A shaft of morning light emerged from the coliseum roof, which opened like a metal iris. The basalt tiles shimmered with heat. Karl Ω Yang rolled his shoulders once, a small pulse of violet static coming from each joint. The Absurdium Core hummed beneath his serene breathing, a gentle engine note that appeared to be in time with the planet's spin.
[SYSTEM LOG]
Ten Masters is the start of the trial protocol.
Integrating Aether Ki with the internal paradox field is the goal.
Warning: Extremely intense combat.
He let out a breath. "The terminal is fine."
The first Master, a small man with copper bands around his waist, came forward. Sparks scurried across his hands.
The man said, "Discipline of Momentum." "Strike without hesitation."
Karl gave a nod. The bell rang.
The copper fighter's kick violated the sound barrier, and he disappeared and then reappeared mid-spin. Karl's arms deflected and blurred. Dust was ripped into concentric halos by shockwaves. His counterpunch, which folded air rather than pushed it, came half a breath later, with intention rather than force.
[READOUT KINETIC: 0.87 Mach]
The man bowed and slid ten meters back. "It's amazing how you can reroute movement itself."
Karl sensed the pattern being absorbed by the Core: control of time equals momentum preservation. One layer comprehended.
With ribbons of frost behind him, the second Master came down from above. "Stillness discipline."
All of the molecules froze. Sound died, too.
Karl's thoughts slowed, but during the break, he discovered the paradox pocket—the interval between seconds. Taking a sideways stride through it, he reappeared behind the Master with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Break.
Thunder erupted as the ice broke. The arena let forth a roar.
[CAPTURED DATA: 10% Synced Entropy Reversal]
The fourth and third appeared together: twins with gale and flame. The sky was painted scarlet and teal by their dancing. Between them, Karl flowed like water, with blocks becoming spirals and spirals becoming strikes. The Core received fresh data from every contact.
His brow was drenched with sweat, and the tiles echoed the sound of his beating. He was raised into the air by an explosion as the audience yelled. He crossed his palms and spun in midair.
[USE OF REINTERPRETIVE FIELD]
The explosion was inverted. Wind turned into light, flame into wind, and light condensed into a silent sphere that hung over his palm. He blinked at it, waiting, raw potential.
"Third down," he whispered. "There are seven left."
The sixth Master, an elderly woman with silver eyes, came up auralessly. She merely opened her arms and murmured, "Discipline of Mercy."
Karl paused. No intention to kill. Just acceptance.
His pulse faltered for the first time during the experiment.
He moved forward, lowered himself, and allowed her hand to land on his chest. As it touched the icy logic of the Core, a warmth swept through him. In that moment, he realized that every hostile action needed its opposite, which was permission to stop.
[AMPLIFIED × 2.3 MERCY FIELD]
She grinned as she pulled away. "Child, you have to love what resists you in order to transcend Ki."
He didn't respond. Formulas only he could see flickered in his vision.
Master of Echo, Master of Weight, Master of Flux, Master of Void, and lastly the Grand Master of Will, whose aura overshadowed the sun, arrived in a flurry.
Karl's skin was buzzing with internal static by the tenth combat, and his coat was ripped. The air was streaked with blue and gold from each clash. The world fell silent as the Grand Master took the stage.
The elderly giant remarked, "Your energy bends rules." "But is it able to produce one?"
Karl's fists went up. "Let's put the theory to the test."
[93% ABSURDIUM SYNC - AETHER KI CONVERSION DUE]
The hum of the Core grew louder. Light started to seep out of Karl's pores. After-images of equations, such as vectors, moral precepts, and paradox proofs, were now carried by every movement. He was deriving, not just battling.
Columns of dust spiraled into the air as the arena's dome was cracked in the final collision. Karl was still standing when the rubble had settled, his eyes brilliant with calculation and his fists burning.
The Grand Master squatted down. You've moved on from Will. You've arrived at meaning.
