Surviving The Game Villainess

As the ceremony concluded, Zephyr stepped away from the Awakening Stone, his body still buzzing with residual energy. The cheers of the crowd gradually faded into the background as he walked toward a quieter section of the grand courtyard. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

'Everything went as planned,' he thought. 'I successfully concealed my true strength. No one suspects a thing.'

Yet, despite his success, something continued to gnaw at the back of his mind—Seraphina Nightshade.

Her expression during his awakening had been too intense, too focused. And then there was that overwhelming 95% affection level notification. It didn't make sense. He had barely interacted with her before today, and yet, she already regarded him so highly?

That was too unnatural.

Zephyr closed his eyes and focused inwardly. "System, I have a question."

[System Online. Host may proceed.]

"Did you influence Seraphina's affection level?"

[Negative. The system does not interfere with the emotions or free will of individuals. Affection levels reflect genuine emotions felt by the target toward the host.]

Zephyr's eyes widened. It was real?

Seraphina's attachment to him wasn't the result of system manipulation—it was completely genuine. But why? What had caused it?

'In the game, she loved Valen,' he thought. 'But here, she barely acknowledges him. Instead, she's completely focused on me.'

Something had shifted, but he didn't yet understand what.

Putting his thoughts aside, Zephyr walked back to his room, his heart racing with excitement and nervousness. Today was a significant day for him, marking the beginning of his journey into the world of magic and power. The cheers from the crowd faded as he closed the door behind him, leaving the noise of the outside world behind.

The room was dimly lit, with a single mana crystal glowing softly on the wall. The warm light cast gentle shadows, creating a cozy atmosphere. Zephyr took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs. He sat down on the cool stone floor, grounding himself. He knew he had a lot of potential inside him, and he was ready to unlock it.

In the world of Aethelgard, cultivation was a vital part of life. It was how people grew stronger and gained magical powers. There were nine major realms, each representing a significant leap in power. Zephyr had studied these realms extensively in his previous life, and he knew that each step required immense dedication and time.

The cultivation journey in Aethelgard is divided into nine major realms: Foundation Realm, Mana Refinement Realm, Core Formation Realm, Elemental Manifestation Realm, Spirit Forging Realm, Divine Ascension Realm, Saint Sovereign Realm, Immortal King Realm, and Celestial Transcendence Realm.

Reaching even the Spirit Forging Realm usually took decades of hard work. But Zephyr had a special ability called Skill Creation that could help him grow much faster. He felt a surge of determination. He would not let his past life's limitations hold him back.

Activating Skill Creation, he closed his eyes and focused on his unique skill.

[Skill Creation Activated]

[Concept: Cultivation Technique]

[Objective: Rapid Growth, Efficient Absorption, and Limitless Expansion]

As he activated the skill, a wave of energy surged through him, and his consciousness expanded. It was as if he had opened a door to a vast world of knowledge. He could see the flaws in existing methods laid bare before him—rigid structures that limited potential and stifled true growth.

[Flaw 1: Most techniques required alignment with a single element, ignoring the synergy that could be achieved by combining multiple elements.]

[Flaw 2: The linear progression of cultivation wasted time and energy, forcing cultivators to reinforce outdated stages instead of advancing fluidly.]

[Flaw 3: The strain on the soul during rapid advancement often led to catastrophic failures, fracturing the cultivator's spiritual foundation.]

Zephyr's mind raced as he envisioned a new method—one that would utilize all elements in harmony rather than in isolation. He would create a technique that allowed for omni-elemental absorption, enabling him to draw upon the strengths of fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, light, and shadow simultaneously.

As the name resonated in his mind, a glowing formation appeared beneath him, inscribed with ancient runes that pulsed with energy. The runes shimmered in a spectrum of colors, each representing a different element. Zephyr felt the air around him shift, charged with raw mana as it began to swirl in response to his intent.

His body started to pull mana from the world at an alarming rate, faster than any known technique. The sensation was overwhelming—like standing at the edge of a storm, feeling the winds of power whip around him. If someone were to witness this, they would call it unnatural—divine, even.

He felt his mana core expand, pulsing rhythmically as it absorbed energy from the environment. Each heartbeat resonated with the flow of mana, and he could feel the very fabric of reality bending to his will. His breathing grew steady, and a tingling sensation coursed through his body, igniting every nerve ending with raw power.

In just a short time, Zephyr felt himself changing. The system announced his progress:

[Foundation Realm Reached]

[Mana Refinement Realm Reached]

[Core Formation Realm Reached]

He had jumped through three realms in one meditation session! This was something that usually took years of dedication and effort. Zephyr was amazed at how quickly he was growing stronger. The thrill of his rapid advancement filled him with a sense of invincibility, but he also felt a twinge of caution.

He remembered the stories of cultivators who had pushed themselves too hard, their bodies unable to handle the sudden influx of power. They had suffered dire consequences, and he did not want to become another cautionary tale. Yet, the allure of power was intoxicating, and he found it hard to resist the urge to continue.

As the energy surged through him, he felt a strain in his body. His veins darkened for a moment, showing that the mana was too much for him to handle all at once. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying. He heard a warning from the system:

[Warning: Host's soul integrity at 72%]

[Recommendation: Halt cultivation for 48 hours]

Zephyr knew he should heed the warning, but the excitement of his newfound abilities clouded his judgment. He wanted to push forward and see how far he could go. Ignoring the system's advice, he took a deep breath and focused on the energy flowing through him, willing it to stabilize.

When Zephyr finally opened his eyes, the world around him seemed different. His irises shimmered with a newfound intensity, reflecting the starlight of the cosmos. The system updated, confirming his extraordinary progress:

[Cultivation Base Stabilized]

[Current Realm: Core Formation (Peak Stage)]

[Mana Capacity: 300x Standard S-Rank]

He flexed his hand, conjuring a tiny black hole above his palm—a manifestation of his power. It swirled with energy before vanishing, leaving him with a sense of exhilaration. "This changes everything," he thought, a grin spreading across his face.