The cold stone beneath Aryan's body felt like ice against his skin. Blood seeped from his wounds, pooling around him as he lay collapsed at the gate of the Blade headquarters. His vision blurred, and every breath was a struggle. The battle had taken its toll.
Inside, Kale was fighting for his life, surrounded by enemies. Aryan knew he had to move, to help his friend, but his body refused to obey.
Suddenly, a strange sensation coursed through him. His limbs felt lighter, his skin tougher, and a warmth ignited within him. Confused, he tried to sit up, and to his surprise, he did so with ease.
Memories flashed before his eyes—the battles he had fought, the enemies he had defeated. The ice user in the forest, So Each victory had left a mark, a residue of their power.
Realization dawned on him: he could absorb the abilities of those he defeated.
A surge of energy pulsed through him. Flames danced along his arms, his skin shimmered with a hardened sheen, and his muscles twitched with newfound speed. He had become a fusion of the powers he had conquered.
Without hesitation, Aryan rose to his feet. The pain was still there, but it was distant, overshadowed by the adrenaline and the power coursing through him.
He sprinted towards the headquarters, the world around him a blur. The bodies of fallen Blade members littered the path, a testament to Kale's relentless fight.
Inside, chaos reigned. Kale was on his knees, bloodied and exhausted, surrounded by a horde of enemies. One of them raised a blade, aiming for Kale's heart.
Time seemed to slow.
Aryan moved, a blur of motion. In an instant, he was there, grabbing Kale and pulling him away just as the blade descended. The weapon struck the ground, missing its mark.
He carried Kale to a corner, setting him down gently. Kale looked up, eyes wide with surprise and relief.
"Aryan... how?" he whispered.
"No time to explain," Aryan replied, turning to face the approaching enemies.
The Blade members hesitated, taken aback by Aryan's sudden appearance. But their hesitation was brief. With a collective roar, they charged.
Aryan raised his hand, and a wave of ice erupted, freezing several attackers in their tracks. Others broke free, only to be met with a barrage of fiery blasts and lightning-fast strikes.
He moved with precision, combining the powers he had absorbed into a deadly dance. Flames scorched, ice immobilized, and his hardened fists shattered weapons and bones alike.
One by one, the enemies fell, until only the formidable lieutenant remained—the one Kale had struggled against.
Aryan stood tall, his eyes locked onto the last opponent. The air crackled with tension.
The battle was far from over.