The lightning bolt surged forward from Darren's Stormguard shield, striking Kaelen Veyl powerfully enough to send him flying into his own subordinate Duskborne warriors. That bolt had been far more powerful than what Darren had displayed a short while ago when he'd bolted toward Veyl, and now it was looking like Veyl might not be getting back up.
Fear spread through the ranks of the Duskborne, those left anyway, as they all stared at their fallen leader. Before Darren could move forward to attack the remaining Duskborne, one of them, who looked to bear an air of authority, shouted something unintelligible to Darren. One of the smaller creatures, shorter than Darren, disappeared into a cloud of shadow that had appeared as if from nowhere.
He heard a noise behind him and glanced back just in time to see that same Duskborne menace grip a large, spherical, ruby-like stone that rested atop a smooth, black stone column about three feet tall. The column was the same color as the massive mechanism it stood next to, which seemingly served as the housing of the breach entrance itself.
The creature yanked the stone free and disappeared again, reappearing with its Duskborne comrades. The creature had completed this task in less than five seconds. Then, as if preparing to run through a series of kata, each of the Duskborne fell into what looked like a fighter's stance. Standing like this, they each thrust their hands out, summoning a thick curtain of darkness.
The darkness didn't envelop Darren, but it did completely obscure his vision of the Duskborne. Seconds later the veil of darkness lifted and the enemies that had just been standing before him were now nowhere to be seen.
Darren's brow furrowed. He was surprised at the abilities of these creatures. From Kaelen Veyl's unique weapon abilities to what he'd just seen, he was beginning to see that these Duskborne were far more than just bloodthirsty beasts, though they were that, too.
As he scanned the room, ensuring no enemies were somehow hiding, waiting to pounce on Darren once he let down his guard, he began to get the feeling that beyond the walls of the Gate House in which he stood, there was a massive world about which he knew next to nothing. What if the enemies he'd just faced were weak, compared to their brethren? The thought caused a shiver to run up Darren's spine.
After a few more moments, he stepped back and turned toward Kaycee and Hardy. Hardy was awake, now, and Kaycee was helping him to his feet.
"Ugh, sorry about that guys," Hardy muttered. "I was not prepared at all."
"It's okay," Darren said, "Are you good, though?"
Hardy looked up at him, "Yeah, I think so. Kaycee healed me up nicely."
It was then Darren noticed that the breach through which they'd come was no longer there.
"Uh, guys…" he said, pointing toward where the breach had been. "I think they took the artifact that was keeping the breach open."
Hardy and Kaycee both turned quickly, their mouths falling open at the sight and the realization that they could not yet go back home.
A giant, ovular frame stood with supports, as black as night, and carved with unknown and ancient looking symbols. It was the mechanism that had housed the breach entrance moments ago. Darren hadn't seen the breach close when the Duskborne had taken the stone, though. If he had he would have made an immediate effort to stop it.
"What are we going to do?" Kaycee asked quietly.
Darren stayed silent for a moment, pondering their options, before turning to look at the only clear exit from the room they were in.
"EDS, is there any way for us to open the breach?" he asked aloud.
"Not without the artifact," EDS said, replying so that everyone could hear aloud as well.
"Great…" Darren muttered. "What are our options?"
"It seems to me the only option is to retrieve the artifact and bring it back here," EDS said.
"Just to clarify, the artifact is that giant, blood-colored stone that was hanging from the ceiling, right?" he asked.
"Indeed, but the good news is that I can track it."
"Wait, really?" Hardy asked excitedly.
"Yes, really. Check the mini-map on your HUDs."
Darren focused on his own mini-map and grew excited as he saw a small, blinking red dot moving steadily away from him. "Awesome! So then, we'll go get it, bring it back here, then go home."
"If you bring the artifact back here, Hardy can use it to re-open the breach," EDS explained.
"Perfect," Kaycee said. "Wait, Hardy can?"
"Yes, he can."
The three companions looked at each other quizzically.
"Okay, do you care to explain how?" Hardy asked.
