CHAPTER 20 - 20: LIFE SURGE

With the battle over and Nyra unconscious, Arden finally had a moment to breathe.

He moved away from her side and sat near the edge of the clearing. His body ached a little, but nothing serious.

Still, his mind was on the fight, trying to piece together what the masked group was really after.

As if on cue, the system flared to life.

Life Signatures Gained:

Pulse Guard – Triggers a reactive shield when struck, reducing damage briefly and sending a mild shockwave.

Combat Flow Sense – Slightly enhances awareness of enemy actions in close combat.

Ash Trail – Fast movements leave behind heated ash that burns anyone who steps into it.

Tinker Sense – Short-term insight into the mechanism of magical tools or devices touched.

He read them slowly, letting each one settle into memory. Most of them were straightforward, but Tinker Sense stood out. That was going to be useful, although not in combat, but with traps, tools, maybe even tampering with mage-tech weapons. If nothing else, it gave him one more edge when facing something unfamiliar.

He was still flipping through the list when a new notification popped up. His eyes narrowed.

Life Energy Absorbed

Limit for current realm reached

Advancing to next realm: Life Flow Life Surge

Ready to advance? Y/N

He didn't hesitate. "Yes."

The change hit him immediately. Not painful, just intense. His breath caught in his throat as the way life energy moved inside him shifted. It was smoother now, deeper. Like the connection wasn't just flowing, it was part of him. His body felt lighter, stronger, more grounded.

Life Surge Realm Achieved

New Benefits Unlocked:

Fuse compatible life signatures for higher-ranked versions

Life signatures can be part of multiple fusion paths

Broader manipulation of life energy for basic techniques

He whistled low. "Now that... is something."

The fusion feature excited him. It meant flexibility, personalization, power that adapted to him, not the other way around. He spent time going over the combinations, testing options in his mind, gauging what felt right. He wasn't careless about it. Every fusion could define how he fought moving forward.

Finally, he settled on the paths that made sense for him.

Fused Life Signatures:

Ember Loop Core

Fusion of: Feedback Loop + Ember Pulse Resonance + Crimson Core

Effect: Converts physical movement and surrounding heat into sustainable fire-energy recovery. Strikes and dodges restore energy and refine fire usage. Ideal for drawn-out fights.

Phantom Vein Drift

Fusion of: Shadow Vein Flex + Infernic Drift + Keen Fang Trace

Effect: Evades leave afterimages and camouflage in dim light. Boosts perception in chaotic environments. Strong for stealth and tracking.

Ignition Tremor Chain

Fusion of: Ignition Vein Surge + Tremor Vein + Ash Trail

Effect: Every third attack creates a shockwave with burning ash trails. In fast combat, these effects stack to overwhelm enemies.

Stonepulse Reflex

Fusion of: Stonehide Shell + Pulse Guard + Combat Flow Sense

Effect: Being hit triggers a shield and a brief predictive insight into enemy attacks. Useful for reading patterns and countering in close fights.

Steptrace Mirage

Fusion of: Phase Step + Hunter's Intuition + Keen Fang Trace

Effect: Short blinks across terrain while tracking enemy aura trails. Good for repositioning and fast-paced engagements.

Arcforge Insight

Fusion of: Tinker Sense + Combat Flow Sense

Effect: Touch grants brief but deep understanding of magical constructs and spell patterns. Useful for dismantling traps, predicting spell behavior, and dealing with enchanted items.

He closed the system window with a nod, stretching his arms as the weight of the new skills settled in. Each one didn't just feel like an ability, it felt instinctual now, like it was always part of him.

"Good," he muttered to himself, a small smirk playing on his lips. "At least something made this mess worth it."

He looked over at Zephyra, still watching over Nyra like a silent guardian. He stood and walked over, crouching beside them again.

"We're stronger now," he whispered, brushing a hand through her fur. "But we're not done yet."

He made a mental note to leave the shelter once Nyra woke up.

He had to let her know too, about his decision to move deeper into the Outlands.

After what happened, staying here any longer wasn't just risky, it was plain reckless. If they'd tracked her once, they could do it again.

He also had no plans of letting anyone find him that easily, not wanting to draw anymore attention to himself.

And besides, he had secrets. Too many, maybe. The further he went into the Outlands, the less eyes there'd be to question him.

Trying to push the tension off his chest, he turned his focus to dinner.

Using the supplies little he had bought from his visit to town, he put together something warm and simple. Nothing fancy, but enough to keep them going.

He handed Zephyra her share, and just as he was settling down with his own, he heard Nyra stir.

She jolted upright, groaning softly as she clutched her head. Her body still hadn't recovered fully, and the fatigue showed on her face.

Arden moved to her side without saying much. He helped steady her and passed her a warm plate.

"Eat," he said, voice calm but firm. "You'll need the strength."

She tried to say something, but he shook his head, eyes meeting hers briefly.

"Later," he added, sitting back down. "Just eat."

She didn't argue. The silence stretched, broken only by the soft sounds of their chewing.

She glanced at him from time to time, eyes narrowing slightly like she had too much to ask and didn't know where to start. But for now, she just ate.

When they were done, he finally spoke again.

"I'll be heading deeper into the Outlands at dawn," he said, tone even. "This place isn't safe anymore. You're free to come if you want, but either way, I'm leaving."

Nyra didn't reply right away. Instead, she asked, "What did you do back there? How did you make it stop... the storm inside me?"

Arden gave a short chuckle. "Recovered an ancient lost technique, obviously," he said with a small grin.

She gave him a look that said she didn't believe a word of it, but also didn't care. The truth was, she never thought anyone would help her, let alone stand beside her like that. Before Arden, she was convinced she'd always be a danger, always be a freak. That's what they told her. A weapon they could toy with.

But now... now she wasn't so sure.

She set her plate down and looked at him, more serious now.

"I'll come," she said softly. "But... you'll help me, right? With this power."

Arden nodded once. "That was the plan," he said. "It's not a crime to go adventuring with a beautiful girl, is it?"

That earned a small smile from her. The first real one since they met.

He stood and stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Get some rest. We leave at first light."

She didn't argue. Her body was still sore, and the thought of moving again made her head spin. But now she wasn't as afraid.

As she lay down again, Arden took up watch by the edge of the shelter, Zephyra settling quietly beside him. The night was quiet, but his thoughts weren't. Things were moving faster than he planned, but that was fine. He could handle it.

Besides, he wasn't doing this alone.

A/N:

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