Natharak's towering gates loomed before them, eerily unguarded. The shield that protected the city flickered erratically, light sputtering as if gasping for air. Kael's eyes narrowed as he and Varin approached, both senses alert. The city's defense, once a shimmering bastion of protection, was now on the verge of collapse.
"This isn't right…" Kael muttered, glancing at Varin. The older man gave a curt nod, his jaw set in a hard line.
"There's no time to waste," Varin replied, his voice low. "If the shield fails, Natharak will fall to the Abyss within hours. We need to find the Abyssal Anchor and destroy it—now."
As they stepped into the city, Kael's skin prickled with the sensation of battle. Shouts echoed from the distance, mingled with the clang of weapons and the guttural roars of Darkspawns. The air was thick with the stench of blood and burning metal.
"To the left," Varin said sharply, pointing toward the source of the sounds. Without a word, they sprinted toward the left flank of the city.
As they rounded a corner, Kael's eyes locked on a figure fighting off three towering Darkspawns. The man moved with fluid precision, his every strike deliberate and lethal. Even from a distance, Kael could see his garb—a dark hooded cloak, leather armor, and a mixture of weapons, including a bow and dagger.
He's a Veil member, Kael thought, recalling what Evans had told him about the enigmatic group. Every move the man made was a dance of death, his hood masking his face but not his prowess. The way he wielded his weapons with such seamless coordination hinted at dual-class mastery.
"He must be one of them," Varin said, reading Kael's thoughts. His eyes gleamed with recognition. "The Veil."
The man finished off the last Darkspawn with a swift flick of his wrist, sending his dagger slicing through the creature's neck in one clean motion. Blackened blood sprayed the cobblestone as the beast collapsed to the ground.
"This area is clear!" the Veil member shouted to no one in particular. His voice was calm, authoritative.
Then, in a blink, the figure vanished.
Kael barely had time to register what happened before the man appeared directly in front of them, his sudden presence like a shockwave through the air. It wasn't just Void Step—this was something far more advanced, more refined.
Kael's muscles tensed instinctively, his hand going to his blade. Varin, for all his experience, looked just as surprised.
"You must be the one," the man said, his piercing gaze locking onto Kael. His eyes, sharp and intelligent, sized Kael up with a single glance. "Evans mentioned you."
His attention then shifted to Varin. "And you must be Varin."
There was no time for pleasantries. The stranger cut through the tension with a single statement: "We need to locate the Abyssal Anchor. Natharak doesn't have enough time."
Kael opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"Kael, I can sense the presence of the Abyssal Lord's power nearby. The anchor might be underneath the area you're in."
Kael frowned, the sudden intrusion from Ethan jarring. "Are you sure?" he asked mentally.
"Eighty percent sure," Ethan replied. "I've marked the location on your map. Check it."
Kael hesitated for a brief moment, then pulled up his map, seeing the ominous red skull marker that Ethan had indicated. His stomach knotted.
"I think I know where the anchor might be," Kael said aloud, turning to the Veil member and Varin.
The man's expression darkened as he glanced at the map. "That's… that's where The Veil's stronghold is located."
Kael nodded. The man swore under his breath, a rare crack in his calm demeanor. "If the Abyssal Anchor is under our stronghold…"
He didn't finish the sentence. Instead, he motioned for them to follow him. "We'll have to Void Step. Quickly. There's no time."
Kael exchanged a glance with Varin before they both activated their Void Step abilities, phasing out of existence and following the Veil member as he led them toward the stronghold. The city blurred around them, shadowy and indistinct, as they traveled through the void. Within moments, they emerged at the entrance of The Veil's hidden base, a small, nondescript building nestled between crumbling structures.
Before them stood four more members of The Veil, all looking battle-worn but resolute. One, a stout man clad in dark gold armor with a massive shield strapped to his back, stepped forward as they arrived.
"Andrew," the man said, his voice gravelly. "Are you sure about this? The anchor is under our stronghold?"
