Heart pounding, Alan stood at the bottom of the stairs and watched the storm clouds start to recede. The encounter with that mysterious force had left him shaken. It didn't help that his lackluster control over fire had proven unable to stand against its overwhelming might.

Just as an immediate, and likely painful ejection from the stairway seemed inevitable, an unseen presence had intervened, a hand pressing firmly into the center of his back. In that strange moment a burst of foreign Celestial Energy surged into Alan's body, wholly engulfing his own Celestial Energy.

Unfortunately, when the hand on his back faded, that also took away the guided assistance he had so quickly grown accustomed to. This loss made it far more difficult to find an equilibrium between the competing energies, and even harder to maintain control of the complex pattern his energy was slowly settling into. Alan's grasp of the complexities of Celestial Energy were undeniably far less refined than that of his unknown benefactor, and it didn't take long for this to become painfully obvious.

This lack of control led to his unstable energy deviating from the correct pathways almost immediately. Now the aftermath was playing out within him.

The foreign energy, only moments before a beacon of protection, now stormed through Alan's pathways, devouring and taking the place of his own energy. Without anyone to help guide him, Alan was left alone to grapple with an uncontrollable surge. Frayed nerves threatened to snap like overplaying guitar strings as he struggled to maintain the flow of energy through the intricate patterns that had been imprinted on his pathways. Every looping channel, every delicate thread, each had to be upheld and guided simultaneously, or the consequences were suffered immediately.

Alan's breathing became labored, even the slightest deviation from the pattern making it feel like he was sucking air through porous stone. That horrid feeling refused to relent until he corrected the cycle, which was proving far more difficult than he had first assumed. Alan was finding that he didn't know what sounded worse; suffering through the mental strain of keeping these confounding rotations going, or dealing with the repercussions caused by stopping altogether.

Alan only made it halfway up the stairs before he had to stop and lean against the wall for support. Gasping for breath, yet failing to pull in a sufficient amount of air, he clutched at his hammering chest and fought back a wave of panic. Although he knew he could hold his breath for quite some time, he would, at least at some point, need to breath.

Alan folded over and groaned, his stomach burbling noisily as a pressurized bubble of unhoused energy expanded in his guts. “Oh no you don't!“ Alan wheezed out, clenching his bowel muscles in a bid to keep from soiling himself. The indigestion brought about by overindulging in Golden Plantains paled in comparison to the furious calamity he was currently brewing.

Alan's world spun in circles as another, far more condensed surge of foreign energy slammed into his core. Hastened by the deluge, the golden reservoir of Celestial Energy transformed into a vortex of what looked like liquid mercury. He gasped, his breath catching in his throat as the torrential influx threatened to completely overtake his own essence.

Desperation clawed at Alan's mind as he grappled with the forces clashing in his body. He struggled to reach a balance between the competing energies. Preferably before he shit in his Class armor. In response to the changes taking place, Alan's pathways pulsated with newfound vigor. Within his Core, a mesmerizing dance unfolded.

A rope of intertwined gold and silver energy spiraled outward from the entrance to his Realm seed, each strand thrumming with raw power. The golden mist shimmered ethereally, wisps of otherworldly brilliance floating freely, while the mercury-like silver thread exuded an air of dense weight, its surface gleaming like polished platinum.

Alan could barely maintain his footing as the energies were ejected through his leftmost aperture, where they unfurled like nascent seedlings opening their delicate leaves, revealing a harmony of celestial aspects.

The golden leaf, though insubstantial and hollow, emitted a dazzling gleam that carried the brilliance of the sun. In stark contrast, the silver petal held a tangible weight, yet resonated with a pale luminescence akin to the soft glow of the moon. Alan likely would've admired the beauty of it had he not been so focused on containing the contents of his bowels.

Alan moaned as his guts began to churn like a sea at storm. His eyes widened in awe and concern as he bore witness to the struggle taking place within his Core. His every instinct screamed for him to relinquish control, to allow the energies to consume or annihilate one another. As far as he knew, his sudden intestinal discomfort was a side effect of their struggle. However, at the same time, a flicker of determination flared within him. It urged him to seize mastery over this newfound power one way or another.

