Chapter 174: Time is Short
The ceiling didn’t respond.
It just stared back, off-white and cracked, the paint chipping slightly near the light fixture like it had been there longer than anyone else. Merlin blinked once, then again, as his arm slid off his face.
His ribs hurt. Not broken. Just bruised in that way that made you rethink every single breath.
Nathan was still in the armchair. Still scrolling on that battered black tablet he swore wasn’t outdated.
"You look like you lost a fight to a boulder," Nathan said, finally glancing up. "Did the mysterious bastard actually let you hit him this time?"
"No," Merlin grunted, dragging himself upright, "but I managed to stay standing for half a second longer than last time."
Nathan whistled low. "Progress."
Merlin leaned forward, elbows on his knees, face in his hands. The ache settled behind his eyes. Not pain. Just too many things happening at once. Body adapting. Mana stabilizing. Pressure residue still wrapped around his bones like static that wouldn’t shake off.
’He said I’m halfway. Halfway to what, exactly? Becoming someone like him? Becoming someone like... Rathan?’
A soft chime echoed at the edge of his thoughts.
[System Sync: Complete]
[New Ability Tree Unlocked: Memory-Bound Techniques – Stage 1]