The Extra's Transcension

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"Man... things will get really confusing for real"

The fog hung heavy in the air, curling around Lyrium as he cautiously approached the massive pine tree.

It pulsed faintly, the strange, rhythmic hum of mana vibrating through the ground beneath his feet.

He took out his both sword from his wrist watch as he placed it on his back and tightened his grip on the straps of the twin swords on his back but left them sheathed.

There was no immediate danger, but his instincts told him to stay alert.

"This is it," Lyrium muttered, his eyes narrowing as he gazed up at the enormous tree.

The bark shimmered faintly, and he could feel the mana radiating from it like a furnace.

"The lightning crystal has to be here."

According to the novel, Silas—the original protagonist—had stumbled upon a pine tree like this one and found a lightning element crystal embedded within its bark.

Lyrium, our boy, being an omniscient transmigrator, had expected to simply walk up, claim the crystal, and leave.

A straightforward task.

But something about this tree felt... off.

Well, he don't want to involve with this one anymore since, the way the Element Tree was acting was different from the Novel he used to read.

As he reached out with his senses, trying to detect the exact location of the crystal, the mana around the tree suddenly shifted.

The faint hum turned into a low, steady thrum, like a heartbeat growing louder and faster.

The air grew heavy, and the temperature dropped, a chill running down Lyrium's spine.

"What the...?" he muttered, taking a cautious step back. His body tensed, his instincts screaming at him to move.

Then it happened.

The ground beneath his feet erupted as a bolt of lightning streaked from the tree's roots, scorching the earth where he had been standing moments ago.

Lyrium barely managed to leap out of the way, landing hard on his side as the crackling energy sizzled through the air.

"What the hell?!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet. His eyes darted to the tree, which remained motionless, its bark glowing faintly with the same pulsing light as before.

But the air around it was alive with energy, bolts of lightning snaking across the ground and arcing between the roots.

This wasn't in the novel. Silas,in his perspective, had never mentioned anything about the tree attacking him.

Lyrium's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Was this a trial? A defense mechanism? Or had he overlooked something critical?

Another bolt of lightning streaked toward him, and Lyrium rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding it.

The ground where he had stood moments before was now a smoking crater. He gritted his teeth, his heart pounding in his chest.

"So much for a simple pickup," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration.

He didn't have time to think about why this was happening. The only thing that mattered now was surviving—and figuring out how to claim the crystal without getting fried and turning into a toast in the process.

Lyrium's mind shifted into survival mode.

He couldn't use his sword arts or skills—'Self Loathing'—they came with dangerous side effects that his body couldn't handle yet. He had to rely on his raw techniques, his instincts, and his agility to navigate this storm of mana.

The lightning strikes weren't random.

Lyrium noticed that the bolts seemed to target his movements, reacting to his position.

It was almost as if the tree was testing him, pushing him to his limits.

He began to move, darting between the roots and using the natural cover of the forest to shield himself from the strikes.

Each bolt crackled with destructive power, the air around them charged with static.

Sweat dripped down his face as he focused on staying one step ahead.

'It's watching me,' Lyrium thought, his eyes darting to the glowing bark of the tree.

The mana emanating from it felt almost... sentient.

He clenched his fists, his mind racing.

There had to be a way to reach the crystal without getting electrocuted.

The strikes came faster now, forcing Lyrium to push his body to its limits.

His muscles burned as he twisted and dodged, every movement calculated to conserve energy.

He couldn't keep this up forever.

He needed a plan.

Closing his eyes, Lyrium took a deep breath, calming his racing heart. He reached out with his mana, letting it spread through the ground around him.

It wasn't a technique, just a basic sensing method, but it was enough to give him a clearer picture of his surroundings.

There—a faint pulse of energy near the base of the tree.

The crystal.

It was embedded in the trunk, just above the roots. But getting to it would mean charging straight through the chaotic storm of lightning.

Lyrium opened his eyes, his resolve hardening. "Shit, no time to overthink. Let's do this."

He bolted toward the tree, his legs burning with the effort. The lightning reacted immediately, bolts streaking toward him from every direction.

Lyrium ducked, rolled, and twisted his body in ways that seemed impossible, his raw instincts guiding him as he closed the distance.

A bolt of lightning grazed his arm, the searing pain making him grit his teeth. His clothes were singed, and his skin felt raw, but he didn't stop.

He couldn't stop.

With a final burst of speed, Lyrium leapt toward the tree, his hand outstretched. He could see the crystal now, a shard of pure energy glowing faintly within the bark.

It was so close he could feel its power thrumming against his skin.

But the tree wasn't done yet.

A massive surge of lightning erupted from its roots, a final, desperate attack aimed directly at him.

Lyrium's eyes widened as the bolt streaked toward him.

Time seemed to slow as his mind raced. He couldn't dodge in midair. There was only one thing he could do.

He braced himself, pouring every ounce of his remaining mana into his body. The lightning struck him square in the chest, and pain exploded through his entire being.

His muscles spasmed, his vision blurred, but he held on.

His hand closed around the crystal.

The moment he touched it, the storm stopped.

The air grew still, the oppressive weight of the mana lifting as if it had never been there.

Lyrium collapsed to the ground, the crystal clutched tightly in his hand.

His body trembled, his muscles screaming in protest, but he was alive.

He stared at the shard of energy in his palm, its faint blue glow lighting up the dark forest.

A weak smile tugged at his lips as he let out a shaky laugh.

"Well... that sucked," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "But I guess I passed."

Lyrium forced himself to his feet, his legs unsteady but determined. He slipped the crystal into his pocket.

"Next time," he said to himself, "I'll be ready."

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Christmas eve....Mass release coming ° °