Rael's pulse thundered in his ears as the creature snarled, preparing to attack once again. But this time, Rael didn't flinch. The strange power that had awakened inside him was still humming beneath his skin, alive and ready to react.
His fingers curled instinctively, and the stone in his pocket pulsed in response. With barely a thought, Rael felt the energy shift around him, like invisible threads waiting to be woven into something tangible.
The creature lunged once more, its claws extended and glinting in the dim light. Rael stepped to the side, faster than he had ever moved before, and thrust his hand out. The air around him rippled again, and a blast of force slammed into the creature, throwing it back with such power that the stone wall behind it crumbled.
Rael watched, wide-eyed, as the dust settled. The creature lay motionless among the debris, its body twisted and broken.
His chest heaved with exertion, and for a moment, he simply stood there, staring at his hands. What was happening to him? The power he had just wielded—it was unlike anything he had ever known. Yet somehow, it felt... familiar.
Rael clenched his fists and glanced at the ruins surrounding him. The city was a dead wasteland, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something here was alive. The visions, the voice, the stone—it was all connected. And whatever had awakened inside him, it was only the beginning.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Rael turned away from the ruins. He had to find answers. Somewhere out there, in the remnants of this broken world, someone had to know what was happening. And before that... before it found him, Rael needed to understand this power—and fast.
As Rael continued through the deserted city, his mind buzzed with fragments of the vision he had experienced. The towering figure, the flames, the destruction—it had all felt so real. But more than anything, it was the figure's eyes that haunted him. Burning with light, piercing through the chaos as if it could see everything.
Rael's steps slowed as he reached what looked like an old plaza. The remains of statues stood in the center, their forms weathered and cracked. Something about the place felt... significant. Rael approached cautiously, his hand still tingling with the remnants of the power he had unleashed earlier.
He moved closer to the largest statue, which was almost completely destroyed save for its base. There, etched into the stone, was a series of strange symbols. Rael frowned, tracing the markings with his fingers. They pulsed with faint energy, much like the stone in his pocket.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled. Rael stumbled back, eyes wide as the statue began to glow. The air around him grew thick, and a low hum filled the plaza.
Before Rael could react, a figure emerged from the light. It was a man, tall and cloaked in shadows, his features obscured. But his eyes—those same burning eyes from Rael's vision—stared down at him with unsettling intensity.
"You..." the figure's voice echoed, deep and resonant. "You've awakened."
Rael's throat tightened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come.
"You carry the legacy," the figure continued, his gaze unwavering. "But you are unprepared. It will find you soon."
Rael stepped back, shaking his head. "What... what is this? Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer. Instead, it raised a hand, and Rael felt the air shift around him. The stone in his pocket burned hot, and his vision blurred. For a moment, the world around him seemed to dissolve, replaced by flashes of otherworldly landscapes—rivers of molten lava, skies filled with storm clouds, and cities swallowed by darkness.
And then, just as quickly, the visions faded. Rael staggered, clutching his head as the light from the statue dimmed. The figure was gone, leaving behind only silence.
Rael collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. His heart pounded in his chest, and his mind raced with questions. The figure's words echoed in his ears.
You carry the legacy.
Rael pulled the stone from his pocket, staring at it with a mixture of fear and confusion. Whatever this power was, it wasn't just random. It was part of something much larger. And he had been chosen—whether he liked it or not.