《XenoArch》


 Execution

    The crowd pressed together like a tide against the cliffs, their murmurs a cacophony of anticipation and dread. The jagged edge of the precipice loomed above a vast, roiling ocean, where the waves crashed with relentless fury. Atop this natural theater of death, a platform had been erected, sturdy and grim, with executioners standing beside their instruments of judgment.


    Each tool of death was a spectacle in itself. A gleaming guillotine, its blade polished to a cruel brilliance, waited for its next victim. A noose, thick and frayed from use, swayed slightly in the ocean breeze. A pyre of dried wood stood stacked high, ready to devour its offering in flames. An iron maiden, foreboding and spiked, sat ominously at the edge, promising a slow, painful demise.


    Guards stood by the condemned, their faces cold and impassive, gripping their weapons with disciplined precision. The accused¡ªmen and women of varying ages¡ªstood bound, their faces twisted with fear, resignation, or defiance.


    At the center of it all, an old man in flowing white robes stood on the platform, his arms raised high. The insignia of the Holy Archangel Micaela glimmered on his chest, reflecting the dim sunlight that struggled through the gathering clouds. His voice, rich with authority and a practiced cadence, boomed over the crowd.


    "Repent, for your sins have bound you in chains heavier than iron!" His voice carried a fervor that silenced the murmuring crowd. "Some sins cannot be absolved by prayer or penance. They stain the soul and tether it to darkness. Only through the cleansing of death can these souls be purified and allowed entry into heaven."


    The people hung on his words, nodding solemnly or whispering prayers of their own. The priest turned to the guards and gestured toward the first condemned. "Bring them forth, one by one, that they may receive judgment."


    A man in his forties was dragged to the center of the platform. His face was pale, his hands trembling. The priest unrolled a scroll, his expression stoic as he read aloud. "Gorvan Veros, your crime is the murder of your wife''s parents, driven by drunken rage and foolishness. Do you seek prayer before your execution?"


    Gorvan nodded quickly, muttering desperate apologies under his breath. The priest placed a hand on his head and uttered a short prayer before stepping back. The guillotine fell swiftly, the crowd letting out a collective gasp as Gorvan''s head tumbled into the waiting basket.


    Next, a woman with sharp, darting eyes was brought forward. "Ellira Kros, your crime is the poisoning of your stepson, a child of innocence. Do you seek prayer before your execution?"


    Ellira hesitated, her lips curling into a bitter sneer before she finally relented. The priest recited the prayer with mechanical precision, stepping back as the pyre was lit beneath her feet. Her screams echoed briefly before the flames consumed her, the crowd murmuring with a mix of satisfaction and horror.


    And so it went, each sinner meeting their end by the priest''s decree, until only one remained.


    The guards marched forward, dragging a teenage boy with long black hair and a scar that traced his left chin like a sinister brand. Despite his youth, his presence radiated a calm that unnerved the crowd. He walked with dignity, his head held high as if the chains that bound him were mere ornaments.


    The priest''s hands trembled as he unrolled the final scroll, his eyes scanning the text. His face paled, and he staggered, clutching at his chest as if struck. "By the Archangel," he whispered, quickly bowing his head in a silent prayer.


    Clearing his throat, the priest addressed the crowd. "This¡­ this sinner is Kaelix. His crimes are many, his sins grievous."


    He began to read, his voice faltering as he listed the charges. "Mass murder. Mutilation. Torture. Extortion. Drug peddling. Human trafficking. Theft. Arson. Countless acts of violence and destruction."


    The crowd gasped, their murmurs rising into shouts of disbelief and anger. "How could someone so young commit such horrors?"


    Kaelix tilted his head slightly, his expression still calm. But then, as the priest continued, Kaelix interrupted. "Human trafficking? That one''s false. Couldn''t even convince anyone to work with me, let alone allow me to traffic their goods."


    The crowd erupted into furious jeers, their disdain boiling over. Some hurled insults, others rocks, which the guards quickly intercepted. "Monster! You deserve worse than death!"Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    The priest stared at him, torn between pity and revulsion. He shook his head as if trying to reconcile the boy''s composure with the crimes he had committed. "Kaelix," he said solemnly, "by the universal law of Alievor, you are sentenced to death. But for your extensive sins, your punishment shall be by divine decree."


    At this, the crowd fell silent. Divine punishment was rare, reserved for those whose actions had stained the fabric of the realms. Even Kaelix raised an eyebrow, though his calm demeanor never wavered.


    The priest took a deep breath and turned toward the heavens as if seeking strength. "May the will of the Divine be done."


    The priest raised his trembling hand, motioning the guards to drag Kaelix toward the elevated section of the platform. The crowd murmured with a mix of morbid curiosity and righteous anger as the young criminal was pushed forward, his chains clinking against the wooden planks.


    From his robes, the priest drew forth a weathered tome bound in white leather and inscribed with golden symbols that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. The Angelic Codex, the holy book of those serving their Angels. Holding the book close to his chest, the priest closed his eyes, murmuring prayers to the Archangel Micaela.


    "We beseech the heavens to cast judgment upon this sinner," he intoned, his voice carrying an almost desperate edge. "Reveal the punishment fitting for his sins, that his soul may be cleansed in the fires of divine justice!"


    The crowd fell silent, the tension palpable as the seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. The wind carried the faint cry of seabirds, their mournful calls the only sound until Kaelix broke the silence.


    "Well," he said, his voice casual and unbothered. "If I''d been in the eastern realms, they''d have given me a medal and a free lunch instead of all this nonsense."


    A ripple of shock ran through the crowd, quickly replaced by jeers and curses. Kaelix ignored them, his lips curling into a sardonic smirk. "Should''ve known better than to listen to that idiot drug peddler''s directions. Probably set me up for this mess. Tch."


    As his words faded, the Angelic Codex suddenly began to glow, the golden light spreading from its cover like liquid fire. The crowd gasped, shielding their eyes as the book opened itself in the priest''s trembling hands. The pages turned on their own, stopping abruptly as shimmering runes filled the air above it.


    The priest read the divine script, his lips moving silently as his face grew paler with every word. With a heavy sigh, he closed the book and turned to face the crowd. "The heavens have spoken," he declared, his voice heavy with finality. "This sinner shall be denied the right of prayer. His sentence is to die by Iron Maiden, his flesh consumed by fire."


    The crowd gasped in unison, their shock growing as the priest continued. "And his body shall be cast into the ocean depths, where it will know no peace for eternity."


    Kaelix raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Awfully dramatic," he muttered under his breath, drawing another wave of outrage from the crowd.


    Two guards seized him, dragging him toward the Iron Maiden¡ªa grotesque device of iron spikes that glinted wickedly in the light. As they forced him inside, the first spikes punctured his limbs, drawing blood. Kaelix flinched, his lips twitching but refusing to cry out.


    Before the doors were shut, bundles of dried wood were packed into the Iron Maiden''s base. Kaelix, his movements restricted, turned his head slightly toward the priest. His voice was calm, almost conversational.


    "Tell me, Father," he began, the title laced with scorn, "do you feel righteous doing this? Condemning a teenager abandoned by your so-called great heaven''s laws? Do you really believe sentencing me to death is justice?"


    The priest stiffened, gripping the Angelic Codex tightly. Kaelix continued, his words sharp and deliberate. "While you preach about forgiveness and mercy, people starve in the streets, dying in the name of following the same values you claim to enforce. Tell me, does it feel good to punish those who had no order choice but to break these rules to live another day?"


    The priest''s voice trembled as he replied. "The things you did were not necessary for survival. Stop trying to justify your evil under the guise of desperation."


    Kaelix chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Justify? Oh no, Father. I''m not excusing anything. You want the truth? Here''s the truth for you: Twenty percent of what I have done was for survival. The other eighty?" His smirk widened. "Because it was easier to do so. Just like what you''re doing now. Killing me is the easy way out, isn''t it? Instead of fixing the suffering you preach about to stop people like me from doing this, you slap a bandage on the wound by executing us. Tell me, Father, how righteous is that?"


    The priest''s face twisted in pain, the weight of Kaelix''s words settling heavily on his shoulders. For a moment, he hesitated, then asked softly, "Do you¡­ regret your actions?"


    Kaelix laughed for the first time, a bitter, haunting sound that echoed across the platform. "Regret? Don''t insult me, old man! I made a promise to some important people long ago: Never should I regret what I do to this society. And I''ll keep that promise to my grave and beyond."


    The priest sighed deeply, his heart heavy with conflict. "May the heavens have mercy on your soul," he said finally, raising a trembling hand. "Close it."


    The Iron Maiden''s doors slammed shut with a sickening crunch, the spikes driving deeper into Kaelix''s body. Blood seeped through the iron seams, staining the wood below, but the boy made no sound. Only the faint, wet puncturing of flesh echoed in the crowd''s horrified silence.


    The pyre was lit, flames licking at the base of the Iron Maiden. The priest turned to the crowd, his voice resolute yet sorrowful. "Let this be a lesson to us all. Evil, no matter how deeply rooted, cannot escape the judgment of the heavens. May we strive to build a world where such darkness is never born again."


    The flames roared higher, consuming the Iron Maiden as the crowd watched in stunned silence. Kaelix, unseen but still defiant, awaited his final moments inside the inferno.

 Fall

    The guards, their faces grim and tense, affixed chains and hooks to the flaming Iron Maiden, dragging it slowly toward the cliff''s edge. The crowd watched in uneasy silence, their attention fixated on the grotesque procession. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, mingling with the sound of crackling flames.


    Amidst the morbid scene, few noticed the subtle changes in the environment. The sunlight dimmed, shadows stretched unnaturally, and the air grew thick and oppressive. A chill crept over the onlookers, though no one spoke of it.


    When the Iron Maiden reached the edge, the priest stepped forward, raising his arms to address the crowd one last time.


    "Let this vile vessel, both of flesh and sin, be cast into the abyss, never to harm the righteous again!"


    Before he could command the guards to push it over, a voice interrupted him.


    "Hold on, old man."


    The priest froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. Kaelix''s voice, calm and almost conversational, echoed from within the flaming Iron Maiden. It should have been impossible for him to speak, let alone sound so composed.


    "Do you know," Kaelix began, his tone laced with mockery, "how long I''ve been in jail for?"


    The priest blinked, caught off guard. "I do not," he admitted reluctantly.


    Kaelix chuckled darkly. "Figures. You holy types never bother with details. And do you know," he continued, "that when I was caught, they paraded me around the city? Shackled, beaten, humiliated at every single corner of this dump?"


    The priest frowned. "I¡­ did not. But know this¡ªyour words will not earn you pity."


    "Pity?" Kaelix scoffed. "I don''t believe in pity. I just thought you should know. You''ve seen my face, you''ve heard my crimes, yet you still don''t understand." He paused, the air around them seeming to grow heavier with each word. "But if you care for your flock, Father, make sure they check under their beds before bedtime."


    A deep foreboding gripped the priest''s heart. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the darkening sky above rippled unnaturally.


    A collective gasp rose from the crowd as the air itself seemed to tear apart. Rifts, jagged and pulsing with an eerie glow, appeared across the cliffside. Within the rifts, countless glowing eyes peered out, unblinking and malevolent.


    The priest staggered back, his hands clutching the Angelic Codex. He recognized the creatures immediately: beings from the Outer Void, horrors that transcended mortal understanding. His voice broke as he screamed, "Run! Everyone, leave this place!"


    Panic erupted as the first of the monsters emerged from the rifts. Nightmarish creatures of impossible shapes¡ªsome with wings that blocked out the dim light, others with grotesque limbs that dragged across the ground, and still others that slithered or swam through the air¡ªpoured forth in an unholy tide.


