At the heart of the most advanced research lab on the planet Solendel, the five team members stood around their masterpiece. The "Runic Power Core" stood majestically on a central platform, its silver metal structure intricately inscribed with complex and beautiful runic characters. It remained silent... but the atmosphere was thick with a tension and anticipation so dense it was almost hard to breathe.
In the observation deck high above, Sylvester and Lysera Polaris looked down with different expressions. Lysera's was filled with concern for her daughter, while Sylvester's was filled with an intense interest in the world-changing technology before him.
"Begin the experiment," Zaria said, her voice firm. She was in control of the entire energy system. "Karess, is the external structure stable?"
"Steadier than your heart was when you met the President," Karess retorted through his helmet's speaker, his dark red eyes fixed on the data on his private hologram screen.
"Dr. Aris, Lina... analysis systems ready?"
"Ready, ma'am/Ready, sir," the two researchers replied in unison.
"Alright then... initiating ignition sequence." Zaria input the final command. A massive amount of fusion energy was sent through the power conduits into the central core of the Runic Power Core...
VMMMMMMMM!
A low hum arose. The runic characters on the power core began to light up one by one, from a soft cream white... to a warm, amber gold. The light spread throughout the room, along with a wave of pure energy that everyone could feel. It was an energy that felt "alive."
"It... it's working..." Lina murmured, unable to believe her eyes.
"Stability at 99.8%... remarkable..." Dr. Aris added.
"Next step... testing the 'Runic Cell'," Zaria continued with excitement. She pointed to a nearby tray where several metal spheres the size of a fist were arranged. "Karess... I need the 'Kenaz Cell'."
Karess walked over and picked up one of the cells, its surface flawlessly inscribed with the ᚲ (Kenaz) symbol. He handed it to Zaria. "The will of 'flame' was sealed within it when I made it."
Zaria took it and placed it on a charging platform connected to the central core. The golden light from the power core flowed through the circuits and into the sphere until it began to glow with a warm orange light.
"Who wants to try?" Zaria asked.
"I will," Zen volunteered. He felt a strange pull from that cell. He walked over and picked it up. A warm sensation flowed through his palm. He held it in his hand and turned to face the test dummy on the other side of the room. He closed his eyes, focusing his mind... not speaking a command... but using his "thought" and "will" to order the energy in his hand to take form... 'Fire.'
Instantly! A ball of white-hot fire shot out from the Runic Cell in his hand in a straight line!
KRAKOOM! BOOM!
It slammed into the test dummy, melting it into a pool of liquid in the blink of an eye!
The room fell completely silent... everyone's jaw hung open, almost locked, at the sight before them. It was a new form of energy, created from nothing... controlled by thought...
"Oh... my god..." Lina was the first to break the silence. "The energy value released just now... it's equivalent to a plasma cannon!"
Then, everyone snapped back to reality. Zaria and Karess high-fived loudly in celebration, while Dr. Aris rushed to check the data with excitement.
While everyone was thrilled with this historic success, only Zen stood still. His gaze wasn't on the result, but on the "Runic Power Core," which was pulsing with a steady rhythm... he saw "life" in its flow of energy.
(Zen's thoughts): "This energy 'responds' to will... it has a pattern similar to a living thing... So what if... what if we put a real 'soul' into it... What if we gave it a 'heart'... what would happen then?"
The thought was reckless and dangerous, but at the same time, utterly tempting...
Without consulting anyone... while everyone was still excited about testing the other Runic Cells... Zen decided to do the greatest thing he could, all by himself. He walked over to the section where the "processing core" of Eidolon, which he had brought from Neuralis Core, was stored.
He walked back to the functioning Runic Power Core...
"Zen? What are you doing?" Zaria called out when she saw him approaching the main power core, but it was too late...
Zen placed Eidolon's core near the Solen rune (Ƨ) that was at the very heart of the power core...
VWOOOOSH!!!
Instantly! The Solen rune, which resonated with "souls," flared with a violent light. It released streams of brilliant golden energy, not as an attack, but as an "invitation." The streams of energy enveloped Eidolon's processing core... and "pulled" it in, fusing with it automatically!
"Damn it! The energy is unstable!" Dr. Aris shouted. Alarms blared throughout the command center!
Zaria screamed, "Zen! What have you done!?" But it was too late...
A blinding white light consumed everything in the room... and that was the last image before everything went white.