CHAPTER 11: THE GIFT OF THE STONE

Propelled by forces unseen, John and the radiant Divine Stone hurtled through the void, arriving at a third, alien locale. Light erupted around them, a blinding white that stole all definition, leaving them adrift in a sea of luminescence. When the glare finally subsided, a familiar silhouette coalesced from the fading brilliance – the same enigmatic figure who had haunted John's journey. This time, however, the man's hand clutched a shard of the divine stone.

"Did it actually… kill the old man?" John murmured, his gaze fixed on the figure. "But it's failed before, hasn't it? Every time, it's been you who…" He trailed off, addressing the stone.

"I confess, I underestimated its capacity for such an act," the gem responded, its voice resonating with a newfound gravity. It detached itself from John's grasp, gliding towards the man. "Look at me," the gem declared, its tone laced with a palpable threat. "You possess something that is rightfully mine."

The man, seemingly unfazed by the gem's pronouncements, offered a weary sigh. "Alright, fine. Take it." He extended his hand, relinquishing the gem fragment.

The stone, its light pulsing softly, regarded the man. "Clever," it remarked, the single word carrying a weight of unspoken meaning. Then, without further ado, it turned, beckoning John to follow, and together they vanished, bound for a fourth destination.

Their arrival at the next place was jarringly familiar. Once again, the same man stood before them, though this time his appearance was disheveled, bearing the marks of a recent struggle. Before him stood the white-haired old man, appearing remarkably unscathed.

The divine stone surged forward, a streak of incandescent energy aimed at the old man. But with an almost casual grace, the old man sidestepped the attack, his eyes, sharp and knowing, fixed on the gem. "Free at last," he mused, a hint of amusement in his voice. "And you've even acquired a host to ferry you across the cosmos. I must admit, it's… impressive."

The gem paused, its light flickering as if in contemplation. "So, it is you," it finally stated, its tone hardening. "The one who imprisoned me, who scattered my essence to forge your wretched clans. And now you dare to address me through this… puppet?"

A faint smile played on the old man's lips. "Indeed. You are as perceptive as ever. But tell me, stone, do you truly believe that even reunited, even having reached me, you possess the power to challenge me?"

With a deliberate gesture, the white-haired man raised his hand. An ominous energy crackled around it, a tangible force that buffeted John, sending him skidding backward through the air. Just as the power threatened to overwhelm him, a figure materialized, a familiar boy Hansen who had appeared to John in moments of crisis. This time, he shielded John, absorbing the brunt of the old man's attack. He then swiftly pulled John away, creating a buffer between them and the escalating conflict.

Left to their own devices, the divine stone and the white-haired old man clashed. Energies flared, the air crackled with power, and the very fabric of the space around them seemed to warp and distort. For what felt like an eternity, perhaps an hour, perhaps more, they fought. Finally, with a surge of incandescent light, the gem prevailed.

"As I said," the stone declared, its voice resonating with triumph, "I was coming for you. There is no escape this time." It enveloped the old man in its radiant embrace, and for a moment, they were one. Then, the light subsided, leaving behind a scene of quiet devastation. A single, luminous stone remained, pulsing softly in the gem's grasp. But instead of absorbing it, as it had done before, the stone held it aloft, seemingly considering its next move.

Slowly, deliberately, the divine gem turned and began to walk towards John. In the intervening moments, neither John nor the boy Hansen had uttered a word, their attention riveted by the raw power on display. John, caught in the periphery of the battle, could only discern flashes of movement, too rapid for his human eyes to comprehend. As the stone approached, it paused, its light focusing on John. Then, its gaze shifted to the Hansen standing beside him.

"Allow me a moment to bid farewell to my… acquaintance," the stone said, addressing Hansen with a strange formality. Hansen, understanding the unspoken request, gave a curt nod.

The stone then turned its attention fully to John. "John," it began, its voice softer now, "I have been granted an opportunity, and I wish to extend one to you as well. But whether you possess the strength to seize it… that remains to be seen." With these words, the luminous stone it held, the one it had refrained from absorbing, began to glow with an intense, almost unbearable light. Then, with a swift, decisive movement, it plunged into John's chest.