Kaelen slumped against the jagged crystal wall, breath tearing through his throat. Every sinew screamed. Geological power, body’s strength—all had evaporated, leaving him a hollowed-out cavern. An ache pulsed from fractured ribs, from torn muscles. He was a spent vein, barren and dry. Roric, meanwhile, stood unfazed. His gaze swept over the ravaged Cinder Scorpion nest, devoid of any heavy breath, any tremor of fatigue. Once again, Kaelen understood the vast, cold chasm between them. Roric moved with an inhuman grace, his energy seemingly limitless. Kaelen had decimated a significant portion of the scorpion brood, yet it felt like a single tremor against a mountain compared to Roric’s silent work. Roric continued to sift through the compacted crystal dust and hardened mineral structures of the nest, oblivious to Kaelen’s suffering. He wondered what Roric sought in this desolate cradle of monstrous life. Roric moved to the heart of the nesting chamber. His hand, sheathed in hardened mineral, tore into a reinforced crystalline slab, the resting place of the Cinder Matriarch. It ripped like fragile shale. Hidden beneath lay an egg, roughly the size of Kaelen's fist. It pulsed with a faint, internal luminescence, a slow, deep heartbeat of emerald light. Roric lifted the egg, examining it with an unreadable expression. Then, he tossed it to Kaelen. Kaelen, bewildered, fumbled to catch the crystalline sphere. “Why do you offer this?” he rasped, voice raw. “Cinder Matriarch’s egg.” “I understand that. Why *me*?” “It is no ordinary ovum. This will become the next queen. The Matriarch’s core-essence is infused within.” “Is it like consuming a depth-crawler’s toxin?” Kaelen recalled a past agony, a burning poison that had nearly consumed him. “Better. Consume it.” Kaelen hesitated, the egg cool and smooth in his palm. A flash of defiance, then resignation. He closed his eyes, bringing the glowing orb to his mouth. With a sharp crack, the crystalline shell shattered, its viscous, luminous contents flowing onto his tongue, down his throat. Kaelen’s body erupted. An intense heat, like molten crystal, coursed through his veins, setting him ablaze from within. He shrieked, writhing on the cold stone, every nerve ending aflame. Pain from the depth-crawler's toxin had been a whisper. This was a tectonic shift. It felt as if sharpened splinters of core-crystal continually pierced his organs, tearing through his belly. It was not a torment a sane mind could endure. Roric watched Kaelen’s convulsions, offering no comfort, no aid. “Survive in these depths,” Roric’s voice was flat, “and learn to embrace this.” This agony was the price of strength. Such suffering, Roric knew, would barely qualify as true torment by his own standards. Leaving Kaelen to his torment, Roric moved towards the gargantuan carcass of the Cinder Matriarch. With precise, clean motions, he detached its head from its thorax. The massive body remained pristine, unmarred by any other wound. Acquiring such an intact Matriarch carcass was a rare feat. No part of the Matriarch was wasted. Its antennae, thin filaments of attuned crystal, were invaluable for sensing stray geological anomalies. Its six legs, hardened like polished obsidian, would yield superb crafting materials. Roric reached deep into the Matriarch’s torso, retrieving a fist-sized stone. A core-crystal. Not just any core-crystal, but one of remarkably high purity, humming with latent power. As the matriarch of a vast brood, it possessed a gem born from its very essence. Core-crystals were not only found in designated mining veins. Occasionally, among Aetheria's monstrous inhabitants, creatures possessed these geological hearts. Sometimes, these organic stones held a purity far surpassing mined ones, infused with the creature's life-force, making them incredibly versatile. The Matriarch’s titanium-like plates could be forged into top-tier armor. Its internal organs, too, had their uses. Roric summoned his personal void-rift, a shimmer in the air, and stored the entire Matriarch’s carcass. Kaelen’s agony showed no sign of abating. He whimpered, curled into a tight knot, too exhausted even to scream. It seemed it would be a long vigil before the Matriarch’s egg was fully assimilated. Roric drove his Heartstone Rod into the hard ground. Its surface, tempered with the essence of ancient, molten rock, subtly pulsed with a more intense aura. A faint crimson glow emanated from its polished tip. Such external changes held little meaning for Roric. The Heartstone Rod’s true essence was what mattered. As if responding to his focus, the Rod thrummed a deep, resonant hum. Humming persisted for a time. Roric listened intently, eyes half-lidded. After a long moment, Roric spoke, his voice a low rumble. “Yes, I know. But there is no choice.” “Weakness means oblivion. That is the truth of the depths.” “Do you not sense it? Our time is short… He is essential.” “You are correct. But…” Conversation between man and crystalline artifact continued, a silent exchange of wills. Kaelen slowly uncurled, a deep sigh escaping him. He opened his eyes. His entire body felt as if it had been hammered flat. Lack of strength in his limbs, a profound lethargy, was undoubtedly a repercussion of consuming the Matriarch’s egg. Having endured piercing, internal tremors through the night, it was a small mercy his limbs still felt intact. Kaelen focused inward, testing his geological connection. Astonishment surged through him. His command over subterranean energies had increased at least threefold. A profound hum resonated within his core. “Your power flow and geological sensitivity should be… optimized.” Roric’s voice cut through the stillness. Kaelen turned his head. Roric rose from his spot, retracting the Heartstone Rod. “That egg… it boosted my power?” “Correct. Certain creature eggs, unique ones such as this, have that effect. Not all do.” “If you are done languishing, move. We do not have time for idleness.” “Yes. Understood.” Grasping his aching legs, Kaelen pushed himself upright. He knew Roric