The assimilation fever had completely subsided. Rune stood amidst the ruined plaza, where Kael's remains had now been fully absorbed, leaving no trace. His body was now a terrifying fusion of bone, flesh, and sharp, obsidian-like crystal plates that absorbed light. His eyes no longer simply glowed crimson; they held a dark, multicolored glint within them, reflecting the synthesized power of three abilities: Flesh Manipulation, Chaotic Kinetics, and Quartz Manipulation. He was a living fortress, a weapon of continuous evolution.
The Dark Spire loomed on the horizon, a dilapidated yet imposing structure, reaching like a skeletal finger piercing the polluted sky. A faint, purplish light still emanated from its peak, a beacon of destruction. Rune knew it was where Vorn was hiding, where the most terrible secrets of the Eternal Gate and the grotesque experiments awaited.
He was no longer merely a hunter. He was an infiltrator, a one-man army. With his new abilities, Rune could now freely transform his body to suit any situation.
Rune decided against a direct assault. He had already drawn enough attention. Now was the time to employ his newfound cunning. He observed the Dark Spire from a distance, recognizing that it was heavily guarded not only by Awakened but also by massive physical obstacles.
He needed a secret entrance.
By utilizing his newly acquired Quartz Manipulation ability, Rune began to alter his outer armor, blending into the surroundings. The dark crystals on his body shifted in color and texture, turning him into a nearly invisible shadow amidst the rubble, fragmented concrete, and rusted metal. His Chaotic Kinetics allowed him to move swiftly and silently, while Flesh Manipulation helped him sustain his continuous transformation and regeneration.
He glided through heavily devastated areas, where buildings had been reduced to nothing more than piles of bricks and scrap metal. He searched for underground tunnels, old sewer systems, or any path that wouldn't be patrolled. He remembered what he'd learned from Seraphina and the stout Awakened: Vorn controlled the main routes, but hidden paths always existed for those who knew how to find them.
After hours of careful movement, Rune found an entrance. It was a partially collapsed sewer tunnel, hidden beneath a colossal concrete slab. The stench of decay and dampness assaulted his nostrils, but Rune was long accustomed to harsh environments. He sensed faint energy fluctuations from within – signs of lower-level mutated creatures that had made this place their lair.
This was the entrance he needed. It was foul, dangerous, but it would lead him deeper into the heart of the Dark Spire without immediate detection. Rune didn't hesitate. He began to slide into the dark tunnel, his body transforming to become more streamlined, his sharp crystal plates retracting to avoid making noise. He was a shadow gliding beneath the earth, advancing towards his final objective.
The infiltration of the Dark Spire had begun.