My Infinite Mana System

The group moved swiftly away from the Fractured Citadel, the Void Key's faint glow barely visible through Allen's inventory. The oppressive darkness of the Wastes seemed to retreat as they traveled further from the stronghold, but the silence that replaced it was no comfort.

The air felt heavier with each step, and even Emma's usual quips were absent. She glanced at Allen, who walked at the front, his expression hard and unreadable.

"Allen," she finally said, breaking the quiet. "Are you okay? That thing..the Void Key...it felt…wrong."

Allen glanced at her, his grip tightening on Stormfang. "It's more than wrong. It's dangerous. But it's also the only way forward. If we don't gather the Keys, the void wins."

Kael, walking a few paces behind, added grimly, "The void doesn't play fair. Every step you take toward the Forgotten Path will cost you something. You need to be ready for that."

Allen didn't respond, but his thoughts raced. The energy from the Void Key still lingered in his system, cold and invasive, as though it didn't fully belong to him.

[System Alert: Void Corruption detected. Monitor closely.]

Hours passed, and the barren landscape gave way to a dense forest of blackened trees. The twisted branches stretched upward like skeletal hands, blotting out what little light remained.

The Resonance Key began to hum, its energy pulling Allen toward a small clearing. The System chimed softly.

[Objective: Investigate the anomaly ahead.]

"What now?" Emma asked, looking at Allen.

"An anomaly," he replied, stepping into the clearing.

In the center stood a monolithic structure a black obelisk covered in glowing blue runes. The air around it shimmered, and the sound of faint whispers filled the clearing.

"Void magic," Kael said, his voice sharp. "Be careful."

As they approached, the whispers grew louder, forming coherent words.

"Allen…"

He froze, his heart pounding. "Did you hear that?"

Emma and Kael exchanged confused looks.

"Hear what?" Emma asked.

The whispers grew louder, addressing Allen directly.

"You carry the Void Key, yet you seek to destroy the void. Such irony…"

Allen stepped closer to the obelisk, gripping Stormfang tightly. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

The air shimmered, and a figure appeared a translucent apparition of a man clad in ancient armor, his face obscured by a hood. His voice was deep and resonant.

"I am Alaric, the last Warden of the Forgotten Path."

The group stood frozen, staring at the ghostly figure. Allen took a step forward, narrowing his eyes. "The Forgotten Path? What do you know about it?"

Alaric chuckled, a hollow, bitter sound. "More than you could imagine. The Path was meant to seal the void's influence forever. But arrogance and greed broke the seals, and now the void hungers once more."

Kael's grip on his sword tightened. "Why are you here? Are you friend or foe?"

Alaric's gaze shifted to Kael, his eyes cold. "I am neither. I am a warning. The void seeks to corrupt everything it touches including those who fight it."

The apparition turned back to Allen. "You bear a heavy burden, young Seeker. The Void Keys are powerful, but they are also a curse. Each one you claim draws you closer to the void's grasp."

Allen frowned. "If that's true, then why do I need them to walk the Forgotten Path?"

Alaric's expression softened. "Because the Path requires sacrifice. Only by wielding the void's power can you hope to close it forever. But be warned: the line between wielding and succumbing is thin."

The obelisk began to pulse, and Alaric's form wavered. "I cannot linger. My time here is limited. But I offer you this: a choice."

Two glowing runes appeared at the base of the obelisk one blue, the other red.

"The blue rune will strengthen your abilities, allowing you to fight the void more effectively. But it will hasten its corruption within you."

"The red rune will cleanse a portion of the void's corruption, but it will weaken you temporarily, leaving you vulnerable."

Emma looked at Allen, concern etched on her face. "Allen, you can't take the blue one. The corruption is already affecting you!"

Kael, however, remained silent, his eyes studying the runes.

Allen clenched his fists, staring at the choices before him. The blue rune's glow was enticing, promising power he desperately needed. But the red rune called to him too, offering a chance to hold onto himself for just a little longer.

"What will it be, Seeker?" Alaric's voice echoed.

Allen reached out, his hand hovering over the runes. Time seemed to slow as he weighed his options.

Finally, he made his choice.

[System Alert: Choice Made – Blue Rune Selected.]

The moment his hand touched the blue rune, a surge of energy exploded through him. The voices grew louder, almost deafening, as the obelisk's light engulfed him.

[System Update: Void Corruption increased by 10%. Power increased by 30%. New ability unlocked: Void Storm.]

Allen stumbled back, his breathing heavy. The System displayed a new notification.

[Warning: Corruption nearing critical levels. Monitor closely.]

Emma stared at him, her eyes wide with fear. "Allen, what did you do?"

"I did what I had to," he said, his voice firm but tinged with unease.

Alaric's voice echoed one final time. "You have chosen power. Remember this moment, for it will define your fate."

The apparition vanished, leaving the group alone in the clearing.

The Resonance Key hummed again, pointing them further north. The obelisk's light dimmed, and the clearing fell silent once more.

Kael finally spoke. "You've made your choice. Now we have to live with it."

Emma looked at Allen, her expression torn between anger and worry. "You idiot!."

Allen met her gaze, and smiled a bit