Chapter 9: Shard’s Heart

Torv "Ash" Kren faced the altar, the Core Ember blazing in his grip as the chamber sealed tight in the Ashen Reach. His machete glowed crimson—Ash Runner Sense: Lv. 3, Ember Step sparked—Core Unleash: Lv. 7 surged, strength roaring, ash swirling dense around his glowing skin. His gray coat hung ragged, blood drying, flint-gray eyes locked on the massive ember-shard pulsing red atop the stone slab—Lysa gripped his arm—her scarred hand shaking—voice breaking, "You'll break," green eyes wide with fear—chamber walls pulsed—red light flared—sand crunched—air thickened—Core's voice thundered—"Touch"—power swelled—machete blazed—Torv's hand burned—altar loomed—stone groaned—ember-storm roared above—Lysa pulled—"Don't…"—Torv's chest tightened—touch or flee—raiders' howls faded—new rumbles grew—deep—walls cracked—sand sank—Core pulsed—"Take it"—Torv stepped—Lysa's grip slipped—"No…"—his hand reached—heat seared—fingers brushed—red light drowned—system flared—Core Unleash: Lv. 8—strength spiked—machete blazed wild—ash hardened—skin glowed bright—chamber quaked—altar cracked—shard pulsed—power jolted—Torv's breath caught—vision blurred—Core fused—hand locked—red surged—walls shattered—Lysa screamed—"Torv!"—sand sprayed—ember-glow spiked—strength quadrupled—machete flared—Torv slashed—stone split—altar crumbled—shard sank—Core burned—"Mine"—Torv's voice rasped—unhis—power owned—Lysa staggered—"You're… lost…"—chamber shook—ceiling cracked—sand poured—raiders roared—dogs snarled—stone burst—twenty rushed—ember-axes glowing—Torv spun—machete blazed—slashed—two fell—blood sprayed—spears thrust—Torv dodged—Ember Step—sand smoked—hacked—throat opened—five down—raiders charged—axes swung—Torv parried—machete flared—chest split—raider dropped—dogs lunged—Torv leaped—slashed mid-air—three fell—riders roared—"Shard's his!"—Torv slashed—axe snapped—raider crumpled—ten left—Core pulsed—"More"—power surged—machete blazed—Torv hacked—four down—raiders tightened—spears arced—Torv dodged—slashed—dog split—rider fell—Lysa's fire sparked—weak—dagger burned—raider scorched—Torv slashed—throat split—five left—raiders roared—lead charged—ember-axe swung—Torv parried—machete clashed—shock rang—raider reeled—Torv hacked—blood soaked—three down—Core burned—"Deeper"—chamber rumbled—sand sank—red light pulsed—walls cracked—stone door yawned—below—Torv's chest heaved—raiders charged—two left—machete flared—slashed—dog fell—rider down—last roared—axe swung—Torv dodged—Ember Step—machete sank—raider hit sand—silence fell—Lysa coughed—"It's… changing…"—Core pulsed—whisper grew—"Down"—Torv's hand burned—power surged—door loomed—sand smoked—raiders dead—new echoes rose—louder—sleds roared—outside—walls trembled—Lysa's voice faded—"You're… not you…"—Core flared—"Descend"—Torv's machete blazed—sand swirled—door pulled—ember-storm raged—sleds slammed—stone cracked—Torv grabbed Lysa—ran—door dropped—dark rushed—raiders howled—dogs charged—descend or die.