Savage Awakening 240. Heart (II)

A/N: 

Initially I typo’d ‘Sage Stonefist’ as Sage Stonefish

But Stonefish sounds more interesting so he’s that now 

//

Heartstring of the Titan Rhinoceros [Earth (S+)]

A strip of the Titan Rhino's Heart that contains its vital essence. It can only be given willingly by a Titan Rhino to a trusted ally—and only once in its lifetime. 

Then came another notification—a letter.

Greetings!

This is the Barbarian Sage. The one in your Bloodline visions—yes, that very one. I've taken something of an interest in your journey, Zane Walker, now that you've taken on my Path. 

But you'll need some help. Humans, being humans, were never meant to take the full capacity of a Godbeast’s Bloodline… you’ll hit a hard limit around 64 drops! To expand beyond that—and to make your existing powers even more effective—you must take in the vital essence of a Godbeast.

This Heartstring contains just that. It will expand your Godbeast Bloodline capacity, and, as you gain more Bloodline, transform your heart—until eventually, it will be as though you were born with a Godbeast’s heart. Vigor and power and all!

Take in this treasure, and you won't need to comprehend anything to gain Heart Tempering! 

Now. I have had three separate associates of mine tell me I'm quite insane to be using such a treasure on some pre-Integration whelp—especially one stuck on one of the hardest Superdungeon runs in recorded history…

I told them to shove it!

Prove me right. I'll see you in a few weeks time. Give those bastards hell! 

Zane blinked at it. 

What a nice message.

He inspected the Heartstring again. 

How was he supposed to take it in? He thought about swallowing it. He dangled it in front of his face. It was the size of a belt. 

He shrugged. 

Then—just as he was about to open his mouth—he felt it resonate. Saw it begin to shine in his fist. Felt his Bloodline heating up, even as the Heartstring heated up in his hands…

Thump. The sound of his heart. Beating with a sudden urgency.

Thump. The Heartstring in his hands, suddenly bright with essence, with aura, with surging blood, like something ancient had been awoken just then…

The treasure vanished. 

Then Zane felt it. In his own chest. There was a sharp lurch, like a white-hot stake was being driven through his heart—THUMP-THUMP.

Two at once, one an echo of the other. THUMP-THUMP. He groaned. Coughed out a mouthful of blood.

THUMP-THUMP.

Each heartbeat grew closer and closer, until—

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Two became one.

One heart that beat with the force of both. For a second it felt like it was about to beat out of his chest. He dragged in a lungful of air, feeling woozy, trying to steady himself. Waves of hot bood rushed through his head—

THUMP.

All of Zane's power. All of his feeling, his emotion, came from his heart. It was the workhorse, the great engine of his body. It gave everything its vitality, its power. It all came from the blood, in the end…

THUMP-THUMP.

Even at rest, just standing there. Chest heaving. He could see his breath steaming in the already-hot air.

His Asura state was activating. Just slightly. Outside of his control. 

Then his heart began to beat faster and faster.

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP—

Zane had to sit down, close his eyes, sweat beading his brow. As new blood flooded through him.

Bloodline increased! 

17 drops -> 29 drops 

But the Blood was not the main prize. 

His heart just kept hammering in his chest, louder and louder—and the air all around him began to steam. The aura blasting off him shot straight to the skies, shot far into the distance, billowing for miles… 

His whole body began to steam. Veins standing out purple against his pumped-up muscles. 

And now his Asura State was running near full-force. Even as he sat there. It hit what had been his limit—his aura… 

And expanded. His Bloodline burned far faster, far hotter than it ever had—

Bloodline Capacity increased! 

64 -> 128 drops

His head felt clear. Full. Rushing as though with a massive spike of adrenaline—coursing with sheer raw energy, carried on every drop of fresh new blood. 

Zane stood then. He couldn't help it. He had to make himself go still. His fingers were twitching. He felt like a Rhino snorting, pawing at the ground preparing to charge—he ached to find the nearest mountain, rip it straight out of the ground, and hurl it headlong into the sun.

Skill up! 

Titan’s Heart I [Epic (E)]

Then instantly after—

His heartstring began to resonate. 

Skill evolved! 

Titan’s Heart -> Divine Titan’s Heart I [Mythic+ (E)]

Skill up! 

Vigor of the Titan Rhinoceros (Passive) [Unique] 

Grants a 40% Vitality Boost to the Titan Rhinoceros. A passive unique to the Godbeast Bloodline. 

Zane remembered in his visions how hard it had been to take the Titan Rhino down. How kingdoms of elves couldn't do it, how it took that one over a hundred Levels higher to bring it down—and even then, just barely. How the beast seemed to have an endless wellspring of health. Deep in its massive body.

As he felt the energies surging through his body, it all made sense. 

*** 

Inner Reaches

Azure Flame Faction

Sage Noughtfire watched on in silence. Sage Burnwater cursed up a storm.

“Has the Barbarian Sage gone senile?” said Burnwater. “A Godbeast’s vital essence?!”

