"Damn it… I don't remember her being this powerful," Kael'thus growled under his breath, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth as he knelt. Gritting his teeth, he yanked a diamond-shaped crystal from a pouch hidden to his side.
With a surge of mana, the gem flared to life—and instantly cracked, releasing wisps of crimson vapor.
The red fumes spiraled into his body like hungry spirits, instantly sealing his internal bleeding and dulling the pain. Warmth spread through his limbs, and for a fleeting moment, he felt like his younger self—brimming with clarity, energy, and ruthless purpose.
This was no ordinary gem. It was a Vhalka Shard.
A rare relic mined only in the depths of the Khalidon Archipelago on the distant Tou-oh Continent—home to the merfolk and the sleeping Primordial Beast known as Vhalka the White. The Shards, when fed precise mana, could grant instantaneous healing and temporary battle resurgence. Extremely precious and limited in supply.
