In the pitch-black darkness, Ethan felt a strange sensation that was difficult to describe. A calmness enveloped him, yet the pain and destruction from his last battle still haunted his mind.
He no longer felt tied to his shattered body, as if he had transcended the limits of the physical world. However, what disturbed him most was the silence surrounding him a silence that made his heart feel heavier, as if it had been stripped of all hope.
Amid the suffocating silence, a faint whisper pierced through the darkness. "Do you want me to help you? To fulfill your deepest desires? I can give you a second chance," the voice echoed, filled with undeniable magnetism and promises of unimaginable power.
Ethan, who was initially trapped in confusion and sorrow, felt the strong pull of the voice. "Who... who are you?" he murmured, both shocked and mesmerized by the presence of this mysterious entity in the void.
"My name is Elyndor," the voice replied firmly, but it sounded as though it came from unreachable depths. Every word reverberated, as if the voice was not coming from one direction but from all corners of the darkness.
"I am the soul trapped within the artifact you carry, connected to Valdraxx. That artifact you found is the Heart of the Apex, a source of power that can resurrect fallen souls and empower them to become the apex ruler, the unmatched predator."
Ethan was stunned by those words. Heart of the Apex, the mysterious artifact he had found during his final battle against Valdraxx, contained power far beyond his imagination. Yet more questions arose in his mind.
Why had Valdraxx never mentioned this before? What had truly happened to Valdraxx?
Elyndor's voice returned, this time with a slight mocking tone, as if he could read Ethan's confusion.
"Valdraxx tried to harness my power. He realized the immense potential I hold. Unfortunately, he didn't understand the basic rules of this power. Only the Devourer race can fully activate me," Elyndor explained coolly.
Those words made Ethan jolt. A Devourer? Ethan had always known something was different about him a dark power coursing through his veins, making him fiercer and stronger with each battle.
But this explanation opened up a far greater mystery. Could he really be part of the race thought to be extinct and forgotten by the world?
"So... Valdraxx, he could never fully control you because he wasn't a Devourer?" Ethan asked, still trying to digest the truth that had just been revealed. In his mind, Valdraxx had always been an unstoppable figure, a being stronger than anyone else. But now, he realized that even Valdraxx couldn't access the true power of this artifact.
"Exactly," Elyndor replied sharply. "Valdraxx was powerful, but he was not a Devourer. He attempted to control the Heart of the Apex in his own way, using part of my power, but the true strength was always beyond his grasp.
Valdraxx never understood that only the blood of a Devourer could unlock the full potential of this artifact."
A heavy silence fell between them. Ethan, now beginning to understand that his destiny was far greater than he had ever imagined, suddenly felt a sense of loss. Valdraxx, who had been his ally and even a part of him, was now gone.
During their final battle, Valdraxx had given Ethan his last bit of power. But if Valdraxx couldn't master this artifact, where had he gone?
"And Valdraxx? Where is he now?" Ethan asked, his voice trembling with fear. Though often dark and mysterious, Valdraxx had been his companion in the darkness, a voice that always appeared when everything seemed lost. But Elyndor's next answer plunged Ethan's heart deeper into uncertainty.
"Valdraxx used an ancient power called Spirit Transcendence," Elyndor replied, his voice softer and more serious. "He used that power to keep his soul alive, Ethan.
When you were killed in battle, your soul was shattered, and so was Valdraxx. He exists now only as a soul without a body, and I offer you the second chance, not Valdraxx."
Ethan felt a tightness in his chest. Valdraxx, the figure who had been with him all this time even though he could be annoying at times had helped him in so many ways. "So... what does that mean? Is Valdraxx... dead?" he asked, his voice full of confusion and a sense of loss.
But along with that sense of loss, a new resolve began to emerge. Ethan knew he couldn't give up just yet. With the power of the Heart of the Apex and the promise of Valdraxx's legacy still coursing through him, he had to keep moving forward. He wouldn't let that sacrifice be in vain.
"So... this is my responsibility now?" Ethan muttered quietly, speaking more to himself, though Elyndor heard him.
"Yes," Elyndor responded firmly. "You are the only one left. The Heart of the Apex is now fully yours. The power of the Devourer that you've felt until now was just a small fraction. If you're willing, I can unlock the artifact's full potential for you.
But remember, this is not a path without risks. Mastering such power requires incredible resolve."
Ethan took a deep breath, even though, in this dimension, it felt unreal. "From the beginning, I never had much, whether on Earth or in Arkhana. If I can gain this power and learn the truth about myself... then I'm ready. Whatever the risks."
Elyndor smiled in the darkness a subtle, victorious smile. "Good," he whispered. "We will walk this path together, Ethan. You will become the apex predator, a creature feared across all realms. With the Heart of the Apex, nothing will stand in your way."
With newfound resolve and an endless flow of power surging within him, Ethan knew that he had stepped onto a path from which there was no turning back. Valdraxx might be gone, but his legacy would live on in Ethan.
And now, with his newly discovered strength, Ethan was ready to shape the destiny that lay ahead of him.
Ethan's heart trembled at the mention of the artifact's name. The Heart of the Apex, the legendary relic that could awaken the latent power of the Devourers ferocious creatures capable of consuming the life force of anyone they defeated.
A source of power that transcended the limits of the mortal world. "You can revive me?" Ethan asked, his voice trembling with new hope, even though his body had been destroyed.