Kael stepped cautiously into the final chamber, his footsteps light against the polished stone floor. His senses, heightened by the energy pulsing through the air, told him that something here was different.
The air was thick with Aether energy, but there was something else—an undercurrent of darkness, a sinister hum that seemed to vibrate deep within the stone walls. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the room.
The chamber was vast, with towering pillars etched in glowing runes and a soft luminescence emanating from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows over everything.
Where is it? Kael mused. He was looking for something—Aethlar's Dark Essence. But the room was empty.
He frowned, a sense of impatience creeping in. "Don't tell me there's another trial," he muttered under his breath.
As if in response to his words, the ground beneath him began to tremble. Kael instinctively braced himself, muscles tense, eyes flicking around to assess the sudden change.
Slowly, a platform began to rise in the center of the chamber, the stone groaning with effort as it lifted from the ground. Kael watched as a crystal basin emerged, glowing with an ominous, dark light. It was carved from what looked like onyx, its surface veined with streaks of violet.
Dark liquid dripped from the crystal's pointed center like morning dew, each drop rippling the surface of the basin and floating aimlessly before finally settled on the basin. The liquid was a deep black, swirling with flecks of violet, like stars captured in an eternal void. Kael's breath caught in his throat.
He knew instantly what this was—Aethlar's Dark Essence. This was what he had come for, what Varin, his mentor, needed in order to fix his damaged rebirth core. His heart quickened as he approached the platform. The pull of the essence was palpable, its power seeping into the air around him, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
Kael reached into his satchel and pulled out an empty bottle. He had planned to collect the essence, bottle it for later, but something inside him hesitated.
The system chimed in his mind, the familiar voice cool and indifferent.
"Detecting Void Aether Essence."
He paused mid-step as the notification expanded in front of him:
Description: A swirling, dark liquid that emanates a faint violet glow, both ethereal and ominous. It pulsates with raw, chaotic power. The essence defies gravity, floating weightlessly in the air.
Effects:
Rebirth Core Strengthening
Aether Mastery Boost
Skill Enhancement: Shadow and Void-based skills increased
Corruption Resistance: Temporary protection from Abyssal corruption
Energy Rejuvenation: Restores 50% of Aether energy and lifeforce
Kael's eyes widened slightly as he read the description. This wasn't just any Aether energy. This was something far more potent, something that could unlock the deeper potential within his Rebirth Core. He had heard of Void Aether Essence before, but never seen it—let alone had the chance to consume it.
His gaze flickered back to the swirling liquid in the basin, his mind racing. Should I…? He hesitated. He had planned to take it back to Varin, but…
There was a thirst in him now, a hunger for power. He couldn't deny the temptation.
"Just a drop," he muttered. His hand moved almost of its own accord, the bottle in his grip feeling strangely light as he lowered it to the dark liquid. The essence was thick, almost syrupy, and it took him a good fifteen minutes to gather it into the bottle. But with every drop, the energy in the air seemed to pulse stronger, thrumming with life.
After sealing the bottle, Kael glanced at the basin. He could still feel the power emanating from the liquid. A decision formed in his mind, and before he could think it through, he tilted his head forward, lowering his mouth to the crystal pointed center for a drop.
Just one drop, he promised himself.
As the liquid touched his tongue, Kael's entire body jolted. It was as if the very air around him shifted. The Void Aether Essence flowed through him like molten fire, surging through his veins and spreading outward in waves.
He could feel the energy sinking deep into his Rebirth Core, purifying and strengthening it. His core pulsed with a brilliance he hadn't felt before, glowing with an intense, almost blinding light inside him. His muscles tightened, his mind sharpened. He felt… alive, more than he had ever before.
"Ahh…" He exhaled, exhilaration flooding his senses. His stamina returned in full force, his strength rejuvenated, and his lifeforce seemed to hum with vitality. For the first time in days, the aches and weariness melted away, replaced by a feeling of invincibility.
One more drop.
Kael tilted his head again, letting another drop slip past his lips. This time, the surge was more violent. His Rebirth Core throbbed as if it had been struck by lightning, vibrating at a frequency that made his bones rattle.
Suddenly, the system chimed again.
Condition met. Unlocking Rebirth core curse seal… Initiating.
Curse seal unlocked : 1/3 complete
Retrieving 1/3 past memories.
Kael blinked, confused. "What—?"
Before he could finish the thought, a sharp, searing pain exploded in his head. He gasped, stumbling backward as his hands flew to his temples. It felt like his skull was being split open from the inside, threads of memories unraveling and crashing into him like a flood.
No...!
He gritted his teeth, his vision blurring as the pain intensified. Fragmented images flashed in his mind, memories long buried clawing their way to the surface. He could see a throne room, majestic and grand, filled with towering pillars and a man standing before him. The man's voice echoed in his ears—strong, commanding, yet laced with an unmistakable warmth.
"Kael Avryon," the man said, his voice resonating with power. "You must forge your own path. As the future Domain Lord of Archayon, you must journey alone. Listen well, my son… your powers will shape the future of this domain."
Kael's breath hitched. Avryon? Domain Lord?
Then, a much younger voice—his own, but softer, less sure—responded. "I understand, Royal Father. I will remember it well."
The memory shattered, plunging him back into darkness. Kael collapsed to the ground, his body writhing as the flood of memories continued to assault his mind. He could see glimpses of a grand castle, a city of light, and faces he had never known but somehow remembered.
The pain was unbearable. His vision darkened, the room spinning out of focus until everything became a blur. The last thing he saw before the world went black was the face of the man—his father, the crowned king—looking down at him with eyes full of expectation.
You must forge your own path, Kael Avryon…
And then, silence.
Kael awoke to darkness. His body ached, his mind felt like it had been torn apart and hastily stitched back together. The stone floor beneath him was cold, and for a long moment, he simply lay there, breathing, trying to make sense of the torrent of images still swirling in his head.
Avryon... Domain Lord? The words echoed in his thoughts, but they felt foreign, distant.
His hand twitched, brushing against something cool and hard. He glanced down to see the bottle of Void Aether Essence, still half-filled with the potent liquid.
Kael's eyes narrowed, determination replacing the confusion. Whatever this was, whatever these memories meant… it was connected to him, to his Rebirth Core. And if there was one thing Kael knew for certain, it was that he wouldn't stop until he uncovered the truth.
He pushed himself up, shaky but resolute. His path was clear now.
There was more to his Rebirth Core than he had ever imagined. More to him.