The cold stone chamber was silent, save for Mark's ragged breathing. The chains of light still held him in place, their glow pulsing rhythmically, as if sensing his fear. His body was heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and pain.
His mind raced, replaying Quintin's words over and over. "You're not human… You're an abomination." The accusation echoed in his head, stabbing at his heart. Was that really true? Was he no longer human because of this power?
He gritted his teeth, his fists trembling. "No… I'm still me. I won't let this power change who I am." But doubt gnawed at him, creeping into his thoughts like a shadow.
His vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. He felt light-headed, his strength fading. The chains were draining his energy, keeping him weak and powerless.
Suddenly, a faint whisper echoed through the chamber, cold and distant.
[…Mark…]
His head snapped up, his eyes widening. "Who… Who's there?"
The air grew colder, the shadows shifting around him. A figure emerged from the darkness, its form hazy and translucent. It was a woman, her long hair flowing like smoke, her eyes glowing with an eerie light. Her face was beautiful, but her expression was sorrowful, filled with pain and longing.
Mark's heart skipped a beat. He recognized her face. It was the same woman he had seen in his vision, standing beside the ancient pedestal. "You… You're from the pedestal… Who are you?"
The woman's voice was soft, echoing like a distant memory. [I am… the Guardian of the Origin Core… the keeper of the ancient power you now hold.]
Mark's eyes widened. "Origin Core? You mean… the thing I need to stabilize my power?"
The woman nodded, her face filled with sorrow. [Yes… Without the Origin Core, the Abyssal Influence will consume you… twist your power into darkness.]
A chill ran down Mark's spine. "Abyssal Influence… Is that why my eyes turned red? Why I felt… out of control?"
The Guardian's expression darkened. [The Abyssal Influence is the curse of power. It tempts you with strength… but demands your humanity as the price.] She stepped closer, her form flickering. [If you do not find the Origin Core… you will lose yourself to the darkness. You will become… a monster.]
Mark's blood ran cold. "No… No, I won't let that happen! I'll find the Origin Core! I'll control this power!"
The Guardian's eyes softened. [You have courage… just like he did.]
Mark frowned, confusion washing over him. "He? Who are you talking about?"
The Guardian's form flickered, her voice growing faint. [The first to wield the Auto Max Skill… The one who created this power… and sealed it away.]
Mark's heart skipped a beat. "You mean… someone else had this power before me?"
The Guardian nodded, her face filled with sorrow. [Yes… He was a hero… and a tyrant. A savior… and a destroyer. The power consumed him… twisted his soul. In the end, he sacrificed everything to seal it away… to prevent anyone else from suffering his fate.]
Mark's hands trembled. "Then… Why did the pedestal give the power to me?"
The Guardian's eyes gleamed with hope. [Because… you were chosen. Chosen to succeed where he failed… to master the power without losing yourself to the darkness.]
Mark's heart raced. "Chosen…? But I'm just an E-rank Hunter. I'm nobody special."
The Guardian's face softened, her form beginning to fade. [You have the strength… the heart… and the will to protect those you love. That is why… you were chosen.]
Mark's chest tightened, his thoughts turning to his family—his mother's gentle smile, his sister's laughter. They were his reason for fighting, for surviving. He couldn't lose himself. Not when they were waiting for him.
He looked up, his eyes burning with determination. "Tell me where to find the Origin Core. I'll get it, no matter what it takes."
The Guardian's form wavered, her voice growing faint. [The Origin Core lies… within the Abyssal Gate… the realm between worlds…]
Mark's blood ran cold. "Abyssal Gate…? You mean… the rift where the monsters come from?"
The Guardian nodded, her face filled with sorrow. [Yes… It is a realm of chaos and darkness… a place where reality bends… and nightmares come to life.]
Mark's heart pounded, fear creeping into his chest. The Abyssal Gate was the source of the monsters that plagued his world, a place no Hunter had ever returned from. It was a death sentence.
But he had no choice. If he didn't get the Origin Core… he would become one of those monsters himself.
He gritted his teeth, his fists tightening. "Then I'll go. I'll find the Origin Core… and I'll prove that I'm still human."
The Guardian's eyes gleamed with hope. [Be careful, Mark… The Abyssal Gate is treacherous… and the shadows there are alive… hungry for your soul.]
Mark's body shivered, but he stood tall, his resolve unwavering. "I'm not afraid. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family."
The Guardian's form began to fade, her voice echoing through the chamber. [Then… you are truly worthy… of the Auto Max Skill.]
Her body dissolved into light, the glow swirling around Mark before sinking into his chest. His vision blurred, his mind spinning as new knowledge flooded into him—visions of ancient battles, forgotten worlds, and the power to bend reality itself.
His eyes snapped open, glowing with a faint crimson light. The chains of light around him shattered, their fragments dissolving into the air. His body felt light, his strength returning.
Mark took a deep breath, his fists clenching. He could feel it—his power growing stronger, his resolve unbreakable. He knew what he had to do.
He had to escape the Forbidden Wing. He had to find the Abyssal Gate. And he had to claim the Origin Core… before the darkness claimed him.
His eyes burned with determination as he stepped forward, his aura flaring. "I won't let this power consume me… I'll master it… and I'll protect everyone I love."
The chamber trembled, the ancient symbols flickering as his aura surged. Mark took another step, his heart pounding. His journey was just beginning.
And nothing would stand in his way.
End of Chapter 8