Cave of ancient powers

After the battle was lost the 3 remaining soldiers seeked refuge in an old cave... Rosthug was fatally wounded and he could barely move.
suddenly Altur who was the least wounded shouted, Look at this thing! what is this!
they all looked upon a strange metallic pillar that rose from the ground.
Altur started to look abit crazed and said... i know...i know what to do...come i will show!
he dragged Rosthug near the pillar and connected him onto the device, now even Rosthug heard voices with instructions..
Barro joined in and connected himself..now they were all connected and Altur pulled a lever.....
Altur totally lost his mind once the machine started operating, Barro got paralyzed and felt like all his powers were gone...
but Rosthug had never felt more alive, the wounds on his body started to heal and was replaced by a strange metal.
while the others were getting weaker and weaker Rosthug just grew in power....what was this device, and why did it reward Rosthug but punish the others?