57: Months later

Amidst the coral labyrinth, surrounded by a web of cobwebs stretching as far as the eye could see, stood a towering rock structure. Its presence dwarfed any architectural creation made by human hands.

The surface of the structure, smooth and cracked, formed a fascinating pattern, as if sharp blades had been carved into it by divine artisans. At its peak, right at the center of a platform crowning the structure, stood a solitary figure.

A magnificent spear, black and white, adorned with a coiled serpent along its shaft, rested firmly in the hands of a man clad in navy-blue armor.

Grey activated his aspect, and a faint glow began to envelop his pale skin. The marks covering his arms and legs turned an opaque gray, while his eyes emitted flashes of intense white light.

From his blackened hands, a violent energy began to surge, flowing directly into Odyssey. The spear responded to the change, transforming before his eyes: its shaft darkened further, the serpent became a brilliant white, and the blade adopted a deep, shadowy hue.

Grey remained motionless, his expression unreadable, his eyelids gently closed. He was utterly focused, searching in the silence of his mind for the key to overcoming his limitations.

Minutes passed like mere moments until he finally opened his eyes and let out a soft sigh, laden with frustration and determination.

He dismissed Odyssey, and with it, the white glow surrounding his body vanished. Now, with his mundane appearance restored, he took a brief breath before sitting on the platform, lost in thought.

"I don't understand... I'm sure there's a way to achieve it, but something isn't clicking," he thought, his gaze fixed on nothingness.

He reflected in silence, reviewing the two relentless months of practice he had dedicated to perfecting the interaction between his energies.

"I've tried combining both energies within my body or enhancing specific parts separately... but they always fail. I can use one to enhance my aspect and the other to infuse Odyssey, but why can't I make them coexist in my body simultaneously?"

He recalled how channeling his violent, dark energy into Odyssey while maintaining its pure and refined form caused the two forces to seemingly avoid each other.

"It's as if they can coexist in harmony, but they refuse to do so within me. One enhances my body, while the other flows from my soul core into Odyssey, yet they won't mix."

His thoughts sharpened as he analyzed every detail.

"If I could make both energies remain in my body without repelling each other, I could gain the benefits of both enhancements and neutralize their weaknesses."

He leaned back against the rock, gazing at the gray sky with steady breaths, though his eyes shone with determination.

"It seems it's still too soon. Perhaps, when I achieve my awakening or ascension, I'll have better control over my powers... and I'll find a way to make both energies coexist in perfect harmony."

The silence of the labyrinth enveloped him, and with one last deep breath, Grey closed his eyes for a moment, allowing his mind, heavy with thoughts, to rest.

As he reflected, memories of the moment he emerged from the underground caves began to surface. He remembered how, after weeks in darkness, the sunlight had been blinding and unbearable. He also recalled the uneasy feeling the labyrinth's surface design gave him, so different from the narrow, oppressive path below.

Back then, he had surfaced near noon, giving him enough time to find a high vantage point where he could spend the night. When he finally rested, his exhaustion was so profound that he slept well past the sun's zenith the following day.

The first days out of the underground were uneventful but confronted him with his own solitude. With no need to hunt for food or water, thanks to the resources his memory provided, his thoughts began to weigh heavily on him. The absence of companionship and the burden of loss overwhelmed him.

To stave off those feelings and escape the void of loneliness, Grey took up hunting—not out of necessity, but as a pastime, though to others, it would have seemed madness. Hunting nightmare creatures, especially those a class above his own, was considered an admirable feat, but he did it with unnerving ease.

Like a patient predator, he stalked from the shadows or beneath the mud, waiting for the perfect moment. When an unfortunate nightmare creature wandered too close, Grey would pierce it with Odyssey or, on occasion, tear it apart with his bare hands. His armor, adapted to his claws, extended them into ascended talons, adding lethal precision to his attacks.

The first week of hunting was fruitful. He consumed numerous soul fragments, inching closer to the devil rank. However, the pace soon felt insufficient. That was when he began meditating and honing his aspect abilities, using every moment of rest to improve.

In his quest for perfection, he used Odyssey as an example, studying how its energy interacted and transformed when he applied his abilities to it. Over the next two months, Grey progressed steadily. During this time, he managed to create his fourth soul core—a feat he did not take lightly, ensuring he was safe while enduring the intense process of its formation.

Despite having only twelve soul fragments, his efforts were not in vain. Though he hadn't mastered every aspect of his body simultaneously, he optimized the energy flow and efficiency, extending his transformations and amplifying his explosive attacks.

The result of his training was evident: he could channel his aspect's full power into a single devastating strike, though it left him exhausted. This dangerous yet effective technique would undoubtedly become a vital asset.

Pushing aside complex thoughts, Grey stood up, turning his gaze northward. He observed the horizon and fixed his next goal.

"I suppose it's time to move," he murmured to himself.

The sun had already reached its highest point, and Grey knew he had to hurry if he wanted to reach the next area before darkness caught up with him. With determination, he summoned Odyssey. His spear appeared in his hands, and without looking back, he began his descent.

____

Note: Wow, I didn't realize I wrote over 2,000 words... Well, I guess that's fine.

Do you think the chapter feels heavy? Too technical? Lacking action or any specific mistake that stood out to you?

I feel like my writing level has dropped a bit with this fic since I've been neglecting it a lot, but it's not my fault, okay? I'm about to graduate, and that takes up almost all my attention.

Anyway, here's the chapter. Let me know if it's too boring or anything. I'm not sure how to feel about how it turned out.