As Niral opened his eyes, everyone could feel the shift within him. The energy surrounding him was violently flowing, unstable, as if reflecting an internal struggle. The monsters, which were about to attack again, paused for a moment, as if realizing something dangerous was about to happen.
"Niral! Get a hold of yourself!" Aryan shouted as she tried to approach him, but the force emanating from him pushed her back. Eldar also attempted to get closer, but even he felt the threat posed by this overwhelming surge of energy.
Niral felt the pressure building inside him. The ether coursing through his veins seemed to be trying to control him rather than the other way around. He hadn't anticipated such a sudden explosion of power, but he knew that if he couldn't control it soon, it might cause a catastrophe—not just for the monsters, but for his friends as well.
"I can't... I can't control it..." Niral muttered as he felt his body nearly tearing apart from the inside.
At that moment, one of the massive monsters began advancing again, relying on the group's hesitation to approach Niral. Its eyes glowed with rage and hunger, as if it was ready to wipe them all out with a single blow.
But before the creature could move any further, the light surrounding Niral suddenly exploded, and his energy turned into a massive wave. The wave blasted everything around it, including the approaching monsters. The creatures' cries filled the air as they were hurled like leaves caught in a powerful storm.
The scene was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The ground trembled under the force of the energy, and the air was thick with ether. But despite the immense power that had been unleashed, Niral was still struggling. His body was beginning to feel the toll of the uncontrollable energy flowing through him. He knew that this power could destroy him if he remained in this state.
"Niral! Stop this!" Eldar shouted as he approached as close as he could, using his own strength to shield himself from the ether's flow.
In that moment, Niral could clearly see his friends' faces. Everyone was terrified of this power—not just the monsters, but even his comrades. That realization was enough to make him understand that he needed to do something before he lost complete control.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to muster all of his willpower to regain control over the ether surging inside him. Slowly, the light surrounding him began to recede, and the violent energy became calmer. But it wasn't easy. Niral felt like he was swimming against a powerful current, desperately trying to maintain balance within.
Finally, after an immense effort, Niral managed to calm the energy, and the aura around him became more stable. His body was completely exhausted, but he was able to stand on his feet with difficulty.
"Is... is it over?" Kyle asked in a shaky voice as he looked at Niral with wide eyes.
Niral couldn't respond. His breaths were heavy, and his body swayed from exhaustion. But at least he had saved them from the monsters... at the cost of putting himself in danger.
"Niral..." Aryan murmured softly as she approached him cautiously. "Are you okay?"
But he couldn't reply. All he could do was look at her before losing consciousness and collapsing to the ground.
When Niral awoke later, he felt an intense pain in every part of his body. He tried to sit up, but his body didn't fully respond. He looked around to see his friends beside him—Eldar, Aryan, and Kyle—all tired but unharmed.
"Are you okay?" Aryan asked softly.
Niral nodded slowly, but he felt a heavy weight in his heart. The immense power that had emerged within him, though it had saved them, felt dangerous. He didn't know if he could fully control it, or if that power would take over him again.
"Yes, I'm fine... but I don't know how long that will last."
Niral felt that something deeper was stirring within him, something still incomprehensible. The ether that had erupted from him was not just latent power, but carried conflicting emotions, as if it were tied to something from his past or perhaps his future.
"We need to understand what happened to you, Niral," Eldar said seriously as he sat beside him. "That power... it's not natural. If we can't control it, it might cause an even greater catastrophe."
Arian quietly sat beside Niral, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "You're not alone in this. Whatever you're going through, we're with you."
Niral gave a tired smile, but he couldn't respond. His mind was preoccupied with what had happened, and the ether that had almost overwhelmed him. But he felt something else inside. There were old shadows, blurry memories appearing and disappearing. Something he couldn't quite place yet, but he knew it was connected to what had occurred.
"We need to reach a safe haven as soon as possible," Kyle said, looking at the group with concern. "This area is no longer safe, and this energy might attract more monsters, or even something worse."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and they began moving slowly away from the place where the intense battle had taken place. The path was difficult, but they were determined to stay together no matter the circumstances.
After several hours of difficult trekking, they finally reached a high point where they could see a small city in the distance. The city was fortified with tall walls and well-protected. "This small city should be a safe place," Eldar said. "We can rest here and plan our next steps."
When they arrived at the city gate, they were exhausted and completely worn out. One of the guards stood in front of them and said firmly, "What is this group doing here? And why do you all look so battered?"
"We're travelers seeking shelter," Eldar quickly responded. "We faced many monsters in the forest and were caught off guard by an attack. We need rest and some medical attention."
The guard looked at the group with skeptical eyes but noticed the visible wounds and scars on their bodies. "Very well, come inside. But be cautious, the city is on high alert due to repeated attacks."
The group entered the city, feeling a sense of relief despite the obvious tension in the air. People in the streets spoke in hushed tones and eyed the strangers warily. The atmosphere was unsettled, as if something big was about to happen.
"It seems this city isn't as safe as we hoped," Niral muttered as he looked around.
"But at least we can catch our breath here for a while," Arian said with a gentle smile.
Later, after they had rested at a local inn and received necessary treatment for their wounds, they all gathered in a small room to discuss what to do next.
"We need to find answers about what happened to you, Niral," Eldar said, looking at him seriously. "The power you displayed isn't just ordinary ether. There may be secrets from your past that we need to uncover."
Niral knew Eldar was right, but he didn't know where to start. "I don't remember much of my past, but there's something mysterious haunting me. I felt old memories coming back to me, but they're unclear. Maybe we should search the old libraries or somewhere else to learn more about this energy."
Kyle chimed in, saying, "I've heard there's a group of researchers specializing in studying ether and energy in this city. Maybe they can help us."
Everyone nodded in agreement. It was the only plan they had. Niral felt that their journey had become more complicated than he had expected, but he knew the answers were out there... they just needed to find them.
The next morning, the group decided to visit the old academies located in the city. These academies were known for teaching magic and studying ether, and they might hold answers about what was happening inside Niral.
Upon reaching the academy, they were greeted by an old scholar dressed in a gray robe, who eyed them sharply. "What brings you here?" he asked in a dry voice.
"We're looking for answers," Niral said, looking at the scholar confidently. "I feel like I've lost control of the ether inside me, and I need to understand what's happening."
The scholar looked at Niral for a moment before raising his eyebrows. "The ether you speak of... it's not something just anyone can control easily. If you're dealing with something beyond normal understanding, it might be wise to be cautious."
"Can you help us?" Eldar asked, crossing his arms.
The scholar chuckled lightly before motioning for them to follow. "Perhaps... but the price will be steep."