Back in the Real World
Ray jolted awake with a start. His chest was heaving, his body drenched in sweat. The grasslands, the rats, the orb—all of it faded away as he found himself back in the familiar surroundings of his room.
He lay there, breathing heavily, trying to steady himself. It was just a dream... he thought, though part of him wasn't sure anymore. His mind raced, but something deep within him felt different. He reached up to touch his head, and his fingers brushed against something small and hard in his mental space.
The orb.
It was real.
Ray's eyes widened. It was real. He reached into his mental space, and with a thought, the orb appeared in his hand. He stared at it in awe. The golden sphere pulsed with energy, its warmth radiating through his palm.
He glanced around, making sure no one was watching, and then raised the orb to his mouth. As soon as it touched his lips, a surge of energy shot through him—painful, blinding, and overwhelming. His body spasmed as an intense torrent of power flowed through him, burning and scorching every fiber of his being.
Ray gritted his teeth, his hands trembling, but as the energy swirled inside of him, he felt the burning sensation begin to soften. The heat turned into warmth, spreading through his body like a comforting blanket. He gasped, trying to stay conscious as the power continued to course through him.
When the pain finally subsided, Ray took a deep breath. He felt different, stronger, but there was something else—a strange sensation of impurity leaving his body. His skin tingled as though it was being cleansed, and the smell in the air made him grimace.
He looked down at his body, his eyes widening in shock as he saw black, oily impurities sticking to his skin, oozing out of his pores. BEHOLD, it was the legendary marrow cleansing!! It was a grotesque sight, like dark sludge clinging to his body. The stench was unbearable.
Without hesitation, he rushed to the bathroom and turned on the shower. The warm water poured over his body, washing away the dark impurities that had clung to him. He scrubbed himself vigorously, the foul smell dissipating as the water rinsed the black sludge away.
When he was done, he stepped out, breathing a sigh of relief. He wiped the remaining droplets off his body, and as he glanced at his reflection in the mirror, he felt the changes in his body.
His muscles felt denser, more defined, and there was a strength within him that hadn't been there before. It was subtle, but undeniable. He felt more solid, more capable. His body had transformed, though in ways he couldn't fully understand.
Ray ran his fingers over his arms, flexing them slightly. The orb... it did this. It made me stronger. He couldn't deny it. Whatever had just happened, it was real, and it had changed him.
As he stood there, staring at his reflection, he realized that the journey ahead was only beginning. The orb, the Ethereal Quarry, and whatever else lay in store—he was no longer the same.