The Book

Kade walked near the edge of the rooftop, his pulse thrumming like a war drum. The desolate streets below were an eerie patchwork of shadows and destruction, littered with splintered debris and streaks of crimson. The air felt heavy, crackling faintly with the lingering charge of Resonance Energy, and the distant howls of unseen monstrosities sent a chill down his spine.

This place wasn't safe—not anymore. The energy radiating from the Wretch's remains was like a flare in the dark, an open invitation for whatever else might be lurking in the city's decaying ruins. Kade gritted his teeth, his instincts screaming at him to leave. He adjusted the book under his arm and turned toward the fire escape.

But then, something glimmered faintly in the corner of his eye.

He froze, his gaze snapping back to the mutilated remains of the Wretch. There, within the gory mess of its shattered skull, was a faint, mesmerizing glow. Kade stepped closer, the warped corpse filling him with equal parts disgust and morbid fascination. Bending down, he tilted his head to get a better look.

Buried within the fractured bone was something smooth and rounded, its surface emitting a pale, rhythmic light. It reminded him of a dying ember, flickering with just enough life to hold his attention. Against his better judgment, Kade pulled his knife and carefully pried it free. The object—a marble-like core—rolled into his palm, warm and oddly vibrant against his skin.

"What the hell is this...?" he muttered. As he touched the marble-like core, it began to resonate with the energy already surging inside of him that had previously nearly overwhelmed him. 

Before he could think further, the core dissolved. Its energy surged into him in a torrent of heat and light, an overwhelming force that sent him sprawling backward. If he had he had already been full of resonance energy, this abrupt increase sent him over the edge.

Kade's body convulsed as the Resonance Energy stormed through him, raw and chaotic. It was like molten lava coursing through his veins, every nerve alight with searing intensity. He gasped, his vision fracturing into shards of blinding radiance.

"Stop—stop!" he choked out, clawing at his chest as though he could rip the energy free. The world around him spun, distorted by waves of nausea and pain. And in this pain, he felt his consciousness slipping.

He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the book. Desperation clawed its way into his mind, drowning out everything else. He snatched it up, his trembling hands fumbling to open it. The pages blurred, their intricate diagrams and dense text almost impossible to process. But then, one passage stood out like a beacon:

"Resonance Harmonization: The Breath of Equilibrium."

Kade forced himself to focus, skimming the words through gritted teeth. The technique described a way to guide chaotic energy into a refined state using deliberate, rhythmic breathing. He had to visualize the oxygen in his lungs binding to the wild Resonance Energy, acting as a filter. The energy would flow into his bloodstream, purified with every breath until his body could absorb it. Anything unneeded would be expelled with each exhale, leaving him stable.

It sounded impossible, but Kade had no other choice.

He shut his eyes and inhaled deeply, the act sharp and ragged at first. The Resonance Energy roared against his control, like a raging animal tearing at its cage. His lungs burned, and for a moment, panic clawed at the edges of his concentration. He exhaled slowly, trying to force the energy out. It didn't work.

He gasped for air, his mind reeling. The chaotic surge threatened to overwhelm him, but he forced himself to try again. This time, he imagined each breath more vividly: the oxygen weaving through his blood, catching and refining the energy like a sieve. The enriched blood coursed through his body, carrying the stabilized energy with it.

Exhale. Release the chaos.

Inhale. Bind and refine.

It took several tries—each failure nearly sending him over the edge—but with every iteration, the process became clearer. The energy, once burning and volatile, began to calm. Kade kept going, clinging to the imagery with everything he had. The fear of losing control loomed over him, sharpening his focus.

Finally, the chaotic storm subsided. His breathing slowed, each inhale and exhale bringing with it a sense of clarity. His mind's eye began to guide his body through the process. The energy no longer clawed at him like an addictive force—it settled within him, empowering and stable.

Kade opened his eyes, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple. The world around him seemed sharper, brighter. Every sound—the rustling wind, the faint hum of distant movement—reached him with startling precision. His muscles felt coiled, ready to spring, as if his strength had tripled. There was no heaviness, no residual discomfort—only a quiet, electrifying energy coursing through him.

