Chapter 7 – The Price of Power
The remains of the Crimson Knight sizzled on the ground, slime evaporating into black mist. Kael stood over the shattered armor, still breathing heavily, his hand trembling from the rush of whatever he'd just unleashed.
Nyx was staring at him — not with admiration, but with a calculating, almost wary gaze.
He broke the silence first.
"That thing would've killed me in one hit. I had no choice but to… do that."
Her crimson eyes narrowed. "Do you even know what you just did?"
Kael hesitated. "I… pulled something from the air. Like… energy. It just—happened."
Nyx took a slow step toward him, her black hair swaying with the movement. "Cosmic Absorption," she said quietly. "Only a few beings in all realms can do that. You're not supposed to have it… and yet, here you are."
Kael frowned. "And? Isn't that a good thing?"
Her lips curved in a humorless smile. "Good? You just tore a Calamity-tier knight in half with a single blast. But power like that has a price."
He raised an eyebrow. "What price?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned away, scanning the shadows of the forest before speaking.
"The more cosmic energy you absorb, the less… human you'll remain. It will change your body, your mind… your soul. And when that happens, you won't be able to go back."
Kael scoffed, though the unease in his stomach betrayed him. "You sound like one of those cryptic old mentors from the stories."
Her gaze flicked back to him sharply. "This isn't a story, Kael. It's the Dead World. If you think you can drink the ocean and not drown, you're a fool."
He gave a half-smile. "Then I guess I'll just have to learn to swim."
For a moment, Nyx just stared at him — and to his surprise, a faint laugh escaped her. "Reckless. Arrogant. You might actually survive here after all."
They continued walking, the crunch of dead soil beneath their boots the only sound for a while. But Kael couldn't shake the lingering hum in his veins, the way the world seemed sharper now — sounds louder, scents clearer, colors almost painfully vivid.
He flexed his fingers. The air itself felt alive.
Somewhere deep inside, a whisper coiled through his mind.
More…
Kael froze, glancing at Nyx. "Did you hear that?"
She gave him a questioning look. "Hear what?"
He shook his head slowly. "Never mind."
But he knew it wasn't nothing.
The power had spoken to him.
And it wasn't done yet.