The creaking of the mana-iron barriers at the metro entrance echoed in Aziel's ears like a death knell. The pressure from Kaelen outside stretched the barriers, weakening them with every passing second. Every rumble from outside, every speck of dust falling from the concrete, indicated how little time was left before Kaelen broke through. Aziel, his knees still trembling and his body's mana reserves depleted, leaned his back against the cold wall, closing his eyes. His mind was like a storm; it raced between millennia-forgotten memories and newly awakened abilities.
Lena knelt beside him, her hand placed on Aziel's shoulder. "Are you okay, Aziel? You're pale." Her voice was filled with concern, but her eyes held a similar determination to Aziel's. The other survivors around them whispered in fear, listening to the sounds emanating from the barrier. Small children clung to their mothers' skirts, looking at Aziel with innocent eyes, as if he were a magical being who would end all their suffering. These gazes intensified the burden on Aziel's shoulders. He was their hope.
Aziel spoke with difficulty, breathing heavily. "I'm fine… just running out of mana. But I have a plan."
His plan bordered on madness, but he had no other choice. The infinite transformation ability not only allowed him to reshape matter and energy, but also held the potential to absorb mana, even to draw it from others. If he could absorb Kaelen's mana, he would not only heal himself but also gain the Shadow Sentinel's power. This was risky, as Kaelen's mana was likely not pure; it contained dark and corrupted elements. However, this was their only way to survive.
"What are we going to do?" Lena asked, her gaze fixed on the barriers. The creaking was now more frequent, the cracks more pronounced.
"I need to absorb his mana," Aziel said, his voice faint. "But you need to buy me time for that. And you have to distract him."
Lena's eyes widened. "Absorb his mana? Is that… isn't that dangerous?"
"Very dangerous," Aziel affirmed. "But we have no other choice."
Lena quickly nodded. "Okay. What should we do?" She wasn't questioning Aziel's plan, only how she could help. This trust sent a small warmth through Aziel's soul.
"When the barrier breaks, I know Kaelen will head straight for me. At that moment, make as much noise as you can, distract him. It should be enough to startle him." Aziel paused for a moment. "Then, put some distance between us. I don't know what will happen when I draw the mana."
Lena quickly turned to the other survivors and briefly explained Aziel's instructions. Their faces showed fear, but also the hope Aziel had given them and a strong instinct to survive. Even the children, hearing the whispers, nodded as if wanting to help Aziel no matter what.
The sound from outside grew increasingly violent. It was no longer just creaking, but the tearing of metal and the crumbling of concrete. A few seconds later, with a colossal crash, Aziel's mana-iron barrier shattered. When the dust cloud cleared, Kaelen stood in the middle of the metro entrance. Its presence exuded a dark aura that filled the corridor. Its eyes were like deep wells, filled with dancing, corrupted energy. Its wings burned fiercely, darkening the shadows even further.
Kaelen, without hesitation, moved directly towards Aziel. Its body seemed to glide through the air, claws extended and ready. Aziel closed his eyes, focusing on that old, familiar whisper in his mind. Mana. The essence of all. Transformation. This time, instead of pushing mana outwards, he would try to draw it inwards, from Kaelen.
Just as Kaelen was about to reach Aziel, a scream erupted from Lena. "Now!"
The other survivors joined her. Shouts, yells, sounds of debris being slammed against the ground… Each did their best to distract Kaelen. Some of the youths threw small metal pieces they found at Kaelen. These objects had no effect as they struck Kaelen's shadow body, but this sudden and unexpected chaos caused the Shadow Sentinel to pause for a moment.
Kaelen's eyes turned to the small, noisy mortals. This audacious behavior was an insult to it. But this brief pause created a vital window of time for Aziel.
Aziel focused his mind on Kaelen with all his might. The core of the mana within him expanded like a hungry beast. The dark mana radiating from Kaelen began to be drawn by Aziel's will, flowing towards his body. It was like an icy river coursing through his veins; filling every cell, yet causing pain. Kaelen suddenly stumbled. Threads of purplish, dark energy stretched from its body towards Aziel, as if its very soul was being pulled.
Kaelen roared in agony. Its voice was filled with astonishment and fury. "What are you doing, mortal? Stealing my power?!"
