Ian stood still, eyes wide, as the golden mist sank deeper into his skin. His head hurt. It was like being hit by a mountain, then struck by lightning, then dropped into the sea. But he did not fall. He just stood his ground. He had chosen this.
The power that came with the merge was not just strength. It was knowledge. And not just random facts or spells, he now knew what he was, why he existed, and even hints about the real shape of the world. His chest rose and fell, heavy with shock, but also with something else... It was damn peace.
"So this... is my true self..." Ian whispered, his voice low, almost unsure.
He now understood that he was no longer just the Ian from Earth or the Ian of this vampire world. He was something more. Something deeper, older, greater.
The Great Old One! He was the reincarnation of a being that had reached a boundless power level! A taboo being among taboos.
