"Don't worry, I will help you," Noctharis said, his deep, rumbling voice reverberating through the suffocating void.
Kael blinked, his thoughts swirling in confusion. "How?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"This core," Noctharis began, his tone steady and ancient, "has absorbed my power and the essence of nature for centuries. Unlike most dungeon cores, which align themselves with a single element—fire, water, earth, or whatever defines their surroundings—this core is unique. It has taken in not only my mana but also the raw, untainted energy of nature itself. It is a convergence of elements, a blend of forces no mortal could comprehend. That is why no one else has been able to absorb it."
Kael furrowed his brow, his mind struggling to grasp the concept. "So, this core… it isn't aligned with one element, but many? That doesn't make sense. How could it even exist without destabilizing?"
Noctharis huffed, the sound echoing like a distant storm. "It exists because I made it so. My essence binds it together. My power holds it in balance. Without me, it would collapse into chaos, destroying everything around it." His glowing eyes narrowed, piercing through Kael. "But now, my time is over. My physical body is no more, and my soul lingers only to fulfill my final purpose. You have the potential to absorb this core, but it will not be easy. You are woefully unprepared. Weak. Fragile."
Kael flinched. The dragon's words stung, but they were undeniably true. In this timeline, he was a shadow of his former self. His potential had been judged as B+—a meager rating in the world of the strong. Back in the original timeline, he had trained relentlessly to become powerful enough to contend with the protagonist, Kaiden Reagers. Even then, he had never managed to defeat him. Kaiden, the golden child of fate, had always been leagues above him—a walking calamity favored by nature, loved by the gods, and seemingly invincible.
Kael clenched his fists, anger bubbling within him. No, he would not remain weak. Not anymore. "Fine," he said, his voice firmer. "I get it. I'm not strong enough yet. So, how exactly are you going to help me?"
"It's simple," Noctharis replied, his voice rumbling like the earth itself. "When you absorb the core, I will guide the mana through your body. Such power is far beyond your ability to control, but I will show you how to channel it. You need only focus on accepting it; I will handle the rest."
Kael's hesitation was clear in his eyes. "Is that even possible? Can you really do it?"
A low, derisive growl escaped Noctharis. "I was the strongest being of my era, mortal. The gods themselves feared my power. Helping you channel mana is child's play compared to what I once achieved."
Kael swallowed hard. The dragon's confidence was daunting, but his words carried a strange reassurance.
"But," Kael said cautiously, "if you're dead, how can you help me in the future? You said your body is gone. What does that mean for this… arrangement?"
Noctharis' golden eyes gleamed, and his tone grew sharper, tinged with both irritation and pride. "My body may be gone, but my soul endures. When we make this contract, my soul will bind to yours. I will exist within you, guiding you, strengthening you. I will be your mentor, your protector. Only you will be able to see me, and no one—not even the gods—will detect my presence. Through this bond, I will ensure you reach your true potential."
Kael's breath hitched. "So, you're saying… you'll be with me. Always?"
The dragon's voice boomed with mockery. "What, do you not wish for my help, mortal? I was the greatest of my kind. Even the prideful elves—yes, even their queen—begged for my teachings. I denied them all. And now, I offer you this unparalleled opportunity, and you hesitate?"
Kael's face paled. The sheer weight of Noctharis' presence bore down on him like a crushing tide. He had no choice. None of this would work without the dragon's guidance.
"Fine," Kael said through gritted teeth. "Make the contract. Do it."
The air around him grew impossibly still, the oppressive darkness thickening. Then, as if reality itself had been torn apart, the shadows melted away.
What Kael saw left him breathless.
Before him stood Noctharis in his true form—a being so vast, so ancient, that Kael felt like an insect before a mountain. The dragon's scales shimmered with an inky blackness, each one etched with intricate runes that pulsed with golden light. His eyes blazed like twin suns, filled with both boundless wisdom and a terrifying power. Horns spiraled upward, crowned with crackling arcs of energy, while his wings spanned the horizon like jagged, starless skies. His very presence seemed to distort the air, the ground, and even the flow of time.
Kael's knees buckled, and he fought to remain standing. This was no ordinary dragon. This was a primordial force of nature, a being who had once ruled over life and death itself.
"Do you understand now, mortal?" Noctharis asked, his voice shaking the void. "Do you see what stands before you? I am Noctharis, the Eternal Shadow, the Devourer of Light, the last of the Dark Dragons. You should consider yourself fortunate to receive my guidance."
Kael struggled to find his voice. "I… I understand," he whispered, his awe-struck gaze locked onto the dragon.
The dragon lowered his massive head until his golden eyes were level with Kael's. "Then we begin."
The air around them crackled with raw energy. A searing pain tore through Kael's chest as the dragon's soul surged into his body. It was as if fire and ice clashed within him, tearing him apart before stitching him back together.
When the pain subsided, Kael gasped for air, his body trembling. Standing before him now, reduced to a translucent, spectral version of his former self, was Noctharis.
"You can see me now," the dragon said, his voice softer but still commanding. "I will walk with you, guide you, and ensure you do not squander the power you are about to receive."
Kael nodded, his resolve hardening. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he was no longer alone. Bound to Noctharis, he would face whatever lay ahead.
"Now," the dragon said, his voice resonating within Kael's very soul, "absorb the core. It is time to awaken your true potential. Only by embracing both darkness and light will you unlock the power within you. Anything less, and you will remain nothing more than a shadow of what you could become."
Kael took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the pulsating dungeon core. This was it. His first step toward rewriting his destiny.