Karl's senses were overwhelmed by the Core, and he hardly heard him.
[ALERT-WORLD LIMIT EXCEEDED BY ENERGY SATURATION]
Paradox Stabilization is the next step that is necessary.
He gazed up at the quivering heavens. "Then let's do more."
Chapter 9 – The Ascension Beyond Ki part II
Where the coliseum roof had been, dust was still floating.
Karl stood in the middle of it, the ground trembling with each heartbeat. The Absurdium Core shouted, a bass note folding across matter, instead of purring.
[THRESHOLD FOR ENERGY REACHED]
Saturation of Aether Ki: 101% Start Adaptive Evolution? Y/N
He didn't think twice. "Take action."
The globe leaned in.
Between his palms, light fell to a point. Streams of glowing code twisted through his muscles like quicksilver veins, turning his skin translucent. Each thought gave birth to a photon as neurons sparked. His pulse caused the air around him to crystallize into geometric flowers that formed, dissolved, and reformed.
It was recognition—the knowledge that every atom was listening to him—rather than agony or pleasure.
[PROGRESSING BIOLOGICAL REWRITE]
Stable Neural–Photonic Loop: Quantum Cohesion Inverted Active Entropy Field
He took a breath. Violet-gold was lit by the breath. The whole space shimmered, its edges as soft as haze from heat.
The Masters watched from the stands. One murmured, "He's rewriting the Ki law."
Karl's eyes opened. Equations flowed like stars in their depths.
He whispered, "Will to Power is just the universe deciding it wants to be."
The arena trembled as he held up a hand. Obediently, aether currents bent toward him. He harmonized rather than conquered by folding the pieces of other people's beliefs—courage, fury, and devotion—into himself without consuming them.
[ACHIEVEMENT OF AETHER–PARADOX SYNCHRONY]
Will Vector and Mercy Field combined to create a self-sustaining intention reactor.
Silently, power oozed forth. Just the gravity of meaning, no explosion. Above him, clouds formed rings as the sky bowed and the ground turned into glass. Every fist ever thrown here, every cry for power, spiraling through time—he could see the logic of energy. For a little while, he comprehended each of them.
Then he let it go.
The continent was stricken with a wave of silence. Wounds closed, tempests halted, fires gutted. The Masters were brought to their knees by understanding rather than force; each felt his own will reflected back as acceptance.
Karl let out a breath. The halo of violet-gold light faded from his aura.
[FORM ESTABLISHED NEW]
Function: Embodied Equilibrium of Will and Power Designation: Daimon ascendant
SYSTEM STATUS – KARL Ω YANG
Attribute Abbr. Value Notes
Strength STR 320 (+180) Matter-level impact; compresses stone by intent
Dexterity DEX 295 (+160) Motion prediction within 0.02 s
Constitution CON 340 (+200) Cellular regeneration active; fatigue null
Intelligence INT 400 (+210) Neural-photonic processing; parallel cognition × 10⁶
Wisdom WIS 360 (+180) Universal-law perception; precognitive flashes
Charisma CHA 250 (+120) Resonant aura influences morale fields
Luck LCK 222 (+99) Probability drift toward favorable outcomes
Perception PER 310 (+150) Multispectrum awareness; quantum-echo tracking
Vitality VIT 355 (+190) Anti-entropy stability; biological aging suspended
Willpower WIL 500 (MAX) Defines reality locus within 10 m radius
Spirit SPR 470 (+250) Direct interface with Aether continuum
Mana MNA ∞ (local) Self-generated via paradox cycle
Endurance END 345 (+170) Sustained combat capacity > 72 hrs
Defense DEF 300 (+150) Adaptive field converts damage to data
Magic MAG 380 (+200) Aether manipulation by conceptual logic
Resistance RES 330 (+160) Immune to elemental and cognitive intrusion
Stealth STL 205 (+80) Light-phase concealment through paradox folding