The power node hummed with renewed energy, casting a pale blue glow that pushed back the oppressive darkness. Holographic data streams flowed around Marco as he interfaced with the ancient system, his form more solid, more defined than Eli had ever seen it.

  "Access granted," Marco announced, his voice deeper, richer with the influx of power. "Retrieving cultivation archives. Shattered Chain Path techniques confirmed."

  Eli kept his makeshift weapon ready, eyes darting to every shadow. The fallen sentinel lay motionless, its corrupted core now just crystalline dust scattered across the floor. But its collapse had sent a signal through the dungeon's network. Something would come to investigate.

  "How much time do we have?" Eli asked, his voice tight.

  "Calculating response patterns based on dungeon activity," Marco replied, still sifting through the data. "Estimated window: thirty-seven minutes before adaptive countermeasures. However, that assumes standard protocols. If the network prioritizes this intrusion..." He left the implication hanging.

  Eli approached the power node, drawn to its pulsing energy. Even with the binding spell constricting his meridians, he could feel the node's power calling to him, resonating with something deep within. The corrupted golden threads around his neck tightened in response, as if sensing his interest.

  "Display the techniques," he said, fighting through the pain. "If we only have thirty-seven minutes, we need to make them count."

  The holographic display shifted, revealing complex diagrams of meridian pathways, cultivation cycles, and energy circulation methods. At the center was a spinning model of a human figure, golden chains wrapped around its body in patterns that mirrored Eli's binding spell with unsettling accuracy.

  "The Shattered Chain Path," Marco explained, "was developed during the Rectification Era as a response to the Five Family Suppression. When the Council of Elders feared the rising power of certain bloodlines, they devised methods to bind their cultivation potential."

  The hologram zoomed in on the chains, highlighting specific points where they intersected with the body's major meridians.

  "These bindings, similar to your spell but less corrupted, were meant to be permanent. But a group of bound cultivators discovered that the very chains meant to restrict them could be used as conduits for a different form of cultivation."

  Eli's eyes narrowed as he studied the technique. "They used the chains against their creators?"

  "In essence, yes. Rather than fighting the bindings directly, they learned to redirect energy through them, using the chains themselves as meridian extensions. The technique became known as the 'Reversed Flow Method'."

  The hologram demonstrated, showing energy moving counter to natural circulation, flowing into the chains rather than fighting against them. Where the energy touched the bindings, they glowed not with restriction but with channeled power.

  "And this will work with my binding spell?" Eli asked, unconsciously touching the corrupted threads at his neck.

  Marco's expression grew somber. "Your binding spell is... different. More complex. The corruption element adds unpredictable variables. But the foundational theory remains applicable."

  Eli studied the circulation pattern intently. "Show me the first step."

  The hologram shifted to display a seated figure, hands positioned in a specific mudra. Energy flowed into the chains at precisely controlled junctures, creating a feedback loop that gradually expanded the body's energy capacity despite the restrictions.

  "The first technique is called 'Chain Link Resonance.' It requires precise control of your limited energy reserves. Instead of pushing against the binding, you surrender to it completely, then redirect your energy in a spiraling pattern through these seven points."

  The display highlighted seven specific locations where meridians and binding chains intersected. Eli committed them to memory—right wrist, left collarbone, center of the chest, lower abdomen, right hip, left knee, and finally, the base of the spine.

  "By creating resonance between these points, you establish a secondary circulation path that bypasses the primary blockages. It won't remove the binding spell, but it will create channels around it."

  Eli nodded, already positioning himself according to the diagram. "How long does it take to see results?"

  Marco paused, calculating. "For traditional practitioners, three months of daily practice. However, your Argentum bloodline might accelerate the process significantly."

  A distant sound—metal scraping against stone—echoed through the chamber. Eli's head snapped up, eyes scanning the shadows.

  "Something's coming," he whispered.

  Marco's hologram flickered as he diverted resources to scanning. "Movement detected in the northeast corridor. Multiple signatures. Their pattern suggests... purposeful exploration rather than random patrol."

  "The dungeon's looking for us."

  "Indeed. We should relocate immediately. I've downloaded the essential techniques, but we need a secure location to implement them properly."

  Eli rose to his feet, gripping his weapon tighter. "Lead the way. Southwest exit?"

  "Affirmative. That route shows minimal corruption spread and connects to a maintenance tunnel we can use to circle back toward the workshop."

  As they moved toward the exit, Eli glanced back at the power node, now pulsing with renewed purpose. "What about this? Won't they trace the power signature?"