Aziel's body trembled. Kaelen's mana was not pure; it contained millennia of darkness, the screams of annihilation, and the corrupted power of the Divine Sovereigns. This mana, as it collided with Aziel's own pure mana, created an internal conflict. Aziel's mind was flooded with Kaelen's memories and experiences: the destruction of galaxies, the extinguishing of stars, the subjugation of countless worlds… It was like drowning. But Aziel had to endure it.
Lena and the others formed a circle around Aziel, retreating in fear. The dark energy emanating from Kaelen burned even their skin. Children cried, but Lena protected them. "Keep going, Aziel! Come on!"
Aziel's eyes opened. His amber irises were now streaked with dark purple lines. There was pain on his face, but also the expression of newly discovered power. Kaelen struggled helplessly, every bit of its mana being drawn by Aziel. The Shadow Sentinel's dark form began to shrink, becoming fainter. Its wings disintegrated, the deadly glow in its eyes fading.
"Stop! Release me!" Kaelen whimpered, its voice growing weaker. "You cannot bear this power! It will consume you!"
Aziel pulled Kaelen's mana into himself with all his might. He felt a new wave of power surge through his body. His muscles tensed, his bones strengthened, and most importantly, his mind became clear. As Kaelen's mana merged with his infinite transformation ability, the corrupted elements were purified, transformed into pure mana. This proved that Aziel was a purifier, a transformer.
Finally, Kaelen's body completely disintegrated, leaving behind only dark dust and the remnants of extinguished mana. Aziel staggered for a moment, but this time he did not fall. He stood tall. His power was far greater than before. The weariness was gone from his face, replaced by a deep determination and an incomprehensible wisdom. The purple streaks in his eyes were more pronounced, as if a legacy of Kaelen's power.
The survivors watched Aziel in silence. He had transformed from a savior into something akin to a divine being. His presence was now filled not just with physical strength, but with cosmic power.
Aziel took a deep breath. He could feel the residual mana from Kaelen in the air. He could use this power in new ways. He snapped his fingers. Loose cables and broken pipes in the metro tunnel began to come together under the influence of mana. The old, dilapidated metro tunnel suddenly began to renew itself, to stabilize. The tunnel walls strengthened, and collapsing sections were repaired. This was a use of mana that halted destruction and brought life back.
Lena looked around in astonishment. "You… you're repairing this place."
Aziel nodded. "Infinite transformation. It can be used not just for destruction, but for creation as well." His eyes turned to Lena and the others. "This place is safe for now. But it won't last long."
In the ancient hall of the Divine Sovereigns, Eon's rage began to shake the hall. The sudden disappearance of Kaelen's mana signature had horrified him. Another Mana Guardian, a Shadow Sentinel no less, had been obliterated by a mortal. And this mortal had absorbed their power.
"This is unacceptable!" Eon roared, his voice echoing throughout the universe. "A mortal stealing our powers? Disrupting our order?"
Umbra spoke with a trembling voice. "His mana absorption ability… It's dangerous even for a Mana Guardian, Eon. We must stop him."
Terra was calmer, but the tension in her voice was palpable. "The blood pact… It seems the power of his ancestors has indeed been inherited. This noble blood is a threat to our very existence."
Eon rose from his throne. The starlight radiating from his eyes illuminated the hall. "This is their final warning. Aziel threatens the balance of the universe. And we will maintain that balance."
Eon raised his hand, and on the galactic map, the planet where Aziel was located glowed. "This time, we will send our most powerful. They will not only hunt him but eradicate the root of his existence. He will not be a threat to us, but an example."
Aziel, in the metro tunnel, looked out at the horizon, filled with his newly acquired power. He could feel the power flowing through his body, giving him limitless potential. But this potential also brought with it great responsibility and an even greater threat. Though he couldn't predict how devastating the Divine Sovereigns' next move would be, he knew this war had moved beyond personal vendetta. This was a war for the future of the universe.
Lena approached Aziel. "What do we do now, Aziel?"
Aziel turned his eyes to Lena. "We prepare."
The ancient legacy within him whispered: This is just the beginning. Greater secrets, greater wars await you. Aziel was determined to shatter the divine laws of the universe and usher in a new era. But he knew that on this journey, he would also determine the fates of both his old friends and foes. The Cosmic Rebirth, the true struggle of the Lord of Mana, was now beginning.