"Certainly. Once you have the artifact I will explain the process. It's quite simple. You'll be able to use the artifact because of your FLUX core. This is a must for anyone wishing to make use of any artifacts that are able to open breaches."
"Well okay then," Hardy said, appearing pleasantly surprised. "Let's do it."
The air was thick and heavy with magic, the walls almost vibrating with power from the now closed breach. The three human warriors moved quickly, their footsteps echoing in the vast chamber, empty now but for the fading shadows of the Duskborne warband that had fled moments earlier. The Portal Room was dimly lit, the pale light emanating from veins of strange minerals embedded in the stone walls, that Darren had only just begun to see.
Darren took the lead, his expression tense as he scanned the expansive room one last time, as if half-expecting another Duskborne ambush. The air was still, silent, but charged with an energy that made the hair on his arms stand on end. The portal mechanism now lay dormant, lifeless without the artifact that the Duskborne had taken.
"Come on," he muttered, his voice low but urgent. "We don't have much time."
Kaycee and Hardy nodded, falling in behind him as they exited the Portal Room and moved into the narrow stone corridors of the Gate House. The walls around them were constructed of massive blocks of dark stone, etched with faint carvings that flickered faintly with a reddish light, like fireflies caught in the rock itself. Ancient murals lined the walls, depicting battles long forgotten—scenes of armored figures battling creatures that seemed to blur in form, their shapes shifting between human and monstrous.
Kaycee brushed her fingers against one of the murals as they passed, her eyes tracing the faint outline of a figure wielding a crystal staff. She felt a shiver run through her, sensing the age of this place, the weight of history hanging heavy in the air.
They turned down another passageway, this one opening into a vast hall. Heavy stone pillars rose up on either side, their tops lost in shadows, making it feel as if they were walking through the ribcage of some enormous, ancient beast. The only sounds were their footsteps, muted by the thick layer of dust that blanketed the floor.
Hardy's gaze darted around as they moved, his posture tense, alert. "If Veyl and his warband return, we'll be in a choke point. Let's get out before they have the chance to trap us."
Darren nodded, leading them toward the far end of the hall where a massive door loomed, its surface covered with intricate carvings and a set of interlocking symbols that hinted at the Gate House's age and purpose. He pushed against the heavy stone, and with a low groan, the door swung open, revealing a staircase that spiraled downward.
The three of them descended, moving swiftly but carefully. The stairs were worn smooth by centuries of use, and each step echoed as they moved lower, deeper into the shadows. At the base of the stairs, they came upon a final passageway, its end illuminated by a faint light that signaled the exit.
Darren's pulse quickened as he caught sight of the opening, the dim light from Twilight seeping into the Gate House like a ghostly invitation. They picked up their pace, and soon they emerged into the open air.
Darren stepped through the ancient stone archway, stepping out from the Gate House into the world of Twilight. Kaycee followed close behind, her breath catching as she took in their new surroundings. Hardy lingered a moment, scanning their path, his senses heightened for any lingering threats. The massive door of the Gate House creaked shut behind them.
Outside, the world of Twilight stretched before them, a haunting realm cast in muted tones, as though blanketed by a perpetual dusk. Towering trees with twisting, blackened trunks rose high above them, their branches webbed together to form a canopy that blocked out any hint of sky. Faint, bluish light filtered through the leaves, casting ghostly shadows across the forest floor. Strange, phosphorescent plants clustered around the base of the trees, their glow the only source of warmth in the eerie landscape.
The Gate House loomed behind them—a dark, ancient structure of obsidian stone shot through with veins of red, as if it bled from the earth itself. Jagged runes covered its walls, flickering faintly with the remnants of eldritch power, remnants of the long-forgotten builders who had left it here. Its windows were narrow slits, peering out into the dark forest with a watchful gaze. Above the doorway, a heavy symbol was etched into the stone, worn but still legible. It almost looked like a power button back on Earth, but it was square instead of circular.
Curiosity got the better of Darren, and he had to ask, "EDS, what is that symbol?"
