Zane hovered midair as the golden key circled him like a predator with a purpose. The aura it gave off was ancient, burning, and watching—as if judging whether he was worthy or just another fool about to be disintegrated.
> [SYSTEM WARNING: Energy Saturation Reached]
Initiating Artifact Integration...
Proceeding with Full Absorption.
Zane barely had time to scream a sarcastic "Wait—!" before the key jolted forward and pierced into his chest like light itself.
He gasped as golden energy seared through his veins, threads of it intertwining with his Void essence. It felt like his insides were being rewritten and duct-taped back together by ancient gods with no chill. Shadows and light twisted together in impossible ways.
The key shattered into a million golden fragments... and disappeared.
Zane dropped to the ground, panting. Just before his knees hit the cracked stone—
> [Artifact Integration Complete]
Status: Bound to Host
Warning: Artifact is incomplete. Synchronization level: 52%.
A faint, glowing key symbol burned onto his forehead for a split second before vanishing from sight.
Zane blinked, then muttered, "...Am I gonna grow extra limbs next?"
Link snorted in his mind. "Nah, but your head might explode if you try unlocking a multiverse with half a key. So, you know, baby steps."
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Inside Zane’s mental space, where his other artifact projections shimmered like ghosts—something new stirred.
Floating in the void of his mind... was the Key.
Golden. Complex. But cracked—incomplete.
It drifted slowly, pulsing with immense locked potential.
Nyx appeared beside him in the mental space, her arms folded. "That thing’s broken," she said dryly. "But also incredibly dangerous."
Zane reached toward it instinctively. As he touched it, a whisper echoed.
> "Find the pieces. Unlock what was sealed. But beware... some locks were meant to never open."
Zane scowled. "That’s reassuring."
Link muttered, "We really need to stop touching things we don’t understand."
Zane opened his eyes in the real world.
Far in the distance, the enemies were still racing toward him.
He rose to his feet, rolled his shoulders, and stared at the oncoming horde.
"Well..." he smirked. "Looks like it’s time for cardio."