It was an inescapable truth: without my incarnation, I was nothing more than a 16-year-old, fragile, and inexperienced teenager. Each blow from the Patriarch against my body echoed the reality of my vulnerability. The sound of impacts reverberated in my mind, indicating probably some broken bones. I was just a sack of flesh, but my smile persisted, a false bravado that I stubbornly maintained, perhaps out of pride, perhaps out of fear of appearing weak again.
Whispers from the spectators echoed around me, but at this point, the sounds blended into an indistinguishable cacophony. My body yielded, and defeat seemed imminent. Once again, I would face the bitter taste of defeat, the same that had brought me to this point. The only thing left was to let the same energy that had granted me abilities guide my final dance, allowing me, at least, to die with some form of honor.
Before me, I anticipated the blow that would likely seal my fate. Time seemed to slow down, and I refused to accept such a pathetic ending. I would not allow my story to end this way. I whispered to myself, "Wake up."
Whether by predestination or the impulse of something I didn't fully understand, I was there, prevented from giving in, not just for myself, but for something that transcended my own existence: my Incarnation.
Time rewound, and the blow struck me. I could feel the piercing in my chest, but the pain did not manifest. I gripped the Patriarch's fist with my hands, feeling the flow of my own blood. My gaze met his, reflecting my determination. There, the fallen demon from the sky manifested.
My mist infiltrated into his fist, a transcendental connection. The absorption of the Patriarch's own energy began, feeding me with the strength he struggled so hard to control. It was as if the essence of his lineage was being extracted, merging with my mist.
The Patriarch's expression changed, from confidence to perplexity. The flow of energy was uncontrollable, a chaotic dance between two opposing forces. The distant sound of whispers intensified, a symphony of surprise and confusion.
With the newly acquired strength, I released my mist from the Patriarch's grip, stepping back and allowing the absorbed energy to fully integrate into me. The hall fell silent, everyone witnessing the unexpected turnaround. The weakened Patriarch retreated, while I, nourished by the essence that was once his, rose with renewed resilience.
It was not just a physical rematch; it was an affirmation that even when all seemed lost, I could transcend defeat itself. I looked at the Patriarch, my smile now loaded with a previously absent confidence.
"You wanted to test how high Mount Tai is, Patriarch. Now, let me show you how far the winds of change can blow."
There, the presence of my incarnation emphasized the distinction between those touched by New Eden and those who had not been. By luck or destiny, I was chained to something that belonged to my former self. In that moment, the memories of the sworn oath awakened in me. I would use the power given to me to break the chains of destiny imposed by the one who had put me in this situation.
As the chosen son of the void, shrouded in the dark wings of the night, I sighed deeply. There was no more room for procrastination. I didn't know how much longer that energy, which did not belong to me, would remain around me, but I kept a smile on my face as I advanced toward the Patriarch.
"You fought well, but I am something that goes beyond the concepts you hold. I am a threat to anyone who opposes what I desire. If your decision remains the same, then I will depart, for my journey must continue." My words echoed through the hall as I stared directly into the eyes of the Patriarch.
The atmosphere became infused with palpable tension. The elders and sect members watched in silence, awaiting the Patriarch's response to my challenging declaration. It was a crucial moment, where lines were drawn, and decisions would shape the outcome of this unique narrative.
The Patriarch, still weakened from the previous battle, met my gaze with a mix of challenge and contemplation. For a moment, the hall plunged into a silence broken only by the whispering wind outside.
Finally, the Patriarch raised his head and spoke with calculated serenity. "You may have won today, Fallen from the Sky, but that doesn't mean our decision has changed. Continue your journey, but know that the shadows of our destinies may still intertwine."
Even in the face of imposed defeat, the Patriarch maintained his proud posture. He knew that, despite the victory in the physical battle, the repercussions of this night would echo for a long time. It was a momentary truce, a silent agreement that our paths would diverge at that moment, but fate still held future encounters.
