The ground trembled again.
Stronger this time.
Kael stood still, eyes locked on the distant surge of energy rising into the sky.
It twisted like a storm.
Wild.
Unstable.
But different.
"…That's not normal," Kael said quietly.
Beside him, the stranger didn't respond immediately.
Which was already a bad sign.
"…No," they finally said.
"It isn't."
Kael's chest tightened.
"Aetherion…"
"Threat level: unknown."
Kael frowned.
"Unknown?"
"Energy pattern does not match previous hosts."
That was enough.
Kael took a step forward.
"…We need to move."
The stranger glanced at him.
For a moment—
They said nothing.
Then—
"…Stay behind me."
Kael didn't argue this time.
Because something deep inside him—
Was reacting.
Not with fear.
But recognition.
They moved through the broken streets faster now.
No hesitation.
No pauses.
The closer they got—
The worse it felt.
The air itself seemed heavier.
Harder to breathe.
"…This is different," Kael muttered.
"Obviously."
The stranger slowed slightly.
"Stay sharp."
They turned a corner—
And stopped.
Kael froze.
The street ahead was destroyed.
Not damaged.
Erased.
Buildings collapsed inward.
The ground split open.
Like something had ripped through the city.
"…What did this?"
The answer came—
Before the question fully left his mouth.
A shadow moved.
Slow.
Deliberate.
At the center of the destruction—
Something stood.
Humanoid.
But wrong.
Its body flickered—
Like it couldn't stay in one form.
Energy poured off it in waves.
Not wild like the others.
Controlled.
Watching.
Kael's breath slowed.
"…That's a host?"
"No."
The stranger's voice was low.
"That's something else."
The thing's head turned.
Slowly.
Then—
It looked directly at Kael.
Time seemed to stop.
"Aetherion—"
"WARNING."
"Core resonance detected."
Kael's eyes widened.
"…It can feel me."
The creature took a step forward.
The ground cracked beneath it.
Not from force—
From pressure.
"…Back."
The stranger stepped in front of Kael.
For the first time—
They didn't look calm.
"Don't engage."
Too late.
The creature moved.
Not fast.
But instant.
It appeared in front of them—
Like distance meant nothing.
Kael's body reacted—
Energy surged—
But before he could move—
The stranger struck.
A clean, precise attack—
Direct hit.
Nothing happened.
The creature didn't move.
Didn't react.
It simply—
Looked.
"…Impossible."
The stranger stepped back.
For the first time—
They looked… unsure.
The creature tilted its head.
Studying them.
Then—
It raised its hand.
Kael felt it instantly.
A crushing force—
Far beyond anything before.
His knees buckled.
"—!"
The ground beneath him shattered.
The air screamed.
The stranger moved again—
Faster.
Stronger.
They struck—
Again.
Still—
Nothing.
The creature finally spoke.
Its voice…
Distorted.
Layered.
"…Incomplete."
Kael froze.
"…What?"
Its gaze locked onto him again.
"…You are not ready."
Kael's chest tightened.
"How do you—"
The creature stepped closer.
And Kael felt it—
That same energy inside himself—
Reacting.
Violently.
"Aetherion—!"
"Core resonance critical."
Kael gritted his teeth.
"…Why is it reacting like this—?!"
The creature's eyes glowed faintly.
"…When you are complete…"
A pause.
"…come find me."
Silence.
Then—
It vanished.
Just like that.
The pressure disappeared.
The air returned.
Kael collapsed to one knee, breathing hard.
"…What… was that…?"
The stranger didn't answer.
Because they were staring at the spot where it stood.
"…This just got worse."
Kael looked up.
"…You know what that was."
A long pause.
Then—
"…No."
Their voice was quiet.
"…But it knew you."
Kael's heart pounded.
The energy inside him slowly settled—
But the feeling remained.
That connection.
That recognition.
"…Incomplete…"
Kael clenched his fists.
"…What does that mean?"
No one answered.
Because deep down—
He already knew.