The night fell, and when the final ember of the campfire had died out, Su Vaen returned to his small house.
Fatigue tugged at him, and slumber claimed him soon enough. But in his slumber, things were not as they appeared.
Initially, his sleep was populated with fuzzy visions—whirling silhouettes, empty echoes of words, and maddening glimpses of landscapes which appeared to stretch out to infinity.
A foggy grey enveloped him as visions flashed past: decaying civilizations covered in vines, hills covered in sunset, and endless, boundless deserts muttering secrets on the wind.
He tried to grasp these images, but they faded as fast as they appeared.
Then, suddenly, the blackness became thicker.
In this darkness, Su Vaen felt a suffocating presence coming closer.
A chill ran down his back, and he involuntarily braced himself, his mind alert even though his thoughts were astray.
Silence.
A voice spoke—a bass, vibrating voice that vibrates with power. "Su Vaen…"
The voice echoed through him, and out of the blackness a form formed.
The darkness slowly drew back to show a form both terrifying and wonderful—a sinuous, oriental dragon whose body glinted like water in moonlight.
Its eyes burned with an inner fire, and its presence filled the void with a masterful presence.
"I am General," the dragon said, its tone both soothing and powerful. "I have arrived to make the secrets of your world known."
Su Vaen, even now trapped in the fog of sleep, sensed a strange tranquility. He listened as the General spoke.
"Your world, your life, is but a part of something greater. The energy that pervades it—Origin Qi is but a strand to the power available. There is more than what your plane can provide, and that is the Tenebris Energy Path. This energy is the personification of transformation, for it has the ability to change into anything it wants. It is infinite, fluidic, and powerful.
The words of the dragon lingered in Su Vaen's dream state, and when vision finally materialized, visions of past worlds and hidden planes poured in again. General's tone was even but commanding.
"From this day on, you will be more than just a mere guardian of the forest. You are to be a captain in my East Field Army of UEU, with a single goal—to conquer your world and, eventually, all beyond it. But know this: embracing the Tenebris Energy Path comes at a price.
Su Vaen's heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of amazement and terror. "What is the cost?" he asked, his voice trembling a little, though the question sounded as if it was far away from him.
General's eyes narrowed. "Your current cultivation based on Origin Qi is but a lower-order energy. In accepting the Tenebris Energy, you will retrograde to what seems to be a weaker state—a mere Rank 1 in its vast spectrum. You will lose the power that you have built up, only to rebuild it from the ground up with a greater power than that which you currently wield."
The dragon came closer. "This devolution is not a loss, but a change that must happen. The Tenebris Energy is a foundation upon which you will rebuild your abilities. It is adaptable, fluid, and although it seems modest in its initial form, it has the potential to expand into any talent you desire."
A heavy quiet pervaded the air. Su Vaen's mind reeled at the implications of this revelation. He had devoted his whole life to planting with Origin Qi, relying on its steady, soothing current to guide him. And now he was being offered something more—something more than what was permitted in his world, an offer of the power to remake and command reality.
"But, General," Su Vaen's voice shook, "if I return to a lower rank, how can I ever possibly compete with the power of those who have always existed on Origin Qi?"
General's eyes narrowed, and the dragon lowered its head in what seemed to be a gesture of understanding. "With every transformation, there is rebirth. The Tenebris Energy Path is not merely about power—it is about resilience, resourcefulness, and determination."
"You will have to learn the art of Tenebris Energy from its basic form. While your abilities will seem to be diminished at first, you will have access to a wellspring of potential, one that can be molded into any type of energy, any level of strength you desire."
The dragon remained motionless, giving the weight of his words time to sink into the dreamscape. "Your journey will not be simple. There will be moments of doubt, of upheaval. But don't forget, you were born for greatness. As one of my captains, under my command, you will lead others into a new era—one in which the old limitations of your world are shattered. You will be the spark for a revolution, not merely in power, but in intellect."
The vast expanse of darkness that surrounded Su Vaen seemed to pulse with the promise of this new path. The broken visions blended into crystalline visions of wars fought in far-off worlds, of hidden forces fighting in a struggle for control. His heart, once quiet, burdened by the loss of his former life as a guardian, now pulsed anew with renewed resolve.
"I will go by this road," Su Vaen declared at last, his voice stronger now, echoing off into the boundless void. "I will tap the power of the Tenebris Energy and reclaim my strength, no matter humble its source. I will be the instrument of change, a captain under your command."
General's eyes glimmered brighter, and the form of the dragon became more distinct as the old creature leaned forward. "Then rise up, Su Vaen. The journey ahead of you is long and perilous, but it is yours to wield. Transformation requires sacrifice as well. You will forge a new fate with Tenebris Energy."
As the final words faded into the darkness, the shape of the dragon broke apart and the foggy images dissolved into a soft, all-enveloping light. Su Vaen's dream came to an end, leaving him with the honeyed aftertaste of destiny and the formidable task ahead.
At that time, as he rested in the stillness of his room, a vow stirred within him in silence—a vow that he would get up, overcome, and own his world, regardless of the price.