After returning to the mansion, Alex helped Catherine settle down and calm her nerves. It took time, but he eventually managed to convince her to resume her work, assuring her repeatedly that he would be perfectly fine on his own.
Even so, Catherine didn't truly feel at ease until she took additional precautions. She handed him a gun—carefully selected by her—and insisted that two guards accompany him whenever he stepped outside the mansion grounds.
Alex never intended to be followed by the guards. He agreed only to calm Catherine down. In truth, he planned to go alone—he was already near superhuman, and having others with him would only complicate things. Worse, he knew he would instinctively try to protect them in danger, even if they were soldiers, and he couldn't afford that distraction.
Once things settled, Alex made his way to the mansion's backyard to continue his training. The open space was quiet and familiar, a place where he could push his body without interruption. He began with running drills, pacing himself steadily at first before gradually increasing his speed and intensity. With each lap, he could feel it more clearly—his body was changing.
The effects of his skill, Steady Growth, were becoming increasingly evident. It wasn't a sudden transformation or a dramatic surge of power, but something far more subtle and consistent. A constant refinement of his physical abilities, as if every effort he made was being quietly amplified over time.
Training now felt noticeably slower than before. When he was absorbing soul power with the system's help, his progress had been much faster. He had even tried absorbing the soul power of weaker animals like rats, but it no longer worked. It seemed the system's explanation was correct—after becoming an Awakener, he needed a higher quality of soul power.
While running, Alex asked the system, "System, do I need higher quality soul power each time I awaken?"
The system responded, "Answering the user: yes. With each awakening, your body evolves, and it can no longer utilize the same quality of soul power as before."
Alex frowned. That made things much harder. If every awakening required stronger and stronger soul power, didn't that mean he would constantly have to hunt more powerful monsters just to keep progressing?
And what if he couldn't find them?
Would his growth eventually stall, forced to wait for monsters to catch up to him before he could advance again? Worse still, if monsters at the same level were naturally stronger than humans, wouldn't that always leave him at a disadvantage?
But thinking about his skill Steady Growth, he relaxed a little. Even if he couldn't advance as an Awakener for now, he could still focus on training—and with that skill, he would keep improving regardless.
After two hours of constant training, he finally reached his limit. His body felt exhausted, but also strangely reinforced, as if the act of pushing himself had solidified his gains. Even through the fatigue, he could feel Steady Growth quietly working in the background, accelerating recovery and strengthening him at the same time.
After resting for a short while, he opened his status window to review the results.
[User: Alex Anderson]
[Status: Awakener 1]
[Strength: 6.9]
[Defense: 6.9]
[Endurance: 6.8]
[Mind: 5.0]
[Soul: 10.0]
[Mana: 0.0]
[Powers: Steady Growth, Targeted Growth]
As always, his core physical stats—Strength, Defense, and Endurance—had each increased by 0.2, while the rest remained unchanged.
Looking at his mana stat still sitting at zero, Alex thought about his other skill—Targeted Growth.
"System, how do I use my second skill, Targeted Growth?"
[Second skill of the user is not a passive skill like Steady Growth. It consumes soul power to function.]
[The user only needs to focus on the skill, and it will activate automatically, consuming the user's soul power to function.]
"So I just focus on a stat, and it uses soul power to enhance it?"
[Correct. The user can direct soul power to a chosen attribute for enhancement.]
[Additional info: The user can convert soul power into different forms of power.]
Hearing that, Alex's gaze lingered on his mana stat.
"Even my mana?"
[Yes. The user can apply Targeted Growth to mana and improve it.]
[Recommendation: The user should not use more than half of their soul power at once, to avoid potential side effects.]
Alex asked, "What side effects?"
[Soul power functions as the foundation of the Awakener's body. Without sufficient soul power, the body cannot properly maintain its performance or stability.]
[If the user depletes too much soul power, it may lead to extreme fatigue, weakened physical control, delayed recovery, and temporary loss of skill efficiency.]
Alex sat cross-legged on the soft grass, the cool blades brushing against his palms. A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he muttered to himself.
"It looks like Awakeners have a weak point. If someone forces them to use all their soul power, they become completely vulnerable…"
He paused for a moment, then asked aloud, "System, how do Awakeners recover their soul power?"
A calm mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Soul Power is recovered automatically by the Awakener's body over time. It can also be restored faster by absorbing monster cores or, with system assistance, by directly absorbing monster souls.]
Alex nodded slightly. If it recovers automatically, then there's nothing to worry about, he thought, feeling a bit more at ease.