Burnwater threw up his hands. “We couldn’t offer something better if we tried—that’s the Superdungeon’s treasure grade limit!”

“‘Gone senile?’” Noughtfire said. He cocked a brow. “Or has he simply made an accurate assessment of Zane’s potential?”

Burnwater stared. “You’re serious. Aren't you always the one telling me that talent means nothing until it's proven?” he said. 

“Usually,” Noughtfire agreed. “Yet Zane Walker is a most unusual candidate. 

Considering the reward…perhaps the gamble is worth the price.”

He stroked his beard, thinking.

Burnwater could hardly fathom it. Coming out of Noughtfire’s mouth especially—his master usually took pains to be conservative, skeptical. 

“The Barbarian Sage means to snag him. If we are to match his offers,” Noughtfire continued. “We must be prepared to offer something he cannot.” 

“Which is?” 

“Stormfire, of course,” snorted Noughtfire. “An expertise and treasury of Stormfire like nowhere else in the Dragonspire Galaxy. If Zane Walker can continue this level of performance—and indeed, improves on it… I will have to consider the possibility of offering to take him as my Direct Disciple.”

That left Burnwater utterly gobsmacked. 

Grand Elder Noughtfire was legendary. One of the most powerful figures not only in the Azure Flame Faction right now—but in all of its history. To become his disciple, you had to first rise to the cream of the crop in the Outer Faction. Then be promoted to the Inner Faction and rise to the top there too. Then be promoted to the Core Faction. And pray you distinguish yourself enough to be given the honor.

Burnwater had been a Sage before Noughtfire deigned to look at him. And even then—Burnwater was only an Honorary Disciple. 

You could count Sage Noughtfire’s Direct Disciples on one hand. Each was a legend in their own right. 

“Master,” croaked Burnwater, one cheek twitching. “You can't be serious.”

To become a Direct Disciple of Noughtfire was to be on par in status with the finest Core Disciples of the Sect—only the Grand Elders, Ancestors, and Patriarchs would rank higher. 

In fact, in the past, Noughtfire had only ever chosen from these Core Disciples. He’d never paid even the Inner Faction a passing glance. Not to mention the Outer. Much less some candidate still undergoing Integration!

It would flout millennia of decorum. It simply wasn’t done.

“He’s hasn’t even finished Integration—he hasn’t even formed his Nascent Soul!” Burnwater protested. 

“He has an exceptional Soul. A Seamless Core. A top-tier Signature Title. A physique incredibly tolerant of Godbeast powers… and most of all, a force of will like nothing I have ever seen. That man’s potential is nigh-limitless.” 

Noughtfire threw up a hand absentmindedly. “Match the Barbarian Sage gift for gift, grade for grade,” he said. “I will not lose out to him.”

“…Very well, Master.”  

Here Noughtfire paused. “Though you are correct. Direct Disciple is a heaven-and-earth leap. As it is now I cannot offer it to him in good conscience.” 

Burnwater let out a little sigh of relief. There would have been a minor riot among the Core Disciples—generational super-talents had worked millennia for such a position.

“First I must see one more thing,” said Noughtfire. He held up a finger. “I must see if he’ll condense the sort of soul I believe he is capable of.” 

Burnwater hardly dared guess. “…A Sky-grade soul?” 

“A Heaven-grade soul.” 

Which left Burnwater speechless for the third time in as many minutes.

There were just two men in the entire Faction who had such a soul. The Patriarch, and Noughtfire himself.

Burnwater’s head swam. His Master was known for his wisdom, his discerning eye… and yet—this was plainly too much to ask of the big man. 

*** 

Zane wasn’t done after the Heartstring. There was still more treasure to take in. His new Weapon Souls were first up—and after he absorbed them he got 80% of the way to the next level.

Not quite there. But he was already at Sky Epic. He couldn’t fathom needing more right now.

He burped, patted his belly. He kind of wanted to take a nap. It had been a pretty productive day.

Meanwhile, his friends were finishing up their Level-ups. He was waiting on Reina in particular. She’d been in striking distance of her Fourth Evolution, and she’d spent hours cross-legged, taking in one last essence elixir.

Then it happened.

Flowers started blooming over her head, linking to make a crown. Her eyes began to glow a pretty green. An aura blew out of her like a gust of crisp fresh morning air, sweeping back the smoke.

Zane felt a fluctuation in the Astral Plane, a stone thrown into the pond of the world, rippling fast. It was a similar feeling to when he’d gotten his Fourth Evolution. 

Her Signature Title was Awakening. 

She let out a gasp. Her eyes got a faraway look—like they were seeing something not-quite-here… a vision. A revelation. 

It all faded. She dropped out of it wobbly, flushing. Looking stunned. She met Zane’s eyes. 

“Heavens,” she breathed, wide-eyed. “Zane, it all makes sense now.” 

//

A/N: 

Finished this 3 minutes before release, phew

Taking tomorrow off to plan + recharge, see y'all Sunday!