3. Awakening

Daniel felt like he was swimming through a sea of raw information, the flood overwhelming him. He gasped, clutching his head as he fought to focus. Slowly, the chaos in his mind began to settle, like scattered pieces of a puzzle clicking into place. The confusion faded, and soon he could think clearly again.

"What just happened?" Daniel wondered as he stood up, his legs shaky. Whatever had hit him felt like more than just a shift in his body. Something powerful had been unlocked inside him. He took a deep breath and focused on the new knowledge that had flowed into his mind.

Eternal Catalyst.

The name echoed in his thoughts, and as he concentrated, details of the ability unfolded before him, almost like a guide explaining everything about this strange new power.

At its core, this ability allowed him to absorb different types of energy and turn it into raw strength that would permanently enhance his body. He no longer had to push himself through grueling training—every bit of energy he absorbed would make him stronger. His strength, speed, and endurance—everything would improve, and these changes would last. The enhancements would be locked into his very being through his ability.

He could absorb almost any form of energy—kinetic, heat, electricity, even magical energy. This gave him a huge advantage, allowing him to tap into nearly any energy source he encountered.

But it didn't stop there. He also gained the ability to identify different energies, understanding their nature and strength. This acted like a sixth sense, guiding him to know whether the energy was safe to absorb or too dangerous. This would be crucial. There was a risk with this power—he couldn't just absorb any energy without thinking. Some forms were too volatile and could harm him if he wasn't careful.

There were clear limits to his power, too. His body had a threshold, and if he pushed it too far, he could overload, potentially injuring or even killing himself. He needed to be smart, absorbing energy in controlled amounts until his body adapted and could handle more. He wasn't invincible, and energies like cosmic or unstable dimensional forces were beyond his current reach.

The quality of energy also mattered. Pure, high-quality energy would enhance him more than corrupted or weaker sources. Absorbing the wrong kind could give him minimal benefits, or worse, set him back. He had to be mindful of what he took in.

His ability to identify energy wasn't perfect either. Some types of energy were too complex or unfamiliar for him to fully grasp at this stage. He'd need to grow, learn, and experience more to refine his ability to analyze them.

Daniel stood still for a moment, letting it all sink in. This power was incredible, but it came with dangers. He had to be careful, absorb only what he could handle, and push himself gradually. Even with the risks, the potential was staggering.

"This changes everything," he muttered, looking over the desolate landscape of the Void again. "I can survive here. I can grow stronger—strong enough to make it out."

Daniel reviewed the information in his mind one last time, summarizing it to himself.

'I can absorb energy and turn it into permanent strength. I can sense which energy is safe to absorb, but I have to be careful—I could overload or take in something dangerous. I need to grow my capacity and get better at understanding unfamiliar energies.'

'This ability… Eternal Catalyst… it's my way to survive. And maybe, it's more than that,' he thought.

As Daniel stood there, his mind buzzing with the details of his new power, a thought struck him out of nowhere.

'Why me?'

He started recalling the time when the lightning struck him. He could still feel the shock, the blinding flash, the burning pain as electricity surged through him. It wasn't a normal lightning strike. There was something strange about it, something that felt… beyond this world. Could that have triggered all of this? Did the lightning unlock this power inside him, or did it grant him this ability?

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense, but too many things still didn't add up. Why was he chosen? What was the deal with that deadly lightning?

He sighed, the mystery weighing heavily on his mind. But what could he do? He couldn't change the past or find answers right now. "I'll just have to let it go," he muttered, shaking his head. For now, all he could focus on was staying alive and getting stronger.

As he reached a decision, Daniel's legs suddenly wobbled, and he nearly fell. The rush of awakening his new ability, mixed with all the thoughts swirling in his head, had distracted him from his current condition. His body felt weak—almost on the verge of collapse—and an intense hunger gnawed at him. He felt like he hadn't eaten in what felt like an eternity. The awakening of the Eternal Catalyst had drained him physically. As he steadied himself, leaning against a jagged rock for support, the gravity of the situation hit him.

His breath came in ragged gasps, and his muscles trembled from exhaustion. He remembered how much he had shouted during the awakening, the pain and confusion making him scream at the top of his lungs. That could have easily attracted attention, and in the Void, there were far worse things than starvation. He had to move, and fast. Yet, his legs refused to cooperate. They were too weak to crawl, let alone carry him to safety.

Uneasiness crept into his mind. He couldn't afford to stay here, exposed and vulnerable, but his body wasn't responding. The exhaustion from the awakening had drained him completely, and he knew he had to rest. But resting in such an open, desolate space was far too dangerous. Every second wasted increased the risk of something—or someone—finding him.

Daniel closed his eyes, his mind racing. There had to be a way. The Eternal Catalyst… it wasn't just for absorbing energy for long-term growth, right? Could he use it to regain strength quickly, to recover from this weakness? He had no choice but to try.

After thinking for a moment, he made a decision. He would test his new ability right here, channeling whatever energy he could find in the environment to help him recover. It might not be much, but it could be enough to get him back on his feet.

Daniel knew using his Eternal Catalyst in his current state was risky, but he didn't have many choices. Staying too long could mean disaster. He needed to act fast and with purpose. Using what he had learned about his ability, he focused on the energy around him, hoping it could aid his recovery.

He closed his eyes, trying to push through the pain and exhaustion. The Void was a chaotic place, with swirling forces that seemed to move with a life of their own. He needed to understand this rhythm to tap into the energy sources around him.

'It's all or nothing,' he thought, breathing deeply.

He began by sensing the environment. The Void was filled with a strange, pulsing energy. There was a subtle hum in the air, a constant undercurrent he could now detect thanks to his secondary ability. He focused on this hum, searching for raw, unrefined energy that might help him recover.

After a moment, he found a faint source of energy, deemed safe for absorption by his secondary ability. Though rough and unstable, it was enough. He reached out with his senses, drawing the energy into himself. A jolt of coldness surged through him, followed by a tingling sensation. The energy was intense and powerful, quickly fueling his recovery.

'Not bad,' Daniel mused, feeling the raw energy spread through his body.

After the energy was absorbed, the conversion into raw power was quick, but the distribution took longer. Within minutes, he felt revitalized. The hunger that had plagued him vanished, replaced by a deep sense of satisfaction. The energy not only restored his strength but nourished him entirely.

'Better than I thought. Guess I'm getting the hang of this,' he thought, standing up and testing his now-stable legs.

He could instinctively feel that once he became more familiar with using his ability, he could speed up the process. Shaking off his thoughts, Daniel knew he couldn't stay exposed for long. The Void was dangerous, and he didn't know what threats might be nearby.

'No time to waste. Need to move.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For 5+ advance chapters, please visit my patreon.

patreon.com/Wordalchemist