A/N: This happened when Alex's body was undergoing a complete change, the birth of a new race.
°°°
Alex gritted his teeth and let out a short grunt. He was determined to keep going, to simply swallow the pain and deal with it later. For now, the pain was manageable. Annoying, but manageable. He swallowed the pain and continued onward, he couldn't fall here as he had many things on his shoulders, he hadn't achieved his goals yet, longing for his women and his friend that were waiting for him, Alex's eyes turned resolute, he absolutely couldn't fail.
It was at that moment the rumbling in the sky stopped and the black lightning vanished as if content with Alex's survival.
Thud!
Alex fall unconscious shortly after while his body underwent a complete change. If weren't because of the sister's barrier, the birth of a new race would have been felt by those higher beings. Even so, some of them noticed something, their blood churning, they both have an unusual feeling, something must have happened somewhere, the man sitting on the black throne in the abyss was not an exception, he frowned as he couldn't locate where this feeling was coming from but soon he smiled.
''Everything will be mine in the end.'' He simply stated before closing his eyes, his minions were lowly corrupting the universe. One of them would soon break the barrier of the middle realm (where Alex and Co are) to conquer the lower realm completely.
Meanwhile, Alex who lost consciousness felt like he was in a dream.
His consciousness was slowly sinking into the abyss of his mind. A world full of darkness where not even a speck of light could be seen.
A crimson blood pool appeared and his body slowly moved toward it.
The moment his body has been plunged into the crimson blood pool, it begins to boil as his body is destroyed and reconstructed.
This process had already begun the moment he accepted the change and underwent the lightning baptism.
Like a sword being hammered by a talented smith, Alex's body was undergoing world-shaking change that would make even the sisters open their eyes wide if saw it.
But the changes that were happening weren't only skin deep. His very essence was changing.
Even as he sank deeper into the crimson and seemingly endless sea, Alex who was feeling faint, thought about humans and what was their power.
The only race that could harness power from other races as long as they had enough capacity.
A human who obtained enough power from a contract with a would see his body change and adjust to fit the power better thereby fundamentally changing what he was initially.
In a way, humans were the weakest race but they were also the most absolute race for the simple reason that the body of every human housed an infinite amount of possibility.
For humans, the path they had to follow was clear.
It was one of omnipotence.
Alex possessed the purest essence of humanity, a High human, it could be considered as the progenitor of the human race. While taking in the versatility of the race known as humans, he next selected dragon for his sturdy physics, High elf for intelligence and compatibility with mana, and lastly Asura for his blood, Wild, bold and unyielding. He combined them into one.
Slowly, where once only darkness could be found, light began to gather.
Alex did not know this. His mind was busy wandering as he realized all the truth that mattered to him.
Who he was. What were his limits, and where did his goals lay?
*Thump*
His heart which had become as still as a calm lake begin to beat once again.
*Thump* *Thump*
The eternal silence of the deep sea seemed now filled with sounds.
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
The inner world of Alex itself seemed to shake as the realization of Who he was and What were his limits finally settled in his mind.
But then, what was his goal?
Why did he fight so much, tooth and nail?
To survive?
It wasn't wrong. You had to live to enjoy life. In this fucked up world, Survival was always the main goal to strive for.
Then did he just want to survive?
This was wrong. Survival alone was not enough.
He didn't just want to survive like a pitiful dog. He wanted something more.
Then, was his goal to protect his loved ones?
Once again this wasn't wrong. Despite his desire to survive, Alex was ready to give away his life to protect those he loved.
But…Was it truly the only reason he wanted power?
Then the answer was no.
In the end, it all came to this.
He desired power for himself, to do anything he wants.
Alex wanted to become strong.
Not just for survival.
Not just to protect his loved one.
But first and foremost for himself.
For his happiness. For his joy. For his own goals.
Because he was a Selfish person rather than a hero.
*Bang*
Alex felt his back hit the bottom of the sea in his mind.
He was honestly surprised since he thought it was a bottomless sea but nothing was infinite in this world.
Looking down at the door, he instinctively knew.
This wasn't just any door.
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
His heart keeps beating erratically. His breathing was shallow and his mind was blurry.
As if everything that mattered in existence was that gate. The only obstacle between him and greater power.
This was why…
Gathering all his strength…
Alex pushed the gate and walked in and the moment he did he was assaulted by an intense pain as he could be seen walking toward a crimson palace in the distance.
Every movement sent waves of throbbing pain through his chest and back. It was exhausting and he felt sick, but there seemed to be nothing he could do about it. What if there was no end to this pain? What if it got worse? These thoughts alone were enough to get Alex's heart racing faster, never mind the pain itself. The pain shouldn't be more than a minor nuisance to him considering everything he had gone through since reincarnating into this world, but right now it was far more than that.
Alex tried his hardest to ignore the pain and focus on both continuing with what he was doing while still allowing the injuries to heal. But it was all too much for his fragile body. It was clear nothing could be done and nothing would get done.
He kept walking for what he considered to be an hour while enduring the pain as his body deconstruct and reconstruct. Alex was able to finally see a portal.
Taking this portal he was teleported into what appeared to be a basement with a long corridor and as soon as he appeared he was assaulted by another vague of an intense pain.
A sickening pain shot through his stomach and his arms wrapped tightly around it. It was all Alex could do to not collapse and wither in misery on the floor. The voices in his head that normally contradicted each other now screamed in unison and told him to stop what he was doing and find a way out of this misery.
The road ahead was a tough one and right now he wasn't sure whether he was willing to walk it, let alone whether he would be able.
Alex let out a moaning yelp, part desperation, and part determination. He had two options: fight or give up. But there was no way he could give in to the pain, there was no way he'd ever give up. So, he pressed forward, every movement adding to the barrage of pain, but he kept going no matter what.
Dragging his body along the corridor while enduring a vague of intense pain Alex arrived before a big crimson door, without wasting time he pushed open the door and was momentarily blinded by a crimson light.
And after his eyes got adjusted to the crimson light, he was able to see what was inside the room he had walked into.
It was a spacious throne hall and in the middle of this throne hall stood an altar with four light orbs floating on top of it.
The moment Alex saw them he immediately understood what they are.
The gray orb was his High human essence while the green one is his Half High elf essence, the dark red orb was the dragon's essence, and lastly, the crimson orb was his Asura's essence.
The four combined into one Dark Crimson orb exuding majesty that distorted the surrounding area.
Alex's eyes shone and he mumbled.
''Let's call you the Royal Asura's bloodline.''
As if happy with the given name, the dark crimson orb trembled before shooting into the middle of Alex's eyebrows.
BOOM!
A terrifying explosion of power followed suit and the crimson castle was reduced to dust with Alex floating in a Crimson cocoon as he slowly digest his new bloodline.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel