**Chapter Ten: The Rhythm of Silence and Storm**
A strange rhythm formed in the silence of the cave. Not a rhythm of music or words, but of action and focus. Rhein was the mind—standing motionless, his eyes fixed on the crystal, reading its chaotic currents like an open book. The girl, Yuna, was the body—responding to his directions with mechanical precision, her massive sword absorbing the dark energy and refining it into pure power.
There was no unnecessary conversation.
*"To the right, three fingers down. The current there is calm."*
*"Now stop. There's an energy buildup in the center—let it pass."*
*"Resume from the lower edge. Slowly."*
His commands were concise, her responses immediate. With each successful absorption, the pink glow of her sword grew stronger and purer, while the black crystal before them dimmed and shrank, as if life were being drained from it.
After an hour of intense work, Yuna raised her hand as a signal to stop. She retreated a few steps and sat in a meditative stance, her sword pulsing in her lap as she stabilized the immense energy she had absorbed.
Rhein seized the opportunity. He had proven his worth—now he could begin gathering more information.
*"This energy... it's 'Chaotic Soul Energy,' isn't it?"* he asked neutrally, as if posing an academic question.
Yuna opened one eye and looked at him. *"You know a lot for a mere 'scavenger.'"*
*"A smart scavenger lives longer,"* Rhein replied in the same tone. *"I read about it in an old book. It's used to fuel powerful spiritual formations or break through bottlenecks in advanced cultivation stages—but purifying it is nearly impossible."*
She fell silent for a moment, weighing his logic. Then she said, *"My name is Yuna."*
It was the first personal piece of information she had offered. Not an invitation to friendship, but an acknowledgment of him as a temporary partner in this endeavor.
*"Rhein,"* he responded simply.
*"Alright, Rhein,"* Yuna said as she stood, her energy now stabilized. *"Your knowledge is impressive, but it won't earn you a larger share. Let's get back to work. Only the core remains."*
Rhein looked at the crystal. It was now only the size of his head, but the darkness within was far denser, the spiritual pressure it emitted sharp and painful. This was the heart of the storm.
*"Be careful,"* he warned. *"The energy here isn't just chaotic anymore. It's... hateful."*
They began again, but this time was different. The moment Yuna plunged her sword in, the crystal didn't attack with physical force—but with a mental one. A wave of pure despair surged from the crystal directly into Yuna's consciousness.
Rhein saw her shoulders tremble for an instant. Through his soul's eye, he watched the pink flame of her spirit flicker violently. The core had shown her her worst nightmares.
*"Damn it!"* Yuna snarled, her sword shaking in her grip as she nearly lost control of the energy flow.
In that critical moment, while Yuna was drowning in the psychic assault, Rhein saw the black energy gathering for a final, devastating strike.
But Rhein's mind was at its sharpest. The mental attack that should have filled him with panic reached him like a familiar whisper. He *welcomed* chaos.
*"Yuna!"* His voice cut through the air like a whip. *"Ignore the illusions! They're just lies! Focus the energy flow to the left edge of the blade—now!"*
His impossibly calm, commanding voice pierced the mental fog clouding her mind. Like a drowning woman clutching a lifeline, she followed his orders instinctively. She redirected the surging energy and, at the last moment, regained control.
She exhaled sharply. The crystal before her was now nothing more than a dull black stone, devoid of any energy. They had succeeded.
For a moment, she stood there, breathing deeply, then looked at Rhein. Her gaze no longer held just coldness or suspicion—there was something new. Reluctant respect. She had seen how his nerves remained steel while she, the powerful cultivator, had nearly crumbled.
*"You... did well,"* she said, the words sounding foreign on her tongue.
*"We did well,"* Rhein corrected calmly. *"And now—it's time to divide the spoils."*
(Author: leave a comment!)