Andrew, the Veil member who had led them, nodded grimly. "We don't have time to second guess, Oslo. Kamal—break the floor."
The man named Kamal, who looked deceptively lanky but held a massive hammer in his hands, stepped forward. His eyes gleamed with determination as he channeled energy into the weapon. Purple energy hummed from the hammer, pulsating with growing intensity.
With a roar, Kamal swung the hammer down with all his might. The impact sent shockwaves through the building, and the floor cracked beneath their feet. Another swing, and the floor gave way entirely, revealing a massive crater-like hole below.
And there, standing tall in the center of the pit, was the Abyssal Anchor—a towering pillar of dark energy, runes etched into its surface, glowing with malevolent power. At the peak of the pillar floated a dark, swirling orb.
Oslo's eyes widened in recognition. "That's… that's a Draconian Orb."
Kael's breath caught in his throat. A Draconian Orb—an ancient artifact of unimaginable power. But this one had been corrupted, its energy twisted with Abyssal magic.
"We need more than rune magic to deal with that," Oslo muttered, his voice thick with dread.
Kael could feel the weight of their collective fear. The Draconian Orb was legendary—its power could level entire continents. And now, it had been corrupted by the Abyss. Destroying it could unleash a cataclysmic wave of abyssal energy that would obliterate Natharak's shield… and the city with it.
"Any attempt to dispel the runes will trigger an explosion," Andrew said, his voice low. "This orb… it's a ticking bomb."
A suffocating silence fell over them. Kael's mind raced, trying to calculate their options. The runes protecting the orb were designed to keep it stable—but the moment they tampered with those, the Abyssal energy would react violently. Natharak's shield would crumble, and everything within miles would be wiped out.
"Then we don't destroy it," Varin said, his voice cutting through the tension. Everyone turned to him, surprised.
"We disable it," he continued, his expression calm but resolute. "There's a way to sever its connection to the Abyss without triggering a detonation."
Oslo's brow furrowed. "How? The Abyssal energy's already integrated into the orb. There's no safe way to—"
"There is," Varin interrupted, stepping forward. "But it's risky. We'll need someone to sever the orb's connection to the Abyss using void energy—a precise strike at the core of the runes, not the orb itself. And they'll need to do it before the energy backlash can reach the surface."
Andrew's eyes met Varin's. "You're suggesting a suicide mission."
"Not necessarily," Varin replied, his tone level. "But it'll take someone with enough control over the void to strike without hesitation."
Kael's stomach twisted. He could see where this was going. His connection to the void had grown stronger ever since unlocking his Status Multiplier, but this… this was beyond anything he had faced before.
Suddenly, Ethan's voice echoed in Kael's mind again. "Kael, I can help you sever the connection between the orb and the Abyss. Together, we can channel our energy to ensure a more stable severing."
Kael's heart raced at the thought of working alongside Ethan. This could work…
The silence stretched, the weight of the decision hanging over them all.
"I'll do it," Kael said suddenly, his voice steady, though his heart pounded in his chest.
Varin turned to him, a mixture of pride and concern in his eyes. "Kael…"
"I can do this," Kael insisted. His mind was made up. "I've my ways. If anyone can sever the connection without destroying the orb, it's me. Don't forget, I posses the main Rebirth Core."
Andrew studied him for a long moment, his piercing gaze weighing Kael's words. Finally, he nodded. "We'll cover you. But you only get one shot."
Kael swallowed hard, feeling the gravity of what he was about to do settle into his bones. His eyes flicked to the Draconian Orb, its abyssal energy swirling ominously above the pillar.
As he stepped toward the edge of the crater, Varin's voice stopped him.
"Kael," Varin said, his tone serious. "If something goes wrong—"
"It won't," Kael interrupted, his jaw set. "It can't."
Varin didn't argue. He simply gave a nod of understanding.
Kael took a deep breath, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. He activated Void Step, and the world fell away into darkness. For a moment, everything was still—silent, as if time itself had paused.