The Alpha lunged, jaws wide to tear out his throat.
The mark exploded.
Black essence burst from Kael's body, hurling the Alpha back with a thunderous crack. His wounds stitched closed. His bones snapped and reforged. His eyes glowed like molten silver in the dark.
He rose, no longer trembling. No longer weak.
The dungeon whispered again.
—Rise, Child of the Dungeon—
Kael charged. Faster, sharper, feral. His shard plunged into the Alpha's chest, essence surging into him like fire. The beast howled, thrashing violently, but Kael held on, his teeth bared in a savage grin.
"DIE!"
With a final scream, he ripped the shard upward. The Alpha collapsed, twitching once before going still.
The cavern fell silent.
Kael staggered, chest heaving. The essence flooded him, reshaping him, strengthening him. His vision sharpened. His muscles coiled with unnatural power.
He looked down at his bloodstained hands. They trembled—not from fear, but from exhilaration.
"…I'm… stronger."
Moro crawled weakly back to him, regenerating slowly. Ilyra knelt, her shackles glowing faintly as she smiled at him with tired eyes.
"You survived."
Kael turned toward the corpses of the wolves, then back to the shadows of the dungeon.
"No," he said softly, his voice cold and certain.
"I will survive. And I will devour everything."
The dungeon pulsed once, as though in approval.
Arc 1 – End