[Applying the x10,000 Effect…]

Moments passed—

[Congratulations. You have obtained a Shadow Affinity above SSS rank.]

[Congratulations. You have obtained an Ice Affinity above SSS rank.]

[You are now… Shadow.]

[You are now… Ice.]

[You have taken the first step toward creating your own unique Shadow Physique and Ice Physique.]

Then came the talent he shared from jer mother—

[You have gained the talent: Eternal Monarch Of Frost ( EX Unique Rank).]

[Your talent, Sovereign Of Ice (SSS rank), have been absorbed by Eternal Monarch Of Frost.]

Then came the Akashic Records—chiming in with an eerie resonance.

{EXCEPTIONAL.}

{Noah Weaverheart… you walk an incredible path.}

{You are integrating multiple high-tier concepts into your very being.}

{Walk the Path of the True Anomaly.}

{Do not stray. Do not falter.}

{Your title awaits you at the end of this road.}

A moment of silence—then a final echo.

{You are now marked as a being of interest… by the Akashic Records.}

And then, the messages stopped.

But Noah’s transformation had just begun.

First came the Shadow.

His skin began to darken, as if black ichor was poured over him. Slowly, silently, his body began to dissolve—melting into darkness, until nothing remained but a quivering pool of shadows on the ground.

A deep metamorphosis was unfolding within.

As Shadow, his entire physiology shifted—his muscles, bones, even his organs… became formless. Ever-changing. Malleable. He was no longer rigid like a blade—he was like liquid steel, a phantom forged in eternal dusk.

His very sword had evolved—no longer just a weapon, but a concept.

And then—

Before he could catch his breath, he reformed.

Returned briefly to human shape—before it began again.

The Ice came next.

“Ah, dam—!”

He didn’t even finish the curse before it consumed him.

But this wasn’t just an affinity awakening—his talent was evolving too. Sharpening. Deepening. Freezing.

His body turned to Ice—completely. Transparent, crystalline. A living sculpture. His insides visible beneath frosted skin. The air plummeted around him—frost bloomed in a radius, swallowing all life.

Not just any ice.

Absolute Ice.

The Temperature of Zero.

The world stood still.

Minutes passed before the transformation ceased.

Noah slowly rose, his breath calm—but his body…

Now a fusion of Sword, Shadow, and Ice.

He hadn’t just mastered them.

He had become them.

And in doing so…

His very race had begun to change.

Outwardly, still human. Inwardly?

Something else.

Something not meant to exist.

A monster.

An abomination.

But he didn’t yet realize it.

These changes would only become obvious later—when he awakened the full Physiques tied to each affinity.

…

“Ahh…” Noah exhaled heavily, his chest heaving.

The pain was indescribable. But there was no time to rest.

He stood, flexing his limbs—testing the new form.

His body… adapted. It felt fluid. Capable of things he couldn’t explain. Movements that had once required thought—now flowed like instinct.

He raised a single finger.

In an instant—Shadow, Ice, and Sword energies coiled around it, swirling together like serpents of death.

His control was flawless. Effortless. Natural.

He smirked.

“With this… I’m ready.”

He stepped forward—and vanished into the shadows.

…

Meanwhile—

Yuki’s eyes narrowed. Her gaze pinned on Ester.

“What did you just say?” she asked, voice sharp with restrained fury.

Ester remained calm.

“Master went to the core zone. He told us to head east—toward the inner region. There’s an A-rank Wyvern there. We’re to kill it and bring back its body.”

She repeated the words, unfazed, as she had multiple times already.

Ester had been with Noah since the beginning. She had long since learned to remain calm—to focus only on his goals. His will.

She was his shadow, after all.

And everyone here knew… to touch what was his was to court death.

Noah may smile. But behind that smile was ruin.

“Why’d he go alone?” Elizabeth asked, eyes narrowed. She knew Noah. He never did anything without a plan.

“A being of Shadow approached him,” Ester replied simply.

Before more questions could fly, she cut them off.

“That’s all I can say. Now let’s go. We don’t want to keep Master waiting, do we?”

Yuki’s expression hardened. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint Noah—or worse, make him question her worth.

“Let’s move,” she snapped.

Anger simmered in her.

Eric and Elizabeth exchanged weary glances, then followed.

As they moved, Elizabeth suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The others paused. “What is it?” Yuki asked.

Elizabeth’s eyes glowed faintly. She frowned.

“Something’s… blocking my Sight.”

As an oracle, Elizabeth’s perception of danger was far beyond normal. And just now—she had sensed something. A threat. A predator.

But her vision was clouded. Obstructed.

And only two beings could do that.

Noah… and the Goddess.

Her heart thudded. She clenched her fists.

It wasn’t Noah. He had no reason to hide.

Then—there was only one possibility.

She turned sharply.

“Let’s pick up the pace. I sense danger. It’s possible… we’re being hunted.”

Eric’s eyes widened slightly. “Hunted? By who?”

Elizabeth hesitated, then spoke.

“The Church.”

Ester wasn’t surprised. She had a feeling Noah’s actions would trigger something. This was expected.

But Yuki and Eric were caught off guard.

The Church ?

Still, they didn’t question further.

They could feel the urgency—and it was enough.

They broke into full speed, racing toward the Wyvern’s territory.

Eric muttered under his breath, “I fucking knew it. Being with Noah is just asking for trouble.”

This time—nobody disagreed.

Not even Ester.

…

Elsewhere—

The Inquisitors came to a sudden halt.

Their leader—the Grand Master—raised a hand. His brow furrowed.

“Something wrong, Grand Master?” one of them asked.

He remained silent for a long moment.

Then spoke, voice cool and sharp.

“Little Eli sensed us.”

He chuckled softly.

“Her Eyes really are impressive…”

But then—his tone turned frigid. His smile vanished.

“And yet… I wonder why she turned her back on the Goddess?”

“Why did she betray us?”

His voice dropped into a deadly murmur.

“I have no choice now. I will kill her.”

The inquisitors shuddered.

The Grand Master’s rage wasn’t loud—it was cold. Absolute. Unforgiving.

“From this moment—do not bother with the lowly beasts.”

“Go for her.”

A pause—

“Let’s kill them all.”

“For the Goddess.”

“FOR OUR GODDESS!”

The battle had begun.

—End of Chapter 65—

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