The moment Azazel's hand closed around the glowing shard, a surge of energy shot through him, sharp and electric, like lightning coursing through his veins. The world seemed to tilt, the dim granary dissolving into a haze of flickering light and distorted whispers.
"Fragment recognized. Absorption process initiated. Warning: Host synchronization required to stabilize energy flux."
Azazel's vision blurred, and his knees buckled. Somewhere in the swirling chaos, he could hear Wei Xianer and Xian Lin's voices.
"They're moving! Azazel, hurry!"
"Hold the line! I've got the one on the right!"
The corrupted villagers advanced, their hollow eyes fixed on Azazel. Their movements were slow but relentless, their limbs jerking unnaturally with each step.
Wei Xianer darted forward, her blade flashing as she struck at the closest villager. The blade connected, but instead of flesh, it felt like striking iron. The corrupted man staggered but didn't fall, his glowing eyes narrowing as he lunged toward her.
"What are these things made of?" she hissed, sidestepping his swipe.
Xian Lin's arrows whistled through the air, precise and deadly. Two hit their marks, sinking into the shoulders of another villager, but the figure didn't so much as flinch.
"They're not human anymore," Xian Lin said grimly, drawing another arrow. "Go for the legs—slow them down!"
At the center of the granary, Azazel gritted his teeth, his mind struggling to focus. The shard in his hand burned with raw power, and the system's voice echoed in his head.
"Synchronization at 40%. Host integrity stable. Warning: External threats increasing."
"Yeah, I noticed," Azazel muttered, his grip tightening on the shard. He could feel it pulling at him, a connection forming between the fragment and his core.
Then he heard it—a voice, faint and distant, like a memory.
"You must carry the burden. Bind the fragments and restore what was lost."
"What does that even mean?" Azazel growled.
"Host inquiry acknowledged. Insufficient data for clarification."
"Of course," he snapped.
Wei Xianer and Xian Lin fought furiously, their teamwork keeping the corrupted villagers at bay. Wei Xianer's blade flashed in rapid arcs, slicing tendons and severing limbs, while Xian Lin's arrows pinned their enemies in place. But no matter how many blows they landed, the villagers kept coming.
"They're endless!" Wei Xianer shouted, frustration creeping into her voice.
Xian Lin shot a glance at Azazel. "He needs more time. Hold them off a little longer!"
"Easy for you to say!" she shot back, dodging another attack.
Inside the storm of energy, Azazel focused all his willpower on the shard. He could feel it resisting him, its raw essence threatening to overwhelm him. But at its core, he sensed something familiar—a resonance that matched the Iron Soul within him.
"System," he said through gritted teeth, "help me contain this thing!"
"Directive accepted. Allocating host resources to stabilize fragment."
A flood of calm washed over Azazel, the storm inside him subsiding. The energy from the shard began to flow more smoothly, merging with his own.
"Synchronization at 80%. Fragment absorption nearing completion."
But as the process neared its conclusion, the corrupted villagers suddenly froze. Then, as one, they turned their heads toward Azazel, their glowing eyes flickering with a brighter intensity.
Wei Xianer's eyes widened. "Uh, Azazel? I think you've got their full attention now."
"They're drawn to the shard!" Xian Lin realized.
The villagers surged forward, faster and more coordinated than before.
Azazel opened his eyes just as the closest villager lunged at him. Instinct took over. He released the shard and drew his sword in one fluid motion, slicing upward. The corrupted figure crumpled to the ground, its glow fading instantly.
"Got it!" Azazel shouted.
The shard's energy now coursed within him, a steady hum that resonated with the Iron Soul system. He felt stronger, sharper—like a part of him had been unlocked.
"Fragment successfully absorbed. Host synchronization complete. Combat capabilities enhanced. New skill unlocked: Iron Pulse. Testing advised in live combat."
"Perfect timing," Azazel muttered, turning to face the remaining villagers.
"Duck!" Wei Xianer shouted.
Azazel dropped just in time as her blade whizzed over his head, slicing through an advancing villager's neck. She grinned as she landed beside him. "You're welcome."
"Let's see what this does," Azazel said, gripping his sword tightly.
He focused, and the system responded instantly. Energy pooled in his blade, glowing faintly with the same light as the shard. When the next villager charged, Azazel swung, releasing a shockwave of energy.
The villager was thrown back, its body disintegrating mid-air.
Wei Xianer let out a low whistle. "Okay, that's new."
"Useful too," Azazel said, stepping forward. "Let's finish this."
With Azazel's newfound power, the tide of battle turned. Each swing of his blade released bursts of energy, scattering the corrupted villagers like leaves in the wind. Wei Xianer and Xian Lin pressed the advantage, working in tandem to pick off stragglers.
Within minutes, the granary fell silent. The last of the corrupted villagers collapsed, their bodies crumbling to dust.
Azazel stood in the center of the room, his sword still glowing faintly. He looked down at the spot where the shard had been embedded, now just a faint scorch mark on the floor.
"It's over," Xian Lin said, lowering his bow.
"For now," Azazel replied. He could feel the shard's energy within him, its presence both empowering and ominous.
Wei Xianer wiped her blade and sheathed it. "So, what now? Do we tell the villagers their problem's solved?"
Azazel shook his head. "Not yet. We need to figure out what caused this—and if there are more fragments out there."
"More?" Wei Xianer groaned. "Of course there are."
Azazel smirked. "Welcome to the adventure."
The three of them stepped out into the cool night air, the stars shining overhead. In the distance, the village lights flickered back on, and faint voices carried on the breeze.
For the first time in weeks, it felt like a small victory.
But Azazel couldn't shake the unease settling in his chest. The fragment had been powerful—too powerful—and the system's cryptic responses only deepened the mystery.
As they made their way back to the village, one thought lingered in his mind:
If this was just one fragment, what would happen when the others awakened?