Rael had swallowed the Crimson Lotus Aether Elixir, and the change was impossible to miss.

During the spar, every strike carried more weight, every step seemed sharper, his stamina stretching far beyond what they'd known of him before.

Even his frame had begun to shift, his muscles more defined, his movements carrying a vigor that spoke of newfound strength.

Arden silently acknowledging the growth, while Nyra, who had once hesitated, now felt her doubts melt away, her eagerness burning to match the path Rael had stepped onto.

Rael was still grinning and flexing his arms when Arden nudged Nyra with his elbow.

"Your turn."

Nyra had already pulled out her bottle. "I didn't need you to tell me." She uncorked it with a soft pop and drank it down in one tilt.

Rael smirked. "Careful. You might choke if you rush like that."

Her glare was sharp enough to silence him, but she didn't bother replying. The change was already stirring inside her. Her skin seemed to glow faintly, her features softening while her body straightened with renewed vitality. Her breathing steadied as the elixir worked through her veins, and even without words the others could feel her channels becoming cleaner, her presence lighter.

Arden nodded slowly. "Same core effects as Rael, stamina and recovery stronger. But for you, the channeling runs smoother, less waste. Your affinity conduction is sharper too."

Nyra's lips curved faintly. "It feels like… I can weave them together better." She lifted her hand and, almost by instinct, pulled on both her affinities. A swirl of cold air wrapped around her body, shifting into a small storm of icy winds that hummed with cutting edges.

Rael blinked. "Wait, that's new. That's actually cool."

Arden's eyes narrowed as he studied the field. He stepped closer, testing the air with his palm. "It slows movement… cuts with currents… chills energy flow. And defensively, it blunts projectiles. A hybrid field, both offense and defense."

Nyra grinned proudly, turning her head just enough to stick her tongue out at Rael. "You heard him. Mine's better."

Rael snorted. "Please. I'll prove you wrong when we hunt."

Their playful bickering stopped when Zephyra gave a low rumble, her flames flickering as her intent brushed through the bond. Arden felt it clearly, his turn.

The air grew quieter. Nyra and Rael exchanged a look, their earlier smugness replaced with anticipation. They were curious about each other's growth, but Arden was different, his results always tilted the balance, always made the impossible look casual.

Arden picked up his bottle, uncorked it slowly, and twirled it in his hand. He glanced at the three of them watching and smirked.

"Well," he said, voice light but edged with confidence, "looks like it's time for the main character."

Rael scoffed, Nyra rolled her eyes, and even Zephyra's flames crackled as if mocking his arrogance. But none of them looked away.

The moment Arden swallowed the elixir, a faint shimmer ran across his skin. His breathing steadied, then his body eased like a vessel finally aligned. Nyra blinked first, noticing his face almost brighten in the firelight.

"…Why does he look more handsome all of a sudden?" she muttered.

Rael snorted. "Great. As if he needed more reasons to look smug."

But even he couldn't deny it. Arden's skin had smoothed, faint scars faded, his physique a touch sharper. Not overly bulked, just refined, balanced. What caught them most wasn't the appearance though, it was what they felt through the bond.

His energy pressed against theirs, denser, thicker, as if the air between them had grown heavier yet reassuring at the same time.

Nyra rested her chin on her hand. "It's not just him… the link feels stronger. Like his energy's wrapping around ours."

Zephyra gave a low rumble, flames along her mane flickering brighter. She too felt the shift, the thickened weight of vitality flowing into her.

Rael laughed, shaking his head. "So what's the magician got for us this time? Going to sprout wings and call it a day?"

Arden barely looked up. His eyes stayed fixed on the system interface before him, lines of glowing text dancing across his vision.

[Crimson Aether Lotus Elixir Consumed.]

Effects:

Physical Growth:

Vital Lotus Flow - Life energy circulation deepened; wounds close faster, bleeding halts quicker, stamina stretched.

Pulse Reinforcement - Heartbeats carry denser life energy, bursts of strength sharper.

Lotus Vitality - Greater resistance to toxins, exhaustion, and corruptive energy.

Core Growth

Lotus Core Bloom - Crimson Core (Life signature) refined, chaotic edges smoothed. Energy flow steadier, resonance easier.

Crimson Root Circuits - Life energy threads denser and rooted, range of sensing extended.

Affinity Conduction Boost - Elemental compatibility amplified, Crimson Core fused with lotus signature.

Skill Evolution Lotusfang Aegis (Growth type.. Stage I >> Stage II).

Adaptive Bloom - Shield petals shift with incoming strikes.

Pulse Reflection - Echoes attacks back in disruptive shockwaves.

Crimson Bloom Resilience - Absorbs elemental attacks, disperses in counterpulse.

Group Extension - Shield fragments can extend to cover allies.

New Skill Acquired: Lotusflare Constructs.

Life energy can now form offensive constructs: spears, chains, or blasts that bloom with lotus flares. Energy once only healing or defensive now weaponized with refined stability.

Arden exhaled softly, muttering, "So… it really changes everything."

"What does?" Rael pressed, leaning closer.

Arden lifted his hand instead of answering. A ripple of life energy gathered, folding into a pale glow, before hardening into a spear of pure vitality edged with a lotus-like shimmer. He didn't even look serious, just flicked it into the air.

Vrrrmmm!

The spear cut through the night, slicing a distant boulder in two with a crisp, ringing crack. The halves fell apart, smoke curling from the clean split.

Nyra's mouth opened. "He did that casually."

Rael threw up his arms. "Show off! Oh, right! what else should we expect?"

Arden only gave a small smirk, lowering his hand as if it was nothing worth mentioning.

The fire crackled between them, their banter drifting long into the night. Beneath the laughter though, an unspoken weight lingered.

They whispered in low tones about the next hunt, each one hoping for a challenge worthy enough to match what they had just witnessed.

But in their hearts, one truth pressed in, Arden was pulling farther ahead, and yet somehow, that only made them want to catch up more.

A/N:

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