The plaza was silent, a graveyard of broken stone and twisted metal, as Lyrien approached the marked location where the system indicated his disciple's presence. His heart pounded in his chest, each step filled with a mixture of hope and dread. The last remnants of daylight slipped away, plunging the ruins into a twilight shroud. The wind picked up, carrying with it a chill that gnawed at his skin.
Lyrien's eyes scanned the shadows, his heightened senses on high alert. Somewhere in this eerie silence was Xulios, his loyal disciple. The man he had trained, trusted, and perhaps, in his own way, come to care for like family.
But what awaited him beyond the fountain was not the Xulios he remembered.
A low growl echoed through the air, and the shadows before him seemed to ripple. The ground beneath him vibrated as something heavy stepped into the faint light. Lyrien froze, eyes widening as a monstrous figure emerged from the darkness—a towering, spectral form that sent a shiver of dread down his spine.
The creature was nearly seven feet tall, its body unnaturally white, like bleached bone, with a smooth, featureless face except for four glowing, eerie green eyes that stared directly at him. Long, pointed ears twitched at the slightest sound, and its mouthless face seemed to stretch into a wicked grin, revealing nothing but a void where teeth should be. It had four muscular arms ending in claws that dripped with a viscous, green venom. A long, spiky tail swayed menacingly behind it, and two crooked horns jutted from its skull, crackling with energy.
SYSTEM ALERT:
TARGET IDENTIFIED: SPECIAL CLASS SPIRIT-LEVEL BEAST
CLASSIFICATION: S-RANK THREAT
WARNING: EXTREME DANGER. RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE EVACUATION.
Lyrien's breath caught in his throat. This... thing wasn't Xulios. But as he looked closer, his heart sank. Beneath the monster's alien form, he could see faint traces—remnants of the aura he recognized as his disciple's. It was as if Xulios had been consumed and twisted into this monstrous shape.
"No... it can't be..." Lyrien whispered, taking a step back, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Xulios... is that you?"
The beast tilted its head, its four eyes narrowing as if mocking his hesitation. Then, without warning, it lunged, claws outstretched, aiming to rip him apart.
---
Lyrien barely had time to react. He threw himself to the side, rolling to dodge the incoming strike. The creature's claws slashed through the air where he had just stood, cutting deep gashes into the stone floor with ease. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, shattering nearby debris.
He scrambled to his feet, summoning his Heat Vision in a desperate attempt to fend off the monster. Twin beams of searing light shot from his eyes, aimed directly at the creature's face. The beams struck true, but the beast simply raised one of its four arms, absorbing the attack with its thick, armored skin. It roared in fury, the sound like a thousand voices screaming in unison.
Lyrien's dagger flashed in his hand as he darted forward, aiming for the joints in the creature's limbs. He struck with all his strength, but the blade skidded off its spectral hide, barely leaving a mark. The creature retaliated with blinding speed, its tail whipping around to slam into his side, sending him flying across the plaza.
Pain exploded in his ribs as he crashed into a pile of rubble. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth, but he forced himself to stand. The system's interface flickered in his vision, warning him of multiple internal injuries.
HEALTH CRITICAL: 45%
WARNING: FRACTURED RIBS DETECTED
"Damn it..." Lyrien muttered, wiping the blood from his lips. "This thing is beyond anything I've faced before."
But he couldn't back down. Not now. Not when there was a chance, however slim, that he could save his disciple.
He activated Shadow Phase, slipping into the darkness to evade the creature's relentless onslaught. For a moment, he became one with the shadows, invisible and untouchable. The beast roared in frustration, its four eyes scanning wildly for its prey. But Lyrien was already moving, reappearing behind the creature to strike again.
His dagger found a weak spot beneath one of the beast's horns, the blade sinking deep into its flesh. The creature howled, green blood spurting from the wound, but instead of retreating, it turned with a vicious swipe, catching Lyrien across the chest. His dagger was torn from his grasp, clattering uselessly to the ground as he was sent tumbling once more.
Lyrien's vision blurred from the pain, but he couldn't stop. He launched another attack, using his newly acquired Reality Rift ability to warp space around the creature, disorienting it. The air shimmered, and for a brief moment, the beast seemed to flicker in and out of existence. It gave Lyrien just enough time to land a series of blows with his fists, each strike fueled by desperation and rage.
But the beast was relentless. It countered with a flurry of blows from all four arms, claws raking across Lyrien's body, tearing through flesh and muscle. The green venom burned like acid, and he could feel his strength draining away with every drop that seeped into his wounds.
HEALTH CRITICAL: 20%
WARNING: VENOM DETECTED. INITIATING DETOXIFICATION SEQUENCE.
