Darkness pressed in from all sides. Celis’s body ached, her breaths shallow as she pushed herself up from the cold stone floor. The temple walls were inscribed with ancient runes, pulsing softly with the immense mana surrounding her. She had escaped Sevios—at least for now—but her situation was far from safe.

  Her fingers trembled as she traced the glyphs etched into the ground. The mana here was overwhelming, so dense it felt like it had a will of its own. It seeped into her skin, into her very soul, threatening to drown her in its infinite depths. Yet, she could not leave. Her abilities were spent, and her pursuers were undoubtedly tracking her every move.

  A cold sweat trickled down her neck as she steadied her breathing. She had to recover.

  Then, a whisper. Not from outside, but from within.

  Devour it.

  Celis gasped, clutching her chest as a sharp pain shot through her. The voice was ancient, primal—like the echo of a forgotten force lingering in the depths of her being. It spoke not in words, but in instinct.

  Her body reacted before her mind could protest. A surge of hunger unlike anything she had ever felt consumed her, and the mana in the temple trembled. It spiraled toward her, drawn in by an unseen force. Celis’s vision blurred as an unbearable heat erupted within her, her veins igniting with raw, untamed energy.

  Then—

  Power.

  It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. The dense mana no longer suffocated her; it became a part of her, feeding her strength instead of crushing her under its weight. She could feel it—every thread of energy within the temple bending to her will. It was intoxicating, overwhelming, and terrifying all at once.

  Her knees buckled as her mind caught up with what was happening. Mana Devourer.

  A forbidden ability. One that should not exist.

  She had heard whispers of it in old legends—of a power so unnatural that not even gods could erase it. A force that could consume mana itself, turning the universe’s energy into one’s own weapon. But no being had ever awakened it. The probability was infinitesimally low, so close to zero that it was nothing more than myth.

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  And yet—she had done it.

  Celis’s breath came in ragged gasps as she pressed her trembling hands against the cold floor. The weight of her newfound power settled over her, but she had no time to revel in it. A pulse of danger rippled through the air, and she turned sharply toward the temple’s entrance.

  Sevios was here.

  The doors trembled before shattering into dust, and the overwhelming presence of the ruler of the First Universe filled the sacred space. Golden eyes burned with something between amusement and intrigue as he stepped inside, his aura suffocating. The very air around him twisted and bent, as if reality itself feared his existence.

  Celis’s pulse pounded in her ears, but this time, she did not step back.

  He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over her before his lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Interesting,” he mused, taking a slow step forward. “You’ve awakened something even I cannot erase.”

  Her fingers clenched into fists. “Stay back.”

  Sevios chuckled, the sound both rich and dark. “Or what? Will you try to fight me, little fugitive?”

  A flicker of doubt crossed her mind, but then she felt it—the mana around her bending to her will. For the first time, she was not helpless before him. The realization steadied her, gave her a sliver of confidence.

  She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with unwavering defiance. “I won’t let you control me.”

  His expression darkened ever so slightly, though the amusement remained. “Control you?” He took another step, closing the distance between them. “Celis, you were never meant to be free.”

  A surge of power burst from her palm, tendrils of stolen mana lashing out like whips of pure energy. The temple trembled under the force, the very walls cracking under the raw pressure.

  For the first time, Celis attacked Sevios.

  And for the first time, he looked genuinely entertained.

  His hand moved, impossibly fast, fingers brushing through the mana she had unleashed as if it were nothing more than air. The energy dissipated, unraveling in his grasp. He sighed, almost disappointed. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

  Celis bit her lip. It’s not enough. I need more.

  The temple’s mana continued to swirl around her, filling her veins, making her stronger. But deep down, she knew it still wasn’t enough to truly stand against him.

  Not yet.

  Sevios studied her for a long moment before shaking his head. “I could take you now,” he said casually. “But where’s the fun in that?”

  The pressure in the room lessened, but the intensity of his gaze did not. “You’ll come to me when you realize the truth.”

  Celis held her breath, unwilling to ask what he meant.

  He turned away, as if the battle had already been decided. “Enjoy your fleeting rebellion, Celis.” His voice was calm, confident. “Because in the end, you belong to me.”

  Then, as if he had never been there at all, he was gone.

  Celis collapsed to her knees, her body trembling—not just from exhaustion, but from the weight of his words.

  She had power now. But would it ever be enough?