In the dimly lit cave, bathed in the eerie crimson glow of the Djuin's manifestations, the Young Guardian stood at the precipice of newfound power and purpose. With every step, they felt the weight of destiny press upon them, urging them to unravel the mysteries that lay within the ancient hieroglyphs etched into the cave's walls. The pulsating runes seemed to whisper secrets of ages past, and the Guardian's unique connection with the darkness allowed them to decipher their meaning with an uncanny clarity.
As they approached the hieroglyphs, the Guardian's eyes were drawn to the depictions that told a story of transformation—a metamorphosis that transcended their previous identity as a Warlock. In these ancient symbols, they saw the birth of a new class: Lich. It was a title that echoed with a sense of foreboding and power, a mantle that would forever mark their existence.
The hieroglyphs unveiled the nature of their newfound subclass derived from the darkness itself—the Djuin. It was a force that defied the conventional boundaries of light and darkness, and the Guardian could feel its pulsing presence coursing through their veins. The Djuin granted them unparalleled abilities, but it came with a price—it was depicted as the weakest class of guardian when first awakened but would slowly grow in power be it at a slow rate depending on the power of the enemies in the vicinity. it seemed to be a highly circumstantial class. Weak enemeies meant little to no growth from stealing their power and life.
The Djuin's power was manifested through the Guardian's abilities. The grenade, aptly named "Fleshbind," exploded on impact, transforming the target into an abomination of writhing flesh and tentacles. These tentacles would reach out, grabbing anything within their grasp and channeling its life force to strengthen the Lich.
The melee ability, "Tendril Grasp," allowed the Lich to hurl tentacles from their palm, ensnaring any enemy they touched. Once ensnared, the enemies could be subjected to devastating crushing damage, drained to empower the Lich further, or transformed into Djinn—loyal servants of the Lich, twisted and bound by the very darkness that had changed their fate.
The hieroglyphs hinted at further mysteries to be uncovered, for there were many more caves and monuments scattered throughout the solar system and for the first time, beyond. Each held the potential to unlock new facets of the Lich's power, granting access to additional grenades and melees, each with its own unique properties and purpose.
What fascinated the Guardian most was the revelation that the power gained from the Djuin was not ephemeral. It was permanent, and every time life and power were absorbed, a deeper knowledge of the target was gained. This knowledge manifested as a stack of "Invigoration," which, in turn, buffed the Lich's longevity, physical strength, and a new stat called "Chaos." When the Chaos stat reached 100, the Guardian would achieve an unprecedented level of mastery, automatically unlocking their first super—a power yet to be revealed in the hieroglyphs.
With newfound purpose and powers at their disposal, the Lich embarked on a quest to uncover the hidden monuments scattered across the cosmos. Each discovery brought them closer to unraveling the mysteries of their dark subclass and the destiny that awaited them as a harbinger of change in a world defined by light and darkness.
As the Lich stood in the dimly lit cave, his mind ablaze with newfound revelations and the weight of his destiny, a voice, like a whisper on the wind, emanated from the enigmatic entity. It echoed within the recesses of his thoughts, a presence both ancient and alien.
"Disciple Lich," the voice intoned, resonating with the enigmatic power that had transformed him. "Your journey has just begun. The path ahead is shrouded in darkness, and your understanding of the Djuin is but a fraction of its potential."
The Lich regarded the entity, a silent acknowledgment of the insurmountable mysteries that lay ahead. He knew that his destiny was no longer his own; it was woven into the fabric of the cosmos itself.
With a subtle gesture, the entity's form began to dissipate, fading into the shadows of the cave. "Seek the monuments scattered throughout the stars," it whispered. "Uncover the fragments and relics that will unlock the true extent of your power. Only then shall your purpose become clear."
The cave, once suffused with the crimson glow of the Djuin, returned to its dimly lit state. The Lich felt an irresistible urge to leave this place, to venture into the unknown. With a deep breath, he stepped beyond the cave's threshold, uncertainty gnawing at his heart.
As he emerged into the Dreaming City, he found himself standing amidst the ethereal beauty of the Awoken realm. The city's enigmatic mists shrouded him, concealing his presence from prying eyes. The Lich knew he needed a means of transportation to continue his journey, a way to reach Earth—a destination he felt compelled to explore, even though he had no inkling of the existence of the Drusken Forest.
The entity, as if responding to his unspoken desires, acted once more. In an instant, the Lich felt the fabric of reality shift around him. His surroundings blurred, and when the world came back into focus, he stood on Earth's surface, the Traveler hanging low in the sky.
The Lich's journey was far from over, and the Drusken Forest awaited him, a place unknown even to him. The entity's cryptic guidance had led him to this point, and he knew he had no choice but to follow the path it had set before him.
