The Psychopathic Beast Emperor-Chapter 91: Sel’s First Awakening

BOOM!

The sound rang again, louder this time, like an explosion.

Bahamut craddled Ren in his hands and moved out of the room. He was still in his sect clothes, the black sleeveless shirt with a grey collar, the black skirt, and the sandals. He followed the sound of the explosion and was soon at the open field where the Disk of Mind floated. And hovering above with the disk with branch-like tattoos on his face and neck, and what seemed to be a tree forming in the air behind, was Sel.

His eyes were closed in concentration, obviously unaware of his surroundings. Standing close to the field was Elder Silvia, whose face was as cold as always. Her blue eyes glowed with a faint light, and Bahamut could feel something happening. Looking up, he saw a thin, blue, almost unnoticeable barrier covering the whole place. He was only able to see this because of his unique eyesight, but it hurt badly. It was a zoom, so sudden that the information hit him hard. He swiftly closed his eyes for some time to stop the inflow of information and the pain that was assaulting him. It seems like he would have to continue wearing the blindfold until he got accustomed to his new eyesight. Because of this evolution, he figured he had more to learn.

Oblivious to whatever Bahamut was going through, a powerful aura exploded from Sel, causing his hair to flutter. A huge projection of a being appeared behind him, and this was a bit visible, unlike Bahamut’s own.

It was of a humanoid entity with long vine-like hair, deep emerald eyes, and bark-like skin. That was the only part visible. Its glow encapsulated the whole area, causing flowers to bloom and plants to glow in its light.

"What is happening?" Bahamut asked out loud in confusion.

"He’s going through the same thing you went through a week ago," Elder Silvia’s voice entered his ears, causing him to turn towards her. She walked to his side, intentionally ignoring his gaze. When she got close enough, Bahamut realized that she wasn’t as tall as he remembered.

’Did I also increase in height?’

"The evolution?" he asked Elder Silvia. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"No. The First Awakening. It happens before you reach Tier 2. The First Awakening pushes you further, strengthening all your circles to their maximum. As we speak, you are very close to the Circle of Initiation, where all your circles become one. Once they become one, you will be officially on the path to Tier 2. That’s the same thing that’s happening to Sel at the moment. And also, as you can see, it is causing a phenomenon, just like yours did. This means that his potential is great. Unfortunately, there’s no way to check your potential, but from the way things are going, it seems your potential is higher than Sel’s. It is... What the hell?!"

Elder Silvia exclaimed in shock as the projection behind Sel suddenly moved. Hands formed from trees and vines stretched out over him. His hair floated in the air, the tips turning a deep green that glowed.

’Is this... blessing?’ Elder Silvia thought in shock as the projection released a deeper light, and a mark of a huge tree appeared on his forehead, while the tattoos stretched, turning into tangible branches.

Elder Silvia, in all her long life, had never experienced such a chain of events before. First, it was Bahamut who went through such an evolution and awakening that it had caused more than just ripples in the sect. When she thought it was over, her second new disciple was also going through it. He had been challenging the Disk of Mind for the past week, failing each time, but getting closer and closer. This time, he had almost touched the disk when it happened.

The light deepened, becoming heavier, as if the air itself had decided to kneel.

The projection behind Sel leaned forward, its emerald gaze finally opening. The Disk of Mind trembled, its surface rippling like disturbed water, struggling to maintain its rigid form. Cracks of green light spread across it, glowing beautifully.

Sel’s body arched slightly, his breath hitching as power flooded through him. The tattoos along his face and neck burned. Bark crawled over his skin in faint patterns, then sank inward, reinforcing his bone and flesh.

The hands of vines and branches lowered to rest upon his shoulders.

It was truly a blessing. Elder Silvia thought, but what or who was blessing him was unknown.

The tree-shaped mark on his forehead pulsed once, slow and deliberate, like a heartbeat syncing with the world itself. The ground beneath Sel responded immediately. Grass spread outward in a perfect circle, stone cracking as roots pushed through without resistance.

Bahamut felt it then... a pressure behind his sternum. It felt like something ancient welcoming him...

Sel’s eyes snapped open, now glowing a deep, layered green, as if forests existed behind them. The projection behind him straightened, then slowly dissolved into motes of light that drifted upward and vanished into the sky.

Silence followed...

Sel dropped to one knee, breathing hard, his hands pressed to the ground as if steadying himself against a world that suddenly felt too small. The mark on his forehead dimmed, settling into his skin as if it had always belonged there.

Elder Silvia took a step forward, her composure now non-existent.

"A First Awakening... reinforced by a blessing," she said under her breath. "Just what in the hell are these monsters?"

Sel lifted his head, disoriented as his eyes found Bahamut standing in front of him.

"Why does everything feel so loud?" he asked hoarsely.

"Welcome back."

At that moment, Ren stirred awake in Bahamut’s hand. He sat up like he’d been fed a 100-year-old wine, his red eyes fluttering open.

"What is going on?" he asked in an almost quiet tone.

"Oh, you woke up..." Bahamut said.

"Of course I did. Are you blind?" Ren retorted only to look up at Bahamut’s face, specifically his eyes.

"You... were... But what’s with those eyes? What kind of weird pupils are those?"

Before Bahamut could speak, Sel spoke in a begrudging tone.

"Is anyone going to help me up or what?"