The morning of the coronation began before sunrise. Atheline simply couldn’t fall asleep anymore.

His eyes opened slowly in the darkness of the royal chambers. For several moments he remained motionless beneath the blankets, listening.

The room was quiet. Only the steady breathing beside him disrupted the quiet occasionally.

The distant sounds of palace servants already beginning their duties somewhere beyond the walls could barely be heard.

He glanced at the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains, a peaceful sight. Yet his mind refused to remain still.

’It’s today’

The word lingered in his thoughts. After everything that had happened; he had regained a part of his memories, married Lilith, and all the mess that surrounded them. Today had finally arrived.

Atheline stared at the ceiling for a while then slowly sat up. Beside him, Lilith remained asleep... or appeared asleep. With her, one could never be entirely sure.

He smiled slightly before quietly leaving the bed. The room was getting cooler by the day. Winter had begun creeping southward, not enough to freeze the court but enough to make mornings colder.

His body could barely feel the cold, it even felt natural.

He walked toward the balcony doors and opened them carefully. Cold air greeted him immediately. The Court stretched before him, even in darkness, he could see lights. Thousands of them.

It was beginning to wake up and people were already preparing for the gathering. Today wasn’t merely important for the palace. It was important for the entire kingdom.

Atheline rested his hands against the stone railing and a memory surfaced slowly.

It was almost a week ago, after they had settled on everything for the coronation, when he decided to take the final reward.

The memory appeared clearly.

He had been alone then, sitting in his study after he had managed to escape one of his many royal tutors. The stress from everyone had started to slowly transfer to him.

It was affecting him and Lilith could see it which he didn’t want. Since getting those memories he had been getting a little more frustrated faster than usual which he knew was probably just a small side effect and would probably vanish in a while.

At that moment, he had been examining the small pill in his hand and the system window that floated before him.

It had appeared the moment he decided to take the Power pill to enhance his power. He didn’t know who would challenge him during the Coronation but he needed to be cautious.

At first glance, the pill seemed impressive, not compared to some of the absurd rewards he’d received previously.

Then he had asked for its use and limitations. He had read it twice then a third time, because he surely misunderstood.

He hadn’t.

The pill increased energy reserves permanently. Without limit, restriction, or conditions.

Atheline remembered staring at it for several minutes then immediately becoming suspicious. Nothing that powerful came without consequences especially when the previous rewards weren’t the best.

It just felt a little too coincidental.

The system confirmed his concerns. The increase affected his Aether core, not the body. Meaning if his Aether reached levels beyond what his core could withstand the result would be catastrophic.

He would naturally become corrupted.

The universe hated free advantages, but he still took it. Refusing would have been idiotic.

The memory remained vivid.

The pill itself had been surprisingly ordinary. The moment he swallowed it everything changed.

Atheline remembered the sensation perfectly.

Infinite energy.

It wasn’t quite literally but close enough.

Aether erupted through his body like a flood. His veins felt like molten glass. His soul felt as though someone had ignited a fire inside it.

Power surged through every part of him. Growing then multiplying then growing again and eventually multiplying. He was expanding limits almost forcefully then breaking them again.

Atheline remembered collapsing to one knee because of its scale. The amount of power suddenly existing inside him was absurd.

For one brief moment, he understood. He understood what truly powerful beings felt. What monsters at the top of the world experienced.

Even he could feel it, the increased and where his power was currently being restricted at.

EX rank, the rank beyond SSS.

Atheline was left in complete disbelief. It seemed too easy, he didn’t know why he felt that but it felt as though he was being spoon-fed power or a dam was slowly opening somewhere.

Then immediately after, he discovered the problem he had been fearing the most. His body couldn’t keep up, not even close.

The moment he attempted drawing upon that power pain exploded through his muscles. His Aether channels felt like they were tearing apart.

Atheline remembered coughing blood onto his study floor.

The system immediately informed him that using his full energy reserves would likely cripple him.

It might be temporary or possibly permanently depending on how stupid he decides to become.

Atheline had chosen not to test the warning. Instead, he learned his new limits. His body could safely handle high SSS rank output. Anything beyond that became increasingly dangerous.

Which meant he technically possessed EX-rank energy but only the body of an SSS-ranked individual. It was like attaching a mountain-sized reservoir to a river.

The water existed but the river simply couldn’t carry it all, yet.

His body would adapt eventually. It might take months or even years. Who knew.

The power wasn’t going anywhere. He would eventually grow familiar with it. Elves have long life spans after all.

Atheline returned to the present.

A breath escaped him. The memory faded with the mist-filled breath. The cold morning air made it even more visible than usual.

A week had passed since then and he still couldn’t access his true power but perhaps that was fine.

Today wasn’t about power it was about responsibility. A much more frightening concept.

A voice came from behind him.

"Couldn’t sleep?"

Atheline turned.

Lilith sat upright in bed, her dark hair slightly disheveled with a calm expression. Apparently, she had been awake, or just woke up, or had simply decided pretending was no longer necessary.

With her, all three possibilities seemed equally likely.

Atheline smiled.

"Mmh... just a little bit over excited."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She studied him.

"Good. How’s your body doing?"

"Fine, I’ll get used to it soon."

Lilith had witnessed the aftermath. Including the part where he accidentally shattered half the furniture in his study.

An unfortunate incident since the furniture had done nothing wrong.

She rose from the bed and approached the balcony.

He watched her quietly.

The morning light had begun appearing beyond the horizon and soft gold was replacing darkness.

She stood beside him looking toward the city. Thousands of citizens filled the streets already, waiting for them.

Atheline suddenly felt nervous again. She noticed immediately.

"Everything is going to be perfect. Didn’t you make sure it was?"

Atheline laughed.

"Can I be nervous?"

"No."

"Why?"

"It’s too late."

He sighed dramatically while she smiled. A knock interrupted them.

The day had begun.