The system's monotone voice was drowned out by the roar of blood in his ears. He was losing. He could feel it in his bones, the weight of inevitability pressing down on him. But he couldn't afford to die here—not before saving Xulios.
---
The creature loomed over him, ready to deliver the final blow. Lyrien's mind raced, searching for anything, any last-ditch effort to turn the tide. He felt the memories of his past, the faces of those he had failed, flash before his eyes. But one face stood out among them all—Xulios, the boy he had taken under his wing, the son he never had.
"No... I won't lose you!" he screamed, his voice raw with emotion. "I will do anything, even if it kills me to save and protect you, my son! I won't let history repeat itself again!"
As if responding to his outburst, the system's interface blazed with a brilliant light.
SYSTEM ALERT: EMOTIONAL RESONANCE DETECTED. ACCEPTANCE OF TRUE BOND CONFIRMED.
RANK UPGRADE: F-RANK → D-RANK
NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: SOUL BOND
DESCRIPTION: ALLOWS USER TO CHANNEL THE SOUL OF A LOST LOVED ONE TO AMPLIFY POWER AND SPEED TEMPORARILY.
A surge of energy exploded from Lyrien, his injuries momentarily forgotten as a brilliant aura enveloped him. His eyes blazed like twin suns, and he felt an otherworldly strength fill his limbs. The air around him seemed to hum with power as he stood tall, facing the monstrous form of his former disciple.
---
With newfound strength, Lyrien charged at the beast, his movements a blur. He was faster, stronger, more determined than ever before. He weaved between the creature's attacks, his fists glowing with a strange light as he delivered blow after blow, each strike cracking the beast's armored hide.
The creature howled in agony as Lyrien's attacks shattered its defenses, green blood flowing freely from its wounds. In a last desperate attempt, the beast tried to impale him with its venomous claws, but Lyrien was ready. He caught the creature's wrist, channeling all his newfound power into one final strike.
"Xulios, if you're in there... come back to me!" he roared, driving his fist into the creature's chest. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the plaza, and for a moment, everything went silent.
The beast staggered, its four eyes flickering with something that almost resembled recognition. Then, with a guttural roar, it collapsed to the ground, its monstrous form shrinking, shifting, as if trying to revert to something more human.
Lyrien panted heavily, his vision blurring as exhaustion finally caught up with him. He fell to his knees beside the fallen creature, reaching out a trembling hand. "Xulios... I... I'm sorry..."
The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the faint glow of the system's interface, confirming the presence of his disciple within the fallen beast. With the last of his strength, he hoisted the massive creature onto his back, staggering towards the shadows for shelter.
---
Lyrien collapsed in the safety of a ruined building, the creature's weight pressing down on him like a mountain. His body was broken, his strength depleted, but he refused to let go. He cradled the monstrous form of his disciple, his last thoughts filled with hope that somehow, he could still save him.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
MISSION PARTIALLY COMPLETE. DISCIPLE LOCATED. STATUS: UNSTABLE.
HEALTH CRITICAL: 5%
USER HAS SUSTAINED MULTIPLE CRITICAL INJURIES. INITIATING EMERGENCY RECOVERY PROTOCOL.
Lyrien's vision swam as the system's voice faded into the background, the weight of his disciple's monstrous form pressing him deeper into the cold, unforgiving ground. His breath came in ragged gasps, each one sending sharp stabs of pain through his cracked ribs and shredded muscles. Blood soaked his clothes, mixing with the green venom that still hissed and sizzled on his skin.
But he held on, refusing to let go of the monstrous body that was once Xulios. His arms shook, his fingers clenched tightly around the slick, spectral flesh, but he wouldn't let go. Not until he knew his disciple was truly safe.
---
The ruins around him were deathly silent, the air thick with the stench of blood, venom, and decay. The sun had long set, leaving the world cloaked in shadows. Lyrien's mind drifted in and out of consciousness, the pain pulling him under only for sheer willpower to drag him back.
"Xulios..." he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Don't leave me..."
For a moment, the beast's four green eyes flickered, dimming as if struggling against an unseen force. The monstrous features seemed to soften, and for a brief heartbeat, Lyrien could see the face of his disciple—the human Xulios he had once known. But the moment was fleeting, and the creature's eyes flared with malice once more, its body convulsing as it let out a low, guttural growl.
Lyrien felt his heart clench. Whatever had corrupted Xulios, whatever monstrous force had taken hold of him, it wasn't going to let go easily.
---
The creature stirred, its clawed hands twitching, the venom dripping in thick, corrosive streams that burned everything it touched. It let out a guttural snarl, shaking off the remnants of Lyrien's desperate embrace, and for a moment, it seemed as if it would resume its attack.