Fuck it… I can't hold it back another second either way. Just get it over with! Alan cried out in his mind, unclenching his bowels, allowing the knot it his guts to do what it would.

With every synapse firing on all cylinders, Alan embraced the enigmatic pattern he had been shown, drawing upon the remnant echoes of the guiding hand's touch. Clenching his fists, Alan took the first tentative steps while trying to pretend the veritable thunderclap of a fart that wobbled his legs and smelled of rotting fruit never happened.

Alan steadied himself and continued guiding his energy through the vast complex of channels that wove through his body, somehow resisting the urge to vomit. The delicate dance of the golden mist and silver mercury responded accordingly, their movements subtly shifting and adjusting under his intent concentration.

As the golden leaf dispersed into a hazy mist, it was drawn into Alan's Tributaries, coursing with newfound vigor. Like tiny rivulets of precious metal, the golden energy flowed through his tributaries, seeking release. From the left side of his upper body, tiny pores opened up. He felt a subtle suction as the glittering mist was released out into the world. It was as if Alan's body was exhaling a breath of refined sunlight.

Simultaneously, the silver petal curled up, reshaping into a thick thread that snaked its way into the mouth of those previously hidden channels. It followed the established pattern with almost no input needed as it intertwined with the ambient Celestial Energy being absorbed through the pores on the right side of his body. Alan shuddered as energy coursed through his skin and into the parched channels hidden beneath. It was like he was breathing fresh air for the first time.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Now that he knew what to look for, Alan noticed that each of his six apertures had its own entrance into this almost entirely closed system of channels. If he wasn't mistaken, each one could be used to create its own unique pattern. While he was unwilling to break his current cycle for no better reason than to test out a theory, Alan was fairly certain that were he to focus his energy through one or more of these other entrances, he would likely be able to draw out different effects.

The atmospheric energy was not to be denied. Like he had become a magnet, ambient Celestial Energy was being sucked through the pores on Alan's right side, further intensifying the silvery current. Infusing it with a heightened vitality.

As Alan's Core released one final burst of golden haze, a cascade of power rippled through his entire being. The electrifying jolt coursed through his veins. Pores all over his body opened wide, voraciously absorbing the surrounding Celestial Energy at an unprecedented rate that far surpassed anything he had ever experienced.

In the midst of this jarring exchange, Alan became acutely aware of the transformation taking place within. The loss of the golden mist had left the mercurial silver energy that took its place lacking certain aspects, while others had been heightened to all new extremes. Controlling it was an intricate balancing act of firm resolve and adaptation, but Alan was getting the hang of it.

The metamorphosis had left his energy transformed, it's nature forever altered by the combination of celestial forces.

Alan's inner sight nearly faltered as the rope of energy emanating from his Realm Seed, once adorned with golden threads, underwent a stunning transformation. It cast aside its previous form, becoming a rope of pure platinum that gracefully folded in on itself. As the platinum rope coiled up and pierced through the funnel of metallic energy swirling in Alan's Core, an unshakable connection was forged. Once the link was established, the rope, and the base of the metal tornado ware drawn back towards his Realm Seed.

This sudden retraction caused an immediate, and unsettling readjustment within the churning vortex in Alan's Core. The base of the funnel shifted nearly ninety degrees, aligning itself with the rift to Alans Realm Seed. The silver rope, now flecked with gold and coiled up into loops that were reminiscent of a sturdy chain, burst into his core, tearing through the rift to his Realm Seed and piercing the base of the whirlpool.

Atmospheric energy flooded Alan's body in such quantities that his apertures struggled to keep up. The mercurial energy entered his Core from all six apertures, descending the metallic tornado, spiraling down the funnel to be absorbed by his Realm Seed. At the same time, the energy chain exiting his Realm seed surged forth, being revitalized by the infusion of fresh ambient energy as it ascended the funnel. It joined the currents of the vortex only to be caught up in the ongoing cycle and drawn downward. Each revolution brought an increased influx of energy into his Realm Seed, while the amount exiting remained constant. As a result, the energy within his Realm Seed accumulated at an astonishing pace, steadily growing in power and magnitude.

