A deep silence settled over the shattered plaza, the remnants of their battle still fresh in the air. Lyrien's breaths were ragged, each inhale a painful reminder of the injuries he had sustained. He lay on his back, staring up at the dull, overcast sky, its gray clouds mirroring the turmoil within him. The fight had taken everything he had, pushing him to the brink of his endurance. But through sheer willpower, he had managed to protect the only family he had left, his disciple, his son in all but blood.
His eyes fluttered closed as exhaustion claimed him, but instead of darkness, he found himself enveloped in a strange, ethereal light. He was neither awake nor asleep, floating in a void that was both alien and familiar. It was as if he was standing on the threshold between two worlds, the tangible and the abstract.
In this liminal space, he felt a presence, a comforting warmth that reached deep into his soul. A voice, calm and ancient, whispered through the emptiness.
"You have chosen... the path of Reality. Synchronization with the essence of existence has begun. Embrace your power, Lyrien."
A surge of energy coursed through his body, and with it, memories—fragments of a past that was not his own. He saw worlds being shaped and unmade, the very fabric of reality bending and twisting at the whims of a powerful entity. He could feel his own consciousness expanding, as if he were becoming one with the universe itself.
Then, just as abruptly as it had begun, the vision ended. The system's familiar chime pulled him back to reality.
[Enlightenment Achieved: Reality Synchronization Stage I Unlocked]
Lyrien gasped as his eyes flew open. He was back in the plaza, lying amidst the rubble. The sharp sting of his injuries and the cold bite of the stone beneath him were all too real. The power he had just glimpsed was beyond anything he had ever imagined. It was as if a door had been unlocked within him, granting access to abilities that defied the laws of nature.
But there was no time to ponder the implications of his newfound power. The memory of his last moments before collapsing resurfaced, and his heart clenched with dread.
"Xulios!"
Ignoring the protests of his battered body, Lyrien forced himself up, his eyes scanning the plaza. The monstrous beast that had once been his disciple was nowhere to be seen. Instead, lying a few feet away was a human figure, still and silent. Lyrien's pulse quickened as he staggered over, half-crawling, half-stumbling.
As he drew closer, he realized that the form lying on the ground was indeed his disciple, but something was different. Xulios' once wild, raven-black hair had transformed into a cascade of pure white, so bright it almost seemed to glow in the dim light. His skin was pale, almost translucent, as if drained of all color.
Lyrien's breath hitched in his throat. Kneeling beside him, he gently turned Xulios onto his back. The young man's eyes were closed, his face serene as if merely sleeping. But when his eyelids fluttered open, Lyrien was met with a shock: instead of the familiar deep gold eyes, Xulios now had eyes of a vivid, unnatural green—the same hue as the beast he had fought.
"Xulios...?" Lyrien whispered, his voice laced with a mix of hope and fear.
There was no immediate response. The young man stared blankly up at him, the vibrant green eyes unblinking, unseeing. It was as if he were looking through Lyrien, rather than at him.
"Xulios, it's me," Lyrien said, gripping his shoulders. "Do you recognize me?"
Still, there was nothing, only that cold, vacant gaze. It was like looking into the eyes of a stranger, or worse, a puppet devoid of its strings. A chill ran down Lyrien's spine. Had the transformation left his disciple a hollow shell?
Before he could fully succumb to despair, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[Companion Status: Xulios - Spirit Beast Hybrid Detected. Level: S-Rank Power Suppressed. Restoration Required.*
Relief washed over him like a tidal wave. Xulios was still there, somewhere beneath this alien exterior. Whatever had happened during their battle, there was still hope. Lyrien had saved his body; now he just needed to save his soul.
He turned his attention inward, feeling the remnants of the beast's power lingering in his veins. The transformation he underwent during the battle had left its mark on him too. He grabbed a shard of broken glass from the ground, examining his reflection.
His own appearance had changed dramatically. His once long, dark hair had been reduced to a shorter, sharper cut, streaked with strands of white, a stark contrast to his now darker skin. His eyes, which were once a deep gold, had turned into a piercing shade of grey, reflecting the storm of emotions raging within him.
Lyrien couldn't help but smile wryly at his new look. "Looks like we've both changed, huh?" he muttered to his unresponsive disciple.
But they couldn't stay here. The plaza, once bustling with life, was now a graveyard of shattered stone and twisted metal. This place would soon attract scavengers and worse. They needed to move.
Summoning the system interface, he accessed the Shop, something he hadn't had the luxury to do during their desperate fight.
[Accessing System Shop... Available Points: 20,000]
The familiar holographic display flickered to life before his eyes. He quickly navigated through the various categories, knowing they needed supplies if they were to survive the journey ahead. They couldn't afford to be unprepared.
- Ceremonial Combat Attire: For himself, he selected a sleek black military coat with sharp white linings and gold lanyards on the shoulders, paired with matching black trousers adorned with golden side accents. The ensemble was completed with crisp white gloves, polished boots. [Purchased - 5,000 points]
For Xulios, he chose a similar but more armored version to protect his still-recovering form. It was reinforced with lightweight padding to give flexibility without compromising defense. [Purchased - 4,000 points]
Lyrien then turned to weapons, knowing they would need to defend themselves during their long journey.
- Black Machete (Grade C): The blade was forged from the core essence of the beast, giving it a deadly sharpness and an eerie green glow along the edges. It was lightweight yet devastating in its precision, capable of cutting through even the toughest of scales. [Purchased - 6,000 points]
- Dagger (Grade D): Compact and deadly, the dagger was perfect for close-quarter combat, with a blade that could easily pierce through armor. [Purchased - 2,000 points]
- Spear for Xulios (Grade C): The spear was elegantly crafted with a reinforced metal tip that pulsed with faint green veins, mirroring the beast's power. It was perfectly balanced for both throwing and melee combat, a weapon that would suit Xulios' fighting style or his old fighting style, the one he personally taught him. [Purchased - 3,000 points]
With the remaining points, Lyrien stocked up on essentials:
- Restoration Elixirs (x5): Potions capable of rapidly healing wounds and restoring energy. [Purchased - 500 points]
- Rations and Camping Gear: Enough supplies to last them for a month. [Purchased - 500 points]
Satisfied with his purchases, Lyrien felt a newfound sense of preparedness. The items materialized before him in a neat stack, the Shop's magic always an impressive sight.
He quickly dressed himself, then moved to clothe Xulios, who remained eerily compliant throughout the process. As he fastened the last button on Xulios' coat, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. The boy he knew was somewhere beneath that pale exterior, trapped behind those strange green eyes.
"Let's go," Lyrien said softly, more to himself than to his silent companion.
Xulios gave no response, but he followed obediently as Lyrien turned to leave the plaza. They needed to head to the Upper Sectors, a place where perhaps answers to Xulios' transformation could be found. It was a journey that would take them across the desolate remnants of this world, through treacherous landscapes teeming with monsters and dangers unimaginable.
As they walked, Lyrien glanced at the sun rising over the horizon. Its light was weak, filtered through the thick clouds of ash and dust that choked the sky, but it was a symbol of hope nonetheless.
The road ahead would be long and arduous. They would have to face more beasts, more challenges that would push them to their limits. But Lyrien was no longer the man who had started this journey. He had changed, evolved, and so had Xulios.
For now, they would travel together, two shadows against the ruins of a once-great civilization, bound by blood, fate, and the unspoken promise of redemption.
As they left the plaza behind, Lyrien's grip tightened on the hilt of his new machete. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it.