With a nod, accepting the decision, I turned to leave the hall. My mist began to envelop my body, dissipating slowly as I moved away. The hall, once the stage for an intense dispute, was now permeated by the aura of the decision made and the unfolding destiny before us.
The night outside welcomed me with a starry sky and a gentle breeze. My journey would continue, taking me beyond the limits of that sect and the shadows of my own past.
The night was dense, shadows intertwining among the trees like dark webs, turning the forest into a labyrinth of darkness. My legs, already exhausted from the endless journey, continued to move almost instinctively. The moon, a timid witness to my fatigue, tried to overcome the density of leaves and branches, casting pale rays of light that barely illuminated my path.
I had no idea how much time had passed since I started this solitary journey, traversing a straight line through the tangle of trees. The uneven terrain and roots snaking along the ground complicated my walk, but a dark determination impelled me forward. So, when my legs finally succumbed to exhaustion, my eyes found salvation in the form of an opening in the darkness: a cave.
Upon entering, I was engulfed by an even more intense darkness than the forest outside. My vision struggled to adjust to the gloom, but the cave remained like an abyss. The air inside was cold and damp, sending shivers down my spine. A scent of moss and damp earth permeated the environment, indicating that few had ventured there.
Carefully, I extended my hands forward to avoid colliding with the rocky walls. Every caution was necessary in that subterranean abyss. As I advanced, my body began to show signs of accumulated fatigue. My once determined steps became slower and uncoordinated.
I found a flat stretch on the rough cave floor and decided to rest. The sensation of the hard ground beneath my body was a tangible reminder of the arduous journey I had faced. Sitting down, I allowed my back to lean against the cold wall. The surrounding silence was almost palpable, broken only by the distant sound of the wind caressing the leaves outside.
While resting, my mind began to reflect on the decision to enter that mysterious darkness. A mix of desperation and curiosity had led me here, but now, in the quietude of the cave, I questioned the wisdom of my choice. What was I seeking on this solitary journey? And why did this place, so rooted in darkness, seem like an inevitable destination?
I looked at the shadows dancing on the cave walls, creating fleeting and illusory shapes. The moonlight, scarcely filtered, added an ethereal touch to my surroundings. The sense of disconnect between the darkness of the forest outside and the deeper darkness of this cave was intriguing.
Time seemed to have an elusive quality, as if hours stretched and contracted, distorting my perception. As my body rested, my mind delved into deeper questioning. Unanswered questions echoed in the silent chambers of the cave, fueling my restlessness.
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Each shadow projected on the walls seemed to carry an untold story, a narrative intertwined with mysteries that permeated that forgotten place. Perhaps, the answer to the enigmas of my own journey was hidden in the depths of this cave, waiting to be unveiled.
The penetrating cold of the cave began to seep through my clothes, reminding me of the vulnerability of my body amidst this relentless darkness.
The numbness still reverberated in every fiber of my being as I entered the state of sleep. It was more than a simple rest; it was a plunge into the depths of my own consciousness, a recess where the boundaries between reality and fantasy dissolved. However, unlike previous occasions, this dreamlike state was solitary, devoid of any presence other than my own.
Darkness took over my being, enveloping me like an unfathomable cloak. Invisible walls rose around me, imprisoning me in the shadows of my own mind. It was as if I were in an abyssal void, an internal space where loneliness manifested tangibly. In recent days, my life had been thrown into chaos, and my decisions, impulsive and uncontrolled, had been motivated by a desire for revenge against those who had confined me in this dark labyrinth.
Impulsivity governed my actions, leading me to commit acts of which I was not proud. In an unrestrained impulse, I took the life of one person and harmed another, driven by a thirst for retaliation that now seemed shrouded in a sinister mist. The path I tread unfolded before me like a dark corridor, and for the first time, fear insinuated itself within me.
Sleep, if it could be called that, endured for an indefinite time. When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself once again in darkness. The sensation of rejuvenation was palpable, a renewed energy pulsating through me. However, I resisted the temptation to succumb to this comfortable state. I wasn't ready to leave this place, not yet.