But then it froze, its four eyes locking onto something in the distance. Lyrien, barely conscious, followed its gaze, trying to make sense of what was happening. The air around them seemed to pulse, the shadows deepening as a new presence filled the plaza.
Out of the darkness stepped a figure draped in black robes, their face hidden beneath a hood. The stranger moved with a fluid grace, a dark aura rippling around them. The beast that was once Xulios snarled at the newcomer, but there was a hint of hesitation in its movements, a flicker of recognition.
"Ah, so this is where you've been hiding," the robed figure said, their voice smooth and cold. "You were quite the troublesome pet, but I see you've found your way back to your... master."
Lyrien's blood ran cold. This was no ordinary person. The aura surrounding them was oppressive, suffocating, like the air before a storm. He tried to push himself up, to protect Xulios from whatever this new threat was, but his body refused to obey.
"Who... are you?" Lyrien managed to choke out, his voice barely more than a whisper.
The robed figure chuckled, a low, sinister sound that sent chills down Lyrien's spine. "I am the one who gave your precious disciple a second chance at life," they said, stepping closer. "A chance to become something more... something powerful. Unfortunately for you, it seems he has grown attached to his old ties."
They extended a hand, and the beast that was once Xulios howled in agony, collapsing to its knees as if being crushed by an invisible force. Lyrien's heart ached at the sight, helpless to do anything as his disciple was tormented before his eyes.
"No... stop...!" he cried, forcing himself to crawl towards them, each movement sending waves of agony through his broken body. "Please... he's not your puppet..."
The robed figure tilted their head, regarding Lyrien with cold, calculating eyes. "Your bond is strong; I'll give you that. Perhaps... strong enough to break my control. But you're too late. He belongs to me now."
---
Suddenly, the system's interface flared back to life in Lyrien's vision, the text scrolling rapidly as if in a panic.
SYSTEM ALERT: EXTERNAL CORRUPTION DETECTED. INITIATING COUNTERMEASURES.
NEW OBJECTIVE: SAVE THE DISCIPLE FROM EXTERNAL CONTROL. UNLOCKING SPECIAL ABILITY: SOUL PURGE.
DESCRIPTION: PURGES ALL FOREIGN INFLUENCES FROM TARGET AT THE COST OF USER'S LIFE FORCE.
A wave of warmth washed over Lyrien as the new ability activated, a surge of energy filling him despite his failing body. He didn't hesitate. With a roar of defiance, he reached out, his hands glowing with a blinding white light.
The robed figure took a step back, a look of surprise on their hidden face. "What... what are you doing?!"
Lyrien ignored the searing pain in his veins, the feeling of his life force draining away. "I told you," he growled through gritted teeth. "I will do anything... even if it kills me... to save him!"
He plunged his glowing hands into the chest of the monstrous Xulios, the light flooding the creature's body. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the plaza was bathed in a radiant glow. The creature's body convulsed, the dark tendrils of corruption burning away under the purifying light.
The robed figure screamed in fury, their form flickering like a shadow caught in the midday sun. "No! This cannot be!" With a final, desperate lunge, they tried to strike at Lyrien, but the system intervened, a protective barrier flaring to life around him.
The force of the purification was too much. The creature let out a final, agonized scream before collapsing, the monstrous features melting away to reveal the broken, human form of Xulios beneath.
---
Lyrien fell back, gasping for breath as darkness encroached on his vision. His body felt like it was on fire, every nerve screaming in agony, but he forced himself to move, to crawl towards Xulios.
His disciple lay unconscious, his body bruised and battered, but human once more even though he looked a bit different. Lyrien reached out with trembling hands, gently pulling Xulios into his lap. Tears streamed down his face as relief flooded through him.
"You're safe now... I won't let anyone take you again," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.
The system's voice chimed softly in his mind, a final message before everything went dark.
MISSION COMPLETE: DISCIPLE RESCUED.
USER WILL ENTER RECOVERY MODE. INITIATING EMERGENCY STASIS.
Lyrien's vision faded to black, the world falling away as the system enveloped him in a protective cocoon of energy. He had saved his disciple, but at what cost?
As the darkness claimed him, the last thing he felt was the faint, warm pulse of Xulios' heartbeat against his chest.
---
The plaza lay silent once more, the only sound the distant howling of the wind. The robed figure had vanished, their plans foiled for now, but the shadows still lingered. There was a new darkness brewing, a new threat that neither Lyrien nor his disciple were prepared for.
But for now, they had survived. For now, they had each other.
And that was enough.