    The beasts descended upon the crowd, their movements swift and merciless. Screams filled the air as people were torn apart, devoured, or crushed underfoot. Some tried to flee, but the monsters caught them before they could reach safety. Others tried to fight, only to be overwhelmed. A few, in their desperation, hurled themselves off the cliff, only to be intercepted mid-fall by flying horrors or devoured upon touching water by the swimming horrors.


    Inside the Iron Maiden, Kaelix could hear the chaos but could not see it. The flames crackled around him, the searing pain dulled by the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He listened to the screams with a detached curiosity. "Did my traps go off early?" he muttered to himself.


    Meanwhile, the priest shouted at the guards, "Send the signal! Warn the city!"


    One of the guards lit a flare, launching it high into the sky. But as the signal arced downward, the city below erupted in chaos. Explosions rippled through the streets, flames consuming entire buildings. Black smoke billowed into the sky, and the priest''s heart sank as he realized the full extent of the devastation.


    Kaelix chuckled faintly, his voice muffled by the Iron Maiden. "Ah, there it is. Took long enough." He smirked despite the agony coursing through him. "Guess they finally tripped the wires."


    The priest''s hands shook as the truth settled in his mind. Kaelix had orchestrated this¡ªa boy not just of evil deeds but of cunning and malice far beyond his years. Shame burned in his chest as he recalled the fleeting pity he had felt for the boy.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "You¡­" the priest whispered, his voice trembling with both anger and despair. He stepped toward the Iron Maiden, gripping its edges. "You monster!"


    With a surge of fury, he shoved the flaming Iron Maiden over the edge of the cliff. It tipped forward, its fiery shell tumbling into the abyss below.


    As Kaelix fell, the screams and chaos above grew faint, replaced by the rush of wind and the roar of the ocean below. His lips curled into a faint smile, his thoughts focused not on his imminent death, but on the countless lives he had managed to touch¡ªif only to destroy them.


    And as the abyss swallowed him whole, the sky above rippled again, the invasion of the Outer Void spreading beyond the cliffside. The priest fell to his knees, the weight of his failure pressing down on him as the world descended into darkness.


    As the flaming Iron Maiden plummeted, a massive rift tore open beneath the cliff''s edge, swallowing the cage and its occupant whole. The priest''s voice caught in his throat as the golden flare of divine light above was replaced by the suffocating darkness of the abyss.


    From the rift, countless glowing eyes stared back at the world, their gazes filled with malice, indifference, and curiosity. A low, otherworldly hum reverberated across the cliffside as enormous, sinewy tentacles began to emerge. They writhed like serpents, pulling themselves free of the void. Their sheer presence exuded madness, their very movements bending the air and reality around them.


    The monsters from the Outer Void paused in their rampage momentarily, their gazes shifting toward the climbing appendages. The priest, still on his knees, clutched the Angelic Codex tighter as despair washed over him. His lips quivered as he muttered broken prayers, pleading for the heavens to intervene, for the light to dispel the abyssal darkness. But his prayers felt hollow against the suffocating silence of the rift.


    As the eldritch horror climbed closer to the cliff''s edge, madness began to claim those who dared look at it for too long. Some screamed uncontrollably, clawing at their eyes to escape the visions. Others simply froze, their minds shattered by the sheer incomprehensibility of what they saw.


    Meanwhile...


    Kaelix, still encased in the flaming Iron Maiden, felt the sensation of falling, the rush of wind, and the distant screams of chaos above. Yet, as moments passed, something changed. The air seemed to vanish, replaced by an oppressive stillness.


    At first, he sighed, a breath of grim satisfaction. He had succeeded, after all¡ªhis traps had gone off, and chaos had followed his departure. Even as the flames licked at his body, burning through his skin and nerve endings, he found himself oddly calm. Pain had been his constant companion for so long that now, with the nerve endings in his limbs charred to numbness, it was just another background noise.


    His mind wandered.


    "So, this is it, huh?" he thought, his internal voice tinged with irony.


    He thought of his life, each memory like a shard of broken glass. Escaping the orphanage at five. Joining crime syndicates. Stealing, lying, killing¡ªdoing whatever it took to scrape by another day. His regrets were few, but they were sharp.


    "I never got to live long enough to do more. To fuck this place up even harder."


    A bitter laugh bubbled up in his chest but died in his throat. He thought of the dream he once had as a younger child¡ªthe naive wish to become an Ascendar. He remembered the tales: the feats of power, the adventures, the accolades. He had longed for the Liberation ceremony, the chance to awaken his Nexus and gain a power that could lift him out of the gutter.


    "Guess that wasn''t in the cards for me."


    As he mused, Kaelix realized something was wrong. He should have hit the ocean by now. He hadn''t heard the crash of water, felt the cold embrace of the sea, or even the suffocating pressure of drowning.


    "Am I already dead?"


    The thought sent a chill down his spine, though the fire around him continued to crackle. But he could still feel the confines of the Iron Maiden. He still felt the faint flickers of pain from his seared body.


    "No, I''m still here. But... where?"


    He strained to listen, but there was nothing. No wind. No ocean. Just an all-consuming silence.


    Something wasn''t right.


    Kaelix tried to shift his body, but the spikes of the Iron Maiden dug deeper into his flesh. He winced but didn''t cry out. Instead, he gritted his teeth, pushing through the haze of pain as a creeping unease began to gnaw at the edges of his mind.


    "This... this doesn''t make sense."


    The oppressive silence was suddenly broken by a low, guttural whisper. It wasn''t a voice, not in the conventional sense, but something that resonated directly in his mind.


    "Little one... you linger."


    Kaelix froze, his heart pounding in his chest.


    "Who''s there?" he demanded inwardly, his voice trembling with a mix of defiance and fear.


    The whisper grew louder, surrounding him like an unseen storm.


    "You fell, yet you remain. You burn, yet you persist. You seek... power."


    The air around him¡ªor whatever space he was now in¡ªshifted. It felt alive, pressing against him from all sides. The Iron Maiden trembled, its metal groaning as if under immense pressure.


    "What... what is this?" Kaelix whispered to himself, his bravado faltering.


    "This is your reckoning, child of ash. You sought the light of Ascendance, but it is the shadows that claim you."


    The whisper gave way to a deafening roar as the Iron Maiden was ripped apart by an unseen force. The jagged remains of the cage were hurled into the void, leaving Kaelix exposed. His burned, broken body floated in the abyss, illuminated by a sickly green glow emanating from an enormous, swirling vortex below him.


    For the first time in his life, Kaelix felt small¡ªnot the defiant criminal or cunning schemer, but a speck in the vast expanse of something far greater, and far more terrible, than he could comprehend.


    The voice spoke again, this time with undeniable authority:


    "You are chosen. Rise, Kaelix. Rise, and become more than mortal."

 The XenoArch

    Silence.


    The void was oppressive, but the voice that had thundered moments ago was silent, seemingly waiting for Kaelix''s response. Time stretched, each second dragging like an eternity. Then, without warning, Kaelix erupted.


    "You pompous, disembodied piece of shit! Who the hell do you think you are?" he bellowed, his voice raw with fury.


    The green glow around his body flickered in surprise.


    "You think you can just show up, ramble about ''reckonings,'' and act like you''re some almighty being?" Kaelix sneered. "I''ve met Ascendars with less arrogance than you!"


    The voice, startled, hesitated before responding. "Your... reaction is unexpected. Why do you respond with such anger?"


    "Why?" Kaelix''s tone was venomous. "Because I''ve spent my whole damn life clawing my way out of the gutter, refusing to be anyone''s pawn. And now you show up, trying to talk down to me like I''m some tool for your grand plan? You better fucking forget about it!"


    The earlier sensation of insignificance that had clutched at Kaelix''s soul was gone, shattered by his growing rage. Memories of his life flashed through his mind¡ªbeing ordered, controlled, and used by those stronger or wealthier than him. Every command had felt like chains, and now, this voice dared to try and bind him anew.


    "I''ve been spat on, dragged through the mud, and treated like I''m nothing," Kaelix spat. "But I''ve never let anyone own me, and I''m not about to start now!"


    The green glow dimmed, as though the voice itself recoiled. For an hour, Kaelix vented his fury. He hurled insults, mocking the voice''s earlier grandiose declarations with a biting, sarcastic imitation:


    "''Little one, you linger.'' Oh, please, what are you? Some melodramatic spirit haunting teenagers?"


    The voice remained silent for much of Kaelix''s tirade, the sickly green light fading into darkness. Eventually, it returned, subdued and cautious.


    "Why are you so angry?" it asked softly. "Why do you reject me when I offer you power?"


    Kaelix scoffed. "Everyone wants power. But I''m not about to take it from some cowardly, invisible voice that hides in the shadows and acts like it''s doing me a favor. If you want me to listen, stop skulking around and show your bitch ass self."


    The voice sighed audibly, the sound rippling through the void like a wave. In the distance, a faint multi-colored light appeared. It grew steadily brighter as it approached until it hovered before Kaelix, a flickering ember no larger than a firefly.


    The voice spoke again, quieter now, almost hesitant. "I apologize for my earlier arrogance. It was not my intent to belittle you. I only wish to offer you strength."


    Kaelix eyed the flickering light skeptically. "And how, exactly, do you plan to do that? You look like you''d burn out if someone sneezed too hard."


    The light pulsed faintly. "You are unlike any being I have encountered in millennia. You have no dormant Nexus, and yet you persist. This anomaly caught my attention."


    Kaelix raised an eyebrow. "Nexus?"


    "Yes," the voice continued. "A Nexus is the core of sentient life, the source of consciousness, and the key to ascending to higher planes of existence. It is what allows beings to unlock their potential and become empowered ones, or what you call Ascendars. You... are different. You have none."


    The revelation struck Kaelix like a blow. He had always assumed his inability to ascend was due to low talent or bad luck, but this... this explained everything.


    "So," he muttered, "I was broken from the start."


    The light pulsed with sympathy. "Not broken. Unique. And it is because of this uniqueness that I wish to help you."


    Kaelix''s eyes narrowed. "Help me? Or use me?"


    The ember dimmed slightly, as though shrinking from his gaze. "Both," it admitted after a pause.


    Kaelix crossed his arms¡ªor tried to, his body still stiff from the burns. "Explain."


    "I am incomplete," the voice said. "Without a host, I will fade within a few years. But I can offer you something in return. Without a Nexus, you cannot ascend, but if you allow me to embed myself within you, I can act as your Nexus. With me, you could become an Ascendar¡ªno something far greater and far more powerful."


    Kaelix studied the faint light, his anger subsiding into wary curiosity. "Stronger how?"


    "Unlike most beings, whose Nexuses are tied to their mortal limits and innate talent, you would be unshackled. Together, we could achieve power far beyond what most Ascendars could dream of."Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Kaelix''s lips curled into a smirk. "And what''s in it for you?"


    The ember flickered, its light steadying. "I need a host to survive. But more than that, I seek to become whole. Scattered across existence are fragments of myself. With your help, I can locate them and reclaim what I have lost."


    Kaelix leaned back, considering the offer. He didn''t trust the voice¡ªits sudden humility felt forced, and its motives were clearly self-serving. But the idea of finally gaining the power he had always dreamed of...


    "Fine," he said, at last, his tone sharp. "But hear me, you disembodied rainbow. Try anything shady, and I''ll find a way to snuff you out, no matter where we are."


    The ember pulsed, its light steady and resolute. "Understood."


    Kaelix frowned as the flickering multi-colored light hovered before him, its glow oddly sinister yet captivating. He squinted at it, his suspicion evident. "Alright, before we go any further¡ªwhat are you? And why the hell are you red?"


    The light pulsed faintly, almost as if sighing. "I am the XenoArch," it replied, its tone still subdued.