Like a dying star collapsing inward, Kade had burned through every ounce of resonance energy in his evolution, leaving him spent and motionless atop the rooftop. Hours passed in a haze, the dawn stretching golden fingers across the ruined skyline, but he remained still, his body too drained to respond. The distant screams of survivors had dulled to mere echoes, swallowed by the howls of Wretches prowling the shattered streets. Chaos still ruled, but he had become an anomaly—an empty vessel where energy had once surged. Without the vibrant pull of resonance radiating from him, the monsters had passed him by, seeking richer prey. His unconscious form lay undisturbed, a lone figure atop the wreckage of a world reshaping itself in blood and madness.

Kade inhaled sharply, and something shifted. The air felt heavier, charged. With every breath, resonance energy seeped into him, drawn from the fractured world around him, filling the void left by his evolution. At first, it was subtle—a trickle—but then it surged, threading through his veins, settling deep in his bones. His body, like a vacuum, instinctively reclaimed what it had lost.

A dull ache pulsed through his limbs, then clarity. His fingers twitched. His mind stirred. His eyes snapped open. Smoke still choked the sky, casting a red glow over the ruins. Ash coated his face. He lurched forward, coughing out thick soot, the taste bitter and acrid. Spitting, he wiped his mouth and forced himself upright.

His watch glinted beneath the dust. January 29th, 2024. 2:09 PM. Sixteen hours gone. How the hell am I still alive? His stomach twisted. The chaos had dulled, the screams gone, leaving only eerie silence.

Kade exhaled slowly, scanning the ruins. No immediate danger. His pulse still pounded, but the world wasn't closing in on him—for now. His eyes landed on the book beside him. Closed. Waiting. A faint hum seemed to resonate from it, sending a chill down his spine.

The absence of the Ascendant's overwhelming presence was palpable now. The raw energy that had been infused with the air earlier was gone—or perhaps, he realized, it had been absorbed into him. Either way, the area no longer felt like a beacon drawing monsters to him, and that temporary safety was enough reason to stay where he was.

Kade's gaze drifted to the book Westler had given him. The leather cover was worn but sturdy, its intricate patterns subtly glowing in the dim light of the fading evening. He sat down near the roof's edge, letting the cool metal of the AC unit press against his back. For a moment, he just stared at the book, reluctant to open it.

When he finally did, the faint hum of resonance energy seemed to intensify, as though the book recognized his touch. He flipped through the pages carefully, their edges rough against his fingertips. The dense text and intricate diagrams stared back at him, written in a language he didn't entirely understand but could somehow interpret, as if the energy in his body bridged the gap in comprehension.

His eyes settled on a section titled: The First Tier of Ascension: Harmonizing the Blood.

The passage explained the process he'd just undergone: the chaotic energy he had absorbed earlier had merged with his blood cells, fundamentally altering them. It was a volatile process, one most didn't survive without guidance. Blood harmonization, the text explained, was the entry point into the Nine Tiers of Ascension—a method of refining and integrating resonance energy into the very essence of the body. The blood acted as a vessel, a foundation for more advanced evolutions.

Kade read on, learning that the first tier wasn't just about survival; it was a test. The body had to prove its compatibility with resonance energy before it could advance. Those who failed to harmonize often fell victim to the energy's volatility, their bodies breaking down under its pressure. In that moment Kade had many choice words for Westler, what kind of half-baked savior gives such half-assed instructions? He could have easily died many times during that process. But for now, he was alive, shaking his head with acceptance, he decided to continue skimming through the pages.

The book mentioned that resonance energy wasn't a simple fuel—it was alive in its own way, reactive to emotion, willpower, and focus. The process of harmonization wasn't just physical; it required mental clarity and emotional fortitude. Only by mastering both could one hope to ascend further.

Kade frowned, his fingers tracing one of the diagrams. It showed a stylized depiction of the human circulatory system, with energy pathways weaving through the veins. Key nodes along the pathways glowed faintly, representing points of resonance accumulation.

He turned the page, his breath catching as he read the next section:

"Each successful harmonization enhances the body's physical capabilities and unlocks deeper reserves of resonance energy. Strength, speed, perception—these are only the beginning. But beware: the higher the tier, the greater the strain on the mind and soul. To ascend is to carry both power and burden, and not all who ascend endure the weight."

