Chapter 17: Absolute Life Manipulation & Telekinesis

The exam's final trial descended upon them like a crimson tide. Kaelion stood at the center of what had once been a grand ballroom, now transformed into a battleground. Moonlight filtered through shattered windows, casting long shadows across marble floors stained with blood and ichor. Around him, his companions readied their weapons as the first wave of vampires emerged from the darkness.

With a slight gesture of his hand, he lifted several broken pieces of marble from the floor, letting them orbit slowly around him—a new trick he'd been practicing. The telekinesis was weak, but it required far less energy than his other power.

"They're coming," Kaelion warned, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword while maintaining the floating debris with his mind. The blade, an ancient artifact passed down through generations, thrummed with untapped power. He could feel it resonating with his newly awakened ability—Absolute Life Manipulation—though wielding such power felt like trying to control an ocean with a teaspoon.

The first vampire launched itself at the group. Instead of immediately reaching for his life manipulation powers, Kaelion flicked his wrist, sending three sharp pieces of marble hurtling at the creature. The projectiles struck true, stunning the vampire long enough for him to follow up with his sword.

"Nice move," Aria commented, noticing his new ability. "When did you learn that?"

"Recently," he grunted, already focusing on the next threat. "It's not much, but every little bit helps."

When a particularly powerful vampire broke through their defenses, Kaelion swung his sword in a wide arc, this time channeling his life manipulation through the blade. A pulse of green energy erupted from the edge, and the vampire's life force responded to his will. Its movements slowed, its undead flesh beginning to decay rapidly.

"What the hell?" Aria gasped, watching as the vampire crumbled to dust.

But Kaelion was already staggering, his breath coming in short gasps. Even that small display of life manipulation had drained him significantly.

"Can't… can't do that too often," he managed to say, falling back on his telekinesis to push away an approaching vampire with a floating piece of debris.

More vampires poured in, dozens now, their red eyes gleaming with hunger. The team formed a defensive circle, with Uma's magic creating barriers while Hinata and Aria engaged in close combat. Darron's arrows found their marks with deadly precision, each shot punctuated by a vampire's shriek.

Throughout the battle, Kaelion alternated between his abilities. When vampires clustered too closely, he'd use his telekinesis to scatter broken furniture and debris among them, creating obstacles and temporary weapons. It wasn't powerful enough to kill, but it bought precious seconds and helped conserve his strength for when he truly needed his life manipulation.

"Behind you!" Hinata called out during the twilight hours of the first day.

Kaelion spun, simultaneously using his telekinesis to hurl a broken chandelier at the vampire's feet while bringing his sword to bear. The creature stumbled over the debris, giving him the opening he needed. He channeled his life manipulation power through the blade once more, watching as green energy crackled along its length.

"Life-wielder," it hissed, before Kaelion's power took hold. The creature's immortality began to unravel, its centuries of existence catching up in moments.

The effort sent Kaelion to his knees, dark spots dancing in his vision.

"I've got you," Aria said, defending him while he recovered. "You need to be more careful with that power."

Kaelion nodded weakly, still maintaining enough focus to keep several pieces of debris floating around them as a makeshift shield.

"The life manipulation… it's like trying to control a sun. But at least I can keep this up," he gestured to the floating objects, "without wearing myself out completely."

The battle continued through the night and into the next day. Kaelion developed a rhythm—using his telekinesis for defense and minor attacks, saving his life manipulation for only the most dangerous opponents. He found he could lift objects about the size of a brick with relative ease, though anything larger required more concentration. During quiet moments, he practiced manipulating multiple objects at once, finding it easier to maintain control over several small items than one large one.

"It's like exercising a muscle," he explained to Darron during a brief rest period. To demonstrate, he lifted several arrow shafts from Darron's quiver, making them dance in formation before returning them. "The more I use it, the stronger it gets."

During a brief respite, while Uma maintained a protective barrier around them, Kaelion examined his trembling hands. The life manipulation power within him felt vast, infinite—the ability to manipulate all life itself—but his body simply wasn't strong enough to channel it properly. In contrast, his telekinesis, while limited, felt like a natural extension of himself.

"They're regrouping," Darron announced, watching the shadows. "Looks like they're preparing for something big."

Kaelion forced himself to his feet, gathering floating debris around him like armor.

"How many arrows do you have left?"

"Seventeen," Darron replied grimly. "Uma's running low on mana, and Aria's stamina can't hold out much longer."

