The Shadow Nexus Online

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Chapter 12: Rio's Catastrophic Power

Rio approached the crystal slowly. His steps were steady, but deep down, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him. Something felt… off.

Elina gave him an encouraging smile, though there was a trace of nervousness in her eyes.

"Alright… let's see your mana capacity," she said softly.

Rio placed his hand on the crystal.

At first, nothing happened.

Then, a pulse.

A low, ominous hum resonated from the orb, its light beginning to flicker erratically. The glow intensified—brighter, hotter—far beyond what anyone had anticipated.

Rio's eyes widened.

"Wait… something's wrong."

The crystal's glow escalated to blinding levels, cracks forming along its smooth surface. The air around it grew heavy, pressing down on everyone in the hall.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shattered the crystal, sending shockwaves across the hall. Shards of glowing fragments flew through the air as adventurers ducked and shielded themselves.

When the dust settled, an eerie silence engulfed the room.

Rio stood at the center of the destruction, his hand still outstretched. His eyes were filled with shock and confusion, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.

"What… just happened?" someone whispered.

Elina, her hands trembling, pointed at Rio.

"H-His mana…" her voice quivered. "It was too powerful!"

The weight of her words settled over the guild like a heavy cloud.

From the balcony, the Guild Master's eyes darkened as he descended the stairs, his presence commanding immediate attention.

The crowd parted as he approached, his gaze fixed on the shattered remains of the crystal.

"Who did this?" his deep voice echoed through the hall, demanding an answer.

Elina, her face pale, pointed at Rio.

"H-Him… It was him."

Rio's throat went dry as the Guild Master's intense gaze locked onto him.

But to everyone's surprise, the Guild Master's lips curled into a smirk, his expression filled with intrigue rather than anger.

"Interesting…" he murmured, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's see if you can fight."

Rio's heart pounded in his chest. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, but he refused to falter.

"If I want to survive in this world…" Rio thought, clenching his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "I can't hold back."

A tense silence filled the hall as the Guild Master's challenge hung in the air.

To be continued…

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