The System Awakens: Rise of the Champion - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: An Intense Battle – 1

Another day passed, and Damian completed the 13th, 14th, and 15th trials after obtaining the [Water Essence] in the 12th trial.

[13th Trial Rewards:

+70,000 Gold

+10 Free Stat Points

+1 Epiphany Card]

[You have Leveled Up] x 3

[14th Trial Rewards:

+75,000 Gold

+10 Free Stat Points

+1 Path Finder Card]

[You have Leveled Up] x 4

[15th Trial Rewards:

+80,000 Gold

+10 Free Stat Points

+1 Random System Function Card]

[You have Leveled Up] x 3

Damian turned his gaze to the place where the 16th trial would take place.

[Welcome to Thaldrum, a realm forged from Earth Essence and inhabited by earthen monsters. These creatures are physically stronger, with skin as tough as metal. They are highly aggressive and will attack anything they perceive as an enemy.]

[16th Trial Condition: Obtain the Earth Essence]

He looked around the area and found himself standing in a rocky canyon.

Giant rocks protruded from the ground, casting long shadows in the eerie silence.

It felt as if he were the only person in this realm.

Activating his senses, Damian quickly detected a concentrated energy source, far denser than anything else in this realm.

Along with it, he sensed hundreds of other presences surrounding him.

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath his feet.

He heard the deep rumble of movement as the giant rocks began to vibrate.

Slowly, they lifted from the ground, revealing monstrous figures of various shapes and sizes.

Yet, they all shared one common trait—they appeared to be made entirely of soil and stone.

—–

[Name: Earth Spirits]

[Description: Beings composed solely of soil and rock, with the [Earth Essence] holding their forms together and granting them sentience. They are highly territorial and aggressively attack any intruders.]

—–

“These guys look much tougher than the ones I’ve faced before,” Damian muttered.

—Two Days Later—

[You have Leveled Up] x 8

It took Damian an unusually long two days to eliminate all the monsters in this realm and extract their [Earth Essence Cores].

These creatures were similar to the [Fire Spirits] Damian fought during the 4th trial.

Their bodies regenerated almost instantly unless their cores were destroyed or removed.

Breaking through their rocky defenses was no easy task; their bodies were made of solid stone and dense earth, making them incredibly difficult to pierce.

However, Damian overcame this challenge using his increased strength, empowered by the strengthening of his Qi and his sword technique, [Dance of the Sacred Blade].

With precise strikes, he shattered their defenses and defeated them.

“Time to acquire the [Earth Essence],” Damian said, eyeing the [Earth Essence Cores] laid before him, harvested from the fallen Earth Spirits.

Activating his unique innate ability, a swirling vortex of energy formed in his palm.

The vortex rapidly absorbed the energy stored within the hundreds of [Earth Essence Cores], funneling it into his energy stream.

[You have absorbed a large quantity of Earth Essence.]

Damian sat down and tried to control and circulate the Earth Essence, but he couldn’t until the effect of his talent subtly activated.

[Your talent [World Tree’s Blessing] is taking effect.]

[You have gained complete affinity with the energy known as Earth Essence.]

As soon as he gained control over the [Earth Essence], he began to circulate it through his energy stream along with the other energies he possessed.

However, he noticed something unusual.

When the [Earth Essence] collided with the other elemental essences, it reacted differently.

It weakened the [Fire Essence], while the [Wood Essence] remained unaffected.

Surprisingly, the [Water Essence] was highly compatible with the [Earth Essence], and the [Earth Essence] even seemed to absorb the [Water Essence] to strengthen itself.

[Your talent [Limitless Harmony] is taking effect.]

[The Earth Essence has gained harmony with the other energies inside you.]

After a few minutes, the [Earth Essence] ceased reacting with the other energies.

Damian smoothly circulated the newly acquired [Earth Essence].

The [Earth Essence] began to gather in the space where his [Mana Core], [Fire Essence Core], [Wood Essence Core], and [Water Essence Core] resided. Slowly,

it condensed between the [Fire Essence Core] and the [Water Essence Core], forming a new, rich brown-colored core known as the [Earth Essence Core].

[You have formed the [Earth Essence Core].]

[Your Earth Essence increased: +5]

[Your Earth Essence increased: +7]

[Your Earth Essence increased: +4]

[Your Earth Essence increased: +5]

…

..

.

[Your Constitution [The Unyielding Warrior’s Physique] is taking effect]

[Due to the creation of the Earth Essence Core and the Earth Essence coursing through your body, your constitution has been altered.]

[You have awakened the Constitution: Unbreakable Terra Titan Physique.]

