Kaien stood, trembling. The Corruption Stone had burned through his skin, leaving dark veins spreading from his palm up his arm. His mind felt fragmented, as if the world had fractured into a thousand sharp edges.
[Corruption Unlocked.]
[Skill: Chaos Surge – 1%]
Something inside him itched. An uncontrollable urge. His vision flickered in and out, the colors of the room swirling together like ink in water. His heart hammered in his chest.
The old man, the one who had offered him the stone, watched with a knowing expression, his fingers steepled in front of his face. "You've made your choice, Kaien Vale. But remember, power always demands more. And there is no going back."
Kaien's mouth went dry. "I didn't ask for this."
The woman with the red hair stepped forward, her voice sharp. "You didn't ask for any of this, but here we are. And now, you've got two paths. Use it. Or let it consume you."
He clenched his fists, trying to steady his breath. The world felt too large, too fast. Everything was shifting.
"Enough," Kaien growled.
In an instant, his hand shot out. [Chaos Surge – 1%]
The room exploded with energy.
The shockwave sent the woman flying backward, slamming into the wall with a sickening thud. The old man didn't even flinch. But Kaien didn't care. He needed to feel control. He needed to know if he could survive this.
The woman gasped, her body twitching as she tried to push herself up, clearly stunned by the power. "You bastard…"
But before she could finish, a series of loud cracks echoed from the ceiling. The walls around them trembled, as if the very foundation of the building was shaking.
[DANGER DETECTED.]
[Alert: Unseen Threat Approaching.]
Kaien's eyes shot open. He turned instinctively to the door. A group of shadowy figures—dressed in black, their faces hidden behind masks—entered the room with deadly precision. The leader stepped forward, his voice low and chilling.
"He is not to be trusted."
Kaien didn't wait for them to make the first move. His body surged with the energy of the Chaos Surge. His blood burned, but his instincts screamed that he couldn't afford to hesitate.
With a growl, Kaien charged. His muscles screamed in protest, but the rush of power carried him forward. His hand blazed with raw energy, his body almost moving of its own accord.
The first figure raised a weapon, a long, black blade gleaming in the dim light, and swung it down. Kaien blocked, feeling the weight of the strike rattle his bones, but he didn't stop.
He twisted, using the blade's momentum against him. His fist collided with the figure's chest—[Feral Strike]—and the man crumpled to the ground.
But there were more.
Two more figures flanked him, swinging their weapons with frightening speed. Kaien dodged the first, his instincts sharp, but the second struck him across the shoulder, tearing through his jacket. Blood sprayed across the floor.
[HP: 23%]
[Neural Instability: 85%]
Kaien's vision blurred, but he didn't care. The Chaos Surge pulsed again. He felt the surge of power inside him, barely contained.
"Enough!" he roared, his voice raw.
With a single, brutal motion, Kaien slammed his fist into the ground. The building trembled as a shockwave erupted outward. The figures in black stumbled back, the floor cracking beneath them.
[Chaos Surge – 10%]
Kaien was unstoppable.
He dashed forward, his legs moving faster than he'd ever thought possible, and unleashed a flurry of strikes. He wasn't thinking anymore—just reacting, driven by the surge of raw power. The figures fell one by one, crashing to the ground with sickening thuds.
But the leader—the one who had spoken—was still standing. Unmoved.
Kaien's heart skipped a beat.
"Not yet," the man said, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. He stepped forward, lifting his hand. A glowing orb appeared in his palm, swirling with dark energy. "You've tasted the power, but you haven't yet seen what it truly is."
The orb expanded, and Kaien's instincts screamed at him to move, to run. But it was too late.
The orb exploded.
The force of the blast lifted Kaien off his feet, throwing him across the room. He crashed into the wall, his body crumpling like ragdoll. His vision spun. His mind was foggy.
[HP: 5%]
[Neural Instability: 92%]
"Pathetic," the man said, stepping toward Kaien. His footsteps echoed in the now-silent room.
Kaien struggled to get up. His body was broken, battered, but not entirely out of the fight.
"You have no idea what you've unleashed," the man continued. "That power you're wielding—it's just a taste. You've crossed the threshold. You're marked now."
The man raised his hand, preparing for another strike.
Kaien's eyes went wide. He couldn't take another hit like that. His body wouldn't survive it. But there was only one way out.
With everything he had left, Kaien called upon the last reserve of the Chaos Surge. [Chaos Surge – 100%]
His body glowed with blinding energy, and in an instant, Kaien propelled himself forward, smashing into the leader before the orb could strike.
They both collided with the ground in a burst of raw energy, the building trembling under the force.
Kaien, covered in blood, staggered to his feet, his breath ragged. His heart pounded in his chest. But the leader was not getting up. He was down for good.
Kaien stood alone, the remnants of the explosion ringing in his ears.
His mind was hazy, but the System's voice cut through the fog:
[Quest Progress: "Survival Against the Veilborn Order" - 72% Complete]
Kaien blinked, his head swimming. He had no idea what the Veilborn Order truly was—but now he was entangled with them. And if he didn't learn to control this power…
The next wave would be his last.