The moment those words echoed in Billy’s mind, the air inside the chamber shifted. The glowing lines carved along the stone walls dimmed, as if something ancient had just awakened to his presence.Billy swallowed hard.“System… what is this place really?”DING![SYSTEM RESPONSE: This chamber houses a sealed remnant of the Primordial Shadow Core. Extreme caution is recommended.]Primordial… Shadow Core?Billy stared at the massive stone slab in front of him. Strange symbols curved across its surface, breathing faint wisps of black mist. A cold shiver ran down his spine.“Wait,” Billy whispered. “Shadow… like the thing that attacked me in the warehouse?”[Affirmative. That entity was a lesser fragment—this is a true origin piece.]Billy took one slow step back.He’d only just awakened the Ember Stone. He’d only just begun to understand his own abilities. And now this?“What do I do?” he muttered.[SYSTEM NOTICE: You may leave immediately. Approaching further without stabilization may re

The moment the Shadow Wraith lunged, the entire forest reacted.Leaves scattered like shrapnel. Branches whipped violently as if trying to escape the force tearing through the clearing. Billy planted his feet, raising his flaming hand just as the Wraith’s clawed arm cut through the air.CLANG—!The Ember Stone’s fire hardened into a shield at the last second, sparks exploding outward as shadow clashed against flame.Aria gasped behind him.“Billy—!”“I’m fine!” he shouted, though his arm trembled from the impact.The Wraith pulled back, its form rippling like disturbed water. That eerie, whispering voice returned:“You resist… even weakened? Remarkable.”Billy grit his teeth.Weakened.Everything—every threat, every voice, every monster—kept saying that. As if he was only a fragment of something bigger.And maybe he was.But that didn’t matter now.The Wraith struck again, faster this time.Billy barely dodged, rolling across the dirt. A tree behind him was sliced clean through, the t

The gray blade in Silas’s hand hummed softly, vibrating the air around it. It wasn’t loud, but the pressure it gave off made Billy’s skin prickle, like standing too close to a high-voltage line.Aria’s fingers tightened around her pendant. “Billy… that weapon isn’t normal.”Silas gave a faint nod. “Correct. It’s designed to cut through unstable energy sources.” His pale eyes never left Billy. “Including sealed cores.”That single sentence lit something inside Billy.The Ember Stone flared.Heat rolled off his body, cracking the asphalt beneath his feet. The road darkened, scorch marks spreading outward in thin lines.“So you came to test me,” Billy said, his voice steady despite the rush of energy pounding in his chest.Silas raised his blade into a ready stance. “No. I came to decide your fate.”The world blurred.Silas moved first.He crossed the distance in an instant, blade sweeping toward Billy’s neck. Billy barely raised his arm in time, flames hardening into a shield. The impac

Billy’s fists clenched at his sides, fire flickering faintly across his palms. The weight of Serah Vance’s words pressed down on him heavier than the city’s neon lights ever could. Obedience… or freedom. Survival… or risk.Aria stepped closer, her voice low. “Billy… what do you think?”He shook his head, scanning the streets around them. People still peeked from behind broken windows, whispering in fear and awe, unaware of the power that had just stabilized the man in the center of the street.“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But if I go with them… I learn control. I stay alive… but I lose some freedom. If I stay free… I might survive, but every Hunter, every shadow… will see me as a target.”Serah’s eyes softened slightly, as though she understood the turmoil in him. “It isn’t about freedom or obedience, Billy Howell. It’s about survival and preparation. The cracks in your seal are accelerating. You’ve already attracted attention—more than you realize. The Council can offer guidance, re

Billy took a steady breath, letting the Ember Stone’s pulse calm his racing heart. The first phase of the Trial of Ember had tested his control over fear and instinct—but Kael wasn’t done. He could feel it.“The trial continues,” Kael’s voice echoed, deeper now. “The next stage is not just about control. It is about expansion. You must push the Ember Stone beyond what you have ever dared.”Billy’s pulse quickened. Beyond control? He had just learned to manage the flames without letting them consume him. Now he was being asked to grow stronger, faster, sharper—while under pressure.Aria stepped closer, her hands glowing faintly. “Remember, Billy. The Ember Stone responds to intent. Focus your mind, or it will burn out of your control.”Billy nodded. He closed his eyes briefly, feeling the warmth of the Ember Stone. It hummed in response, thrumming against his chest like a heartbeat in sync with his own.DING![SYSTEM NOTICE: Trial Phase 2 — Expansion Mode Activated][Objective: Amplify