The chamber lit up.
One by one—
The structures along the walls activated.
Faint at first.
Then brighter.
Dozens of pulsing lights.
Watching him.
Kael stood still.
His breathing steady—
But his mind is racing.
"…You said fragments."
"Correct."
"…How many?"
A pause.
"Multiple."
Kael let out a short breath.
"Yeah. That helps."
The nearest structure cracked.
A thin line of light split across its surface.
Then—
It broke.
A fragment emerged.
Smaller than the last one.
Less stable.
But still… alive.
Its form flickered violently—barely holding shape.
Then another cracked.
And another.
The chamber began to fill with them.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Not happening."
He stepped forward.
No hesitation this time.
One fragment lunged—
Kael moved instantly.
His hand shot out—
And grabbed it.
Contact.
The moment their energies touched—
Something different happened.
Not absorption.
Not destruction.
Synchronization.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
The fragment froze in his grip—its violent energy suddenly… contained.
Controlled.
"Partial Assimilation active."
The system confirmed.
Kael tightened his grip.
"…So this is it."
The energy shifted—
Flowing into him…
Without resistance.
He released the fragment—
And it didn't attack again.
It hovered.
Calm.
"…Wait."
Kael frowned.
"I didn't destroy it."
"Control achieved."
"You mean…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…it's mine now?"
No response.
The next fragment didn't wait.
It rushed him from the side—
Faster.
More aggressive.
Kael turned—
But instead of striking—
He reached out again.
Contact.
Another surge—
Another synchronization.
The fragment stilled instantly.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Okay."
A faint smile formed.
"This I can work with."
More fragments approached.
But this time—
Kael didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
One by one—
He touched them.
Controlled them.
The swarm didn't shrink.
It changed.
From chaos…
To formation.
The fragments began to orbit him.
Slowly.
Controlled.
Kael stood at the center—
Surrounded by energy that once tried to kill him.
"…Yeah."
His voice was quieter now.
Colder.
"This is better."
The system spoke again—
"Warning."
Kael didn't look up.
"There it is."
"External presence detected."
That made him pause.
Slowly—
He turned toward the entrance.
A figure stood there.
Not moving.
Watching.
Unlike the fragments—
This one felt… real.
Dangerous.
"…Impressive."
The voice echoed through the chamber.
Calm.
Controlled.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"You again…"
The man stepped forward slowly—
Completely unfazed by the orbiting fragments.
"You've adapted faster than expected."
His gaze locked onto Kael's chest.
"That core…"
A faint smile formed.
"…belongs to something far beyond you."
The air shifted.
He stepped closer.
And for the first time—
The fragments around Kael…
I was trembling.
Not from instability.
From fear.