The moment Lex's fingers brushed against the glowing fragment, an overwhelming surge of energy coursed through his body, threatening to consume him. It was as though every fiber of his being was struck by lightning—a simultaneous eruption of pain and power that left him gasping for air. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt suspended in time, caught between the mortal world and something far greater.
Then it began.
A warmth radiated from the staff, spreading from his fingertips to his arms and into his chest. The sensation was indescribable—a mix of searing heat and an icy chill, blending together in perfect harmony. It wasn't just power; it was alive, pulsating with an ancient rhythm that resonated deep within his soul.
Lex's heartbeat synced with the staff's pulse, each thud growing louder, stronger, until they became one. He felt as if a door had been opened—a door he hadn't even realized existed—and through it poured memories, emotions, and fragments of something divine.
He saw flashes of light and shadow, battles waged in the heavens, and the weight of countless lives carried by those who had wielded the staff before him. Their voices echoed in his mind, not in words but in feelings—resolve, fear, triumph, and loss. It was overwhelming, like staring into the vastness of the universe and realizing just how small he was.
But amidst the chaos, there was something else—acceptance.
The staff no longer resisted him; instead, it welcomed him, as if it had been waiting for him all along. Lex could feel it testing his resolve, probing his heart for doubts and fears. And though he was far from perfect, far from ready, the staff seemed to acknowledge his determination, his refusal to give up despite the odds stacked against him.
A new sensation flooded through him: connection. It was as if a piece of himself that had always been missing was finally whole. The staff's power intertwined with his own, filling the gaps in his strength, sharpening his senses, and amplifying his will. He could feel the energy coursing through his veins, a divine force that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
His breathing steadied, his body growing lighter, stronger. The aches and bruises from the fight with Vyrax faded, replaced by an almost ethereal vitality. Every breath he took seemed to vibrate with energy, as if the very air around him was alive and responding to his presence.
Then came the clarity.
It was as if a veil had been lifted from his mind. Lex could see the battlefield with crystal precision, every detail etched into his vision. He could feel the flow of energy in the valley, the shifts in the air, even the subtle tremors in the ground beneath his feet. It wasn't just power he had gained—it was understanding, a deeper connection to the world around him.
As the light from the staff enveloped him, he felt... free. Free from the doubts that had plagued him, from the fear that had weighed him down. For the first time, Lex wasn't just fighting to survive; he was fighting because he believed in himself.
He opened his eyes, now glowing with a faint golden hue, and tightened his grip on the staff. Its energy hummed in his hands, no longer an unruly force but an extension of his will.
In that moment, Lex wasn't just a mortal with a divine weapon. He was something more—something that even Vyrax, with all his corruption, couldn't ignore.
The corrupted deity's laughter faltered as he watched the transformation, his dark aura retreating slightly in the face of the radiant power emanating from Lex.
And Lex? He stood taller, his gaze unwavering, his voice steady as he whispered to himself:
"This is what it feels like... to be chosen."
As the radiant energy of the staff pulsed in Lex's hands, Vyrax's piercing gaze bore into him. The corrupted deity, his dark mist swirling with renewed intensity, took a step forward. For the first time since their encounter began, his mocking laughter was replaced by something darker—an almost tangible malice.
Vyrax's voice rumbled, deep and jagged like cracking stone. "Do you even understand the weight of what you hold? That staff... it was never meant for someone like you. A mortal. A mere human."
Lex tightened his grip, the staff humming with an energy that seemed to steady his nerves. He met Vyrax's glare with unwavering resolve. "I may not understand everything, but I know one thing—you're wrong. This power chose me, and I'm not turning back."
Vyrax sneered, his dark aura flaring. "Chose you? That staff didn't choose you—it settled for you. A desperate remnant of a crumbling legacy." He gestured toward the glowing weapon. "You hold the last flicker of Kael's hope, but hope is a fragile thing. Easily extinguished."
Lex's jaw clenched. "Kael's hope isn't fragile—it's unbreakable. It's why he entrusted me with this. He believed in something bigger than himself, and so do I."
Lex said all these, and he truly believed it, even though he had yet to still speak with the Deity again. He was definitely not saying what caused their troubles, but he really hoped it wasn't a revenge plan as Kael had made it seem like.