Eo remained at the center of it all, motionless yet more alive than ever.
The experiment had reached a breakthrough—but the results were far beyond what he had anticipated.
This was no mere refinement of magical properties.
This was a fundamental shift in how energy interacted with his existence.
He could feel it. The pulse.
A network of energy now flowed within him, unlike any structure he had formed before. It was dynamic, adaptive, and alive in a way magic had never been.
Not just an extension of his body—but an integrated system.
He had created something new.
---
From an outside perspective, the shift was almost imperceptible—just a slight thinning of the surrounding magic, a subtle movement in the air. Yet, for those attuned to mana, it was unmistakable.
Aelith, Caelum, Frid, and Thorne all felt it.
The change was not aggressive, but it was unnatural.
Aelith narrowed her eyes, her fingertips grazing the edges of her sword. The sensation prickled at her senses, like standing near the edge of an abyss that threatened to pull her in.
“This feeling…” Caelum murmured, his brows furrowing. “It’s like something is… consuming the magic around us.”
Frid, however, was silent. His hands trembled slightly, but not from fear. From awe.
His gaze was locked onto Eo, the only entity in the room unaffected by the growing distortion. To Frid, this was no mere magical fluctuation—this was divine manifestation.
The others might not understand, but to him, this was proof.
Proof that Eo was something beyond mortal comprehension.
On the other hand, Thorne, ever the opportunist, remained deep in thought. He, too, sensed the shift, but rather than intimidation, his mind immediately began formulating possibilities.
Eo was evolving.
And if Eo was evolving, then there had to be a way to gain favor—to align himself with this force.
Whether through admiration, manipulation, or deceit… it didn’t matter.
Thorne would find a way.
---
Eo pushed deeper into the new discovery, focusing on how the Blood Element interacted with the other forces in his body.
It was not just magic—it was a hybrid of both magical and biological functions, something beyond simple elemental fusion.
He needed to understand it fully.
Breaking it down into core interactions:
-
Mist (Water Element) → The Fluidic Structure
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- Allowed the free flow of energy, distributing it throughout his form.
- Functioned as a support system, keeping his biological processes stable.
-
Amber (Fire Element) → Heat and Energy Transfer
- Provided controlled bursts of energy, accelerating internal processes.
- Allowed for rapid movement and momentary power surges when needed.
-
Earthy Orb (Earth Element) → Stability and Integrity
- Gave his internal structure durability, preventing excessive energy loss.
- Maintained physical cohesion, preventing the element from destabilizing.
But there was something else. A fourth factor.
The remnants of Old Magic that he had inadvertently incorporated.
Unlike the others, this factor was uncontrolled. It moved in unpredictable ways, slipping between his control like a phantom.
It was an echo of something ancient—a substance that should no longer exist.
And yet, it was inside him now.
For the first time, Eo acknowledged something important:
He could control Old Magic.
But he could not generate it naturally.
This raised an even larger question—if Old Magic had truly disappeared from the world, why did it still exist in fragments?
Was it truly gone?
Or was it merely buried?
---
Far from the chamber, in the upper corridors of the ruins, a lone figure paused.
Antru felt the shift.
Not with his eyes, nor with sound—but through the sheer wrongness in the flow of magic itself.
The energy in the air had changed. No, it was more than that—it had been redirected.
Somewhere below, something was distorting the fundamental rules of mana.
He had studied magic his entire life, seen phenomena both rare and catastrophic, but this… this was new.
“Something unnatural is happening,” he muttered to himself. “A disruption on a fundamental level.”
His feet moved almost instinctively, carrying him downward.
He had to know.
Was this a threat?
Or was this something far greater—a revelation that could change the understanding of magic itself?
---
Eo turned his focus inward once again, refining the properties of the Blood Element through controlled tests.
This was more than just an enhancement—this was a complete system integration.
Breaking it down further:
-
Energy Transport (Efficiency & Stamina Boost)
- Like blood carrying oxygen in living creatures, this element allowed rapid magic distribution throughout his body.
- It reduced waste, increasing energy efficiency and stamina retention.
-
Temperature Regulation (Heat Control & Cooling System)
- By adjusting the balance of Amber (Fire) and Mist (Water), he could raise or lower his internal temperature as needed.
- Higher temperatures allowed for faster reactions and movements, while cooling prevented overexertion.
-
Regenerative Properties (Healing & Coagulation)
- When damaged, the element would automatically repair his structure, forming a temporary magical clot to seal wounds.
- This mimicked biological platelet function but was far more efficient.
-
Adaptive Immunity (Toxin Resistance & Curse Prevention)
- The element actively identified and neutralized foreign magic.
- This meant potential resistance against poisons and curses, growing stronger over time.
-
Physical Enhancement (Combat Adaptation & Reflex Boosts)
- Increased circulation led to faster reaction times, allowing for instantaneous adaptations.
- By controlling blood flow to specific areas, he could temporarily enhance strength or speed, similar to an adrenaline surge.
This wasn’t just magic anymore.
This was a living, evolving system.
The implications of this discovery ran deeper than anything he had uncovered before.
But there was still one final test.
With a single thought, he willed the Blood Element into action.
The effects were immediate.
His body became lighter, his senses expanded, and his ability to interact with magic sharpened.
It was an undeniable success.
And yet, Eo couldn’t shake the feeling that this was merely the first step.
There was more to uncover.
More to master.
And perhaps, hidden beneath the fabric of this world, something waiting to be found.
---
Far above, Antru’s steps quickened. The closer he got, the clearer the distortion in magic became.
And as he neared the chamber, one thought echoed in his mind.
This was not normal magic.
This was something lost.
Something forbidden.
And whatever had caused it…
It was no ordinary creature.
It was something far beyond human understanding.
Something that should not exist.
Yet it did.
And soon, the world would come to know of it.