Chapter 4 – Aftermath and Awakening
The village was in shambles.
Kael stumbled through the damaged dirt roads, tripping over wreckage and smoldering wagons. There remained smoke drifting from some of the houses, and the acrid smell of ash and burned meat lingered in the air. A dog barked somewhere, a villager somewhere else groaned. It wasn't deathly silent anymore, but just… broken.
He rubbed his arms, still stinging with the pulse magic, and growled, "Yep. First day working as an unwilling disaster hero… perfect. First day on the job."
Green sparks flickered faintly from his fingers as he shifted. They cast eerie shadows in the wreckage. Kael flexed the bend of his hand, watching the tendrils writhe and stretch like living tendrils.
[Eclipse System: Host skill calibration advised. Recommended exercise: rudimentary combat drills.]
"Calibration? You mean 'don't blow up when you're lighting things on fire'? Sure, got it. Real handy."
Making a turn, he nearly ran into a group of villagers huddled against a wall. Pale faces, large eyes. Children were hugged by mothers. Men scowled at him like he was the next disaster waiting in the wings.
Kael held up his hands. "Don't worry, I'm… I'm the 'good kind' of devastation. I think."
A villager, a bearded older man with soot on his face, shook an unsteady finger. "You… you killed them?"
Kael turned to him head-tilted. "Them? Oh, the shadows? Yeah… sort of. Kind of. Mostly lived when they self-destructed."
The man glared at him. "You have… powers?"
Kael laughed, a tinny, high-pitched one. "Powers? Me? Nooo. Just. glow-stick fists. And a mysterious floating voice that screams at me all the time. And, you know. almost dying a lot. Totally normal."
[Eclipse System: New ability detected – "Pulse Control." Want a tutorial?]
Kael grumbled. "Of course. What's next? A pop quiz during the village burning down?"
He waved his hands experimentally. A small pulse ran through the air, lighting up the rim of the rubble. A splintered stick floated up in the air for a second before it dropped.
"Okay, okay… little levitation. That's. neat. Sort of."
A shadow flashed past from overhead. Kael blinked. Another one? No—it was spindlier, smaller, darting around between the buildings. His pulse magic reacted accordingly, catching up on the motion automatically.
"Really? Another one? Tonight's just a never-ending party, huh?"
The figure leaped down into the street, landing lightly. It wasn't an animal. It was the hooded stranger from the dungeon.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You again. I was hoping you'd… not appear out of nowhere for theatrics, maybe?"
The stranger's hood shifted. "You're reckless."
"Reckless?" Kael was able to laugh weakly. "I survived a literal hellscape today. Pretty sure I'm just exhausted, not reckless."
The stranger's eyes flickered, almost imperceptibly, and Kael sensed the power of it. "The village is not safe. And neither are you."
Kael nodded. "Yes, yes, got that memo. Thanks for letting me know something I already do, hooded vigilante. Your public service announcement is duly received."
[Eclipse System: Warning – Danger near detected.]
Kael's stomach churned. "Oh, wow. I thought today was over. Guess not.".
A rumble low came from the street to the east. Dust poured down from the beaten rooftops. Kael's pulse magic reacted automatically, green vines springing around him.
From out of the shadows, some creatures emerged. Thin and quick, but smaller than the dungeon beasts. Eyes that glowed very pale red, teeth capable of tearing flesh.
"Superb," Kael snarled. "Nightmare pets, scaled down. Just delightful."
The stranger leapt forward, slicing one through cleanly. Kael threw his hands out, sending a measured pulse. The blast slammed another against a wall. Sparks danced over broken wood and stone.
Kael's heart pounded, protesting muscles. "System, remind me why I agreed to be picked by cosmic events again?"
[Reminder: Host survival is most important. Experience gain will be boosted by risk.]
"Experience gain? Oh boy. So I get points for almost dying. Great motivation."
The fight continued on, each monster faster and more savage. Kael learned quickly. He concentrated his pulse magic, blinding wisps of green to ward off attacks, dodging claws and jaws. The stranger moved elegantly alongside him, killing foes with wide strokes.
Finally, the last monster hissed and retreated into ruins. Kael collapsed onto his knees, knees thudding against floor. His arms trembled, skin beading with sweat, chest burning.
[Eclipse System: Host performance – Above average. EXP gained: 200.]
Kael's eyes jolted open. "Above average? That's. kind of comforting. I didn't exactly die. Tiny victory!"
The stranger drew their sword back into its scabbard. "You're learning fast."
Kael coughed, rubbing at his ribs. "Learning? Sure… if 'learning' is nearly dying every five seconds and yelling at hovering text."
[Eclipse System: New skill acquired – "Pulse Shield." Tutorial wanted?]
Kael flung up his hands. "Of course I want a tutorial! I'm dying of exhaustion over here!"
[Processing.]
The commands to the system were simple, but precise: concentrate pulse magic into body-sized spherical shield. Absorb minor damage, repel physical attacks.
Kael curled his fingers. Tentacles of green encircled him. A soft glow covered his frame. He tested it by letting a small piece of rubble hit the shield—it deflected harmlessly.
"Not bad… not bad at all," he growled. "Hugging a cactus, feels like… but safer."
The hooded stranger continued, voice unshakable. "You're going to need that. The night is not finished."
Kael's stomach churned. "Oh, wonderful. More destruction. I thought the first wave was. well. catastrophic enough."
The stranger remained silent. He just walked, gazing over the village. Kael watched him, trying to decide if he were a human being or something else. He moved through the darkness with a fluidity that seemed near supernatural.
[Eclipse System: Unknown presence detected – Potential ally.]
Kael smiled slightly. "Yeah, sure. We're allies. at least for now. Just hope you don't ditch me in the middle of the next apocalypse."
A fresh rumble rocked the street. A larger shadow began to take shape out of one of the cracks near the village fountain. Kael's pulse magic power up instinctively.
He looked at the stranger. "Well. here we go again. Step one: survive. Step two: learn to deflect more serious things. Step three: hope for coffee afterwards."
The stranger nodded.
Hand in hand, they walked towards the impending danger. Kael felt the pulse magic beating in rhythm with his own heartbeat. Every step, every emerald glow, every screaming nerve brimming with terror—it was ludicrous, horrible… and addictive.
The night had just begun.