The pain lingered.
Even after hours of rest, Albert felt the strain in every fiber of his being. His body had endured a force it wasn't ready for, and the aftermath was unforgiving. His Coherence bloodline was struggling to stabilize, the aftershocks of Aetherion Overdrive leaving his energy in turmoil.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. He had always pushed himself harder than most, believing that sheer force of will was enough to overcome any obstacle.
But the words of the Aetherion's Keeper haunted him.
You forced reality to comply.
What he had done in battle wasn't normal cultivation. It was something different—something dangerous.
The door hissed open.
Liana stepped inside, carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of nutrient broth. Her sharp eyes scanned him, assessing his condition. She didn't say anything at first, simply setting the tray down on the bedside table.
Albert gave her a tired look. "I'm not dying, you know."
Liana folded her arms. "Could've fooled me."
He sighed, picking up the bowl. The aroma was rich, but his appetite was nonexistent. He took a slow sip anyway, more to appease her than anything.
She sat across from him. "Your father wanted an update."
Albert tensed. "And?"
"I told him you were stable." Her tone was careful. "But he knows you pushed yourself beyond your limits."
Albert set the bowl down. "Of course he does."
Albert Faustin Sr. was many things, but oblivious wasn't one of them. He would have already analyzed every detail of Albert's encounter with the Architects.
Liana's gaze softened, just slightly. "You should tell him what happened. He might have answers."
Albert shook his head. "Not yet."
There were too many unknowns—his bloodline's reaction to Overdrive, the deepening connection to the Aetherion Blade, the warning from its keeper. He needed to understand it himself first.
Liana didn't argue. She just watched him, her amber eyes unreadable. Then, she stood. "Rest, Albert. And don't do anything reckless."
He smirked. "Reckless? Me?"
She gave him a flat look before walking out, the door sliding shut behind her.
Albert leaned back, exhaling slowly.
Reckless or not, he needed answers.
***
The Refinement Chamber
Later that night, when the pain had dulled to a manageable throb, Albert made his way to the Quantum Refinement Chamber deep within EvoTower. The chamber was built for stabilization—using quantum harmonics to guide and refine cultivation energy.
He stepped onto the circular platform at the center. As the system activated, thin threads of luminescent energy spread around him, attuning to his bloodline.
He closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed. His mind sank into the depths of his own power.
And then—
A pulse.
His Coherence Bloodline stirred, reacting to the chamber's resonance. Unlike the raw force of Aetherion Overdrive, this was structured, controlled.
Albert focused.
He needed to understand the nature of his power—its strengths, its limits, its connection to the Aetherion Blade. He reached inward, searching for the pattern within his bloodline.
And then—
He saw it.
A web of energy. Not circuits, not mechanical structures—but organic, fluid, interconnected strands of quantum resonance woven into his very being.
This was Coherence.
It was not just about power—it was about alignment. About bringing all forces within him into a singular, unbreakable rhythm.
Albert's breath steadied.
His battle with the Architects had thrown his Coherence into disarray. Aetherion Overdrive had amplified his abilities, but at the cost of disrupting that delicate harmony.
Now, he had to rebuild it.
He concentrated, guiding his energy back into alignment. The strands of his bloodline resonated, syncing with the chamber's harmonics. Slowly, steadily, the strain on his body eased.
Hours passed.
And when Albert finally opened his eyes—
His power no longer felt fractured.
It felt whole.
***
As Albert deactivated the chamber and prepared to leave, a familiar presence brushed against his mind.
Aetherion.
The blade was quiet, its form still sheathed in obsidian mystery. But within its core, something stirred.
A whisper.
"This is only the first step."
Albert exhaled, gripping the sword at his side.
He knew.
The path ahead was long.
But now, he was ready to walk it.