    Kaelix raised an eyebrow. "The Xeno-what now? Sounds like some pretentious title."


    "It is not a title," the XenoArch replied. "It is what I am."


    "And what exactly does that mean?" Kaelix pressed, his curiosity now tinged with impatience.


    "You wouldn''t understand," the XenoArch said dismissively.


    Kaelix''s eyes narrowed. "Try me."


    The XenoArch hesitated, then began to explain. Its voice shifted, resonating with an otherworldly cadence, each word vibrating in Kaelix''s mind like nails scraping against metal. The sound tore into him, sending waves of searing pain through his skull. His ears rang, his vision blurred, and he felt a hot trickle of blood running down from his ears, nose, and eyes.


    "Stop!" Kaelix gasped, gritting his teeth as his body trembled. "Just... just stop. Forget it. I don''t need to know that badly."


    The XenoArch halted, its tone almost apologetic. "I warned you. Your current existence cannot yet process the nature of what I am."


    Kaelix spat a curse under his breath, wiping at his face with a trembling hand. "Fine. Whatever. But why are you looking like a rainbow? That seems simple enough."


    The XenoArch paused before answering. "The color I manifest reflects my limitless forms."


    Kaelix tilted his head. "So when I have you I could do anything?"


    "No," the XenoArch corrected. "You have unlimited potential but what forms I can channel depend on your choices when walking your path of power."


    Kaelix considered this, then smirked faintly. "Yeah, that tracks." His amusement faded quickly as he straightened. "Alright, enough chit-chat. Let''s see what you can actually do."


    The XenoArch pulsed brighter, its faint light intensifying as it drifted closer to Kaelix''s broken, burnt body. He tensed instinctively, watching it warily.


    "This may be... uncomfortable," the XenoArch warned.


    Kaelix snorted. "Story of my life."


    The light entered his chest, and for a moment, he felt nothing. Then, it began.


    A searing heat coursed through him, igniting every nerve in his body. It was as though he were burning alive all over again. The heat turned into a relentless shock, like lightning bolts tearing through his veins. His chest tightened, his lungs straining for air as if he were being suffocated, only for crushing pressure to bear down on him as though the void itself sought to crush him into dust.


    Despite the overwhelming pain, Kaelix clenched his teeth and endured, his body trembling but unyielding. He had survived worse¡ªor so he told himself.


    Then, a shift.


    The pain ebbed, and he watched, wide-eyed, as his charred skin began to knit itself together. Wounds closed with unnatural speed, leaving his body unscarred. The relief was short-lived as a fresh wave of agony struck him. His chest burst open with a wet, visceral sound, blood spraying outward before freezing mid-air, leaving an empty hole in his chest where his heart and lungs used to be.


    Kaelix groaned, his breath ragged as he looked down. Around him, the darkness began to churn, swirling like a vortex. Tendrils of inky black darkness converged on his open chest, joined by pulsating streams of purple electricity and silver energy. The blood suspended in the air combusted in crimson flames before following suit, joining the spiraling maelstrom.


    He watched, his vision swimming, as the energies coalesced into a shape¡ªa chest piece that shimmered with an unnatural gleam. The design was monstrous and elegant, resembling a beast with dragon-like wings unfurled and a four-pointed star embedded at its center. Its structure shimmered with reflective metal, making it difficult to tell what color it was.


    As the energies settled and his chest sealed itself, Kaelix exhaled a shaky breath, the pain subsiding.


    Then, laughter.


    It was high-pitched and mocking, echoing through the void.


    "You fool!" the XenoArch cackled. "You actually let me in! I thought you were clever when you stopped me earlier, but you''ve proven me wrong!"


    Kaelix scowled, his irritation barely masked. "Oh, here we go."


    The XenoArch continued its tirade, gloating. "Now, I''ll take over your body, locate my remnants, and rule over all the realms! You''ll be nothing but a vessel for my¡ª"


    "Are you done?" Kaelix interrupted, his tone flat.


    The XenoArch paused, seemingly taken aback. "What?"


    "I said, are you done?" Kaelix repeated, crossing his arms.


    The XenoArch hesitated, then sighed. "Yes. For now."


    Kaelix smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Good. You can drop the act. I know how this works."


    "What do you mean?"


    Kaelix''s eyes glinted with amusement. "I don''t have a Nexus, remember? That means there''s nothing for you to connect to or control. You''re not in charge here¡ªI am. You might be my Nexus now, but that just means I own you."


    The XenoArch was silent for a moment before it muttered, "Damn. I wanted to scare you a bit for insulting me. Didn''t think you be bright enough to understand."


    Kaelix''s brow twitched at the voice''s ending remark but chose not to say anything. Instead looking at his body.


    Kaelix stretched, flexing his newly-healed body and examining the changes in his appearance. His black hair was still long as it reached his waist, wild and unkempt, just how he liked it. He also studied his body and found his skin was not burnt or punctured like it was a few minutes ago. He had basically made a full recovery.


    He then studied his chest. The chest piece gleamed faintly, its alien design both unsettling and awe-inspiring. He felt stronger, more alive than he ever had before but also like something wasn''t done.


    "Alright," he said, rolling his shoulders. "So what''s next?"


    The XenoArch''s voice returned, this time calm and measured. "I suggest you start by dealing with the creature staring at you."


    Kaelix frowned. "What creature?"


    Turning slowly, he froze. In the distance, barely visible against the inky darkness, a pair of glowing eyes watched him.


    "...Oh, come on," he muttered, cursing inwardly.

 Spiky Encounter

    A sharp whistling sound cut through the void, snapping Kaelix''s attention upward. His eyes widened as several jagged black spikes hurtled toward him. Reacting on instinct, he twisted to the side, barely dodging them as they sliced through the air where he had been standing.


    Wait... standing?


    Kaelix''s eyes widened as he remembered that he had never actually reached solid ground. Then almost like gravity was waiting for him to notice, he began falling.


    "Fuck?!" he yelled, flailing momentarily before righting himself, his body tumbling downward into the endless darkness. "When the hell did I stop falling?! You fucking rainbow shit, answer me!"


    No answer came, just the hiss of another volley of spikes cutting through the air beside him. Kaelix twisted sharply mid-fall, narrowly avoiding them as they shot past him, their sharp tips glinting faintly in the crimson light emanating from the XenoArch on his chest.


    He looked up, the red glow from the chest piece illuminating a horrifying silhouette against the void. The creature was large, basically three times his size, and grotesque. Its form was vaguely humanoid but had limbs that were too long and jagged and a canine-like head. Its most prominent feature was its tail¡ªa thick, sinewy appendage covered in jagged spikes that shimmered ominously as it twisted behind the beast.


    And the worst part it was falling right after him.


    The XenoArch''s voice finally chimed in, calm as ever. "The creature appeared during our bonding process. Your focus must have distracted you."


    Kaelix scowled. "What else was I supposed to be focusing on?! I was a bit busy getting my chest split."


    More spikes erupted from the creature''s tail, spiraling toward him with deadly precision. Kaelix shifted his body, letting himself curve whilst falling to evade the barrage. The projectiles whistled past, vanishing into the void below.


    "Great. Just me, some overgrown pincushion, and a bottomless pit," Kaelix muttered, his sarcasm masking the adrenaline surging through his veins.


    The creature roared a guttural sound that vibrated through Kaelix''s bones as it continued to plunge after him.


    The creature unleashed an even larger barrage of spikes, dark projectiles whistling through the air toward Kaelix as they both plummeted through the suffocating void. Kaelix twisted mid-air again, narrowly avoiding some of the deadly shards, but his luck finally ran out as a few pierced his limbs with sickening precision. One lodged into his upper arm, another impaled through his thigh. He grimaced silently, clenching his jaw against the pain, his mind racing.


    Damn it, Kaelix cursed inwardly, his thoughts a storm of frustration and frantic calculation. His muscles burned, and blood seeped from the wounds, staining his already battered figure. He glanced around, his sharp eyes catching faint outlines in the distance. Walls¡ªmassive and far off¡ªloomed, slowly closing in as if forming a tunnel. The realization struck him like a jolt: this wasn''t a random free fall. He was descending through some kind of colossal, narrowing space.


    "How the hell did this thing even get that high up anyway?" he muttered under his breath, eyes darting to the creature. Its grotesque form, spiked tail thrashing wildly, seemed to loom closer with every second.


    He felt the XenoArch''s presence flare within him, its voice dripping with detached amusement. "You''ll understand in a few minutes if you survive this, Kaelix."


    "Oh, great," Kaelix growled through clenched teeth, "That''s just what I need, you useless rainbow."


    Another spike shot toward him, forcing him into a sharp twist that sent fresh pain flaring from his impaled limbs. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to focus. The creature was closing the distance with alarming speed, and his situation felt more desperate by the second. His mind raced, a frantic chorus of what now? and how long until the ground?


    A faint smirk tugged at his lips, defiance flaring within him. When have I ever been the type to panic? he thought, the memory of past scrapes surfacing. Sure, none of them involved falling through an endless tunnel chased by a spiked nightmare, but danger was never a stranger to him.


    Kaelix exhaled sharply, focusing his resolve. "Fine," he muttered. "Let''s see what this damn XenoArch can actually do."


    He made his decision, spreading his body wide to act as a brake, allowing even more spikes to tear into him. Pain erupted anew, each puncture burning like fire, but he barely flinched. The added resistance slowed his descent, just enough for the creature to close the gap. It roared, eyes gleaming with malicious intent as it barreled toward him, but Kaelix was ready.Stolen novel; please report.


    With a forceful twist, Kaelix latched onto the creature''s grotesque neck. Its skin felt coarse and sickly beneath his fingers, but he didn''t hesitate. Gripping tightly with one arm, he swung his other wounded arm like a hammer, driving the spike embedded in it into the creature''s neck with brutal force.


    The impact jolted his entire body, and to his surprise, the spike sank deep into the creature''s neck. A thin dribble of black ichor seeped from the wound, barely a few drops, but it didn''t matter. Kaelix''s eyes widened as he felt the superhuman force behind his strike. He''d meant only to drive the spike out of his arm, yet it pierced through the creature''s thick hide.


    Kaelix stared at the creature, his expression shifting from disbelief to a grim, determined calm. "So," he murmured, his voice low and steady, "I can hurt you after all."


    Kaelix barely had a moment to revel in his small victory before the creature reacted with feral ferocity. It let out a guttural, ear-splitting roar that reverberated through the narrowing tunnel, then twisted its neck unnaturally, swiping its jagged claws at Kaelix. He tried to dodge, but with his arm still nailed into the creature''s neck, his movement was limited.


    One of its claws ripped through his shoulder, tearing away a significant portion of flesh and muscle. Blood sprayed out in an arc, and Kaelix gasped sharply, but his grip didn''t falter. He clung to the creature like a predator unwilling to let go of its prey.


    The creature thrashed wildly, twisting and turning as they both plummeted further into the abyss. Kaelix''s thoughts were fragmented, filled with pain and frustration. The burning agony in his shoulder screamed at him to let go, to retreat, but he silenced the voice with sheer willpower. His focus narrowed. His world became the creature, the fight, and the encroaching darkness.


    Its spiked tail lashed out at him repeatedly, and Kaelix barely managed to avoid the deadly strikes, twisting his body to reduce the impact. A spike grazed his ribs, another embedded itself in his thigh. Each blow sapped his strength, but he retaliated with vicious efficiency, slamming another loose spike into the beast''s side. He struck again and again, each blow finding its mark, but the creature''s thick, sinewy hide seemed almost impervious to significant damage.