  "Already addressed," Marco replied with the faintest hint of pride. "I've rerouted secondary systems to mask our usage patterns and established a degradation protocol that will gradually reduce output over the next six hours, making it appear as a natural fluctuation rather than deliberate activation."

  Eli raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. "Clever."

  "I was designed to be adaptable," Marco stated simply.

  They slipped into the southwest corridor just as the sounds of movement grew louder behind them. Marco's hologram dimmed to minimize visible light, while Eli focused on the Silent Step technique—a basic cultivation method for dampening sound that worked even with his restricted energy.

  The passage narrowed, forcing Eli to turn sideways at certain points. The walls here felt different—less corrupted, more like original Aethel architecture. Ancient glyphs carved into the stone emitted a faint, barely perceptible glow when Eli passed.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "The glyphs are responding to your bloodline," Marco noted, his voice lowered to match their stealth. "This sector was reserved for Argentum Clan members. Only those with the right genetic markers can activate certain pathways."

  "Useful," Eli muttered, then paused as a thought struck him. "Could the binding spell be interfering with these recognition systems?"

  Marco considered this. "Possible. The corruption element might be masking your full genetic signature. Another reason to implement the Reversed Flow Method as soon as possible."

  They continued in silence, navigating the twisting corridors with Marco's guidance. Twice they had to backtrack when passages ended in collapsed rubble, and once they waited in tense silence as something large moved through a parallel corridor, its footsteps causing dust to rain from the ceiling.

  After what felt like hours but was likely only twenty minutes, they reached a small chamber that Marco identified as a maintenance hub. Unlike the grand power node room, this space was cramped and utilitarian, designed for Aethel workers rather than ceremony.

  "We can rest here briefly," Marco said, scanning the room. "No immediate threats detected, and the walls contain shielding elements that may obscure your energy signature."

  Eli slumped against a wall, feeling the adrenaline drain from his system. The binding spell pulsed with dull, persistent pain, a reminder of their precarious situation. He closed his eyes, trying to recall the Chain Link Resonance technique in detail.

  "Begin with the seventh breath cycle," Marco instructed softly, seeming to read his thoughts. "Focus your awareness on the first link point—right wrist."

  Eli nodded, positioning his hands in the mudra shown in the hologram. He inhaled deeply, counting to seven, then held the breath for seven counts before exhaling for another seven. With each cycle, he directed his awareness to the point where the binding spell's corrupted threads crossed his right wrist meridian.

  At first, nothing happened. The binding spell continued its steady, painful constriction. But on the fourth breath cycle, something shifted—a tiny spark of resonance, like striking a tuning fork. The corrupted thread at his wrist vibrated slightly, its golden glow momentarily brightening.

  Eli's eyes snapped open.

  "It responded," he whispered, unable to keep the excitement from his voice.

  Marco's hologram brightened slightly. "Excellent. Your Argentum bloodline is accelerating the process, as I hypothesized. Continue to the second link point."

  For the next hour, Eli practiced the Chain Link Resonance technique, moving his focus systematically through all seven intersection points. Each responded slightly differently—some requiring more breath cycles, others resonating almost immediately. The binding spell reacted with varying levels of resistance, tightening painfully when he pushed too hard, relaxing marginally when he found the exact right frequency.

  By the time he reached the final point at the base of his spine, a faint but distinct secondary circulation had established itself—not powerful enough to bypass the binding spell entirely, but creating small channels through which energy could flow more freely.

  "Remarkable progress," Marco observed, analyzing the changes. "Your meridian efficiency has increased by approximately 11% in a single session. At this rate, we could see significant improvements within days rather than months."

  Eli rolled his shoulders, feeling the difference. His body felt lighter somehow, the binding spell's weight less oppressive. "What's the next technique?"

  "The Golden Thread Inversion," Marco replied, displaying a new set of mudras and breathing patterns. "Once you've established the secondary circulation, you can begin to invert the binding spell's energy flow, essentially turning its suppressive force back on itself."

  The hologram demonstrated the technique—a more complex pattern involving not just breath control but precise visualization exercises. Where Chain Link Resonance created pathways around the binding, Golden Thread Inversion began the process of repurposing the binding itself.

  "This is where the risk increases," Marco warned. "The original Shattered Chain Path dealt with standardized bindings. Your spell contains corruption elements that may react unpredictably to inversion attempts."

  Eli studied the technique, noting the points where it interacted directly with the binding threads. "What's the worst that could happen?"

  "Theoretical extremes include meridian collapse, energy backflow resulting in cultivation deviation, or triggering failsafe mechanisms within the binding spell itself."