EDS was silent for the space of a few breaths, but Darren knew he would answer once he had something to say.
Sure enough, moments later EDS said, "That appears to be the insignia of a very ancient people, the Aedrians. They have had many names throughout spacetime, but most commonly they have been referred to simply as the Builders."
EDS's voice bore a bit of excitement in it as he spoke. Darren really wanted to learn more about these Builders, but knew he and his companions needed to keep moving if they wanted to get home anytime soon.
"Okay, I've got to hear more about that. Can you tell me more later?" Darren asked.
"For as much as they accomplished, there is surprisingly little in the histories about them. But, yes, I would be happy to tell you what I now know about them," EDS said with a pleased tone.
Darren's gaze fell upon the ground, where dark stains of what looked like a mix of Nightmare Essence and blood marred the dirt. He wondered if this was from Kaelen Veyl's injuries. The Duskborne warrior had been taken by his warband in a shroud of darkness, and Darren hadn't been able to see if he was injured or not. In their hasty retreat, they'd also taken the breach opening artifact. Without it, they'd be trapped here, far from home.
Kaycee stepped forward, her eyes scanning the faint trail left by the warband. "They can't have gone far, not carrying Veyl like that."
Hardy nodded, adjusting his stance, his senses acutely tuned to any movement in the trees. "We'll have to move carefully; they know this land."
Darren clenched his fists, feeling the remnants of his own storm energy fading. His injuries pulsed with a dull ache, but he shook it off. They couldn't afford to rest. The artifact wasn't just a way out—it was a key to any Gate House, a tool the Duskborne could use to invade Earth with far greater ease. His eyes followed the faint trail of disturbed plants and trampled dirt.
As they stood still, Darren saw shocks of bright color coming up from the soil here and there. Flowers like he had never seen slowly bloomed into existence, giving the otherwise dreary landscape some small amount of comfort and color.
He knew this was one of Kaycee's passive abilities. She saw him looking at the flowers and smiled softly. He saw it and smiled in return, momentarily taken aback by her beauty. With everything going on, he had to remind himself to not take any of the goodness in his life for granted.
After a moment more, he steeled himself, ready for the coming confrontation.
"Let's go," he said, "We need to catch them quickly." He looked at Kaycee and Hardy, both nodding their agreement.
Hardy took in a deep breath, his face hardening as he looked around. "Which way did they go?"
Darren stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he scanned the ground for any trace of the fleeing Duskborne warband. Among the dense forest floor, he spotted signs of a passing. A path of large footprints, scattered forest debris, and broken twigs led toward a distant ridge where the trees grew thicker, casting deep, ominous shadows.
He'd already lost focus on his mini-map, but immediately remembered it and found that this was definitely a path left by the passing warband. The small, blinking red light on the mini-map was a short distance away in the direction of the ridge.
"Over there," he said, pointing. "They're moving faster than expected, but if Veyl is still unconscious, that will still work in our favor."
Kaycee's eyes followed the trail, and she tightened her grip on her weapon, her gaze steely. "Then let's not waste any time. We're taking that artifact back."
With one last glance at the darkened Gate House, the three of them set off into the eerie twilight landscape, slipping into the shadows as they pursued their quarry through the world that the Duskborne called home.
They pressed forward, moving through the twisted forest of Twilight. Roots, thick and serpentine, coiled across their path, forcing them to climb or skirt around them. Every few feet, unnatural sounds echoed through the trees—distant screeches, low growls, and eerie whispers carried on an unfelt breeze. The oppressive air felt as if it pressed down on them, and the shadows seemed to pulse, shifting with every step they took.
They made it up to the top of the ridge, and continued following the signs the warband unwittingly left behind. Up ahead, the faint path turned sharply, leading down into a ravine filled with a dense, silvery fog. Darren slowed, gesturing for Kaycee and Hardy to stop. At the bottom of the ravine, he could make out flickers of movement—shadows slipping between the fog and trees, moving with an eerie grace that was both human and not.
