The moment the elements became unstable and filled my body, from marrow to blood, blood to muscle, muscle to skin—
Something snapped.
A resounding crack echoed inside my chest.
Then came the burn.
Fire Qi surged first, ripping through my bones like molten metal poured into a cold forge. My doubts didn't just vanish—they were incinerated. Rage, instinct, drive—it all bloomed, molten and red. My vision tinted in crimson heat.
Then came the cold.
Ice Qi followed, threading through the pain like a blade dipped in frost. It didn't numb me. It sharpened everything. My heartbeat slowed. My nerves focused. The chaos clarified.
Earth roared through me next. It didn't ask permission. It rooted. My legs hardened, stance unshakable. Every muscle clenched, locked into place like stone pillars braced for war. It grounded the storm raging through my core.
And then wind.
