It reads:
The Scroll of The Void
"The Void Stone, the key to the endless expanse beyond all reality."
"You who hold this stone have been chosen to wield the power of the void—a force that bends time, space, and matter to your will."
"But beware, for such a power is not without its cost, and only those with the strength to endure will harness its true potential."
These introductory words sent Lucian's heart pounding madly against his rib cage, but he persisted and continued onto the next page.
The Power of the Void
"The Void Stone grants its bearer mastery over the fabric of space, enabling teleportation, dimensional travel, and the manipulation of distance."
"The user can collapse space, walk between worlds, or vanish into the void itself."
"To fuse with this artifact, you must merge your Magus Core with its essence, binding your soul to the infinite void."
"Begin with deep meditation upon the stone, allowing it to resonate with your energy."
"Once attuned, you must absorb its power in stages, as even the smallest misstep could tear your body and soul apart!"
"So, it really is an artifact. An artifact that I can fuse with!" Lucian exclaimed in shock but quickly hushed himself as he cautiously looked around.
He might be sitting atop the branch of a tree, but if he got noticed by the predators roaming around, he'd be in serious trouble.
He had to keep quiet.
Still, Lucian was excited by the prospect.
He had never heard of such a powerful artifact before, and it seemed almost fictional to believe.
Yet, it all made sense now.
Only an artifact of this magnitude could have drawn so much attention, enough for other sects to gather all their forces and fight for its possession.
But still, Lucian calmed his racing heart as he read the last few words written on the scroll.
WARNING!
"This fusion comes with a price: The more you draw upon the void, the more your connection with reality fades."
"Lose yourself in its depths, and you may never return."
The words caused Lucian's heart to thump faster, but he understood what was written.
Perhaps it meant that the void stone's power had to be used carefully, as overusing it might make him lose himself.
This wasn't something new to Lucian.
There were cases of people going mad from drawing too much power from their artifacts—more than their bodies and minds could handle.
In such cases, they often ended up dead or in a similar dire fate.
The same could apply to the artifact before him, and he wouldn't be surprised if its consequences were even worse than normal.
He understood the warning but believed he could manage it.
And that's what prompted him to move to the final words written on the scroll.
The Path Forward
"The Void Stone alone is but a fragment of the greater power that awaits you."
"To unlock the full potential of the scrolls, you must seek the next key: The Power Stone!'
"Only with both artifacts in your possession can you begin the true journey of Ascension."
The Power Stone lies in the far reaches, guarded by forces that crave its strength, and a map to it is the Void Stone in your hands.
When a sufficient level of connection with the Void Stone is attained, you will sense the link to the Power Stone and be guided to it.
SEEK IT!
For only through the Power Stone can the path to greater knowledge be revealed."
"Without it, your journey will remain incomplete."
These were the last words on the scroll, and Lucian stared at them for a long while, his brows furrowed, before he eventually wrapped up the scroll and safely kept it within his pocket.
A couple of questions lingered in his mind, along with some realizations.
The first thing he understood was the immense power of the Void artifact. It was definitely beyond the scope of even the Dmitriv realm itself.
It was a universal power, a universal treasure, whose might he couldn't fully comprehend.
Now it made sense why the supreme sects would fight tooth and nail to possess it.
While he had no idea how his master had found the stone in the first place, he was also puzzled as to why his master didn't pursue the second stone.
According to what was written, the Void Stone wasn't the only one. There was another stone called the Power Stone.
If the Void Stone held such power, why hadn't his master made any attempt to search for it?
Instead, he had decided to open up a sect and teach orphans.
It just seemed like something was off somewhere, but Lucian was quick to push the thought to the back of his mind.
Right now, he possessed the Void Stone and an artifact he could fuse with.
That was all he needed for now.
When his strength improved, maybe then he could focus on finding more information about why his master had never sought out the other stones.
"Now I have an artifact to fuse with. One that is exceptionally rare and capable of great power."
"All I need to do now is fuse with it, then I'll try hunting down some beasts and obtaining a few cores that I can exchange for coins."
"Once I gain the coins, I'll be able to move to a better city, get better clothes, and find a proper home to live in—maybe even an inn."
"Then, I can decide to join a faction or another sect, hunt down more beasts, and buy more powerful equipment while improving my strength and gathering information of the sects powers"
"When I reach a sufficient level, then I'll begin my revenge!"
"I can see my bright future once more."
"It hasn't been denied to me yet..." Lucian mused, and now his dull blue eyes slowly began flashing with new light.
Now he could see that there was hope—a chance for growth and a way to achieve his goals.
All he needed now was time to get everything in place