Shivay stood at the entrance of the vast, crumbling temple, the ancient tome cradled under his arm. The map he had uncovered from its pages glowed in his mind, its five marked locations calling to him like a distant echo of destiny. Each destination promised unimaginable power—the power of the Nagas, an ancient race now long forgotten. But as Shivay delved deeper into their mysteries, he began to understand that this quest was more than just a search for strength.
The Nagas had left these powerful hearts behind for a reason, a reason that tugged at Shivay's thoughts.
"I don't understand why the Nagas hid these hearts," Shivay mused aloud, his voice echoing through the quiet halls of the temple.
"They were protecting something, Master," Shunaya, his faithful guide and companion, replied. "These hearts represent an immense power—one that could easily be misused. The Nagas may have feared that the wrong hands would claim them."
Shivay frowned. "But they didn't destroy them. They left them behind, waiting for someone. That means there's a purpose behind this."
"Perhaps they were preparing for a calamity," Shunaya suggested. "Someone with the right bloodline, like yours, was meant to harness their power."
Shivay's hand tightened into a fist. "And now that responsibility falls to me."
"Indeed, Master," Shunaya said. "The system recognizes the role you're destined to play, but we still don't know how dangerous that role might be."
Shivay's mind churned with possibilities. The Nagas had been playing a long game, one that spanned ages, and he now found himself at the center of it. But determination flared within him. "We'll know soon enough," he said, scanning the tome for more clues.
The symbols on the map represented different elements, or creatures, but a particular passage caught Shivay's eye. It spoke of a ritual to amplify the hearts' etheric power, a form of "etheric fusion."
Shunaya leaned closer, examining the glyphs. "It's a dangerous process, Master. The fusion of ether could destabilize your bloodline or even destroy you."
Shivay's eyes glinted with resolve. "I'll take the risk. I need the full power of these hearts."
As Shivay studied the tome further, a system notification flashed in his mind.
[New Ability Unlocked: Glyph Mastery] You can now read and manipulate Naga glyphs to control ether in advanced ways. Unlock further abilities by studying ancient texts.
Shivay smiled. His new ability would allow him to dive deeper into the Naga knowledge stored in this temple. And then, something else caught his eye—a technique known as "Flowing Ether Arts," an advanced set of combat techniques that required either a staff or a bladed staff. A weapon he didn't have.
"Master," Shunaya reminded him. "The system shop can help with that."
Excitement surged through Shivay as he quickly accessed the system's interface. He hadn't checked his points in a while, and what he saw shocked him.
[System Points: 25,000]
"How did I accumulate so many?" he asked, baffled.
"You've completed several major achievements—absorbing the heart, mutating your bloodline, and defeating the guardian. These all contributed to your total," Shunaya explained.
Delighted, Shivay opened the weapons section of the shop, narrowing the options to blade staffs and staves. His eyes scanned the list until one weapon caught his attention: The Serpent's Edge.
[The Serpent's Edge - Bladed Staff: 10,000 SP] A legendary weapon forged by the Nagas themselves. Its twin blades are infused with ancient ether, allowing the user to channel etheric energy through the weapon with ease. This staff also enhances the user's agility and speed in battle, making it ideal for close-quarters combat. Special Ability: "Etheric Surge"—temporarily boosts your ether control, amplifying all attacks.
"Perfect," Shivay muttered, purchasing the weapon with a grin.
With his weapon secured, Shivay turned to the skills section, focusing on what would best support his quest. He selected the following:
[Beast Taming - 200 SP] Gives the user the ability to tame and control various creatures encountered. Higher-level creatures require a stronger bond to tame.
[Flash Step - 150 SP] Allows the user to move at incredible speeds for a short burst, almost as if teleporting. This skill is perfect for evading attacks or closing distances rapidly in combat.
[Ether Shield - 3,500 SP] A defensive technique that creates a temporary barrier of ether to block incoming attacks. The shield's strength depends on the user's control over the ether.
[Etheric Vision - 2,500 SP] Enables the user to perceive etheric energy flows in the environment, allowing for the detection of hidden traps, magical fields, and unseen enemies.
[Rapid Heal - 3,000 SP] Heals wounds at a rapid pace with respect to the ether supplied. Mortal injuries will not heal rapidly.
After making his purchases, Shivay's system points dropped to 5,650 he did not use the remaining points and kept them for emergencies.
His Stats have gone up due to absorption of the heart and due to this he did not need to upgrade his stats for the points for that.
"We've got everything we need," Shivay said, gripping The Serpent's Edge tightly. "Now, it's time to find the next heart."
"Master," Shunaya cautioned, "remember that the path ahead is filled with danger. Use your new skills wisely."
Shivay nodded. "I will. Let's get started."