The blue energy beam tore through the air like lightning given sentience. Klaus didn't have time to think, only to act. With a thought, an arcane barrier materialized before him, layered with ice barriers that glowed with desperate intensity.
CRACK!
The barrier shattered instantly, unable to withstand the focused power. The beam grazed Klaus's left arm, searing through fabric and flesh with terrifying ease. Pain exploded through his nerves, but worse than the physical damage was the psychic backlash — a flood of fragmented memories that crashed over him like a tsunami.
*Klaus Lionhart. The Singularity. We've been waiting for you to awaken.*
The Messenger's voice echoed in his mind, but now it was joined by others. Dozens of voices speaking in languages Klaus had never heard, yet somehow understood. The energy beam didn't just wound his body — it resonated with something deep within him, triggering memories that weren't his own.