As he ventured into the unknown, the Lich couldn't help but reflect on the perilous journey that lay ahead. He was an anomaly, a wielder of the Djuin, a Lich—a mantle that carried both power and burden. The Drusken Forest was a destination he had not chosen, but it seemed that fate had guided him there.
With every step deeper into the forest's mysterious depths, the Lich contemplated his predicament. He might be stranded in this enigmatic realm, cut off from the world he once knew. Yet, there was a sense of purpose that burned within him, a yearning to uncover the relics and fragments that would unlock the true potential of his power.
Perhaps, within the depths of the Drusken Forest, he would find answers, or perhaps more questions. Either way, the Lich was committed to his destiny, his journey through the cosmos, and the enigmatic darkness that had chosen him as its harbinger of change.
Amidst the surreal and ever-shifting landscape of the Drusken Forest, the Lich's analytical nature became increasingly evident. His steps were cautious, and his observant eyes took in every detail of this enigmatic realm. The towering wooden trees, each with a hollowed core and glowing orbs, drew his fascination. His hand extended, fingertips brushing the smooth surface of one of the ancient trunks, feeling the ethereal energy emanating from within.
The plants that moved of their own accord, as if guided by an unseen hand, did not escape his attention. Their rhythmic dance, swaying to an unearthly beat, felt like a reflection of his own journey—ever-changing, unpredictable, and full of mysteries.
As he ventured further into the forest, he couldn't help but notice the peculiar entities that inhabited this realm. Undead creatures, their forms twisted and gnarled, stirred unsettling thoughts within him. A choice loomed ahead, a moral crossroads that tested the very essence of his being.
In that moment, his demeanor shifted imperceptibly. The Lich, once guided by caution and a calm disposition, showed signs of a burgeoning cynicism. His decision favored pragmatism over mercy, a choice that revealed the subtle transformation taking root within him.
His vice, a thirst for knowledge, played out in his every action. He conducted experiments on the forest's inhabitants, seeking to unravel the mysteries of his newfound powers. The range of his abilities, the number of entities he could manipulate with his Fleshbind, and the chaos he could extract from different creatures using his Tendril Grasp—all became subjects of relentless exploration.
As the Lich continued to navigate the Drusken Forest, his evolving nature and the complexities of his character were laid bare for those who observed him, a testament to the ever-changing interplay between light and darkness in this enigmatic realm.
In the midst of the Drusken Forest, a fateful encounter awaited the Lich. His analytical nature and insatiable curiosity drove him to seek answers, and he knew that experimentation was the path forward.
Among the twisted and gnarled undead creatures that roamed the forest, he chose his subject—an eerie entity that bore the marks of undeath. Its hollow eyes stared vacantly, a stark reminder of the unknown forces at play in this realm.
The Lich extended his hand, palm outstretched, and invoked the power of his Tendril Grasp. A flurry of crimson tentacles erupted from his fingertips, weaving through the air like serpentine dancers. They wrapped around the undead creature, ensnaring it in a macabre embrace.
His decision loomed—would he drain the entity to glean its chaos, a fragment of the darkness's knowledge, or show it mercy and let it be? The Lich's choice was clear, driven by the hunger for understanding. With a determined thought, he commanded the tentacles to absorb the creature's essence.
As the life force was siphoned away, a surge of chaos flowed into the Lich's being. Yet, it was not an overwhelming influx. Each undead entity held only a fraction of the power he sought. It was clear that the path to unlocking his first super ability required a significant accumulation of chaos.
With each experiment, the Lich could feel himself growing stronger, his longevity increasing, and his newfound stacks of invigoration bolstering his physical and metaphysical prowess. The forest's inhabitants, the mystical deer with gem-adorned antlers, alluded to cosmic wisdom, and it was as if they shared a hive mind—a collective knowledge that transcended their individual forms.
A thought bubbled to the surface of the Lich's mind, like a beacon of realization. The hive mind of the forest was reminiscent of a familiar threat—the Hive, with their oppressive will and relentless pursuit of power. The forest, too, seemed to possess a hive mind, a shared consciousness that held the secrets of the cosmos.
The Lich's cautious nature, nurtured by his experiences as a Guardian, kicked into overdrive. He couldn't ignore the parallels between the Drusken Forest and the Hive's malevolent presence. With this newfound understanding, he treaded carefully in the forest, his every step a testament to his growing wariness.
As he continued his experiments and research within the confines of his own mind, the Lich's journey through the Drusken Forest took on a more somber tone. The allure of power and knowledge was undeniable, but the shadow of the Hive loomed large, a constant reminder that some secrets were best left undisturbed.