Emery floated high above the northern reaches of his inner domain, silent and motionless as he looked down upon Star Beast Island.
Below him, the land was vast and savage, overflowing with dense primal energy. Mountains of black stone rose like the backs of ancient beasts, while rivers of silver mist wound through deep valleys.
At the center of the island sat his dark avatar in lotus position, perfectly still before the colossal Stellar Devouring Beast. The monstrous creature lay dormant like a mountain. Its breathing was slow and deep, yet every exhale stirred storms across the island. Faint runic lines pulsed across its hide like stars embedded in stone.
Emery watched in silence.
It had been more than three years since the dark avatar devoted itself completely to mastering the second stage of the Stellar Beast Core Assimilation. During that time, it had abandoned all distractions and focused solely on meditation, resonance, and repeated attempts to cross the next threshold.
