The cave was quiet, save for the soft crackling of the bonfire. Its light flickered against the rough stone walls, casting shadows that danced with the flames.
Outside, the Abyssal Forest lay in perpetual darkness, a thick miasma shrouding the land and obscuring any sense of day or night. Time seemed to lose meaning in this forsaken place, where the line between one day and the next was blurred.
Spark had fallen asleep, leaning against the cold stone wall. His golden hair caught the firelight, giving him an almost ethereal glow. His usual mischievous grin had softened into a peaceful expression. On his chest, Chaos, once a mighty gecko, was now a small and harmless creature, its dark scales absorbing the firelight as it slept soundly.
Amelia sat a short distance away, her posture straight and eyes closed in quiet concentration. She could still feel the energy from the spiritual fruits coursing through her, revitalizing her after the exhausting chase that had driven her to the brink of collapse. The fruits had worked their magic, replenishing her strength and restoring her vitality.
As she focused inward, the energy gathered within her core, swirling in a controlled rhythm. Her strength returned bit by bit, and her senses sharpened as the weariness left her body. She took a deep, steadying breath, allowing the energy to settle, her connection to her inner power growing stronger with each passing moment.
Glancing at Spark, she noticed how serene he looked in sleep, a stark contrast to his usual playful demeanor. For a moment, she wondered who he truly was beneath the teasing and wit. But as her thoughts returned to her own state of mind, she felt a surprising sense of ease, even in the heart of this dangerous forest.
The fear that had gripped her earlier had faded, replaced by a quiet resolve and she also took a rest.
...
Suddenly, Amelia's eyes snapped open, her senses heightened. A cold sensation crept up her spine, alerting her that something was wrong.
Before she could react, a rough hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her. Her eyes widened in shock as her heart pounded in her chest. It was Spark, his expression serious, a stark contrast to his usual carefree attitude.
Chaos leaped from Spark's shoulder and landed outside the cave. As it hit the ground, its body began to shine, growing in size until it was the same formidable beast Amelia had first encountered.
The skeletal army seemed to pause, their march halted as if some instinctual fear told them to retreat.
But before they could act, Chaos opened its mouth wide, and a swirling vortex of dark energy formed in front of it.
The pull was immediate and irresistible; the skeletons were dragged toward the vortex, their forms disintegrating into dust as they were devoured. In moments, the once-threatening horde was gone, leaving only silence in its wake.
Amelia stood rooted to the spot, her mind struggling to comprehend what she had just witnessed. The power Chaos had just displayed was beyond anything she had ever seen. It wasn't just strength; it was a force of nature, something far beyond the capabilities of ordinary beasts or even high-level Ascendants.
As the last of the vortex faded, Chaos shrank back to its small, unassuming form and returned to Spark's side. Spark gave the gecko an approving pat, his expression betraying no surprise at gecko's ability.
Amelia's gaze lingered on the gecko, her mind racing with questions. In this forest, where everything else succumbed to the miasma's malevolent influence, Chaos had not only survived but grown stronger. Amelia couldn't help but wonder
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Was it Chaos's ability to devour and absorb the energy around it? The vortex it unleashed on the skeletal army was a display of raw, terrifying power—a power that didn't just destroy but also absorbed the essence of its enemies.
Was this how Chaos had resisted the forest's corruption? By turning the miasma's influence back on itself, using it as fuel rather than being consumed by it?