    The tunnel walls were closer now, their smooth but uneven surfaces flashing past in Kaelix''s peripheral vision. They were no longer distant markers; they loomed ominously, closing in with terrifying speed. Kaelix''s mind began to clear, his thoughts sharpening as the immediate threat demanded his full attention. The frustration that had clouded his judgment gave way to cold, calculating aggression.


    Focus, he told himself. You''ve faced worse. This is just another fight.


    The creature''s glowing eyes narrowed as if sensing the shift in Kaelix''s demeanor. It lunged with its massive jaws, aiming to bite him in half. Kaelix raised his free arm to block, gritting his teeth as the creature''s serrated teeth clamped down on his torso. Pain shot through his body like a lightning bolt, but he pushed back with every ounce of strength he could muster. His muscles strained, veins bulging as he locked his arms against the creature''s jaws, preventing them from closing entirely.


    "You¡­ stubborn¡­ bastard!" Kaelix growled through clenched teeth.


    The creature growled in frustration, its spiked tail whipping furiously as it twisted its massive body mid-air. Kaelix barely had time to process the movement before the distant wall rushed toward them at breakneck speed.


    What the hell is it¡­


    The impact was bone-shattering. Kaelix''s back slammed into the unyielding wall, the jagged surface tearing through his flesh like paper. His back muscles and tendons were shredded, and parts of his spine were dangerously close to exposure. He bit down hard, stifling a scream as his vision blurred from the sheer agony. Blood poured from his wounds, staining the wall before freezing in mid-air, a surreal effect he barely registered.


    The creature''s jaw snapped partially under the force of the collision, but it refused to let go, its grip still like a vice around his torso. With a guttural snarl, it pushed off the wall with its free limbs, sending them both hurtling back into the void.


    Kaelix''s breaths were ragged, each one a battle as the pain from his mangled back threatened to overwhelm him. The XenoArch''s voice cut through the haze.


    "Brace yourself! It''s going to do it again."


    "No shit," Kaelix muttered weakly. He could already feel the creature shifting its weight, preparing for another brutal collision. The next impact came faster than he expected. This time, the creature twisted violently, slamming his body against the wall at an even sharper angle. Kaelix''s vision darkened for a moment as fresh waves of agony coursed through him. He retaliated blindly, jamming another spike into the creature''s side, but it barely reacted.


    "Enough of this," the XenoArch''s voice interrupted, almost irritated. "When it pushes off again, help it. Push with everything you have."


    "Are you insane?" Kaelix snapped internally. "Why the hell would I do that?"


    "Because it will create distance, you fool. Do you think I want my host dead? Trust me."


    Kaelix gritted his teeth. He didn''t have the luxury to argue. "Fine. But if this gets me killed, I''m dragging you with me."


    "Charming."


    The moment the creature braced itself against the wall, Kaelix moved. Despite the searing pain in his limbs and the exhaustion weighing him down, he dug his free arm into the jagged surface and pushed with all his might. The combined force of their effort sent them rocketing away from the wall, the gap between them and the looming surface larger than before.


    Kaelix panted heavily, his body screaming in protest. He didn''t know what the XenoArch had planned, but whatever it was, it better work¡ªand fast. The creature, snarling in frustration, twisted mid-air, its glowing eyes locking onto him once more. Kaelix tightened his grip on the spikes in his hand, his resolve hardening as they continued their deadly descent into the abyss.

 Crash Landing

    Kaelix''s eyes locked onto the rapidly approaching wall, its darkish outline materializing from the encroaching darkness. His thoughts raced, torn between frustration and urgency as the XenoArch''s voice rang in his mind like a war drum.


    "Get out of its mouth in the next thirty seconds, or you''re dead."


    "Thirty seconds?!" he barked back internally. "What''s supposed to happen in¡ª?"


    "MOVE!" The XenoArch cut him off, its tone sharper than ever.


    Without hesitation, Kaelix shifted his focus, his survival instincts roaring to life. His adrenaline spiked as he dug his hands into the slick, fleshy interior of the creature''s mouth, tearing and scraping at its inner walls with a brutal strength he barely understood. The creature howled, its massive body twitching in pain, and for a brief moment, its jaw slackened.


    Kaelix capitalized on the opportunity, twisting his body violently and grabbing onto one of its jagged teeth. With a guttural growl of exertion, he began prying its maw open.


    "Twenty seconds!" the XenoArch warned, its voice pressing against his mind like a vice.


    The beast thrashed wildly, twisting its bulk in an attempt to regain control, but it seemed that crashing its mouth into the basically indestructible walls would weaken its strength. The sharp wind from their plummeting descent stung his exposed wounds as the wall loomed closer and closer, now a massive structure stretching infinitely in both directions.


    "Fifteen seconds!"


    Kaelix''s heart thundered. The creature angled its body so its mouth now faced the approaching wall, ready to crush him between its jagged jaws and the unyielding surface.


    "Not happening," Kaelix hissed. With a surge of desperate strength, he wrenched the creature''s mouth open just enough to twist his body free. At the last possible moment, he shifted out of the way, slamming into the side of the beast''s jaw as its open mouth collided with the wall.


    A sickening grinding sound echoed through the abyss as the creature''s teeth scraped against the wall at an agonizingly sharp angle, sending sparks and black ichor flying. Kaelix winced as his body was flung violently against the wall, bouncing and slamming several times like a ragdoll as they continued their downward descent. His battered limbs screamed in protest, but he held on to the beast''s flesh with a death grip, his mind laser-focused.


    "Ten seconds!"


    Blood smeared across the wall in streaks, black and red mingling into grotesque patterns. The creature''s snarls of pain grew louder as its face ground mercilessly against the unyielding surface, yet the wall remained pristine, untouched by the carnage.


    Kaelix gritted his teeth, each second feeling like an eternity. "You better have a damn plan, X!" he growled through the chaos.


    "Five seconds! When I reach one second, you push with everything you''ve got! Trust me if you want to live!"


    "The fuck you mean push¡ª"


    "FOUR!"


    Kaelix clenched his fists.


    "THREE!"


    The beast began wriggling violently, dislodging from the wall.


    "TWO!"


    Kaelix coiled his legs, his muscles burning.


    "ONE!"


    With a feral roar, Kaelix slammed his feet into the wall¡ªnow the ground¡ªwith everything he had. The XenoArch flared to life, glowing with a vivid, blinding crimson light. The resulting force he unleashed launched both him and the beast away from the wall, sending them hurtling with monstrous speed sideways¡ªor what should have been sideways.


    In an instant, the world shifted. The walls around them turned a pale gray, the oppressive darkness retreating as gravity itself seemed to twist and flip. Their sideways plunge transformed into a downward fall, disorienting Kaelix as the air roared past him. His mind struggled to comprehend the phenomenon, but the XenoArch gave him no time to process. it


    "Focus!" it barked. "You''re falling straight into the new ground! Brace yourself!"You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Kaelix turned mid-air, his eyes widening as the beast was flung with him, still writhing from its injuries. The wall¡ªor what was now the ground¡ªrushed up at a terrifying speed. The sheer force of Kaelix''s earlier push combined with the abrupt gravitational shift sent them both hurtling with devastating momentum.


    Kaelix hit first. The impact was catastrophic. His body slammed into the ground with enough force to send shockwaves rippling outward, but the surface beneath him remained unscathed, not a single scratch to mar its flawless appearance. Pain erupted through his back as his already ravaged muscles shredded further and his already weak bones cracked and shattered. His breath hitched, his vision blurring as his exposed bones scraped against the rocky surface.


    The beast crashed down a moment later, its massive body crumpling from the impact with a thunderous cataclysmic roar. Yet even the monstrous force of its landing left not even a scratch on the ground.


    For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the ragged sound of Kaelix''s breathing. Blood pooled beneath him, mingling with the ichor dripping from the beast''s shattered form. His entire body screamed in agony, but his mind was sharp and focused despite the pain.


    "Congratulations," the XenoArch''s voice murmured, a dark amusement coloring its tone. "You survived... barely."


    Kaelix groaned, forcing himself to move. "What... the hell... was that?"


    "Daytime," the XenoArch replied cryptically. "And the real fun begins now."


    Kaelix''s ears perked up at the XenoArch''s cryptic remark. "Fun, huh?" he muttered, forcing a sharp exhale as he tried to push himself upright. His barely functional muscles screamed in protest, his body riddled with holes and devastating wounds, yet he managed to stagger to his feet. His legs wobbled, threatening to give out, but he stayed upright, swaying like a flame in the wind.


    His eyes fell on the creature, its massive form shifting as it began to rise. The damage was undeniable. Many of its once-lethal spikes were shattered, their jagged remnants embedded in its flesh from the violent crashes it had forced on itself and Kaelix had forced upon it. Its tail was shredded, stripped of most of its spines, and twisted at unnatural angles. But the worst of the injuries were in its maw.


    The creature''s lower jaw hung limp, its hinge broken, with several teeth missing entirely. The upper jaw was no better, its serrated edges chipped and cracked, and the insides of its mouth oozing with thick, dark blood from Kaelix''s relentless assault.


    Kaelix couldn''t help but feel a flicker of pride. "Not bad for a guy who should be a smear on the wall by now," he muttered under his breath, though he didn''t dare relax. His sharp eyes locked with the creature''s glowing ones as they stared each other down.


    The tension was palpable, crackling like a live wire. Kaelix clenched his fists, though his limbs trembled from sheer exhaustion. If it charges again, I''m done for, he thought grimly. Without the constant momentum of their fall, his already slim chances of surviving another round against this beast had dropped to nearly zero.


    But then, to his surprise, the creature didn''t lunge. Instead, it slowly turned away, limping into the distance with heavy, uneven steps. Kaelix watched in stunned silence as it dragged its mangled body further into the shadows. He didn''t dare move, waiting until it was completely out of sight until he could no longer hear the grating sound of its claws on the unyielding surface.


    When he was finally convinced it wasn''t a trick, his legs gave out. He collapsed onto his back, instantly wincing as the shredded muscles and exposed bones of his back pressed against the ground. A ragged gasp escaped his lips, and he let himself lie there, staring up into the infinite gray wall or sky above.


    The XenoArch''s voice broke the silence, its tone tinged with something bordering on admiration. "I must admit, Kaelix, I''m impressed. I didn''t think you''d make it."


    Kaelix barked out a laugh, though it came more as a weak rasp. "Yeah, well¡­ join the club. I barely feel alive, to be honest. Can''t feel much of anything. I think I left all my nerves somewhere back there."


    The XenoArch didn''t respond immediately, letting his sarcasm hang in the air. After a moment, it spoke again. "You should probably move soon."


    Kaelix groaned, his head lolling to the side. "Don''t bother. I''m not going anywhere for a while. I need¡­ I don''t know¡­ five minutes. Or five years. Take your pick. I can''t even feel my damn limbs."


    Time seemed to stretch, his ragged breaths filling the void. Eventually, Kaelix managed to lift his head, gritting his teeth against the pain. His eyes traced the gruesome state of his body. Blood leaked from countless punctures, pooling beneath him. His arms were riddled with holes and gashes, the muscles twitching erratically, and he was certain at least the majority of his bones were shattered. The sharp pain he felt all over confirmed it every time he drew a breath.


    His back was another story entirely, and he grimaced at the thought. If the front looks like this, the back must look worse. He felt raw like every nerve was exposed to the open air. The faint scent of burned flesh mingled with blood hung in the air, a nauseating reminder of his condition.


    His gaze flicked to the remains of his clothing¡ªor what was left of it. Almost nothing but scraps clung to his body, save for the fraying fabric that mercifully preserved some modesty. He let out a bitter chuckle. "Well, that''s considerate. At least I''m not running around buck naked."


    His laugh deepened into a grim chuckle as he rested his head back down. "Funny, isn''t it? The moment I get your rainbow ass, heal all my wounds, and cheat death, I go through another execution. Feels like Alievor is taking a piss on me."


