Noah's power operated in a very different way.
He possessed three unique abilities, inherited directly from his race — a race still shrouded in mystery.
The first was called [Appraisal].
An absurd ability.
It allowed him to analyze absolutely anything: objects, creatures, people… even magical concepts or complex mana structures. Nothing escaped Noah's eyes — as long as the target wasn't more than two levels above his own.
This restriction prevented him from abusing the power at the beginning.
But what made the ability truly terrifying was something else: That wasn't even its true potential.He was merely scratching the surface.
As Noah evolved, his abilities would evolve with him — gaining layers, new functions...
The second ability was even more intriguing.
[Extraction]
Upon defeating an enemy, this ability granted him a choice:to directly steal one of the target's skills.
But there were rules.
The enemy could only be, at most, two levels above Noah. And even stranger: the ability didn't work on weaker targets.
"It doesn't matter if the enemy's skill is rare or valuable… if they're weaker than me, I can't extract anything..."
The third ability Noah had inherited was a true enigma — as absurd as it was dangerous, and as powerful as it was... intimate.
[Dual Cultivation]
Unlike [Extraction], which worked in combat, or [Appraisal], which was essentially analytical, [Dual Cultivation] only activated through a deep and mutual connection with someone in particular:his partner.
Yes, partner.
This ability only functioned between Noah and a companion with whom he had formed a complete bond of body and soul. And the craziest part?
The strength of the partner — whether stronger or weaker — didn't matter. If the condition was met, he could copy everything: Bloodlines, Skills, Affinities, and even part of her magical resistance or knowledge.
It was, without a doubt, a broken ability. But… like all great powers, there was a catch.There was always a catch...
To activate the full effect of Dual Cultivation, the partner had to reach at least 500% affection toward Noah.
A level of bond nearly unattainable… unless she truly loved him with everything she had — mind, heart, and soul.
And the last requirement… was non-negotiable: They had to be physically and spiritually connected. Yes — they had to do that… And the most interesting part was… the
"Affection Points…"
Every woman who developed any kind of feeling for Noah — even if not his direct partner — would unknowingly contribute affection points.
This system seemed to react to feminine emotions directed at him, as if Noah's power was fueled not only by mana, but by real emotional connections.
Sincere, intense… or even dangerous feelings.
"Affection Points... so that's how it works."
The score was determined by the type and intensity of the emotion.Curiosity generated just a spark… but absolute love, or obsession, generated a true emotional wildfire.
0 Neutral
10 Curiosity / Interest
100 Sympathy
300 Attraction
500 Love
700 Deep Love
900 Emotional Dependence
1000 Romantic Obsession
2000 Possessive Love
5000 Insane Devotion (Yandere) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the craziest part was...
Noah could use those affection points.
His power converted them into a unique internal currency, accessible only to him — a parallel system to the Akashic System, as if it had been created from his very essence, from his lineage.
With these points, he could: purchase rare cultivations, unlock unique skills, craft potions, acquire secret techniques…
It was like a private evolution system, fueled by the deepest emotions of those around him.
"Hahaha, truly incredible…"
Plans began taking shape in his mind like puzzle pieces locking into place on their own. His gaze drifted for a moment, staring into nothing as he processed silently.
In a few months, he would take the official Awakening Test — the same test all young people took upon reaching the minimum age.
But in his case…It would be nothing but a performance.He had already awakened — or nearly so...
It was strange. He had awakened 3 abilities, and yet he still had no rank — as if the Akashic system hadn't registered him yet, like a bug.
"Maybe once I awaken, I'll be registered… But even so, this is weird…"
The test would just be theater — a formality to blend in with the others.
After that, he'd finally enter the Arcane Academy, something he had been preparing for obsessively over the past few days. Hours and hours of studying. Physical training, spell analysis, memorizing magical theories…
"They don't need to know. Not yet..."
Noah knew he had to keep his true power a secret — at least for now.It wasn't fear. It was strategy.
He had become a variable.
Not even that cosmic entity — the one that managed entire worlds and assigned destinies with mathematical precision — could fully comprehend him.
… and usually, when something escapes logic, the established order… the most common instinct is to reject it, erase it, or try to control it.
"People can't accept what they don't understand…"
With slow movements, he turned and settled into the hospital bed. The mattress was a little too firm, and the sheets, though clean, carried that typical sterile disinfectant smell.Still, in that moment, it felt more comfortable than any bed at home.
The room was bathed in a soft twilight, illuminated only by the faint glow of the monitors beside the bed.
The steady beeping sound brought a strange sense of safety.
"I'm feeling better… but I'll sleep here tonight. Just one more night."
Before closing his eyes, Noah grabbed the small communicator — a thin, foldable screen that projected a light-blue interface in the air with a simple tap.
