Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 57: Awakening (2)

As the group convened in Magnus’s room, Magnus found his consciousness adrift in a vast, inky blackness. The only light emanated from a constellation of shimmering cards that floated around him, each radiating a brilliant luminescence. The sheer number of cards was overwhelming, filling the entire space.

Every single card pulsed with a divine light, etched with strange, unfamiliar symbols. Yet, despite never encountering these symbols before, Magnus instinctively understood their meaning. These were affinity cards.

Each card represented a specific magical affinity, the symbol a visual representation of its power. Magnus recognized basic affinities like elemental control, alongside more complex ones like light and dark. Even much more complex affinities, like space and even time manipulation, hung suspended in the darkness.

Magnus surveyed the surrounding cards, knowing he stood on the precipice of awakening. To complete the process, he needed to choose one of these cards, thereby awakening his own magical affinity.

However, the choice wasn’t arbitrary. One had to select a card that resonated with their very being. If it were otherwise, everyone would simply choose the most powerful affinities – time manipulation being a highly coveted example.

To awaken, Magnus needed to heed the call. The call was a phenomenon intrinsic to the awakening process. It required a state of deep focus, clearing the mind of all distractions and attuning oneself to the subtle resonance emanating from the affinity cards. Only then could the truly compatible affinity be discerned.

Closing his eyes, Magnus inhaled deeply, holding the breath for a moment before exhaling slowly. He began the arduous task of clearing his mind, striving to banish all thoughts and anxieties. Considering the recent upheaval in his life, this proved exceptionally challenging, yet he eventually succeeded.

With his mind clear, Magnus focused his attention outward. At first, nothing happened. Then, a faint humming sound emerged, as if some unseen creature were beckoning him.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

More calls joined the chorus – two, then three, then ten. Before Magnus could comprehend what was happening, thousands of cards began to call to him. It seemed as though every card in the vast space was reaching out, vying for his attention.

"What the..." Magnus muttered, opening his eyes to stare at the shimmering affinity cards, which seemed to have intensified their radiance.

"How is this even possible?" he whispered, utterly bewildered. How could so many affinity cards be calling to him? What could it possibly signify?

The average awakened individual typically experienced resonance with only one affinity card. Exceptionally talented individuals might connect with two or three. The absolute limit, a once-in-a-millennium occurrence, was ten. Magnus, however, had thousands.

If word of this phenomenon ever spread, experts from across the world would descend upon him, eager to dissect him, to unravel the secret of his extraordinary constitution.

Taking a deep breath, Magnus composed himself and surveyed the surrounding cards. He reassured himself that his awakening was a private affair, observed by no one.

With that thought firmly in mind, Magnus focused on the shimmering cards, a smile spreading across his face. This was an unexpected boon. With so many cards resonating with him, he didn’t need to settle for an undesirable affinity. He could choose the most potent one.

While many claimed that there were no weak magical affinities, only weak practitioners, Magnus knew that was utter nonsense. Time and space manipulation were simply unmatched by other affinities at the same level. No amount of training could fully bridge the gap between certain inherent powers.

Gazing at the multitude of affinities, Magnus smiled. Time and space seemed like excellent choices, far surpassing the others. The question now was which one to select.

Most people received only one chance at an affinity. Dual affinities were exceedingly rare, and Magnus wasn’t about to bank on such a long shot. His first choice had to be the affinity he truly desired, the one that resonated most deeply with his being. He had a momentous decision to make.

Magnus furrowed his brows, deep in thought. Time and space, both compelling choices, but time felt too complex. While potentially more powerful than space, mastering its intricacies would likely take an eternity.

He scanned the surrounding affinity cards once more, seeking to solidify his decision, when something caught his eye – a peculiar card in the distance. Unlike the others, whose symbolic patterns he readily understood, this one remained incomprehensible. But it wasn’t the cryptic symbols that intrigued Magnus; it was the card’s behavior.

The other affinity cards hummed vibrantly, shimmering and jostling closer, vying for his attention. This one, however, remained distant, humming softly, like a shy child reluctant to step into the spotlight.

Intrigued, Magnus willed his consciousness toward the enigmatic card. But as he approached, a strange resistance pushed back against him, an almost palpable discouragement. He felt a growing urge to turn back, to abandon his pursuit.

Steeling his resolve, Magnus pressed onward, battling the increasing resistance with each step. The closer he drew, the stronger the opposing force became, yet he refused to yield.

Finally, he reached the card. As he drew near, a powerful, regal aura emanated from it, a strange and compelling presence that made his heart tremble. He realized then that his initial impression had been entirely wrong.

This wasn’t a shy, retiring card. It wasn’t vying for his attention with flashy displays. It stood apart, a proud king awaiting his audience, an emperor who refused to bow to anyone. It exuded an air of self-assured power, waiting for Magnus to come to it.

This resonated deeply with Magnus. He, too, aspired to be an emperor, standing above all, unyielding, unbending, unbroken. He identified with the card’s quiet strength, its refusal to be subservient.

Without hesitation, Magnus reached out and grasped the card. He still couldn’t decipher its symbolic pattern, unsure of the magical affinity it represented. It was a risk, but the connection he felt, the resonance deep within his soul, was undeniable. The allure of the other affinities vanished in the face of this card’s potent aura. He knew, instinctively, that this was the one. Besides, what was the worst that could happen— Right?

The moment his hand made contact, the card vibrated intensely. Magnus felt a profound connection, like two long-lost kindred spirits reunited. The vibration intensified, then the card exploded into billions of tiny motes of light, swirling around Magnus before converging on his forehead, entering through the nebula, the space between his eyebrows.

Boom!

A resounding explosion echoed within his mind, and everything went dark.

When Magnus opened his eyes, he found himself not back in his room, but in another strange, unsettling space.

’What in the actual hell is this?’ he thought, horrified by the scene before him.

He stood in an immeasurable darkness, a darkness so profound that it defied vision. It wasn’t simply dim; it was an absolute absence of light, a void where even the slightest glimmer was extinguished.

But the darkness wasn’t the most disturbing aspect. It was the eyes. Magnus felt surrounded by countless unseen eyes, predatory gazes fixated on him, radiating malice and hunger. Even though he couldn’t see them, the sensation was overwhelming, prickling his skin with a chilling dread.

A wave of icy fear washed over him, and just then, a chanting began.

Twist! Twist! Twist!

The eerie chant resonated throughout the space, as though millions of voices whispered in unison, sending shivers down his spine. Magnus felt a desperate urge to flee, but before he could move, the chanting abruptly ceased, replaced by a single, chilling voice.

"Oh, you’re finally here..."