Chapter 29: Core Formation
Nox slumped against the wall, his body screaming from the inside out. The pain was something else, not like the burning from unsealing his mana channels, but a brutal, grinding pressure in his chest, like someone was trying to crush his ribcage into dust.
He was fading, the edges of his vision going dark again. Shooting himself in the leg had been a desperate move to stay awake through the last round of torture, but he couldn’t pull that trigger again.
’No way I’m blasting another hole in myself,’ he thought. ’Got to find another way.’
His hand shook as it hovered over the bloody mess of his thigh. The bullet hole was still fresh, oozing. He gritted his teeth, took a shallow breath, and jammed his finger right into the wound.
The pain was sharp, a white-hot spike that cut through the foggy haze threatening to pull him under. He twisted his finger, hard, and his whole body jerked.
’Fuck, that hurts,’ he thought, his jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth might crack. It wasn’t a permanent fix, but it was enough to keep him conscious, at least for now. His whole body was trembling, muscles twitching like they were about to give up on him.
The god chat was still there, flickering in his vision like a glitchy TV screen. Lady Nyx was at it again, her words cold and sharp.
[Lady Nyx of the Shadowed Veil] The boy’s body is failing. He’ll die before the core forms. A pity. I expected more resilience.
That comment hit him like a slap, but before he could even process it, another message popped up, this one from Auraelia. Her usual bubbly, cheerleader vibe was gone, replaced by something fierce, almost scary.
The text box glowed brighter, the words carrying a weight that made the whole chat feel like it was holding its breath.
[Auraelia, Goddess of Resilient Sparks] Silence, Nyx. You will NOT speak of Nox’s death. He is stronger than you could ever comprehend, and I will not tolerate your venom. He will rise, and he will outshine every star in your shadowed veil. Speak ill of him again, and I swear by the Eternal Flame, you will regret it.