would not consider his pain, no matter how much he complained. Better to grit his teeth, stand, and move. --- With Roric’s harsh aid, the surge in Kaelen’s geological power was immense. Yet, this level of pain felt like an initiation. Kaelen followed Roric out of the Cinder Scorpion nest, emerging into a cavern vast and cool. Diffused light from high-hanging crystals felt more welcoming than any surface sun. While Kaelen savored the fresher air and expansive view, Roric was already striding into the distance. Kaelen quickly channeled subterranean currents, flowing behind Roric. His body slid forward on the crystalline floor, carried by subtle earth-pulses. With ample geological power, he could manipulate the very bedrock beneath him, moving without strenuous effort. Thanks to this, keeping pace with Roric was no longer a struggle. Kaelen adjusted his tunic. Despite the tears from battle, its weave, imbued with mineral-regeneration, slowly mended itself. Its inherent property to absorb and deflect concussive force remained intact. As his geological manipulation combined with this innate protection, traversing the depths no longer felt as arduous. Kaelen pulled a ration bar from his pouch, chewing slowly. *Where does his path lead?* In this sprawling network of caverns, he couldn’t help but wonder what Roric sought, where he was truly headed. Had they not been bound by circumstance, he might not have cared. Now, he felt compelled to see this through, to discover Roric's purpose. Suddenly, the cavern trembled. A localized seismic tremor rippled through the crystalline air. Intense currents of geological energy swept in, buffeting the passage. Kaelen pressed a hand against a wall, squinting. Ordinary travelers would have lost all sense of direction, their internal compasses thrown into chaos by the energy fluctuations. For Kaelen, it caused only slight discomfort, his senses heightened by the recent surge. His perception range, expanded by new power, now encompassed far more. He sensed Roric walking several meters ahead, each footfall resonating distinctly within Kaelen’s awareness. It was as if the crystal veins themselves were relaying information about Roric, their resonance his guide. *This is what it feels like to deepen the connection.* Kaelen reflected on his core-bond, now pulsing with three distinct, bright lines. The deep azure hue signified his emerging mastery over profound geological energies. Yet, this was merely what was visible. In reality, he was far stronger than any typical 'Vein-Touched' guide, with an astonishing reserve of latent power. It was all thanks to Roric's relentless methods. Because of Roric, Kaelen’s growth had been rapid, unconstrained by conventional teachings. He could push his abilities without restriction, without preconception. *Imagination is the key.* He’d felt this keenly during the battles with the Cinder Scorpions. Fighting solely with predetermined applications of power was foolish. Even with the same core-abilities, *how* they were channeled made a profound difference. To imagine endlessly, to manifest those imaginings into geological reality—this, to Kaelen, was the true essence of strength. That he would have never realized this without Roric’s relentless pushing was also true. *Still, he is a demanding guide.* Roric always pushed Kaelen to his limits, expecting him to survive. Failure meant being mercilessly discarded. Though being discarded no longer mattered, Kaelen still wanted to follow through. He believed that by staying with Roric, he could become even stronger. He refused to struggle with exhaustion, or to be chased by weakness. He didn’t know where this path led, but by following Roric, he believed he could eventually attain a strength akin to his guide’s. Lost in thought, he walked until abruptly, the geological currents subsided, and his vision cleared. Roric’s back was in the distance. He remained focused on the path ahead. Despite fine crystal dust settling on his shoulders, he walked on, unperturbed. Then, Roric, who had been walking ahead, stopped. There was still ample light filtering through the high crystals. It wasn’t yet time for Roric to rest. Kaelen approached, standing beside him. Roric didn't react, his gaze fixed ahead. Naturally, Kaelen’s gaze followed. His eyes widened. Something massive moved on the distant cavern horizon, where the subterranean sky met the crystalline floor. Its approach was heralded by a deep, rhythmic thrumming. Moment Kaelen confirmed the identity of the colossal entity, he almost gasped. It was a gigantic, multi-faceted creature. What set it apart from any known leviathan was its sheer size, thousands of times larger than anything he’d ever seen, and its shell, shaped like a sprawling fortress of fused geodes. Moreover, it bore the deep indigo luminescence of a high-tier crystal beast. “That’s… what is it?” “Geode-Backed Leviathan. A moving fortress.” “A colossal, crystal-shelled monster. It is a high-tier beast, but its defensive capabilities rival ancient constructs. That is why factions transform their shells into mobile strongholds and ride them through the depths.” “You mean… humans can tame and ride such a monster?” Kaelen’s face was etched with disbelief. It was an utterly unbelievable tale. Yet, seeing the tortoise-shaped colossus, bearing its integrated fortress, made it impossible not to believe. Geode-Backed Leviathan was heading straight toward them. Though it seemed to move slowly, its immense scale meant it covered ground quickly. As Kaelen observed it up close, the Leviathan appeared even more overwhelming. It was almost the size of an entire subterranean settlement. The notion of humans riding such massive creatures was almost beyond comprehension. Finally, the Leviathan halted directly in front of them. A gate, seamlessly formed from its crystalline shell, opened. A figure emerged. An old man, his face a roadmap of wrinkles. He lifted his crystal-rimmed glasses, his gaze settling on Roric. “I had my doubts from afar, Roric. But it is truly you.”

A Geode's Price