The holographic projection of the ancestor towered over the room. He was a giant of a man, wearing armor that seemed woven from sunlight. His eyes burned with a golden judgment.
**"I AM VANE THEROS,"** the voice boomed, shaking dust from the ceiling. **"GUARDIAN OF THE TITAN'S LEGACY. SPEAK, INTRUDER. WHY DOES YOUR SOUL SMELL OF BLOOD AND RUIN?"**
Viper fell to her knees. The pressure radiating from the hologram was not Qi—it was **Will**. It was the crushing weight of a soul that had transcended the Mortal Realm eons ago.
"We... we are descendants..." Viper stammered, head bowed.
Kaelen didn't bow.
He walked up to the podium, ignoring the crushing pressure. His **Demon Foundation** buzzed with annoyance.
"You're loud," Kaelen said.
The Ancestor's eyes narrowed. **"INSOLENCE! KNEEL BEFORE YOUR BLOODLINE!"**
The hologram raised a translucent hand. A wave of golden force slammed down, intended to force Kaelen into submission.
Kaelen looked up. His blue eyes flashed with the chaos of the **Thunder King**.
"I don't kneel to ghosts."
Kaelen punched the air.
**"Shatter."**
His fist met the golden pressure.
*CRACK.*
It wasn't a physical impact. It was a clash of wills. The golden wave shattered like glass.
The Ancestor recoiled. His expression shifted from arrogance to shock.
**"You... you possess the Aura of a Ruler? But you are a mere Foundation Establishment junior!"**
"I'm in a rush, Theros," Kaelen interrupted. He stepped onto the podium. "I didn't come here for a history lesson. I came for the loot."
He reached for the glowing book.
**"STOP!"** The Ancestor roared. **"THAT IS THE 'WORLD-BREAKER MANUAL'. ONLY THOSE WHO POSSESS THE TITAN'S HEART MAY TOUCH IT. IF YOU ARE WEAK, IT WILL TURN YOUR BONES TO DUST!"**
"Titan's Heart?" Kaelen looked at the golden skeleton lying at the statue's feet. specifically at the ribcage, which was glowing with a warm, pulsating light.
"You mean this spare part?"
Kaelen kicked the skeleton. He reached down and grabbed the golden ribcage.
Viper gasped. "Kaelen! That's desecration!"
The Ancestor looked ready to explode. **"YOU DARE TOUCH THE REMAINS OF THE FIRST SOVEREIGN WITH DIRTY HANDS?!"**
"System," Kaelen ignored the shouting. "Analyze."
> **[Item Analysis]**
> **Name:** The Titan's Ribcage (Artifact/Body Part).
> **Grade:** Heaven Tier (Damaged).
> **Effect:** Grants 'Absolute Defense' to the torso. Can withstand attacks from Core Formation experts.
> **Integration Chance:** 15% (Lethal Rejection Probable).
"15%?" Kaelen smirked. "I like those odds."
He didn't perform a ritual. He didn't meditate.
He ripped his own shirt open. He pressed the golden bone plating against his chest.
**"Integrate."**
The Ancestor froze. **"YOU FOOL! WITHOUT THE ELIXIR OF PURIFICATION, THE GOLDEN BONE WILL REJECT YOU! IT WILL EAT YOUR—"**
*SQUELCH.*
Kaelen's chest cavity opened. His own flesh, fueled by the **Heaven-Devouring Scripture**, reached out like black tendrils.
It didn't ask for permission. It grabbed the golden artifact and dragged it *inside*.
Kaelen gritted his teeth. His eyes rolled back.
The pain was exquisite. It felt like molten lead was being poured into his lungs. The Titan's bone tried to burn him, to reject the foreign "Demon" essence.
But the Demon was hungry.
*CRUNCH. SNAP. FUSE.*
Kaelen's own ribs shattered and reformed around the gold. The black Demon Qi strangled the golden light, forcing it to submit.
**"IMPOSSIBLE!"** The Ancestor's hologram flickered violently. **"YOU ARE CONSUMING THE DIVINE GOLD? WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?!"**
Ten seconds later.
Kaelen stood up. He breathed.
*Inhale.*
His chest expanded. Under his skin, a faint golden lattice structure pulsed before fading into his normal skin tone.
> **[Integration Successful]**
> **[Defense Attribute: Titan Plating Acquired.]**
> **[Torso Durability: Core Formation Tier.]**
Kaelen tapped his chest. It sounded like hitting a bank vault.
"Solid," Kaelen nodded.
He turned to the hologram.
"Now," Kaelen pointed at the glowing book. "About that manual."
The Ancestor stared at him. The rage was gone, replaced by a deep, terrifying fear. He realized that this boy wasn't a descendant to be tested. He was a predator to be feared.
**"Take it,"** The Ancestor's voice faded, sounding tired. **"Take it and leave. You are not a Vane. You are a Calamity."**
The hologram dissipated. The Ancestor chose oblivion rather than watching what Kaelen would become.
Kaelen picked up the book.
**"World-Breaker Manual: Volume 1 - Tremor."**
He flipped through it. It wasn't about cultivation. It was about vibration. How to use pure strength to crack the fabric of space.
"Perfect," Kaelen shoved the book into his spatial ring.
He turned to Viper.
She was pressed against the wall, pale as a sheet.
"Are... are we done robbing your ancestors?" she squeaked.
"For now," Kaelen said.
He walked to the exit of the cave. He looked out at the waterfall.
"Viper."
"Y-yes?"
"Pack your things," Kaelen said, looking North. "We're going to school."
Viper blinked. "School? You mean the Divine Martial Academy?"
"The map says there's another 'Titan Part' hidden in the Academy's treasury," Kaelen smiled. A smile that promised chaos.
"I have the ribs. Now I need the arms."
He jumped through the waterfall.
"Try to keep up, assassin. Class is in session."