    He tried to rub his face out of habit, only to realize his arms wouldn''t move. "Hell, for all I know, I''m already dead. Maybe I''m lying at the bottom of the ocean and hallucinating all this because the fire finally got to me."


    The XenoArch chimed in dryly. "Then blame it on your luck. Clearly, you''ve got it in spades."


    Kaelix snorted weakly, though the motion sent pain flaring through his chest. "Oh, don''t worry. I blame my luck for everything. I couldn''t agree more on adding another thing to my list."


    The two lapsed into silence, Kaelix letting exhaustion pull him further into the abyss of unconsciousness. He didn''t trust the XenoArch much, but for now, it was the only thing keeping him tethered to life. And maybe, just maybe, the fun was only beginning.

 Special Realm

    The oppressive silence pressed against Kaelix like a physical weight, each breath dragging as though the air itself resisted him. Finally, he broke it with a strained mutter, his voice a rasp against the void. "You know," he groaned, shifting slightly to ease the stabbing pain in his ribs, "a [Heal] EtherRune would really hit the spot right about now."


    The XenoArch''s response was as immediate as it was unexpected. "What''s an EtherRune?"


    Kaelix blinked, his exhaustion momentarily overridden by disbelief. "You''re kidding, right? Don''t tell me you don''t know what an EtherRune or what a Runeshop is either?"


    "Runeshop? No, I don''t know what that is either," the XenoArch replied, its tone neutral but with a faint undercurrent of curiosity.


    Kaelix let out a hoarse laugh, the motion pulling at his injuries. "You''re serious. Wow. I don''t know what''s more disturbing, the fact that you''re this clueless or the fact that I''m stuck with you."


    He paused to catch his breath, then continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Alright, let me educate you, oh mighty XenoArch. A Runeshop is only one of the most vital facilities for mundane folks in the realms of Alievor. You know, the ones without flashy Ether powers or cool cosmic rainbows living in their chests."


    The XenoArch didn''t take the bait, waiting silently for him to elaborate. Kaelix sighed dramatically before continuing. "Runes are basically a magical commodity. Ascendars¡ªor any schmuck with the ability to control Etherion¡ªcan inscribe a purpose onto something using the world''s will. Boom, instant magical tool."


    He shifted slightly, wincing as he adjusted his position. "For example, you''ve got your standard [Heal] Rune that mends flesh and heals most wounds, a [Flare] Rune that shoots fireballs, or a [Shock] Rune for your electrical needs. Ascendars? They''re drowning in these things. But us mundanes? We have to buy them at Runeshops. Handy little things¡ªsaved my skin more times than I can count."


    The XenoArch absorbed this, muttering faintly to itself, "Interesting¡­ familiar¡­ but strange."


    Kaelix raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "You seem to have a vault full of ancient knowledge in there, and yet this is news to you?"


    "It is..."


    He let out a low whistle. "Weird. Runes are ancient tech¡ªor magic or whatever¡ªsupposedly dating way back to the Era of WitchCraft. They''re as old as dirt. How old are you, anyway?"


    Before the XenoArch could answer, he shook his head, cutting it off. "Never mind. Not like it would help me anyway."


    After a moment of silence, the XenoArch posed a question. "How effective are these EtherRunes? Can they truly heal you as you claim?"


    Kaelix smirked faintly, though it was tinged with exhaustion. "A basic healing Rune could close up most of the open wounds I''ve got. Might not fix my bones, but it''d at least stop me from leaking all over the place. Of course, that kind of Rune doesn''t come cheap, and with the damage I''ve taken? Yeah, that''d cost a pretty penny."


    His expression darkened slightly as a memory resurfaced. "There''s this rumor I heard once, back when I was smuggling drugs. Supposedly, Runes are less effective on the Empowered the stronger they are. Guess that makes sense though, I mean they would be immortal it wasn''t less effective but that''s cool."


    He sighed and stared up into the gray void. "Not that it matters. Even if I wanted to make Runes, I doubt you''d be much help there."


    The XenoArch said nothing, its silence almost contemplative. Kaelix groaned. "Doesn''t matter. If I can''t find a way to heal fast¡ªor at least get moving¡ªthen all this hassle was for nothing."


    "You worry too much," the XenoArch finally replied. "While I don''t know about your so-called Runes, I can still heal you as I did during the bonding process. I''d need to expend some of my energy, but it''s possible."


    Kaelix''s eyes widened, hope flaring to life. "You can? That''s great! Then what are you waiting for?"


    The XenoArch''s tone shifted, carrying a warning. "Before you celebrate, understand this: my energy reserves are low. Bonding with you consumed most of it, and I''ve been enhancing you throughout your fight with the creature. If I heal you now, I won''t have enough energy left to continue enhancing you for several hours. You''ll be¡­ powerless."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Kaelix''s elation dimmed, replaced with a grim determination. "But I''d live. And in a few hours, you''d recharge, right?"


    "Correct. As long as I have a host, my energy will regenerate indefinitely over time."


    Kaelix exhaled, a wry smile tugging at his lips despite the situation. "Well, that''s comforting, I guess. No enhancements, but at least I''ll be able to move. Do it. Heal me."


    "As you wish." The XenoArch''s voice thrummed with power, and Kaelix braced himself for whatever came next.


    Kaelix grimaced as the XenoArch embedded in his chest began to warm up, a deep hum vibrating through his body. The circular piece glowed faintly at first, then burst into life with four distinct colors¡ªred, black, silver, and purple¡ªdancing in rhythm before settling on a deep crimson hue. The light cast eerie shadows across the pale grey terrain, flickering ominously like a heartbeat.


    The warmth quickly turned searing, and Kaelix clenched his teeth as the sensation spread throughout his body. He watched in silent awe as the gaping wounds riddling his frame began to knit themselves back together, flesh weaving over exposed muscle and bone. It wasn''t a painless process. A deep, sharp ache accompanied every thread of restoration, as though needles were stitching him from the inside out. Yet, the pain was dwarfed by the surreal spectacle before him.


    Piece by piece, his body reformed. The gashes on his arms closed first, flesh pulling tight, leaving behind faint traces of blood that dried almost instantly. His abdomen was next, the punctures there sealing at a slower, almost agonizing pace. Each nerve seemed to ignite as the restoration advanced, leaving his skin hypersensitive to the chill of the air. His legs trembled as deep holes filled in, the sensation a mix of relief and unbearable tingling, like waking up a dead limb¡ªmultiplied a hundredfold.


    Kaelix''s chest rose and fell unevenly as he marveled at the process. His mind wandered briefly to the Heal Runes he''d used in the past. They''d done the job, sure, but they always left scars. Those scars had covered his body, a testament to his survival, now hidden beneath his rapidly healing wounds. As the last of his flesh knitted together, he exhaled sharply, relieved to see his old scars reemerge. They remained unaltered, and for reasons he didn''t delve into, he was grateful for that.


    When the last of the pain faded, and only a faint strain lingered, he glanced at the XenoArch embedded in his chest. The light had dimmed, and the glow snuffed out until it was a faint outline of its previous brilliance. It now sat cool and dormant, as though it had never surged with power.


    "Did you fall asleep on me or something?" Kaelix muttered as he forced his stiff body upright.


    "I''m not something you need to concern yourself with," the XenoArch replied, its voice as calm and deliberate as ever. "You should focus on finding shelter. When it becomes night again, gravity will shift, and you''ll plummet to your doom."


    That sobering statement struck Kaelix like a bucket of cold water. "Oh yeah, I''d almost forgotten about the whole falling to my death thing." He stretched his limbs cautiously, testing his movement. Satisfied that he could at least walk, he asked, "Alright, then. Mind telling me where the hell I am?"


    "You''re in a special realm, both within and outside the Outer Void," the XenoArch explained. "It''s a unique space with strange properties. What you need to concern yourself with are two things: the directional shifts of gravity between the day and night cycles, and the nature of the creatures that inhabit this realm."


    "Gravity shifts, huh?" Kaelix mused, his curiosity piqued. "That explains the whole falling one way and crashing another thing. You said it''s tied to the cycles? What''s the tell other than the falling?"


    "During the day, the natural materials of this space are grey, as they are now. At night, they turn black. When the change occurs, the direction of gravity will invert."


    Kaelix nodded slowly, processing the information. "Alright. Grey for day, black for night. Simple enough." He then raised an eyebrow. "What about the creatures you mentioned?"


    "Everything alive here is an Empowered creature, and all of them are dangerous and accustomed to the realm. You''ve already encountered one of these creatures. And there are many more, both stronger and weaker."


    Kaelix scowled. "Great. Because that''s exactly what I needed¡ªmore life-threatening monsters. Wonderful." He sighed, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension in his back. "You know, you could''ve started with the good news. Like how I''m still alive."


    "Your survival isn''t good news unless you do something with it," the XenoArch countered.


    Kaelix chuckled dryly. "Fair enough. But you don''t have to worry about me. I''ve dealt with worse."


    "Worse than this?" The XenoArch sounded genuinely curious. "You consider this situation manageable?"


    Kaelix''s lips curled into a faint smirk as he stretched his legs, wincing slightly at the residual strain. "Objectively, this is the worst situation I''ve ever been in. Comparatively? Not even close. I''ve been through some bad stuff when I had way less to work with. At least now I''ve got you and a body that can take a beating."


    The XenoArch fell silent, seemingly pondering his words. Kaelix took the opportunity to study his surroundings. The pale grey terrain stretched endlessly, the faint glow of the ground casting an eerie light in every direction. Beyond the horizon, darkness loomed like a living thing, an abyss waiting to swallow him whole.


    He turned and looked toward the direction the creature had limped away. "Nope. Not going that way." Pivoting, he chose the opposite path and began walking. "If I''m going to live, I might as well make the most of it. No sense wasting the chance."


    And with that, he moved forward, each step a declaration of his resolve and the beginning of his journey.

 Hidden Entrance

    Hours later, Kaelix trudged along the barren grey terrain, his boots kicking up faint wisps of glowing dust with each step. His voice echoed in the empty expanse, animated as he ranted to the XenoArch embedded in his chest.


    "So there I was," he began, waving an arm for dramatic effect, "sitting across the table from that slimy bastard Tyn. He thought he was so clever, slipping a dose of poison into my drink. But what he didn''t know¡ªwhat nobody expects¡ªis that I had already poisoned him with a hidden dagger. The moment we got paid!" Kaelix let out a self-satisfied laugh. "The look on his face when he started slurring his words and realized he was the one poisoned? Priceless."


    "And that''s how you double-crossed him, took all the money, and left him for dead," the XenoArch interjected, its tone flat. "You''ve told this story four times already. And his name was different the previous times as well."


    "Only three times!" Kaelix shot back, feigning offense. "And besides, it''s a good story and that piece of shit doesn''t need his name remembered."


    "You talk too much," the XenoArch said with exasperation. "Why can''t you focus on the task at hand instead of rambling endlessly?"


    Kaelix gestured grandly at the desolate landscape stretching infinitely in all directions. "Focus on what, exactly? Look around! Grey ground, grey sky, nothing but grey. And guess what I''ll be seeing in a couple more hours? More of the same. Unless I trip over some cosmic miracle, I don''t think it''s going to get any more exciting."


    "That doesn''t mean you have to fill the silence with nonsense," the XenoArch countered.


    Kaelix grinned. "I don''t have to, but I want to. Silence is annoying. I''d rather hear myself talk about dumb shit than be left alone with the sound of...nothing."


    The XenoArch sighed¡ªor at least made a noise approximating one¡ªand went quiet, clearly conceding defeat. It had a feeling that Kaelix wanted it to engage with him and it did not want to fulfil him.