He scrolled through his contact list and selected the two names that had been on his mind the most in recent days.
The messages were sent, accompanied by a soft confirmation tone.
Noah set the communicator down beside the bed, turned to his side, and pulled the blanket up to his shoulders.
"Tonight… I just want to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll think about what comes next."
He closed his eyes slowly, finally feeling the weight of accumulated exhaustion settle in.
Deep in his mind, voices and images still echoed — fragments of what his alter ego had shared, memories not yet fully organized.
But for now, that could wait.
Next Day
The sun was already softly invading the hospital room when Noah opened his eyes. The light filtered through the sheer curtains, painting golden stripes over the white sheets.
He blinked a few times, adjusting his vision, and for a moment, almost forgot where he was.
"Ah… right. Still here."
He sat up in bed with a soft crack in his back and ran a hand over his chest.
Nothing.
The red stone… was gone.
The arcane tattoos… too.
It was as if they had never existed.
His skin was smooth, clean, ordinary.
But Noah knew better than anyone: it was still there. Just… hidden.
After a quick shower and getting dressed, Noah was cleared for his final medical evaluation.The tests showed… nothing.
No anomalies, no injuries, no signs of magical collapse or overload.Nothing that could explain what had happened the day before.
The doctors simply exchanged puzzled glances and discharged him with forced smiles.
After being cleared, Noah sent a quick message to his aunt and Ana, letting them know he was already released and would be home soon.
But, as expected… it didn't help.
When he reached the hospital entrance, a black car was already waiting for him — the family crest discreetly stamped on the side.
The passenger window lowered, revealing Sophia's smiling, relieved face.
"I told you that wasn't necessary, Aunt…" — Noah said, raising an eyebrow.
"And I told you, you talk too much." — Sophia crossed her arms, but her tone was soft, as if trying to hide her worry.
She got out of the car and ran up to him, stopping just a few steps away. For a moment, it looked like she would say something serious, but held back.Noah smirked and got in.
The ride home was relatively quiet, aside from Noah's small attempts to lighten the mood.When they arrived, the house was calm, though it was clear they had prepared everything for his return.
Noah had barely crossed the entrance when he heard the click of the door being locked behind him.
"Aunt?"
Sophia stood with her back to him, her hand still resting on the doorknob.The silence that followed was sharp — the air felt charged with electricity, dense like a veil of repressed desire.
When she finally turned around, a chill ran down Noah's spine.
+2000
"Noah… I can't take it anymore..."
Her voice was a hoarse whisper, almost unrecognizable.
The once vibrant green eyes were now dark abysses, dilated pupils devouring the light.Flushed cheeks, parted lips, her face twisted in an expression between agony and lust — as if she had fought against herself for far too long.
'Beautiful'
That was the only thought Noah could form before acting.In a sudden movement, he closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms with almost brutal force.
His own eyes were no better — black as a starless night, reflecting the same hunger that consumed Sophia.
Before she could utter another word, Noah sealed her lips with his.A burning kiss exploded between them — tongues intertwining, fluids exchanged in a voracious rhythm.
The silence of the house was broken only by the wet sounds of their dance, the ragged breaths that escaped between each collision.
When they parted, a silver strand of saliva still connected them, stretched like a thread of desire.In the air, only their uneven breathing echoed, as loud as their pounding hearts.
"Noah… I love you. I've always loved you."
The words slipped out like a stolen sigh, far too fragile for the secret they carried.Sophia stared at him, her fingers trembling slightly against the seams of her dress.
His eyes, once surprised, softened into something dark and possessive, but the voice that replied was gentle, almost reverent:
"I know, Aunt… I've always loved you too."
The silence that followed wasn't empty. It was electric, like the moment before lightning strikes.Their words hung in the air, transforming the room into a new place — a place where she was no longer just aunt, and he was no longer just nephew.
"Sophia…" — he tested the name on his tongue, slowly, as if tasting something forbidden.
She lowered her gaze, but not in time to hide the blush that ignited her face.When she spoke again, her voice was a thread of sound:
"When we're alone… can you call me Sophia?"
It wasn't just a request. It was surrender.
Noah didn't answer with words.He pulled her against his chest, his lips brushing the curve of her ear as his hot breath made her shiver:
"Of course… Sophia."
+5000
She smiled.
If her eyes still held any glimmer of light before — any trace of awareness — now there was nothing left.Only darkness, deep and consuming.Her cheeks burned, breath ragged. She buried her face in Noah's chest, drowning in his warmth, in his scent — a scent more familiar to her now than air itself.
And in that moment, between the crackle of unspoken emotions and the walls that witnessed them in silence, they both knew, with a certainty that burned brighter than flame:Nothing between them would ever be the same again.
And that was exactly what they wanted...