Kael strode toward the dungeon's core, each step a battle against the oppressive weight of its power. The closer he came, the more the energy pressed down on him, suffocating and relentless, as if daring him to continue. His breaths grew shallow, his body trembling under the sheer force emanating from the swirling mass of energy before him.
This is it, he thought, staring at the core. A swirling vortex of light and shadow, its colors danced and shifted like a living entity—crimson flares of fire, deep oceanic blues, streaks of gold and emerald, all fighting for dominance. Yet amidst the chaos, a single color stood out: a darkness so profound it swallowed everything else. It wasn't just black; it was an absence, a void that consumed even the faintest glimmer of light.
Kael clenched his fists, doubt creeping into his mind. Can I even absorb something like this? He could feel its power pulling at him, like a whisper in the back of his mind, calling to him, tempting him. But this wasn't the playful allure of mana. This was something deeper, darker, and infinitely more dangerous.
"Hesitation will get you killed," rumbled a familiar voice in his mind. Noctharis, the ancient dragon whose essence was tied to this very core, spoke with the weight of eons. "You have no choice now. Either you claim it, or it consumes you."
Kael swallowed hard, his resolve hardening. He couldn't afford to falter, not when so much was at stake. Not when revenge, survival, and something deeper—something he couldn't quite name—drove him forward.
---
The core pulsed with an almost hypnotic rhythm as Kael approached, his eyes fixed on its shifting form. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to stop, to turn back, to run. Yet, he couldn't. He wouldn't.
It was only when he stood mere inches from the core that he realized how alive it truly was. The power radiating from it was overwhelming, suffocating, but there was more to it—a strange, almost sentient awareness. He could feel it watching him, judging him, as though deciding if he was worthy.
His hand moved of its own accord, trembling as it reached out toward the core. "Why does it feel like… it's calling to me?" he muttered under his breath.
The moment his fingers brushed the core, the world around him exploded.
---
A torrent of power surged through Kael, slamming into his body with the force of a tidal wave. At first, it was exhilarating, intoxicating even. The energy filled him, coursing through his veins like liquid fire, invigorating every cell in his body.
"This… isn't so bad," Kael muttered, a faint smile crossing his lips. "It's easier than I thought."
But his relief was short-lived.
A searing pain erupted from within, spreading through his body like wildfire. He screamed, doubling over as the heat consumed him, his flesh feeling as though it were being torn apart from the inside. The fire raged on, relentless, until suddenly, it vanished, replaced by an icy cold that froze him to his core.
His body convulsed as the cycle repeated—burning, freezing, burning again—each wave more intense than the last. His screams echoed through the chamber, raw and unending, as the elemental forces tore through him, threatening to tear him apart.
"Focus!" Noctharis' voice thundered in his mind, cutting through the pain like a blade. "Do not let the core overwhelm you. Listen to my voice. Feel how I guide the mana within you."
Kael gritted his teeth, his vision blurring as he struggled to hold on. The dragon's voice was like a lifeline, anchoring him amidst the chaos. "Guide… the mana?" he gasped, barely able to form the words.
"Yes. Feel it. Move it. If you fail, you will die."
Through the haze of agony, Kael forced himself to concentrate, to sense the flow of mana within his body. It was chaotic, a storm of raw power threatening to spiral out of control. But Noctharis' presence was steady, guiding him, showing him how to control the torrent.
Slowly, painfully, Kael began to mimic the dragon's movements, channeling the mana through his body. It wasn't perfect, and each misstep sent fresh waves of agony through him, but he pushed forward, refusing to give up.
---
The system's cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind, a stark contrast to Noctharis' ancient wisdom.
Error… Error… Anomaly detected. Extreme danger. Host is requested to stop immediately.
Kael barely registered the words, his focus locked on the dragon's guidance.
Host life is in danger… Error… Host potential increasing… Significant changes to host's soul detected…
He didn't care. None of it mattered. All that mattered was finishing this.
The core's energy began to wane, its pulsating light dimming with each passing moment. Kael could feel it now—he was close, so close to absorbing it completely. But the strain was unbearable. Blood dripped from his nose and ears, and every breath felt like a knife to his lungs.
"You are almost there," Noctharis urged, his voice firm yet urgent. "Do not falter now. The core is weakening. Take it. Make it yours."
Kael's emotions surged as he pushed himself to the brink. Anger, betrayal, sadness—all the feelings he had buried deep inside came rushing to the surface. He thought of his family, of the people who had cast him aside. He thought of Liana, the only person who had shown him kindness in this wretched fortress. He clenched his fists, his resolve solidifying.
For Liana. For myself. For revenge.
---
The core's light flickered one final time before collapsing inward. The explosion that followed sent Kael hurtling across the chamber, slamming into the wall with bone-crushing force. Pain shot through his body as he crumpled to the ground, barely able to move.
Through the haze of pain and exhaustion, he heard Noctharis' voice.
"You have done it, Kael. You have claimed the core. Rest now. You have earned it."
A weak smile crossed Kael's lips as his vision darkened. He had succeeded. Against all odds, he had done it. And as unconsciousness claimed him, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope amidst the pain.
The core was gone, its power now his. But what he had become in the process was a question that even Noctharis couldn't answer.