PASSAGE 33: EPHEMERAL SURGE

A surge of renewed determination coursed through Alaric. Gone was the shell of grief, replaced by a burning desire to honor Selena's memory. He wouldn't just survive; he'd ascend to the top, etching their names among the best Hunter Guilds in the Philippines. With newfound purpose fueling his movements, Alaric tied his shoes, put on his eye patch, his fingers nimble and focused. He focused using the Eye of Chronos, ready to activate the Temporal Breach and plunge back into the treacherous world of rifts.

Just as he was about to initiate the process, a shimmering light materialized beside him. Lumina, her form no longer shrouded in melancholy, solidified with a determined glint in her eyes.

"Hold on a second, Alaric!" she called out, her voice ringing with newfound urgency.

Alaric paused with confusion. "What is it, Lumina?"

"Before you jump headfirst into another rift," Lumina explained, her voice laced with concern, "remember those unallocated attribute points you received after defeating Locust a week ago? We don't know what dangers lurk within the rift the Temporal Breach will lead you to. It's vital you distribute those points and strengthen yourself first."

A jolt of realization struck Alaric. His grief had caused him to completely forget about the level-up notification he'd received after the grueling battle. With a tap on the Eye of Chronos, he pulled up his profile card. There, glowing brightly, were four unspent attribute points – a testament to his recent victory.

But something else caught his eye. A second passive skill, previously locked and shrouded in mystery, now pulsed with an inviting blue light, unlocked and ready to be explored.

PASSIVE SKILL 2: (Unlocked) NEW!

Ephemeral Surge (Lv. 1):

Ephemeral Surge is a passive ability that grants the user a temporary, significant boost in power fueled by intense emotions.

Activation: This ability activates automatically when the user experiences a surge of strong emotions, typically negative ones like anger, frustration, or desperation. The intensity of the emotion determines the potency of the surge.

Duration: Ephemeral Surge is a short-lived effect, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to a minute, depending on the level of emotional intensity. The stronger the emotion, the longer the duration.

Effect:

Stat Boost: All attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, etc.) can significantly increase, making the character stronger, faster, and more resilient.

Side Effect:

Loss of Empathy: The most dangerous side effect is the temporary severing of the emotional connection to others. In the throes of the surge, the user becomes hyper-focused on their goal, disregarding the well-being of those around them, including allies. This lack of empathy can lead to recklessness and potentially lethal consequences.

Ephemeral Surge. Alaric's breath hitched as he devoured the description. The skill promised a temporary surge in all his attributes upon reaching an intense emotion – anger, in this case. But there was a chilling caveat – a loss of empathy towards others.

A cold understanding washed over Alaric. It explained the inhuman efficiency with which he dispatched Barrera and Locust. The grief and rage had unlocked this hidden potential, twisting him into a monster, devoid of empathy, during the fight. The memory of that cold, detached feeling sent shivers down his spine.

Just then, a startled shriek from Lumina ripped him from his contemplation. "Whoa! You've unlocked a new passive skill, but the cost of this one is kind of scary, Alaric!" Her voice trembled with a mix of fear and concern.

Alaric blinked, the weight of Lumina's words settling on him. "This skill activates automatically when I feel intense rage," he thought grimly. "So, I need to keep a tight lid on my emotions to avoid hurting anyone…."

His train of thought was derailed by another ear-splitting scream, this time from Lumina. "WAAAAAAAAA!!!"

The shriek jolted Alaric back to reality. He whipped his head towards the window Lumina was staring at, his confusion quickly morphing into surprise. Dangling precariously outside, clinging to the window ledge for dear life, was none other than Jake, a goofy grin plastered on his face despite the obvious danger.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing out there?!" Alaric roared, exasperation warring with disbelief.

"Be-before that, c-can you let me in?" Jake stammered, his voice strained. "I-I'm losing my grip!"

With a final heave, Jake scrambled through Alaric's window, landing with a graceless sprawl on the floor. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his chest heaved with ragged gasps for breath. He knelt there for a moment, eyes squeezed shut, before finally managing a choked, "Thank you! I thought I was a goner!"

Alaric stared at him, a mix of annoyance and disbelief bubbling in his gut. "Are you crazy, Jake?! You're a Hunter, for crying out loud! You're not going to die from a second-story fall!" He barked out the questions, his voice laced with exasperation. "And what in the world were you doing trying to climb through my window anyway?"

Jake, ever the optimist, slowly hauled himself to his feet, wiping the sweat from his brow with a goofy grin. "Well, for starters, even B-Tier Alchemists type hunters aren't immune to fear, Alaric. Like, say, the fear of heights – or worse, death!" He declared, puffing out his chest with a comical amount of pride despite his near-death experience.

"Hey Alaric," Lumina chimed in telepathically, her voice laced with amusement, "what's wrong with him? He sounds so proud of being a scaredy-cat!"

Alaric's brow furrowed, a twitch developing at his temple. This whole situation was giving him a headache. On one hand, he was still fuming over Jake's reckless stunt. On the other, he couldn't help but be bewildered by the Alchemist's unshakable confidence in his own fearfulness.

"And to answer your second question," Jake continued, oblivious to the telepathic conversation, "of course I'm outside your window! I was hoping you'd finally let me join you on your adventures!"

"You could have just used the front door, you know," Alaric sighed, trying to tamp down his rising annoyance.

"Tried that already," Jake replied nonchalantly. "No answer. Figured you were probably moping around again, so I decided to check the windows. Then I heard you talking, so I figured climbing up might be faster."

Alaric pinched the bridge of his nose, a groan escaping his lips. This was going to be a long day.