Chereads / Ascendency Of The Infinite Forge / Chapter 18 - Chapter 19: Echoes of Guilt

Chapter 18 - Chapter 19: Echoes of Guilt

"The strongest chains are forged not from steel, but from the choices we make. And some chains are impossible to break."

---

Steven stood in the stillness of the tomb, staring at Brynn's lifeless body. The runes around him continued to pulse with dark energy, whispering promises of unimaginable power, but the weight of his actions was far heavier than he anticipated. His hands trembled, still stained with the residue of her final moments.

It had been necessary. It had to be done. He repeated the thoughts over and over, like a mantra that could shield him from the overwhelming guilt gnawing at his mind. And yet, no amount of reasoning or justification could silence the growing sense of dread that settled in his chest.

Steven took a step back from the altar, his heart pounding in his ears. The surge of power he'd expected—the boost in strength and knowledge promised by the Tomb of Shadows—felt hollow in the face of the cold reality before him. Brynn had trusted him. She hadn't been an enemy or a rival; she was a friend, and he had betrayed that trust in the worst way possible.

For what?

Power. It was always for power. But at what cost?

His system interface pinged, drawing his attention away from his thoughts. The screen flickered into view, displaying an array of new abilities unlocked from the dark sacrifice. His experience bar glowed brighter, indicating the enormous amount of EXP he'd gained from Brynn's death.

But instead of satisfaction, Steven felt sick.

---

The journey back to Farlan's Rest was brutal. The weight of what he'd done followed him like a shadow, creeping closer with every step. The forest seemed quieter than usual, as if the very world around him recoiled from his presence.

Steven kept to the shadows, avoiding the main roads and paths that would lead to the village. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing the people again, of walking past the forge where Brynn had worked, her laughter and strength a memory now forever tainted by his betrayal. He couldn't face them—not yet.

When he reached the outskirts of the village, Steven found himself standing at the edge of a small clearing. The moonlight cast long, eerie shadows across the trees, and the village lights flickered in the distance. He stopped, unable to go any further.

He could see Brynn's face in his mind, her eyes filled with confusion and fear as she realized what he had planned. Her voice still echoed in his ears, pleading with him to stop, to reconsider.

A surge of anger flashed through him—anger at himself, at the tomb, at the unrelenting thirst for power that had driven him to this point. He wanted to scream, to tear down everything around him, but he knew that wouldn't help. Nothing could undo what he had done.

Suddenly, a sound broke through the silence—the rustling of leaves and the soft footfalls of someone approaching. Steven tensed, instinctively reaching for the sword at his side.

Out of the shadows stepped Darek, the wandering trader who had once helped him when he first arrived in this world. Darek's easy-going smile faltered when he saw Steven's expression. "Steven? You look… different. Is everything alright?"

Steven forced himself to remain calm, though every instinct screamed at him to push Darek away, to avoid conversation. "I'm fine. Just… tired."

Darek's brow furrowed as he took a step closer, his eyes searching Steven's face. "You sure? You seem… off. Like something's bothering you."

Steven's grip on his sword tightened. He couldn't afford to slip, not now. "It's nothing. Just had a long day."

Darek didn't seem convinced, but he let it go with a shrug. "If you say so. Anyway, I've been meaning to tell you—I heard some rumors. Something about strange happenings in the ruins north of here. Thought you might want to check it out, considering the… uh, 'unique' adventures you seem to get into."

Steven nodded absently, barely registering Darek's words. His mind was elsewhere, still fixated on the tomb and the blood on his hands. "I'll look into it," he said, though the words felt hollow.

Darek gave him a lingering look before turning to leave. "Alright, well… take care of yourself, Steven. And if you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

As Darek's figure disappeared into the darkness, Steven let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The encounter had rattled him more than he cared to admit. His carefully constructed facade was slipping, and he knew it wouldn't be long before someone saw through it.

But for now, he had bigger problems to worry about.

