A New Path to Control
Mike stood in the training room, gripping a dagger from the weapon rack. His breath was steady, but his mind raced with endless possibilities.
He had spent the past hour testing his power, trying to understand its mechanics. What he had discovered was unsettling—his ability wasn't like normal elemental forces. It didn't enhance or empower; it destroyed whatever it touched from the inside out.
Now, Mike wanted to take things a step further. He wanted to test how his ability interacted with weapons.
Grabbing a dagger from the rack, he examined the blade carefully. It was a standard training weapon, designed to withstand high-level energy infusions. He held it firmly and executed a few basic dagger maneuvers—quick slashes and thrusts—moves he had learned in university.
Then, he activated his ability.
Immediately, a faint, raw yellow energy flickered across the blade's surface, flowing along its edge like a living entity. At first, it seemed stable, so Mike swung the dagger a few more times.
That's when he noticed something strange.
Small cracks had begun appearing along the blade.
Mike immediately withdrew his ability, halting the infusion. His grip tightened on the weapon as his mind processed what had just happened.
" Even a reinforced weapon… can't completely withstand my ability?
That realization troubled him. If every weapon he used broke apart after extended exposure, how could he effectively wield his power?
He needed a solution.
Then, something clicked in his mind.
"Protective coating…!
---
Applying the Internal Energy Coating
Mike recalled a technique taught in his university's history classes—an old solution developed by early ability users during the aftermath of the First Sevanah War.
Back then, warriors didn't have beast-forged weapons or high-grade alloys. They relied on basic metals like iron, copper, and steel. However, many of these materials couldn't withstand direct energy infusion, especially from fire, lightning, and other high-intensity abilities.
" Internal Energy Coating.
By covering weapons with a layer of internal energy, warriors could create a barrier between the raw power of their abilities and the fragile material of the weapon itself. This method allowed them to use their abilities without damaging their own equipment.
Mike took a deep breath and focused his internal energy into his palm.
A soft, translucent white glow spread across his fingers, then flowed over the dagger's surface, forming a thin protective layer.
Now for the real test.
Activating his ability, Mike watched as the white glow transformed, merging with his dark yellow energy. The energy wrapped around the blade instead of sinking into it, stabilizing along the edge like a dense protective coat.
He gave the dagger a few experimental swings.
> It's holding up… it's not breaking!
For the first time since awakening his ability, he felt in control.
Now, it was time to see how it performed in combat.
---
Testing the Weapon: The First Strike
Mike turned toward a combat dummy—a humanoid construct made of a special silicon-infused material, reinforced with regeneration magic runes. These dummies were designed to instantly recover from physical damage, making them perfect for testing attacks.
Gripping the dagger tightly, he lunged forward and slashed.
The moment the blade touched the dummy's surface, a ripple of invisible energy pulsed outward, traveling deep inside.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then—a small, hollow cut appeared along the dummy's torso.
Mike narrowed his eyes. Something was different.
Unlike a normal slash—where the wound would either heal instantly or ooze with some form of energy discharge—this wound didn't heal properly. The dummy's regeneration was still active, but it was sluggish, slow, as if something was disrupting the process.
Mike stepped closer, his heart pounding.
> My ability doesn't just break things—it interferes with their recovery.
He struck again, this time aiming at the dummy's leg.
The same effect.
A clean yet unnatural wound, surrounded by tiny, spreading cracks. Instead of sealing shut, the injury continued to degrade, as if his energy had left behind a lingering presence that weakened the material over time.
Mike exhaled sharply.
His power wasn't just destruction.
It was corruption.
This wasn't just about breaking things—it was about ensuring they stayed broken.
---
The Wall Test: Evaluating His Ability's Impact
Mike turned toward a reinforced training wall at the side of the room. If his ability truly eroded whatever it touched, he needed to test how it interacted with solid structures.
First, he clenched his bare fist and punched the wall without any ability activation.
A dull thud echoed through the chamber.
No cracks. No dents. Nothing.
> As expected—my raw physical strength alone isn't enough.
Now, he activated his ability.
A thin, dark yellow mist wrapped around his knuckles, shifting like flickering flames.
Focusing all his energy, he punched the wall again.
This time, the impact shook the entire structure.
Tiny fractures spread from the point of contact, crawling outward like spiderweb cracks, disrupting the integrity of the material internally rather than externally.
Mike stepped back, watching.
> I'm not just breaking the surface—I'm destabilizing whatever I hit from within.
But then, something even more unusual happened.
The cracks didn't stop growing.
Slowly, they continued expanding, as if his ability had lingered inside the wall, eating away at its core.
Mike clenched his fists.
> My ability has a lasting effect… it keeps destroying even after impact.
This wasn't just raw power.
This was pure, uncontrollable destruction.
And he was just beginning to understand it.
---
Testing Strength: Measuring His Own Power
With his ability testing complete, Mike turned toward a punching barrel—a reinforced device used to measure raw strength output.
Time to see where he stood physically.
Taking a steady stance, he clenched his bare fist and delivered a straight punch to the barrel.
A beep sounded.
The display flashed: 15.
> Fifteen strength points… the average for a normal human.
For reference:
A peak human-grade cultivator had a maximum of 35 strength points.
At his level, he was only at 15—still in the beginning stages of the Human Grade.
Not impressive.
> I need to get stronger.
Now, he activated his ability, allowing the dark yellow energy to compress tightly around his fist.
The light flickered—unstable yet controlled.
He punched the barrel again.
The machine shook violently, the force behind his strike causing a brief, explosive shockwave.
The display flashed: 23.
Mike exhaled sharply.
> So my power doesn't just destroy—it amplifies my physical strength.
If he could refine it, he might be able to increase his base strength even without fully relying on his ability.
For now, he had confirmed three crucial things:
1. He could coat weapons with his ability, preventing them from breaking while still using their power.
2. His ability didn't just cut—it disabled healing and caused lingering internal damage.
3. His ability amplified his punches, significantly increasing his strength.
Mike rolled his shoulders, his excitement growing.
> I've barely scratched the surface of what I can do.