Emery was stunned by the sight above him.
A colossal, ethereal entity loomed in the heavens, its body forged entirely of lightning and divine wrath. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered—a manifestation of celestial judgment, an arbiter of fate sent to test those who dared to ascend beyond mortal limits. The sheer presence of the being sent ripples of pressure through the air, making it difficult to even breathe.
Gasps filled the sacred garden as the alchemists bore witness to the unfolding tribulation.
“The Heavenly Sentinel…” one whispered in horror. “This… this is the ultimate trial of ascension!”
Emery knew about the Heavenly Tribulation. It was a rare phenomenon, occurring only for those of the highest potential—chosen individuals destined to carve their names into the annals of history. Even among the Magus Alliance’s greatest prodigies, only a few had ever faced such a trial. For them, it was an omen of fortune. But for him—unprepared and caught off guard—it was a sentence of death.
No! He refused to accept that!
Emery’s instincts screamed at him, a primal warning of impending doom. Gritting his teeth, he funneled the last of his strength into his defenses. The Elysian roots surged from his vembrace, forming a protective cocoon around him, their golden veins pulsating with life. At the same time, his Twilight Form flared to its maximum, his body engulfed in a swirling maelstrom of darkness and light. Every ounce of power he possessed was pushed to its limit—there was no retreat, only survival.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The heavens unleashed their wrath.
A deafening explosion erupted as the lightning spear crashed into Emery’s defenses. The sheer force obliterated the Elysian roots upon impact, shattering them like fragile glass. His Twilight Form barely held for a fleeting second before it too was annihilated, the protective energy unraveling under the divine onslaught.
Then came the full impact.
A force unlike anything Emery had ever felt struck him head-on. The world became a blur as his body was launched like a meteor, smashing into the ground with such intensity that the earth itself caved in. A massive crater formed on impact, cracks splintering outward in a web of devastation, sending tremors rippling through the entire garden. Dust and debris erupted in a towering cloud, swallowing everything in its wake.
The gathered alchemists, caught in the shockwave, were sent sprawling. The air crackled with residual energy, thick with the acrid scent of ozone.
“Did… did he survive?” one whispered.
“Is he dead?” another murmured.
Then, through the suffocating haze of smoke and dust—
A figure stirred.
Slowly, agonizingly, Emery emerged from the wreckage. His body barely held itself upright, his form a picture of utter devastation. His arms trembled violently, charred and torn as if they had been flayed by fire. Deep gashes marred his flesh, glowing embers embedded within the wounds where the lightning had seared through him. Blood dripped from his fingertips, sizzling as it met the still-charged remnants of divine energy flickering across his skin.
Each breath was torture. A sharp, searing pain coiled through his chest, forcing him to his knees. A violent cough racked his body, sending a fresh splatter of blood onto the scorched earth below.
That single strike had nearly destroyed him.
Deep within, he felt his core thrumming with chaos. The tribulation’s energy had forced its way into him, overwhelming his internal balance. His spirit core fluctuated wildly, on the verge of collapse.
He forced himself to focus, ignoring the searing pain that tore through his body. He had absorbed an overwhelming amount of cosmic force, and he had to consolidate it before it destroyed him from the inside out.
His only path forward was to use this energy to form his Cosmic Core.
The Magus Alliance texts spoke of this—the formation of a full cosmic cycle within one’s core, a step beyond mere mastery of the elements. But Emery’s situation was unique. Unlike others who focused on a single affinity, he wielded two: the Nature Core and the Primal Core. Both were amplified by the cosmic energy, yet both required perfect balance to form his Cosmos Circle.
Most magus would choose their dominant element as the initiator, forging their cosmic structure around their strength. But Emery could not afford to sacrifice one over the other. He had to master them both.
He activated his newly perfected Dao of Heaven and Earth, summoning the forces within him. His mind honed in on the delicate dance of opposites—the tranquility of Nature and the raw ferocity of Primal chaos. He willed them into harmony, forging the perfect balance within himself.
“I have to succeed!” he growled, his voice strained but unwavering.
The storm above roared in defiance, but a pulse of energy answered him from within.
[Cosmic Force entering your core]
[Forming Cosmic Circle]
[Soul force improving exponentially]
A sudden flood of insight struck him—a gift from the heavens themselves.
The Cosmic Law was revealing itself to him.
[Your comprehension in the Law of Nature has improved]
[Law of Nature: 46 (48)%]
A surge of Nature Energy erupted from within, spreading outward like ripples in a pond. His domain expanded, resonating with the surrounding life force.
At his domain, the ancient Elysian Tree shuddered and began to grow, its roots extending, its golden leaves glowing brighter. The entire space was enriched, drawn into the synergy of his ascension.
For the first time, he achieved the perfect balance. Light and darkness—two opposing forces in perfect unity. His Cosmic Circle was forming rapidly, drawing closer to completion.
But then, something was wrong.
His Nature Core had reached equilibrium, but his Primal Core remained stagnant. He could feel its resistance. He had relied on his understanding of the Darkness Law alone—it was not enough to fuel the final phase of his ascension.
“No! This isn’t enough!” he snarled.
Then his mind reached out to the presence within. “Chutulu! Give me everything! Release the Khaos Energy!”
The ancient guardian responded instantly.
A deep, guttural rumble echoed in his soul as Khaos energy surged forth, flooding into his core. It was raw, wild, a force of unfathomable destruction. Emery braced himself as his body trembled under its sheer intensity.
But then—the sky cracked apart once more.
It was as if the Heavenly Sentinel responded to his defiance.
This time, it forged not one, but two spears of lightning, each brimming with immeasurable power. The clouds churned violently as the celestial entity prepared its final judgment.
The alchemists below watched in horror. This was no longer a mere test. The heavens were actively trying to stop him from succeeding.
A flicker of doubt crossed Emery’s mind. Could he withstand this?
Then—
He clenched his fists.
His golden eyes burned with renewed fury.
If the heavens wished to break him, he would endure.
If they sought to destroy him, he would defy them.
With a roar, he surged forward, his body a blur of motion.
The first lightning spear descended. He met it head-on, channeling all his strength.
BOOOOOMMMMM!!!!
A brilliant explosion consumed the heavens as Emery clashed with the wrath of the gods.