The 2nd Most Powerful Grade of Endearth and The Apex Codex!
These were the names of the two huge books placed before Ryuk. Quickly, his hands moved, and he pushed one book aside before settling the other right in front of him.
As much as he was curious about Grade B, he was also well aware that it might all be for naught if he was denied a meeting with the Fallen Family due to a nonexistent cultivation base. For that reason, he decided to start with The Apex Codex.
Taking a deep breath and preparing his mind, Ryuk opened the first page. On it were the words:
Page 1: The Origin of Apex Energy
In the beginning, there was chaos—a boundless void filled with the raw essence of creation. From this essence emerged the Apex, the pulse of the cosmos and the source of all existence. It flows through every star, every stone, and every soul, yet only a chosen few possess the will to awaken it.
"The Apex Energy is the fabric of reality itself, a force older than time. To harness it is to claim a fragment of creation's boundless power. It is not an easy path, for the unworthy are consumed, their spirits shattered into nothingness, devoured by the Apex. To survive is to become more than mortal! To fail is to become less than life!"
The first page sent Ryuk's expression tightening, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he reread it carefully.
"So when one fails, the Apex absorbs their soul, further boosting itself. And when one passes, it bestows its energy on them.
An energy powerful enough to be considered a fragment of creation's power?"
Ryuk's understanding of the first page was simple.
To him, cultivating Apex Energy was like meeting with a wild beast.
If one managed to tame it, they would gain an invaluable ally. But if one failed, they would become nothing more than food for the beast.
It was a risky endeavor, yet also a very rewarding one.
Moving on to the next page, it read:
Page 2: The Primordial Gate
"Within every living being lies the Primordial Gate, a spiritual threshold that separates the mundane from the infinite."
"The first step in the cultivation of Apex Energy is to locate and open your Primordial Gate. It is not a physical object but a metaphysical channel buried deep within your spirit. The gate is sealed by fear, doubt, and weakness; only through unwavering resolve can it be unlocked."
"To begin this process, one must meditate where nature's energy is strongest—a place where the wind roars, the earth trembles, or the stars shine their brightest."
"Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Feel the rhythm of the world around you and match your heart to its pulse. When the gate responds, you will feel it: a storm building within, a flood of energy demanding release."
"Opening the Primordial Gate is like igniting a spark within an ocean of fuel. It is both exhilarating and terrifying, for to awaken is to risk destruction."
The second page was easily comprehended by Ryuk. It explained the simplest, most direct way to begin the cultivation path: opening an object buried within one's soul known as the Primordial Gate—a vessel for the Apex Power said to be present in every living soul.
The first step for anyone was to unlock this gate.
Although he understood the instructions, Ryuk couldn't help but feel saddened as he looked around.
Right now, he was in an enclosed, clean bedroom.
Yet, the book stated one should better open their Primordial Gate in a place where nature's power was abundant.
Obviously, the place he was in was no good, and his chances of ever being able to sense his Primordial Gate seemed painfully low.
Still, Ryuk shut the book and rose from his seat.
"Guess I'll just have to give it a try. If it works out, then that'll be great, if it doesn't, the I can only hope I still get the audience." he muttered before sitting cross-legged on the ground and preparing himself.
Silently, thirty minutes passed with him in a meditative pose, simply trying to calm the thoughts rummaging through his mind.
Right now, he could better understand why the book said one's Primordial Gate is closed by doubts in one's heart.
At this moment, there were echoes of distrust and negativity brewing within Ryuk's mind—thoughts of never possessing a Primordial Gate or questioning how someone from a slum like him could possibly possess one.
To calm these thoughts took Ryuk exactly two hours of sitting still before he took a deep breath and dove his consciousness straight into his own body, shutting off the outside world.
As Ryuk sat in silence, the world around him began to fade. The wind outside, and the minor turbulence of the spacecraft itself, began to fade, soon disappearing entirely as if the universe had decided to hold its breath.
He felt his eyelids grow heavy, shutting him off from the distracting light. The sensation of the cold ground beneath him was the last tether to the physical world—and even that soon began to dissolve.
A deep thrum pulled at his consciousness, resonating in the dead stillness of things.
Ryuk was easily able to identify what it was: his heartbeat.
It was loud, powerful, almost deafening at first.
Each beat sent vibrations through his veins, and he became acutely aware of the warm, rhythmic flow of blood coursing through his body.
The sensation slowly began to deepen.
The rush of his blood felt like rivers of life, intertwining and surging in unison. He could feel the subtle stir of energy in his muscles, the faint hum of electricity along his nerves, and the steady rhythm of his chest as he breathed.
Then, something shifted!
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In and Out_SnowySmoos.