Location: The Secret Room at the Top of the Tower.
Time: The following moments.The room was circular, its walls covered in silver inscriptions that shimmered faintly in the darkness. In the center, floating above a black marble pedestal, was the second shard.It was smaller than the first, about the size of a thumb, with a silvery-blue hue. It rotated slowly on its axis, emitting a low hum resembling a heartbeat.Lirion approached. He felt the Stone in his chest heating up and reacting intensely.[Alert: Second Shard Detected. Match Rate: 98%.]Lirion reached out his hand slowly. Before he could touch it, he stopped.He remembered Caleidos's warning: "The eyes in the walls."He scanned the room again with Truth Sight. This time, he saw something he had missed before. In the corners of the ceiling, there were tiny crystal lenses that did not emit light, but absorbed it."Magical surveillance cameras," Lirion realized. "They are connected to somewhere."If he touched the shard, the alarm would trigger instantly."How do I take it without touching it?" he wondered.He considered the "Magnetic Pull" spell, but it might trigger the sensors.Then, an idea struck him. He used the "Remote Mana Transfer" technique he had trained in Arc 2, but with surgical precision.He formed a very small circuit directly above the shard and linked it to his hand via a thin, invisible thread of condensed mana.He began to pull the shard very slowly toward his hand.The shard vibrated and drifted closer to his fingers.The moment the shard touched his skin...There was no explosion. No bell rang.But the world vanished.The Vision:Lirion found himself standing in the same room, but it was bright and crowded. Men and women in golden robes stood around the pedestal. In the center stood a tall man, his face obscured by shadow, but Lirion knew it was Etherion."We cannot hide it here forever," one of the men said. "The Shadow is approaching.""We will divide it," Etherion's deep voice replied. "One shard for the capital, one for the desert, and one for the sea... They will never find them all.""And what of the Key?" another asked."The Key will sleep until one worthy of it arrives. One who does not fear breaking the laws to save them."Suddenly, the ground shook. Shadowy creatures with red eyes and mechanical geometry burst into the room. The battle began.Lirion saw Etherion break his staff and release a massive wave of energy that pushed the creatures back, but he fell to his knees, exhausted."Take it!" Etherion shouted to one of his students, thrusting the shard toward him. "Escape with it to the vaults!"The vision ended.Lirion returned to the dark room, gasping, the shard in his hand.[Second Shard Absorbed.]
[Philosopher's Stone Integration Rate: 35%.]
[New Ability Unlocked: "Gem Echo" (Temporary summoning of ancient combat knowledge).]
[Warning: Security Breach Detected. Elimination Unit Approaching.]"Time is up," Lirion whispered.He rushed toward the window. Below, he saw many red lights surrounding the building."Garek! Elara! Get out of there!" he shouted through their mental link."We are surrounded, Lirion!" Garek's voice came through, panicked. "Dozens of guards are closing in on us!""Wait for me," Lirion said with iron determination. "I will come down to you in a way they won't expect."