Cain woke up two days later, his entire body aching, with an overwhelming sense of exhaustion still weighing heavily on him. The lingering effects of the Phoenix Seed's backlash had drained his vitality, leaving him feeling as though he had fought through a lifetime of battles.
Using his soul force, Cain inspected the state of his body. After a moment of analysis, he nodded to himself. Fortunately, the worst of the Phoenix Seed's backlash was over. Though it had left him weakened and wounded, there were no signs of permanent damage.
"My vitality will recover in time. It was dangerous, but overall, a victory," Cain mused, allowing himself a rare moment of respite and relaxation.
Afterward, he sent his soul force beyond the confines of the cave, scanning the surrounding area with precision. Once he confirmed that no one was nearby, a small smile formed on his lips. He was safe, for now. His attention then shifted to the last remaining shadow cocoon.
