Zhen Hu's body screamed in pain as he parried another strike from the ferocious beast. Its claws were long and sharp, tearing through the air with a speed that left no room for hesitation. Sweat drenched his brow, and his heart raced. Every inch of his being felt the weight of exhaustion. He had been battling non-stop for hours, surrounded by enemies of varying ranks, each one stronger than the last. His energy reserves were dwindling, his body bruised and battered.
But something stirred within him, something he couldn't understand yet, an ancient power far beyond his reach. The voice of the being inside him—the one that had been dormant for so long—whispered to him once more. It was not Aelira this time. This presence was older, more ancient, a remnant of something long forgotten.
"Do you remember, Zhen Hu?" The voice reverberated in his mind, calm yet filled with the weight of eons. "The power you hold. The techniques buried deep within you. You need only listen."
The beast before him lunged again, its eyes blazing with malice. Zhen Hu barely sidestepped, his body instinctively moving to evade the deadly claws. But the memory from the ancient being surged within him—a movement. A stance. A technique.
It was an ancient fighting form, one that he had never consciously learned. But the feeling—the flow of energy—it was all so familiar. As the creature barreled toward him, Zhen Hu's mind snapped into focus. He could see the beast's every motion as if the world had slowed down.
"The Ghost Step," the being whispered. "An evasive technique, passed down through realms older than even the Epochal Realm. You already possess it. You need only accept it."
Zhen Hu's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't fully understand what was happening, but in that instant, he trusted the voice. He stepped sideways, feeling the ground shift beneath his feet as he executed the technique. His body moved with a grace he never thought possible, dodging the beast's attack by a hair's breadth.
But it didn't end there. Zhen Hu's eyes flared with realization. The beast, thrown off balance by the failed strike, turned in a desperate attempt to regroup. Without thinking, Zhen Hu extended his palm, remembering the surge of energy he had felt before, a power so wild, so dangerous, it threatened to tear him apart.
"Void Strike," the being's voice echoed again. "Focus. Harness the power."
A pulse of Nytherion energy erupted from Zhen Hu's palm, dark energy coiling around his fingers. The force tore through the air like a blade, and the beast's massive form crumpled as it was blasted backward, slamming into the ground with a deafening crash. It howled in pain before it lay motionless.
Zhen Hu's body trembled with the aftereffects of the attack, his legs shaking from the effort, but his focus didn't waver. He could feel it—the power that surged within him, that pulsed with each heartbeat, waiting to be released. It was like a dormant volcano, and now it was ready to erupt.
Another enemy—this one larger and more menacing—charged at him from behind. Zhen Hu spun around, just in time to see the beast's fangs glinting in the dim light. It was too fast for him to block, but something else inside him—an instinct, a memory—urged him forward. He reached deep within himself, grasping for something beyond his current strength.
"Remember the technique of the Fallen Sky," the voice urged. "You've seen it before. Your body knows it."
Zhen Hu's mind flashed to an image: a vast sky, dark clouds swirling, and an image of an ancient warrior in the distance. The technique—the Fallen Sky—was a martial form from a time beyond even the Epochal Realm. It was a technique that bent the very laws of nature, and it was within him.
His body moved instinctively, his hand sweeping downward, tracing the invisible lines of the ancient technique. The energy within him—chaotic, untamed, but ever-growing—followed his lead, spiraling outward in a powerful arc. The world seemed to warp around him as the air itself was shredded by the force of his motion.
The beast that had charged was suddenly caught in the path of the energy wave. The impact was catastrophic. The creature let out a guttural roar, its body disintegrating under the force of Zhen Hu's attack. Its essence scattered into the wind like dust.
For a moment, there was silence.
Zhen Hu stood at the center of the destruction, panting heavily. His body burned with the effort, the strain of using techniques so powerful, so foreign to him. But the memories kept coming—the ancient being inside him, pushing him forward, urging him to tap deeper into his potential. The forbidden flesh, the power that surged through his veins, had awakened something in him—a power he couldn't yet fully control.
"You're not finished yet," the being murmured, almost tenderly. "The true strength comes when you embrace this. You will need it if you wish to survive the trials ahead."
Zhen Hu nodded silently, though his heart was heavy. The fight wasn't over. There were still more beasts to face, stronger opponents, but he had learned something vital in these moments—he was far from powerless. The techniques were there, buried deep in his being, waiting to be unlocked. His body, his mind, was beginning to remember, piece by piece.
His energy reserves were low, and his body screamed in protest, but Zhen Hu was no longer afraid. The ancient presence had shown him the way. He knew that the battle would only intensify from here, but he also knew that each fight brought him closer to unlocking his true potential.
The ground trembled beneath him as more enemies appeared on the horizon. But Zhen Hu stood tall, his eyes blazing with renewed determination. He had found something within himself—a power that, though dangerous and foreign, was his to wield. And he would wield it to survive.
"I will reach the Ascendant Realm," Zhen Hu whispered to himself, his voice full of resolve. "No matter what."
The beasts charged once more, but Zhen Hu was ready. He had learned the techniques. He had embraced the power. And now, he would fight—not just to survive—but to claim his place in the world. The ancient being inside him had set him on this path, and he would not falter.