A thousand meters above Earth's newest training sanctuary—Skyforge Citadel, suspended by anti-gravity pillars and laced with cosmic steel—Hong floated motionless. Around him, swirling in a vortex of primal chaos, were seven elemental energies: fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, light, and darkness. His eyes, once tranquil, now pulsed with an omniversal gleam—an echo of the Void Mutation Trait his soul had inherited beyond dimensions.
This wasn't merely the activation of an elemental body. It was an ascension ritual.
"System, initiate Elemental Core Synchronization."
"🔔 SYSTEM ALERT: All Seven Elemental Nodes Detected. Synchronization in Progress…""🧬 Compatibility: 100%""🔥 Elemental Body Activation: COMPLETE""🎁 Special Prize Unlocked: 'Void Tier Cosmic Formation – [Gaia Lock: Earth Heart Variant]'""Note: Deployable only via Civilization System under planetary defense protocol."
A blazing surge of power coursed through Hong's every cell as his elemental clones emerged one by one.
Blazing Hong – bathed in solar fire, capable of evaporating entire mechs with a glance.
Aqua Hong – fluid, graceful, impenetrable; able to manipulate molecular structure in fluids.
Zephyr Hong – fast enough to split photons; invisible to naked eyes.
Terra Hong – the embodiment of gravity and mass. Unshakeable, unyielding.
Volt Hong – condensed plasma within humanoid flesh; pure energy.
Lumen Hong – light incarnate; uses illusions and light-speed strikes.
Umbra Hong – darkness made manifest; assassin-level infiltration, shadow clones, and time dilation.
Each clone wasn't just an extension—they were fully independent elemental warriors with Hong's consciousness shared like a quantum network.
As his seven clones hovered around him, the system's prize box unfolded above the clouds—crystalline, ancient, humming with raw cosmic encryption.
"Let's see what you're hiding…"
Hong reached inside.
Inside lay a black-gold crystal disc—inscribed with runes older than time. The moment his fingers touched it, knowledge poured into his mind like molten lava: formations, dimensional layering, space-folding runes, trap sigils, and planetary-scale defense arrays.
"This… this is universal-grade Formation Mastery!"
But even as the knowledge settled, the system clarified:
"⚠️ Formation Access: LOCKED. Can only be activated by the Civilization Evolution System. Purpose: Planetary Protection Only.""☯ Formation Type: [Gaia Lock] – Immovable Planetary Fortress.""⏳ Mastery Path Enabled: Basic → Peak Universal Forgemaster (Formation + Weapon Forging)."
Hong clenched his fist. "So I can learn it... master it… but not activate it without system permission."
Good. That ensured Earth's safety wasn't at the mercy of his emotions. The responsibility was heavy—but fair.
Suddenly, alarms blared in the Skyforge Citadel.
"⚔ Cosmic Arena Signal Incoming – Tier 2 Alien Duel Challenge Issued""🔘 Opponent: Vuh'Kar the Dissector – Species: Nytherion, Rank: Star-Level 9""🎁 Winner's Prize: Weapon Forging Blueprint – Eternal Core Blade + Elemental Temper Furnace"
A Star-Level 9 alien warrior from the outer spiral arm had arrived. His battleship hovered in low-Earth orbit, his signal booming:
"Primitive Earthling Hong. I challenge you to a battle witnessed by the neutral Virtual Arena. Do you accept, or hide behind your planet's crust?"
Hong smirked.
"Initiate broadcast. I'll show the universe what 'primitive' looks like when elemental dominance meets formation legacy."
⚔ The Duel ⚔
The arena materialized in space, simulating a dead planet as the battleground.
Vuh'Kar launched with nine spears and a fourth-dimensional strike pattern. But before he could land, Zephyr Hong and Umbra Hong blurred through his defenses, slashing across his spine with wind and shadow blades.
Next came Terra Hong, slamming down with enough gravity to crack the fake moon in two.
Then—Volt Hong's Nova Lance pierced through his chest, just as Lumen Hong blinded him with photonic shards.
Finally, Main Body Hong appeared above his disoriented body and drew a sword—not just any sword—but one forged from pure elemental convergence.
"This is Earth's answer.""'Void Fang: Proto-Blade of All Elements.'"
With one descending strike, Vuh'Kar was erased. No blood. Just light and silence.
"🏆 Victory Registered""🎁 Reward Claimed: Weapon Forging Blueprint + Cosmic Elemental Furnace Blueprint""🔓 New Facility Unlocked in System: "Forge of Eternal Flame""
Hong didn't cheer. He floated there, silent, surrounded by his elemental forms.
"System.""Prepare Luo Feng's awakening. We begin training… now.