[Effects:

-Grants you the [Earth Essence Core], allowing you to store Earth Essence.

-Increases your body’s adaptability to any condition by 50%.

-Increases your immunity to flames by 40%.

-Enhances healing capabilities by 40%.

-Increases your resistance to physical pressure by 75%.

-Increases your resistance to physical attacks by 100%.

-Increases your resistance to lightning by 75%.

-Increases the toughness of your flesh by 100%.

-Increases your durability by 100%.

-Increases your endurance by 100%.

-Increases your affinity with earth creatures by 100%.

-Increases your pain resistance by 75%.

-Passively increases your willpower.

-Passively increases vitality as your Earth Essence grows.

-Allows you to create Earth and Earth-based elements from any part of your body using Earth Essence.

-Grants you the sub-skill [Seismic Sense].

-Unlocks the ability [Terra Avatar]].

[Your Vitality increased: +12]

[Your Strength increased: +15]

[Your Stamina increased: +15]

Damian slowly opened his eyes, feeling the immense power coursing through his body.

His muscles felt denser, his skin tougher, and his entire being more grounded.

A grin crept across his face.

After a few minutes, Damian found the Earth Essence Stone buried deep inside the canyon, surrounded by another dozen Earth Spirits.

After an hour or so, he defeated them all and absorbed their source cores, significantly increasing his [Earth Essence] reserves.

[You have completed the 16th Trial.]

[Rewards:

+85,000 Gold

+1 Earth Essence Stone]

The following day, Damian spent his time clearing three more trials, earning their respective rewards.

[17th Trial Rewards:

+90,000 Gold

+10 Free Stat Points

+1 Exclusive Elemental Dungeon Card]

[You have Leveled Up] x2

[18th Trial Rewards:

+95,000 Gold

+10 Free Stat Points

+1 Title Hunting Card]

[You have Leveled Up] x3

[19th Trial Rewards:

+100,000 Gold

+10 Free Stat Points

+1 Demon Dungeon Card]

[You have Leveled Up] x3

[Do you wish to take on the trial of the 20th floor of the Tower of Evolution?]

“Yes,” Damian answered confidently.

As usual, his vision blurred.

However, this time it didn’t clear instantly.

The haziness lingered, and a series of unfamiliar notifications appeared in his field of vision.

[It has been detected that you have completed all trials from the 1st to the 19th in Hell-level difficulty.]

[You are the only person to ever complete all trials continuously in Hell difficulty while exceeding the limits and conditions of the trials with overwhelming superiority.]

[To honor your exceptional efforts, the 20th Trial of the Tower of Evolution and its rewards are being altered.]

[You are being transported to the Trial Ground of the True Warriors.]

As Damian’s vision began to clear, he found himself standing at the center of a massive arena, roughly 100 meters in diameter.

The space was empty except for a single figure standing opposite him, arms crossed.

[The 20th Trial has been transformed into a Unique-grade Trial.]

[Trial Condition: Defeat the Heavenly Sword Demon.]

[Both you and the Heavenly Sword Demon’s levels have been regressed to Level 50 temporarily. However, you will retain all additional stats gained from sources other than leveling up.]

“Heavenly Sword Demon… what an intimidating name. Should I give myself a title like that?” Damian mused as he curiously observed the figure.

It had been months since he interacted with anyone.

Not that it mattered; he was never particularly social.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Sword Demon stared back at Damian with an equally curious gaze.

This was the first time the system had tasked him with fighting another Awakener.

Naturally, he was intrigued.

But when the system informed him that this opponent had cleared the Hell difficulty trials, something no other climber in the Tower of Evolution had done, his curiosity intensified.

He couldn’t help but wonder just how powerful the Awakener standing before him truly was.

The oppressive aura radiating from Damian sent chills down his spine, and he was the Heavenly Sword Demon, one of the strongest figures in Murim’s history.

For someone like him to shudder at another’s presence, Damian had to be formidable.

Damian’s eyes locked onto the Heavenly Sword Demon’s.

A sly smile crept across his face.

“Are you actually a demon, or is it just a title meant to boast?” Damian asked, his tone playful yet sharp.

The Heavenly Sword Demon paused for a moment before answering.

“It’s a title given to me by the people of Murim. But it’s also my class,” he replied calmly.

Damian stared at him for a brief moment before dashing forward, gripping his twin swords tightly, fully intent on killing his opponent.

“That’s more like it,” the Heavenly Sword Demon grinned.

In a flash, he reacted by unsheathing the katana hidden beneath his robes and charged at Damian with full force.

The battle between two monsters had begun.