The light from Kai's hand flared brilliantly, filling the ruins with a radiant glow. The creature charging at him froze for a split second, its red eyes reflecting the shimmering energy. Then, without warning, the light burst outward in a wave of force. The beast was caught mid-leap, its body flung violently against the stone wall with a sickening thud.
Kai stood in the center of the chamber, his breath coming in ragged gasps, the power still surging through him. He could feel it coursing under his skin—wild, untamed, yet somehow controlled by his will. This was the Codex's gift. A gift he didn't understand, but one that had saved his life.
The howls outside grew louder, more desperate. Kai knew the creatures wouldn't stop, not until they had torn him apart like the others in the village. He gritted his teeth, his muscles tense. If more of them were coming, then he had no choice but to keep fighting.
"The Codex grows with each battle," the voice echoed again in his mind, steady and firm. "Every enemy you face will make you stronger. But you must control it, Kai. The power is yours to command."
Control. That was the key. The power wasn't just flowing into him—it was waiting for him to guide it, to shape it. He could feel the energy pulsing in his veins, a raw force ready to be unleashed. But he had to stay focused, had to learn how to channel it.
Another beast appeared at the entrance, its fur matted with blood and its glowing eyes locked onto Kai. It moved slowly, cautiously, as if sensing the danger in the air. Kai watched it closely, his heart pounding in his chest, but this time he didn't hesitate.
With a deep breath, he focused on the energy within him, willing it to his hands. The glow returned, soft at first, then brighter, more intense. His fingers tingled with the familiar warmth as the power built up, ready to be released.
The beast lunged.
Kai thrust his hand forward, and a concentrated beam of light shot out, striking the creature in the chest. It howled in pain, its body jerking as the energy coursed through it, and then it collapsed, twitching before falling still.
Kai stood there for a moment, staring at the fallen creature, trying to process what had just happened. He had done it again. He had used the Codex's power to defeat another of the monsters. But even as he stood there, victorious, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
His heart still pounded with the rush of adrenaline, but there was something else now—an unsettling sensation deep within him. The power of the Codex was incredible, but it was also frightening. It felt limitless, as if there was no end to what he could do with it. And that scared him.
Before he could dwell on the thought, another howl shattered the silence, this one deeper, more menacing. It wasn't like the others—it was louder, more powerful, as if whatever was coming now was far more dangerous than the creatures he had already faced.
Kai's breath caught in his throat as he turned toward the entrance, his eyes widening in fear. A massive shadow loomed just outside, too large to be one of the wolf-like beasts. The air grew heavy, the stench of death and decay thickening with each passing second.
Then, it stepped into the ruins.
The creature was enormous, towering over Kai, its hulking form covered in dark, spiked fur. Its eyes burned with an intense, unnatural light, and its long claws scraped against the stone floor as it advanced. It was like the other beasts, but twisted, mutated—an alpha among monsters.
Kai took a step back, his hands trembling. The power still thrummed inside him, but this creature… it was different. Stronger. Smarter. And it was watching him with a terrifying intelligence that sent chills down his spine.
He knew instinctively that this was no ordinary fight. If he didn't defeat this creature, it wouldn't just kill him—it would destroy everything, and there would be no stopping it.
The alpha growled, a low, guttural sound that made the very walls of the ruins tremble. It lowered its head, muscles coiling, preparing to strike. Kai felt the air grow still, the tension so thick it was suffocating.
"Focus, Kai," the voice of the Codex whispered urgently in his mind. "This battle will define you. The Codex has chosen you for this very reason. Do not fear the power—master it."
The words gave Kai pause. Master it. The Codex had chosen him for a reason, but could he truly wield its power in the face of such overwhelming danger?
The alpha lunged.
In that instant, everything slowed. Kai felt his body move on instinct, the energy of the Codex surging through him. His mind sharpened, and the fear that had gripped him began to fade. He wasn't powerless—not anymore.
With a shout, he thrust both hands forward, and the light that erupted from his palms was blinding. It wasn't a single beam this time but a torrent of energy, a wave of pure, concentrated force. It slammed into the alpha with the force of a thunderstorm, sending the creature skidding back across the stone floor.
But the alpha didn't go down. It roared in defiance, pushing against the wave of light, its claws digging into the ground as it fought to stand.
Kai gritted his teeth, pouring everything he had into the attack. The Codex's power burned through him, fierce and untamed, but it was his now. He could feel it responding to his will, shaping itself to his desires.
The alpha let out one final, agonized roar before the light consumed it. Its body crackled with energy, disintegrating into ash before collapsing into a pile of smoldering bones.
Silence fell over the ruins.
Kai stood there, panting, his body trembling from the exertion. The glow in his hands faded, leaving behind only the faint hum of the Codex's power deep within him. He had done it. He had won.
But as the adrenaline began to wear off, a cold realization settled over him. The power of the Codex was incredible, but it came with a cost. He could feel the weight of it now, the responsibility that came with wielding such a dangerous force.
And then there was the voice—the voice of the Codex. It had guided him, helped him, but what was it really? And why had it chosen him?
Before he could ponder these questions, a sound echoed through the ruins—soft, almost imperceptible at first, but growing louder. It wasn't a howl or a growl, but something far more unsettling.
It was a voice, distant and echoing, but unmistakable.
"Kai Ren…"
His blood ran cold. The voice wasn't from the Codex.
It was from something else. Something far older, far darker. And it was calling his name.
### End of Chapter 3