    Satisfied, Kaelix glanced up at the faint grey wall far above him. "Speaking of nothing, why the hell is there nothing to see here? And how long till nightfall?"


    "It will be nightfall in approximately ten hours," the XenoArch replied evenly.


    "Wonderful." Kaelix rolled his eyes, then smirked. "At least you''re good at keeping time. That''s something."


    "I have been in this realm for an exceptionally long time," the XenoArch explained. "Its cycles have etched themselves into the depths of my subconscious."


    Kaelix raised an eyebrow, intrigued for a moment. "Huh. That''s weird. You''ve got a subconscious? How does that even work? You''re...you know, a thing."


    "I am more than a ''thing,''" the XenoArch retorted. "But I suspect you lack the patience or understanding to appreciate the intricacies of my nature."


    "Fair," Kaelix conceded with a shrug. "Not like I care that much anyway. So, back to the whole ''nothing'' thing. Why is it so barren out here?"


    "You are currently in the outermost layer of this realm," the XenoArch began. "This area is inherently barren and unstable. It is the edge of the realm, separated from the Outer Void only by the grey wall above you."


    Kaelix frowned, craning his neck to stare at the dull, dome-like barrier overhead. "Wait. If I''m on the edge, doesn''t that mean I''m close to an exit? Like, couldn''t I just...leave?"


    "No," the XenoArch said sharply. "While it is true that the realm can be entered from this layer, escape is only possible from its center. The outer layer is the farthest point from any exit."


    Kaelix narrowed his eyes, processing this contradiction. "So I came in from here, but I can''t leave from here?"


    "Correct. The realm''s structure allows for entry from the edge but mandates exit through the core," the XenoArch clarified.


    "Well, isn''t that just fantastic."?Kaelix rubbed the back of his neck, the information sinking in. "Thanks for clearing that up, I guess. At least you''re useful for something, even if you don''t know squat about EtherRunes."


    "Why do you keep bringing up EtherRunes?" the XenoArch asked, its tone tinged with curiosity.


    Kaelix smirked. "Because it''s hilarious that something so ancient and wise has no clue about one of the most basic things in the realms."If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "I am ancient and beyond you, yes," the XenoArch replied calmly, "but wisdom is not measured by one''s familiarity with trivialities."


    "Whatever you say," Kaelix said with a chuckle, pushing onward across the endless grey. "Whatever you say."


    Kaelix stopped mid-step, his instincts flaring as something caught his eye far on the horizon. For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating¡ªthe flat expanse of grey land had been unchanging for hours, and the mirage-like distortion in the distance seemed like a cruel trick of his fatigued mind. But as he squinted, the shapes grew clearer: three figures. Two small, humanoid shapes, and a third¡ªfar larger¡ªmoving with a hulking, lumbering gait.


    The larger figure reminded Kaelix of one of those armadillos from the desert lands from its bulk and the way its segmented body moved, thick plates of what looked like stone or hardened flesh glinting faintly under the dull light. It dwarfed the other two, easily twice their size. The humanoids darted around it, their movements quick and precise, as if they were engaged in a life-or-death struggle. From the jerky rhythm of the fight, Kaelix could tell it was reaching its climax.


    His first instinct was to hide, but a glance around at the barren ground dashed that thought immediately. There wasn''t a single rock or depression to take cover in. With a grimace, he dropped flat onto the ground, pressing himself against the cool, glowing surface, keeping his eyes locked on the distant battle.


    The humanoids fought with desperate intensity, using coordinated attacks to exploit openings in the creature''s heavy armor. Finally, one of them landed a decisive blow¡ªKaelix couldn''t quite make out what it was, but the massive creature staggered, letting out a guttural, desperate cry before collapsing in a heap. One of the humanoid figures dropped to their knees, clearly exhausted, while the other stood over the carcass, weapon¡ªor was it a tool?¡ªin hand.


    Kaelix watched them converse for a moment, their movements animated but their words lost to the distance. Then, to his surprise, one of them bent down and, with considerable effort, hefted the armadillo-like beast onto their shoulders. They wavered for a moment under the weight before steadying themselves, and the two began walking away.


    Kaelix''s curiosity burned, but he kept his distance, tracking them with sharp eyes. "What''s their deal?" he muttered under his breath.


    "They must be from the inner layers," the XenoArch replied. "Most creatures cannot survive long in the outer layer due to the environmental shifts. They would need either shelter or a way to navigate safely between cycles or else they would fall to their deaths."


    Kaelix''s mind sparked with an idea. "If they''re out here now, right after nighttime, then they''ve got to have a way to survive the shift¡ªor they know how to get deeper. Either way, they''re my ticket out of this death trap."


    Without hesitation, he began following them, crouching low and keeping his profile as small as possible. He inwardly thanked the faint, glowing floor for its camouflage, blending his silhouette into the endless grey. The figures moved at a steady pace, and Kaelix trailed them carefully, freezing whenever they showed the slightest sign of turning around.


    After a while, the pair stopped abruptly. Kaelix halted too, lying flat on the ground as he watched. The smaller, more animated figure crouched and placed their hand on the ground, then began hammering it with their fist. Kaelix raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are they doing? That ground''s tougher than anything I''ve ever seen."


    As expected, their efforts yielded no results. The second figure¡ªthe one carrying the beast¡ªsnapped at the first, shoving their companion aside before stomping forcefully on a different spot. To Kaelix''s astonishment, the ground began to ripple and shift, collapsing inward like a sinkhole. The hole grew wider until it was large enough to accommodate the carcass. The more serious figure tossed the monster into the pit and then signaled to their companion. Without hesitation, both figures jumped in, one after the other. The ground closed behind them as if it had never been disturbed.


    Kaelix waited, his eyes ready to spot any changes. After several long minutes of silence, he crept toward the spot, studying it closely. There was no visible trace of the entrance. He straightened, glancing down at the XenoArch embedded in his chest. "What''s the deal with this entrance? You know about it?"


    "No," the XenoArch admitted. "I am only aware of a much larger, main entrance to the inner layers. This one must be unique to them."


    Kaelix scowled. "How far to the main entrance?"


    "Three days."


    "Three days?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, no thanks." He eyed the sealed sinkhole again, weighing his options. "This has got to be something exclusive. Maybe a shortcut, maybe a hideout."


    "Cautious, aren''t you? For someone who never shuts up, you''re surprisingly hesitant," the XenoArch teased.


    "Quiet, you," Kaelix shot back. Then, after a moment''s thought: "How long till you can enhance me again?"


    "Already can," the XenoArch said. "It''s strange¡ªit''s recharged much faster than expected."


    Kaelix cursed. "And you didn''t tell me?"


    "I was surprised," it replied evenly. "It is... unusual."


    "Yeah, yeah." Kaelix rolled his eyes, brushing it off. "Whatever. Enhance me."


    The familiar heat surged through him as the XenoArch''s power flooded his body. Testing his strength, Kaelix punched the ground where the sinkhole had formed. On the third strike, the surface cracked and began to open again. A grin spread across his face as he stared into the dark void below. "Well, here goes nothing," he said with a laugh, stepping to the edge. "Better to jump than sit out here and rot."


    "Aren''t you worried about an ambush or the chance there is a group of them down there?" the XenoArch asked, questioning if its host was finally letting their stupidity get to him.


    "Not really," Kaelix shrugged. "I could tell that the monster they fought and had a hard time with was definitely less dangerous than Mr.Spiky from earlier. If they had that much trouble with it, then I should be fine against them."


    Looking down the edge he continued, "Plus, even if there are more of them down there, what''s the problem? Danger never really hurt nobody, aye X."


    And without a second thought, Kaelix leaped into the hole.

 Your Clothes Will Live Noble Lives

    Kaelix slid down the twisting grey tunnel, the smooth surface guiding him through the darkness like a chute. He had been sliding for a few minutes now, the rush of air and the faint glow of the walls his only company. His body had adjusted to the descent, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to maintain balance even as the tunnel curved sharply at times.


    "This is taking a while," he muttered. "Hey, X, what should I expect when I hit the next layer?"


    "Not much difference compared to the outer layer," the XenoArch replied, its voice calm and analytical. "The terrain will be a bit different. You''ll see more rock formations and structures, unlike the barren flatness above. The density of creatures will also increase slightly."


    "That''s it?" Kaelix asked, though his tone suggested he knew better.


    "The creatures will also be stronger," the XenoArch continued. "The deeper you go, the more hospitable the layers become. Those in the outermost layer are typically weaker, exiled from the competition for survival in the inner layers. You''ll find their stronger kin deeper within."


    Kaelix frowned at the thought, recalling the monstrous creature he had barely survived earlier. If that was considered weak, what would these stronger ones be like? The idea tugged at his nerves, but he quickly ignored the thought aside. Worrying wouldn''t change anything.


    The tunnel began to narrow ahead, forcing Kaelix to tighten his form. He slowed his descent, bracing as he shot through the final stretch like a bullet. The tunnel spat him out into an open space, and with enhanced reflexes, he landed steadily on the rocky ground below, unharmed.


    Immediately, Kaelix dropped into a defensive stance, scanning the area and expecting danger. His eyes darted around, his hand twitching toward his side as if ready to draw a weapon that wasn''t there. But the sight that greeted him wasn''t an ambush¡ªit was something far stranger.


    The two figures he had been following earlier lay dead on the ground, not far from where he had landed. Their bodies were sprawled lifelessly, and the massive creature they had been carrying was nowhere to be seen.


    Kaelix cursed under his breath and immediately dropped low, his instincts kicking in. He carefully studied the area, his senses on high alert. "Anything alive nearby?" he whispered.


    "Nothing," the XenoArch confirmed after a brief pause. "No signs of movement or life."


    Only slightly reassured, Kaelix slowly approached the bodies, his eyes scanning every shadow and crevice for potential threats. When he reached them, he crouched and got his first good look at the fallen duo.


    The first figure was a muscular humanoid male, his dark blue skin marked with jagged scars. His curled fangs protruded slightly from his mouth, and his build suggested he had been a formidable fighter in life. "An orc," Kaelix muttered, though the skin color threw him off. Orcs were usually green, weren''t they?


    The second figure was even stranger. His insectoid features were immediately apparent, his elongated limbs bent unnaturally beneath him. Two extra pairs of arms were tucked beneath a tattered cloak, and his exoskeleton had a dull, black sheen. Kaelix couldn''t identify the species and didn''t dwell on it for long.


    What caught his attention most was the cause of death. Both figures had long, black spikes driven cleanly through both their eyes. Their expressions were frozen in a mix of pain and shock, and dark fluids had pooled around their heads.


    Kaelix wrinkled his nose at the sight but didn''t hesitate. Gripping one of the spikes lodged in the insectoid''s skull, he yanked it free. The sound of tearing flesh and a gush of dark blood didn''t faze him as he studied the spike in his hand. His eyes narrowed as recognition set in.


    "These..." he murmured, his grip tightening. "These belong to that thing I fought earlier."


    The memory of the monster with the black spikes came rushing back. His body tensed instinctively, his eyes darting to the shadows again. "It can''t be the same one, right?" he asked the XenoArch.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "Unlikely," the XenoArch replied. "That creature was severely injured and couldn''t have traveled here in its state. It''s more plausible that this was another of the same kind."


    Kaelix grimaced. "Another one? Great. And it''s probably stronger, too, since it''s in the inner layer."


    He exhaled slowly, easily calming himself down. Worrying never helps¡ªthat was his current life motto. The two figures were dead, and the creature that killed them was nowhere to be seen. For the moment, he was doing okay.


    "Well, they won''t be needing their clothes anymore," he muttered, crouching by the orc''s body. The padded armor the orc wore was sturdy and looked practical, though it was far too large for Kaelix''s frame. He made adjustments, tightening straps and rolling up excess fabric until it fit well enough. From the insectoid, he took the tattered cloak, draping it over himself for added concealment.


