The night had fallen gently over the Mythic Base. Outside, soft wind brushed against the energy barriers that pulsed faintly beneath the twilight sky. Inside his room — dimly lit by the cold blue lamps mounted on the stone walls — Arslan sat on his bed, restless.
The silver embroidery on his dark-gray bedding glimmered faintly, mirroring the unease in his heart. Scrolls lay scattered near his bookshelf, and the metallic locker hummed with residual energy from earlier training.
Suddenly…
A whisper echoed in his mind.
> Kar'Thæl (soft, low voice): "We've spent 36 days together, Arslan… I think it's time to make our bond stronger."
Arslan sat up straight, eyes narrowing.
> Arslan (cautious): "What do you mean?"
> Kar'Thæl (with a smirk): "It's time… I'll fuse a small part of my power within you."
A sharp silence followed. Then Arslan stood, his voice uncertain, but steady:
> Arslan: "You're going to give me your power? How? What's the process?"
> Kar'Thæl: "Go to the training ground. I'll show you."
Without hesitation, Arslan grabbed his cloak, crossed the quiet corridor, and made his way down through the solid, arcane-lit halls of the Mythic Base. The guards posted at the corridor entrance bowed respectfully — they could feel the intensity in him.
As Arslan entered the secluded training ground beneath the main hall, glowing sigils lit up on the walls, sensing his arrival.
> Kar'Thæl (echoing): "Now…"
From within Arslan, Kar'Thæl's demonic form emerged in a swirl of black and flame-red smoke — horns curling, eyes blazing.
> Kar'Thæl (grinning): "I'm going to give you some of my essence."
> Arslan: "I'm ready. Let's do this."
The ground pulsed. Kar'Thæl suddenly lunged forward — not as an attack, but to merge. His body twisted into chains of flame and shadow, and plunged into Arslan's chest.
At once, Arslan gasped.
His knees bent slightly from the pressure.
Red light burst from his eyes. His hands morphed — fingers elongated, skin hardening into obsidian-colored claws like Kar'Thæl's.
> Arslan (struggling): "Aghh... this... hurts—"
> Kar'Thæl (inside his mind, calm): "Control it. Don't resist."
With effort, Arslan gritted his teeth, straightened his stance, and focused.
Within seconds, the pain subsided… replaced by a rush of energy — deep, dark, alive.
> Kar'Thæl: "Now... I can control your hands at will. Your power is doubled."
> Arslan: "I feel something, but not much… How can it be double?"
> Kar'Thæl: "Then test it. Use your Black Halo. Aim at all the dummies… with low power."
Arslan raised his newly transformed hands.
Dark energy began swirling around him, forming a circular pattern of crackling aura. He exhaled slowly…
> Arslan: "Black… Halo."
BOOM—!
A shockwave burst out. Every dummy on the far side of the arena exploded simultaneously — their wooden limbs shattered, flying into walls.
Silence.
Arslan stood still, shocked. He didn't feel drained. Not even a little.
> Arslan (amazed): "Black Halo was never this powerful. And… I didn't lose any stamina."
> Kar'Thæl: "Exactly. And listen carefully — that was only a fraction of what you now hold."
There was a moment of stillness. Then Kar'Thæl's tone shifted — low and intrigued.
> Kar'Thæl: "I want to tell you something... This is our first fusion, yet… you're still standing."
> Arslan (blinking): "You mean I should have… collapsed?"
> Kar'Thæl: "Yes. My power always overwhelms the vessel. Every host has fallen unconscious after receiving just a taste of me."
> Arslan (quietly): "I didn't feel anything like that. Just some pain at the start… then it was smooth."
> Kar'Thæl (serious): "…Then it's your blood. Something within you is… resisting my corruption. I can't explain it. But you're more than just a vessel."
The words echoed.
Something about it hit Arslan deeper than expected.
He wasn't just holding back Kar'Thæl…
He was absorbing him.
Suddenly, Arslan looked at his hands — claws now returned to normal. But a faint crimson shimmer still lingered.
> Arslan (quietly): "Then let's repeat it."
And they did.
Over and over for the next few hours, Arslan let Kar'Thæl merge, manipulate, release, and reform through him. Each attempt came smoother. Stronger. Faster.
The training ground was soon filled with shattered remnants of dummies and trails of black scorch marks.
The lamps around the area flickered nervously as if recognizing a rising threat.
Eventually, Arslan — breathing calmly — lowered his arms.
> Kar'Thæl: "That's enough for today. Even your body needs rest, no matter how capable."
> Arslan (grinning slightly): "For once… I agree with you."
The two returned to Arslan's room inside the Mythic Base.
Kar'Thæl faded back within. Arslan unwrapped his cloak, tossed it on the locker, and fell onto his bed.
He looked once at the twilight outside his small window — the protective barrier shimmered faintly around the Mythic Base.
Then…
Sleep took him.