chapter 16:

The moment Harvey willed the energy to move, everything changed.

A small tear formed in the air before him—a void rift.

The caretaker raised a brow. "Interesting."

Before Harvey could second-guess himself, the rift expanded. The energy surged outward, lashing toward the man like a spiraling abyss—

But it was stopped.

The man lifted a single hand, and the void energy collapsed, dissolving instantly.

Harvey's stomach dropped. He hadn't expected an easy fight, but—that was effortless.

The caretaker exhaled. "You have potential. But you are still untrained."

He lowered his hand.

"This test is over."

The void realm shattered.

And they were standing before the tree once more.

Harvey swayed on his feet. He felt drained, like something had been pulled from him.

The caretaker watched them both, considering.

"You are connected to something rare," he finally said. "A power that very few have ever wielded."

Harvey swallowed hard. He could still feel the remnants of the void energy lingering in his veins.

"What does that mean?" Julia asked warily.

The caretaker smiled. "It means you have a choice."

He gestured toward the tree.

"Leave now, and you may continue wandering, searching for meaning in ignorance." His gaze met Harvey's. "Or, you can learn."

Silence stretched between them.

And then, Harvey made his decision.

Harvey met the caretaker's gaze, his mind racing. Everything about this man—his presence, his knowledge, his effortless suppression of the void energy—it all pointed to something beyond anything Harvey had ever encountered.

But what truly made his decision was the undeniable pull of the tree. Whatever was happening to him, to them, the answers lay ahead—not in running away.

"I want to learn," Harvey said, his voice steady.

Julia stiffened beside him, shooting him a worried glance, but didn't interrupt.

The caretaker nodded approvingly. "Then come."

He turned toward the ancient tree, raising his hand.

At first, nothing happened. But then, the tree responded.

A deep hum reverberated through the air, a resonance that wasn't quite sound but something Harvey felt inside his bones. The bark of the tree shifted, a portion of its roots peeling apart to reveal a passage.

Harvey's breath caught.

Julia grabbed his wrist. "Harvey… are you sure about this?"

He hesitated. Was he?

No. But there was no turning back now.

He squeezed her hand briefly, then stepped forward, following the caretaker into the tree.

The passage inside the tree was not natural.

As soon as they stepped through, the earthy texture of bark and roots faded, replaced by a tunnel that felt infinite. The walls were lined with swirling void energy—dark, shifting patterns that pulsed with faint light.

Harvey's mark burned.

The caretaker walked ahead, unbothered. "What you feel now is the weight of the void. This place is a remnant—a fragment of something greater."

Harvey's hand hovered near the shifting walls. He felt a strange sense of belonging, as though the energy here recognized him.

"Where… is this?" Julia asked cautiously, glancing around.

The caretaker glanced back. "A space between worlds."

Harvey's stomach twisted. Between worlds?

Before he could ask what that meant, they reached a circular chamber. Floating in the center was a small, glowing object—a core.

Harvey felt it before he even saw it.

His void energy reacted instantly, resonating with the artifact.

The caretaker watched him. "This is a Dungeon Core—one that once served as the heart of a vast domain. And now, it will serve as your foundation."

Harvey's breath quickened. He was supposed to absorb that?

But his body already knew the answer. His mark pulsed. His connection to the void demanded it.

This wasn't a question. It was a calling.

And Harvey wasn't going to refuse.