---
Minute by minute, the golden light changed: first a firestorm, then a spiral. It drilled into the core of his being, forging, hammering, reshaping intangible latticework. Kai's own memories threatened to unravel— until, with primal force of will, he clamped down on them, refusing to lose himself.
A circuit closed…. Then, the pain began to recede. Not a fade, but a sudden drop, like plunging into a lake after running through the desert. His breath returned harsh and ragged. His limbs spasmed. Sparks of light danced under his skin.
[Ding! System notifications- Integration 80%… 92… 98… 100%]
Silence!!!!
Kai collapsed against the trunk. Sweat—no, soul-condensate—glistened on his skin like liquid moonlight. He looked down at his hands: faint gold lines traced his veins, then it sank and vanished. His body felt… weightless and unbearably dense at once.
The system's calm chime followed.
[DING! System notifications-
