Chapter 47: Ability Unlocked

Feng Lin wiped the sweat from his brow as the dust settled from the fallen golems. The chamber's energy still buzzed with chaotic vibrations, but it was calmer now that the guardians had been defeated. Yan Mei and Zhen walked up beside him, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and curiosity.

"The Nexus is still active," Yan Mei observed, her gaze fixed on the monolith at the center of the chamber. "But the real question is… what happens next?"

Feng Lin took a deep breath, his body still humming with the aftereffects of Chaos Overdrive. He could feel the Chaos Core inside him reacting to the energy in the room, its intensity rising as if it was urging him to take the next step.

He glanced briefly at the system prompt that appeared in his vision, careful not to let anyone notice his distraction.

[System Notification: Chaos Nexus Stable. Potential Unlocks Detected.]

[Warning: Interaction with Chaos Nexus May Cause Permanent Alterations.]

Zhen glanced at the monolith, concern etched on his face. "Are you sure you should go near that? We barely made it through the fight."

Feng Lin gave a short nod, controlling his expression. "I don't have a choice. The Nexus is tied to the energy I'm cultivating." He refrained from mentioning the system, its warnings, or the Chaos Core. "I need to see what it holds."

Yan Mei's eyes narrowed. "Just be cautious. You're already walking a fine line with that chaotic energy. This could push you past the point of no return."

Feng Lin nodded again, appreciating her concern but focused on what he had to do. He stepped forward, feeling the weight of the chaotic energy increase as he neared the monolith. His Chaos Rune Sword pulsed faintly, resonating with the Nexus's energy.

When he placed his hand on the cold surface of the monolith, he felt an immediate surge of chaotic energy shoot through him. His vision blurred as the connection deepened.

[System Notification: Chaos Nexus Synchronizing…]

[Warning: Chaotic Power Surge Imminent.]

The chaotic energy flowed into him in torrents, far more intense than he anticipated. His Chaos Core was flooded, forcing his Qi to spiral wildly to adapt. Feng Lin could feel his entire body strain under the pressure, but he couldn't let Yan Mei or Zhen how dangerous this was.

His hand trembled as the system flashed another prompt in front of his eyes.

[System Notification: Chaos Seed Activation Detected.]

[Chaos Seed: A rare entity formed from the raw essence of chaos. It serves as a catalyst for immense power but can destabilize the user's cultivation.]

Feng Lin gritted his teeth, struggling to keep control. His body felt like it was burning from within, his Qi pushing against the flood of chaotic energy. For a moment, he feared he had overstepped his limits, but he couldn't afford to show weakness now.

Yan Mei's voice cut through the noise. "Feng Lin! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he lied, his voice tight as he focused on stabilizing the energy. The Chaos Seed was integrating into his core, and the pressure was slowly starting to lessen.

[System Notification: Chaos Seed Integration Complete.]

[New Ability Unlocked: Chaos Flux – Tap into unstable chaotic energy for temporary power boosts, with unpredictable effects.]

Feng Lin let out a slow breath as his Qi began to flow smoothly again, the chaotic energy no longer fighting him. His body ached, but he felt the new power coursing through him.

Yan Mei approached cautiously. "You're pushing yourself too hard. What happened?"

"I've unlocked a new layer of power," Feng Lin replied vaguely, hiding the true nature of the skill from them. "But it comes with risks."

Zhen furrowed his brow. "What kind of risks?"

"Unpredictability," Feng Lin said. "I'll have to use it carefully."

Yan Mei crossed her arms, concern still lingering in her gaze. "Just don't do anything reckless."

Feng Lin gave a brief nod but didn't say more. The system had given him more power, but the mention of future trials left him uneasy. He wasn't going to reveal any of that to them, though.

As they turned to leave, the ground trembled beneath their feet, the temple's energy shifting once more. From the shadows emerged a massive creature, its body radiating chaotic energy—a towering figure unlike any they had faced before.

Yan Mei and Zhen both took a step back, their faces pale with realization.

"What is that?" Zhen muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Feng Lin's gaze hardened as the system fed him the information.

[System Notification: Chaos Titan Detected – Stage 7 Elite Guardian.]

He gripped the hilt of his Chaos Rune Sword, the pulse of chaotic energy growing stronger. "Looks like we're not done yet."

The Chaos Titan took a step forward, the ground shaking beneath its massive weight. The air grew thick with tension, and Feng Lin could feel the pressure rising once more.