"That's them," Darren whispered, his voice barely audible. "Looks like they're trying to regroup before heading to wherever they're hiding out."
Kaycee's eyes narrowed, her fingers brushing over a cluster of nearby vines. With a quiet breath, she activated her ability, Abundant Life, effectively powering it up far beyond the passive ability level it was normally at. She drew strength from the vegetation around her. The vines responded, snaking upward in anticipation. "I can slow them down when we get close. If we move now, we might cut them off."
Hardy gave a brief nod, his face set. "And if they're guarding Kaelen, they'll be focused on protecting him. He's probably still too injured to fight."
Darren breathed deeply, his gaze fixed on the shadows in the mist below. Kaelen Veyl had been formidable in their last clash, using the Nightmare Essence as both weapon and shield, but Darren's last strike had broken through. He wouldn't let Kaelen's warband escape with the artifact, not now, not when the stakes were so high.
"Kaycee, do you have any stealth abilities?" Darren whispered.
Kaycee furrowed her brow, "Let me check."
Darren could tell she was checking over her status page. Her eyes lit up in surprise and a bright smile appeared on her face.
"Check this out!" she said excitedly. With a flick of her wrist, Kaycee made a translucent blue screen appear in the air before Darren. Hardy jumped slightly, apparently not expecting something like that to suddenly appear from nowhere. Darren chuckled as he looked over the screen. It was Kaycee's status, and it had changed since last time she'd told him her level.
—
Kaycee Ellis
-Lv. 8
Title:
Blossom Knight - Lv. 3
Specialization:
-Scout
-Healer
Available AP:
12
Stats:
Vitality: 18
Absorption: 18
Strength: 18
Agility: 23
Resistance: 21
Stamina: 28
Luck: 17
Stealth: 36
Scout Skills & Abilities
1. Weapons Mastery (Passive)
2. Made for Recon (Passive)
3. Absorb (Active)
4. Imbue (Active)
5. Silent Stride (Passive) - Moves with near-silent precision, reducing the sound of her footsteps and any gear she carries by 80%, making her difficult to detect. This ability also decreases the likelihood of being spotted by enemies within close range, increasing her overall stealth effectiveness.
-Bonus Effect: When crouched or stationary, her invisibility increases, making it almost impossible for enemies to detect her until she makes an attack or significant movement.
6. Shadow Step (Active)
- Description: Allows the Scout to step into shadows, briefly merging with them and reappearing at a nearby location within the same area. The range increases with the Scout's skill level, and higher mastery enables travel through minimal shadowed areas, such as small shaded spots.
- Cooldown: Moderate, but with a small grace period where the Scout can step back into the same shadow to avoid detection or re-position.
Healer Skills & Abilities
1. Healing Aura (Passive)
2. Mending Touch (Active)
3. Flash Heal (Active) - Instantly restore a moderate amount of health to the target. This ability has a low cooldown and high mana cost, making it perfect for emergencies where quick healing is required. Flash Heal becomes more effective if the target's health is below 50%, restoring an additional burst of health.
Blossom Knight Skills & Abilities
1. Abundant Life (Passive/Active)
—
"Whoa," Darren said, impressed with all that Kaycee could do. All of the details for each of her abilities, except for the newest two, were hidden. He assumed EDS did that because this was the first time Kaycee was looking at her status since unlocking those abilities.
"I knew I'd been getting notifications," Kaycee said quietly, still keenly aware of their surroundings, "and I was hoping it would be a level up. I wasn't expecting a second new ability, though."
"Well that looks like a perfect ability for the plan I have," Darren said. "I think we could defeat them all if we had to, but why don't we try the stealth approach?"
Kaycee nodded interestedly at his suggestion. "What do you want me to do?"
"Use Silent Stride to get close to them. See if you can snag the artifact from them without them seeing you. If you don't feel safe doing that, just come back and we'll figure out a different plan. Does that work?" Darren said.
"Yes, sounds good to me," she replied with a grin, waving her status screen away. Without another word she leaned forward and kissed him quickly before disappearing completely from his sight.