CH16 Chaos essence
For the first time in what felt like forever, Ryo let the facade slip. No smirk, no quip to lighten the weight pressing against his ribs. He exhaled slowly, fingers tapping rhythmically against his thigh. He needed to think. To plan. To remember.
A voice slithered into his thoughts, a whisper coiled in mockery. "Digging through the past again? Careful, Ryo. You might not like what you find."
His jaw clenched, silencing the psyche's taunt with sheer will. He didn't have time for its games. Not now.
The planet... what was it called? His mind clawed through fragmented memories, chasing a name buried beneath the weight of another lifetime. Then, in a flash, it surfaced—Eryndor.
A world of sprawling mountains and ancient secrets. A world lost to war, reduced to nothing but scorched ruins in the clash between the champions of Thor and Papyrus.
But why had they come here? What had drawn them to this seemingly insignificant planet?
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his fingers steepled. He sifted through half-remembered conversations, whispers exchanged in dimly lit rooms. One word emerged through the haze.
Chaos essence.
His breath stilled. The name alone carried weight, spoken only in hushed tones among scholars and mystics. It was said to be a raw, primordial force, an energy capable of unraveling reality itself. If such a thing existed on Eryndor, it explained everything—the war, the destruction, the desperation. The champions hadn't waged war over land or power. They had fought for something far greater.
But if it was real, if it still lingered on Eryndor, then where?
His mind mapped out the possibilities. The Obsidian Spire, a mountain peak jagged as a blade, whispered to hold forbidden knowledge. The Verdant Expanse, an uncharted forest where time itself twisted. The Shardrift Depths, where labyrinthine caves swallowed those who ventured too deep.
And then, one location stood out: the Aetherial Nexus.
A place where magic converged, a crossroads between the material and the ethereal. If chaos essence existed anywhere, it would be there. But the Nexus was no mere destination—it was a construct, woven between realms, hidden behind layers of ancient magic. Reaching it would take more than just a map and a sturdy pair of boots.
Ryo allowed himself a brief, humorless smile. Knowledge, skill, and an understanding of the arcane—those, at least, were things he had in spades. His powers might be gone, but his mind was as sharp as ever. He began forming a plan, each step unfolding in precise calculation:
Research the Nexus. Someone in the village might know more. The elders, or perhaps Kael—he had a knack for uncovering forgotten things.
Gather resources. Accessing the Nexus would require more than just knowledge. There would be artifacts, keys, components lost to time. He needed to find them.
Prepare for the journey. The Nexus wouldn't be unguarded. Traps, wards, ancient sentinels—he had to be ready for anything.
Reclaim his powers. If he could harness even a sliver of chaos essence, he might not just restore his abilities. He might become something greater. But chaos was unpredictable. And power always came with a cost.
His fingers curled into fists. He could see the pieces falling into place, the shape of the battle forming before him. The champions of Thor and Papyrus—if they knew, if they were coming, he had to be faster. Smarter. One step ahead.
The psyche stirred again, its laughter curling like smoke. "You're playing a dangerous game, Ryo. Chaos isn't meant to be controlled. What will you do if it consumes you instead?"
Ryo exhaled sharply, murmuring under his breath. "I'm not doing this for power. I'm doing this to fix what I should have."
The laughter deepened, a cold, knowing chuckle. "And what if you're already too late? What if the champions are on their way?"
Ryo's gaze hardened. The weight of his task settled over him like a mantle.
"Then I'll stop them. I'll find a way."