    He glanced at the leftover scraps and ripped them into strips, fashioning a makeshift carrier. Slinging it over his shoulder, he gave the bodies one last look. "Thanks for the gear," he said, his voice low and sardonic. "And thanks to the monster for leaving them intact."


    Despite his outward composure, Kaelix''s mind remained sharp. He wasn''t done here yet¡ªthere was still more to uncover.


    Kaelix crouched back down beside the orc''s body, his gaze flicking over the hulking corpse with scrutiny. His hand brushed against something cold and solid near the orc''s side, and he pulled it out¡ªa small hammer, barely the size of his forearm. He turned it over, inspecting its craftsmanship. The tool was too diminutive to serve as a proper weapon, though it seemed sturdy enough to be useful for smithing or repair work.


    Kaelix snorted, holding the hammer up to the orc''s lifeless face. "What were you planning to do with this, big guy? Hammer nails into your enemies?" He chuckled darkly at the thought of the massive orc fumbling with the dainty tool. He wondered inwardly how it was able to even kill the armadillo-like creature from before.


    Shaking his head, he set it aside. "Not my style, anyway. I prefer weapons that keep my scrawny ass away from whatever is trying to kill me."


    Satisfied, he turned his attention to the insectoid. Its body was smaller but far stranger. Kaelix searched for weapons or useful items but found nothing at first glance. Just as he was about to dismiss it, something about the creature''s arms caught his attention. They were unnaturally segmented, and their angles seemed off, almost as if something was hidden inside.


    Curiosity piqued, Kaelix began to manipulate one of the arms, his fingers pressing into joints and crevices. With a soft click, a sharp, long, blade-like attachment sprang out from beneath the exoskeleton. Kaelix grinned as he twisted the limb, watching the blade glint faintly in the dim light. "Hidden weapons, huh? Now that''s more like it."


    Without hesitation, Kaelix ripped two of the insectoid''s arms free, ignoring the viscous fluids and ichor that splattered onto his hands. He wiped his fingers on his makeshift cloak and examined his prizes. The blades retracted and extended smoothly with a flick of his wrist, and their length and weight felt just right for his style of close combat.


    He tied the arms together with some of the spare cloth, ensuring they wouldn''t clatter around as he moved.


    Not forgetting the spikes, Kaelix returned to the insectoid''s head, yanking the other black projectile from its eyes before taking the ones from the orc. They slid out with a sickening squelch, but Kaelix remained unfazed. He bundled them alongside the insectoid arms, satisfied with his growing collection of tools.


    As he finished, something else caught his eye¡ªa faint, crumpled edge peeking out from beneath the insectoid''s head. Kaelix tilted the body slightly and pulled free a bloodstained piece of parchment. Unfolding it carefully, he examined the crude markings. A smile tugged at his lips.


    "A map," he muttered. It was rough and damaged, the blood obscuring parts of it, but the essential details were still visible. Landmarks, pathways, and what appeared to be tunnel intersections were all marked with shaky lines. Kaelix could already picture the insectoid clutching it in desperation before death claimed him.


    "Thanks for the free loot," he said with mock sincerity, glancing back at the corpses. His grin turned sharp. "And if I ever meet the thing that killed you, I''ll make sure to give it a high five for contributing to my survival."


    With the area thoroughly looted, Kaelix finally sat back on his heels, surveying the two lifeless figures. A stray thought entered his mind, and he voiced it aloud. "Hey, X, think these guys would taste any good?"


    The XenoArch paused, clearly caught off guard. "Boy, are you seriously considering eating them? That is... unusual for a human."


    He shrugged. "I''ve never tried orc or this insect-like thing before. Could be an adventure." He tapped his chin, his voice light with amusement. "Probably shouldn''t, though. No fire to cook them with, and I''m not eating them raw. I''d want my first taste to be done right."


    The XenoArch responded with a tone that might have been incredulous. "Your concern is... culinary preference?"


    "Of course," Kaelix replied with a smirk. "I''m not a savage."


    He stood, brushing dirt and blood off his makeshift cloak. Before leaving, he raised a hand in a mock salute toward the bodies. "Thanks for everything guys. Your sacrifice won''t go to waste. I promise your clothes will live a noble second life."


    With that, he turned and walked away, the bloodstained map in one hand and his makeshift weapon bundle slung over his shoulder. His pace was steady, his determination unshaken. Ahead lay the unknown depths of the layer, but Kaelix was ready. Whatever awaited him deeper in this strange place, he would face it without problem.

 Runic Sheet

    Kaelix traversed the new layer with a confident stride, the eerie grey expanse sprawling before him like a desolate dreamscape. The ground beneath his boots had the same smooth, unyielding texture as the roof he had slid down from¡ªa material so unnaturally durable it defied even the sharpest weapons. The formations scattered across the area added an uncanny touch, as though the realm itself had attempted to mimic architecture but abandoned the effort halfway through.


    Tall, jagged pillars pierced upward like ancient sentinels, their edges smooth yet irregular, as though carved by unseen hands. Smaller structures dotted the expanse, resembling fragments of houses¡ªarched doorways leading nowhere, fragmented walls, and slanted roofs, all hewn from the same uniform grey. Some formations looked almost organic, twisting and curling like petrified vines, while others hinted at deliberate design, such as staircases that climbed into empty air. Kaelix had to marvel at the strangeness, the realm seeming alive in its own alien way.


    As he leapt over a small outcropping shaped like a half-finished bridge, Kaelix glanced down at the bloodstained map in his hands. "Eight layers, huh?" he mused aloud, his tone light. "And according to this mess, there''s a hideout on the fourth layer."


    The XenoArch''s voice echoed in his mind. "If the map is accurate, that hideout could be a strategic advantage¡ªor a dangerous trap."


    "Or a treasure trove," Kaelix countered with a smirk. He traced a finger along the faded marking that indicated the hideout''s location. "Gotta admit, I''m already planning what I''m going to loot. Though this thing''s practically useless beyond the fourth layer. Blood''s covering everything below that." He folded the map and stuffed it into his makeshift carrier. "First order of business when I get there¡ªfind a better map."


    For now, the journey seemed uneventful. Despite the XenoArch''s warning about denser creatures in this layer, Kaelix hadn''t encountered a single one yet. His stomach growled in protest, and he rubbed his abdomen with a sigh. "Really regretting not taking some of that orc meat now. Even insect guy might''ve been worth it if I''d had the time to cook him."


    "Your obsession with consuming sapient creatures is disconcerting," the XenoArch remarked.


    "It''s not an obsession," Kaelix replied with mock indignation. "It''s practicality. If it keeps me alive and not starved, I''m not picky."


    As he vaulted over another outcropping, an idle thought surfaced in his mind. He decided to voice it, though he doubted it would lead anywhere. "Hey, XenoArch, you know anything about the Runic Sheet?"


    The artifact''s response was tinged with curiosity. "Runic Sheet? Elaborate."


    Kaelix adjusted the straps on his makeshift pack as he walked. "It''s a special power only a small percentage of Ascendars get access to. Less than ten percent, actually. You have to awaken a Nexus Spark to even see it." He paused, eyeing a spiraled rock formation that looked suspiciously like a coiled snake. "From what I''ve heard, it''s like a cheat sheet for reality. Not that anyone talks about it openly. Ascendars with Nexus Sparks keep their secrets locked up tighter than the king''s treasury."


    The XenoArch processed his explanation in silence, prompting Kaelix to continue. "I only ever met one guy with a Nexus Spark, and let me tell you, he made the rest of them look like absolute wastes of space. I figured since you''re all ancient and mysterious, you might know something."


    The silence stretched a beat too long, and Kaelix raised an eyebrow. "What, nothing? Don''t tell me you''re as clueless as the rest of us mortals."


    "You''re... peculiar," the XenoArch finally said, its tone oddly flat.


    Kaelix rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks for the insight."


    "I know what you''re describing," the XenoArch continued. "But the terminology is unfamiliar. In my era, these were not rare. All Ascendars of that era possessed these ''Nexus Sparks'' and ''Runic Sheets.'' They were distinguishing traits that set them apart from other Empowered."


    Kaelix stopped mid-step, his eyebrows furrowing. "Wait, seriously? Every single Ascendar?"


    "Without exception," the XenoArch confirmed. "Why it would become so rare in your era is... troubling."


    "Yeah, no kidding." Kaelix shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the revelation. "What did you guys even call it back then?"


    The XenoArch began to explain, but as the names left its ethereal voice, Kaelix staggered. A sharp, splitting pain lanced through his head, and he clutched his temples as blood trickled from his nose and ears. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto a nearby rock, gasping for breath.


    "Stop! Stop!" he shouted hoarsely. "What the hell was that? Trying to kill me?"


    "You are not adapted to handle those terms," the XenoArch replied matter-of-factly. "Your reaction was unintended."Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Kaelix glared at the empty air, dabbing at the blood with his sleeve. "Sure it was, you piece of junk. Next time, try not to scramble my brain, huh?"


    He sat on the rock for a while, letting the pounding in his head subside. As the pain ebbed, his mind churned with questions. What kind of era had the XenoArch come from, where such extraordinary abilities were commonplace? And what had changed so drastically to make them a rarity now?


    Whatever the answers, Kaelix resolved to dig deeper. But first, he needed to survive long enough to reach that hideout. With a groan, he pushed himself to his feet and resumed his trek, the strange grey formations casting long, distorted shadows around him.


    The XenoArch''s voice broke the silence.


    "Don''t dwell on it. Even back in my era, while all Ascendars had a so-called Runic Sheet, it wasn''t the ultimate cheat you seem to think it is."


    Kaelix snorted, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "And how would you know? You''re just an old chest piece that seems to have forgotten most things anyway."


    The XenoArch''s response was calm and measured. "Because I have yours right here for you to see."


    Kaelix froze, his irritation giving way to wide-eyed astonishment. "You WHAT?! You''ve had it this whole time and didn''t tell me?"


    "It''s not that significant," the XenoArch replied nonchalantly. "In my opinion, it''s just a glorified training tool. Hardly worth mentioning."


    Kaelix glared at his chest. "Training tool or not, I want to see it. Now."


    Reluctantly, the XenoArch obliged, and Kaelix watched in amazement as a glowing sheet of ethereal paper materialized in front of him. Mystical patterns shimmered across its surface, and his hands shot out to snatch it eagerly.


    "Strange boy," the XenoArch remarked as Kaelix clutched the glowing paper like a long-lost treasure.


    Kaelix ignored the comment and looked down at the blank sheet. His initial excitement quickly soured. "Uh¡­why is it empty? What''s this supposed to be, a prank?"


    "It''s not blank," the XenoArch said with an edge of smugness. "You''re not focusing. Think of your name and concentrate."


    He scowled but followed the instruction, focusing on his name. Memories flashed briefly¡ªunpleasant ones he tried to suppress¡ªand then the sheet responded. Strange, runic letters began forming across the surface, glowing softly with a faint, otherworldly light. Though the language was foreign, he understood it instinctively.


    [Ascendar Name]: Kaelix*


    [Ascendar Rank]: Mortal


    [Ascendar Traits]: [Wanderer] [All You Can Eat] [Underdog] [Hateful]


    [Flaw]


    [XenoArch]:


    [Etherion Rank]: Pawn


    [Etherion Limit]: ¡ª


    [Nexus Spark]: ¡ª


    [Wills]: ¡ª


    [Dreams]: ¡ª


    Kaelix stared at the sheet, the glowing runes reflecting in his wide eyes. Something about the format and presentation tickled a distant memory¡ªsomething he had seen in the Ion cities during his travels, though he couldn''t quite place it.


