Godslayer's Legacy: THE PATH TO SUPREMACY

Later that night, Rui stood in front of a massive obsidian mirror etched with faint mana runes. The room was dimly lit, only the faint glow of mana conduits illuminating his reflection.

His silver eyes glimmered faintly, the intricate runes etched into them shifting subtly—almost alive. Rui leaned closer, his breath fogging up the cold glass.

"What am I seeing? What do you want me to understand?"

The runes in his eyes pulsed softly, and for a fleeting moment, the world seemed to shift. Faint lines—threads of mana—stretched outward from his reflection, threading through the air like silken strands of light.

But the vision faded just as quickly as it appeared.

Rui exhaled, his hand pressing against the cool glass.

"I still don't understand…"

He turned away from the mirror, his glowing eyes narrowing faintly. Whatever his eyes were showing him, whatever secrets lay hidden in those threads—it wasn't something he could grasp yet.

"I need to focus. I need to control it..."

-----

Early the next day, in the Mana Stabilization Chamber, it was unlike any other facility Rui had trained in before. It was a vault of raw containment, reinforced with layers of Kovar's densest synthesized minerals and bound together with mana runes so intricate they seemed like the fingerprints of gods. Thick conduits of crystalline mana veined the chamber walls, humming softly as they channeled vast reservoirs of stabilized energy to maintain balance.

The air crackled with residual mana. It wasn't chaotic—it was deliberate, like a sleeping beast breathing steadily in the dark.

Rui stood at the center of the circular chamber, his bare feet planted on a raised crystalline platform that pulsed faintly with energy. He wore only a sleeveless training tunic and fitted trousers, both woven with thin strands of mana-thread designed to withstand fluctuating energy output. His silver hair hung loosely around his face, strands catching the pale glow of the surrounding runes.

Above him, massive mana-restraining arrays floated in suspension, sharp geometric structures etched with intricate stabilizing glyphs. They spun lazily, their faint hum vibrating through Rui's bones.

Behind a reinforced observation window, Kovar stood surrounded by an array of crystalline consoles projecting holographic streams of data. His glass brain dome flickered furiously with scrolling symbols, and faint sparks of blue light glimmered within the polished surface.

To his right stood Fenrir, arms crossed, predator's eyes narrowed as he stared at Rui. His expression was unreadable, but his aura carried an edge of sharp expectation.

Several technicians hovered around Kovar, adjusting settings, stabilizing energy thresholds, and muttering updates into crystal-linked communication devices.

Kovar's voice crackled through the chamber's built-in speakers.

"Rui, this facility has been calibrated for testing at extreme thresholds. It will absorb and redirect excess energy until it reaches maximum capacity. But be warned—even this chamber has limits. If it begins to destabilize, I will shut you down immediately."

Rui nodded once, his glowing runic silver eyes narrowing slightly as he took a steadying breath. The threads of mana around him pulsed faintly in response, like ripples across the surface of still water.

Fenrir spoke next, his voice low and sharp.

"Don't hold back, boy. Let's see what you're made of."

Rui exhaled slowly, spreading his arms slightly, his palms open to the air. The faint hum of mana threads grew louder, dancing invisibly around his fingertips.

"Initiating Phase One. Start at 5% power." Kovar's voice was clinical, but beneath it, a faint tremor hinted at anticipation.

5% Power

Rui closed his eyes, his breathing slow and deliberate. He could feel it—the faint vibration of mana threads converging on his skin, flowing through his limbs, pooling in his core. His aura began to flare softly, a silvery glow surrounding him like mist catching moonlight.

The crystalline platform beneath him responded immediately. Faint ripples of energy flowed outward, causing the mana runes embedded in the platform to glow faintly.

From behind the observation glass, Kovar's pale eyes scanned the monitors with sharp focus.

"Stabilized flow detected. Mana and aura synchronization within expected parameters. Readings remain stable."

Fenrir watched silently, his sharp gaze unmoving.

Rui's aura felt smooth, fluid, like water flowing effortlessly through carved channels. The pressure in the room increased subtly, and the hum of mana conduits grew louder, almost melodic.

"Phase One complete. Maintain and proceed to 10%."

10% Power

Rui's eyes snapped open, glowing brighter now as faint rune patterns spread outward from his irises. The silvery mist of his aura condensed slightly, growing denser, tighter. The air around him began to distort faintly, bending the light into thin, wavering lines.

Mana threads sang in harmony, vibrating across the conduits and arrays surrounding him. The crystalline platform below began to hum audibly, resonating with Rui's output.

Kovar's voice cracked through the intercom.

"Power output increasing. Energy density rising. Fluctuations remain minimal. Rui, maintain synchronization."

Rui adjusted his stance slightly, spreading his arms wider as if to embrace the invisible threads swirling around him. His breathing remained steady, his aura shimmering like liquid silver.

Fenrir let out a faint grunt, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

"Look at his control. The boy doesn't even flinch."

Kovar's fingers twitched over his console, his voice quiet but reverent.

"This level of synchronization… it's almost unnatural. The energy isn't fighting him—it's obeying him."

The pressure in the chamber had grown noticeably heavier, the air thick with raw mana. Tiny motes of light drifted in slow spirals around Rui, following invisible currents he seemed to command instinctively.

Kovar's voice cut in again.

"Phase Two complete. Rui, prepare for Phase Three. 25% power."

25% Power

Rui's chest rose and fell steadily as he prepared himself. His silver eyes sharpened, and he focused inward, drawing mana threads tighter into his core.

When he exhaled, the air cracked.

His aura flared like a bursting star, expanding outward in sharp, silvery waves. The crystalline platform beneath him groaned audibly, faint cracks spiderwebbing across its polished surface. The floating stabilization arrays overhead spun faster, runes glowing blindingly bright as they absorbed the excess energy surging through the chamber.

Kovar's console erupted with warnings—red symbols flashing violently as the containment threshold neared critical levels.

"Stabilizers at 92% capacity! Energy density exceeding reinforced limits! Rui, hold back!"

Fenrir slammed a gloved hand onto the observation glass, his sharp voice cutting through the alarms.

"RUI! That's ENOUGH!"

But Rui didn't flinch. His eyes were closed, his face calm. He was utterly focused, threading mana and aura together with a precision that defied reason.

And then—

The crystalline platform beneath him shattered.

The sound was deafening—a sharp, explosive crack followed by the high-pitched wail of mana dispersing uncontrollably. Shards of reinforced crystal scattered like glass rain, embedding themselves into the chamber walls.

Dust and light filled the air in a chaotic swirl as alarms blared, bathing the chamber in harsh red light.

When the dust finally settled, Rui remained standing amidst the ruin of the platform. His aura had withdrawn back into his core, and his silver eyes glowed faintly in the dim light.

Behind the observation glass, Kovar's trembling hands hovered over the emergency shutdown panel. His pale face was illuminated by the flashing warning runes surrounding him.

Fenrir let out a long breath, his predator's eyes locked onto Rui.

"...That wasn't power. That was control. That was restraint."

Rui stood still, his shoulders rising and falling with slow breaths. His voice, quiet yet steady, cut through the fading alarms.

"I need… more... more control. I'm still not ready."

Kovar leaned heavily against the console, his voice trembling slightly.

"Rui… that was only twenty-five percent. If we can't contain you at this level, then what happens when you go further?"

Silence filled the chamber, broken only by the faint hum of mana conduits slowly resetting themselves.

Rui turned toward the observation glass, his silver eyes piercing through the shattered remnants of the testing platform.

"We'll find out soon enough."