  "And the best case?"

  "Gradual neutralization of the suppressive function, allowing for true cultivation progress while maintaining the spell's physical presence. The chains remain, but their purpose is subverted."

  Eli weighed the risks. The binding spell was slowly killing him anyway, constricting his potential, limiting his ability to defend himself in a place that grew more dangerous by the hour. The choking sensation around his throat, the constant fight for every scrap of energy—it wasn't sustainable.

  "I'll take the risk," he decided firmly.

  Marco's hologram flickered, indicating either uncertainty or calculation. "We should return to the workshop first. It provides superior shielding from detection and contains equipment that could help monitor your condition during the attempt."

  Eli nodded, pushing himself to his feet. The brief rest and practice session had restored some of his energy, but he remained acutely aware of their vulnerability. "How far to the workshop from here?"

  "Approximately forty-three minutes at standard pace, accounting for necessary detours around high-corruption zones."

  "And our friends from the power node?"

  Marco expanded his scanning field. "Multiple entities still searching the sector we vacated. Their pattern suggests coordination but limited tracking capability. They appear to be following energy residue rather than direct signals."

  "Then we stay off their radar," Eli said, adjusting his grip on his makeshift weapon. "Lead the way."

  The return journey proved more challenging than their outward path. Twice they were forced to hide as corrupted sentinels passed nearby, their mechanical limbs clicking against stone floors. Once, they spent fifteen tense minutes pressed into an alcove while something massive—unseen but felt through vibrations in the floor—moved through an adjacent chamber.

  The binding spell seemed to respond to these threats, tightening painfully whenever danger approached, as if deliberately trying to prevent Eli from defending himself. But with each constriction, he now applied the Chain Link Resonance technique, establishing that faint secondary circulation that allowed him to maintain at least minimal energy flow.

  When they finally reached the workshop's hidden entrance, Eli's shoulders sagged with relief. Marco quickly interfaced with the security systems, confirming that nothing had breached their sanctuary during their absence.

  The familiar space, with its workbenches, training area, and dormitory section, felt impossibly safe after the tension of their expedition. Eli collapsed onto his sleeping mat, the binding spell loosening marginally now that immediate danger had passed.

  "Your performance exceeded expected parameters," Marco said, his hologram stabilizing in the workshop's power field. "Particularly your adaptation to the Chain Link Resonance technique. The speed of integration suggests your Argentum bloodline may be more pronounced than initial scans indicated."

  Eli laughed weakly. "Is that your way of saying 'good job'?"

  A brief pause. "Yes. That would be the colloquial equivalent."

  Eli stared at the ceiling, processing everything they'd discovered. The power node's energy signatures, the corrupted sentinel with its impossible cultivation core, the techniques of the Shattered Chain Path—it was almost too much to absorb at once.

  "You should rest before attempting the Golden Thread Inversion," Marco advised. "Your meridians need time to stabilize the new circulation pattern, and fatigue will significantly increase the risk factors."

  Eli nodded, already feeling exhaustion pulling at him. But one question still nagged at his mind.

  "Marco," he said, voice heavy with impending sleep. "The sentinels... you said they shouldn't be able to cultivate. That it defies all known theories."

  "Correct. Cultivation requires a specific biological framework—meridians, dantian, spiritual roots. Mechanical constructs lack these elements entirely."

  "Then how?"

  Marco's hologram dimmed slightly, indicating complex processing. "I have a theory, though it remains unproven. The dungeon itself appears to be evolving, not merely corrupting. It may be developing the ability to mimic biological systems within non-biological entities."

  "Like a disease learning to imitate its host?"

  "A simplified but apt comparison. If my theory is correct, then the dungeon is not merely a place, but an entity—one that is learning, adapting, and potentially... hungry."

  The word hung in the air between them, heavy with implication.

  "Hungry for what?" Eli asked, though he suspected the answer.

  "Energy. Life. Cultivation potential." Marco's voice grew somber. "And you, with your Argentum bloodline, represent a particularly appealing source."

  Eli closed his eyes, feeling the weight of this revelation. "Then we'd better get this binding spell under control. Fast."

  "Indeed," Marco agreed. "Rest now. Tomorrow, we begin the true work of breaking your chains."

  As sleep claimed him, Eli's mind filled with images from the holographic displays—circulation paths, energy flows, and golden chains that could become tools rather than prisons. The binding spell pulsed against his neck, as if sensing his plans, its corrupted threads burning with renewed intensity.

  But now, for the first time since his capture, Eli felt something he had almost forgotten.

  Hope.