The fragments collapsed before assimilation could bind them.
I adjusted.
This time, I allowed devour to strip only partially, weakening the structure without completely annihilating it. Assimilation flowed immediately afterward, smoothing the unstable fragments into cohesion. A small violet sphere formed in my hand. It pulsed once and stabilized.
I increased the scale. The sphere grew larger, denser, its structure compact and refined. I could feel the efficiency of the fusion. It did not waste energy. It converted everything. I stopped and allowed the sphere to dissolve back.
The chamber vibrated faintly again.
The white platform glowed brighter for a moment, acknowledging the successful fusion.
I exhaled slowly.
This hall was not about defeating enemies. It was about preparation.