He closed his eyes and began focusing on the skill Targeted Growth. The moment he activated it, he felt a sudden, sharp drain on his soul power. Almost immediately, a new and unfamiliar energy surged into his body. It was incredibly pure — almost sacred — like the origin of all power itself. It felt immensely strong, far beyond anything he had experienced before.
Sensing the change, Alex quickly shifted his focus toward his mana stat, hoping to guide the process.
But the conversion didn't stop.
Even as he tried to concentrate on his mana, the soul power continued transforming uncontrollably into that pure origin-like energy. Panic rose in his chest. He tried to pull back, to deactivate the skill, but he had lost all control. His body grew weaker by the second. In one last desperate attempt, he forced his entire will into stopping the process.
That was when the System's voice suddenly rang out, cold and urgent:
[Warning: User unable to control skill. Initiating emergency Procedure N-38.]
[Procedure N-38 starting…]
[Warning: Soul Power approaching limit — Current level: 5]
[Warning: Soul Power approaching limit — Current level: 4]
[Warning: Soul Power approaching limit — Current level: 3]
[Info: Procedure N-38 completed.]
[Warning: User's Soul Power is critically low — 3]
[Warning: Unknown Source Power detected within user's body.]
[Info: Searching for suitable countermeasures…]
[Info: Ideal procedure located — Procedure N-999.]
[Info: Procedure N-999 contains multiple adjustable parameters.]
[Info: Scanning user's target stat… (Mana)]
[Parameters adjusted for Mana conversion. Launching Procedure N-999.]
[Procedure N-999 initiated.]
[0%]
A blinding pain exploded in Alex's head — sharper and more intense than anything he had ever felt. He gritted his teeth, barely able to breathe, as the percentage in his mind continued to climb.
The system messages kept flashing in Alex's mind as the pain in his head intensified, like a thousand needles drilling into his skull.
[Procedure N 999: 10%] [Warning: Soul Power critically low — 2] [Source Power detected — Purity Level: Unknown. Origin: Primordial]
Alex clutched his head with both hands, fingers digging into his scalp as he sat cross-legged on the grass. The cool blades pressed against his palms, but the sensation felt distant, drowned out by the roaring in his ears. He could still feel it — that strange, pure power flooding through his veins, converting every last drop of his soul power into something far more potent, far more dangerous. It wasn't stopping. Even though he desperately tried to pull back from the "Targeted Growth" skill, the process had spiraled completely out of control.
[Procedure N 999: 25%]
His vision blurred. The world around him — the forest clearing, the distant sounds of monsters — started to fade into white noise. He tried to speak, to command the system to stop, but only a weak groan escaped his lips.
[Warning: Soul Power: 1] [Source Power assimilation accelerating] [Procedure N 999: 40%]
Suddenly, a new warmth bloomed in his chest, right where his mana core used to be. It was different from mana — purer, heavier, like liquid starlight condensed into pure energy. The primordial power he had sensed earlier was now actively replacing his mana stat, reshaping and overwriting it from the inside out.
Alex's breathing grew ragged. "Stop... please..." he whispered hoarsely, but the system didn't respond to his pleas.
[Procedure N 999: 65%] [Info: Mana stat undergoing fundamental reconstruction] [New stat detected — "Origin Power" integration initiated]
The pain peaked. It felt as if his very soul was being rewritten. Memories flashed — fragments of his awakening, the first time he used skills, the monsters he'd slain — all mixing with this overwhelming new force. He could sense his energy capacity expanding wildly, but at the cost of his soul power hitting rock bottom.
[Procedure N 999: 85%] [Warning: Soul Power depleted — 0] [Emergency stabilization engaged]
Then, just as Alex thought he was about to black out, the notifications shifted tone.
[Procedure N 999: 100% — Complete] [Info: Targeted Growth skill stabilized under Procedure 999] [New Stat Unlocked: Origin Power (Replaces Mana)]
[Description: A primordial energy stat that exists as the origin of all power. Origin Power is vastly superior to conventional mana and can be used to fuel and dramatically enhance all energy-based skills with near-perfect efficiency. Warning: Rapid conversion from Soul Power may lead to total exhaustion.]
[Current Soul Power: 0,1/10 (Regeneration initiated — Natural recovery rate boosted by 300% due to Procedure 38 aftermath)]
[Origin Power: 4,5/10 (New primary energy stat — Fully integrated)]
Alex collapsed forward onto the grass, chest heaving. The pain slowly ebbed away, leaving behind a strange, buzzing clarity. He could feel the new power humming inside him — no longer mana, but something far deeper, like the root of all energy itself.