I walked through the shadows of the cave, each step echoing against the rocky walls. I sought a lit area, a kind of oasis within my own mental labyrinth. Upon reaching it, I allowed myself to fall onto the cold stone floor, my mind heavy with the baggage of my recent choices.
Staring at the puddle of water in front of me, I observed my own distorted reflection. The image staring back at me was not just a mirror of my face but a visual representation of the scars that my inner self carried. I sighed, disillusionment echoing in the silent recesses of the cave.
"I need to understand you before I can use you," I murmured to myself as I settled on the cold ground. The need to comprehend the peculiarities of my internalized being became increasingly urgent.
"Energy theft? Able to reposition me in places where I left, at the very least, a trail of smoke? Crosses physical barriers, reconstructs organs and limbs, materializes parts of my body from a distance... What else are you capable of?" I questioned as I saw my fingers dissolve into an ethereal mist.
"I wish you came with some kind of manual," I smirked ironically, watching the smoke form abstract shapes before me.
"You brought me here, but to move forward, I need to know you better. As far as I can see, this is extraordinarily peculiar. I just need to understand you better," I declared to myself, aware of the complexity of the internal entity that seemed to be my guide and companion on this dark journey.
The mist emanating from my fingers formed intricate patterns, as if responding to my thoughts. It was an ethereal dance, a visual manifestation of the obscure relationship between my own existence and this force accompanying me. As I continued to explore the symphony of smoke before me, I felt enveloped by an intriguing duality, a symbiosis of light and shadow that would define the course of my destiny in this impenetrable darkness.
The echoes of my own voice reverberated through the cave walls, creating a symphony of unanswered questions. Smoke escaped from my fingers, an ethereal spectacle that I continued to observe with a mix of fascination and restlessness.
"I'm sure I can do more, but how far can I go?" I murmured into the void, as if the darkness itself could offer advice.
I reached out, wiggling my fingers as I saw them release smoke. The ethereal mist detached from me, dancing in the air before dispersing into the darkness. A sense of power pulsed in my veins, but along with it came doubt, uncertainty about the true extent of my gift.
"I'm sure this causes some kind of drain within me, but exactly what is drained? Energy? But what kind? Physical? Or is there something else?" My mind delved into the depths of contemplation as I crawled to an area with a small puddle of water. I wet my finger in the water and began to write on the damp ground.
The distorted reflection in the water observed my internal quest for answers. "The cost is something internal, and it determines my usage, but in certain critical moments, this cost seems to be altered to something else, implying that it has more than one type of drain." I sighed, my words taking physical form as I wrote them on the cold cave floor.
I stared at the message unfolding before me, attempting to decipher the enigmas I had created for myself. "Alright, the first I consider to involve physical energy, and since we're working in the mystical field, I can consider some kind of energy that comes along with it, some sort of mana bar. But that falls into the realm of hypothesis, so I'll dismiss it for now." I plunged into deeper thoughts, hoping to find clarity in the mist of uncertainties that hung over me.
The cave, though shrouded in darkness, seemed to be a canvas for my reflections. Each word written on the ground was like an attempt to map the contours of my own existence, a journey toward understanding the inexplicable.
I decided to delve deeper into this peculiar connection I shared with the smoke emanating from me. I focused my mind on the essence of this power, trying to discern nuances and shades that had previously escaped my perception.
My fingers released smoke again, but this time, I visualized more clearly the flow of this ethereal energy. Each spiral of smoke seemed to be an extension of me, a manifestation of my will. I experimented with directing this mist into more complex shapes, creating intricate patterns that floated in the air before disappearing.
However, the sensation of drainage persisted, a constant echo reverberating in my consciousness. A subtle anguish, as if something vital were being taken from me. "Could it be an exchange, a dance between what I am and what I can create?" I questioned amidst the cavernous silence.
I delved even deeper into the exploration of this mysterious connection. I closed my eyes, focusing on the link between my being and the smoke that enveloped me. Ethereal images emerged in the darkness behind my eyelids, revealing glimpses of a domain where the boundaries between reality and the unknown were fluid.
