Chapter 18: The Awakening of the Infinite Shifter

The moment Kaelen inserted the keys into the black orb, the room seemed to quiver. The air thickened with an oppressive energy that swirled around him like a maelstrom. His fingers trembled as the keys turned, the heavy weight of the orb's potential pressing against his senses. The connection was instant—unmistakable—and unlike anything he had ever felt before.

The orb shuddered violently, its surface rippling with tendrils of dark energy that spiraled around Kaelen's outstretched hands, each tendril like a current of raw power seeking to bind with him. He gritted his teeth, feeling the heat of the orb's power surging through him, clawing at his very soul, pulling at every ounce of his being. The energy was so immense, so boundless, that it threatened to tear him apart.

Then, with a final, deafening crack, the orb shattered, releasing an explosion of energy that flooded the room. Kaelen's body convulsed as the energy flooded his veins, forcing his senses to expand beyond his control. It was as though the very fabric of the universe itself bent to his will—time, space, and reality itself shifting in response to the surge of power. His heart hammered in his chest, its beats syncing with the pulse of the orb's unleashed force.

For a fleeting moment, Kaelen saw visions—flashes of the previous holders of the orb, their faces a blur, their bodies dissolving into the ether, their powers and abilities merging with the orb, becoming part of its essence. Shifter's energy. The power to alter the world itself. Beasts of legend, the soul-shifting creatures that once served the Infinite Shifters, now stored within the orb, waiting to be called forth. And among these visions, Kaelen saw himself, not as he was now, but as a being who could bend the very world to his whims, shifting the boundaries of space and time with but a thought.

The orb fused with his body, its dark energy creeping into his mind, wrapping around his thoughts, intertwining with his very soul. His senses flared with the surge of power, his body radiating with a new kind of force—a force so overwhelming that it was almost impossible to comprehend. The knowledge of all the past Infinite Shifters, their applications of power, their techniques, and their deepest secrets flooded into his mind. Every shift, every alteration of the world, every application of their power became his own.

The beastly forms of the previous shifters stirred within his consciousness—massive creatures, ethereal and powerful, some of them swirling with lightning, others wreathed in flame, and still others dark as voids in the fabric of reality. These were the soul-shifting beasts that had once been companions to those who held the orb before him, each carrying unimaginable power. Now, all of them lay dormant within him, waiting for his command.

But the power was too great, too much for any single being to endure without consequence. Kaelen's mind began to fracture under the strain. He felt as though his very consciousness was being torn apart, each wave of knowledge and power crashing into him like a tidal wave, threatening to drown him in its depths. His body trembled, his muscles seizing with the effort of containing the surge.

And then, with a final, deafening cry, Kaelen's consciousness shattered. The last thing he saw before everything went black was the castle, the entire world, and the energy that rippled out from him like a shockwave. The world seemed to shift in ways he couldn't comprehend, the buildings, the walls, even the very air around him bending and warping. His energy—no, the energy of the orb—had exploded outward, and its power spread like wildfire throughout the castle.

Marevith had been in her quarters, pouring over various reports from the council, when she felt the pulse. It was unmistakable. A surge of energy, a force so vast that it rattled the very foundation of the castle. It wasn't just a tremor—it was a ripple in the fabric of reality itself. She had felt it before, but never so strongly, never so uncontrolled.

She immediately knew what it was. Kaelen.

Without wasting a second, Marevith sprang from her seat and rushed toward the study. She had no doubt that the orb had been unlocked—that Kaelen had finally unleashed the power he had been so determined to control. The orb's influence had been growing steadily since its discovery, and Marevith had watched him grow stronger, more consumed by the need to understand its power. But she had never imagined it would come to this.

By the time she reached the study, the door was wide open. The scene before her was almost surreal.

Kaelen lay sprawled across the floor, his body surrounded by a faint aura of dark energy. His eyes were wide open, but unseeing—his pupils nothing more than black voids, his body trembling as though caught in the throes of some internal storm. His breaths were shallow, ragged, and his skin was pale, as if drained of color. The orb, now shattered, lay at his side, its fragments glowing faintly in the dim light. The air in the room felt thick, heavy with the aftermath of the power that had been unleashed.

Marevith moved swiftly to Kaelen's side, kneeling beside him. Her hands hovered over his chest, feeling for his heartbeat. It was faint, almost imperceptible. Panic rose in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside. She had seen him push himself to the brink before. He was strong, but this was different. The power he had just absorbed—unleashed—was unlike anything he had ever experienced. And it had nearly consumed him.

"Kaelen..." she whispered, her voice thick with concern. "What have you done?"

For a moment, there was no answer. His body shuddered violently, and Marevith's heart skipped a beat. Then, she saw it. A faint spark of life, a flicker of energy deep within him. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Kaelen was still alive, though barely.

She gently placed a hand on his forehead, focusing her energy through the bond they shared. The connection was faint but still there, and it allowed her to sense the overwhelming power that now coursed through him. It was far beyond what he had ever known. The orb had fused with him, granting him a strength that was… unfathomable. The shift was complete, but the cost was severe.

With great care, she lifted Kaelen's limp form and carried him to a nearby bed, placing him gently beneath the covers. His body was still warm, but his aura was now distorted, tinged with the remnants of the orb's power. She knew he needed time to recover—time to adjust to the magnitude of the changes within him. But there was nothing she could do for him now except wait.

Over the next week, Marevith never left Kaelen's side. She sent word to the council, explaining that the king had embarked on a deep meditation, a journey of self-discovery and breakthrough that would require him to remain isolated for a time. It was a story she had crafted carefully, knowing that it would buy them the time they needed. The last thing she needed was for anyone to panic. The council, though wary, trusted her word—after all, she had served the crown for more than four decades, and her authority was unquestionable.

While Kaelen rested, Marevith took charge. The council had been nervous about the war's aftermath, and her presence was needed to ensure stability. She oversaw the day-to-day affairs, ensuring that the kingdom remained intact and that its expansion proceeded without delay. Her days were filled with meetings, decisions, and strategies. But even as she led with unwavering resolve, her thoughts were never far from Kaelen.

She felt the weight of the new responsibility that had settled upon her. Kaelen had changed. He had always been strong, but now… now, he was something else entirely. Something far more dangerous. The orb's power had fused with him, granting him an unimaginable strength, but at what cost? How much of himself had he lost in the process?

It wasn't until the seventh day, when the sun had barely risen, that Kaelen finally stirred.

His body twitched once, then twice, and finally, his eyes fluttered open. The darkness had receded from them, replaced by the familiar gleam of recognition. But there was something different about his gaze. Something... sharper.

Marevith, who had been sitting by his side, rose immediately, her voice filled with concern. "Kaelen? Are you…?"

Kaelen's eyes focused on her, and for a moment, he simply stared at her, as though seeing her for the first time. Then, a slow, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corners of his lips. "I'm... different," he murmured, his voice thick with something more profound than just awakening.

Marevith watched him closely, her heart heavy with uncertainty, but for now, Kaelen was alive—and that was all that mattered.

The Infinite Shifter had truly awakened.