Dawn seeped over the forest, casting a pale, spectral light that gently coated the trees in shades of muted gold and green. Kael stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the eastern horizon, as the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Core instability detected. Synchronization required. Nearest optimal environment: Whispering Falls, three miles east.]
The urgency in the system's mechanical tone left no room for doubt. Despite his body aching from the earlier battle with the assassin, a deeper, sharper pain throbbed in his chest. The glowing mark, hidden beneath his tunic, pulsed faintly—less a symbol of power and more a warning.
His grip tightened around the makeshift branch he had used as a weapon. "Whispering Falls," he muttered to himself, and without hesitation, he began his journey eastward.
Undergrowth seemed to swallow up his steps; he struggled on through this unyielding vegetation that latched onto his legs, further delaying his already lethargic gait. Birds darted above in the trees, but all other things around him remained frozen; his racing thoughts alone interrupted their call to be forgotten for now. Painfully he continued forward as every step stung into his bruised frame, still spurred on by the system's foreboding words: collapse.
Then, like a chorus of a thousand screaming angels, the sound of rushing water filled the air—thunderous and unmistakable. The trees grew thinner and then, without warning, there it was—Whispering Falls. A crystalline waterfall tumbled down a moss-covered cliff, spilling over into a pool that shimmered like liquid silver. Mist clung in the air, carrying with it a cool, invigorating energy that seemed to catch Kael's breath.
"This is it," he whispered, dropping to his knees at the water's edge.
[Initiate core stabilization. Step one: Synchronize breathing with ambient energy flow.]
Kael obeyed without hesitation. He closed his eyes, the system's guidance overtaking the noise in his head. Inhale. Exhale. He felt, slowly, the currents of energy flowing through the falls and into the earth beneath him. They pulsed in time with the light on his chest.
Suddenly, a jolt of searing heat surged through his core. Kael gasped, his eyes snapping open as a translucent screen materialized before him.
[Warning: Core energy unstable. Synchronization at 30%. Maintain focus to avoid collapse.]
The mark on his chest flared brighter, spilling light into the misty air. Kael bit down on a cry as his body shook with intense pain. It felt as though the alien energy inside him was fighting his very existence, trying to burn him alive from the inside out.
"System," he gritted out, "how do I stabilize it?"
[Clear external distractions. Visualize energy flow. Command it to stabilize.]
Kael took deep breaths and closed his eyes again. He visualized the turbulent whirlpool inside of him, uncontrolled and fierce. He tried to calm it down slowly, as if it were an entity he could tame, taking inspiration from the soothing cadence of the waterfall.
Time seemed to stretch like hours as he fought to regain control. Sweat dripped down his face, his muscles trembled, and his will almost gave way. Then, slowly, a shift occurred. The storm within began to coalesce, its energy flowing smoothly for the first time.
[Synchronization at 60%. Continue.]
Kael's breathing slowed as he searched for a steady rhythm, joining his will to the natural cadence of the energy. His chest mark dimmed slightly, pulsing with steadier light. With one last breath, the screen flickered again.
[Synchronization complete. Core stabilized. Host's Vast Ethereal Core is now operational.]
Fatigue consumed him. Kael relaxed his body and let it slump onto his back, looking up at the tops of the trees. There was no pain, just a throbbing with life. Every part of him felt alive, as if the world had become sharper.
"What now?" he whispered.
The system answered nearly instantly.
[Future paths available. Core can be upgraded through cultivation, experiences, and energy gathered from the environment.]
Kael pushed himself up to view the serene pool. He had now learned to control his power the first time. But the better the control, the dangerous it proved.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered and clenched his fists.
As he turned around to leave the falls, a faint noise caught his ear—a flicker of darkness moving among the trees. So fast it shouldn't have been seen. Kael's senses, heightened by the stabilization of his core, went on immediate alert.
A grin spread across Kael's lips as he tightened his grip on the branch at his side. Whoever—or whatever—was watching from the shadows would soon meet someone far more powerful than they had encountered before.