten-year apocalypse, a sudden, sharp pain lanced through my mind, and my vision abruptly went black.

Instead of alarm, a surge of joy filled me. I knew this meant the visual manifestation of my new ability had appeared within my mind.

At last, I would finally discover what this troublesome ability, which had eluded me for so long, truly was!