    "This is¡­ not as impressive as I thought," Kaelix muttered, disappointment creeping into his tone. He glanced at the XenoArch, expecting some kind of explanation.


    "It reflects who you are," the XenoArch said plainly.


    Kaelix grimaced. "Yeah, I get that part. But how is this supposed to be helpful?"


    The XenoArch paused for a moment as if considering whether it was worth answering. Its silence was filled with a palpable sense of disappointment.


    The XenoArch''s voice carried a rare hint of patience as it began explaining. "The Runic Sheet is more than just a novelty, Kaelix. Most Empowered cannot introspect their true nature. They lack the ability to see attributes, understand their potential, or even recognize the true essence of things they obtain unless it''s physically represented in some tangible way. But Ascendars¡ªand a select few special Empowered¡ªare different."


    Kaelix frowned, glancing down at the glowing paper. "What makes us different?"


    "It''s an advantage," the XenoArch continued. "Every Empowered can carry Wills and Dreams. But only those like you or the Ascendars of my time can see what they do, discern their origins, and maybe even uncover extra secrets. That level of awareness can define victory or doom in the trials ahead."


    The mention of secrets piqued Kaelix''s interest. He turned his attention back to the Runic Sheet, running his eyes over its glowing runes. Starting at the top, his gaze landed on his name. The asterisk beside it caught his attention, sparking a twinge of unease.


    "Huh. What''s that star thing doing there?" he muttered, leaning closer.


    Deep down, though, he felt an instinctual understanding that it was meant to be there. Something about it screamed familiarity¡ªa feeling he didn''t want to explore. Shaking his head, he moved on.


    His focus fell to the [Ascendar Rank]: Mortal line. He frowned again, noticing the matching [Etherion Rank]: Pawn under the XenoArch section.


    "Why does it say ''Mortal'' for me and ''Pawn'' for you? Shouldn''t I be at least a little more impressive than that?" he asked, his irritation palpable.


    "That''s because our bond isn''t fully assimilated yet," the XenoArch replied matter-of-factly. "My power is incomplete. I''m missing several components, which means the strength I possess isn''t fully yours to wield. When I run out of energy, I become useless until recharged. Technically speaking, you''re still mortal because none of it has permanently transformed your body yet."


    Kaelix groaned and tossed his head back. "Great. So you''re basically just a glorified power battery with a fancy voice."


    "For now," the XenoArch conceded. "But don''t dismiss it so quickly. One of the benefits of our bond is the ability to absorb Etherion from Empowered you defeat. Over time, that Etherion will reshape your body, permanently enhancing your strength. And the best part? Those enhancements stack with the temporary strength I lend you during battle."


    Kaelix perked up, his mind racing. "Wait¡ªyou''re saying I could get twice the strength? Permanent upgrades and your boosts on top of that?"


    "Precisely. And when you''ve absorbed enough Etherion to achieve a proper Liberation, we''ll synchronize our energy completely, allowing us to ascend to the next rank simultaneously for the continuing future."


    Kaelix rubbed his chin, absorbing the information. The mention of a "next rank" intrigued him, but he sensed the explanation would be lengthy. For now, he set the thought aside and refocused on the glowing sheet in his hands.


    He muttered under his breath, "Alright, let''s see what else this thing has to say about me¡­"

 Runic Sheet[2]

    Kaelix''s gaze shifted to the [Ascendar Traits] section. The presence of five traits caught his attention immediately. He furrowed his brow, about to ask a question when the XenoArch spoke up first.


    "Five traits? That''s... unusual," it mused aloud, its tone laced with curiosity. "Most Empowered manifest only one trait. On rare occasions, a truly exceptional individual might have two. But five? This is unheard of."


    Kaelix smirked at the notion of being "unheard of." "Guess I''m just built different, huh?"


    "Perhaps," the XenoArch replied dryly. "Or perhaps you''re just an anomaly, for better or worse."


    Kaelix ignored the jab and focused on the [Wanderer] trait. As he did, words materialized on the glowing sheet:


    [Wanderer]: Your soul has wandered and crossed boundaries many believe to be impossible. You are a special soul among many.


    He frowned at the cryptic description. "What''s that even supposed to mean? ''Special soul''? I don''t feel very special."


    "It likely pertains to your soul''s nature," the XenoArch offered, its voice betraying its own uncertainty. "Perhaps it has traversed planes or undergone some transformation. Still, it''s merely speculation."


    Kaelix scratched his head. "Helpful as ever, huh?"


    Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the next trait, [All You Can Eat], focusing on it as instructed.


    [All You Can Eat]: No lifeform is safe from your appetite. For you, eating is survival, and survival is eating.


    A grin crept across his face. "Finally, something that makes sense. I guess all those weird meals growing up paid off."


    "Paid off?" the XenoArch mocked. "If eating like a beast is an accomplishment, then yes, you''ve achieved greatness."


    Kaelix snorted. "You''re just jealous you don''t have a stomach as great as mine. Or a stomach at all."


    Moving on, he focused on the [Underdog] trait, and the description appeared:


    [Underdog]: Despite your struggles, you possess the unyielding spirit of one who refuses to bow. Not out of pride, but because you simply do not care who stands before you.


    Kaelix couldn''t help but chuckle. "Now this one I like. Feels like it was written just for me."


    "A fitting description," the XenoArch admitted begrudgingly. "Even if it implies recklessness rather than valor."


    "Hey, I''ve gotten by just fine with ''recklessness'' thank you very much."


    The next trait, [Hateful], was less flattering.


    [Hateful]: You are a being of pure hate. You hate weakness and strength, good and evil. There is nothing but hate within you, for there is no rest for you. In the end, a hater has to hate.


    Kaelix read the description twice, his expression caught between annoyance and bemusement. "Is this supposed to be an insult?"


    "Not necessarily," the XenoArch remarked, almost amused. "Though it''s a bit... blunt, even for you. Still, there''s power in such unfiltered emotions. Just don''t let it consume you."


    "I''ll keep that in mind," Kaelix muttered, though he wasn''t sure how he felt about being labeled as a "hater."


    Finally, he turned to the [Flaw] trait. Unlike the others, its description was unsettlingly brief:


    [Flaw]: You are a Flaw.


    Both Kaelix and the XenoArch stared at the sheet in silence.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "That''s... cryptic," the XenoArch admitted after a pause.


    "No kidding," Kaelix grumbled. "You''ve got nothing for this one?"


    "Nothing definitive," it replied. "It could mean many things. Perhaps it''s tied to your past, or maybe even about why you had no dormant Nexus when I met you. But I can''t say for certain."


    Kaelix huffed, frustrated. "Great. So even the ancient, all-knowing relic has no clue."


    "Careful, Kaelix," the XenoArch said with a sharp edge to its voice. "The fact that it perplexes me should concern you more than it does."


    Kaelix leaned back, his eyes still on the sheet. The word "Flaw" seemed to pulse faintly, almost mocking him. "Yeah, well, I''ll figure it out eventually. Until then, I''ve got other things to worry about."


    "Just don''t forget," the XenoArch warned. "Traits define your essence. Dismissing one, no matter how vague, could be a fatal mistake."


    Kaelix sighed but didn''t argue. Instead, he turned his attention back to the Runic Sheet, wondering what other secrets it might hold.


    Kaelix''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the [Etherion Limit] section of his Runic Sheet. Unlike the other entries, this one remained blank, refusing to reveal any details. "Hey," he muttered, his tone sharp. "Why isn''t there anything here?"


    The XenoArch''s voice resonated within his mind, carrying a tone of self-importance. "Ah, the Etherion Limit. Typically, this section displays an Ascendar''s innate potential¡ªthe ceiling of their strength. It represents the absolute limit of what they can achieve without extreme intervention. Most Empowered obsess over it, as it''s a direct indicator of their talent."


    Kaelix raised an eyebrow. "So, what''s mine?"


    "Yours?" the XenoArch said, almost scoffing. "My dear host, you should count yourself fortunate. I am an artifact of unlimited potential. Gods and fiends alike feared me in my prime! My limit is nonexistent¡ªI can grow as powerful as long as you can survive. Truly, you should be praising me for giving you such an opportunity."


    Kaelix rolled his eyes. "Yeah, thanks for being so generous, mighty artifact. I''ll be sure to grovel later."


    The XenoArch''s voice faltered in mock indignation. "Ungrateful brat."


    Ignoring its grumbling, Kaelix''s gaze shifted further down the sheet, his eyes landing on the [Nexus Spark] section. It was blank, too, which immediately caught his attention. "What''s the deal here? Why don''t I have a Nexus Spark?"


    The XenoArch''s tone shifted, becoming more neutral. "That''s because you haven''t obtained one yet. Once I recover my other parts, you''ll acquire a few Nexus Sparks."


    Kaelix froze mid-step, his boots scraping against the rocky surface. "A few?" he repeated, incredulous. He turned his focus inward, questioning the XenoArch. "Since when does anyone get more than one Nexus Spark?"


    The XenoArch chuckled, a haughty sound. "No one does. Nexus Sparks are the lifeblood of a Nexus. It''s impossible for a single Ascendar to possess multiple unless..."


    "Unless what?"


    "Unless they have more than one Nexus," the XenoArch concluded, its tone dripping with superiority. "Which, as you might guess, is also impossible¡ªunless I''m involved. I am the sole means by which such a feat can be achieved. Your body will adapt as I restore myself, making you capable of holding what others cannot even dream of."


    Kaelix folded his arms, feigning disinterest. "Huh. Cool, I guess."


    "You''re impressed," the XenoArch declared smugly.


    "Not really."


    "Liar."


    Kaelix ignored the retort, shifting his attention to the final empty sections: [Wills] and [Dreams]. He leaned forward slightly, expecting the XenoArch to explain them in its usual grandiose manner. Instead, it abruptly cut in with a cryptic warning.


    "You have five seconds until it turns nighttime."


    Kaelix blinked. "What? That''s not poss¡ª"


    Before he could finish, he instinctively leaped onto one of the towering rock pillars and clung to it tightly. A heartbeat later, the shift began.


    The gray sky above darkened into a black abyss, and the rocky terrain below him warped, becoming an equally dark void. Gravity twisted violently, pulling Kaelix toward what had once been "forward," turning the pillar he held into a makeshift platform.


    He steadied himself, keeping his weight balanced to avoid toppling off. His gaze darted around, taking in the surreal transformation. The gray world he had grown accustomed to was now bathed in black. Even the rock pillar beneath him had turned dark, blending into the strange new environment.


    "What the hell is this?" he demanded. "It wasn''t supposed to be nighttime for hours!"


    The XenoArch''s voice was unnervingly calm. "I cannot explain this. In all my millennia spent in this realm, such an event has never occurred."


    Kaelix frowned, uneasy. The XenoArch was ancient and full of itself, but for it to admit ignorance... "That''s not reassuring."


    Before he could press further, the XenoArch''s tone shifted, taking on a note of urgency. "Boy. You better look down."


    He hesitated but eventually listened, peering into the dark void below. At first, he saw nothing, just an endless expanse of black. Then, a faint movement caught his eye. Shadows swirled deep within the pit, coalescing and growing.


    The movement quickened, the shadows taking form and expanding at an alarming rate. What had started as a faint disturbance was now a massive, ominous shape rising toward him.


    Kaelix''s jaw tightened. "Let me guess. That''s not normal either?"


    "Not in the slightest," the XenoArch confirmed, its tone almost grim. "But at least it seems that your question about Wills and Dreams will be answered soon. That is if you are able to kill whatever this is."


    Kaelix cursed under his breath, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his blade. Whatever was coming, it wasn''t friendly¡ªand it wasn''t waiting.