Godslayer's Legacy: THE PATH TO SUPREMACY

The faint glow of mana crystals illuminated Kovar's face as he pored over yet another ancient manuscript. His gloved fingers traced faded runes etched into the brittle parchment, his amber glass dome flickering in the dim chamber.

The research chamber had become a battlefield—scrolls scattered across the floor, alchemical vials bubbling faintly on side tables, and sigils etched hastily into stone slabs lining the walls.

In the center of the room, Rui sat cross-legged on a mana isolation platform, his silver eyes half-closed as he focused inward. Faint golden threads glimmered beneath his skin, pulsing softly in rhythm with his core.

"Another attempt," Kovar muttered, his voice edged with exhaustion.

He poured a viscous, translucent green liquid into a crystalline injector and stepped toward Rui. The needle hissed as it released its contents directly into Rui's sternum, aimed precisely at his fractured core.

For a moment, the golden threads flared brightly, their glow spreading outward like ripples on a pond. Rui clenched his jaw, gripping the edges of the platform as heat surged through his chest.

Then—just as quickly—the glow dimmed. The fractures remained.

Kovar slammed the injector onto the table, its glass shattering. His gloved hand trembled briefly before he steadied himself.

"It's no use," he said through gritted teeth. "Every solution… every technique… the golden threads reject them all."

Rui opened his silver eyes, his expression calm despite the tension in the air. "You've done more than anyone could have, Kovar. You're not failing—I just might not be… fixable."

Kovar turned sharply, his glass dome flickering with amber frustration. "Don't say that. Don't even think that."

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the faint hum of mana conduits in the walls.

---

Later that night, Rui stood by the large crystalline window of his chamber, overlooking the sprawling city of Eryndor below. The capital glimmered faintly under the moonlight, its sprawling streets alive with restless energy.

He lifted a hand to his chest, feeling the faint warmth of the golden threads beneath his skin. His Runic Eyes activated on instinct, faint sigils illuminating within his irises as he focused inward.

His core appeared in his mind—a fractured sun, its surface cracked and spiderwebbed, yet still glowing with fierce golden light.

Rui's jaw tightened. I'm holding together… but for how long?

He exhaled sharply and let his eyes dim once more.

---

The following day, the main chamber door creaked open to a main living area where Rui was, and the soft echo of footsteps filled the room. Rui turned to see Grand Mage Caelren and Elira Thorne entering, flanked by two armored council guards.

Kovar followed behind them, his glass dome flickering faintly with unease.

"Rui," Caelren began, his voice steady but heavy with purpose. "We need to talk."

Elira stepped forward, her sharp emerald eyes locking onto Rui. "The city is restless, Rui. The people felt the Abyss—earthquakes, mana storms, and days of silence. And now… silence from us."

Caelren nodded. "They know something happened, Rui. They know you were there. They felt it through the earth, through the sky. But they don't understand. And fear thrives in the absence of understanding."

Rui's silver eyes narrowed faintly. "You want me to speak to them."

"Yes," Elira said firmly. "You must address them. Show them that the danger has passed—or at least, that it's being contained. They need to see strength. They need to see you."

Rui crossed his arms over his chest. "And if I say no?"

Caelren sighed. "Then the rumors will fester. The fear will spread. And eventually, panic will consume them."

For a long moment, Rui was silent. Then he spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"Fine. I'll do it."

---

After the council members departed, Rui sat on the edge of his cot while Kovar adjusted a series of mana stabilization runes carved into a nearby crystal console.

"You don't have to do this, Rui," Kovar said softly. "The Council can spin their own stories. You're not obligated to carry this weight."

Rui shook his head. "No, Kovar. They deserve answers. They felt the Abyss. They felt me down there. I can't hide behind closed doors while they fear shadows in the dark."

Kovar studied Rui for a long moment, the amber light in his glass dome steady and warm.

"You're walking a dangerous path, Rui," Kovar said finally. "But I'll be with you every step."

Rui smirked faintly. "I'd expect nothing less."

As night deepened over Eryndor, Rui stood once again by his window.

Far below, the city pulsed with restless energy—the people of Eryndor waiting, hoping, and fearing the unknown.

In the faint reflection of the window, Rui's Runic Eyes glimmered softly, their sigils flickering with quiet resolve.

They'll know the truth, Rui thought. And they'll see that I won't let this world fall.

Far in the distance, the horizon glimmered with the faint glow of dawn.

Tomorrow, Rui would step onto the grand platform of Eryndor.

Tomorrow, he would speak.