Shivay wiped the sweat from his brow as he ventured deeper into the ancient temple. The fight with the guardian had taken its toll, but there was a strange pull, an energy calling him from somewhere below. The air was thick with ether, a potent energy source left behind by the ancients, but as Shivay walked further, he noticed something peculiar. The ether in the atmosphere seemed to be moving, flowing toward a singular point deeper within the temple.
"Shunaya, do you feel that?" Shivay asked, his voice echoing slightly in the dark corridors.
"Yes, Master," Shunaya replied, her voice unusually quiet. "The ether concentration is getting stronger. It's all being drawn toward one source. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, but whatever's pulling the ether is incredibly powerful."
Shivay's pulse quickened. "Could it be another artifact? Maybe something left behind by the ancients?"
"It's possible," Shunaya said, "but be cautious. If it's powerful enough to draw this much ether, it could be extremely dangerous."
Undeterred, Shivay pressed on. The walls around him were adorned with more intricate carvings, ancient glyphs that seemed to glow faintly as the ether flowed past them. He could feel the energy intensifying with every step he took. The pull was leading him down a winding staircase, carved directly into the stone, spiraling into the earth.
At the bottom, he found himself standing before an enormous stone door. It was covered in glyphs and runes, but unlike the others, these were glowing brightly, pulsating with the rhythmic flow of the ether. The door seemed alive, breathing with the energy of the temple.
"Master, this door was likely sealed by the ancients to protect something powerful," Shunaya warned. "I advise extreme caution."
Shivay hesitated for only a moment before reaching out to the door. As his hand touched the cold stone, the runes flared to life, and the door slowly creaked open, revealing a vast chamber beyond.
The room inside was unlike anything Shivay had ever seen. Massive shelves lined the walls, filled with dusty tomes and scrolls—the remnants of an ancient library. In the center of the room, suspended in the air, was a pulsating sphere of dark energy. It was unlike anything Shivay had encountered before. At its core was an unidentified monster's heart, encased in an aura of pure ether. The sheer concentration of power radiating from it made the air around it shimmer.
Shivay's breath caught in his throat as he stepped closer. "What is that thing?" he whispered.
"That… that's a monster core," Shunaya said, her voice filled with awe. "But not just any core. This one is ancient, and it's holding a massive amount of condensed ether. It's almost as if the core itself is alive, still drawing in power after all these years."
Shivay felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch the core. His instincts told him that this was something important—something that could change everything. Without thinking, he extended his hand toward the core.
"Shivay, wait!" Shunaya's voice rang out in his mind, but it was too late. His hand connected with the core, and in an instant, a surge of raw energy flooded through him.
The ether from the core poured into Shivay's body, overwhelming his senses. He gasped, feeling his muscles tighten and his vision blur as the sheer power of the core threatened to tear him apart. His veins pulsed with an unbearable heat, and he could feel his mind slipping as the ether energy spiraled out of control.
"Master, you need to stop! Your body can't handle this!" Shunaya's voice was frantic, but Shivay couldn't pull away. His body was frozen in place, locked in a battle between absorbing the core's power and being consumed by it.
Just when it seemed like the ether would rip him apart, something deep within Shivay stirred. A primal force awoke inside him, surging up from the very core of his being.
[Progenitor Title Activated]
The system's voice echoed in his mind, cold and mechanical, but there was a deeper resonance to it this time, as if the system itself was reacting to the ancient power.
[Hidden Bloodline Potential Unlocked]
Stimulating Progenitor Bloodline... Mutation Detected]
Shivay's body convulsed as his bloodline surged to life, reacting to the immense ether being absorbed from the monster's core. The primal energy of the Progenitor—his unique lineage—began to mutate, fusing with the core's power. His muscles bulged, his senses heightened, and his vision sharpened as the core's energy reshaped his very DNA.
A wave of agony tore through him, but this time, instead of overwhelming him, the pain transformed into raw power. The core's energy, once wild and uncontrollable, began to stabilize as it fused with his bloodline.
His skin glowed faintly, as if his body was now an extension of the ether itself. His heart pounded with a strength he had never felt before, and he could sense the mutation coursing through his veins. His bloodline was no longer the Progenitor bloodline he had known—it had evolved into something new, something unprecedented.
[Bloodline Mutation Complete]
Bloodline: Unknown Primal Ether Lineage Activated
All existing skills have been enhanced. New abilities unlocked.]
Shivay collapsed to the ground, panting heavily as the last of the ether settled into his body. He could feel the changes—his strength, his speed, his very essence had transformed. The system's voice broke through his thoughts again.
**[New Skills Unlocked]
Ether Manipulation: You now have the ability to directly control the flow of ether, bending it to your will.Primal Devour: Absorb and integrate not only ether but the abilities and essence of slain enemies without limit.Bloodline Evolution: Your bloodline will continue to evolve, unlocking new forms and abilities based on the ether you consume.]**
Shivay's breathing finally slowed as the torrent of information from the system subsided. He pushed himself up to his knees, feeling the strength coursing through his veins. His bloodline had mutated into something far beyond what he could have imagined, something that had no record in the system, no history.
"Shunaya… what happened to me?" Shivay asked, his voice hoarse.
Shunaya's voice was calm, but there was a note of awe in it. "Master, your bloodline has become something new. Something that has never existed before. The ether from the core fused with your Progenitor lineage, creating a bloodline unlike any recorded in history."
Shivay slowly stood, testing his new strength. He could feel the ether moving around him, almost as if it was a part of him now. "I… I can control ether now?" he asked, flexing his fingers as he felt the energy respond.
"Yes, Master. With the new Ether Manipulation ability, you can shape and control ether at will," Shunaya explained. "And your new Bloodline Evolution means you can continue to grow stronger as you consume more ether and absorb more powers."
Shivay clenched his fists, feeling the raw power surging beneath his skin. His body was no longer just that of a Primal Ape—he was something more, something new. And with this power, he could reach heights he had never imagined.
But he also knew that this new power came with responsibility. If the ancients had left this core behind, there had to be a reason. And whatever that reason was, it would likely draw attention.
He turned toward the library, his eyes scanning the dusty tomes. "Shunaya, we need to learn more about this place. If there are more cores like this… or if the ancients left behind any knowledge about what I've just become… we need to find it."
"Agreed, Master," Shunaya replied. "But be prepared. The power you've just unlocked is rare. If others find out, they may come for you."
Shivay nodded, determination hardening his gaze. "Let them come. I'll be ready."
With his new powers and abilities awakened, Shivay knew that his journey had just taken a dangerous and thrilling turn. Whatever awaited him deeper in the temple—and beyond—he was ready to face it head-on.