I opened my eyes, finding myself again in the cave, but now with an expanded perception of the energy pulsating within me. I was still far from unraveling all the secrets, but I felt I had taken a step towards understanding.
I took a deep breath, absorbing the enigmatic atmosphere permeating the surroundings. "The answer is intertwined in the essence of this power," I murmured to myself, wishing to unveil the veils that concealed the mysteries of my own nature.
"Knowing that there is a complex cost paid when using this power, the only thing I can do is determine how high the cost is." I leaned into my thoughts, fingers entwined in a spiral of smoke that danced around me. The cave, once immersed in silence, now pulsed with a charged expectation.
"I used its full power in high usage two significant times, and after that, I had to sleep for about 6 to 8 hours, approximately from what I can gather. If my peak can be sustained for about 20 minutes, this cost is quite high." I sighed, the reality of these revelations weighing on me like an insidious shadow.
My hand found its way to my chin, a reflective gesture as I contemplated the intrinsic complexity of my abilities. The mist emanating from me seemed to whisper secrets that, until then, were beyond my understanding. However, I was determined to unravel every mystery, to decipher the codes that linked my existence to the manifestation of this mysterious energy.
"Let's test it then." I rose from the cold cave floor, determination lighting up my eyes as I faced the void stretching before me. It was as if the darkness itself awaited, eagerly, for the experiments that were about to unfold.
I decided to start cautiously, exploring the extent of my abilities in small controlled gestures. I reached out towards a nearby rock, allowing the smoke to materialize around it. I watched attentively as the mist caressed the surface of the stone, shaping and contorting into ethereal forms.
The initial experience seemed smooth, with no immediate signs of fatigue. However, I knew that the true measure of the cost lay in the magnitude of the feats I could accomplish. The mist slowly dissipated, returning to its initial state, and I mentally absorbed every sensation, every nuance of this process.
I decided to raise the level of the test, pushing the limits of my ability. I focused intensely, trying to solidify not just a small part of the smoke but a more complex form. Before me, a vague figure began to take shape, an energy creation that responded to my will.
The effort required to maintain this form was notable. The pressure within me increased, a feeling of exhaustion accumulating with every second the figure remained visible. A drop of sweat trickled down my forehead as I sustained the feat, determined to assess the cost of this more elaborate manifestation.
When I finally relented and allowed the form to dissipate, a wave of exhaustion swept over me. The reality of the cost became evident; my breathing was faster, my body feeling the effects of the combined mental and physical effort. I registered every sensation, every response of my organism to this self-imposed challenge.
For the next test, I decided to explore the speed with which I could summon and dissolve the smoke. With a quick gesture, I condensed the mist around me, creating an ethereal aura that surrounded my body. In the blink of an eye, the mist disappeared, dissipating as if it had never existed.
The speed of the manifestation brought with it a new set of sensations. Tingling ran through my skin, a direct reaction to the intensity of the process. I pondered on the relationship between the speed of summoning and the magnitude of the subsequent fatigue. Each test, each experiment, was a piece in the intricate puzzle of my own being.
The last phase of the tests involved exploring the extent of my ability to pass through physical obstacles. I focused on the smoke, visualizing it extending like a veil around me. With a hesitant step, I plunged into the mist I had created, feeling a momentary sense of disintegration before emerging on the other side of a massive rock.
The experience of traversing physical barriers was fascinating but also revealing. Each transition required a significant portion of my energy, and I wondered about the limits of this capability. The cost, once again, was inscribed in the sensations reverberating throughout my entire being.
At the end of the tests, I returned to the illuminated center of the cave, where the puddle still witnessed my reflections. My muscles were tense, my body aware of the limits I had pushed. I sat, absorbing the results of the experiments, every detail recorded in my mind.
"The cost varies, but the correlation between the magnitude of the feat and the subsequent exhaustion is undeniable," I murmured to myself, looking at the mist that still lingered around me. The journey to understand my own nature continued, and these tests were only the first steps on the winding path of discoveries stretching before me in the darkness of the cave.