Chapter 2: The Awakening
Jian Yuelin's breathing was shallow as he pressed himself deeper into the shadows of a crumbling wall. The armored figures moved like predators, their footsteps deliberate and their weapons humming faintly with energy.
"He couldn't have gotten far," said the tallest of the group, his voice cold and metallic through his helmet. "The crystal's energy signature spiked here."
Jian tightened his grip on the satchel, his chest still aching from whatever had happened with the crystal. It felt as if something alien yet powerful now resided within him, pulsing faintly in rhythm with his heartbeat.
The leader raised his hand, and the group spread out, their visors glowing as they scanned the area. Jian knew he couldn't stay hidden for long. He had to act.
He glanced around, his mind racing. A broken pipe jutted from the wall nearby, and shards of glass littered the ground. Grabbing a sharp piece of glass, he crouched low, calculating his next move.
As one of the soldiers passed close to his hiding spot, Jian sprang into action. He swung the shard toward the soldier's exposed arm joint, striking true. The soldier stumbled back, cursing in pain.
"Over here!" Jian shouted, bolting from cover.
The others turned, their weapons firing beams of concentrated light. Jian zigzagged through the rubble, narrowly avoiding the deadly blasts. His heart pounded as he led them away from the alley and deeper into the ruins.
The leader growled, activating a device on his wrist. A pulse of energy erupted, and suddenly, Jian felt his limbs grow heavy. His pace faltered, his body sluggish as if the air around him had thickened.
"Got you now, scavenger," the leader sneered, closing in.
Jian gritted his teeth, struggling to move. A faint warmth began to build in his chest—the same sensation he'd felt when the crystal merged with him. Desperation fueling him, he focused on the warmth, willing it to grow.
The warmth turned into a blaze, and suddenly, a burst of light erupted from Jian's body, shattering the energy field around him. The soldiers staggered back, shielding their visors.
"What the—?" the leader exclaimed, but Jian didn't wait for answers.
Instinctively, he thrust his hand forward, and a glowing wave of energy shot out, slamming into the nearest soldier. The impact sent the man flying into a wall, his armor sparking.
Jian stared at his hand, disbelief and awe washing over him. "What… what is this power?"
The remaining soldiers regrouped, their weapons trained on him. "He's awakened! Take him down!"
The leader barked orders, and the soldiers fired in unison. Jian dove behind a pile of rubble, the blasts scorching the ground around him. His mind raced. The surge of energy had been instinctual, but he had no idea how to control it.
"Focus," he muttered, closing his eyes. The warmth in his chest still burned, like a star waiting to be unleashed.
As the soldiers closed in, Jian felt the energy shift, flowing through his body like a river. He stood, his eyes glowing faintly as he faced his attackers. With a flick of his wrist, a translucent barrier formed in front of him, absorbing their attacks.
Their shock was evident. "Impossible!" one of them gasped.
Jian stepped forward, his confidence growing with each pulse of energy. "I don't know what this power is, but I'm not going down without a fight."
He thrust his hands forward, and the ground beneath the soldiers erupted, sending them sprawling. The leader growled, pulling out a blade crackling with energy.
"You're a fool if you think raw power can save you," the leader snarled, charging at Jian.
Their clash was brief but intense. Jian's movements were clumsy, guided more by instinct than skill, but the energy coursing through him gave him speed and strength. He dodged the leader's strikes and retaliated with bursts of force, each one stronger than the last.
Finally, with a desperate roar, Jian unleashed a concentrated blast that sent the leader flying. The remaining soldiers hesitated, then retreated, dragging their unconscious leader with them.
Jian collapsed to his knees, the energy fading as exhaustion took over. His chest still glowed faintly, the symbol of a star now etched into his skin.
"What… what am I?" he whispered, staring at the mark.
In the silence that followed, a voice echoed in his mind—the same voice he'd heard earlier.
"You are the bearer of the Celestial Core, chosen to walk the path of the Eternal Spire. Your journey has just begun."
Jian's fists clenched. He didn't know who or what the voice belonged to, but one thing was certain: his life would never be the same again.