"I'll return when it's complete." A strange sensation washed over Miko, like being submerged in warm water while remaining perfectly dry. The pendant grew hotter, and he felt energy beginning to flow into him, slow at first, then faster. Time stretched and distorted. When Miko opened his eyes again, he was alone. The blue glow of the pool provided the only light, illuminating the empty cave. Days passed. Then weeks. Miko remained in meditation, feeling the pool's energy flowing constantly into him. His ash element responded, growing stronger, more responsive. He practiced the techniques he had learnt from the beginning, finding them easier to master with each passing day. His beard began to grow. First a stubble, then longer, eventually reaching his chest. His hair grew past his shoulders. Still, he meditated, drawing power from the ever diminishing pool. Months became years. The pool's level gradually lowered as Miko absorbed its energy. Two years in, he mastered ash constr

Back in AAU Hq. Miko focused on a new target at the far end of the room. This time, he attempted something subtler a controlled flame that would burn but not destroy. The black fire that emerged was still devastatingly powerful, but contained, wrapping around the target instead of obliterating it. "Better," he sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Still too much, though." The door to the training room slid open, and Liam poked his head in. "Dude, what are you doing in here? It's 3 AM." His eyes widened as he took in the scorched walls and destroyed equipment. "Whoa. Did a bomb go off or something?" "Just training," Miko replied, trying to sound casual. Liam stepped fully into the room, whistling softly as he surveyed the damage. "This doesn't look like just training. This looks like someone set loose a baby Wraith." Miko couldn't help but smile at the comparison. "Had some energy to burn off before the mission." "Energy?" Liam raised an eyebrow, pointing at a section of wa

Moonlight spilled through Miko's window, painting silver patterns across his sparse quarters. Sleep eluded him. In less than eight hours, they would enter the Abyss facing dangers that had claimed countless lives before them. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his packed gear, when a soft knock broke the silence.Three gentle taps, barely audible. Miko reached for his sword instinctively before recognizing the person’s energy.He opened the door to find the older man standing calmly in the empty corridor, hands clasped behind his back."A bit late for a social call," Miko said, stepping aside to let him enter."There's rarely a convenient time for important conversations." Larok moved into the room with his usual fluid grace. "Especially on the eve of such a journey."Miko closed the door. "I thought you said your part in this was finished.""Nearly." Larok's eyes scanned the room, taking in the packed gear and weapon preparations. "I see you're ready.""As I'll ever be." Miko

The transition hit like a physical blow. Reality stretched, compressed, and twisted around the Peregrine as it penetrated the writhing portal. Inside the vehicle, warning lights flashed as barrier systems strained against forces they weren't designed to withstand."Stabilizers failing!" Tanner shouted over the screaming alarms. "Hull integrity at seventy percent and dropping!"Miko gripped his harness, stomach lurching as gravity itself seemed to hiccup and stutter. Around him, the team fared no better—Liam had gone deathly pale, while Akiya maintained her composure through clenched teeth and white knuckles."Normal transition effects," Gregor called from the forward section, sounding almost bored. "Maintain barrier focus. Three seconds to emergence."The darkness outside the viewports suddenly fractured, replaced by a kaleidoscope of impossible colors that human eyes were never meant to process. For one terrible moment, the entire vessel seemed to exist in multiple places simultaneou

"Movement detected at two o'clock," Damien reported, his earth sense picking up vibrations through the massive tree root they were traversing. After the ant encounter, Gregor had decided higher ground would provide tactical advantage.The team moved in trained formation along the root system, which stretched like highways through the bizarre forest. Corruption pulsed through the vegetation around them, ambient energy that made Elena's protective barriers flicker periodically.Lyra suddenly stopped, her head tilting upward. Her wind element enhanced her senses beyond normal human range, allowing her to detect air currents and movement patterns invisible to others."Hold," she commanded, raising one hand. The entire group froze instantly."What is it?" Gregor asked, fire ready at his fingertips.Lyra continued scanning the canopy above, her expression growing increasingly alarmed. Without warning, she screamed, "ABOVE!"Everyone looked up simultaneously. The underside of a massive branc