Jack sat in the dim hut, the diary clutched in his hands, the humming light floating above the skeleton casting flickering shadows on the rotting walls. His mind raced, trying to process everything he had just read. 'A System… pure energy that bonds with the soul. This could be the chance of a lifetime… or the end of me.'
He glanced at the glowing light, its hum steady, almost expectant. 'It reacted to me earlier. Maybe it's… listening?' He hesitated, then decided there was only one way to find out. Clearing his throat, he spoke into the charged silence. "Will I be able to use your power after I merge with you?"
The hum deepened, vibrating through the room, but the light dimmed slightly. Jack frowned. 'What does that mean? It's… hesitant?' "Does that mean I could?" he pressed. "I have the potential to, at least?"
The light flared, brightening with an almost eager intensity, and the hum took on a softer, more harmonious tone. Jack's heart pounded. 'It's… agreeing. I have a chance.' He stood, eyes fixed on the light, curiosity, and dread warring within him.
Slowly, he reached out, fingers trembling. The moment his hand drew close, the light flickered and the hum shifted, growing louder and more aggressive, almost like a warning. Jack yanked his hand back, heart hammering. 'Okay. Not that easy.'
He circled the light, trying different approaches—slowly extending his hand, reaching from different angles—but each time, the reaction was the same. The light dimmed and the hum grew harsh, pushing him back as if repelling his touch.
Frustration simmered. 'Why won't it let me near? Is it testing me? Or… protecting itself?' He glanced down at the diary in his hands, Jon's final words etched in blood. 'He said he infused his System into this. Maybe…'
Holding the diary firmly, he took a cautious step toward the light. The moment he moved closer, the hum softened, and the glow brightened, warmth radiating through the room. Jack's eyes widened. 'It… likes this.'
He stepped back again, the hum growing discordant, the light dimming. 'It's connected to Jon's System. It wants… something more.' He brought the diary closer once more, and the light responded with a reassuring pulse of brightness.
Jack's mind raced, thoughts tangling together. 'So, it needs the diary. Jon's System… they're connected. But what happens if I… merge them? If I bring them together?'
He lowered himself to the ground, the rough wooden floor creaking beneath him. Staring at the glowing light, he weighed the possibilities. 'This could be my only shot. But… what if it goes wrong? What if it destroys me the way it almost destroyed Jon?'
His thoughts spiraled. 'Jon's System is already damaged. If I merge with this… will it repair itself? Or will it just break me?' He looked down at the diary, the brownish-red ink almost pulsing with life. 'Jon gave everything for this. His soul… his very essence. He believed it would be worth it.'
He swallowed hard. 'But am I ready for that kind of sacrifice?'
Jack's fingers tightened around the diary. Memories of his life before the crash flashed through his mind—the luxury, the success, the constant drive for more. 'I've always pushed boundaries. Taken risks. But this… this is different.'
He looked back at the light, its hum a steady, almost soothing presence now. 'It's waiting for me. It's… offering something.'
A new thought surfaced. 'Jon couldn't use it because he was damaged. But me… I'm still whole. Untouched by whatever Qi does to a soul.'
He took a deep breath. 'This is it. The point of no return.'
The hum deepened, filling the room like a heartbeat. The light's glow seemed to stretch, reaching for the diary, pulling him toward it.
Jack's grip tightened. He stood, staring into the light, his heart pounding. 'I don't know what's going to happen. But… I have to try.'
He lifted the diary, slowly moving it toward the light, every nerve in his body screaming in anticipation. The hum grew louder, the glow brighter, as if the hut itself was holding its breath.
Jack's pulse thundered in his ears. 'No turning back now.'