---

The next few days passed in a blur. Steven avoided the village entirely, keeping to the wilds and moving between small, hidden campsites where he could stay unnoticed. His system interface had grown more complex with the dark magic unlocked from the sacrifice, and every time he opened it, it reminded him of the cost.

He focused on training, on learning the new abilities and powers that had been granted to him. The Tomb of Shadows had delivered on its promise, and the new spells and enchantments he wielded were beyond anything he had previously known. But with every victory over a monster or bandit, with every new skill he mastered, Steven felt the hollow pit in his chest grow deeper.

It wasn't enough.

The guilt weighed on him constantly, making it harder to focus, harder to think clearly. He found himself second-guessing his decisions, questioning his own motives. Was this really what he wanted? Was this path, littered with betrayal and blood, worth the power it offered?

One night, as he sat by a small campfire, staring into the flames, the system interface pinged once more. A new message appeared:

[System Warning: Emotional Instability Detected]

Steven frowned, reading the message with a mix of confusion and frustration.

[System Recommendation: Recalibrate Mental State]

He scrolled through the new options that had appeared. Among them, a peculiar notification caught his eye:

[Soul Fragment Reclamation: 0/3 Fragments Reclaimed]

Steven tapped on the message, curious despite himself. A new screen opened, displaying three empty slots labeled Soul Fragments.

The system explained that these fragments were pieces of his soul, shattered by the act of taking an innocent life. Reclaiming them would allow him to restore balance, to regain the clarity and resolve he had lost. But to reclaim them, he would need to undergo trials—difficult, painful trials that would test his very will to continue down this path.

Steven stared at the screen, the fire crackling softly in the background. Reclaiming his soul? It seemed almost laughable, given what he had become. And yet, the idea tugged at something deep within him—a part of him that longed for redemption, for some way to undo the damage he had done to himself.

But another part of him recoiled at the thought. This was the price of power. There was no going back. If he wanted to reach the pinnacle, if he wanted to conquer infinite realities, then sacrifices had to be made.

Still, the option lingered, tempting him in a way he hadn't expected.

---

The following day, Steven's path took him deeper into the wilderness, away from the familiar territories surrounding Farlan's Rest. He traveled through forests and mountains, seeking out the rumored ruins Darek had mentioned. It was a welcome distraction—something to occupy his mind and pull him away from the darkness gnawing at his thoughts.

When he finally reached the ruins, the air was thick with an unnatural energy. The structures were ancient, their stone walls crumbling and overgrown with vines, but something about the place felt alive, as if it were waiting for him.

As Steven approached the central chamber of the ruins, he felt a strange pull—a familiar sensation that made his pulse quicken. The stone doorway ahead was covered in runes, not unlike those in the Tomb of Shadows, and the darkness within seemed to whisper to him, calling him closer.

He stepped inside, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and unease. The chamber was vast, its walls lined with glowing symbols that pulsed with an otherworldly energy. At the center stood a pedestal, and upon it rested an obsidian shard that seemed to hum with dark power.

Steven approached cautiously, his hand hovering over the shard. His instincts screamed at him to be wary, but the hunger for power, for something to fill the void left by Brynn's death, overpowered his caution.

He grasped the shard.

The moment his fingers closed around it, a surge of energy ripped through him, filling his body with an intoxicating mixture of power and pain. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt as though he were falling into an endless abyss.

Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the sensation stopped.

Steven stood in the center of the chamber, breathing heavily, his hand still clutching the shard. His system interface flickered into view, displaying new abilities and enhancements, but there was something else as well—a faint message that sent a chill down his spine:

[Soul Fragment Reclaimed: 1/3]

Steven's breath caught in his throat. The shard… it had given him a piece of his soul back.

But at what cost?

---

As Steven left the ruins, his mind raced with conflicting thoughts. The power he had gained was undeniable, but the soul fragment… it was a reminder of what he had lost. The path ahead was growing darker, and he knew that the choices he made now would shape the rest of his journey.

The hunger for power