Hinata approached Kaelion during this brief lull, reaching into her dimensional storage.

"Here," she said, pulling out a crystalline vial filled with swirling golden liquid. "I've been saving this for an emergency. It's a Celestial Restoration Potion."

Kaelion took the vial, noting how it seemed to pulse with its own inner light.

"What does it do?"

"It temporarily reinforces your body's natural limits," Hinata explained quietly, ensuring the others couldn't hear. "It won't make your powers stronger, but it will help you handle the strain better. The effects last about an hour, and it should help with both your abilities."

Without hesitation, Kaelion uncorked the vial and drank. The effect was immediate—warmth spread through his body like liquid sunlight, and the trembling in his limbs ceased. He felt his energy returning, and when he tested his telekinesis, the debris around him lifted with greater ease than before.

"This is incredible," he breathed, now able to lift several larger chunks of marble simultaneously.

"Thank you, Hinata."

She nodded, a knowing look in her eyes.

"Use it wisely. Your body will still remember the strain afterward, but at least you'll be able to fight at full strength when we need it most."

The final wave came as dawn approached on the second day. Hundreds of vampires, led by what appeared to be their elder—a creature so ancient its skin was like pale parchment stretched over bone. Thanks to the potion, Kaelion stood ready, his telekinetic shield of debris orbiting him with newfound precision.

He started with his enhanced telekinesis, launching a barrage of marble chunks and broken furniture at the incoming horde. The projectiles moved faster and hit harder than before, actually managing to incapacitate some of the younger vampires. When a group tried to flank their position, he pulled down an entire section of decorative pillars, creating a temporary barrier.

"Now that's more like it," Aria grinned, watching him work.

But Kaelion knew the real test was still to come. Even with the potion, he could feel the immense power of life manipulation churning within him, waiting to be released. He would need to time it perfectly.

The vampire elder raised its ancient hands, and the horde surged forward. Kaelion used his telekinesis to clear a path through their ranks, giving him a direct line of sight to the elder. This was his chance.

He raised his sword, channeling everything he had left into one final use of his power. Thanks to the potion, the usual burning sensation was dulled, allowing him to focus more clearly on controlling the energy flow.

The blade blazed with green light so bright it turned night to day. Life energy coursed through him like lightning, and for a moment, he could feel everything—every heartbeat, every breath, every spark of life and unlife in the chamber. With a cry that was part battle rage and part exultation, he brought the sword down.

A wave of pure life force exploded outward. Vampires caught in its path didn't just die—they returned to life for a split second before their natural age claimed them, centuries of delayed time catching up in an instant. The elder vampire actually smiled as it crumbled to dust, perhaps grateful for the final release.

When it was over, Kaelion remained standing—barely. The potion had helped him handle the enormous output of power, but he could feel its effects fading rapidly. His telekinesis flickered and died, the debris he'd been controlling clattering to the floor. He managed three steps before his legs gave out.

Hinata caught him before he hit the ground.

"Easy there. The potion's wearing off—you're going to feel everything at once."

She was right. As the golden warmth faded from his system, every muscle in his body screamed in protest. But they had won, and he was still conscious—more than he could have managed without Hinata's help.

"That potion," he mumbled as she helped him to a nearby pillar to rest, "it made a huge difference. I could actually control the power flow instead of just releasing it all at once."

"Consider it a tool for emergencies," Hinata replied, checking his pulse. "But don't rely on it too much. The best path forward is still learning to master your abilities naturally."

Kaelion nodded, watching as his companions began securing the chamber. His telekinesis was completely drained, and he knew it would be days before he could safely use life manipulation again. But he had learned something valuable—with the right support and tools, he could push his limits without breaking them.

"Rest now," Hinata instructed, standing to join the others. "We'll need to move soon, but you've earned a few minutes of peace."

As they made their way out of the battle chamber, Kaelion reflected on everything he'd learned about his abilities. The telekinesis was growing stronger with each use, and while the life manipulation remained overwhelming, he was learning to control it better. With time and practice, he might even master both.

But more importantly, he had learned something about his teammates—particularly Hinata. They all had their secrets, their hidden strengths. Perhaps that was what made them such an effective team.

The dungeon exam was over. Now Kaelion could go and rest, but before that, the team had a reward to receive for coming in first place. Strangely enough, the instructors had never told any of the students that they could get rewards for lasting longer and staying alive longer than anyone else.