The Unseen Power

Leegna stood at the edge of the barren field, his gaze locked on the dark velvet ring. The power it held intrigued him, but mastering it had proven elusive. He clenched his fist, feeling the faint pulse of energy resonating from the ring. There was more—he could sense it—but the third level remained hidden, just out of reach.

-Aternos' words lingered in his thoughts. "You'll need more power if you're to survive the Guardians," he had said. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a warning.

"I need to understand it," Leegna muttered, focusing on the ring. He activated the first level, feeling the familiar warmth of the barrier surround him. Then, he called forth the second—the glove. It shimmered as it materialized on his right hand, ethereal yet solid, imbued with the power to harm shadows and celestial beings.

But before he could continue testing it, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew heavy, darker, and a familiar shiver ran down his spine. Leegna's right eye, the one marked by his pact with Yuj, began to burn slightly, the blue hue brightening.

The Living Nightmares were near.

-Leegna opened his right eye wider, and the world shifted. The shadows that had been lurking at the edge of the field snapped into focus, grotesque and twisted. But beyond their terrifying forms, he could see something more—faint glows in their cores, their weaknesses.

"So that's where I strike..." he whispered, the power in his eye guiding him.

The Nightmares surged forward, their distorted bodies lurching towards him with lethal intent. Leegna didn't hesitate. The glove on his hand pulsed as he swung, the ethereal energy cutting through the air with precision. Each strike landed perfectly, aimed directly at the weak points his right eye revealed. Shadows dissipated into nothingness as he tore through their ranks.

But the Nightmares were relentless. One of them moved faster than the rest, its sharp tendrils slashing across his back. Pain erupted through Leegna, but he gritted his teeth, activating the barrier in time to deflect the next blow. His eye glowed even brighter, showing him exactly where to counter.

-With each attack, Leegna's movements became sharper, more refined. The glove extended his reach, allowing him to strike at their weak spots before they could retaliate. His precognition from Yuj's pact gave him just enough time to dodge, evade, and strike with lethal force. Yet despite his success, he could feel the strain on his body—the cost of using his eye's power and the glove simultaneously was taking its toll.

The battle wore on, and the Nightmares began to thin. But as the last of them closed in, something stirred deep within the ring. The glove burned hotter, and a new surge of energy welled up from within the velvet band.

Leegna's heart pounded as the third level of the ring stirred, not fully unlocked, but on the brink of awakening. His right eye flashed, and he could sense the immense potential of this new power—something beyond raw strength. But it was not yet time. Not here, not now.

-The Nightmares recoiled, their forms dissolving into the shadows, retreating. Leegna stood panting, the glow of the glove fading as it reverted back into the ring. His eye slowly dimmed, but the remnants of the battle still lingered in his vision.

"I've only scratched the surface," Leegna murmured, staring at the ring. The third level was waiting for him, just beyond his reach.

And Aternos had known it all along.