Kael didn't sleep.
He couldn't.
The heat inside him never truly faded.
It lingered—quiet… patient… waiting.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the man's face.
Aging.
Breaking.
Because of him.
"I didn't mean to…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
No response.
For the first time since everything began…
Aetherion was silent.
That scared him more than the pain.
The city had gone quiet.
Night deepened.
Cold wind swept across the rooftop.
Kael sat against the wall, knees pulled in, forcing himself to breathe steadily.
To think.
"There has to be another way…"
Pain answered him.
It hit without warning.
Kael gasped as the heat erupted inside him again—violent, uncontrollable.
His body locked.
Veins burned like molten metal.
His chest felt like it would split open.
"No… not again…"
"Energy levels critical."
Aetherion's voice returned—calm, absolute.
"Host requires immediate sustenance."
Kael shook his head violently.
"No… I'm not doing that again…"
"Failure to act will result in host termination."
"I don't care!"
The pain intensified.
Brutal. Relentless.
Kael slammed his fist into the ground.
"THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY!"
Silence.
Then—
"Alternative sources… minimal."
Kael froze.
"What does that mean…?"
"Non-sentient energy signatures detected."
Hope flickered.
"Where…?"
A pause.
"Below."
Kael forced himself to stand.
His legs trembled as he staggered toward the rooftop door.
Every step felt like walking through fire.
He pushed it open and stumbled down the stairs.
The building was dark.
Empty.
Silent.
But as he reached the lower floors—
He felt it.
A pull.
Faint… but undeniable.
Like something was calling him.
"Left."
Kael followed it, turning into a narrow hallway he didn't remember seeing before.
At the end—
A metal door.
Locked.
The pull grew stronger.
"It's here…"
He grabbed the handle.
It didn't move.
"Stand back."
Heat surged through his arm.
His hand began to glow.
Kael pushed.
The lock melted.
The door creaked open.
Darkness waited inside.
And something else.
A low hum.
Kael stepped in slowly.
The room was filled with old equipment—generators, cables, rusted machines.
Dead.
All of it…
Except one.
A faint blue light flickered from a damaged generator in the corner.
Kael stared at it.
"That's it…?"
"Energy source confirmed."
He hesitated.
"This won't hurt anyone…?"
"No sentient life detected."
Relief washed over him.
"…Okay."
Slowly, carefully—
Kael reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the metal—
Energy surged.
Not heat.
Something different.
Wild.
Electric.
Power exploded through his body.
Kael cried out as his muscles locked, electricity tearing through every nerve.
"Too much—!"
"Regulating."
The energy shifted.
It didn't burn.
It flowed.
Cold. Sharp. Controlled.
It filled the emptiness inside him.
The hunger faded.
The heat stabilized.
Kael collapsed to his knees, breathing hard.
"I… I'm okay…"
For the first time since everything began—
The pain stopped.
Silence.
Then—
"Adaptation successful."
Kael stared at his hands.
Faint sparks danced across his fingers.
"…What is this…?"
"Energy conversion."
"You are evolving."
His heart pounded.
"Evolving into what…?"
A pause.
Longer this time.
"Unknown."
Kael exhaled slowly.
Not human.
Not normal.
But alive.
For now.
Then—
A sound.
Not from the machine.
From behind him.
A footstep.
Kael froze.
He wasn't alone.
Slowly…
He turned.
A figure stood in the doorway.
Watching him.
Eyes locked onto his glowing hands.
"…So it's true."
Kael's chest tightened.
"Who are you…?"
The stranger stepped forward. Calm. Certain.
A faint smile formed.
"Someone who's been looking for you."
The air grew heavy.
Dangerous.
"And now that I've found you…"
His voice dropped.
"You don't get a choice."
Kael's instincts screamed—
Run.
But his body didn't move.
Because deep inside—
Something else responded.
Not fear.
Excitement.