The crystalline maze felt alive, shifting subtly as Kain moved deeper into its depths. The sharp, jagged formations jutted out like claws, reflecting the faint light of the Etherial energy that pulsed within their cores. The shard in Kain's chest resonated with the glow, its whispers becoming more insistent, an unrelenting hum at the back of his mind.
"Keep it together," Kain muttered, his voice barely audible over the eerie silence. He gripped his blade tightly, its familiar weight a small comfort in this alien landscape. The shard's whispers had grown louder since the fight with the Crystalline Stalker, its hunger almost palpable. The dark veins on his arm throbbed faintly, a constant reminder of how far he'd come—and how much he'd sacrificed.
Ahead, the path narrowed, forcing Kain to squeeze through a tight gap between two towering crystal spires. As he emerged on the other side, the air shifted. A cold breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the faint scent of decay. His muscles tensed, instincts screaming that he wasn't alone.
A faint noise—like a whisper carried on the wind—drew his attention. He turned slowly, scanning the area. The maze seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions, but something was moving in the shadows. Shapes flickered at the edge of his vision, darting in and out of the crystalline reflections.
Kain took a step forward, his blade raised, his senses on high alert. "Come out already," he growled, his voice echoing off the crystalline walls. "I don't have time for games."
The shadows coalesced, forming into three humanoid figures. Their bodies were translucent, their features distorted as if they were made of glass. They moved with unnatural fluidity, their limbs elongating and contracting as they advanced. Their eyes glowed faintly, filled with a malevolence that sent a shiver down Kain's spine.
[Warning: Etherial Phantoms Detected. Classification—Spectral Beasts. Threat Level: Moderate.]
Kain tightened his grip on his blade. "Spectral beasts, huh? Let's see how tough you really are."
The first Phantom lunged, its body stretching unnaturally as it closed the distance in an instant. Kain sidestepped, slashing upward in a single, fluid motion. His blade passed through the creature, meeting little resistance, and the Phantom let out a distorted scream. Its form wavered, momentarily destabilized, before it reformed and lashed out with elongated claws.
Kain ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack. The shard pulsed in his chest, the whispers growing louder.
[Suggestion: Engage Etherial Absorption to destabilize targets. Activate? Y/N]
"Not yet," Kain muttered, dodging another swipe. The second and third Phantoms joined the fray, their movements coordinated, their glowing eyes fixed on him.
Kain blocked one attack and countered another, but the Phantoms were relentless. They moved like smoke, reforming every time his blade struck true. His breathing grew heavier, his movements slower as exhaustion began to set in.
"Fine," he growled, his frustration boiling over. "Let's see how you like this."
He activated the shard's power. Dark tendrils erupted from his chest, lashing out at the Phantoms. The air crackled with energy as the tendrils wrapped around the nearest Phantom, pulling it toward Kain. The creature shrieked, its translucent form flickering violently as the shard drained its Etherial energy.
The other two Phantoms hesitated, their movements faltering as if they sensed the danger. Kain didn't give them a chance to recover. He surged forward, his blade glowing faintly as the shard enhanced his strength. He struck with precision, slicing through the second Phantom while the shard's tendrils lashed out at the third.
The Phantoms dissolved into wisps of energy, their shrieks fading into silence. Kain stood amidst the fading glow, his chest heaving, the shard's dark veins pulsating with the stolen energy.
[Energy Absorbed: Etherial Resonance Increased. Corruption Level: 27%.]
Kain clenched his jaw, the familiar pain in his chest flaring briefly before subsiding. The shard's whispers grew softer, almost content, but they still carried an undercurrent of hunger.
"Every time," he muttered, shaking his head. "You take more than you give."
He glanced around, the crystalline maze once again silent. The shadows no longer moved, but the sense of unease lingered. The shard's power had saved him, but its grip on him was tightening. He could feel it, a dark presence coiling around his very soul.
As he sheathed his blade and prepared to move on, a faint light caught his eye. Among the remains of the Phantoms lay a small, glowing crystal. Its light was faint but steady, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the shard.
[Item Acquired: Spectral Core. Use: System Upgrade or Energy Infusion.]
Kain picked up the core, holding it up to the faint light. It pulsed faintly in his hand, a soft, almost soothing rhythm that seemed to counterbalance the shard's chaotic energy.
"Not sure what you are," Kain said, slipping the core into his pack, "but you might come in handy."
The maze began to shift again, the crystalline walls shimmering as they rearranged themselves. The path ahead was clearer now, leading toward a faint glow in the distance. Kain took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead.
The Codex Tower was still far away, but the shard's pull was growing stronger. Each step brought him closer to the heart of the Wastes, closer to the power he sought—and the corruption that threatened to consume him.