A wave of blue light exploded from Julian’s wrist, slamming into the black gate of the Monastery of the False Nirvana with a force capable of leveling a skyscraper. The sound of the explosion wasn't just a physical bang, but a scream of colliding Aetherium energy. The giant door shattered into shards of ice and metal, opening a path toward the thicker darkness within.
"Julian! Slow down! Your body won't be strong enough to sustain that much energy output continuously!" Elara shouted, her voice nearly drowned out by the hiss of energy radiating from Julian’s body.
"I don't have time to slow down, Elara!" Julian replied without looking back. His steps were steady as he entered the monastery's main hall. "That hourglass keeps running. If I stop now, I’ll die a failure."
"But you’re startin
