Harold Vale stepped out of Eldric's Rare Ingredients & Mana Crystals, the precious bundle of powders, herbs, and glowing stones clutched tightly in his hands. The late afternoon sun painted the cobblestone streets in gold and shadow, but he hardly noticed. The weight in his arms was nothing compared to the weight in his chest—the responsibility, the anticipation, the faint spark of hope Lysandra's generosity had given him.
Three hundred thousand blood stones. He still couldn't believe it. He had expected her to refuse, to laugh at his timid request, or at the very least, to hesitate. And yet, here he was, holding the ingredients he needed to attempt a titan awakening. He didn't know which titan would respond—only that this was the first step toward something beyond anything the world expected from him.
"Luke," he whispered under his breath, feeling the other consciousness stir inside him. "Do you think this will work?"
"It has to," Luke replied, sharp and calculating. "The energy in these ingredients is potent. But remember… you won't know what waits until you open the door. That's the test."
Harold's eyes widened. He hadn't realized that. He had assumed he was going to awaken the Monkey King, or at least a titan he could somewhat predict. Now, a thrill of fear ran through him. What if he wasn't strong enough? What if the titan rejected him entirely?
Shoving aside his doubts, Harold turned toward the edge of the city, where the path to the ancient cliffs lay. It was a secluded area, rarely visited by merchants or townsfolk. The path twisted through hills and forests, the air thick with the scent of wild herbs and faint mana residue. Every step he took made his pulse quicken.
After a long walk, Harold finally reached the base of a towering cliff. There, carved into the stone as if it had grown with the mountain itself, was the gigantic titan door. It stretched dozens of feet above his head, adorned with intricate carvings of ancient creatures and swirling clouds. Runes glimmered faintly in the fading light, casting golden patterns across the jagged stone.
Harold's breath caught. He had only ever seen doors like this in legends or academy texts, but never in reality. This one felt alive. It vibrated faintly under his feet, humming with a low energy that seemed almost sentient.
"This… this is it," he whispered, feeling a shiver run down his spine. "The titan… whoever it is… it's behind this door."
Luke's voice was steady in his mind. "Good. Focus. The ingredients are already in your system. Let the energy flow. Calm your mind, or the door will test you—and you may fail before even touching it."
Harold nodded. His hands shook slightly as he placed the bundle on the ground and began the absorption process. He crushed the herbs, inhaled the powders, and touched the glowing stones to his skin. The moment they connected with his mana, a warmth spread through his body, radiating to his bones and muscles. Energy coiled inside him, subtle at first, then stronger, vibrating through every nerve.
He closed his eyes, letting the flow of mana from the ingredients intertwine with his own. The world around him seemed to fade. He felt strength building, clarity sharpening, and a faint, inexplicable pulse stirring somewhere deep within. It was alive… but he didn't know why.
Minutes passed—or perhaps hours; time felt distorted as his senses sharpened. The faint hum of the door seemed to sync with his heartbeat, and a soft glow began emanating from his hands and body. The energy was not violent, but alive, playful, intelligent—a presence he couldn't yet comprehend.
Opening his eyes, Harold rose to his feet. The golden runes along the door flared brightly, reacting to the energy flowing from him. The gigantic door, carved with figures of ancient warriors and mythical beasts, seemed to watch him. Then, as if recognizing his resolve, it began to shift—the massive stone panels grinding apart slowly, revealing the dim interior of the chamber beyond.
Harold's chest tightened. He hadn't expected it to open so easily—or maybe it was testing him subtly. He stepped inside cautiously. The chamber was enormous, stretching high into darkness above, with a faint golden glow emanating from the far end. There, standing atop a raised pedestal, was a statue unlike anything he had ever seen.
It was tall, lithe, and exuded movement even in its stillness. A long staff was clutched in one hand, its body poised mid-leap, muscles tensed and ready. Its eyes, though carved in stone, glimmered with an uncanny intelligence. Harold froze, staring. He hadn't expected… this.
"Luke… what is this?" he murmured.
"I don't know," Luke admitted, excitement threading his words. "You're about to find out."
Harold took a hesitant step forward. The floor beneath him thrummed with power, each step making his pulse race. When he reached the pedestal, he raised his trembling hand and touched the stone statue's staff.
A surge of energy exploded through him. Light erupted from the pedestal, enveloping him in golden brilliance. The chamber shook. The statue's eyes blazed to life. And then… a deep, resonant voice filled his mind, ancient and commanding:
"Who dares awaken me?"
Harold staggered, but a small, incredulous smile spread across his face. "I… I do," he whispered.
The world outside seemed to hold its breath. The golden aura expanded, spilling beyond the chamber, bathing the cliffs and distant valley in blinding light. Only then did Harold understand: the titan inside wasn't just responding to him—it was the Monkey King.
Luke's voice surged with exhilaration. "The Monkey King?! You… you actually awakened it! Harold, do you realize what just happened?!"
Harold's hands trembled as he flexed them, feeling the staff materialize in his grip, glowing with raw, ancient power. The pulse inside him—the heartbeat he had felt during absorption—now roared, alive, sentient. He could feel strength, speed, cunning… the presence of a titan that no one had ever seen awakened by someone like him.
His chest rose and fell rapidly. Sweat soaked his brow, but the exhilaration was intoxicating. The world had underestimated him, had laughed at his failures, had scorned him at every turn. And now… it would have to watch.
The Monkey King stirred inside him, its golden aura wrapping around him like a cloak of living power. Harold Vale—Luke inhabiting his body—took a deep breath and lifted the staff.
"This… this is just the beginning," he said, voice steady and cold with determination. "And the world… will see me."
The chamber hummed with power, the first of many awakenings begun.