The night was dark and still, the only sound being the quiet rustling of the wind through the trees. Elion and Lira stood at the edge of the now-collapsed vault, the dust still settling around them. The pulsating obsidian orb in Elion’s hand radiated with raw power, its surface faintly glowing with the Essence of the ancient relic within.

Lira's eyes flicked toward the orb, but she quickly masked her expression. "You triggered something back there. We could’ve been crushed. Whatever that thing is, it’s more dangerous than you think.”

Elion didn’t respond immediately. He was still feeling the effects of the orb. The Essence it had unleashed into him was unlike anything he had encountered before—primal, ancient, and intoxicatingly powerful. His mind raced, processing the information as the newfound energy coursed through his body.

“We survived, didn’t we?” Elion said, his voice calm, almost dismissive. “The trap was a small price to pay for this.”

Lira's jaw clenched. She didn’t like his cold, calculating indifference. But she also knew she couldn’t push too hard—at least, not yet. She was smart enough to know that Elion was far more ruthless than most, and picking a fight with him too soon would be a fatal mistake. Not to mention, she had seen his power in action, and the Blackstone Ring on his hand was an ominous reminder of what he was capable of.

For now, she would play along. She would watch and wait.

“Fine,” Lira said, her tone smooth and measured. “But we still need to figure out what’s next. The orb is obviously important, but it can’t be the only treasure the vault held. There are more secrets, and if we want to unlock them, we’ll need more than brute force.”

Elion’s gaze shifted to her, his cold eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ll decide what’s next.”

Lira smiled thinly, inclining her head slightly in mock deference. “Of course. I’m just pointing out that we might want to prepare for more than just a physical fight. Whatever you unleashed… it’s not done with you.”

Elion’s lips twitched, but he said nothing. He had already felt it—something within the orb had been waiting for him, as though it had chosen him. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, he couldn’t yet say. But he knew one thing for sure: the power inside the orb was vast, and it belonged to him now.

Without another word, Elion turned and began walking into the forest. The shadows swallowed him up, and Lira followed closely behind, her eyes still lingering on the obsidian orb, her mind working at a fevered pace.

---

Hours later, they made camp in a secluded hollow deep within the forest. The fire crackled between them, casting flickering shadows on their faces. Elion sat across from Lira, the orb resting on the ground beside him, his hand never straying far from it. Its power was palpable, filling the air with a subtle tension neither of them could ignore.

“So,” Lira began, her voice casual as she poked the fire with a stick, “what now? You’ve got the orb. But what’s the plan? Do you even know what that thing is?”

Elion looked up, his expression unreadable. “It doesn’t matter what it is. What matters is the power it holds. I’ll figure out the rest soon enough.”

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Lira raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. “You’re playing with forces you don’t fully understand. Power like that always comes with a price. Are you prepared for whatever it demands?”

Elion’s eyes flickered with cold amusement. “I’ve already paid the price a hundred times over. Whatever this orb requires, it will be no different.”

Lira studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp and calculating. She was beginning to see the depths of Elion’s ambition, his relentless pursuit of power at any cost. There was no room for doubt, no hesitation in him. He was willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to achieve his goals. It made him dangerous—but it also made him predictable.

“I admire your confidence,” Lira said with a faint smile, “but I’m not convinced. Power doesn’t just come from strength alone. You’re going to need more than raw energy if you want to survive what’s coming.”

Elion tilted his head slightly, his gaze never wavering from hers. “And what exactly do you think is coming?”

Lira’s smile widened. “War. Chaos. You’ve already upset the balance. Whoever controls the vault controls a significant source of power. Word will spread, and others will come looking for you. Powerful enemies. Cultivators who won’t hesitate to tear you apart to get their hands on that orb.”

Elion’s expression darkened, but he didn’t seem surprised. He knew this was inevitable. The moment he had touched the orb, he had felt the ripple of energy it had sent out, like a beacon calling to those who craved power as much as he did.

“I welcome it,” Elion said coldly. “Let them come. I’ll destroy anyone who stands in my way.”

Lira chuckled softly, though there was no warmth in her voice. “I don’t doubt it. But you can’t do it alone, and we both know it.”

Elion’s eyes narrowed. He could sense the trap in her words, the subtle manipulation she was attempting. Lira wanted something—whether it was the orb, his power, or something else entirely. But whatever game she was playing, Elion had no intention of letting her win.

“I don’t need allies,” he said icily. “I need tools. And I suggest you remember which one you are.”

For a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. Lira’s smile faltered, her eyes hardening. She was beginning to see that Elion wasn’t someone she could control as easily as she’d thought. His ruthlessness went deeper than she had anticipated, and any attempt to manipulate him would likely end in bloodshed—hers, most likely.

But Lira wasn’t easily deterred. She had survived far worse than Elion, and she wasn’t about to let him intimidate her. Instead, she simply inclined her head in a show of false submission.

“Fair enough,” she said smoothly. “But you’ll find that even tools have their uses.”

Elion didn’t respond, his gaze already turning away from her. His focus was on the orb, its dark energy pulsing steadily at his side. He could feel the hunger inside it, a deep, insatiable need that mirrored his own.

Suddenly, the orb flickered, its glow intensifying for a brief moment before dimming again. Elion’s eyes widened as a sharp pain stabbed through his chest, his vision blurring for a split second. It was as if something within the orb had awoken—something sentient.

Lira noticed the change in his expression, her eyes narrowing. “What’s wrong?”

Elion gritted his teeth, shaking off the momentary dizziness. “It’s nothing.”

But even as he said the words, he knew it wasn’t true. The orb was more than just a relic—it was alive, in a sense. It was bound to him now, feeding off his Essence, growing stronger with every passing moment.

And with that power came a cost.

---

The next morning, they resumed their journey, though neither of them spoke much. The tension between them had only grown thicker, the silent understanding that their alliance was temporary, at best, hanging heavy in the air.

As they traveled deeper into the forest, Elion couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching them. The forest felt alive, the shadows shifting unnaturally, as if something ancient and powerful was stirring just beyond the edge of his perception.

Then, without warning, they were ambushed.

Figures darted out from the trees, their movements swift and silent. Elion reacted instantly, summoning the power of the Blackstone Ring. A wave of dark Essence exploded outward, slamming into the attackers with brutal force. They crumpled to the ground, their life force ripped from their bodies.

But more kept coming.

Lira was already moving, her dagger flashing in the dim light as she cut down one of the attackers. She moved with deadly precision, her Essence swirling around her in a controlled fury. But even she was struggling to keep up with the sheer number of enemies.

Elion’s eyes narrowed. These weren’t ordinary bandits. They were cultivators, each one radiating Essence, their attacks coordinated and precise. Someone had sent them.

As he fought, his hand instinctively went to the orb. He could feel its power pulsing beneath his fingers, tempting him, offering him more strength.

Without hesitation, he unleashed it.

A surge of dark energy erupted from the orb, filling the air with a terrible pressure. The attackers froze, their eyes widening in terror as the Essence washed over them. They didn’t even have time to scream before their bodies crumpled to the ground, lifeless husks drained of all vitality.

The forest fell silent, the air thick with the stench of death.

Lira stared at him, her face pale. “What the hell… was that?”

Elion didn’t answer. He stood there, the orb still glowing faintly in his hand, his chest heaving with the aftermath of the power he had unleashed. But inside, he felt nothing but cold satisfaction.

He was getting stronger.

And nothing would stop him.