Rain drummed lightly on the dense forest canopy, the scent of wet earth and smoke still lingering from Rayon's battles beyond Veylport. The world had quieted, but not because it was safe—it had quieted because Rayon was no longer moving through it.
He stumbled forward, hands brushing against tree trunks, boots sinking into the mud. Every muscle screamed in protest, every tendon felt stretched to breaking. The Insanity, the hollow strings, the core powers he had unleashed against Elydrin Solvar—they weren't meant for a body that hadn't been tempered to handle such overwhelming output.
Rayon (thinking, head swimming): Just a little… more… I can handle… no… why does it feel like everything is tearing me apart?
His vision blurred, the forest around him melting into indistinct shapes. Hollow strings still hummed faintly in his subconscious, desperate to maintain balance, to stitch what his body couldn't sustain. But even they had limits.
And then… darkness.
Black scales slithered silently from the shadows, forming a colossal yet compacted shape. Vorthalaxis, now able to materialize fully in the waking world, coiled around Rayon, lifting him with ease. The air shimmered as the dragon's body radiated a low, protective energy, black markings glowing faintly against its sleek, scaled hide.
Vorthalaxis (thinking, voice in Rayon's mind): Master… this is not weakness. It is recovery. You pushed beyond the bounds of your vessel. You teetered at the edge of destruction. I have you… rest.
The forest blurred beneath them as Vorthalaxis surged upward, wings spreading, wind ripping branches aside. Rain stung Rayon's face, but he was too unconscious to notice.
Erethon (whispering from the corner of Rayon's mind, sardonic but informative): Typical of you… to push limits you were never meant to touch. But listen… this is who you've always been. That arrogant, insatiable version of yourself? It's the real you. Full potential isn't a disguise—it's the truth of who you are. You've just… never let it surface for long. Your body wasn't ready, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less.
Rayon twitched slightly in Vorthalaxis' coils, an almost imperceptible nod in the unconscious state.
Erethon: Let me break it down for you while you sleep. Full potential Rayon… it's not a "form." It's not temporary. It is you. Always was. The arrogance, the thrill in domination, the instinct to adapt, the hunger for advancement… that's you stripped bare. The side effect? Your body hasn't adapted yet to use all that raw power at once. You overexerted your internal systems. They're fine now—regenerated, healed, strengthened—but they needed a pause. One day, that's it.
Vorthalaxis glided above the treetops, wings extended like a living shadow, carrying Rayon to a hidden cliffside sanctuary deep within the forest. Mist swirled around them, hiding their descent from any prying eyes. Rayon's body, suspended between life and unconsciousness, was a canvas for Vorthalaxis' protective powers. Black strings of energy—extensions of Rayon's own hollow strings—intertwined with the dragon's energy, stitching, stabilizing, and fortifying.
Erethon: Notice something? The only thing that ever slowed you down was your vessel. But you… you are the exception. Full potential, flowing into the body you've trained, tempered, and forced to adapt. You just… pushed too hard, too fast. Even now, you are growing.
Hours passed, silent but tense. Vorthalaxis perched on the cliff's edge, body coiled like living armor. Erethon lingered in Rayon's mind, whispering tidbits of analysis, dark humor, and the occasional sarcastic remark.
Erethon: Funny, isn't it? You push past everything—fear, limits, death—yet your greatest foe is always yourself. And here you are… unconscious for a day, while your mind is still racing. Classic you.
The forest seemed to breathe with them, alive in anticipation of Rayon's awakening. Birds kept their distance, animals sensed the overwhelming presence of two forces: Vorthalaxis' draconic might and the lingering residual aura of full potential Rayon.
Vorthalaxis: Master… when you awaken, you will feel the world differently. The strings, the Insanity, your adaptability—they are not diminished. They are refined. You survived what would have killed almost any other being. And now… you are stronger, more attuned. Ready to face the second seal.
Rayon's unconscious mind stirred. Dreams of shadowed battlefields, screaming monsters, and relentless challenges melded with fragments of dark humor and arrogance, reminders of who he was. Erethon whispered from the subconscious:
Erethon: Remember… you are still you. But the day of limitation is over. The day of hesitation… gone. You are Full Potential Rayon now, whether your body likes it or not. And trust me… your body will adjust. You always do.
A soft wind passed over Rayon, carrying the scent of wet earth and blackened ash. Slowly, eyes fluttered open. The storm outside the cliffside had calmed, leaving only the sound of rain dripping gently from leaves.
Rayon's first sensation was weightless awareness—every muscle, every sinew felt strengthened beyond comprehension. His hands twitched, hollow strings flickering faintly across the air, eager for command. Vorthalaxis lowered its massive head, black eyes gleaming like molten obsidian.
Rayon (voice low, confident, teasing): "Feels… weirdly normal… to have the world waiting for me again."
Vorthalaxis (silent chuckle, voice in mind): Master… the world always waits. But now… it trembles.
Erethon, ever the sardonic observer, whispered in his mind:
Erethon: And that's the danger you are… my boy. All of you. Full potential, unrestricted, raw. Let's see how long it takes the world to even notice you're awake.
Rayon pushed himself up, coat fluttering around his shoulders, hollow strings still flickering faintly like living shadows. The forest stretched endlessly ahead, dark, mysterious, and full of danger. The second seal waited, and so did the challenges beyond it.
Rayon (grinning faintly): Let's go see what's behind that door. I hope it's fun.