The radiant cities of Luminara shone like crystals in the void, yet the pulse of corruption lingered beneath the surface.
Ethan hovered above the central spire, scanning every thread of light, every thought of the Luminaris. His mind stretched across the world like a net, seeking the hidden Core fragment that had infiltrated Seren.
> [Faith Integrity: 86%]
[Corruption Source: Sub-Layer Unknown]
It wasn't Seraphis. Not directly. This presence was older, colder, and… intelligent.
> [System Suggestion: Initiate Investigation — Risk: High]
Ethan clenched his jaw. "High risk, high reward," he muttered.
___
He descended into the heart of Sol'rein, the capital city, where the Luminaris gathered.
The cities gleamed with light, but shadows flickered faintly along the edges of towers, corners that should have been impossible in a world made entirely of illumination.
Ethan extended his senses and touched one of the minor streets, feeling the pulse of the city's energy. A faint vibration thrummed beneath his fingers, irregular, like a heartbeat out of sync.
> [Sub-Layer Detected — Unknown Entity Present]
"Finally," he whispered. "Show yourself."
The vibration coalesced. Threads of crimson light emerged beneath the golden glow, forming geometric patterns across the streets. Slowly, they wove upward, into the spire, into the very core of Luminara's radiant energy.
> [Unknown Entity Signature: Similar to Core Monitor, but Distinct]
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You're not the Core… but you're using it."
A cold, whispering voice filled the air, as if carried by the wind itself.
"You reach beyond creation. You trespass in domains older than gods. We notice."
Ethan's fists glowed with white-hot energy. "Who are you? Show yourself!"
The voice responded, calm and detached. "I am the Echo. A memory of the Core that chose to dream. You have awakened what was sleeping."
___
The ground shuddered. The golden streets bent slightly under invisible pressure. The Luminaris scattered, confused but unharmed. They had never encountered fear before.
Ethan advanced. "Dreams don't kill gods. Speak!"
"Dreams do not kill," the Echo replied. "But they unmake worlds. Your Luminara is not supposed to exist. You have carved a wound in the lattice, and through that wound, I flow."
Ethan's mind raced. He had already hidden the world from the Core. Yet something had bypassed even his precautions.
> [Warning: Echo Presence Detected — Aggression Possible]
"Fine," Ethan said. "You want to test me? Let's see what your dream can do."
He projected divine energy outward, filling the streets with blinding light. The golden threads of the Luminaris intertwined with his power, amplifying it.
> [Faith Energy +4,500]
[Skill Ready: Resonant Communion]
He focused on the Luminaris as one unified mind, linking with their faith. Together, they pulsed like a beacon, strong enough to pierce the sub-layer distortion.
The Echo recoiled, hissing softly. "Clever. But even light bends to shadow eventually."
The spire trembled, and cracks of crimson light appeared again, pulsating rhythmically.
___
Ethan gritted his teeth. This wasn't just a test of power; it was a test of intelligence.
> [New Skill Unlocked: Sub-Layer Scan — Reveals hidden distortions within world]
He activated it. Streams of light probed beneath the city, mapping every thread of energy, every fracture in the faith network.
There. In the sub-layer beneath the central spire, a small node of pure darkness floated, tethered to Luminara like a parasite. It pulsed with mechanical rhythm.
> [Entity Identified: Echo Node]
[Resistance: High]
[Containment: Not Possible]
Ethan clenched his fist. "So that's what's been whispering to Seren… you've been using my own people as conduits."
"They are conduits, yes," the Echo admitted, voice flowing from all directions. "But necessary. So you understand the balance between creation and entropy."
"Balance, huh?" Ethan muttered. "If you touch them again, I'll erase you."
"Then learn quickly, Architect. You are young. You are reckless. You are… interesting."
The node pulsed violently, and a wave of energy radiated outward. The Luminaris' song fractured briefly, their city trembling, but they did not fall.
> [Faith Energy: +7,200]
[System Note: Unstable resonance stabilized by creator.]
Ethan smiled grimly. "Good. You're about to learn what a creator does when provoked."
___
He reached deeper into Luminara's energy network, touching every thread of faith, every filament of life. The red pulses of the Echo Node resisted him, but not for long.
He deployed a localized containment field, a sphere of blinding white light that surrounded the spire and the surrounding city. The field pulsated, compressing the Echo Node's energy into a single point.
> [Containment Field Activated — Cost: 2,500 Divine Energy]
[Node Stabilized — Temporary]
The pulse dimmed. The spire shone once again, golden and stable. Luminara breathed freely.
Ethan exhaled. "For now… you're contained. But next time, you won't get this chance."
The node didn't respond, but the voice whispered faintly, almost a hiss. "Next time, Architect… next time, the lattice will remember."
___
Ethan stood above the city, surveying the golden towers. His worlds were safe, for now, but the presence of the Echo reminded him of one simple truth:
the Core was not the only danger.
> [Warning: Pantheon Influence Rising]
[Warning: Core Monitoring Intensified]
[Unknown Entity Status: Active]
He clenched his fist. Two worlds stable, one fragile but radiant, and one entity lurking beneath the light.
"Looks like we have work to do," he muttered.
He opened the System Shop, scanning new anomaly options. Among them appeared something new:
> [Anomaly Tier — Sub-Layer Manipulation]
[Description: Allows targeted interaction with hidden distortions within world layers.]
[Cost: 3,000 Divine Energy]
Ethan's lips curved into a thin smile. "Finally, a way to fight shadows in my own worlds. Let's see what secrets you've been hiding."
The Luminaris gathered beneath him, their golden forms shimmering. Seren's memory remained, a scar in their collective consciousness, a reminder of the corruption they had endured.
And somewhere beneath the light, the Echo waited.
> [Next Objective: Investigate Sub-Layer Node and Secure Luminara.]
Ethan closed his eyes, gathering energy. The void around him hummed, heavy with potential.
"Alright," he whispered, voice steady. "Time to dig deeper."
___
To be continued…