Master quickly merged his soul with my body, and with his iron-fist-like hand merging seamlessly with mine, we grabbed the core before us.
It pulsed, a sphere of raw energy that seemed barely contained within itself, vibrating violently.
Master's voice echoed within my mind, a low growl of warning.
"Don't put this core into your seal storage,"
he said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.
"It may explode due to the intensity of its material. It's a powerful artifact."
I clutched it in my left hand, feeling a surge of heat as I held it close to my chest, and without a second thought, turned to run.
Behind us, a thunderous growl shook the earth, reverberating through my bones. The soul beast wolf was in hot pursuit, against the ground.
Its roar was deafening, making my ears ring and my heartbeat stutter in my chest. The shockwaves from its bellow pushed against me like a physical force.
I barely had time to react as it whipped its thick, muscular tail around, the impact landing squarely against my back.
I was sent sprawling forward, my vision blurring for a split second.
"Master!" I gasped, barely regaining my balance as I stumbled to my feet.
The pain radiated through my body, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the voice within.
"Golden Gate Defense,"- I use my skill.
Master's command rang out like a beacon, and I felt the weight of his soul power merging deeper within me.
A barrier rose around me, shimmering like molten gold, solid yet ethereal. It felt unbreakable, infused with his energy, and I knew it was stronger than any shield I could create on my own.
Merging power with him is fun.
"This... this is the strength of a third-level one-star warrior,"
I whispered, awe creeping into my voice. The power was overwhelming, yet it felt reassuring, grounding me as I faced the beast before me.
The wolf soul beast didn't hesitate.
It inhaled, its chest expanding as it drew in a massive breath, then released a torrent of blue flames from its maw.
The intense heat blasted against the shield, making it flicker under the onslaught. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I realized the shield, even with Master's power, wouldn't hold forever.
"We need to find a way out, Master,"
I thought frantically. The core in my hand throbbed with an energy that made it hard to think clearly.
"I can't fight while holding this thing; it's like it's leeching my focus."
"Look around," Master replied, his voice straining slightly.
"This rocky terrain—it might provide a means of escape. But first, let me clear the path. I'll use... Dragon's Fire Breath."
I could feel him gathering every last drop of his remaining mana, concentrating it into his spectral form.
Through our shared body, I extended my hand, and from within Master's essence, a stream of blazing fire erupted.
It wasn't just any fire; it was as if the very heavens had opened and unleashed divine flames.
The Dragon's Fire Breath roared to life, engulfing the jagged mountainside.
In seconds, half the mountain was reduced to rubble and scorched earth, anything in its path utterly incinerated. The soul beast wolf staggered back, a pained howl escaping its throat as the flames scorched its flesh, leaving deep, smoking wounds.
Master's voice sounded weary, almost fading.
"My mana is exhausted. This form... this state… I can't hold it much longer. I'll need to rest for a few days to restore my energy."
With that, his presence within me grew faint, and I felt him retreat, sinking into a slumber deep within my spirit.
The familiar weight of his guidance vanished, leaving me alone, clutching the volatile core in a trembling hand.
The wolf's wounded howl pierced the air, its cries echoing through the valley. It wasn't just pain—it was a call, a summoning.
I felt dread settle in my gut as, from the shadows of the rocks, other forms began to emerge.
A pack of soul beast wolves materialized, their eyes glowing with an unholy light as they answered their comrade's call.
Each was as fierce and formidable as the one I had just barely managed to evade.
I gritted my teeth, feeling a wave of hopelessness wash over me. If it had been a struggle to contend with one, how was I supposed to survive against three?
"I have to fight,"
I muttered to myself, setting my jaw. The core in my hand blazed with an inner light, its colors shifting and swirling, almost hypnotic.
I didn't know what type of elemental power it held, but I could feel its potency. Desperate, I raised it to my mouth, preparing to absorb its energy.
There was no turning back. This would either be the ultimate training... or my end.
The moment the core's energy entered my system, a surge of power unlike anything I'd ever felt before flooded through me.
A sudden, frigid wind whipped through the air, circling around my body as though possessed.
But this power was not gentle; it was violent, unrelenting. The pain was instantaneous, a sharp stab that ran through every nerve, setting my skin ablaze from the inside out.
"Ah—!"
A scream tore from my throat as the core's energy expanded within me.
White-hot lines traced along my veins, illuminating my body from within, a network of pulsing energy.
Every fiber of my being felt like it was being ripped apart. My brain throbbed, waves of agony crashing over my consciousness until I could barely think.
What… What is happening to me? I thought, panic and pain blurring together.
Is this… an air element?
The winds around me intensified, swirling in a frenzied dance, until I could barely see through the white torrents.
My vision dimmed, and suddenly I found myself pulled inward, away from the physical pain, into a vast and infinite space within my mind.
My spiritual realm appeared before me, and it was completely transformed.
Where there had once been emptiness, it was now filled with thick, billowing clouds, pure white and swirling like storm clouds.
The air around me was alive, each breeze sharp and cold, pricking my skin like a thousand tiny needles.
The winds roared around me, relentless and wild, and I could feel them probing into every corner of my spirit, as if testing me, challenging my will to survive.
I staggered forward, my senses overwhelmed, struggling to maintain control as the air whipped around me.
My legs buckled, and I fell to my knees, my fingers digging into the intangible ground beneath me.
Each breath was a fight as the wind pressed down on me, fierce and unyielding.
Master… where are you?
I called out mentally, but there was only silence. He had withdrawn, leaving me alone to face this raging storm within my own spirit.
The winds grew even more ferocious, tearing at my very soul, threatening to break me apart from the inside. I could feel the raw, unfiltered essence of the air element infusing itself into my being, changing me at a fundamental level, but it was almost too much.
My body—my spirit—was at its limit. I let out another scream, my voice swallowed by the endless storm.
In the distance, the howls of the soul beast wolves echoed, reminding me of the threat that awaited beyond this internal struggle
I had to survive this—I had to harness this power if I wanted to make it out alive.