Alan felt himself reach a tipping point, and suddenly the difficulty receded. The silver energy finally locked into the complex pattern, perpetuating its revolutions without any conscious effort on his part.

A sense of curiosity tugged at Alan's thoughts as he began ascending the steps once again. Surprisingly, no system notices or alerts were demanding his attention. There was no mention made of the transformation of his fundamental energy source. Alan warily brushed his perception against the entrance to his Realm Seed, yet it refused to grant access.

Undeterred, Alan shrugged off the unsettling lack of guidance, relying instead on intuition to navigate the path laid out before him.

Spurred forward by the realization that someone awaited him at the top of the island, someone that likely had the answers that the System couldn't, or wouldn't, provide, Alan steeled his nerves and climbed the remaining steps one after another with hopes that understanding waited just beyond the stairway. Not only did he no longer feel any resistance to his ascent, it was quite the opposite. His body seemed to be growing substantially lighter with every stair he ascended.

As Alan neared the top of the stairs, the nondescript tower revealed itself in its entirety. The storm clouds that had once enveloped the island had retreated, leaving behind an circular expanse of fluffy white clouds surrounding a backdrop of purple sky. Hovering in the center of this tranquil scene was the Safe Zone's false moon, casting a pale glow upon the island and the towering structure that awaited him.

However, as Alan's weary feet finally carried him to the summit, a disorienting wave washed over him. Time seemed to ripple, and his very essence became intertwined with that of someone he'd never known existed. His consciousness merged with the mind of a teenage boy of seventeen summers. A young man named Kuldar Vaino. It was as if their destinies had become inextricably intertwined. Suddenly, Alan's perception transformed, his surroundings morphing into an entirely different reality.

In this new existence, Kuldar stood tall upon a checkerboard of alternating black and white tiles. His silver hair was swept back, framing a dark-skinned face marked by a uniquely hooked nose. Alan's memories, his experiences, even his name; all faded into oblivion, replaced by the vivid recollections and aspirations of Kuldar himself. It was a bewildering shift, as though he had been thrust into the very heart of another person's story.

Before Kuldar loomed a door, an imposing obsidian structure Alan would've recognized as the predecessor of the entrance to the boss room within the Sandstone Palace. Only this version was far less grotesque. In the place of a mutilated face, its ancient mural was etched with symbols of power and challenge that cast an ominous aura. The weight of the upcoming trial bore down upon Kuldar, the pressure of a labyrinth filled with unknown perils and misshapen adversaries. Today marked the start of a grueling quest, an arduous journey through the labyrinth's unexplored depths.

Though Kuldar carried the essence of Alan's existence within him, Alan was now Kuldar in every sense. The hopes, fears, and desires of this new persona coursed through his veins. The labyrinth awaited him. Twisted paths and sinister mysteries ready to test his mettle. The trials he would face would be a crucible, forging him into something beyond the limitations of his current self.

In the months to come, Kuldar would have to sustain himself solely on the ambient energy released by the hidden Celestial Essence within the labyrinth. Starting on the outskirts, where the energy was scarce, he would gradually journey towards the labyrinth's heart, where the Essence grew thick and potent. By cycling the energy of his ancestors, his own Un-aspected Celestial Energy would be tainted and overwritten.

Surviving this perilous ordeal--which was essentially a form of poisoning--and thusly far from guaranteed, and then reaching the Celestial Essence it contained, would earn him the personal approval of his grandfather, granting him the inheritance of the Essence. This opportunity was a result of his grandfather's esteemed position as sect patriarch, and Kuldar was determined to succeed.

This accomplishment would enable him, currently a stagnant Realm Seed Cultivator, to manifest a Core Aspect and form a Realm Core.

This was a crucial first step on the path of the Soul Wright, a path cultivated and perfected by his revered ancestor over countless millennia.