Awakening: Reincarnating With the SSS-Level Extraction Talent

Arceus could sense it the moment he laid eyes on Alex.

In just a few months, the once-weak human had transformed into something extraordinary.

A divine aura surrounded him.

His attributes were off the charts.

He wielded powers that even Arceus couldn't fully comprehend.

Somehow, this "weakling" from a few months ago had grown strong enough to rival most [Grand Mages].

Strong enough to challenge him.

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That was why Arceus had decided to test Alex's strength with the final quest.

[SSS-Level Grand Mage Student Final Quest: "The Student Defeats the Teacher."]

[Objective: Spar with Arceus and defeat him.]

[Reward: x2 Reward Box Items + ???]

If Alex could truly defeat him, then maybe revealing those secrets wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Let's start, then," Arceus said, swaying his staff.

In an instant, both he and Alex were ejected from the [Mage Tower].

When Alex opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast field outside the [Mystical Forest].

This was the same place where Alex had first used his [Token of the Mage] to access the tower.

The tower itself was intangible to those in the outside world, existing in another dimension.

The field was massive, providing the perfect arena for their battle without any distractions.

Arceus clapped his hands together, and his staff reappeared in his grasp.

[Staff of the Moon Jade (Artifact++)]

The staff was a masterpiece.

Its handle was pure white, and at the tip was a beautiful jade stone, encased in a crescent-shaped holder.

"You can use any of your powers, even if they're not magic," Arceus informed him, "Get ready, you only get one shot at this. If you can't beat me, you won't get any of the rewards or information."

"Information?" Alex thought, his curiosity piqued, "Hm..."

Regardless, Alex summoned his [Bleeding Dragon Claws] in his left hand, ready to fight.

As for his right hand, he called forth his [Staff of Pure Hatred], gripping it tightly since he would need those spells to get a bit of [Destiny Points] if he could hit Arceus with them.

But just as the crimson staff appeared in his hand...

[The Crown of Calamity has detected an item worthy of being absorbed.]

"Huh?" Alex blinked in surprise as he read the notification for the second time in under ten minutes.

A crimson and black tendril, a fusion of the Heart of Calamity and the Crown of the Abyss God, shot out from the crown on his head.

It grabbed the staff from his hand and pulled it into the crown, vanishing.

"It just ate your staff," Arceus pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

"No shit..." Alex sighed, though he wasn't too worried.

If this was anything like when the crown absorbed the [Ring of Eternity], then it meant...

[The Crown of Calamity has absorbed and processed its second item.]

[Current stored items: Ring of Eternity, Staff of Pure Hatred]

[Staff of Pure Hatred (Corrupted)]

[Effects: +2,500,000 Spirit, +2,000,000 Agility, +2,000,000 Magical Resistance, -75% Cooldown Reduction.]

"HOLY SHIT!"

The crown had not only absorbed the staff but also boosted its effects.

The attributes the staff had given him were increased by a million each.

His cooldown reduction had gone from 50% to 75%.

It was ridiculously overpowered.

And there was more...

[You can now use spells without having a staff in hand.]

This was the greatest upgrade of all.

Alex decided to test it immediately.

He placed his hands behind his back, ensuring he wasn't holding anything.

Yet...

Demonic Spear!

A massive, molten spear fused with the power of hell materialized before him.

Without hesitation, Alex hurled it at Arceus, who swiftly deflected it with a wave of his staff.

"You..." Arceus' eyes narrowed, "Can use your spells without a staff now..."

"Seems like it," Alex said with a grin, "I bet you're jealous!"

"Can't say I'm not," Arceus admitted, a small smile playing on his lips, "A mage's weakness revolves around the fact that if they lose their staff, they lose most of their power."

"They can't cast most of their spells effectively."

"But you... you just cast a spell with your hands behind your back."

"How... peculiar."

Alex took his stance, ready for the fight.

With this new upgrade, he could focus entirely on using his Chosen One powers and claws to attack while casting spells with his mind.

It was an incredible combination.

Somehow, Alex was getting stronger by the minute.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

The battle was about to begin.

Arceus snapped his fingers, and a golden portal appeared.

From it stepped Artemis, Arceus' two-winged angel servant.

"You'll be the judge of our battle," Arceus told Artemis.

Artemis nodded, his expression serious.

"You should be careful. I've heard... rumors that he defeated the God of the Abyss..."

Even Artemis seemed cautious.

Alex had expected some kind of insult or dismissal, but none came.

The angel could sense Alex's newfound strength.

"I know," Arceus said with a laugh, "That's why I'm testing his strength."

"Very well," Artemis said, positioning himself between the two. "The rules are simple."

"Whoever gives up or is unable to fight loses."

"Killing is allowed."

Alex and Arceus nodded, agreeing to the rules.

Then...

[3...]

Alex took his position.

Everything he had learned, every battle he had fought, had led to this moment.

Fighting a Grand Mage was a feat only the gods could match.

[2...]

Arceus also took his stance, his expression serious.

He could feel the power radiating from Alex, and he knew he couldn't hold back, even if it meant killing his student.

[1...]

They stared at each other, the tension thick in the air.

And...

[Fight!]

Arceus didn't waste a single second.

He pointed his staff at Alex and unleashed [Lance of Oblivion].

In an instant, a dark lance formed at the tip of Arceus' staff and shot toward Alex.

The lance emanated a terrifying power, one that could obliterate most opponents in an instant.

"??!" Artemis was shocked.

Arceus had used one of his three strongest spells right off the bat.

[Lance of Oblivion (Artifact++)]

This was one of Arceus' most devastating spells, just below his forbidden spell.

The lance was faster than anyone could react, but Alex didn't falter.

He flapped his wings, dodging the lance at the last second.

But as the lance passed him, it began to glow intensely.

Fwish... BOOM!

The lance exploded.

The force of the blast shook the entire plains and the Mystical Forest beyond.

The explosion was so powerful that it left a massive crater in its wake.

"I don't think you should have done that, Master..." Artemis said, his voice tinged with concern, "He might be strong, but he's no match for you..."

Arceus would have agreed just a few hours ago, but now he knew better.

Someone like Alex wouldn't die so easily.

And as the dark mist from the explosion began to fade...

Fwish!

Alex emerged from the crater, completely unharmed.

"That was powerful," Alex said with a grin.

"I knew you wouldn't die so easily," Arceus replied, his expression darkening.

This first attack was a test to ensure that his instincts weren't wrong.

But now that he confirmed it, the games were over.

This was going to be a true battle.

Something Arceus hadn't experienced in centuries.

"Won't make you win, but you can try," Alex laughed, readying himself.

The battle with a Grand Mage had truly begun.