Alex crouched at the edge of a bubbling Enerion pool, staring at his reflection in the shimmering liquid. The face that looked back at him wasn't the same as the one he remembered. His jawline was sharper, his cheekbones more pronounced, and his eyes… they were glowing faintly blue, swirling like liquid Enerion trapped in glass.
His body bore the marks of his transformation. His hands, once scarred and calloused from years of fighting, now had faint glowing veins running along his forearms, pulsing in rhythm with his shard. He pulled back his shirt, revealing the thin line of light tracing his collarbone—a mark left by the rift, or perhaps the Enerion storm.
It wasn't just his appearance that had changed. He felt it in his bones, in his muscles. The energy coursing through him wasn't just a weapon—it was a part of him now, enhancing his strength, his speed, even his instincts.
He glanced at the shard in his hand, its light steady and calm. It was more than just a tool. It was a key to understanding what he was becoming.
"What's happening to me?" he muttered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the Enerion pool.
Raze nudged his arm, her glowing eyes watching him with quiet intensity.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Alex asked, patting her head. "We're changing."
Alex stood and surveyed the horizon. The creatures he had faced—mutants, stalkers, Ravagers—were different from one another, but they all shared one thing: Enerion markings.
The creatures near the spire bore more elaborate markings—intricate patterns of glowing veins that pulsed with power. The stronger they were, the brighter and more complex their markings.
"Ranks," Alex murmured, the realization dawning on him. "It's like a hierarchy."
He glanced at his own markings—the faint, jagged lines running along his forearms and chest. They were crude compared to the intricate patterns on the beasts near the spire, but they were growing.
If the markings represented power, then his were evolving.
"Maybe this isn't just survival," Alex said, his voice steady. "Maybe this is a test."
He looked at Raze, her silver fur streaked with faint blue veins. Her markings had grown brighter too, tracing patterns along her legs and spine.
"We've got to get stronger," Alex said, gripping his shard.
As Alex moved closer to the spire, he spotted a cluster of structures in the distance. They were crude, built from scavenged materials and glowing Enerion crystals. Fires burned in pits, their smoke rising into the swirling sky.
"A Ravager camp," Alex muttered.
Raze growled softly, her glowing eyes narrowing.
The camp was teeming with activity. Dozens of Ravagers moved through the area, their bodies grotesquely mutated by Enerion exposure. Their markings were bright and jagged, pulsing with an intensity that made Alex's own markings feel dim by comparison.
"These guys are ranked high," Alex murmured, crouching low behind a cluster of rocks. "If we go in there, we'd better be ready for a fight."
He scanned the camp, noting the positioning of the Ravagers and the glowing crystals embedded in their weapons. A larger figure stood at the center—a towering brute with markings so bright they seemed to burn against his skin.
"That's their leader," Alex said, his eyes narrowing. "If we take him down, the rest might scatter."
Raze huffed softly, her tail wagging faintly.
"You're way too eager for this," Alex said with a smirk.
Alex moved like a shadow, weaving through the jagged terrain. The first Ravager didn't see him coming. Alex's shard flared as he slammed it into the creature's chest, the energy surging through its body. The Ravager convulsed, its markings flaring brightly before it collapsed into a heap.
The others reacted quickly, their guttural shouts echoing across the camp.
"Raze, go!" Alex shouted.
The wolf darted into the fray, her glowing markings blazing as she tore into the nearest Ravager. Her jaws clamped onto its throat, ripping through its flesh with a feral snarl.
Alex charged another, ducking under a wild swing and driving his fist into its ribs. The Enerion in his body surged, amplifying the force of the blow. The Ravager's chest caved in, and it crumpled to the ground.
The camp erupted into chaos. Ravagers poured from the makeshift structures, their weapons crackling with energy. Alex moved like a whirlwind, his shard flashing as he deflected strikes and delivered devastating blows.
One Ravager lunged at him with a spear crackling with Enerion. Alex caught the weapon, twisting it violently and snapping it in two. He drove the jagged end into the creature's throat, its markings flaring briefly before it collapsed.
The leader finally entered the fray, his massive form dwarfing the others. His markings glowed like molten lava, and his fists crackled with raw Enerion energy.
"You've made a mistake coming here," the leader growled, his voice deep and resonant.
"We'll see about that," Alex said, his grip on the shard tightening.
The leader charged, his movements faster than Alex expected. His fist slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked Alex off his feet.
Alex rolled to the side, barely avoiding another strike. He scrambled to his feet, channeling the Enerion into his shard. The blue light flared brightly, clashing against the leader's fiery energy as their attacks collided.
The battle was brutal. The leader's strength was overwhelming, but Alex's speed and precision kept him in the fight. Every strike sent shockwaves through the camp, scattering debris and shaking the ground.
Finally, Alex saw his opening. He ducked under a wild swing, driving his shard into the leader's side. The energy surged, and the leader roared in pain, his markings flaring wildly.
Alex didn't let up. He drove his fist into the leader's chest, channeling every ounce of energy he had. The impact sent a massive shockwave through the camp, and the leader collapsed, his body disintegrating into glowing motes of light.
The remaining Ravagers froze, their glowing eyes flicking between Alex and their fallen leader. One by one, they retreated into the shadows, their fear palpable.
Alex dropped to his knees, breathing heavily as the shard in his hand pulsed with newfound power.
"We're getting stronger," he muttered, looking at Raze.
The wolf huffed in agreement, her glowing markings brighter than ever.
The camp was silent now, the fires burning low. Alex searched the leader's remains, finding a fragment of a larger shard embedded in the ground. It was different from his own—darker, more menacing.
"This has to be important," Alex said, pocketing the fragment.
He turned toward the spire, its towering form closer than ever.
"Let's finish this," he said, determination burning in his glowing eyes.