As the light dissipated, stunned silence filled the room. Zypher's chest still pounded for all that excitement. His hands tingled from residual energy. He glanced about and saw the combination of awe and respect in their eyes. And it struck him just then: how much potential had been lying within him —and how much of that potential could be channeled, refined into a force that Neo-ilka hadn't seen in ages.
Finally, Daelon spoke, his voice thick with emotion. "The gods' power… It's real. And now it's here, among us."
Zypher took a deep breath, the weight of responsibility settling onto him. He had revealed to them just a glimpse of the power within him, but he knew that was only the start. The power of the gods is extreme, whether it would save Neo-ilka or bury it.
With this power, we've got a fighting chance at the corporations. What could we do if we rounded up more of the god's essence if we made our people strong and gave them something to believe in," said Kiera, moving forward, with an expression of pride and determination.
Her words struck a stubborn chord in him. The power was not his, after all. It was a gift, an opportunity to lead, to awaken something within the bosoms of the people of Neo-ilka. For too long, they'd been squashed by the weight of corporations, their spirits beaten into the ground, their dreams squashed. But this power could change that.
We need to tread carefully," said Zypher steadily, but with a firm and resolved sound. "This power is unstable. And if I am to get the upper hand over it, I will require more guidance, more time.".
Okay, so, first of all, come and then we have to visit the temples. Each contains a fragment of the gods' legacy. Visiting them might teach you to strengthen your bond to divine energy, to learn how to wield it without losing yourself. It won't be easy, but the reward is beyond anything we can conceive.
Zypher nodded, the sense of purpose hardening in him. Granted by the gods with their strength, it was up to him to earn it; to be considered worthy of the power he carried.
Then I'll visit the temples, he said. I'll unlock each piece and learn how to use the gods' favors. And when the time is ripe, we'll rise together against corporations. We'll restore the legacy of the gods to Neo-ilka, and we'll show them that they own this city no more.
Cheers were echoed through the room, and the collective cry of defiance on the underground base was felt by him-their energy and hope radiating back to him. For the first time, he felt like a true Demi-Tech-not a relic of the old gods' past but a force for their future.
The road ahead now more transparent with the power he had acquired and the backing of the resistance. His way to the temples would be dangerous, and each fragment brings him closer and closer to the gods' complete legacy. Though, he was no longer alone, as Neo-ilka gifted him allies who, together with him, could regain their city.
And with those words, Daelon exits the crowd and reaches out, pats Zypher's shoulder. "Ah, the gods have done well for themselves in you,
Zypher. Never forget, you are not only an instrument; you are a spark, a flame. Hold that burning until one day it kindles something far greater than the lot of us.".
Zypher nodded, settled, his bones feeling the weight of what he had to face. But he was ready. With the power of the gods coursing through him and Neo-ilka's hope in his heart, he was prepared for what had to be done.
He felt the stream of the gods within him; Neo-ilka was his to protect.