Kael didn't sleep.
He couldn't.
The heat inside him never fully disappeared. It lingered—waiting, watching.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the man's face.
Aging. Breaking. Because of him.
"I didn't mean to…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
No response.
For the first time since waking up… Aetherion was silent.
That scared him more.
The city had gone quiet. Night deepened, and a cold wind swept across the rooftop.
Kael sat against the wall, knees pulled in, trying to steady his breathing.
Trying to think.
"There has to be another way…"
Pain answered him.
It hit harder than before.
Kael gasped as the heat exploded inside him again. His body locked up, veins burning like molten metal. His chest felt like it would tear open.
"No… not again…"
"Energy levels critical."
Aetherion's voice returned—calm and emotionless.
"Host requires immediate sustenance."
Kael shook his head violently.
"No… I'm not doing that again…"
"Failure to act will result in host termination."
"I don't care!"
The pain intensified. Brutal. Unrelenting.
Kael slammed his fist into the ground.
"THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY!"
Silence.
Then—
"Alternative sources… minimal."
Kael froze.
"What does that mean…?"
"Non-sentient energy signatures detected."
Hope sparked.
"Where…?"
A pause.
"Below."
Kael forced himself to stand. His legs trembled as he staggered toward the rooftop door. Every step felt like fire grinding through his bones.
He pushed the door open and rushed down the stairs.
The building was dark. Empty. Silent.
But as he reached the lower floors…
He felt it.
A faint pull.
Like something was calling him.
"Left…"
Kael followed the sensation, turning down a narrow hallway he had never noticed before.
At the end—
A metal door.
Locked.
The pull was stronger now.
"It's here…"
Kael grabbed the handle.
It wouldn't budge.
"Stand back."
Before he could react—
Heat surged through his arm.
His hand began to glow.
He pushed.
The lock melted.
The door creaked open.
Darkness waited inside.
And something else.
A low hum.
Kael stepped in slowly.
The room was filled with old electrical equipment—generators, cables, dead machines.
But one of them…
Still had power.
A faint blue light flickered from a damaged generator in the corner.
Kael stared at it.
"That's it…?"
"Energy source confirmed."
He hesitated.
"This won't hurt anyone?"
"No sentient life detected."
Relief washed over him.
"Okay…"
Slowly, carefully, Kael reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the metal—
Energy surged through him.
Not like before.
Different.
Wild.
Electricity shot through his body.
Kael cried out as his muscles tensed violently.
"Too much—!"
"Regulating…"
The energy didn't burn like the star.
It flowed.
Cold. Sharp. Controlled.
It filled the emptiness inside him.
The hunger faded.
The heat stabilized.
Kael collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
"I… I'm okay…"
For the first time since everything began…
The pain stopped.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
"Adaptation successful."
Kael looked at his hands.
Faint sparks danced across his fingers.
"What… is this…?"
"Energy conversion."
"You are evolving."
Kael's heart pounded.
"Evolving into what…?"
A pause.
Longer this time.
"Unknown."
Kael let out a slow breath.
Not human.
Not normal.
But alive.
For now.
Then—
A sound.
Not from the machine.
From behind him.
A footstep.
Kael froze.
He wasn't alone.
Slowly… he turned.
A figure stood in the doorway.
Watching him.
Eyes locked onto his glowing hands.
"…So it's true."
Kael's chest tightened.
"Who are you…?"
The stranger stepped forward, calm… almost amused.
"Someone who's been looking for you."
A faint smile formed.
"And now that I've found you…"
The air grew heavy.
Dangerous.
"You're coming with me."
Kael's instincts screamed.
Run.
But his body didn't move.
Because deep inside—
Something else responded.
Not fear.
Excitement.