Axelius stared at the shattered fragments of the void floating around them like pieces of broken glass, still glowing with traces of violet energy. Just as he was about to step forward, the shimmering words reappeared, larger and brighter than before:
[Halt. Primal Veil Core is not fully developed. Current Status: One-Star Cycle.]
Axelius blinked, squinting at the glowing letters. "One-Star Cycle? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he muttered, scratching his head.
Owen, who had been bouncing nervously beside him, tilted slightly. "Maybe it's talking about your Primal Veil Core...like its rank or something?"
As if responding to Owen's words, new text began to form:
[Primal Veil Core develops through cycles. Each cycle is marked by stars, ranging from One-Star to Ten-Star before evolving to the next stage. Current Cycle: One-Star. To advance, you must absorb sufficient Life Essence.]
Axelius tilted his head, frowning. "Life Essence? Like...plants and animals and stuff?"
[Life Essence is the primal energy that flows through all living things—plants, beasts, the earth itself. To progress to the Two-Star Cycle, you must gather Life Essence and stabilize it within your core. Absorption Methods: Meditation, Direct Extraction, or Life Convergence.]
Axelius rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So...I just need to suck up a bunch of Life Essence, and I'll get stronger?"
Owen sighed. "It's not that simple, you idiot. Life Essence isn't just floating around waiting for you to take it. It's rooted in living things. If you pull too much out, you could kill whatever you're taking it from."
Axelius raised an eyebrow. "Kill it? Like...a tree or something?"
Owen bounced a little closer. "Yeah, or a small animal, or...well, anything alive. You have to be careful. If you drain too much Life Essence, you could end up with nothing but dead land."
Axelius chuckled, stretching his arms behind his head. "Good thing I'm not squeamish," he said casually. "So, if I drain a forest, I can get to Two-Star, right?"
Owen bounced aggressively, nearly hitting Axelius's leg. "Are you insane?! You can't just kill everything for power! That's...that's evil!"
Axelius shrugged. "Hey, I'm just asking. Not saying I'd do it." He paused for a moment, grinning. "Unless I have to."
Owen glared at him, his slime form trembling with frustration. "I swear...if you start burning down forests, I'm leaving you!"
Axelius just laughed and patted Owen on what he assumed was his head. "Relax, relax. I'll figure it out. But...hey," he said, turning back to the glowing words. "How much Life Essence do I need to get to Two-Star, anyway?"
The letters flared brightly, as if proud to answer:
[Life Essence Required for Two-Star Cycle: 1000 Units.]
Axelius frowned. "And...how much is a unit?"
[A single healthy tree provides approximately 5 Units. A small beast provides around 3 Units. Larger creatures and unique life forms vary.]
Axelius's eyes widened. "What the hell?! I need 1000?! At this rate, I'd have to drain like...200 trees!"
Owen bounced nervously. "Or...you know...you could find other ways. Meditation, Life Convergence...we don't have to go killing everything in sight."
Axelius raised his hands defensively. "Alright, alright. We'll figure it out. But hey," he said with a grin, "I can feel it, you know? This power...it's like it's just waiting to explode."
Owen groaned. "That's what I'm afraid of."
Axelius was about to ask another question, his mouth half-open, when suddenly the entire void began to tremble violently. The dark, endless space around him rippled like water, and cracks of light splintered through the darkness.
"What's going on?!" Axelius shouted, Owen bounced wildly, nearly losing his form as the vibrations intensified.
"I-I don't know!" Owen stammered, "Is it collapsing?!"
Axelius tried to steady himself, grabbing onto nothing but empty air. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he heard faint voices—soft and distant, like whispers through a thick fog. He couldn't make out the words, but they grew louder, pressing into his ears until it was deafening.
And then—
His eyes snapped open, and he gasped loudly, his body jerking upright as if he had just been pulled out of water. His breathing was ragged, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
"What...what the hell...?" Axelius muttered, blinking rapidly to adjust his eyes to the light. He wasn't floating in darkness anymore. He was lying on a bed, soft sheets tangled around him, and sunlight streaming through a window nearby.
"Was...was that a dream?" he whispered to himself, his hand coming up to touch his chest, feeling his heartbeat pounding fiercely. He looked around the room and noticed two figures standing near the door—Vivienne, her arms crossed, expression sharp and assessing, and a man dressed in a white coat, clearly a doctor. They were talking in hushed tones but stopped when they saw him awake.
Vivienne raised an eyebrow, stepping forward with a measured pace. "You finally woke up," she said, her voice flat but with a hint of relief masked under indifference.
Axelius blinked up at her, still catching his breath. "What...what happened? Why am I here?" he asked, his voice still shaky.
The Physician stepped forward, his expression calm and professional. "Young Master, you collapsed due to what seems to be extreme fatigue," he explained, adjusting his glasses. "You were found unconscious near the east wing, but thankfully, your condition stabilized after some rest."
Axelius stared at him and rub the back of his head. "Actually...I feel pretty good now."
Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that so?" she said, voice edged with disbelief. "You always look like you're on the verge of collapsing. Now, you're telling me you feel fine?"
Axelius raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I guess I do."
The Physician nodded, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Yes, indeed. I performed some examinations, and...well, it seems like your condition has improved dramatically. Almost...unnaturally so."
Vivienne crossed her arms tighter, tapping her finger against her elbow. "That's impossible. He's always been weak," she stated bluntly, though there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "You're not faking it, are you?"
Axelius smirked, stretching his arms above his head. "Maybe I just needed a good nap," he replied, shrugging.
The Physician adjusted his coat and cleared his throat. "We'll continue to monitor you, but for now, I think rest would be best. I'll inform the Duke that you've woken up."
Vivienne just rolled her eyes. "Don't make a habit of this," she said before turning and walking towards the door, leaving without another word.
Axelius watched her go, "Nice to see you too, Lady Vivienne," he muttered under his breath before turning his gaze back to the ceiling. His hand drifted to his left shoulder, where he could faintly feel the mark beneath the fabric.