Kade realized that the book was far too comprehensive to review for now. Half the things he didn't even understand. He made a mental note to see if he could find someone who specialized in anatomy or physiology, a doctor maybe who could tell him what it all meant. "But where will I find a doctor in the middle of all this mess", kade frowned, he could feel a headache building. So much had already happened that he couldn't explain. He was faring far better than he had imagined. Flipping further ahead. The diagrams grew more complex, the text denser. He found sections detailing breathing techniques, energy refinement exercises, and even combat applications of resonance energy. But one page stopped him cold.

The heading read: The Resonance Core.

It described the object he had pulled from the Wretch's remains. The core, the text explained, was a concentrated vessel of resonance energy formed within creatures who had consumed large amounts of it. Absorbing such a core was a risky endeavor—most untrained individuals would be torn apart by its intensity.

Kade swallowed hard. He hadn't known what he was doing when he absorbed the core, and it was only through sheer luck—and perhaps the book's guidance—that he'd survived.

"Those who seek the cores must tread carefully," the text warned. "They are both a gift and a curse, capable of granting immense power or unleashing devastating ruin."

Kade closed the book, leaning his head back against the AC unit, the words lingered in his mind, heavy with implication. His heart was still pounding, though now it wasn't just from the adrenaline of his earlier battle—it was the realization that he had stepped onto a path far more dangerous than he'd ever imagined.

Kade rose to his feet and walked to the edge of the rooftop. The city stretched out before him, a jagged wasteland of shadows and ruins. The distant howls of unseen monstrosities echoed faintly through the air, a reminder that safety was fleeting. Kade still hated the world, but the world that was. In the horror he saw a new world, a world he couldn't waste his time hating, regretting what he never had, or blaming his circumstances. He took one last look at the fleeting sun, now eclipsed by the rift in the sky. Fire burning in his eyes with a flicker of resonance energy.

He lingered there, letting the cool breeze brush against his skin, its touch oddly soothing amidst the chaos. A quiet laugh escaped him, low and disbelieving. "Maybe I'm losing my mind, but... damn, that horizon—eclipsed by that glowing purple rift—it's almost beautiful." For a fleeting moment, the world didn't feel entirely consumed by despair. He had power now—raw, untamed, but real. And while its mysteries still eluded him, he wasn't completely lost. He had a guide, a thread to follow in the dark.

He looked down at the book in his hands, the faint glow of its cover catching the light of the setting sun.

"This is just the beginning," he murmured to himself.

As the last light of day faded, Kade tightened his grip on the book and turned his gaze toward the horizon. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: he wouldn't be the same person when he reached it.

Pulling himself to his feet, he looked out over the ruined city. He couldn't stay exposed like this any longer. He needed shelter—and he knew just the place.

"Griggs," he muttered under his breath, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. The old man's clubhouse wasn't far, but after what had just happened, Kade couldn't help but wonder if Griggs was still alive—or if the city's madness had already claimed him.

Gritting his teeth, Kade adjusted his jacket, slid the book into his pack, and made his way toward the fire escape. One thing was certain now: the world had changed, and so had he.

Kade descended the fire escape with a fluidity that felt alien—every movement smooth, precise, almost instinctual. His boots barely scraped the rusted metal, the sound sharper and more distinct than it should've been. The resonance energy coursing through his veins wasn't just a reminder of what he'd endured; it was a constant, electric presence, weaving through him like a second pulse.

When his feet touched the ground, he landed in a crouch, his muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike. The world was sharper now—every detail vivid, every sound amplified. The distant whistle of wind through shattered windows felt tangible, the groans of monsters carried a depth he could almost taste, and even the faint hum of a dying neon sign seemed alive with texture.

He straightened slowly, the hum of energy thrumming beneath his skin. The strength coursing through him felt intoxicating, as if his body had been rebuilt from something stronger, faster, and unyielding. But with that power came an unsettling edge—an awareness that this clarity came at a cost. The chaos in the city wasn't just external anymore; it pulsed beneath the surface, infecting or transforming everything it touched—a force of destruction or evolution, and only time would reveal which.