Assimilation

Astaroth immediately closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. The essence of divinity around him entered his body, softly circulating inside his mana channels.

He felt like his aching body was suddenly energized. It was almost like he had just awakened from a night's sleep.

He focused on the particles of glowing golden energy and followed their movement to find their provenance. And that's when he saw it.

Hidden behind an illusion, a monstrously large orb of golden white soul power.

Astaroth almost gasped at the sight, as this was like looking into a sun.

Only there was no burning heat or blinding light, just the soft glow and the pulsing of familiarity.

Around this orb, a familiar cage of runes, holding in the colossal soul. But something was different.

One line of runes, or bars from the cell, was missing. From this missing link, soul power trickled out and infused the soul space, making it stronger than the rest.