The air shattered.
The entity moved first.
Faster than before—its body flickering between states as it closed the distance in an instant.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He moved forward.
Not away.
CRACK.
Their energies collided mid-air.
Light and distortion exploded outward, ripping through the chamber as the two forces clashed.
Kael gritted his teeth, forcing power into his arm.
His body screamed in protest.
But he didn't stop.
"You want my core?"
His voice came out strained.
"Come take it."
The entity's form twisted violently—responding to the challenge.
Its arm shifted, warping into something sharper.
It struck again.
Kael blocked—barely.
The impact sent shockwaves through his body.
His feet slid across the ground.
A stone cracked beneath him.
"—Tch!"
Too strong.
Too unstable.
The system cut in—
"Warning: opponent energy exceeds host capacity."
"Yeah, I noticed!" Kael snapped.
The entity lunged again—this time grabbing him.
Its hand phased through his guard—
And touched his chest.
"—!"
Kael's eyes widened.
Pain exploded inside him.
Not burning.
Not heat.
Pulling.
Like something was being ripped out.
"Core… extraction…"
The entity whispered.
"No—!"
Kael slammed his hand forward instinctively—
Energy burst from his palm directly into the entity.
CRACK—!
The entity recoiled, its form glitching violently as it was forced back.
Kael dropped to one knee, gasping.
His chest pulsed erratically.
The core flickered—unstable.
"You're not… taking it…"
His voice shook.
Not from fear—
From strain.
The entity straightened slowly.
Its form is now darker than before.
Less controlled.
More… corrupted.
"Then… I will break you."
It raised its arm—
And the air around it warped.
Energy gathered.
Dense.
Violent.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Not happening."
He forced himself up.
Every muscle screamed.
Every breath burned.
But something inside him—
Refused to fall.
The core pulsed again.
Weak—
But defiant.
"System…"
Kael spoke through clenched teeth.
"If I absorb it…"
A pause.
Then—
"Outcome uncertain."
"Yeah…"
He let out a slow breath.
"Figures."
The entity's attack reached its peak.
The air screamed.
The chamber trembled.
Kael stepped forward.
Not back.
"One shot…"
The energy inside him shifted.
Not just controlled—
Focused.
Everything into one point.
His hand.
The entity released its attack.
Kael moved at the same time.
He didn't block.
He didn't dodge.
He went straight through it.
Pain tore through his body as the energy struck him—
But he didn't stop.
His hand reached the entity—
And made contact.
Silence.
For a single moment—
Everything stopped.
Then—
ABSORB.
The energy reversed.
Violently.
The entity's form shattered—breaking apart into streams of raw energy that surged into Kael's body.
Its voice distorted—
"—WAIT—"
Too late.
The chamber exploded with light.
Kael's body convulsed as the energy flooded into him.
Not like before.
This was different.
Bigger.
Stronger.
His vision fractured—
Voices.
Memories not his own.
War.
Destruction.
Endless collapse.
And something watching it all.
"—!"
Kael screamed as the energy tore through him.
His chest glowed—brighter than ever before.
Cracks of light spread across his skin.
"System—!"
"Overload detected."
"Stabilization failing."
Kael dropped to the ground.
His body couldn't handle it.
Too much energy.
Too fast.
"Host at risk of collapse."
Darkness crept in at the edges of his vision.
His breathing slowed.
His heartbeat…
Fading.
Then—
A voice.
Familiar.
Calm.
"You are reckless."
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…Aetherion…?"
The glow in his chest stabilized.
The chaos—
Slowing.
"But…"
A pause.
"…you survived."