He weakly lifted his head, staring at his trembling hands.
"...What the hell just happened?" he muttered, voice hoarse.
The system chimed softly one last time: [Recommendation: Rest and absorb monster cores immediately to replenish Soul Power. Do not attempt uncontrolled skill activation again until Soul Power exceeds 50.]
Alex let out a shaky laugh, rolling onto his back to stare at the sky through the canopy of leaves.
"Note to self... never trust a skill called 'Targeted Growth' without a damn manual."
He closed his eyes, focusing on the slow trickle of soul power returning to his body. The grass felt comforting now, grounding him as his body began its automatic recovery.
Curious about the changes inside him, Alex mentally called out, "System, open Status Window."
A translucent blue screen instantly appeared in his vision:
[User: Alex Anderson]
[Status: Awakener 1]
[Strength: 8.9]
[Defense: 8.5]
[Endurance: 8.2]
[Mind: 10.0]
[Soul: 0.1]
[Origin Power: 4.5]
[Powers: Steady Growth, Targeted Growth]
Alex's eyes widened in shock as he scanned the numbers.
"What…?" he whispered.
All his physical stats — Strength, Defense, and Endurance — had each jumped by nearly three full points. Even more shocking was his Mind stat, which had literally doubled from its previous value. But the biggest change was impossible to miss.
The Mana stat was completely gone.
In its place, sitting cleanly in the energy section, was the new stat: Origin Power: 4.5
Alex stared at it, feeling a faint but unmistakable thrum of that same pure, primordial energy pulsing gently inside his chest. It felt exactly like the overwhelming power that had flooded his body earlier — that sacred, origin-like force that had replaced his mana entirely.
"So that's what it was…" he muttered, still slightly dazed. "The pure power I felt… it wasn't just some temporary surge. It actually replaced my mana with this Origin Power."
He let the status window linger for a moment longer, his mind racing with questions.
This new stat felt vastly superior to mana, yet the cost had been brutal — his Soul Power was now dangerously low at 0.1. One wrong move and he could have been completely drained.
Still lying on his back, Alex exhaled slowly, staring up at the patches of sky visible through the tree canopy.
"System… explain Origin Power," he said quietly.
He waited, wondering what kind of answers the System would give him about this mysterious new energy that now resided in his body.
The translucent blue screen flickered slightly as if processing the request, then new text materialized below the status window in clean, glowing letters:
[Origin Power] A primordial energy source that predates and transcends conventional mana. It represents the raw, foundational force of creation itself — the "Origin" from which all lesser energies (mana, qi, spiritual essence, etc.) are derived.
Unlike mana, which is abundant but diluted and requires external replenishment through meditation, crystals, or ley lines, Origin Power is self-sustaining, infinitely more potent per unit, and directly tied to the user's soul and existence. It allows for manipulation of reality at a more fundamental level, enabling abilities that bypass normal elemental or affinity limitations.
Current known properties:
Conversion Efficiency: 1 unit of Origin Power ≈ 50–100+ units of standard mana (exact ratio scales with user's Soul stat and understanding). Recovery: Extremely slow without external catalysts or breakthroughs. Relies heavily on soul recovery and "Steady Growth" passive. Risks: Overuse can cause soul erosion, existential strain, or temporary "Origin Collapse" (complete power shutdown). Growth Potential: Unlimited. Origin Power can evolve alongside the user, potentially unlocking "Origin Laws" or "Primordial Authorities" at higher stages.
[Warning: Your current Soul stat (0.1) is critically low. Sustained use of Origin Power is not recommended until Soul recovers above 5.0. Further forced usage may result in permanent soul damage or system rejection.]
Alex read the explanation twice, his heart pounding with a mix of awe and unease. The System had never been this detailed before — or this cautionary.
"So… I basically traded my entire mana pool for something god-tier… but now I'm running on fumes," he murmured, clenching his fist slowly. The faint thrum of Origin Power responded, warm and ancient, like a sleeping dragon coiled in his core. Even at 4.5, it felt vastly denser than his old mana had ever been.
He dismissed the status and explanation windows with a thought, then slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. His body still ached, but the automatic recovery was working — cuts were closing, bruises fading, and the earlier exhaustion was lifting faster than it should have.
"System, how long until my Soul Power recovers to a safe level?" he asked.
[Estimated time for Soul Power to reach 5.0: 47 hours, 12 minutes (natural recovery). Accelerated options available via:
Targeted Growth (focus on Soul) — reduces time by ~60% but consumes Origin Power.
Alex groaned. "Two days? That's… inconvenient."