He approached the pool slowly. The mana there pulsed faintly, each beat slower than the last. It wasn't natural energy, it was heart energy, condensed life-force. Whatever creature this belonged to had been massive, ancient, and powerful enough to be part of the World Tree's very roots.
And something had been draining it.
Ashwing's tail lashed nervously. "That… doesn't feel right. It feels like me, but wrong. Twisted."
Lindarion knelt, resting a hand just above the surface. His eyes flared gold.
[System Notice: Partial Core Sync Possible.]
[Warning: Risk of Resonance Cascade — Proceed with Caution.]
He didn't hesitate.
Energy surged upward, lashing through his body like wildfire. For an instant, his vision split, he saw through the roots, through the flow of the World Tree's veins, through Lorienya itself. He saw energy streams bending, turning, and vanishing into black holes along the western horizon.
