Godslayer's Legacy: THE PATH TO SUPREMACY

As Rui steadied himself, the energy from his new core continued to radiate through him, untamed yet balanced, like a storm contained within a vessel. He closed his eyes, focusing inward, probing the depths of his core to understand the nature of this transformation.

In most cultivators, the 2nd awakening of a core often brought with it an affinity to an element—fire, water, earth, wind, or even the rarer affinities like lightning or shadow. Rui reached out, searching for such a connection, expecting to feel the pull of one element over the others.

But there was nothing.

The realization struck him like a cold wind. There was no alignment, no natural inclination toward any element. His core resonated with a neutral energy, neither leaning toward a specific force nor rejecting one. It was as though his power existed outside the natural order, unbound by the constraints that governed others.

At first, Rui felt a pang of doubt. Elemental affinity was often seen as a cultivator's identity, their path forward in developing techniques and power. Without it, would he be at a disadvantage?

But as he delved deeper into his core, the truth revealed itself. His lack of affinity wasn't a weakness—it was a trade-off. The neutral nature of his core granted him unmatched strength and mana reserves, a wellspring of raw power that outstripped anything he had encountered before. Where others were limited by their elemental focus, Rui's strength was universal, his techniques adaptable to any form or style.

"Strength without bounds," Rui murmured, his voice steady. The thought thrilled him. While others refined their elemental affinities, he would refine pure, unfiltered power.

Heren stood at the cave entrance, watching Rui with narrowed eyes. The alchemist had sensed the shift in Rui's aura even before stepping inside, but now, as he observed the young cultivator, a frown creased his brow.

"You've awakened something rare or never seen before, haven't you?" Heren said, stepping closer, taking a close look, "No elemental pull mhm. No natural alignment either?"

Rui met his gaze, unflinching. "None."

Heren nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "That core of yours... it's a double-edged sword. You'll have strength and mana in abundance, more than most could dream of. But you'll lack the focus that elemental affinities bring. Your techniques will need to be forged from raw energy alone. It'll be harder, more unpredictable."

"I'll make it work," Rui replied, his voice resolute. "What I've gained outweighs what I've lost."

"Speaking of this new power, why not give it a test drive?"

"Test drive?" Heren questioned.

"You've seen the potential, haven't you? Let's put it to the test."

Heren crossed his arms, his sharp eyes studying Rui. "You just awakened a core that defies natural laws, common knowledge or sense and your first thought is to throw yourself into combat? Ambition is admirable, but arrogance gets people killed."

"It's not arrogance," Rui replied. "It's necessity. I need to understand what I can do now—how this power behaves, how far I can push it. There's no point in having strength without knowing how to wield it.....and I kind of feel like it"

Heren sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Follow me. There's a clearing nearby where we can see just how wild that power of yours really is."